He "Continued Growing Up With Jehovah"

He "Continued Growing Up With Jehovah"

Samuel looked into the faces of his people.  The nation had gathered a the town of Gilgal, summoned by this faithful man who had served as prophet and judge for decades. It was May or June by modern reckoning; the dry season was well along. The fields in the region were golden with wheat ready to harvest.  Silence fell over the crowd.  How could Samuel reach their hearts?

The people did not understand how serious their situation was.  They had insisted on having a human king to rule over them. They did not grasp  that they had shown disrespect to their God, Jehovah and to his prophet.  They were, in effect, rejecting Jehovah  as their King! How could Samuel move them to repentance?

Samuel spoke:  "I have grown old and gray," he told the crowd.  His whitening hair added weight to his words.  He then said: "I have walked before you frm my youth to this day." ( 1 Samuell 11:14, 15; 12:2)  Though Samuel was old, he had not forgotten his youth. His memories of those early days were still vivid.  The decisions he had made back then, as a growing boy, had led him to a life of faith and devotion to his God, Jehovah.

Samuel had to build and maintain faith, although again and again he was surrounded by  people who were faithless and disloyal.  Today, it is just as challenging to build faith, for we  live in a faithless and corrupt world.  (Read Luke 18:8) Let us see what we can learn from Samuel's example, starting in his early boyhood.

Next time:"Ministrering Before Jehovah, as a Boy" 

From the jw.org publications

Protect Yourself From Misinformation

The truth about conspiracy theories

"Conspiracy theories are playing a bigger role in people's thinking and behavior possibly more than ever," says Shauna Bowes,  a research psychologist. Here is what you need to know about conspiracy theories.

What is a conspiracy theory?  A conspiracy theory is a claim that sinister and powerful groups have secrety plotted to cause a significant or tragic event.

 Why are they dangerous? Conspiracy theoris can undermine trust in legitimate sources of information, and some can cause people to reject health or safety advice.  Such theories  can promoted prejudice and violence against the group thought to be involved in the conspiracy. 

Why are they so popular? Conspiracy theories increase in popularity during "periods of widespread anxiety, ucertainty, or hardship," states the Encyclopedia Britannica, such as "during wars and economic depressions and in the aftermath of natural disasters like tsunamis, earthquakes, pandemics." At such uunsettling times, peope accept consiracy theories because these theories validate what they believe or help them to understand why bad things happen.

How can the Bible help you to protect yourself from conspiracy theories? The Bible offers practical advice that help us control worry during stressful times. It reveals what is really behind the problems that exist as well as how those problems will be solved.  To learn more, watch the video Why Study the Bible?

Next time: He "Continued Growing Up With Jehovah"

From the jw.org publications

Protect Yourself From Misformation

 Stop the spread of misinformation

What the Bible says:  "Thou shalt raise a false report: Put not thy hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness." - EXODUS 23:1. 

Remember that the information you share with others has the power to affect their thoughts and actions. Even if you  unintentionally pass on wrong information, the consequences can be harmful. 

"The number one rule is to slow down, pause and ask yourself, 'Am I sure enough about this thati could share it?  If everybody did that, we'd see a dramatic reduction of misinformation online." - Peter Adams, a senior vice president of the News Literacy Project.

Ask yourself:  'Am I sharing this information because I know it is true?

Next time: Protect Yourself From Misformation- Conclusion

From the jw.org publications

Protect Yourself From Misinformation

 Be guided by facts, not personal preferences

What the Bible says: "Whoever trust in his own heart is stupid." - PROVERBS 28:26.

We tend to trust information that confirms what we want to believe. And Internet companies often customize our news and social media feedst to offer us information based on our interests and browsing history. However, what we like to hear is not always what we need to hear.

"People are capable of being thoughtful and rational, but our wishes, hopes, fears, and motivations often tip the scales to make us  more likely to accept something as trut if it supports what we want to believe." - Peter Ditto, social psychologists. 

Ask yourself: 'Do I trust this information jsut because it is what I want to believe?

