What we CAN do!

[Richard McFarland]

It seems like so many who have left the Truth or have not fully understood the Truth have the opinion that the Friends are only allowed to eat, worship, read and pray. That is far from the truth (Truth!).

I grew up with intermittent television. Sometimes we had one and sometimes we didn't. We did in 1969 for the Moon landing and Walk and the Workers invited themselves over for a moment in History. But basically TV is useless (but for Seinfeld) and me and my daughter do not have one.

I do watch DVD movies with my daughter on one of our computers. Most are good family entertainment that I have no problem with allowing my child to see. I don't need to see a (^*&, ^*(!*, every few minutes in a movie anyway. Just give me explosions or SciFi.

I've seen other Friends at music concerts such as Yanni (yeah, I like his stuff) and that fancy Irish Dancing thing Riverdance, (oh man was that a blast!) to Michael Martin Murphy's Christmas one man story with music. Oh yeah! He did "Wildfire" and we were no more than 12 feet from him. And I didn't steel the tickets!

A number of the friends (men) go to the college football games together. I have fished many times with some of the workers. Just because we live a strict life in keeping ourselves unspotted from the world, we have no admonition in Scripture against some clean relaxing times.

Peace,

Richard

[deanneswenson]

I've camped, gone on cruises, shopped, swam, done laundry........ If the Spirit of God doesn't cause me to feel uncomfortable, then it's probably not a problem.

One worker clarified what we can do on Sundays recently: We don't plan to do shopping every Sunday. But if we need to shop occasionally, it's not a problem.

Another worker stated, when someone posed a question regarding music or reading something: it is not anything in particular that is 'wrong' - anything (sports, music, etc.) could be wrong if it is taking the place of time with God. A couple times a year, we enjoy live community theater. But, isn't what we love to do that shows where our heart is?

We love to travel, and the very best parts are the conventions, meetings, and visiting the Lord's people. That's what counts!

Deanne

[geoff]

I have two main hobbies.
Ham Radio: Involved getting a license to operate a radio transmitter, and with this equipment (some of it home made) I talk to people all over the world. I'm also keen on the competitive side of this multifaceted hobby; I enter the various contests that involve making contact with as many others doing the same over a set period of time.
Sailing: I realy enjoy sailing yachts, something I've done since I was about 5, but have had several long periods where is hasn't been convenient. I have half share in a 32 ft (10m) keeler - capable of sailing across the Atlantic (but I haven't), and I mostly sail around the west coast of Scotland which is amazing with its lochs, islands and so on. The family come sometimes (sleeps 5) and we can enjoy this leisure activity together. Sometimes that means being away over a weekend, but we are able to have a time of fellowship together while away.

[deanneswenson]

Someday, we'd love to come visit! Our daughter married a (nonprofessing) man from Scotland, and plan to move there.... so we'll have to go there to see them. My husband owns 1/3 of a sailboat, but it's been sitting for awhile - he sailed around the Pacific NW USA and Canada. My dad was also a radio guy - but did what they call DXing. Interesting the common links we find with friends around the world!

[geoff]

deanneswenson said:

Someday, we'd love to come visit! Our daughter married a (nonprofessing) man from Scotland, and plan to move there.... so we'll have to go there to see them. My husband owns 1/3 of a sailboat, but it's been sitting for awhile - he sailed around the Pacific NW USA and Canada. My dad was also a radio guy - but did what they call DXing. Interesting the common links we find with friends around the world!

So if you come in summer, you'll have to come sailing with us.
Interesting that your dad was a radio ham too. I also do DXing (that only means making contact with others who are at a large distance away).
Wonder what part of Scotland your daughter is moving to? Perhaps they too should make contact (if they want to that is).
Geoff

[Richard McFarland]

Aside from constantly fighting Satan, taking care of my daughter and my part time job (Tax Preparer) I do have some time for my hobbies.

My favorite hobby would be fishing but this takes much more time and effort than I can devote at the moment.

I love woodworking! My dad has an huge shop here and we have filled it with wood and woodworking equipment and tools. We build Mountain Dulcimers to sell on ebay and at shows here and I used to do a lot of wood turning until we had to move and I haven't put my lathe back together yet.

Sometimes I dabble in old computers. Usually just some that are lying outside the dumpsters when the university leaves for the summer and the "Rich Kids" just throw them away rather than take them back home. Sometimes there is some nasty stuff left over that lets me know that all of their time was not spent studying...

I am also trying to teach myself and my daughter to play guitar. Bought myself one for my birthday and had bought her one for hers just 11 days earlier. Grandpa is helping her so I don't confuse her. She also has a lovely voice for a child with a natural vibrato that is amazing and I can't claim one bit of it because she is adopted! She loves singing and wants to play music and I have all kinds of instruments and gizmos to help her.

I guess you can say I gave up fishing for my daughters music! As long as she likes the right kind of music and stays away from the half-naked pop girl stuff! She already loves Classical music (even asking me to switch from my Arena Rock Oldies stuff!) and I do too! We also both like Bluegrass (too fast for us to play for now) and the Hymns and many of the old Christian Hymns.

Oops! I'm rambling... Always do when I talk about Breezy (her nickname!). ;D

Before I try to indulge in any of these I try to make sure that I have spoken with the Lord in prayer and keep myself in scripture for strength and knowledge.

I always remember to bring the Lord with me to work, my hobbies and to my room each night.

Peace to each,

Richard

[nancye]

admin said:

Aside from constantly fighting Satan, taking care of my daughter and my part time job (Tax Preparer) I do have some time for my hobbies.

My favorite hobby would be fishing but this takes much more time and effort than I can devote at the moment.

