Unforeseen Events

9th March 2023 in the City of Hamburg 7 Jehovah’s Witnesses were shot dead and up to 8 others injured in their Kingdom Hall. The media fail to understand that the congregation were attending a regular meeting and that was the pattern of their weekly schedule. Therefore, the gunman chose a time when there was maximum opportunity to take the lives of those attending. He had enough ammunition to kill all 50 attendees.

Our thoughts go out to those Brothers and Sisters who were in the Kingdom Hall and to their family’s. Our prayers go to Jehovah but we are already confident that the survivors are receiving the support of their Christian Family.

Thoughts on the Gunman

Whatever the reason for the heinous act of violence, however, his thinking was twisted to the point he thought that somehow this would provide some satisfaction and an answer to his pain he was a flawed human, he had chosen to take this course of action knowing that the outcome would be tragic.

The wages of our life course are calculated in Romans 6: 23 “For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.”

All the Gunman accomplished is 8 people including him have died. The world hasn’t changed. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 1: 2 “The greatest futility!” says the congregator, “The greatest futility! Everything is futile!” and then in verse 8: What has been is what will be, And what has been done will be done again; There is nothing new under the sun.

These things continue to happen to people all over the globe and Jehovah’s Witnesses are not immune as Ecclesiastes 9: 11 “I have seen something further under the sun, that the swift do not always win the race, nor do the mighty win the battle, nor do the wise always have the food, nor do the intelligent always have the riches, nor do those with knowledge always have success, because time and unexpected events overtake them all.” verses 17 and 18 also help with further insight.

Jehovah’s Witnesses will not lobby for greater gun control, nor will Jehovah’s Witnesses close the doors of their Kingdom Halls, the Gunman is a sad reflection of the world we live in. No matter the reason for the action it is not our place to judge, abhor the act, hate what is bad and support those affected by the outcome including the Gunman’s family.

Our Hope

Jesus promised at John 5: 27 “And he has given him authority to do judging, because he is the Son of man.28 Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice29 and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment.”

Yes all those who have died and are in the memory of the Creator they will receive a resurrection. They will not be judged on past sins because death pays the price for sin.

Those who die will live again, that is what the bible teaches. Where will they live and when? Those questions require personal review of the bible evidence and study of what Jehovah has done, is doing and promises to do. Like all things that are a matter of faith we must convince ourselves, I can’t tell you to believe, or prove that the evidence that convinces me will convince you. It is a personal hope and everyone needs to dig into this for our self.

So review the personal Bible Study Aid “Enjoy Life Forever”.

Many accept the teachings of religion and science without researching, they listen to people who are educated and think “well they should know” but how can they? For example, the origin of the Universe, science prefixes everything with “we think” “the evidence suggests” or as DR Brian Cox said when talking about Black Holes something like if you don’t understand what I’m talking about that’s fine because I don’t know either.

The arrogance of Humanity is that we think that because we can ask all the questions that we should be able to come up with all of the answers. Science fact doesn’t change, the order of creation in Genesis reflects what we know to be the process of the development of life on earth. The science of the water cycle and many other facts are recorded in the bible long before they were agreed by science.

Like the ant of the railway line thinking it is the master of all it sees we know little, can explain even less but dream big and hope for something better. We need to find out from the author of the Bible if we can guarantee an outcome based on the evidence we see around us.

Life and Death happen, so the message from Hamburg is live your life the best way possible, make today a day of great value and if it is our last that we can say like those Witnesses shot and injured, My trust is in Jehovah, he will call and I will answer at the resurrection.

End of Suffering – The War of Armageddon

There is much trouble in the world today, with many leaders speaking of Armageddon. They fear an all out world encompassing nuclear war, which would devastate our globe.

Many people fear Armageddon, they believe the Bible talks about it. It DOES!.

In Revelation 16: 16 “And they gathered them together to the place that is called in Hebrew Armageddon.” but notice verse 14 which explains what Armageddon is: –

“the war of the great day of God the Almighty.”

