Circuit Overseer Talk: REJOICE WITH THE TRUTH

This is re-created from the notes I took during the Circuit Overseer's talk on Tuesday night.  I couldn't get it all down, or read back all my scrawled notes, so while this is not perfect, I hope it is accurate.

REJOICE WITH THE TRUTH

Circuit Overseer Talk, Tuesday 28th October 2014

What is truth?  The C.O. reminded us of Pontius Pilate's question, and pointed out that we live in a world that does not value or welcome truth. We are to be non-judgmental.   Yet don't people yearn for the truth?  Scientists, for example, are constantly searching for the answers.

Do we remember how we felt when we first learnt the truth?

Yes, I do vividly.  I felt as if I had had a jumbled up jigsaw in my head and suddenly all the pieces began to click together, faster and faster, and I saw the picture for the first time.  I don't want to forget that.

We then read 1 Corinthians 13:4 and 6:

" Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. It does not brag, does not get puffed up."

" It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth."

In this Inspired definition of love, we can see how love and truth connect.   As we study Jehovah's word and get to know Him, and his perfect laws, it makes us so happy.  We rejoice.

The Circuit Overseer pointed out that the word for "rejoice" has connotations of  jumping for joy.  It is a very strong word.  Both heart and mind is involved.  We need to welcome all the truth, even when it involves letting some cherished beliefs go.

The C.O. then discussed the example of the Apostles in the first century, as they came to understand that circumcision was not a requirement for a Christian.   He read Acts 15:28,29:

" For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you except these necessary things:  to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you!”"

He pointed out how long circumcision had been practised.  It was a requirement of the Mosaic Law, but it predated that Law, as it was a command given to Abraham.  So the Jews had been practising circumcision for 1900 years!  It was a cherished custom.

The C.O reminded us of the celestial chariot that Ezekiel saw in vision - Jehovah's perfect and fast moving heavenly organisation. So, at that time, the celestial chariot was moving along in a new direction.  No indicators!   Off it went - and would they follow?

How did those first Jewish Christians react?

He then read Acts 15:30,31:  "So when these men were dismissed, they went down to Antioch, and they gathered the whole group together and handed them the letter. After reading it, they rejoiced over the encouragement. "

They rejoiced to see the truth, to see Jehovah's purpose clarified. And the result was to speed up the work being done.

Acts 16:4,5 tells us:  "As they traveled on through the cities, they would deliver to them for observance the decrees that had been decided on by the apostles and the elders who were in Jerusalem. Then, indeed, the congregations continued to be made firm in the faith and to increase in number day by day."

The congregations continued to increase in number day by day. 

The truth itself never changes, but we are being helped to understand it more and more clearly.

The Speaker then reminded us of the early Bible students in the 19th Century.  Once they began to study the Bible they saw clearly that the doctrine of the inherent immortality of the soul is unBiblical.  Our brother Russell said: "Let Scripture interpret Scripture", and so they did.

So they taught that, as the Bible says, the soul can and does die, and that man is mortal.   There was an article in The Watchtower magazine of 1894 pointing that out.  Yet when I was a Catholic Convent schoolgirl in the 1950s we were still being taught that the soul is immortal.   As far as I know Christendom teaches it to this day.

And the very essence of heathen religions is the immortality of the soul.  Yet the Bible has taught us right from the start where that doctrine comes from.

The Speaker then read Genesis 3:1-5:

"Now the serpent was the most cautious of all the wild animals of the field that Jehovah God had made. So it said to the woman: “Did God really say that you must not eat from every tree of the garden?”  At this the woman said to the serpent: “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden.  But God has said about the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden: ‘You must not eat from it, no, you must not touch it; otherwise you will die.’” At this the serpent said to the woman: “You certainly will not die.  For God knows that in the very day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and bad.”"

It was Satan who told Eve there was something immortal about her.  "You certainly will not die".    Whereas Jehovah had told them, clearly and plainly, that if they ate of the forbidden fruit, they would die.  And so they did.  When they cut themselves off from their Creator, their Source of life, they found they could not even keep themselves alive, let alone run this beautiful and complex planet.

