JOYFUL HEART. Prove 17:22 Two contrasting circumstances, nearly all persons having experienced both. When one's spirit is crushed, how such a person needs comfort, hope, and encouragement! Romans 15:4 says "For all the things that were written beforehand were written for our instruction, so that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope." And 2Corinithians 1:3,4 says regarding Jehovah: "Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort,4 who comforts us in all our trials so that we may be able to comfort others in any sort of trial with the comfort that we receive from God." So may we look to Jehovah through prayer, as well as God's word and perhaps other spiritually-minded loved ones and friends if our spirits are low, pouring out our hearts primarily to Jehovah, perhaps also to others, but being "quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger." (James 1:19). How fine when one is experiencing a "joyful heart," as this has proven to be "good medicine." People have been healed by appropriate laughter or spending time with someone genuinely joyful--perhaps we can find an upbuilding talk or speech that we enjoy listening to, or some fine comedy routine or particular show that may be one of our favorites. While we shouldn't foolishly laugh at everything people do or mistakes they make, we can try to see any humor in things that happen or things that we read or study, and collect some enjoyable jokes, puns, riddles, and so on to share with others when they need a lift. Doing so may help others maintain a positive, joyful outlook. May we not overlook, however, the deep-seated, genuine joy that comes from appreciating God and spiritual things, that may not always be evident by laughter, or a smiling face. Proverbs 14:13 says "Even in laughter the heart may feel pain, and rejoicing may end in grief." Thus loving and practicing what is right and good in the eyes of Jehovah will bring His pleasure and blessing, and truly uplift others.

"23 A wicked man will take a bribe in secret To pervert the course of justice."

REJECT CORRUPTION, LOOK TO GOD. Prove 17:23 Notice that such bribe-taking is practiced by the "wicked." We are not talking about lawful fees for services rendered. Rather, impartial, fair justice is not being practiced. People in positions of authority are wanting, or being coerced into accepting money to perform some favor for someone with the money, often to get around a rule, law, requirements, or "red tape" to get what they want as soon as possible. This discourages fair-minded respect for law, contributing to a disobedient, rebellious spirit among others. There is no need for this! Yes, we still have to put up with imperfection and be patient, showing understanding when things don't always go our way in this current system of things. But we can look forward to God's kingdom setting all matters right, and bringing the true peace and harmony that God intended for mankind. Even now, if there is too much "red tape" involved in a process, those in authority should take a look at simplification, to save precious time for those involved. For instance, how might information already obtained about someone be used to reduce the amount of paperwork necessary to get something done? Some states, for instance, have honed good procedures for accomplishing necessary tasks of their citizens, that other states or even the Federal government might perhaps benefit from. The same principles can be applied perhaps within the family or home. Look for ways to simplify necessary work, that so much time may not be spent needlessly. Still, may we show patience when it simply cannot be avoided.

"24 Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, But the eyes of the stupid wander to the ends of the earth. 25 A stupid son brings grief to his father And heartache to the one who gave birth to him."

GAINING DISCERNMENT. Prove 17:24-25 Recall that the stupid one often knows the right thing but does not do it, as if he or she doesn't appreciate that God is looking out for our happiness and welfare in giving us His laws and guidelines, to protect us from unnecessary harm both spiritually and physically. Such a person is contrasted with a discerning one, who has pondered a little more, and discerns God's interest in us and that it is a matter of importance to obey Him. Thus, wisdom is in front of a discerning person, likely properly fearing God, and hating badness. The stupid, however, with eyes wandering "to the ends of the earth," may be looking everywhere except where they are heading. Proverbs 4:25 says "Your eyes should look straight ahead, Yes, fix your gaze straight ahead of you." As children grow, help those with wandering, trivially curious eyes, to learn to appreciate the more important things to be considering, and to disregard things that are much less important. By doing what we can to assist those dangerously leaning toward badness, they may happily avoid bringing grief and heartache to parents and loved ones.