Next time: Protect Yourself From Misinformation-Continued

From the jw.org publications

Protect Yourself From Misinformation

 Evaluate the source and content

What the Bible says: "Make sure of all things." - 1 THESSALONIANS 5:21. 

Before believing or forwarding a story, even one that is popular or repeated in the news, verify that it is true. How?

Evaluate  the reliability of the source. News media companies and other organizations may slant a story because of their  commercial or political bias.  Compare what you see in one news  outlet and other sources.  At times, friends may inadvertently pass on misinformation through email messages or social media posts. Therefore, do not trust a news item unless you can check the original source. 

Make sure that  content is current and accurate. Look for dates, verifiable facts, and strong evidence to support what is being said.  Be especially cautiousif complex information seems to be oversimplified or if the report is designed to evoke and emotional reaction. 

"Fast checking now is probably beoming an important as hand washing." - Sridhar Dharmapuri, a Senior Food Safety and Nutrition Officer for the U.N> 

Ask yourself:  'Does this news report blur the line between fact and opinion or present  only one side of the story? 

Next time; Protect  Yourself From Misinformation - Continued

From the jw.org publications

Protect Yourself From Misinformation

 Do not believe everything you hear

What the Bible says: "The naive person believes every word, but the shrewd one ponders each step." -PROVERBS 14:15.

We can easily be deceived if we are not careful.  Consider for example, captioned images or brief videos that are widely spread online, especiall through social media. Such items, commonly called memes, are often meant to humorous.  However, images and video clips can easily be altered or taken out of context. People can even create videos of real people doing or saying things the never did or said. 

"Most of the misinformation researchers encounter on social platforms features media that manipulates context, like memes." - Axios Media.

Ask yourself:'Is the content legitimate news or just a meme?' 

Next time: Protect Yourself From Misinformation -Continued

From the jw.org publications

Protect Yourself From Misinformation

 Today, you have access to more information than ever, including the kind that can help you stay safe and healthy.  But in your search, you need to beware of misinformation, such as :

* Misleading news

* False reports

* Conspiracy theories

For example, during the COVID - 19 pandemic, the secretary-general of the United Nations warned of a dangerous epidemic of misinformation.  "Harmful health advice and snake-oil solutions are proliferating," he stated.  "Falsehoods are filling the airwaves. Wild conspiracy theories are infecting the Internet.  Hatred is going viral, stigmatizing and vilifying people and groups."

Of course, misinformation is  not new.  However, the Bible foretold that in our day,  "wicked men and imposters [would] advance from bad to worse, misleading and being misled." (2 Timothy 3:1, 13)  And the Internet now allow us to receive-and unintentionally spread false news more easily adn quickly than ever.  As a result, our email, social media, and news feeds can become filled with distorted facts and half-truths. 

How can you protect yourself from mislead information and conspiracy theories?  Consider some Bible principles that c an help. 

Next time:  Protect Yourself From Misinformation -Continued

From the jw.org publications

Why Pray in Jesus' Name?

 The Bible's answer

We must pray to God in Jesus' name becaue this is the only way God approved for us to approach Him.  Jesus said: " I am the way and the truth and the life. No one come to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)  Jesus also told his faithful apostles: "Most truly  I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything he will it to you in my name." - JOHN 16:23. 

More reasons to pray in Jesus' name

* We honor Jesus and His Father, Jehovah God. - PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11. 

*  We show that we appreciate jesus' death as God's provision for our salvation. - MATTHEW 20:28; ACTS 4:12. 

* We recognize Jesus' unique role as Intecessor between God and men. - HEBREWS 7:25.

* We repect Jesus' service as the High Priest who can help us gain a good standing with God. - HEBREWS 4:14-16.

Next time:  Protect Yourself From Misinformation

From the jw.org publications 

He Protected, He Provided, He Persevered - Joseph Persevered Faithfully

 The Bible discloses only a few more traces of Joseph's life, but they  are worth considering carefully.  Read read that Jesus  "continued subject to them" -his parents.  We also find that "Jesus went on progressing in wisdom and in physical growth and in favor with God and menl." (Read  Luke 2:51, 52)  What do those  words reveal abotu Joseph? Several things.  We learn that Joseph continued taking the lead  in his household, for his perfect son respected his father's authority and remained in subjection to it.