In 1896, the Bible Students examined every Scripture in the Bible that refers to hell - they were using the King James Bible at that time (and for many decades after). And so they discerned that hell is simply the ground, the grave, the common grave of mankind.

As this truth became clear, the brothers rejoiced.   Even some of those who were not in the congregation rejoiced.  Apparently one clergyman (?) (my notes are not easy to read) congratulated brother Russell, saying: "You have put the hose on hellfire."

Who wouldn't rejoice to hear this?  When I was a Catholic Convent schoolgirl way back when, I couldn't understand how anyone could be happy in heaven (as we were taught that is where we were going if we were good enough) knowing that people were being tormented forever somewhere else.   It put me off the whole idea of God and the Bible for many years - because, of course, I assumed that is what the Bible taught.    

So, yes, the truth makes us rejoice.    Anyway, back to the talk.

In 1912 they began to understand the truth about inheriting the earth - about Paradise being restored.

He read the lovely words at Revelation 21:4,5: 

"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.”  And the One seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new.” Also he says: “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”"

But who was going to inherit the earth?

And who were "the great crowd" of  Revelation chapter 7?

A Convention in 1935 explained the great crowd/other sheep - which was another cause for rejoicing.  

As far back as 1886, the Bible Students were very clear that the author of the Bible is God - that it is the Inspired word of Jehovah.    The C.O. quoted (didn't get down source of quote) someone who wrote that there is a Scriptural reason behind everything that Jehovah's Witnesses do.

And I can remember noting that difference between them and others (I had been searching for a while) - that everything Jehovah's Witnesses taught was based on the Bible.

The Speaker then asked us to remember how we felt when we first learnt the truth, and asked if we still feel the same way.  We never want to take it for granted.

He talked some more about how the truth became refined. There was the release of the New World translation - to get away from the Creed bound translations.

It took time before there was a clear understanding of the principle of relative subjection.  Romans 13: 1,2 says: 

"Let every person be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God.  Therefore, whoever opposes the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God; those who have taken a stand against it will bring judgment against themselves."

The truth became clearer as we understood that we must be obedient to all earthly authorities for as long as Jehovah tolerates them, but that it must be a relative obedience, in that, when man's law conflicts with God's law, we must trust in Jehovah with all our heart, and put God's law first.

(I thought, at this point, of our Christian brothers and sisters in Germany during the Nazi era, who, as followers of Christ, would not and could not "Heil" Hitler as their saviour, let alone join his Nazi party, his army, or his Gestapo.  Clearly they understood enough of the truth then to stand firm, but I don't think it was completely clear at that time.)

In 1973, we came to realise that there should not be one elder in charge of each congregation, but a body of elders, as there was in the first century.

The Speaker then read John 17:17,19:

"Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth."   "And I am sanctifying myself in their behalf, so that they also may be sanctified by means of truth."

The truth sets us apart, for a special purpose.

He then spoke about a very timely article in The Watchtower, in 1939, just as WW2 started, but I didn't manage to get the details down, or remember what the article was about!

The Speaker also read 2 Corinthians 7:1:

"Therefore, since we have these promises, beloved ones, let us cleanse ourselves of every defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

We came to understand that the use of tobacco is not appropriate for a Christian.  Which is a great protection.   And another reason for being joyful.

The question to ask ourselves:

In spite of all the problems and stresses am I still rejoicing in the truth?

Do I cherish it as a treasure beyond price?

And the Speaker concluded by reading John 8:31,32:

"Then Jesus went on to say to the Jews who had believed him: “If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples,  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

She should have gone to Specsavers

And this morning Mrs Captain Butterfly finally did go to Specsavers, and got her eyes tested. Which was very overdue. They have not deteriorated as much as I feared, though I do need new glasses, but I have cataracts coming in both eyes!

"Don't worry, and not too much sunlight" the young Optician said cheerfully.  "You will be fine for years".

I hope he is right.  but is there any bit of me still working properly?

