(Singer) Prince dies at 57

[Tortuga]

Just now, shali said:

I would imagine they would have to tract down the person who he left as executor of said trusts first!  That could be exhaustive, as secretive and private as Br. Nelson was.  He probably even swore the person to secrecy, if there is one.

I'm assuming the holder of some of the assets would be public record, of course since I don't know anything about corporations it's possible that all of the assets are held by a corporation and there is a undeclared trust that names the executor of the corporation.

 

I'm just musing out loud, time will tell us the facts, although since the facts don't impact me I truly have just a mild interest in them...

[Old]

It doesn't make much difference if a will turns up or not, the family will fight it in court unless they are the beneficiaries of most of the estate. If the estate is held by a trust  it would be more difficult to protest. If in a private corporation, there are no public accounting involved. If we hear nothing at all about the disposal of his assets it would be safe to assume that they were delivered to a non profit organization that does not discuss such things in public. My guess.

[Cheeks]

Apparently he was a very shrewd businessman.  Just cannot believe a Will is something he never did. 

Interesting that as soon as his death hit the news his home he used to have here in Toronto went on the market...clearly the seller wants to cash in on all the exposure asap.  Apparently whoever bought it basically left it the way Prince had it. 

 

http://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/prince-s-former-toronto-home-on-sale-for-12-8-million-1.2873734

[Luezette]

Absolutely a magnificent home! 

[Joey]

On 4/23/2016 at 11:52 AM, Musky said:

 

I doubt the Branch would make a statement regarding the death of an individual publisher. They sometimes announce the death of one of the GB members but that is all I've seen. Most likely this came from a local CO or his local congregation made the statement.

and the press took it as a "official statement"

I know the brother who made this statement,he's been at the Branch over 30 years.He studied with my husband.They use him a lot in communicating with the media.

[Bob]

I didn't read through the entire thread, but has anyone read the recent CNN article about this?

 

As I understand it, reporters were invited into last Sunday's meeting and saw how it proceeded. They even wrote about a Watchtower comment Larry Graham made. I think this serves as a good witness, that contrary to popular belief, our meetings are not ritualistic or secretive. In fact, I'm sure many of those reporters left probably wondering what's the fuss about JWs anyway? They're just people like us, not part of some strange cult.

 

 

 

 

[Musky]

10 minutes ago, Bob said:

I didn't read through the entire thread, but has anyone read the recent CNN article about this?

 

As I understand it, reporters were invited into last Sunday's meeting and saw how it proceeded. They even wrote about a Watchtower comment Larry Graham made. I think this serves as a good witness, that contrary to popular belief, our meetings are not ritualistic or secretive. In fact, I'm sure many of those reporters left probably wondering what's the fuss about JWs anyway? They're just people like us, not part of some strange cult.

 

 

 

 

http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/25/entertainment/prince-religion-jehovahs-witness/index.html

[Bob]

This whole thing about Prince also dispels another myth: That you cannot have a career in entertainment and still remain a member. As tragic and sad as his death was, so many lies can get overturned at the same time.

 

People get to see what its like in a KH, people now know you can have a career in entertainment and still remain a JW, and anyone can come to a meeting (as long as they aren't causing a disturbance). Of course, you can't make pornography or anything like that which would be a clear violation of Bible principles, but you can make music and stuff and do what you love.

 

I looked at his death from that angle.

[Bob]

7 minutes ago, Musky said:

http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/25/entertainment/prince-religion-jehovahs-witness/index.html

Thanks!

[harmania]

Just now, Bob said:

This whole thing about Prince also dispels another myth: That you cannot have a career in entertainment and still remain a member.

 I would still very strongly discourage people from trying to become rock or pop star. For majority of Jws in my eyes it's still very dangerous road. I don't think it's just a myth.

Edited April 27, 2016 by harmania

[Luezette]

I can understand both views.

While it is possible to do both and still remain faithful, as in the case with Bro. Prince, at the same time it is steeped in spiritual dangers. 

I think the reason what helped Bro. Prince to stay spiritually focused was he studied after he became famous.  That enabled him to stay determined as evidenced by him refusing to get involved (anymore) with sexually themed performances. 

This is not saying that once a brother or sister dedicates his or her life to Jehovah, that he or she should not get involved with "hollywood" for that's up to them. I just feel that, as Jesus said, "you will love one and hate the other." 

Yes that applied to Bro. Prince too. Surely. But he was already involved. Yet he "stuck to his guns" as it were, by obviously fully trusting in Jehovah thus allowing Jehovah to run things.

Just my opinion that's all. I hope I explained it right, though something tells me I didn't...somehow. 

[Stavro]

21 minutes ago, harmania said:

 I would still very strongly discourage people from trying to become rock or pop star. For majority of Jws in my eyes it's still very dangerous road. I don't think it's just a myth.