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CHRISTIAN SMALL LETTERS

CHRISTIAN SMALL LETTER SELECTION

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Since my fonts have been in the news recently, I would like to explain a little further. Most have come to know that I seek to act fairly in such matters and business dealings. While I hope my fonts have great appeal and bring delight to those using them, whether on large displays, in the media, or as computer interface fonts speeding up systems, I've found this has been an industry that could use some attention, to bring more fairness to several worthy fontmakers who've missed opportunities for business. I aim for WIN-WIN situations in business dealings wherever reasonable. With my patented speed enhancements I would like to provide some assistance when my fonts are chosen to be in use by certain businesses or in certain venues for SCREEN DISPLAY USE. I have proposed a solution. While businesses may purchase any number of my fonts for their venues, if they are wishing to purchase them for at least 70% of them, I would like to speed things up for their remaining venues, and give them additional options for other decent fonts.In most instances I would like to speed up the display of their most recent font for 15% of venues.(The former font-maker already did well, as businesses typically pay for fonts up front). If they wish, they could purchase my font for 70% of their venues, and then they can have choices of other worthy fonts at a fair rate totaling up to another 15% of their venues, preferably 3, from font-makers who, for some reason other than font quality, weren't able to make deals like the fortunate ones. The choices (from among selected decent ones that GOD has chosen, at my request, about 1000 of them) will be sped up as well, and adequate opportunity will be given to the one selecting to find suitable options. This will give other font-makers a chance to have their fonts displayed, and receive some payment for their work that may, up to this point, have been largely fruitless. This may occur several times over, and provide payment to many of these persons. My hope is that these lesser-known fonts might be shown to be acceptable, and their makers might receive some payment for their work. However, my speed improvements on these fonts will only be valid as long as my font(s) continue to be valued and used for 2/3 or more of the venues. While I hope that my font(s) will continue to be preferred and valued for quality, style, clarity, speed and other aspects, I also wish to see the other fonts be suitable for their venues as well, wishing they might remain for a year or more.

For those interested to know whether a font is mine or not, hopefully they will come to recognize the looks of my main fonts--Full-bodied ENLIGHTEN and FORTIFY, RADIANT and RADIANT LIGHT, GOODNESS, and JUST DYNAMO, as well as CONTOUR DYNAMIC, RIGHTEOUS, ENDURANCE and DILIGENT DYNAMO, and LIGHTNING (primarily for server use). However, they may also be able to tell if the fonts are being displayed almost instantly by sentences. I patented a different way to control the speed of font display--one sentence at a time. There can be a chosen delay time between each sentence, which is doubled for compound sentences. While my fonts can also be displayed in the usual way, with a speed setting perhaps 70, 75 or more, a common reading speed, they may also be displayed with the sentence method, with a timed delay that might also be appropriate for reading. Also, some systems makers are considering eliminating some little-used fonts from their document apps, and allowing some new fonts to be incorporated into them. With these measures and others like them, it is desired to allow more to make a fair living and hopefully reduce some of the likely unscrupulous activity that has taken place in this industry for quite some time. While godly wisdom is greater than money, God nevertheless blessed the free market system of ancient Israel, as He can do today. Money can be exchanged with proper motives! Ecclesiastes 10:19 offers this assessment: "Bread is made for laughter, and wine makes life enjoyable; but money answers every need." A balanced view of money therefore can and should be maintained.

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COME TO CONSENSUS CORNER

Week 15: ISSUE BY ISSUE ADDRESSED BY GOD’S KINGDOM: EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW

Leviticus 24:22 “‘One judicial decision will apply for you, whether a foreign resident or a native, because I am Jehovah your God.’”

HONOR GOD’S STANDARDS. While we’ve considered the subject of racism, realizing how unfair and unkind it is to view people of a different skin color than yours as somehow less of a human being, we should also make sure we comprehend God’s view of justice. The Mosaic Law made it clear that all people, regardless of their circumstance, should be entitled to honest and fair judgment in cases of wrongdoing or accusation of such, or, with sound mind, in the rights and privileges granted by law. It was pointed out, when addressing prejudice and racism, that we are made in God’s image, and therefore have a strong sense of justice, wanting to see that all—not just ourselves—are treated fairly. Deuteronomy 32:4-5 was shared: “4 The Rock, perfect is his activity, For all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness, with whom there is no injustice; Righteous and upright is he. 5 They have acted ruinously on their own part; They are not his children, the defect is their own. A generation crooked and twisted!” Thus, when people practice injustice, God considers them as ‘acting ruinously,’ as being ‘crooked and twisted!’ We must, then, come to learn God’s standards in life, to know right from wrong, that we may hold to a right course, and avoid harming the fabric of human society by treating others unjustly.