On the plus side, we got a lovely little illustrated letter from Harry and we are going to Jacks for supper at the weekend.   And, comfortingly, we have more talks from the Circuit Overseer on Sunday.  I am going to blog the Tuesday talk as soon as I have finished deciphering and typing up my scrawled notes.  It is all about rejoicing in the truth, never taking for granted the wonderful knowledge we have.

I am not sure how I would feel at this stage of my life if I didn't know what the Inspired Scriptures say.  

And I must just say how lovely the staff at Specsavers are to oldies and crumblies like myself.  No wonder it's doing so well.

The Jolly Roger

Tony told me, on the doorstep, as I delivered his October Watchtower and Awake yesterday, that the reason for the design of the Jolly Roger - the skull and crossbones flag - is probably a religious one - something to do with the amount of bones needed before someone can be resurrected(?).  It sounds like it might have been the result of a: How-many-angels-can-dance-on-the-head-of-a-pin debate within Christendom.

I looked it up on Wiki and there seem to be different accounts of its origins, but there is a clearly a religious angle.  Anyway, its a frightening symbol, not something that would draw me to it.

It also got me thinking - both brain cells at full stretch - about the resurrection. Because, as a Catholic Convent school girl, in theory, I believed in it.  Yet what did I suppose it was for?  If we all went off to heaven, or hell, or to eons of torment in purgatory to fit us for heaven (?!) when we died, as we were taught, then what was the resurrection for?

It never occurred to me to ask. The answer would almost certainly have been "Its a mystery".   But when I was shown what the Bible says about death, it all made sense.   I had realised, after I had my first anaesthetic (when I had my tonsils out) that death must be unconsciousness, but it wasn't till nearly 30 years later till two Jehovah's Witnesses knocked at my door and showed me these words from the Bible on my shelf.

"As for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all." - Ecclesiastes 9:5

To live again, we need to be woken from that dreamless sleep. To be resurrected, or re-created.

People need to know the truth more urgently than ever.  So I must get myself back out on the doors again.   Its proving a struggle.   Anyway, I did get out for an hour yesterday to forward my route calls.  And I managed a couple of calls on Sunday afternoon.  Apart from Tony though, I am not finding anybody at home.

The bonfire and fireworks were spectacular this year. And there were five of us to feed.  I had plenty - everyone was able to have second helpings.  If there is a get together next year though, I will keep it simpler, just make a big shepherds pie.

Currying

Yesterday was a cookery day - made the marinade for the chicken - and made the hot tomato chutney. I also shopped, posted the Butterfly stuff, and did a couple of loads of washing.

The dahl and the bhajis will have to be done today and I must start my magazine route calls this weekend.  Mark rang about some star-gazing going on on Kitthurst Hill last night, but neither of us felt equal to it. A sad landmark, as Captain Butterfly is usually equal to anything.

I do remember an evening in Dhahran though when we were watching for - was it Halle's comet? or that other one?  - through a large telescope in the desert.   What I remember is seeing the Pleiades, or Seven Sisters. They were like jewels sparkling in space - joyful and awe-inspiring.  If  I hadn't already known there was a Creator, surely I would have known it then.

Was hoping to be out on the field service this morning, but it looks like I will have to go tomorrow. To my amazement the parking spaces in our flats are already filling up!  And if I go off in the car there may not be a space for me when I get back.  This is the only day of the year we have ever had a problem parking -  but its not usually a problem till late afternoon.  Amazing.   A few years ago, I could have walked to Sue's, but while I probably could just about do that now, it would leave me fit for nothing else.  And I have to be on my feet cooking.

Still uncertain about numbers tonight. One guest has been rushed into hospital - very worryingly...  and two more will be here, but we are not sure when - for supper, or after, just for the fireworks.

Talking of comets has reminded me of a Thomas Hardy poem.  He certainly realised how short our lives are now.


The Comet at Valbury or Yellham
Thomas Hardy

I 

It bends far over Yell'ham Plain, 
         And we, from Yell'ham Height, 
Stand and regard its fiery train, 
         So soon to swim from sight. 

II 

It will return long years hence, when 
         As now its strange swift shine 
Will fall on Yell'ham; but not then 
         On that sweet form of thine. 