 

I think that's true of many worldly careers. Unfortunately, due to the public nature of entertainment jobs, the spiritual struggles of those in that industry tend to be more visible than the spiritual struggles of the long-haul trucker who's gone for weeks at a time, the night-worker who regularly misses midweek meetings, and so on.

[Luezette]

Many wordly careers are steeped with danger. That's why we don't look at a job as a "career" as in a lifelong vocation. Our representating Jehovah and everything that it entails is our career. 

Some of us look at pioneering as a career, and rightly so I guess. But in reality, serving Jehovah is our career (didn't I just say that? Oh brother! Lol). Our whole life, energies, mental faculties, etc, is totally involved in making Jehovah happy, proving ourselves to him, etc. What time do we have, should we have,  to do anything else outside of what is truly necessary? 

I love law.  I mean, absolutely in love with it! Had Paralegal training, entertained going on to law school, even chose a couple, made out a schedule, looked into taking the LSAT, etc. 

But wait! What about Jehovah? Made my mind up and am glad I did.

So now I, time to time, just borrow a book or two on law from the library, or visit Barnes Nobles and read something on law or watch law pictures/movies on YouTube, etc. to satisfy my love for law. Nooo, that doesn't satisfy it as much as it would had I gone on to my first love as far as law is concerned as in law  school itself, but I have a clear and clean conscience knowing that I'm putting Jehovah first.

(Ummm, did I just get off topic? Sorry).  

Edited April 27, 2016 by Luezette

[Shawnster]

http://www.wkyc.com/news/6-legendary-stars-who-died-without-wills/154978702

[Bob]

7 hours ago, harmania said:

 I would still very strongly discourage people from trying to become rock or pop star. For majority of Jws in my eyes it's still very dangerous road. I don't think it's just a myth.

 

Oh sure, I never said that its advisable. I was just pointing out that it can be done. My point was that people lie and say we cannot do what we love. That is what I was addressing. Good point, though.

[kejedo]

I do not think this went off topic. Many young ones may be looking at the example of Brother Nelson and thinking that a musical career may be okay. Luezette makes a good point, He, Larry Graham, and George Benson were already in the field when they came into the truth. George Benson's wife is also a beautiful singer, but did not try it as a profession. I'm nobody, but here's my tuppence; everyone I know of that was in the truth and went into a musical career later, has fallen away, far far away.  Most never came back. One of my close friends, in a different state, became a lounge singer and married a musician from a famous band. She left the truth and went on tour with him. She mentioned the debauchery was beyond belief. He left her with a baby. She came back into the truth. The 'famous' musician never paid any attention to his son, whatsoever. She is the only one I know of that came back.

 

As for myself, I only went to college because my fiancé was killed in the Vietnam war on 9/11/68. I was 17, and did not have a plan B. I came into the truth later. I would not recommend college. IN fact, RE: the high school I worked with, I geared them toward shorter term post secondary training or vocations. That is where the jobs are. The job openings for  4 year degrees and Masters degrees has stayed static for decades.  ONe of my students was waiting for his HS diploma to be mailed and had two jobs lined up in corrections and the police dept. I suggested he try another Company in the mean time. I had insisted this student (and all my students) learn all maths, not just Algebra and Geometry. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, percents, and decimals without a calculator. He went to the company as a whim and was given a math test. The company offered him a better plan that the other two career paths. He is making over 30 dollars an hour, and recommended his math-head cousin, who also is making the same amount.

 

Just a couple of personal experiences from YS.  I'd advise young ones to do some practical research before setting a job goal.  One can make it a career to pioneer.

 

  

[Bob]

4 minutes ago, kejedo said:

I do not think this went off topic. Many young ones may be looking at the example of Brother Nelson and thinking that a musical career may be okay. Luezette makes a good point, He, Larry Graham, and George Benson were already in the field when they came into the truth. George Benson's wife is also a beautiful singer, but did not try it as a profession. I'm nobody, but here's my tuppence; everyone I know of that was in the truth and went into a musical career later, has fallen away, far far away.  Most never came back. One of my close friends, in a different state, became a lounge singer and married a musician from a famous band. She left the truth and went on tour with him. She mentioned the debauchery was beyond belief. He left her with a baby. She came back into the truth. The 'famous' musician never paid any attention to his son, whatsoever. She is the only one I know of that came back.

 

As for myself, I only went to college because my fiancé was killed in the Vietnam war on 9/11/68. I was 17, and did not have a plan B. I came into the truth later. I would not recommend college. IN fact, RE: the high school I worked with, I geared them toward shorter term post secondary training or vocations. That is where the jobs are. The job openings for  4 year degrees and Masters degrees has stayed static for decades.  ONe of my students was waiting for his HS diploma to be mailed and had two jobs lined up in corrections and the police dept. I suggested he try another Company in the mean time. I had insisted this student (and all my students) learn all maths, not just Algebra and Geometry. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, percents, and decimals without a calculator. He went to the company as a whim and was given a math test. The company offered him a better plan that the other two career paths. He is making over 30 dollars an hour, and recommended his math-head cousin, who also is making the same amount.

