All Activity

I usually use the feature of holding the new Ipad next to the old one and allowing Apple to copy one to the other.

Thank you for your research Br. Ivar. And welcome to our forum.

Isn’t it ironic…. Don’t you think 🎶 😂

Friday, July 11 I will . . . show you consideration.—Gen. 19:21. Jehovah’s humility and compassion move him to be reasonable. For example, Jehovah’s humility was evident when he was about to destroy the wicked people of Sodom. Through his angels, Jehovah instructed righteous Lot to flee to the mountainous region. Lot was afraid to go there. So he pleaded that he and his family be allowed to take refuge in Zoar, a small town that was slated for destruction. Jehovah could have insisted that Lot follow His instructions to the letter. Instead, he granted Lot’s request, even though it meant sparing Zoar. (Gen. 19:18-22) Centuries later, Jehovah showed compassion toward the inhabitants of Nineveh. He sent the prophet Jonah to announce the imminent destruction of the city and its wicked inhabitants. But when the Ninevites repented, Jehovah felt sorry for them and spared the city.—Jonah 3:1,10; 4:10, 11. w23.07 21 ¶5

There are several items to consider when we talk about "world music." One big thing is the origin of the musical mode or scale. Most western music is built around a 12 tone scale (even though it is called an "octave" indicating 8 from its latin roots - but "octave" just talks about the white notes on a keyboard instrument). Music originating in other cultures will use a different number of tones in thier scale. I remember a Chinese gentlement explaining it that some abroginal notes in their scale are "in the cracks" between the notes of a western scale. I have played western style music (12 tone scale) over 70 years, and am very familiar with that. But I have heard of five tone scales - just don't ask me give a better description. On frustating thing is that we have no extant musical notation information from about 800 CE. There are some "chants" in the Catholic church that may be older, and are still sung, but we have no copies of how the music was notated. We know music existed in very ancient times, because remnants of the instruments have been found. But, how they were tuned, or how the music was notated so others could play it is as present not know. That is one of the things I hope for in the New System when some of those who lived in David's time, or close to that, may come back in the resurrection, and we can ask them about their music. Thanks, Jim

NASA's Webb Scratches Beyond Surface of Cat's Paw for 3rd Anniversary July 10, 2025 10:00am Release ID: 2025-129 Summary What lies within a toe bean? According to NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, mini toe beans composed of gas, dust, and stars. Since the start of its science operations in July 2022, the James Webb Space Telescope has amazed scientists and the public alike with its ability to peer farther into the cosmos than ever before. With each infrared-light observation, the telescope continues to reveal aspects of the universe previously unknown to us. To mark its third year of highly productive science, astronomers used Webb to scratch beyond the surface of the Cat’s Paw Nebula (NGC 6334), a massive, local star-forming region. This near-infrared view, which shows a portion of a singular “toe bean,” reveals a subset of mini toe bean-reminiscent structures composed of gas, dust, and young stars. Full Article: https://webbtelescope.org/contents/news-releases/2025/news-2025-129 Pic Description: With its near-infrared capabilities and sharp resolution, the telescope “clawed” back a portion of a singular “toe bean,” revealing a subset of mini toe bean-reminiscent structures composed of gas, dust, and young stars. Webb’s view reveals a chaotic scene still in development: Massive young stars are carving away at nearby gas and dust, while their bright starlight is producing a bright nebulous glow represented in blue. This is only a chapter in the region’s larger story. The disruptive young stars, with their relatively short lifespans and luminosity, will eventually quench the local star formation process. The Cat’s Paw Nebula is located approximately 4,000 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius. 1min 40s Video link:

THANK YOU - THANK YOU - THANK YOU ! ! ! At age 81, having been active in field service over 75 years, and a fourth generation witness that REALLY makes me feel much better! My great-grandmother accepted the truth circa 1920. Her daughter, son-in-law, and all five grandchildren accepted the truth. One of her grandsons had his life story in the December 1, 1992, Watchtower. One of her great-grandsons has his life story in the July 2025 Watchtower, and is currently serving at WHQ. One of her great-granddaughters spent over 50 years (with her now deceased husband) as a Special Pioneer, Circuit Servant's wife, and District Servant's wife. Another of her great-grandaughters is with her husband in Bethel in England. More than I can count of the rest of her great-grandchildren are serving as Elders, Ministerial Servants, and Pioneers in their congregations. My son (her great-great-grandson) is a Ministerial Servant in his congregation (he is fifth generation witness). My grandsons (her great-great-great-grandsons) are approved unbaptized publishers. I am VERY thankful that I, like Timothy, "from infancy . . . have known the holy writings." I have not had to un-lean wrong things. I have not had to put aside bad habits or wrong conduct. I am very greatful for the spiritual heritage of the family in which I happened to be born. Having said all of that, let me be clear, those without that history have made great strides in their lives to be worshippers of Jehovah, and they are to be admired! When I see those who were not "raised in the truth" I encouraged to see the changes they have had to make, in thinking, attitudes, and conduct, in order to conform their lives to Jehovah's standards. I have tremendous respect and admiration for those who have made these changes to please Jehovah. They are truly great examples for those of us who did not have to face the changes they faced. Their love for Jehovah is amply evident in the things they have done to be able to serve him. To all of those who have made these changes -> thank you - thank you - THANK YOU for doing the things you had to do to put Jehovah first! I am not sure I would have been able to do what you have done. Thanks for listening (or reading), Jim

