Now, why don't you take your incidious little detraction game and "ponder" it for a while. When you get done, let's play chess some day!!! You would have a better chance at winning that game, Grandma.
Gailon Arthur Joy
Play Chess!!!!!!! EW soundly denounces that game if I remember right. How would you know how to play the game
Wow, you are correct Bonnie! It seems EGW was pretty specific about the game of chess:
Such mental exercise as playing cards, chess, and checkers, excites and wearies the brain and hinders recovery: while light and pleasant physical labor will occupy the time, improve the circulation, relieve and restore the brain, and prove a decided benefit to the health. But take from the invalid all such employment, and he becomes restless, and, with a diseased imagination, views his case as much worse than it really is, which tends to imbecility. {PH145 49.2}
"I was shown that it is not essential to our salvation, nor for the glory of God, for us to keep the mind laboring, even upon religious themes, constantly and excessively. There are amusements which we cannot approve, because Heaven condemns them,--such as dancing, card-playing, chess, checkers, &c. These amusements open the door for great evil. Their tendencies are not beneficial, but their influence upon the mind is to excite and produce in some minds a passion for those plays which lead to gambling, and dissolute lives. All such plays should be condemned by Christians. Something should be substituted in the place of these amusements. Something can be invented, perfectly harmless. {RH, October 8, 1867 par. 29}
"I was shown that the position of Dr. Jackson in regard to amusements was wrong, and that his views of physical exercise were not all correct. The very amusements he recommends hinder the recovery of health in many cases, where one is helped by them. And physical labor for the sick, is to a great degree condemned by Dr. Jackson, which proves in many cases the greatest injury, while such mental exercise as playing at cards, chess, and checkers, excites and wearies the brain, and hinders recovery. Light and pleasant physical labor will occupy the time, improve the circulation, relieve and restore the brain, and prove a decided benefit to the health. But take from the invalid all such employment, and he becomes restless, and, with a diseased imagination, views his case as much worse than it really is, which tends to imbecility. {RH, October 8, 1867 par. 35}
Recreation is needful to those who are engaged in physical labor, and is still more essential for those whose labor is principally mental. It is not essential to our salvation, nor for the glory of God, to keep the mind laboring constantly and excessively, even upon religious themes. There are amusements, such as dancing, card-playing, chess, checkers, etc., which we cannot approve, because Heaven condemns them. These amusements open the door for great evil. They are not beneficial in their tendency, but have an exciting influence, producing in some minds a passion for those plays which lead to gambling and dissipation. All such plays should be condemned by Christians, and something perfectly harmless should be substituted in their place. {MYP 392.1}
I was shown that the position of Dr. E in regard to amusements was wrong, and that his views of physical exercise were not all correct. The amusements which he recommends hinder the recovery of health in many cases to one that is helped by them. He has to a great degree condemned physical labor for the sick, and his teaching in many cases has proved a great injury to them. Such mental exercise as playing cards, chess, and checkers excites and wearies the brain and hinders recovery, while light and pleasant physical labor will occupy the time, improve the circulation, relieve and restore the brain, and prove a decided benefit to the health. But take from the invalid all such employment, and he becomes restless, and, with a diseased imagination, views his case as much worse than it really is, which tends to imbecility. {1T 554.3}
It began in the Sanitarium before Dr. Kellogg came into the institution. Persons who came there to board and room brought in chess playing and many other amusements. This was not right, and the Lord rebuked the management. Our Sanitariums are not to cater to the perverted tastes of worldly people. The same evils have existed in the Sanitarium on the hillside. A few years ago the managers made it more of a hotel than an institution for healing the sick. In the rooms of the guests could be seen the wine bottles that they had brought with them. The boarders indulged appetite for many harmful things. God was not at all pleased with the course pursued by the management in allowing such indulgence; for His purpose in the establishment of the institution was not being carried out. He sent light in regard to it, and the result was that some in leading positions withdrew. They said, "If we refuse to serve meat, we cannot hold the patrons." But whether patronage increases or decreases, right principles must be upheld in the Lord's institutions. In all our work we are to show the advantage of a health reform diet. Between us and the world there is to be a distinct line of demarcation. {KC 143.5}
Passage after passage... The message is quite clear. She even goes so far as to say that "Heaven condemns" it.
Gailon, were you aware of the EGW position on chess when you played it as a child? How about when you tossed out the invitation for us to play chess some day? Do you believe it is a sinful game since she said so? Do you have a chess set in your home? I have one or two. My grandkids have lost a piece from one of them. Have you taught your grandkids to play yet?
In fact I was a chess champion... and quite proud of the title...and this at the very same time I had Congressman Philbin write a recommendation letter to the US Military Academy at West Point. Unfortunately, I failed my physical, (unacceptable eyesite at the time, without glasses) and ended my dream of a military career. My nickname was "general" and I lived and dreamed of leading armies in battle. Even was part of a team that would play out scenarios with Avalon Hill type game boards that would go on for weeks in "the Tower Room". My hero's were McArthur, Eisenhower, Patton, Bradley and host of others. My specialty was integrated large force engagement in a conventional setting (Army Corp, Army Group and theatre commands). When that dream went bust I left it behind, reluctantly at first, but then I met that terrific lady that would become my wife and never looked back.
I believe somewhere in storage I do still have my Chess Champion Set and Board (if my wife didn't dump it at some point.). I have not played since I have been married and have not taught either my children or grandchildren how to play.
Now, for the more important question, did I know Mrs White gave specific counsel on Chess at the time I was playing? Yes, I did. Did I ignore that counsel, yes I did!! Would she have approved of West point? EXTREMELY UNLIKELY as the Point is not tolerant of conscientious objectors. At the time, war and its death and destruction were lost in the glamour of shoulder bars and stars, battle ribbons and the need to out-think your opponent. I believe I was pretty good at strategic thinking and implementation in controlled settings. And I had nerves of steel that worked well for me in an ER for five years.
Years later those same talents would work well for me as we developed trial strategy and did case management. Mental agility while part of a trial team is critical as the case unfolds and each puts forth their direct, cross and then rebuttal witnesses. In summary, the advocates play the supreme game of "toying" with the jury in an effort to gain the upper hand or to handicap the opposition. There is a right way and a wrong way with each jury. The right way leads to the glory of winning and the almighty award or judgement (and a happy client), the wrong way
leads to the depression and nausea of defeat and an unhappy client.
Fortunately, my wife was quite helpful in getting me beyond those stages and settling into a "normal life" however that is best defined. The 'general" is long faded and the chess skills quite rusty, I am sure. Since then, I have come to believe unreservedly in the Spirit of Prophecy and the great messages and lifestyle that is gifted to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Is that a sufficient answer for the dis-ingenuous inquisitions of GrandmaNettie?
Gailon Arthur Joy
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Topic: Prayer for Blue Mountain Television Sharathon (Read 45530 times)