Armageddon is and always has been going to be GOD’s War against the wicked; not something fought between mankind as the world today fears.

Please note some of God’s promises towards the earth and the outcome of this war:

Ecclesiastes 1: 4 “A generation is going, and a generation is coming, But the earth remains forever.”

Psalm 37: 29 “The righteous will possess the earth, And they will live forever on it.”

Revelation 21: 4 “And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

To find out more about Armageddon God’s war, how we know it’s approaching and what it means for us please either speak to one of Jehovah’s Witnesses or visit the website JW.ORG where you can download a copy of the publication “Enjoy Life Forever” or request a free Home Bible Study.

Also download a copy of the Bible in your language for free.

What is Life?

The big question. Does Life require a sense of existence to be counted as life? Is a plant alive once the germination process has started, or a single celled organism two lives at the moment it begins to reproduce?

What a ridiculous set of questions? We can’t associate human life with the life cycle of animals and vegetation! But, we have to.

All life depends on the understanding that the embryo is separate from the host carrying the child to full term. The DNA separates the child from the parent and that is already part of the embryo structure.

Aah but the child can’t live outside the host? This is true but it doesn’t make it any less a person. I often use host propagation techniques to bring on new plants only separating them when the younger plant is healthy and strong enough to survive without the parent. They are still two plants.

Okay I have the right to decide what happens with my body! That is a great statement, it identifies that individuals have a responsibility and accountability for their actions. The termination of a life is only a start of the problem.

For example, I have a match and a pile of dry grass, both are fine until I strike the match, this increases the risk of fire. For good reason the Bible sets out a course of morality that those who don’t have faith reject. The clear counsel is sexual intimacy outside or before marriage is a reckless course and can lead to serious consequences, for example, unplanned pregnancy.

So the key point for all those who follow Jesus remains that we keep God’s Laws and set them above our individual rights recognising the responsibility and accountability we have before God.

Note all the actions that are included in the admonition to Christians 1 Corinthians 6: 9 “Or do you not know that unrighteous people will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Do not be misled. Those who are sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, men who submit to homosexual acts, men who practice homosexuality,10 thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners will not inherit God’s Kingdom.11 And yet that is what some of you were. But you have been washed clean; you have been sanctified; you have been declared righteous in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and with the spirit of our God.”

Many choose to focus on the same sex acts in these verses but it begins with sexually immoral but it includes far more. Notice the next words that explain the Christians attitude towards God’s standards 1 Corinthians 6: 12 “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are advantageous. All things are lawful for me, but I will not let myself be controlled by anything.13 Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will bring both of them to nothing. The body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.”

We exercise free will – everything is lawful to the one without faith as the Apostle’s words explain.

So how does that affect the personal choice to terminate the life of an unborn child? The answer is very simple, the parent has free will and can choose for themselves and the unborn child, however, those who claim to have faith are proving themselves false to that claim as their accountability is to God.

We cannot judge the person. We can express our own faith and if we come into a similar situation due to our lack of self control or circumstances beyond our control (incest or rape) we have to go with our bible trained conscience.

This post doesn’t judge another person’s choice, rather it emphasises that for a Christian the issues started long before the unplanned pregnancy and more thought, self-control and principled love needed to be shown.

The Political leaders looking forward to the next 20 years often realize that there are too few births in their country now to pay for the spending and there is no way to pay the money back without economic migration, their are vain and half-hearted attempts to prevent the influx but long-term planning indicates that many developed economies require higher birth rates to sustain the economic growth required.

The impacts are moral, spiritual and social, when terminations become the norm in society life becomes worthless. So before everyone thinks Christians condemn abortions remember we recognise the right of another human to exercise their freewill, we don’t agree with it and wouldn’t take that option under any circumstances.

Those Prolife groups and those who campaign for choice should remember that we answer to the greatest authority, Jehovah God the creator of life. There are steps that can be taken to avoid unplanned pregnancies, for example respecting your own body, exercising self-control and of course we don’t get it right all the time so take responsibility for the mistakes we make.

I’m certain that when we are faced with a personal choice it is the relationship we have developed with God that will guide our actions.