The Dabbling Ducks and the Congregating Cormorants

Cormorants, Phalacrocorax carbo

Our day out at the Arundel Wetland Trust reminded me of a poem from my childhood.  Its from "The Wind in the Willows" (Kenneth Graham) - one of my favourite childhood books.

DUCKS DITTY

All along the backwater,
Through the rushes tall,
Ducks are a-dabbling,
Up tails all!

Ducks' tails, drakes' tails,
Yellow feet a- quiver.
Yellow bills all out of sight
Busy in the river!

Slushy green undergrowth
Where the roach swim -
There we keep our larder,
Cool and full and dim.

Everyone for what he likes!
We like to be
Heads down, tails up
Dabbling free!

High in the blue above
Swifts whirl and call -
We are down a-dabbling
Up tails all!

dabbling duck -
Gadwall, Anas strepera

"How wonderfully designed they are" I pointed out to Captain B.  "They never topple over backwards which I certainly would if I took up dabbling."

"The mind boggles" said the Captain glumly as he waited in vain for the Kingfisher to turn up.   We saw a flock of Cormorants at Widewater Lagoon today though. We got there via a trip to see my arthritis specialist, or rather, as it turns out, his nurse (a very nice lady), and a shop at the big Marks and Sparks.

I made onion bhajis this afternoon. They have turned out quite well, so I might cook another batch for Saturday.

Born to be Mild

It seems I was born to be middle-aged (though the words: "Don't you mean elderly?" just appeared in a thought bubble above the Captain's head).   We are not long back from an evening at the Wetland Centre - a talk with slides about RSPB Reserves, with an interval for a nice cup of tea and a biscuit - and it seemed an almost perfect night out to me.  And always would have, I think.  I have never been a disco/nightclub sort of girl.

We saw the beauty and the complexity of the creation through a lovely talk with excellent photographs.  The Speaker said how amazed he was by the cuckoo brain, by the programming that enables it to travel so far and so accurately - that enables it to recognise another cuckoo (it was not brought up by cuckoos), the way that its egg will mimic that of the host bird.    But, sadly,  this was without any acknowledgment of the Creator, Jehovah.

We often discuss the creation at the Kingdom Hall, but we always  acknowledge and thank its Grand Creator.

I do wonder too about the cuckoo in the nest - it doesn't sound like a Paradise arrangement...  so what will the cuckoo do in Paradise?  Make its own nest?  Rear its own young?

I hope we are all there to find out.

Talked to Linda today - her life is rather complicated at the moment. And we may see her Saturday night, or we may not.   At any rate I have to provide enough curry for 2 extra, as she will not be on her own if she comes.

The Team of Jean and Sue at the Forbidden House

The team had quite an experience on Saturday. One of those experiences that makes you so glad you did get out there.   We were working the Not At Homes that the team of Jane and Sue collected last week.  We had walked past a couple of doors as they had "No Calling at this Door without an Appointment" notices, and had reached the next door.

Then we heard a voice - looked round - and a lady in a dressing gown was calling us from one of the Forbidden Houses.   She knew we were Jehovah's Witnesses and wanted some literature from us.   We gave her the current magazines, but what she really wanted was the book "What Does the Bible Really Teach?".  And neither of us had a copy on us!   Anyway, we promised to collect one, and put it through her letterbox,

Which I did after the meeting this morning.   Along with a sympathy card from the two of us, one of Captain Butterfly's cards - as it is a family tragedy that prompted her request.   And I also enclosed the little leaflet that gives details of our website: JW.Org.

She doesn't agree with us, she says, but...  

She also decided that we could knock at her door again if we want, so Jean and I have agreed to go along next month, take the November magazines, which will really help to address her tragedy. And see if the family has found some comfort.

Jehovah is the God of all comfort, so, IF only they will listen and take it in...

The meeting was lovely. What can I say - except how do people manage without this perfect teaching?

It has been sunny today, though the wind is getting up again. Maybe this promised storm will arrive?

We are having supper at Jackie's tonight, so I am looking forward to that. We both are. I don't know if Tom is joining us or not, but they are both coming to us next weekend - hopefully along with Linda - for a curry night.

