Sunday, July 27 Be able both to encourage . . . and to reprove.​—Titus 1:9.

[Áine]

Sunday, July 27

Be able both to encourage . . . and to reprove.—Titus 1:9.

 

To become a mature Christian man, you will need to develop practical skills. These will help you to shoulder responsibilities in the congregation, to hold a secular job to support yourself or a family, and to have healthy relationships with others. For example, learn to read and write well. The Bible says that a happy and successful man spends time each day reading God’s Word and meditating on it. (Ps. 1:1-3) By reading the Bible daily, he will get to know Jehovah’s way of thinking, which will help him to think clearly and to reason well. (Prov. 1:3, 4) Our brothers and sisters look to capable men for Bible-based instruction and advice. If you can read and write well, you will be able to prepare informative, faith-strengthening talks and comments. You will also be able to take meaningful notes that will help you to build your own faith and to encourage others. w23.12 26-27 ¶9-11

[daydream]

17 hours ago, Áine said:

learn to read

One of the homeless men that I do meet almost everyday is illiterate. He only speaks the native language and doesn't have a smartphone. I was thinking of giving him my old phone (Xiaomi Redmi) The motherboard is spoilt and it can only be usable via wifi. 

He is less than 40 years old and he is always giving me stuff that he gets free. I told him that he has to grab the opportunity to learn a language, even his native tongue before he hits 40. I googled up that statement and found it is still possible to start learning at any age (albeit more difficult as one gets older) It's a really daunting job getting that person started. I probably have to get some children books at pre school level. 

It would really be good if I could set myself a goal to achieve some good to some poor soul and at the same time, keep my aged brain more active. It's been a struggle the last few years as age catches up with me. I have tried all sorts of ways to stay cognitively sharp but there still a lot left to desired. 

 

I'm also worried  young people especially teenagers today are so hooked up on their smartphones that it is affecting how they learn and behave.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/screens-and-teens-how-phones-broke-children-s-brains/ar-AA1rOLPC

Spoiler

Developmentally, children’s brains are not at all adapted to cope with all of the above. The reward-seeking parts of the brain mature earlier, but the frontal cortex, responsible for self-control and will-power, isn’t operating on all cylinders till our mid-twenties – creating a dangerously toxic cocktail when you throw in algorithms advanced enough to even hold adults’ attention hostage for hours at a time.

 

 

 

Edited July 27 by daydream