The views expressed here are personal.

Beauty is simple

The Harbour

Someone’s not hapy with Thanksgiving

Will we ever see the end of violence and terrorism?

The earth today is plagued by violent acts. Many on a small scale, man mass attacks by armed gangs. Sadly, many have lost their lives through this and many have lost their loved ones.

But does God support or endorse this violence? Psalm 11: 5 Jehovah examines the righteous one as well as the wicked one; He hates anyone who loves violence. look at Isaiah 1: 15 … Although you offer many prayers, I am not listening; Your hands are filled with blood.

The Real Cause

The Bible clearly identifies the real cause of these violent acts in Ecclesiastes 8: 9 All of this I have seen, and I applied my heart to every work that has been done under the sun, during the time that man has dominated man to his harm. By rejecting the laws of our creator and following our own ways humankind has established their own governments, religions and systems of rulership and these continue to disadvantage everyone and create space for these acts of violence.

The Solution

The only real solution for these issues is God’s Kingdom. It will eliminate the cause of violence and the power to undo all of the effects, physical, spiritual and emotional. Through the pages of the Bible we are educated to cope now.

An example is found in Philippians 4: 7 and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your mental powers by means of Christ Jesus. We are promised that sincere prayer to God will result in Hebrews 6: 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, both sure and firm, and it enters in within the curtain, and that the peace of God will safeguard our hearts.

Explore the the real answers the Bible presents, our lives are enhanced by getting to know our God and listening to his wise advice.

Endurance

Christians Require Endurance

Millions of Christians give up, tire out and reject the faith and hope the Bible presents because they lack endurance. “A very bold and sweeping statement!” Why have I drawn this this conclusion?

Open your Bible to Jesus words to the crowds at Matthew 7: “Go in through the narrow gate, because broad is the gate and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are going in through it;14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are finding it.”

History demonstrates Christians have not had a easy existence. The first century they were martyred, second century persecuted, by the third century the leaders found ways to dilute Jesus message to become acceptable to the state.

For example: encouraging religious leaders in the congregations and church to get the laity to pay them a salary; how about becoming involved with politics; encouraging tolerance of celebrations and integrating these false practices into the congregation – Christmas, Easter, Saints days, birthday celebrations, accepting the Trinity, Hell fire and the immortal soul.

Impact

The Christians stopped running the race. They no longer understood the things that Jesus had explained were important and what everyone of us were invited to do.

Individual Christians stopped being Christians because they had no reason to endure! They had established their acceptable society where they could impose their personal standards on humanity. This is a disgrace.

By 1830 the ordinary person had access to exactly what Jesus required Christians to do. These New Christians highlighted the critical requirements to bear the name – Christian; these included:

Exposing the false doctrines of the:

immortal soul,
Hell is the grave not a place of torment – the only torment we have is that we will die because we separated ourselves from truth
the trinity

Additionally they identified the need to:

Use God’s name as revealed in scripture
Assign Jesus his rightful place as the only means for salvation
Preach about the kingdom of God
Teach honest hearted ones the blessing from God’s Word the bible

The Result

Persecution from so-called Christian Church Leaders, Governments and the wider community. That has confirmed to those of the Christian Congregation that they are blessed and rewarded by God. Not some of the points that enables us to draw confidence and understand the reward now.

Hebrews 12: 1 So, then, because we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also throw off every weight and the sin that easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,2 as we look intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus. For the joy that was set before him he endured a torture stake, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2 Corinthians 6: 4 but in every way we recommend ourselves as God’s ministers, by the endurance of much, by tribulations, by times of need, by difficulties,5 by beatings, by imprisonments, by riots, by hard work, by sleepless nights, by times without food;6 by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by holy spirit, by love free from hypocrisy,7 by truthful speech, by God’s power; through the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left

James 1: 2 – 4 Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet with various trials,3 knowing as you do that this tested quality of your faith produces endurance.4 But let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and sound in all respects, not lacking in anything.

Our endurance is evidence of our Christianity.

So what is required of a Christian?