 

Just a couple of personal experiences from YS.  I'd advise young ones to do some practical research before setting a job goal.  One can make it a career to pioneer.

 

  

Thank you for this post! Great points!

[Krusso]

Besides the fact that he came to love Jehovah after he was already famous and older in general, he was not the average musician. He was an exceptional musician, extremely talented. Clearly it would be unreasonable to require him to stop his career in order to have a relationship with God. In the majority of times one thing has nothing to do with the other. Having faith and a strong relationship with God is what really matters. Salvation does not depend on privileges in the congregation. So in his case it was perfectly possible to serve God and still do what he did the best. I do not think he would be happy if he abandoned his music. This is my humble opinion.

[Tbs77]

I know the brother who made this statement,he's been at the Branch over 30 years.He studied with my husband.They use him a lot in communicating with the media.

Sorry to go OT. But please clarify

"He studied with my husband"

Who assisted whom with learning the truth?

To me this is the most confusing phrase in our theocratic language...

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[Shawnster]

33 minutes ago, Krusso said:

Clearly it would be unreasonable to require him to stop his career in order to have a relationship with God.

 

Unless the career is in direct violation of Jehovah's will and requirements (politician, military, immoral or illegal), it would be wrong to "require" anyone to change their career and such a requirement is nowhere in the scriptures.  

 

Regardless of talent, the environment an entertainment professional is in opens that person up to an onslaught of temptation to commit immorality.   Would it be wise to expose oneself to such an immoral environment?  Case in point - there is an elder in my mother's hall that was in a local band when he was a late teen or early 20s.  He played in bars where they had to keep the band behind fencing so as to protect them from the rowdy crowd.  Women were throwing their room keys to him.  His career in itself wasn't wrong and he wasn't playing any immoral music, but the environment he was exposing himself to was just too much.  He gave up his musical entertainment career.  

 

It's so hard for an entertainer at any level to maintain loyalty to Jehovah.  Kudos to those that are successful.

 

(Matthew 19:23, 24) Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Truly I say to you that it will be difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of the heavens. 24 Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”

 

Jesus didn't say it was impossible for a rich man to enter the Kingdom, he just said it was hard.  Likewise, it's not impossible for a high-level entertainer to enter the Kingdom, it's just hard.
 

[Dustparticle]

I don't this is posted or not:  http://www.ibtimes.com/who-gets-princes-money-jehovahs-witnesses-could-stand-gain-singers-estate-2359228

[Tbs77]

Back OT: now that he's passed away a lot of of his music 🎶 is being uploaded: are you willing to do the work

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[Bob]

1 hour ago, Shawnster said:

 

Unless the career is in direct violation of Jehovah's will and requirements (politician, military, immoral or illegal), it would be wrong to "require" anyone to change their career and such a requirement is nowhere in the scriptures.  

 

Regardless of talent, the environment an entertainment professional is in opens that person up to an onslaught of temptation to commit immorality.   Would it be wise to expose oneself to such an immoral environment?  Case in point - there is an elder in my mother's hall that was in a local band when he was a late teen or early 20s.  He played in bars where they had to keep the band behind fencing so as to protect them from the rowdy crowd.  Women were throwing their room keys to him.  His career in itself wasn't wrong and he wasn't playing any immoral music, but the environment he was exposing himself to was just too much.  He gave up his musical entertainment career.  

 

It's so hard for an entertainer at any level to maintain loyalty to Jehovah.  Kudos to those that are successful.

 

(Matthew 19:23, 24) Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Truly I say to you that it will be difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of the heavens. 24 Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”

 

Jesus didn't say it was impossible for a rich man to enter the Kingdom, he just said it was hard.  Likewise, it's not impossible for a high-level entertainer to enter the Kingdom, it's just hard.
 

Great point. I also think Matt 6:24 applies as well. 

[Luezette]

Pauline. In regard to your friend saying "the debauchery was beyond belief" I remember a talk show (the View or something or the other) where I don't normally like them and so the only reason I looked at it was because Bro. Prince was scheduled to appear. He did. And as they were talking with him, one host (I think it was Star Jones), came right out and said to our brother "I just want to have sex with you." You can tell that was totally unexpected as in not rehearsed, for Bro. Prince looked at her  like "No you didn't." Then he abruptly got up and left. 

Now that was on a live talk show. I can only imagine what goes on behind the scenes. 

Yes, while I still say we can't tell a brother/sister to not enter show business, that one "little" example itself shows what is faced, and to expect. 

[Tbs77]

He's done several songs about the theocracy. In the song, Everlasting Now, he mentions accurate knowledge of the Christ and the Father; and preaching the good news.... @ 5:49 mark on track he mimics a person complaining about his music not being like the old stuff...

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