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Thursday, June 7, 2007

Ahhhhhh! A spiritual paradise coming soon, a retreat from stressful job hunting.


On the weekend in June 22-24, an estimated 7,000 Jehovah's Witnesses will converge on downtown Toledo to attend three-day conventions to discuss the Bible and family values. That weekend I will remove myself from the stress and strain of job hunting, interviewing and being turn down. Here is where I will feel safe, loved and worry free for three days. Unlike most large-scale religious gatherings, no monetary offerings will be taken at any of the meetings.

Each three-day session will feature about 22 lectures, we will have programs that deal with how to use the Bible to cope with the efforts that seem put forth today to break down the family unit. Every part of the convention is open to the public. Even a non-Witness is able to be there and benefit from the convention. Each day of the convention will focus on Jesus.

Friday’s program theme is “Look Intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of Our Faith, Jesus.” (Hebrews 12:2) The welcoming address is “Why Follow ‘the Christ’?” A three-part feature is the symposium “Appreciating Jesus as the Greater Moses, David, Solomon.” The morning session concludes with the keynote address, “Jesus’ Unique Role in Jehovah’s Purpose.”


On Friday afternoon the first talk is “‘We Have Found the Messiah’!” It is followed by “Finding Treasures ‘Carefully Concealed in Him,’” The hour-long, five-part symposium “Keep Christ’s Mental Attitude in You” includes the talks “He ‘Received Them Kindly,’”” He ‘Became Obedient as Far as Death,’” and “He ‘Loved Them to the End,’” The session concludes with the discourse “They ‘Keep Following the Lamb No Matter Where He Goes,’”



Saturday’s program theme is “My Sheep Listen to My Voice,. . . and They Follow Me.” (John 10:27) An hour-long symposium “Follow Jesus’ Pattern in the Ministry” will include practical suggestions for improving our ministry, After the talks “He ‘Loved Righteousness and Hated Lawlessness—Do You?” and “‘Oppose the Devil’ as Jesus Did,” the morning program will conclude with a discussion of baptism, after which those who qualify will be baptized.



Saturday afternoon’s program begins with the symposium “Do Not Follow,.,” Its six parts are “After the Crowd,” “Your Hearts and Your Eyes,” “Unrealities,” “False Teachers,” “False Stories,” and “Satan.” The next talks include “The Superiority of Being ‘Taught by Jehovah’” and “Help Them Return to the Flock.” The day ends with a convention highlight, the talk “Come Be My Follower.”



Sunday’s theme is “Continue Following Me.” (John 21:19) After the talk “Do Not ‘Beg Off’ From Following the Christ,” the six-part symposium “Precious Gems From the Sermon on the Mount” will focus on such sayings of Jesus as: “Happy Are Those Conscious of Their Spiritual Need,” “First Make Your Peace With Your Brother,” and “Practice Giving, and People Will Give to You.” The morning program concludes with the public talk, “Who Are the Real Followers of Christ?” The afternoon highlight is a full-costume drama based on the Bible account of Gehazi, the greedy attendant of God’s prophet Elisha. The convention ends with the talk “Keep Following Christ, Our Invincible Leader!

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