How to identify true Christians today!

Study the Bible and discover Christ!

There is real value in Endurance however, to endure we have to make a stand that indicates we are different. Jesus said those who follow him would be hated by the world. By the people. Today it comes in the form of being branded a a religious bigot. Last week a so-called tolerant individual commented that all those who don’t accept same sex relationships, alternate gender assignment and practices that society accepts should be locked up as religious bigots.

Because Christians don’t involve themselves in politics either voting or joining the army – for example in Russia are seen and branded as Terrorists. A report in the UK published in 2019 stated that Religions like Jehovah’s Witnesses offered a form of passive resistance.

Leave a comment if you think this is extreme but if you are not feeling pressured to fit into the mould of society then are you a Christian.

Tolerance

Psalm 97: 10 “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked”. (KJV

The Jerusalem Bible states: “Yahweh loves those who hate evil, he keeps safe his faithful, rescues them from the clutches of the wicked.”

Or Byingtons translation states: 10 Jehovah loves those who hate evil, guards the lives of the men of his friendship, delivers them from the hands of wrong-doers.

How?

Psalm 34: 14 “Turn away from what is bad and do what is good; Seek peace and pursue it.”

Romans 12: 9 “Let your love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is wicked; cling to what is good.”

Hebrews 1: 9 “You loved righteousness, and you hated lawlessness. That is why God, your God, anointed you with the oil of exultation more than your companions.”

So what is unacceptable?

1 Corinthians 6: 9 “Or do you not know that unrighteous people will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Do not be misled. Those who are sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, men who submit to homosexual acts, men who practice homosexuality,10 thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners will not inherit God’s Kingdom.”

Mark 7: 22 “acts of adultery, greed, acts of wickedness, deceit, brazen conduct, an envious eye, blasphemy, haughtiness, and unreasonableness.”

Ephesians 5: 3 “Let sexual immorality and every sort of uncleanness or greediness not even be mentioned among you, just as is proper for holy people;“

The moral code of the bible is consistent. It leaves no gaps for personal understanding. We are told clearly that this conduct separates us from God and his son.

What is acceptable?

Ecclesiastes 12: 13 “The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear the true God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole obligation of man.”

Matthew 22: 37 “He said to him: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’38 This is the greatest and first commandment.39 The second, like it, is this: ‘You must love your neighbour as yourself.’40 On these two commandments the whole Law hangs, and the Prophets.”

1 Peter 1: 10 “Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the undeserved kindness meant for you made a diligent inquiry and a careful search.”

So we are encouraged to search for Gods standards, once we have found them keep them and display that in our life. Simple really.

So does a Christian have a duty to tell someone else their way of life is wrong? The individual Christian demonstrates by their behaviour that they are living by Gods standards, obeying his laws and commandments. Like righteous Lot in Sodom they are isolated because of their conduct. Everyone else got on with their lives.

The search for god is personal, his standards are consistent, those who follow God’s standards in the Bible have no doubts about they will live. Now these choices do offend others, Christian tolerance is stating that salvation is available to those who follow God’s standards, it does not involve diluting those standards just to fit.

Go back to Lot in Sodom those residents who engaged in the mobs behaviour had made their position clear, demanded the Lot accede to their wishes, Lot drew a line there.

But also think about the rest of the City the women and the children, those not in the mob, their tolerance of the behaviour of the mob demonstrated that they thought it acceptable.

Christianity today?

Is it okay to dilute those standards, can you accept behaviour the God says he finds unacceptable. He doesn’t reject the person but the practice as Corinthians demonstrates. That includes adultery, drunkenness, greed, idolatry, Christians stop practicing these things to become acceptable to God.

Morality isn’t difficult to understand just difficult to maintain. That is why we have Jesus life, counsel and ministry. He died so we may live but we have to follow his lead and keep God’s standards. It is a fair trade.

Is Christianity a good advert for God and the Bible? I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusion, but the for those who live by the standards God set they put out those who refuse to follow God’s commandments or water down the bible teaching.

