Brother Morris, ( member of the Governing Body).  Wasn’t raised in the truth.  In fact discussed his experiences in Vietnam.  Raised three sons.  In other words, he understands real life.  But, very pointed counsel. 

 

Word for word, “Brothers and sisters if you are not doing family worship night, you will not be ready for survival at Armageddon.  The Governing Body has worked hard to convey the seriousness of this arrangement. It cannot be underestimated.  Now you have a choice whether or not you will listen to the counsel….but remember, you’ve been warned.” 

 

In another part of the talk he asked, “Time and unforeseen occurrence befall us all.  You could die this afternoon.  As you sit there are you certain that your course of life would guarantee that you are in Jehovah’s memory and you would receive a resurrection?”  Then he talked a lot about materialism.  He said it’s not wrong to have a house…but  are you caught up in the American dream that you have to have a house?  Then he went in and talked about the bursting of the housing bubble and the govn’t giving houses to people who shouldn’t have had them….no verification of income….not adequate income, etc….and he said many brothers and sisters got caught up in that ( Two years before the bottom fell out….we had a Circuit Assembly about keeping our lives simple….those that followed Jehovah’s counsel have survived so much heartache.)

 

So what about today’s counsel…..the “Time Left is Reduced”…is our theme…will you follow the counsel today?  The way you live your life in these hard economic times, does it show you are trusting in Jehovah for your necessities?  Or does it show you are trusting in yourself and your material things –  taking matters into your own hands.

He then gave an experience of a sister he met when they were still doing circuit work.  A middle age sister…very faithful. She invited them  for lunch to her small and simple apartment.  Now he said he knew the sister had a nerveous problem….somewhat of a mental condition….like an anxiety disorder…but he never knew why and didn’t ask. Through the course of conversation, she relates that she used to have a house.  And she was bent on having the perfect house.  Perfect decorating…perfect furniture…everything just so.  She came home one night and her entire house was engulfed in flames.  She lost everything.  As a result, she had a nervous breakdown and has never fully recovered.  She said after that it taught her a lesson and she vowed NEVER to be that attached to material things because she realized how fleeting these things are. How attached to material things are you?  How would you feel right now if you lost everything?

Then he discussed the importance of daily Bible reading.  He said that he,  and Sister Morris, no matter where they are in the world, every morning have their cup of coffee and read their Bible.  Not together.  He said Bible reading is a personal thing.  He then asked the audience how many have a cup of coffee every morning? Almost the whole audience raised their hand.  Then he said, bros. and sis. If you can have a cup of coffee every morning, then you can read your Bible every morning.

Also in talking about materialism, he talked about debt and credit cards.  He pulled out his credit card.  He said now we have to have a credit card today.  Even I have one.  You can’t even rent a car without one.  But you know what credit cards are?  Plastic ANESTHESIA.  Why is that?  Well, let’s say you need some clothes. So you go to the store to buy them knowing how much you want to spend.  But you get there and the retailers, because it’s their job, have signs all over…”Two for One” “50% off”…suddenly you think, well….I don’t need two…but if they’re 50% off..then I should probably get two for when I need them later…oh wait…I’ll get one for my husband…and the kids of course…walk up to the cash register…..the cashier swipes the card…and guess what…pain free.  The card swipes…you feel nothing…and you leave….until the bill comes.  Now imagine when you go to the store you counting out the actual cash you  are spending….little more painful isn’t it?…Suddenly the reality of how much you’re spending is real…and you’re feeling it.  Be careful of credit cards.  If you don’t have the cash to back up the credit card swipe, don’t spend it.

He talked about being in the truth for a long time….we’re always getting counsel.  We always need to be making adjustments.  He said often times I hear.. “Well Br. Morris…this is just the way I am!!!!”

Jehovah may not like the way you are.  (the audience started laughing)  He said this is not a union.  Seniority doesn’t mean salvation.

He repeatedly said with all his counsel….this is not the Governing Body saying this – this is Jehovah speaking to you.  He also kept saying after each point of counsel, “Remember…it’s YOUR choice whether or not you will listen….but just know….You’ve been warned.”

He also emphasized remembering that the day of Armageddon has been set.  Nothing about our life is going to change that day.  If we preach more…it’s not going to change that day.  That day has been set.  So, when we’re going through hardships, be careful that you don’t say, “if only Armageddon would come I wouldn’t be going through this.” 

 

Remember, it’s not about you.   It’s about Jehovah’s Universal Sovereignty. 

 

And don’t say, “I hope that Jehovah holds out a little longer so that Uncle John will make it through.”  Jehovah said when the anointed are sealed, the angels will release the four winds.  Nothing about when Armageddon comes depends on us or our lives.  We just need to obey and keep preaching.  

 

He gave the example of the huge project that’s being done in Wallkill.  He said that they just showed the Bethel family a 15 minute video about the renovation and new building project  that will be done over the next 4 years.  He said after the video was shown he overheard a dear old sister who’s been there forever say, “well, I guess that means Armageddon won’t be coming  in the next four years.”  He said, now I didn’t say anything to her and embarrass her in front of everyone, but I thought to myself, “oh my goodness we approved the showing of that video and I don’t remember that being part of the dialogue.”  

 

So, that night he went back and re-watched it.  He said, “Brothers and Sisters  – we are going to be in the midst of Kingdom activity when the end comes.  We will be building, we will be preaching, we will be planning conventions, building Kingdom Halls……there’s not going to be a pause when the end comes.  We need to keep going….keep carrying out Jehovah’s will.  And I’m pretty sure when the end comes no one is going to say, “Oh no…..we didn’t get to attend that convention.  I was so  looking forward to it.”  Keep putting Kingdom interests first.

Then at the end he talked about how ready are we for the end. 

Are we really ready? 

Is our faith really strong? 

We need to make adjustments now.  He said, I was in Vietnam.  I have seen mass death….human casualties.  I have smelled burning human flesh after a helicopter crash.  I saw only a glimpse of what it will probably be like at Armageddon.  We must be prepared.