I love woodworking! My dad has an huge shop here and we have filled it with wood and woodworking equipment and tools. We build Mountain Dulcimers to sell on ebay and at shows here and I used to do a lot of wood turning until we had to move and I haven't put my lathe back together yet.

Sometimes I dabble in old computers. Usually just some that are lying outside the dumpsters when the university leaves for the summer and the "Rich Kids" just throw them away rather than take them back home. Sometimes there is some nasty stuff left over that lets me know that all of their time was not spent studying...

I am also trying to teach myself and my daughter to play guitar. Bought myself one for my birthday and had bought her one for hers just 11 days earlier. Grandpa is helping her so I don't confuse her. She also has a lovely voice for a child with a natural vibrato that is amazing and I can't claim one bit of it because she is adopted! She loves singing and wants to play music and I have all kinds of instruments and gizmos to help her.

I guess you can say I gave up fishing for my daughters music! As long as she likes the right kind of music and stays away from the half-naked pop girl stuff! She already loves Classical music (even asking me to switch from my Arena Rock Oldies stuff!) and I do too! We also both like Bluegrass (too fast for us to play for now) and the Hymns and many of the old Christian Hymns.

Oops! I'm rambling... Always do when I talk about Breezy (her nickname!). ;D

Before I try to indulge in any of these I try to make sure that I have spoken with the Lord in prayer and keep myself in scripture for strength and knowledge.

I always remember to bring the Lord with me to work, my hobbies and to my room each night.

Peace to each,

Richard

[nancye]

Children and music! Can't get much better!
Sounds like you really enjoy your child. Sounds like she's musical!
Sounds like you both are!
How fun!

[Pamela McKenzie]

Hi Again;

I like to play guitar and sing...I also like the piano but we had to give ours away before we moved here because it would have been a problem moving.

I keep busy dehydrating food...I look for specials and buy in bulk. Over-ripe bananas are good mixed with squash and cinnamon and spread on fruit leather trays. I am just doing some yogurt, blue berry, banana, cinnamon with stevia. This makes an awesome snack food...really good and wholesome. Honey could be used instead of the stevia. Home made fruit roll-ups at a fraction of the cost...the house always smells yummy when I am drying fruit. I did two whole bags of organic apples and they dried down to just a little bag full.

I made myself a rainbow ribbon bookmark that fits in between the binding and the pages of my Bible. If anyone wants to know how to do this....it is a lovely craft and gift and not too expensive.

I like to sew and I made a nice little jogging suit for the dog, Tyson. Tyson and I like going for walks and when I can I really enjoy walking through the bush...but I want someone with me when I go for walks in the bush. My little toy poodle loves to think he is my guardian but alas...he is only 5 pounds...he knows how to bark...but not to bite...so his bark is worse than....I'm not sure what. ;D so no good in the bush...not very scary!

I love this group and am really thankful for God's people who keep on standing true to the Lord.

Love & Peace in Christ;
Pam

[pianoman]

Music has always been a passion, after God, and even playing professionally for many years, I still love to sit at a piano, or pick up a guitar, and sing some songs, preferably with some harmony, or I record the harmonies and play with that.
I think that Deane hit the nail on the head. If God does not lay it in our hearts, we can do it. This is one place where I have to depart from counting on workers. They will have their convictions, and I will have mine.
I have to ask Deane (tongue in cheek) How do you sail a third of a sailboat? LOL
Geoff, Ham is very interesting, and I have talked on Ham. It is a unique experience. With your wonderful sense of humor, I imagine you talk to a good many people.
I think that entertainment is all okay, if we all let the spirit guide us. Let us be thankful that we have chosen to have Christ first in our lives....................................Dale

[eternally]

I've enjoyed reading this board. I was introduced to the Truth as a foster kid, when I was 11...professed in December 1951..offered and was accepted into the Work, when I was 19. Had to leave a few years later, after suffering a physical/mental breakdown, I couldn't deal with the lifestyle. Had some problems re-adjusting to life (after the Work), but despite dark times, I never lost my revelation I received, when I
professed. Now concerning what we CAN DO...I was raised believing that Radio, TV, Sports, music, shows, any worldly entertainment was wrong, I was convinced these were sins. We didn't even get a newspaper...as I recall, the only reading material we got in the mail was the sears catalogue..(lol). So, my adolesence was spent pretty much in bible study, meetings, singing get-togethers for young people, etc...Dad was a deacon and also had Sunday evening meeting in our home. In retrospect, I recall wondering why we were so strict relative to these activities. I guess I am a liberal, whereas, many of my dear brethren are very conservative. I have a tv, stereo, computer, dvd, I love to read a variety of books, I write both prose and poetry and I play the piano. I have made this known to the workers in our field, because I will not be dishonest. I am retired and physically limited in my activities. I am under doctor' care for clinical depression, Panic/Anxiety Disorder and PTSD. With medication, I am well able to cope. The scriptures do not specify what we can or cannot do...in terms of the above mentioned. The real concern of the early Apostles (Paul), was that we allow the Holy Spirit to be our guide in what we do or don't do. Paul also wrote '...Let all things be done in moderation'. James wrote: '...Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.' In verses prior to this, James was admonishing the brethren not to judge others, nor to be selfish and self-centered. My point here is that I need to concentrate on my attitude toward my brethren and what I can do the be of help, where I see a need. The hobbies we have, the things we watch, read, or go to, are not in and of themselves sins. If these things become our prime interest, and it results in our becoming less devoted to the Lord's dealings with us; then, we are in very deep trouble. Living the Christian life is an all consuming task, let us keep all things in proper perspective, and above all, maintain an open and soft heart and mind through which the
Holy Spirit can continue to speak to us.