Make the choice personally… but as Joshua said “But as for me and my household, we will serve Jehovah.”

Prejudice

Will prejudice ever end?

All have experienced prejudice at some point! It could be social status, skin colour, ethnicity, education, the way we dress, each of us can think of many reasons.

Society often falls back on blaming the past for current prejudice, historical wrongs must account for modern prejudice, many ascribe religion and the conversion to Christianity or another faith as a basis for historical justification. The clergy led with the idea that God preferred one race over another. How accurate is that?

The Bible and Prejudice

The Bible, contains 66 canonical books, it is a library of Gods dealings with humans. What was Gods view on how we should treat one another? The law given to Moses is often quoted as highly prejudicial but note something outstanding here in Deuteronomy 1: 16 “At that time I instructed your judges, ‘When you hear a case between your brothers, you are to judge with righteousness between a man and his brother or a foreign resident.” There was no distinction. This standard applied to all the laws and commandments.

There was an interesting point about those who chose to live with God’s people, they had to keep God’s law. They could not practice their own faith, or live by their own. They could not require that the Israelites change their laws out of tolerance. Rather the migrant had decided to live under God’s Law. By doing so they were assured of justice.

The nation decided to accept and tolerate the foreign Gods, therefore, leaving their faith. But as soon as they did prejudice emerged.

By the time of the Christians – the new congregation, God’s people following had that standard changed? Would God tolerate injustice in the congregation? Notice the Apostle Pauls words at Acts 17: 26 to 28 “And he made out of one man every nation of men to dwell on the entire surface of the earth, and he decreed the appointed times and the set limits of where men would dwell,27 so that they would seek God, if they might grope for him and really find him, although, in fact, he is not far off from each one of us.28 For by him we have life and move and exist, even as some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his children.’” Recognizing the same origin and the same standard.

What did this mean? Acts 10: 34 to 36, “At this Peter began to speak, and he said: “Now I truly understand that God is not partial,35 but in every nation the man who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.36 He sent out the word to the sons of Israel to declare to them the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—this one is Lord of all.” Equal in the eyes of the creator, note the words of James the Brother of Jesus in James 2: 1 “My brothers, you are not holding to the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ while showing favoritism, are you?” Prejudice is favouritism in action carry on reading through to verse 13. James makes powerful points about justice and equality.

In James 1: 25 “But the one who peers into the perfect law that belongs to freedom and continues in it has become, not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work; and he will be happy in what he does.” we have a description of true freedom it does not link it to race, ethnicity, education, wealth or religion. Just as it was for the national of Israel Christians are required to keep Gods commandments, those who want the benefits of Christian living must also live by those standards.

What the Bible really teaches us!

The bible shows that all people are equal in God’s eyes, he doesn’t discriminate, however, to receive the promised benefits we must actively follow God’s standards, his laws and requirements. No dilution, watering down the medicine to make it more palatable. Think in terms of a Doctor providing a course of treatment, the principle is always that the medication needs to be administered in a specific way. Now you make the decision that although you have been told alcohol counteracts the work of the treatment you enjoy it and you’ll have your regular tipple. Is it right to expect the treatment to be as effective? Can we blame the Doctor if the treatment failures? Can we criticise those who follow the treatment prescribe and benefit?

This describes the basis for some much prejudice. The desire to extend the benefits to all but diluting the rules to make society palatable.

God’s standards have not change

We are all equal before God, his requirement to enjoy the benefit of that equality is keep his commandments and extend genuine love to fellow believers. Jesus words at John 13: 35 “By this all will know that you are my disciples—if you have love among yourselves.” states the this love is the identifying mark of true Christians.

This unity exists today – there is a group of people who have put aside prejudice, seeking to live in harmony with God’s standards this link takes you to examples of how Love has changed lives follow the example of Johny and Gideon

This is just a glimpse of the promised future for those who accept God’s prescription for humanity and accept the government he has established with his Son Jesus.

These benefits are global, finding out more in the language you speak and read is easier than ever. Find out how you can live in a world free from prejudice and Enjoy Life Forever!