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http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/obm032008 1/4Our Boredom Ministry #3 Pag

OUR BOREDOM M INISTRYIssue 3 For the Milky Way obm US 3d/0

1Paul wrote that “we have so great

a cloud of witnesses surrounding us.”(Hebrews 12:1) These faithful men of

old are fine examples for us. Emulat-ing them will bring us Jehovah’s bless-

ing. Therefore we want to look atsome of these servants of God closely

and think about how we can imitatethem.

2Abel: Let us start with Abel, the

first man who faithfully served God.“By faith Abel offered God a sacrificeof greater worth than Cain.” (Hebrews11:4) What was the difference be-tween the two sacrifices? Cain offered“some fruits of the ground,” Abel in

contrast “some firstlings of his flock,even their fatty pieces.” (Genesis 4:3,4) That God “did not look with anyfavor upon Cain and upon his offering”

proves he is not interested in vegeta-bles but wants to eat meat.

3

Since we should “become imita-tors of God,” we too should not eat

greenstuff but meat. (Ephesians 5:1)The account also shows that all who

follow in Cain’s footsteps and cultivatevegetables have to expect judgment.All Christians working in the fruit andvegetable industry should carefullythink about that.

4 Enoch: “By faith Enoch was

transferred.” (Hebrews 11:5) Yes, he“was apparently in a comparable con-dition of rapture.” (The Watchtower ,

June 1, 1970, page 327) The April 15,1952 Watchtower already explained

the difference between “vertical andhorizontal rapture,” but we cannot say

for sure whether Enoch’s rapture wasvertical or horizontal. Anyway, both

kinds of rapture can be found in thelocked wards of mental institutions.

The word “rapture” does also mean“frenzy” or “dizziness.”

5Sincere Christians who want to

emulate Enoch should work towards a

stay in a psychiatric hospital. The first

step could be to tell your primary care

physician about your visions. You

could show him pictures of Armaged-

don from the Watchtower literature

and tell him that he will soon be anni-

hilated.

6If these measures aren’t enough,

you could show the same pictures to

passersby in the pedestrian area and

tell them that soon the birds will be

filled from the fleshy parts of them.

You could play kingdom melodies in

the background. And don’t forget that

“God chose what the world considers

nonsense.” – 1 Corinthians 1:27, CJB.

7

Noah: “Noah … constructed anark.” (Hebrews 11:7) The Hebrew

word teváh that is usually translated

“ark” actually means “cabinet” or

“chest,” and the Greek word kib ōtós

can be translated “crate” or “box.”

These terms can be applied to TV sets

which were box-shaped in the past. In

the 1960s, there were even so-called

“cabinet televisions.” In a transferred

sense though, the term “ark” can also

be applied to LCD and plasma TVs.

8Like Noah gathered all animals in

his “ark,” we can watch all kinds of

animals in TV. Christians should im-

itate Noah’s example and diligently

watch all the daily animal documenta-

ries. So we can feel like Noah, espe-

cially when it’s raining.

9Paul also wrote that Noah wa

“warned of God concerning things n

seen as yet.” (Hebrews 11:7) In o

time though, we don’t need divin

warnings in this regard. Rather there

a variety of TV program guides prov

ing information about TV program

“not seen as yet” but shown in th

weeks to come.

10 Abraham: Abraham “went out

and dwelt in tents.” (Hebrews 11:8,

We can do the same. We can sell o

house and move to a tent. In th

case, we will not only imitate Abraha

but Jehovah himself too. After all, he

also living in a tent, for David aske

“O Jehovah, who will be a guest

your tent?” Granted, Jehovah temp

rarily lived in a house in Jerusale

but he moved out. Some years aft

the temple had been destroyed, t

apostle John saw “the tent of Go

again. – Revelation 21:3.

11We can imitate Abraham, “the f

ther of all those having faith,” in y

another respect. He “attempted

offer up his only-begotten son.” (H

brews 11:17) However Jehovah hi

dered him from doing so because h

still needed Isaac as progenitor of th

nation of Israel. But today, Jehovahpeople reproduce by preaching min

try. Anyway, children are no mo

required so short before Armageddo

they rather are a burden to their pa

ents. (Matthew 24:19) Thus paren

should carefully consider if they shou

follow Abraham’s example as long a

their children are too young to resist.

J OIN THE GREAT C LOUD OF W ITNESSES !