Here are the two birthdays mentioned in the Bible: 1. Genesis 40:20-22 20 2. Mark 6:19-28 Regarding pharaoh's birthday, it is possible that it was not his real birthday but a symbolical one. I found this in an academic article after doing a Google Scholar search: If that is true, there is only one mention of a natural birthday in the Bible (i.e. Herod's). I did a quick search after remembering something about dogs. https://www.jw.org/en/search/?q=dogs&link=%2Fresults%2FE%2Fbible%3Fsort%3Dbook%26q%3D So, dogs are also not presented in a positive light in the Bible. How do you all think this relates to birthdays?

Psalm 112:4 is a very intriguing scripture. This morning I was pondering Peter's words regarding the "daystar" rising "in your hearts". (2 Peter 1:19) Who's hearts? I was wondering, is that something specific to the anointed experiencing their choosing for that special role they have in Jehovah's purpose when they first 'get' the truth? When I first started studying, the things I was hearing could poetically be referred to as a light getting brighter ... a slowly brightening light bulb. To this day, it's all the more thrilling to see all the evidence pointing more and more to the bright light of Jehovah's Day. It disheartens to feel no where near worthy of it—that is, the future in store for approved, upright ones.

I restored the back up, my personal study notes are there, but no publications, and no highlights or notes in the Bible or other publications. Thoughh the school for elders boo still has my highlights and comments.

In fact, if we are old in the truth we are likely well bred. Also, black bananas cooked with a little rum is not bad either.

So I understand that we must let our hearts develop, produce pretty freckles, a sign of maturity? 🤔

@Sofia Yes, I misread that!

you dont have a backup ".jwlibrary"?

Song #76 "How Does it Make You Feel" has a Jamaican beat The Original Song "Living Peacefully in a Peaceless World" has a Country Music beat.

Well done, David. Good information and application Another aspect to bananas - when they turn brown to black, they are not useless as that is when they make the best banana bread. So, like us, just because we have gotten a little old it doesn't mean we should give up ... we can still be useful.

With a shape like that, you would guess that their origins were Australian eh?

That question really opens the door for something meaningful. Just like our physical eyes can be temporarily blinded by sudden exposure to intense light, our spiritual eyes can also be overwhelmed in real life. It might happen when someone first learns a powerful Bible truth before they’re emotionally ready to accept it — like the idea that God has a name, or that he doesn’t cause suffering. Now, I’ll be honest — I’ve always found it surprising when people get thrown by that first one. To me, learning that God has a name was a beautiful thing. Suddenly he wasn’t just a title in the sky — he was personal. Real. Closer. But for someone raised on the idea that “God” is this vague, distant force, finding out he has an actual name — Jehovah — can feel like too much light at once. Even though it’s good news, it can still sting the eyes a bit. That blinding moment doesn’t mean something’s wrong with the truth — it just means the heart needs time to adjust. And then there are the moments that don’t come with new facts — they come with impact. A loss, a betrayal, a sudden hit to your health or confidence — and just like that, you’re blinking hard, trying to find your footing. You still believe what you believed yesterday, but everything’s fuzzy. You’re not blind, exactly. Just squinting in the spiritual glare. But here’s the mercy in it: Jehovah doesn’t stand there tapping his foot while we stumble around. Psalm 119:105 doesn’t say his word is a stadium light to fry your retinas — it’s a lamp to your foot. One step at a time. That means we don’t have to see the whole road. Just enough to keep moving forward. Sometimes that light comes in the form of a gentle reminder from a friend. Or a quiet moment at the meeting where something clicks again. Or maybe it’s a walk around the block with a prayer hanging in the air like fog — no big answers, just the sense that you’re not alone in it. If you’ve ever felt spiritually “blinded,” that’s not failure. It might just mean you’re mid-adjustment. And when you keep turning toward Jehovah — even with one eye half-closed and your hand shielding your face — eventually that light that once overwhelmed you becomes the very thing that clears your vision. And when that happens… well, you don’t forget it.

Someone might be more certain, but I heard somewhere that the soundtrack would be available for us to listen to. The musical arrangements are beautiful. Excellent work, it brings me good emotions.

Gosh David ... home run 👍. I 'll never see bananas in the same way from here on!

Here's the article that goes with this news 📰. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/09/trump-catholic-bishop-san-bernadino-mass.html

Would be such irony if it were to happen.

Thank you, an interesting website. Many expression of people sincerely wishing for peace in the world. I especially enjoyed this one: https://www.peacetalks.net/pt/staffan-de-mistura/#story What I get out of such websites is builds sympathy for interacting with the public in the ministry.