Another Landmark

A small landmark, but for the first time since my ops, I took myself - no Captain in attendance - on my favourite walk, down the pier and back.   It was a lovely morning, sun coming through ominous looking clouds. Tiring and my back hurt - though it was only 30 minutes with 2 sit downs enroute!

Worrying how feeble I am.    I haven't exactly achieved a lot this week.  On Wednesday - STOP THE PRESSES - the sausages I had thawed out to go with the mashed potato in the fridge turned out to be two chicken breasts!     So I spent Wed morning making a chicken vegetable casserole. And that made my back ache. What doesn't these days?  Then I spent the afternoon making lemon cake for the packed lunches.  In between I slept on the sofa in front of the telly.

Yesterday I shopped in the morning - Waitrose again.  Worn out by shopping, I dozed most of the afternoon.

Its worrying that I am so disasterously tired, and must ask about it at my Hospital appointment next week.  I finally get to see my arthritis Specialist.   Is it just a combination of old age and arthritis and trying to heal, or what?

Lovely meeting last night. Of course.  We were looking at Jehovah's loving provision of the ransom sacrifice.  And I thought back to my early days of talking to the JWs when I began to realise that it didn't make sense to say you were a Christian and a believer in evolution.

Why the need for the ransom sacrifice if we evolved?  Why did Jesus need to come to earth as a perfect human, the exact equivalent of Adam before he sinned if we evolved and were evolving and Genesis was simply a creation myth?  Why do the Christian Greek Scriptures tell us that "death ruled as king from Adam down", if there was no such person?

"That is why, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because they had all sinned—. For sin was in the world before the Law, but sin is not charged against anyone when there is no law.  Nevertheless, death ruled as king from Adam down to Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the same way that Adam transgressed, who bears a resemblance to the one who was to come.
 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by one man’s trespass many died, how much more did the undeserved kindness of God and his free gift by the undeserved kindness of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to many!  Also, it is not the same with the free gift as with the way things worked through the one man who sinned. For the judgment after one trespass was condemnation, but the gift after many trespasses was a declaration of righteousness. For if by the trespass of the one man death ruled as king through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of the undeserved kindness and of the free gift of righteousness rule as kings in life through the one person, Jesus Christ!"
So, then, as through one trespass the result to men of all sorts was condemnation, so too through one act of justification the result to men of all sorts is their being declared righteous for life.  For just as through the disobedience of the one man many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one person many will be made righteous."

Romans 5:12-19

Through the obedience of one person - Jesus Christ, the faithful witness - many will be made righteous.

Righteous by the way - not self-righteous. That is a very different thing.

In which we lunch with Mrs. Hudson

We, that is to say the Captain, Jackie and I, ate lunch in the restaurant in which Una Stubbs was lunching!    I remember her as a lovely young teen in "The Young Ones" with Cliff Richard, and now, some few years later (ahem),  she is Mrs.Hudson in the brilliant new Sherlock.

She gave us a dazzling smile on the way out.

It was a good day out altogether, and seeing Una Stubbs was the icing on the cake.  We went to the Pallant to see The Scottish Colourist, J.D. Fergusson. So that was fun.   Then we lunched with Una - duck pate, toast and salad for Jackie and Himself, and an open sandwich for me (goats cheese and onion marmalade) - a glass of wine each, and a coffee and a biscuit.  I can't imagine Una had much, as she has to stay so slim and glamorous.

The whole gallery made me want to create, to paint, to sew, to work in silk.  (I can't do any of those things - but, if and when I am in the restored earthly Paradise, who can say what I will be able to do. I remember how Jehovah gave the makers of the tabernacle all the skills they needed to carry out their work*.)

They had two extraordinary ultra modern mechanical tapestries on the staircase walls in the old building.  And I thought what an amazing technique to work with.  I would want to create something quite different though, which is the beauty of it.  If everyone on earth sat down to paint the same bowl of fruit, no two paintings would be the same.

Jehovah's creation is so varied.  No snowflake repeats the other.

And, talking of snowflakes, it has gone quite cold now.