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12 Moses: “He left Egypt.” (He-

brews 11:27) Jeremia too wrote: “Donot enter into Egypt.” (Jeremiah 42:19)Most people neglect this advice; ac-tually Egypt is one of the world’s mostpopular holiday destinations. But trueChristians must beware of holiday inEgypt, however cheap travel offersmay be. They would be at risk of “thedestroyer” touching them. – Hebrews

11:28. 13

Paul also mentioned that Mosescelebrated “the splashing of theblood.” (Hebrews 11:28) Thus Chris-

tian family men have the obligation tosplash their family with blood once a

week. This measure will be most ef-fective when taken Saturday morning

before the family goes out into theministry. This way, we can identify

ourselves as servants of Moses’ Godand at the same time make the peopleafraid of the “destroyer.” – Hebrews11:28.

14 Walls: Paul mentioned another

interesting detail about Israel’s history:“By faith the walls of Jericho fell

down.” (Hebrews 11:30) Indeed, evenwalls can exercise faith. Hence we

should not only ring at doors in thefield ministry, but also call on thewalls. The service overseers can re-

serve special days for the wall-to-wallministry, so that as many walls as

possible may follow the example given

by the walls of Jericho and becomebelievers.

15 Rahab: The report continues:

“By faith Rahab the harlot did not pe-

rish with those who acted disobedient-

ly, because she received the spies.

… And what more shall I say?” (He-

brews 11:32) There was no need to

tell further details. The readers knew

how Rahab had made the stay of the

spies as pleasant as possible. Can

Christian sisters imitate her example,especially when elders or circuit over-

seers are on a visit?

16 Activities: Paul reported of faith-

ful servants of God who “defeated

kingdoms in conflict.” (Hebrews 11:33)

Could we “put on the complete suit of

armor“ and choose a military carreer?

17The report also says that God’s

servants “stopped the mouths of

lions.” (Hebrews 11:33) To imitate

them, we could apply for a job as a

lion tamer at a circus. Then we could

check for ourselves if the promise that

“the lion will eat straw just like the bull”

has come true. – Isaiah 11:7.

18Other faithful men of old “put out

raging fires.” (Hebrews 11:34, CEV )

Could we join the local fire brigade to

follow suit? We should also keep in

mind that Jehovah’s word is “like a

fire.” (Jeremiah 23:29) When finally

“he will rain down upon the wicked

ones … fire and sulphur,” firefighterswill be much-needed. – Psalm 11:6.

19 Clothes: Some of the prophe

“went about in sheepskins, in goatkins.” (Hebrews 11:37) Can we plato wear such clothing not only the ministry but every day? This wawe too can endure “mockings” aso imitate the faithful men of o – Hebrews 11:36.

20 Death: Some of the faith

prophets “were sawn asunder.” (Hbrews 11:37) A job at a sawmill couhelp us imitate Jehovah’s faithservants and get closer to him. Othworshippers of Jehovah “westoned.” (Hebrews 11:37) Why nfollow their example by taking druand doing street work in Tehran?

21Other servants of Jehovah “die

by slaughter with the sword.” (Hbrews 11:37) How can we emulathem? Jesus said: “All those who tathe sword will perish by the swor

and gave the advice: “Let the onhaving no sword … buy one.” – Mathew 26:52; Luke 22:36.

22 Of course, not everyone can im

itate these faithful men of old to the fextent. But at least in one regard, evryone can do that. Paul wrote: “In faall these died, although they did nget the fulfillment of the promises(Hebrews 11:13) We all will die towithout getting “the fulfillment of tpromises.” Are we not deeply grate

that Jehovah grants us such a privlege?

▪ The video program Young People

Ask – How Can I Ruin My Life? will be

considered at a Service Meeting in

November. If needed, copies should

be requested through the congrega-tion as soon as possible.

▪ Some publishers have inquired why

“brighter light” is always published in

summer when it is usually bright

enough outside. Please keep in mind

that “it does not belong to you to get

knowledge of the times or seasons”

which the “faithful and discreet slave”

has defined.

▪ A number of publishers use the bad

weather as an excuse for less going

out in the ministry. Please consider

the example of Jeremiah who said

about Jehovah’s word: “It proved tobe like a burning fire shut up in my

bones.” (Jeremiah 20:9) With the right

heart attitude, we will not feel cold

even at very low temperatures when

we proclaim Jehovah’s word from

house to house.

▪ In the service year 2008 the German

branch experienced a sparkling in-

crease in average publishers of -521.

▪ To avoid disputes regarding t

assignment of houses and oth

properties of the annihilated peop

after Armageddon, the elders shou

make a detailed map of your congrgation territory. Every estate shou

be listed with its future owner.

