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I'm at $4.09 per gallon here for regular gas where I live

I am on a fixed income from SS benefits. We will get a small increase and the last 3 years since I started it only covers the increase of part B so I don't look for it to be different this year. May I ask how you are coping with the increase in fuel since most need it for work and service? It's mostly retired pioneers out in our hall during the week because the others are working and have families. I'm curious as to how fuel increase will effect our ministry? I always contribute to the gas fund because some are not able. We had an announcement a month ago re contributions being a little shy , you could tell it was an uncomfortable part the elder had to address.

Price for diesel in my neck of the woods in regional NSW varies between AUD$2.48-2.74/litre. So a US gallon, allowing for FX conversion would be US$6.71- 7.42 😕

When I was growing up my parents had a messy divorce, which still affects my family 10+ years later. After they split up I started to have serious doubts about the truth and Jehovah- this wasn’t helped by the way the elders mishandled it at the time. But working through those doubts and overcoming them made me realise how valuable my relationship with Jehovah is and motivated me to dedicate my life to him. I think the 1st step to helping them is finding the root cause- and it may be different for each one of them. They may wonder why Jehovah had allowed the family breakdown to happen, or they may worry that others are judging or gossiping about them. There are so many possibilities and really the only way to know is by trying to have an open conversation with them, on an individual basis if possible. https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/teenagers/spirituality/ This may be helpful for your family too: https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/teenagers/ask/my-parents-are-divorcing/

If I’m calculating correctly, We are about $9 or $10 per gallon here in Scotland.

Yes, it’s similar in Brazil. We also have different prices for gasoline and diesel. Here in Brazil, we pay in Brazilian reais (BRL). As of September 2026, regular gasoline is around R$6.60 per liter, while diesel is around R$6.50–R$6.90 per liter. I converted the prices to US dollars only for comparison: that’s roughly US$1.30 per liter for gasoline and US$1.27–$1.35 per liter for diesel. So yes, there is a difference between gasoline and diesel here too.

Understanding music from the academic perspective of how music has been taught, written, and institutionalized have been used to maintain social classes, gatekeep professions, and protect elite status

Monday, September 14 Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves.—John 6:53. Back in Noah’s day, God prohibited humans from consuming blood. (Gen. 9:3, 4) Jehovah repeated that restriction in his Law to Israel. Anyone eating blood was to “be put to death.” (Lev. 7:27, ftn.) Jesus upheld that Law. (Matt. 5:17-19) So it is unthinkable that he would urge a crowd of Jews to consume his actual flesh or drink the blood in his veins. Jesus was speaking in a figurative sense, as he had done earlier when he told a Samaritan woman: “The water that I will give . . . will . . . impart everlasting life.” (John 4:7, 14) Jesus was not suggesting that the Samaritan woman would get everlasting life simply by drinking certain literal water. Similarly, he was not saying that the crowds he spoke to in Capernaum would live forever if they ate his literal flesh and drank his literal blood. w24.12 9 ¶4-6

Same here, a little over $6 per gallon

Some thoughts in point form; Do you need to work full-time ? 2 days fulltime service not fullfilling? Think about the quality not the quantity of hours. Working front of house ,receptionist clinic you will connect with so many people. Receptionist clinic / customer service jobs are draining, it is not a mindless job. There's many demands mentally. Most likely you'll want to go straight home and sleep after.

Diesel where I live in Australia is currently $261.9 per litre which equals $6.64 USD per gallon.

It seems some are quoting diesel prices and some are quoting gas/petrol prices. There’s a big difference here in the states between the two. Is that the same in other countries? Current average US prices. The$4.31 per gallon for regular gas and $6.20 per gallon for diesel, Regular Gasoline: $4.31 Mid-Grade: $4.81 Premium: $5.20 Diesel: $6.20 E85: $3.29 [1]

A couple ceos have now come out and said they need government to help regulate AI. 😱. The one I saw on CNN was the ceo of Anthropic and evidently there are others who want the same He came up with a several step proposal to slow things down and try to get control before it goes so fast humans can no longer keep up This feels crazy and way more than fear mongering. I mean, he compared regulation needed to how the governments regulate banks and said we need to get it worldwide. Maybe the theory of AI being part of what causes the GT isn’t just theory anymore. What an insane time to be alive!

Reminds me of our WT study today.

Hi Brother Christian, Welcome to JWtalk, we are glad to have you. Can you share any insight into why these teenagers have decided to stop attending meetings? You did mention... "since the divorce, the kids lost all hope." Yes that could be a factor. However, sometimes a major reason why some teenagers drift away or no longer want to be a Witness has to do with other factors, such as a strong influence from school friends, or certain family/relatives having a negative influence speaking negative about JWs, etc.

