hatcheckgirl

These are scary times, but we trust our brothers have good guidance from the GB for when it all goes south. Jehovah has taught us well, and we are prepared. We have been waiting all our lives to see these prophecies fulfilled. Now they are! Scary, but exciting times.

We haven’t had asylums since the 60s and 70s. We have mental health systems. Which he was part of, until he dropped out of the public system and was left to struggle in the private. That is very expensive, and I imagined his parents did their best to help out because earlier in his life he would live with them on and off. One report says he graduated university with a Bachelor in Arts, so he would have been trying to manage as best as he could. But slowly slowly over the years, he didn’t keep contact with his family and lived in his car in a city in Queensland. He was 40 when he moved to Sydney a month ago, and was renting a small storage container. Reports today by police say it’s obvious he targeted women. So, there's the motive. Mentally ill mysogynistic misfit. It’s scary because there are a lot of misfits in society. It kicks vulnerable people to the curb and there are no services to help them anymore. You have to be blaringly mental and psychotic to be locked up in a mental ward. He was broken already. Does Satan manipulate these ones, I wonder?

He was not a terrorist, at least. I think we all initially worried it might have been because that’s a big Jewish area. However, he was struggling all his life with mental illness. Though known to police, it was not in the criminal sense. He had been living rough for many years in his car. So, it makes it scary to think how he was pushed to this atrocity. This shows how broken we are as a human race.

Katty, I think you’ve done very extensive research into travelling on a budget. I’ve never needed to go into that much effort, so good on you! I mainly use frequent flyer points to lower the cost. I’ve noticed since the pandemic flights are still very expensive, the cheapest flights fly at awful hours, and you pay more for the add-on that were complementary before. So while budgeting is important, you are travelling with a baby. It might be better not to do a “red eye” cheaper flight. Exhausting (used to do it). Another thing I avoid is long layovers. These are usually the cheapest flights too. When you search flights, filter by lowest cost and duration. Lastly, flight delays and cancellations. This is more common since the pandemic. You can really get stuck. The best thing is to have good travel insurance and pay extra for your flight tickets to have some flexibility. I waited 9 hrs in the airport (and caught covid) when my flight was cancelled, and even with insurance I didn’t have a full refund (because the airline managed to rebook me on the last flight). What can we do? It much harder flying now. Even though we budget and plan, nowadays it’s best to pay extra to remain flexible. I’m off to Japan next month, and planning was more difficult compared to all my previous trips. The world is very different since the pandemic.

Our stamps in Australia quietly increased to $1.50 from $1.20 on 3 April. We were caught off guard and now have to buy 10c stamps to make up the difference. That’s a 30% increase. And all other postal services have also jumped up around 20-25%. https://auspost.com.au/disruptions-and-updates/pricing-updates/bpr-letter-pricing-update

Well, I knew this past summer over in the West parts of Australia was particularly punishing. A walk in the bush tells us that there are many trees and bushes really struggling, and drying. When we go witnessing, people's gardens are much drier and more plants have died. It’s April, and we have not seen rain in many months, making it a record-breaking spell. Fears of another 'forest collapse' event in Western Australia after record dry spell So, it's not just me then….. Other parts of Australia are suffering their 12th flood of catastrophic proportions in 4 years. We are sick of hearing “unprecedented” and “once-in-a-hundred years flood”. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-11/shoalhaven-farmers-flooded-for-12th-time-in-four-years/103685588 Are you seeing catastrophic changes in your local climate too?

Not earthquake, but Mt Etna blowing smoke rings is sorta cool

And, isn’t the spiritual food we're getting currently absolutely mind-blowingly on point for what we are needing (just finished the WT pre study). This also reinforces where we are in the stream of time. V E R Y. C L O S E.

Yes, his lack of vocabulary is shocking! Like he's still limited to primary school playground language.

I can understand why the hospital would do this. They have to cover themselves. We must have our directive up to date and on us, or we really are leaving ourselves open to this. I think everyone is being reasonable, even the judge and the family, who thanked the hospital for their treatment so far. It’s good the judge said: “the hospital could return to court and seek to discharge the order if the man's health improve to the degree that he regains capacity and is able to give clear instructions about his treatment.”

Well, it’s a good reminder to remain neutral. He does disgust me, due to all that’s mentioned above. It’s a struggle to keep my emotions out of it. He, Hitler, Attila the Hun. History is full of such people. Leaving it in Jehovah’s hands (but I feel it’s going to be quite a basket case time over there this year 🤪🤪)

Bro Mikey, thank you for updating us. This is just one more (obvious) threat we have to our existence. Everything now is globally connected through the internet - the cables under the sea and the satellite above. Electricity is generated by computer driven systems, and computer driven systems need heaps of energy to run. Would it take much to tip this delicate balance? Without a working internet, no food, no shops, no petrol stations, no transport, no water, no sewage system, no electricity, no data delivery systems, nothing would work. You have pointed out a threat I personally haven’t considered yet. We can add that to the many existential anxieties of this world. Of course it makes sense that our faithful organisation would use skills such as yours to protect its assets in these treacherous dark days. I’m sure we are going to see amazing things without needing electricity during Armageddon, but until then, may Jehovah keep using your generous gifts, and thank you. I now also understand a tiny bit more about quantum computing.