▪ The January 2007 issue of O

Kingdom Ministry encouraged t

publishers to build up emergen

stocks. Please note that it is not n

cessary to stockpile birdseed becau

there will be enough apostates ava

able. – Revelation 19:17.

.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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God’s servants are not immune

against the troubles of life. But the

wonderful Kingdom Melodies have

already helped many Christians to

cope with difficult situations.

Some years ago there were heavy

rain falls in Asia, causing a huge flood

disaster. Arpad and Muriba from India

lost all their belongings, all the crop

was destroyed, and some of their

relatives died in the floodwaters.

The family sang together Kingdom

Song 108 that says: “Just as the rain

that falls from the heavens causes the

earth to bring forth its yield, so is the

word Jehovah has spoken.” Indeed,

they glorified God because it is he

who “makes it rain upon righteous

people and unrighteous” and is “giving

… rains from heaven.” (Matthew 5:45;

Acts 14:17) They considered the flood

as a preview of the magnificent bless-

ings in paradise.

Mbele and Tabitha from Eritrea

have to contend with other problems.

A horrible drought devastated theircountry; the blazing sun had burnt for

months. All their animals died of thirst,

the crop was lost, and their children

became fatally ill. They glorified God

with Kingdom Song 5 and sang: “Sun

and moon and starry heavens God’s

grand qualities display.” They also

were mindful of the fact that the

anointed “shine as brightly as the sun“

by providing life-giving spiritual food to

mankind. – Matthew 13:43.

Hassan and Cleopatra from Egypt

had to cope with a serious stroke.

During a weekend trip to the river Nile,

their 5-year-old son was eaten by a

crocodile. Their running away in panic

startled up a herd of hippos that at-

tacked their daughter as well.

Since hippos are vegetarians, they

did not eat the girl but spit her out

again, but yet all help was too late. On

their way home, the parents sang

Kingdom song 34 that says about

Jehovah: “Creation’s wonders your

glories proclaim.”

They remembered the April 15,

2001 Watchtower that said about “the

hippopotamus … and the formidable

Nile crocodile: … Each in its own way

is a marvel of creation.” Like faithful

Job they considered the hippo as “the

beginning of the ways of God.” (Job

40:19) After the creator referred to the

destructive power of the crocodile, he

continues: “Who is it that can hold his

ground before me? Who has given me

something first, that I ought to reward

him?” (Job 41:10, 11) This wonderful

text strengthened the two in their hard

situation.

Madeleine from New York lost her

husband in a riding accident. He was

riding over Brooklyn Bridge when a

hurricane came. A squall seized his

horse and it jumped over the railing.

When loneliness befalls her, our sister

often sings Kingdom Song 171 that

says: “Sing to Jehovah. … The horse

and its rider he has pitched into the

sea.” She looks forward to the time

when ‘the sea will give up those dead

in it.” – Revelation 20:13.

Jukka-Pekka from Finland was

climbing in the mountains when sud-

denly a big rock fragment broke loose

and fell onto him. Both his legs were

cut off, but he survived. Still in the

rescue helicopter he began to sing

Kingdom song 41: “Give praise to our

Rock. His perfect activity laud. …

Jehovah, our Rock, manifests faithful-

ness.” He often remembers that Jeho-

vah is “our Savior, Rock, and Redee-

mer,” as stated in Kingdom song 49.

Totally different problems gi

Helmut and Erika from Germany

hard time. It is mainly the indifferen

of the people in their territory th

discomforts them. Many do not wa

to listen, though the two have bee

bringing the same life-saving me

sage every Saturday for 50 yea

now.

They console themselves w

Kingdom song 53: “Christ on h

judgment throne sits and is reignin

Nations and peoples before him a

pear. God’s sov’reignty he will soo

be maintaining, crushing his enemi

both far and near.” When they me

someone with an opposing attitud

they often sing Kingdom song 16

directly at his door: “The time h

come at last for Christ to reign

power. Soon all his foes shall lick t

dust; before him they must cower.”

Regardless of all the benefit th

can come from the Kingdom Me

dies, we must also be careful. Tw

young sisters from Holland liked

sing Kingdom song 128 that say“Analyze! Let’s give it attention. Tim

indeed fast is running out.” They use

this song as a pretext to analyze a

to give attention to the questio

whether it’s correct that “time indee

fast is running out.”

Their analysis revealed that this

not the case. They cut themselves o

from the congregation. Their paren

were very sad, but they found comfo

in the Bible’s wonderful promise thJesus will soon say regarding the

children: “Bring [them] here a

slaughter them before me.” – Lu

19:17.

We too can find comfort in t

Kingdom melodies in times of d

tress!