AVOID ‘ACTING RUINOUSLY.’ To do otherwise, to hold each person to a different standard based on biased leanings, favoring one race or skin color, persons having so much money or certain possessions, hair color, eye color, height, gender, choice of favorite foods, furniture style, favorite sport, hobby or their choice of home location or neighborhood, is to act unjustly in the eyes of God. Such treatment may even be considered by God as in part “ruining the earth.” (See Genesis 6:11-12). God is going to call such ones to account, if they do not respond to His corrective appeals to mend their unjust ways. Revelation 11 speaks of a time of judgment by God, for Him, not only to remove evil ones, but also to reward faithful ones. Nevertheless, God is abundantly merciful and patient. 2Peter 3:9 says: “9 Jehovah is not slow respecting his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with YOU because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.” And scriptures such as Psalm 103 make His mercy clear: “103 Let me praise Jehovah; Let everything within me praise his holy name. 2 Let me praise Jehovah; May I never forget all that he has done. 3 He forgives all your errors And heals all your ailments; 4 He reclaims your life from the pit And crowns you with his loyal love and mercy. 5 He satisfies you with good things all your life, So that your youth is renewed like that of an eagle. 6 Jehovah acts with righteousness and justice For all who are oppressed. 7 He made known his ways to Moses, His deeds to the sons of Israel. 9 He will not always find fault, Nor will he stay resentful forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor has he repaid us what our errors deserve. 11 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So great is his loyal love toward those who fear him. 12 As far off as the sunrise is from the sunset, So far off from us he has put our transgressions. 13 As a father shows mercy to his sons, Jehovah has shown mercy to those who fear him. 14 For he well knows how we are formed, Remembering that we are dust.”

UNJUSTIFIED DEFIANCE. Of course, to receive equal justice under the law, judges themselves need to be having this view of matters. Leviticus 24:22 was shared at the outset. Leviticus 19:15 says similarly: “15 “‘YOU people must not do injustice in the judgment. You must not treat the lowly with partiality, and you must not prefer the person of a great one. With justice you should judge your associate.” In referring to a “lowly one” and a “great one,” God is merely recognizing that a person can become more or less well-known in society. Yet His point is, either way, this does not give them any right to violate His standards or laws, thinking their circumstance somehow justifies their defiance. Still, God’s law itself should be inherently fair to all such ones, considerate of the circumstances of each person, precious to God.

SEEING THINGS GOD’S WAY. Thus, under God’s Kingdom rule, not only will laws be corrected wherever necessary, to uphold God’s right and loving standards, but judges themselves will be willing to see things God’s way, to render truly fair and right justice to all. All such ones will be willing to acknowledge, as declared by righteous rulers at Revelation 4:11, that “11 “You are worthy, Jehovah, even our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created.” Yes, ultimately it is God’s authority that should be recognized, that makes genuine happiness possible, as peace-lovers faithfully hold to His righteous standards in life. This is the course of wisdom, as described in the Bible book of James, at James 3:17-18: “17 But the wisdom from above is first of all chaste, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits, not making partial distinctions, not hypocritical. 18 Moreover, the fruit of righteousness has its seed sown under peaceful conditions for those who are making peace.” This shows that adherence to God’s standards can grow and thrive among those who desire and promote peace. Those desiring an overtly selfish course that runs counter to a peace-loving society will not get to know real peace unless they mend their ways, strengthening their love for God and truth, and appreciation for His law. At 1John 4:19 we read: "We love, because he first loved us." And Psalm 119:163, 165 says: “163 I hate falsehood—I detest it— I love your law...165 Abundant peace belongs to those who love your law; Nothing can make them stumble.” Thus we learn these seven steps in life's journey: 1) APPRECIATE GOD'S LOVE, 2) HATE FALSEHOOD, 3) LOVE GOD'S LAW, 4) RECEIVE ABUNDANT PEACE, 5) CULTIVATE TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS, 6) FIND TRUE HAPPINESS, 7) REFINE TRUE LOVE

CONCLUSION

NEW HEAVEN(S), EARTH. Therefore, God will bless His Son’s efforts to ensure that true peace, happiness, love and prosperity will prevail under the rule of His Kingdom. The “new heaven(s)” mentioned in God’s word has reference to this government, but it needn’t rule only from above this planet—the term heavenly can refer to ruling powers in general—which exercise an influence over earth’s affairs. It is in this sense that the “new heaven” and “new earth” appear as mentioned in Revelation 21. This does not require all new people to replace former ones, although God’s government will be primarily be directed by faithful, integrity-keeping ones, requiring some changes. Rather, an entirely new view of ruling will have been acquired, and those of earth will largely have gained a new perspective on life, grateful for God’s abundant blessing and favor bestowed upon humankind, desiring of holding to His righteous standards. Thus great cooperation will exist to accomplish God’s marvelous will toward mankind and this planet. It is a New Jerusalem, a new spiritual governing arrangement with God’s blessing, that will bring these things about. It is in this setting that verses 3-5 of Revelation 21 are related: “3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. 4 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.”5 And the One seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new.” Also, he says: “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” While some changes may happen “overnight,” others will take some time. Still, as we come to love God's law, may we rejoice at the application of truth, purity, and peace, to the earth of God’s making, and it’s resulting righteousness, justice, and happiness!