*"Then Moses said to the Israelites: “See, Jehovah has chosen Bez′al·el the son of U′ri the son of Hur of the tribe of Judah.  He has filled him with the spirit of God, giving him wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of every sort of craftsmanship  for making artistic designs, for working with gold, silver, and copper,  for cutting and setting stones, and for making all kinds of artistic wood products.  And he has put it into his heart to teach, he and O·ho′li·ab the son of A·his′a·mach of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to do all the work of a craftsman, an embroiderer, and a weaver using blue thread, purple wool, scarlet material, and fine linen, and of a loom worker. These men will do every sort of work and prepare every sort of design."
Exodus 35:30-35

The Team of Sue and Sue

The team of Sue and Sue were out, working one of the new estates. Its one that doesn't appear in my map book - must see if they have an updated version in the Stationers now - the last time we worked there - four of us - our second road eluded us.

As it was, on our Saturday street, the numbers were all over the place.  And so were we, trying to find them (we were working with a  list of not-at-homes).  I say "street", but of course there was not a "street" to be found. They were all "close" or "crescent" or "ride" or "chase". And so language continues to lose its meaning.

And I often wonder if the whole business of the academic deconstruction of language (insofar as my rusty brain can understand it) is to blind people to the clear and simple message in the Inspired Scriptures.

Isn't human language a big problem for Darwinists?  Under the theory of evolution, it should have started with grunts and become more complex.  Yet isn't our linguistic history the exact opposite? The early languages are immensely complex and beautiful, but we are heading into the world of Newspeak and the gutter grunts of some movie scripts.  Which is in harmony with the Genesis account of a perfect start, and a continuing fall from that perfection.


Our Watchtower this month has a lovely article telling people what the Kingdom of God is, according to the Inspired Scriptures, and, on page 6, it lists the wonderful things promised for the earth then. And the public talk yesterday gave a great reinforcement. It was about the importance of listening to the prophetic word. And the speaker went through some of the prophecies about the coming of the Messiah - how specific they are, how they were fulfilled to the last detail.

So there is every reason to trust the Bible when it tells us what is going to happen next.

Jackie came for a curry supper:  marinated chicken, a dahl, a hot tomato chutney and rice. And of course along with it we had the small small things: Uncle Butterfly's home made date chutney, bananas in lemon juice, and Patak's hot lime pickle.  It all worked together well.  We had Lidl's trifle for dessert.

The thunderstormy weather seems to have gone and it was suddenly quite cold on Sunday morning.  Its raining today and the Channel is now completely calm. There is a valiant dog walker on the Green.

The Ebola crisis is worsening.

An Autumn Garden

I was thinking again today of how our first father Adam opened his eyes in an Autumn Garden. The gardens at the Wetland Trust are so lovely, even now, with the serpent still in the garden.

Common Evening-Primrose, Oenorthera biennis

We lunched there - sweet and sour chicken for the Captain and his Mrs (which seems a bit insensitive now I come to think of it - it is a wildfowl trust...) and Terry, who joined us, had baked potato.

We spent a couple of hours in the sand martin hide, but the kingfishers proved elusive today.

I did my Watchtower study - encouraging and helping us to get out there and tell people what they urgently need to hear. The horsemen of Revelation are riding harder than ever it seems. Ebola is raging in some African countries, and nowadays with the world so small, it may well be raging worldwide in no time.

We need to remember that the Rider on the White Horse - Jesus Christ - is also riding, and that he will soon take action.    When the Kingdom of God is ruling over us, "no resident will say 'I am sick'".   People need to know there is real hope for us.

And we won't be killing and eating the animal creation then - and they won't be killing and eating each other.  The world will be Paradise.

Its lovely enough now.  How lovely will it be then?

Climbing Butterfly Mountain

Yesterday I climbed a paperwork mountain.  With no Sherpa support. And no oxygen.  There must have been another recruitment drive as there were a lot of new Butterfly members to process. Me and my knees plan to stagger down to the Post Office today (if and when it stops raining) and get all the membership packages posted.  I hope my young surgeon provided extra scaffolding in view of these increasing memberships.