F INDING C OMFORT IN THE K INGDOM M ELODIES

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1Are you acquainted with anyone

who has become apostate? Perhapshe has started associating with theJWD board or read the books byRaymond Franz. You may have con-tacted such a person while engagingin the house-to-house ministry. We

must keep in mind that the individualonce has been our spiritual brother.We want to confirm our loyalty to Je-hovah and help him to return to theslavery to the “faithful and discreetslave.” – Matthew 24:45.

2 Demonstrate Contempt: A brief

telephone call or visit may assure onewho has become apostate that weconsider his sin as not so bad. Wemay encourage the apostate to con-tinue his sinful course by simply lettinghim know that we were thinking of him.

If you cannot avoid a conversation,keep it negative and razing. We mightmention a point about the annihilationof all apostates. We could also showhim appropriate pictures of Armaged-don from our literature.

3A woman who had been apostate

for more than 20 years was found inthe territory. Although she did not haveInternet access, she uttered ideassimilar to those discussed in the JWDboard.

4 When Someone Has Informa-

tion: When an apostate person hasinformation about “brighter light” be-fore it has been published in theWatchtower , how should we treat him?Well, what did the psalmist recom-mend? He instructed God’s worship-

pers regarding apostates: “Knock otheir teeth in their mouth.” – Psa58:6.

5Before stoning an apostate a

cording to Deuteronomy 13:5, wshould talk to the elders. If we live incountry where the execution of apotates is prohibited, we should alwacontact the branch office first.

6As the Bible clearly shows, on

those who take strong action againapostasy will receive salvation. (Eodus 20:6) Therefore, guard againthose who are apostate. If we patienreflect Jehovah’s disgust by demostrating sincere aversion for suones, we may experience the joy seeing their corpses decompos – Jeremiah 25:33.

1Paul and other Christians in the

first century proclaimed the good newsat every given opportunity. We surelywant to imitate their fine example and“not hold back” from utilizing all oppor-tunities for witnessing. – Acts 20:20.

2Opportunities: Many Christians

have got into the habit of going to thetoilet multiple times a day. Is that appli-cable to you? Why not use this oppor-tunity for witnessing? Many who areexperienced in this feature of the wit-nessing work noticed that on their wayto the toilet they often meet someone

who is coming from there. So you al-ready have a common basis on whichyou can build an encouraging conver-sation. You could mention the wonder-ful hope of a defecation-less future asoutlined in The Golden Age magazine.

3Others lie awake at night out of

fear of doing too little in Jehovah’sservice. Why not use the time to ringyour neighbor’s doorbell, start a friend-ly conversation about the Bible andoffer the latest Awake! issue? Someother Christians are regularly shoppingin a supermarket. While waiting in the

queue, you could tell the other peopwaiting of your hope that most of thewill be gone soon.

4Occasionally Christians are k

napped by rebels and held as hostaes. In such a case, we should bthankful to Jehovah that he grants

the privilege of witnessing to thepeople. They are usually hard to reain the regular house-to-house ministrTell them of the wonderful hope ofworld without hostage-taking! Yes, dnot hold back from bearing witness every given opportunity!

Due to globalization, our shops are

full of products from foreign countries.How should we as Christians viewgoods from abroad?

Jehovah cautioned us when he an-nounced: “I will punish … those whodress in foreign clothes.” (Zephaniah1:8, CJB ) Indeed, as Jehovah’s ser-vants we should only buy clothesmanufactured in our own country. As aprecaution we could ask the manufac-turer if the materials too come fromour country.

If we travel abroad, we should let

our clothes at home and purchasedomestic clothes at our travel destina-tion. That is the only way to escape“Jehovah’s heavenly executionalforces“ because they might not knowthat we are foreigners.

What about other products, i. e.food? Regarding groceries, we can,even should, resort to foreign prod-ucts. Isaiah prophesied: “You will drinkmilk from other nations.” – Isaiah60:16, CJB .

Isaiah added: “Foreigners will b

your farmers and your vinedressers(Isaiah 61:5) Hence the ban on foreig

products only applies to clothes. Oth

goods we can obtain from the “n

tions.” We can also hire foreign wor

ers, for “foreigners will actually bu

your walls.” – Isaiah 60:10.

We do well to consider thes

thoughts at every purchase, so that w

can “please God … more fully

– 1 Thessalonians 4:1.

DO N OT F ORGET T HOSE W HO ARE APOSTATE

BEAR W ITNESS AT E VERY GIVEN OPPORTUNITY

ARE F OREIGN P RODUCTS FOR C HRISTIANS ?

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