Shawnster

And these times are critical. More critical, I'd say, than in the past. Yes, I understand (and sometimes agree) that unprecedented is overused. You cited three major moments in the past that are equivalent to now. However, the life of the average person is way more stressful now than then. During WWI and WWII, for example, most families were single income in the US. Even after those wars and through the 50s up to the early 70s dad worked, mom stayed home, and the nuclear family was normal. Starting about the 70s to now it's different. The norm seems to be broken homes. Both parents (if there are two) work. Even teenagers need to get a job if they want clothes. Drug abuse is common. Alternate lifestyles, porn, and LGBT culture is overwhelming. The moral decay and bankruptcy is blatant and overwhelming. Political crisis have always been shocking. Now, in addition, we have the complete collapse of the family and the ability to meet our basic needs. These are truly critical times.

Sometimes jokes fall flat.

Not really. President Bush Orders Flags Flown at Half Staff in Honor of Pope John Paul II A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/04/20050402-3.html Pursuant to President Trump’s Presidential Proclamation to lower the United States flag, I do hereby order that the flags of the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Virginia are to be flown at half-staff over the State Capitol and all local, state, and federal buildings and grounds in the Commonwealth of Virginia in respect to and memory of Reverend Billy Graham. https://www.governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/flag-information/flag-orders/title-of-flag-order-922391-en.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com The president may also order that the flag be flown at half-staff to commemorate the death of other officials, former officials or foreign dignitaries, in addition to tragic events. https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2025/04/21/us-flags-half-mast-staff-pope-francis-death/83192939007/

Yes. There is divine direction to consider. In addition, we will have (nearly) all the players from history that can tell us exactly what happened and when. The problem today is politics and Satan's system. The politicians and government authorities want to keep their secrets. They want to exert their power and exercise their sovereignty. To that end they lie, spin, and deceive the public as well as the other nations. Truth cannot be found. In the new system that situation will no longer exist. All the players through history will have died. Their governments and nations crumbled to dust. Satan will be bound. When everyone is resurrected they will no longer be influenced by the pressures and machinations that shaped their times. There will be no need, no reason to keep secret what really happened in those previous historical moments. The question is, will we care?

Well, pretty much everyone from all those historical moments will be alive, so I think it's pretty clear that we will get first-hand accounts from all those events.

Source?

What is it we should think about beyond praying for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine as well as praying for God's Kingdom? This is a horrible situation that I tests our neutrality. It is easy for us to take sides and voice our anger and criticize or, at the least, question the logic and morality of decisions made by governments and politicians; however, that is the opposite of neutrality. Our hearts go out over the pain, suffering, and loss of life, but we must draw the line before we get mad at decisions the US or any nation makes regarding sending or withdrawing aid.

ChatGPT to the answer Yes — you’re probably thinking of the **Paris Peace Talks** during the **Vietnam War** in the late 1960s. One of the famous sticking points early in those negotiations was literally about **the shape of the table** and the seating arrangement, because it would symbolically convey the status and legitimacy of the different parties involved (North Vietnam, South Vietnam, the U.S., and the Viet Cong/PRG). The dispute over the table lasted several months — North Vietnam wanted a certain arrangement that acknowledged the Viet Cong as an independent delegation, while the U.S. and South Vietnam objected. They argued over whether it should be round, rectangular, separate tables, or some other shape that wouldn’t imply certain political recognitions. In the end, they settled on a **round table** with **two rectangular tables on either side**, a deliberately ambiguous setup where no one was officially recognized as above, below, or equal to anyone else — and no official statements were made about what the arrangement meant. It became a bit of a darkly humorous diplomatic footnote about how sometimes symbolism matters as much as substance in international negotiations.

Nothing stopped the rest of Europe to help Ukraine the same way the US has.

Which paragraph in that article prompted this question. Could you share it?

Walking away from peace talks is common

Could there be consideration to return to using unique gravitars? Or is that an unnecessary expense? Right now the default icon for members not using an avatar is a color swatch with their first initial. At a glance people with the same initial are easily confused. At least by me.

And I did not quote you when I replied about debates. On the other hand, it's the internet. The format is open to all. Debate is all but assured.

Unless we are the host, we have no way to know how the host will always act in preventing trouble. Even if we are the host, we cannot guarantee we will always be 100% vigilant in preventing trouble. Since you watched the live, I take it from the way you worded this that it might have been a one time attempt or was only accessible for a limited time. Perhaps they will do this again. Perhaps it will become a regularly scheduled event. Perhaps others will follow their example and set up their own tik toks. With each new event, the opportunity for trouble increases. With each event, the opportunity for growing lax in preventing troubles increases. With each new content creator following this format, the possibility for less diligent administrators increases. In the end, an apostate copycat is almost a certainty.

Unless you are the host, there is no way any of us can know this with 100%confidence. If this is really a good idea we would see encouragement and proper direction on how to do this. (Isaiah 5:21) 21 Woe to those wise in their own eyes and discreet even in front of their own faces! https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&pub=Rbi8&srctype=wol&bible=23005021&srcid=share The Slave does not sanction religious debates in any format. *** w01 5/15 p. 29 ‘By Wisdom Our Days Will Become Many’ *** In our endeavor to reach honesthearted ones with the Kingdom good news, may we be careful not to get involved in debates and arguments with ridiculers. Christ Jesus instructed his disciples: “When you are entering into the house, greet the household; and if the house is deserving, let the peace you wish it come upon it; but if it is not deserving, let the peace from you return upon you. Wherever anyone does not take you in or listen to your words, on going out of that house or that city shake the dust off your feet.”—Matthew 10:12-14. https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&docid=2001367&srctype=wol&srcid=share&par=15