We had a couple of violent thunderstorms yesterday.  The sky went really dark and then WOW.   Thankfully Captain Butterfly got back from his Course just before it all started.  But he has had to drive off this morning in thunderstorms and torrential rains.   He just rang me to say he had arrived safely and was having his first cup of tea.

Well...  I am trying to think of some excitement and drama with which to fill my blog. Though I should be grateful - and am grateful - that there is none.  A calm life and a routine is what I love.

Perhaps I could borrow a sensational Beachcomber headline to liven things up?

He headlined:

SIXTY HORSES WEDGED UP CHIMNEY!

And underneath he wrote:  "The story to fit this sensational headline has not turned up yet."

Its the final of the Great British Bake-off tonight.  THE FINAL OF THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE-OFF!

Now that is a worth a sensational headline, in anybody's money.  I am really looking forward to it.

The Autumn Sunrise

Captain Butterfly has to leave early this morning, on his Course, so we were up watching the beginning of the morning - heavy black clouds with a crimson edge. The sky is now becoming pinker round the edges, and as the wind gets up, there are white horses on the Channel.  Its so lovely.

I don't know how Jehovah could have made it more lovely than He has.

Jacks treated us, me, the Captain and Tom, to a beef bourguinon (which I hope I have spelt right) with mashed potatoes, sprouts and courgettes - followed by a selection of cheeses, and a lemon tart. She provided a goats cheese for me, and yoghurt as an alternative to cream.  I find that cream flares my arthritis up - and leads to hours of intense pain.

What a good friend she is.   Once again we all had a collection of ailments to discuss - children of Adam that we are - but we did cheer each other up.

That was Saturday night.   And the meeting at the Hall yesterday was so comforting.   Maggie is back from her travels to save me a seat next to her.  The talk was about the urgent necessity of paying attention to Bible prophecy.  For all my years of churchgoing - both Catholic and Protestant - I had never even heard of the Seventy weeks prophecy in Daniel until I began to study the Bible with my local Jehovah's Witness congregation.  And yet that alone should and could tell us that what Jehovah says, he means. And that what he says he will do, will come about without fail.

Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained

We (Jane and I) were taken in from the rain when were out this morning, as a kind lady who Jane regularly calls on asked us in, and we had a lovely talk.  Altogether we met two people who seem genuinely interested - one from Poland, and one from Texas.

It was very hard to get myself out this morning - I think I am one of those people who could end up unable to leave the house, if I am not careful.  But I had my flu shot scheduled for 9 a.m. and that was such an efficient production line, that I got to the Field Service group early and had to sit outside in my car for a while, tempted to run away.  Then Jane drove us to the territory, which was very kind of her.  I got back just in time to get Captain B's lunch, thanks to our wonderful new Soup Machine.  

We are going to Jackie's tonight for supper.

Our Watchtower magazine this month has a lovely article about the incoming Kingdom of God.  I will link to it on the site, as I would like everyone on earth to read it.
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/wp20141001/interested-in-gods-kingdom/

God's Kingdom will bring peace to the earth.  It will restore the Paradise our first parents lost.  And at at time when we are commemorating World War 1 - "the war to end wars" - by having lots more wars, it is very comforting to know that the Kingdom of God will bring peace on earth.

“He is bringing an end to wars throughout the earth.”—Psalm 46:9.

“Nation will not lift up sword against nation, nor will they learn war anymore.”—Isaiah 2:4.

Climbs with my Couch

We spent Tuesday in Arundel with Sue (ex-expat).  We started the day with a discussion of all our health problems - Sue is also facing the prospect of a Knew Knee.  Oh dear.   Great to see her though, she seems just the same, apart from the problems with walking.

We did the tour of the Reserve - a first for me.    I haven't been able to walk that far for a long time.   It was great - and we saw the Water Vole.   Apparently Captain Butterfly heard it crunching under the bridge!  It was tucking into a tasty reed.

I am busy climbing Everest again, with a Chris Bonington expedition this time.  A very large expedition fortunately, as they have to drag me, my couch, and my cups of tea, all the way to the top - the hard way - via the unclimbed South West Ridge in fact.