We further learn that Jesus continued to grow in wisdom. Joseph surely had much to do with his son't progress in that regard. In those days, there was a time-honred proverb  among the Jews. It can still be found and read today.  The saying asserts that only men of leisure can become truly wise, whereas tradesmen,  such as carpenters, farmers, and blacksmiths, "declare justice and judgment; and they shall not be found where parables are spoken." Later, Jesus exposed the emptiness of the proverb. As  a boy, how often he had heard his adoptive father, humble carpenter, though he was, teach effectively about Jehovah's "justice and judgment"!  No doubty, there were countless occasions. 

We can also see evidence of Joseph's influence in Jesus' physical growth.  A wel-cared-for boy.  Jesus grew into a strong healthy man.  Further, Joseph trained his on to be skilled at his physical work. Jesus was known not only  as the carpenter's son but also as "the carpenter." (Mark 6:3)  So Joseph's training was successful. Family heads wisely imitate Joseph, caring for the practical well-being of their children and ensuring that they can suppport themselves. 

Once we reach the point in the Bible record where Jesus is baptized at about the age of 30, we find that Joseph is no longer part of the story.  Evidence suggests that Mary was a widow by the time Jesus began his ministry.   Yet, Joseph left a clear mark-a shinning example of a father who prortected his family, provided for them, and persevered faithfully to the end. Any father, any family head, or any other Christian wold do well to imitate the faith of Joseph.

When Did Joseph Die?

We know that Joseph was alive when Jesus was 12 years old. At that age many Jewish youths began to learn their father's  trade and become apprentices at 15.  Joseph evidently lived long enought to teach Jesus to be a carpenter.  Was Joseph still living when Jesus began his minsitry at about 30 years of age? That seems very doubtful.  Jesus' mother, brothers, and sisters are all mentioned as living at that time but not Joseph. Jesus was once even called "the son of Mary," not the son of Joseph.  (Mark 6:3)  Mary is spoken of as acting and taking the initiatives on her own, without consulting a husband.  (John 2:1-5)  That would have been unusual in Bible times unless she was a widow.  Finally, as he was dying, Jesus entrusted the care of his mother to the apostle John.  (John 19:26, 27)  There would have been no need to do so if Joseph were still living. Likely, then, Joseph died when Jesus was still relatively a young man. As the eldest son, Jesus undoubtedly took over the carpentry business and cared for the family until his baptism. 

Next time: Why Pray in Jesus' Name? /The Bible's answer

From the jw.org publications

He Protected, He Provided, He Persevered - "In Mental Distress" -Conclusion

 Thus in a few deft strokes, God's Word paints a realistic picture of parenthood. It can be stressful-even when the child is perfect! Parenting in today's dangerous world can bring untold "mental distress," but fathers and mother can take comfort in knowing that the Bible acknowledges the challenges they face.

Jesus had stayed in the one place in the world where he felt the closest to his heavenly Father, Jehovah, eagerly soaking up anything he could learn.  He answered his parents in simple sincerity: "Why did you have to come looking for me?  Did you not know that I must be in the house of my Father?" - LUKE 2:49. 

Joseph surely thought about those words many times. Perhaps he camt to beam with pride over them. After all, he had worked diligently to teach his adopted son to feel that way about Jehovah God.  By that time in his life as a boy, Jesus already had warm feelings about the word "father" feeling shaped largely by his years with Joseph.

If you are a father, do you realize how privileged you are to help your children to form a concept of what a loving, protective father is? Likewise, if you have stepchildren or adopted children, remember Joseph's example and treat each child as unique and  precious. Help those children to draw close to their heavenly Father, Jehovah God. - Read EPHESIANS 6:4. 

Next time: He  Protected, He Provided, He Persevered - Joseph Persevered Faithfully

 From the jw.org publications