I can only give you a few things that were priceless for me. Even though the circumstances were not the same a few things my elders shared with me helped me keep my sanity. Rick (step father) and I were married when my three kids were under 7. I did not learn the truth till my youngest was half way through his senior year. Rick never came into the truth but I feel he was favorable to it just had addiction problems. I studied 6 months before becoming baptized. The day I was scheduled to meet with my elder to go over questions was a day that I hold dear. I did not at the time but definitely do now. That morning I was doing laundry and when I removed. My sons jeans from the washer I found a unopened condom in the washer. I assumed it was his because if it was not my husband had a whole lot of explaining to do. So like every mom I panicked and did not stop to think how I might could handle it in a way that would not traumatize neither of us for life. So I called him on his cell (son #2 I'll call him to protect the guilty), at school after I had gone to work. When he answered I did not even say hi. I cold opened with a angry voice that said 'Do you want to tell me why I found a condom in your laundry?' He paused, sounded quite upset and blurted out 'Are you on your speaker?' then he hung up. I looked around the nurses desk and realized I had hit the speaker button and my voice traveled all over 5 East orthopedic ward and nurses had come out of rooms looking down hallways and doctors were at the desk smiling. I was horrified. So my plan not to traumatize either of us was a failure. Then I went to brake room to make a call to my husband. He said 'Leslie I am the one who told him to use protection.' I was numb. When we both got home that night I yelled at my husband for trying to raise a boy that was not his and was something I would not have suggested. He said he had told #2 son to stay at a friend's house that night and give his mom time to process what had transpired. I went to my elders house that night to review the questions and told him I was concerned I could not be baptized because my 17 yr old son was having sex. He asked me to slow down and explain from the start what occured. He was so KIND, SMART AND PATIENT! HE SAID that my husband having taken on the role as head of house dealt with the situation as best as he knew how. He even went on to say that this relieved me of a great responsibility. I should teach my kids about Jehovah as it was my responsibility as their mother. BUT if there ever was a good time to have a worldly husband THIS WAS THE TIME! HE said that as parents we want to teach Jehovah's standards but weigh all the information. My son was almost grown. He had never had a religious discussion in his life with his mother or ANYONE ELSE. Rick was taking on a tough roll as raising and protecting another mans children. He was thinking of STD, unwanted pregnancy, youth, and doing his best with advising on that tender subject. My elder had no children. He was around late 30's to early 40's. Use to be a writer for The Love Boat and Love American Style. He had been WORLDLY. So, after assuring me I could still get baptized I said 'Are you sure?' He thought for a minute then said the only problem he could forsee is if I was trying to hold out for the position of an elder. 😂 He told me just a few months and son #2 would be out of the house. It would be naive to think that he would stop having sex just because his mom said to. He encouraged me to not make Jehovah or meeting attendance a condition of my relationship with him or any of my children. So what I feel is If the only time you bring up spiritual things is to correct or redirect them, they'll start avoiding you along with the meetings. With the 19-year-old especially: he's an adult now, living with a non-Witness father post-divorce. Any push from you will likely read as "the man who married Mom telling me what to do." Your best move with him is probably patience and genuine relationship-building with zero religious agenda attached to it, for a long while. Trust gets built before doctrine does. With the 15-year-old she's still under your wife's roof and authority, so your role is more about backing your wife up quietly — not stepping into disciplinary or spiritual-lead territory yourself. I want you to know that my husband's relationship with all three of my kids was solid. I feel like it was better than mine. I was 42 when I learned the truth. Still so eager to learn more. I'll keep your family in my prayers as well as all step families. Now I know why marriage is suppose to be to one person commitment . It avoided so much hurt in the long run. Do I wish I had stayed married to their father. No. I'm still sorting out the why.

You will have to make your own travel arrangements to go from Brisbane to Sydney. Its around a 1.5-2 hr flight or a 12-15hr train ride. Then you have to either catch a train or hire a car to travel out to the Branch. If I was coming from overseas I would fly into Sydney stay a few days to tour not just the Branch but other places. Then fly from Sydney to Gold Coast or drive if that is your thing as there are lots of lovely towns and beaches on the drive north. If hiring a car drop off at Gold Coast and then catch the train to Brisbane. Public transport in Qld is 50c one way. Then fly home from Brisbane. Or you could do it the opposite after flying into Brisbane for the convention at the start of your trip. Overseas delegates don’t realise Australia is a big country and to enjoy it you need to come for a few weeks. Whenever we travel to either Europe or USA we go for a minimum of 4-6 weeks or longer if able. Of course $$$ is always a factor. The USD and £ and € are worth more than the $AUD so you will do ok. If anyone wants suggestions for travel email me and I’m only to happy to assist. We love doing road trips when we travel and get off the highway and visit the towns and congregations not usually visited by the tourists.

I raised my children already and have the advantage of looking back at what i did. The ages of those children are very important in this issue because they are already making up their mind about all kinds of things and that is what all kids at that age do naturally . I have 50% success with my kids. If i could go back in time...which i cant....i would spend more time and thought and heart in talking to them about what their thoughts and doubts are...what do they love about the truth and what do they dislike....what are their questions and issues....i would talk more to them and spend no time or energy trying to force them or co erce them into it. react to what they say in a very calm loving way...they may have some valid points to consider.

I don't have that answer but many of the major oil companies also do oil exploration, so they make more money from their crude.

If the high prices are due to war and supply-chain issues ~ why are the oil and gas companies making huge profits?

If I was in your situation If they were baptized the only thing I would do is remind them of their vow to Jehovah. That it's serious business. If they were not baptized only thing to do is encouragement. Encouragement and reminders. At 15 they have formed an opinion of what they want in life. As a parent just help them realize that decisions without Jehovah's backing leads to regret and disappointment. Physical and spiritual. When you try your best leave the rest to Jehovah.

California gets to enjoy higher gasoline prices. Most stations in our area, including Costco are around $5.80/gal and the Chevron stations are over $6.00/gal

Move to a smaller country. 😉 Poland gets invites every year.

Could AI trigger a nuclear war ?