I can see people who realise we are not ever going to “return to normal” losing all hope. The desperation is already here, with no affordable housing, food prices skyrocketing, medical costs no longer being subsidised so much more to pay out of pocket. This is in Australia, “the lucky country” as we once were. These ones we are trying to appeal to with our new way of witnessing. They are like stunned mullets. If they turn to Jehovah and “repent… so that seasons of refreshing may come from Jehovah himself”, he will help them, even without much preparation (thinking of the great mixed crowd out of Egypt). However, for those who just are wallowing, not wanting to listen because they are truly blinded, they will soon be taking things into their own hands to find relief. I always remember how vicious things got in the supermarkets over the toilet paper shortage. It was scary to see. No zombie or apocalyptic movie can capture the desperation and degrading survival instinct that will be motivating them pre Armageddon. We will only survive because we have Jehovah’s protection.

French school head resigns over Paris veil row and death threats https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68673112 Religious extremists have sent death threats to a school principal when he enforced the “no veil at school” government policy, and has resigned. Both sides of politics are up in arms about this - the extreme left and the extreme right both agree and expressed outrage, claiming that it is “a defeat of the state” and that “this government is incapable of protecting our schools.” The Islamist threat to French schools is taken extremely seriously since the murders of two teachers. Then there is a Russian disinformation campaign, with over 30 bomb threats at schools, which means closures as they all have to be taken seriously. “Prime Minister Gabriel Attal warned earlier this month that the Kremlin had embarked on a "massive destabilisation enterprise" to undermine French support for Ukraine.” Religion, extremists and politics 🙄

He had an incredible sense of humour, and he was very much loved for that. Looking forward to seeing him very soon. Much love and condolences to Chuck's wonderful family 🌹

You guys in the US have a special kind of trial with this basket case situation over there. 😳🤪

I think this is the part that is so upsetting - those poor people stuck in war zones. We can’t just not be affected, everyone’s mental health will crack at seeing these horrific things on our news cycle. And when you add all the misinformation in this digital age, it almost breaks the brain with worry. Which is why the only way out of this insanity is Ps 56:3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. What a very comforting scripture for all of us this year, hey? It’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better. But, we all have to keep trusting in Jehovah 🌹

So, one of the articles posted by Sofia says Russia believes the US is recruiting Daesh and Isis fighters, training them in Syria, and sending them off to Russia to “exsanguinate” Russia. 🤔 More pushing North vs South if this is true. I really don’t care. They are fulfilling prophecy and we know that the time is short. 👍

Do we know why Isis has done this to Russia? Islam is not being suppressed as a religion in Russia (atm). But interestingly, a lot of the mobilisation came from the Muslim regional states such as Dagestan. I read ages ago now that a higher proportion of those killed come from the countryside, in the Muslim regions. They may be fed up with being fodder for the Ukraine war? Or, they may be retaliating because Russia has opposed the ceasefire in Gaza? Whatever the reason, it now has a distinct religious flavour rather than political. You can really see how politics is going to hate the harlot.

Yes, I’ve seen this movie. It’s very good, very moving, and seen from the Japanese perspective living through it.

I've always wondered about this. I've visited Hiroshima, and it is a vibrant, bustling city. No one would imagine in their wildest dreams it's the same city that suffered that enormous destruction. The Peace Park with the blast epicentre has the building, Genbaku Dome, with a lot of it still intact left as a memorial. It doesn't really look any worse that a normal bomb blast effect would. And I wondered how come we are all allowed to walk around ground zero. Now I know. Thanks.

Our standards where I live have reflected what the business world wear. Corporate uniforms were the norm, even for government departments. And they have become less formal too over the last 20 years of being in a government corporate workplace. So I see why our brothers, who are indeed discreet and wise, are allowing us to wear dignified clothing as reflected in the conservative business world. It’s not a lowering of standards. We are still being viewed as very appropriate for the important work we do. And I too like how we have matured as an organisation that teaches us what Jehovah requires, and trusts the sheep to be modest and discerning too. Our motive is to please Jehovah, not man. And yet, today I wore my dress pants for cart work. And I was scared and apprehensive. Why? It’s hard to change our mindset. But boy, I was really appreciating the extra warmth in the cold, blustery weather (the cart would have taken off if it wasn’t tethered), it was so windy. And I said a grateful prayer to Jehovah for the changes 🌺.

Thanks for the updates, Carl. I don’t always understand the scientific explanation, but we can all see that the whole natural world is suffering. Our amazing video this week coming up on “Use Creation to Build Your Faith” mentioned the ocean currents churning to distribute heat, which keeps our weather stable. And science is showing the instability happening in Jehovah’s natural complex and interrelated systems. He will be acting soon.

I was walking in the bush this morning. A lot of the trees have died, as have the bushes. More than anything I've seen before. Even along the dried watercourses, which must mean the water table has dropped. We don’t have a drought here atm where I am, but because it hardly ever rains in summer, the bush has to adapt. But this past summer the temps were so high and for so long, it literally scorched the plants and trees. Even in gardens where we water our plants, all of us can see the plants struggled with the intensity of heat and long heatwave without relief.

@Bluebell You both look very dignified and this is the type of look business ladies wear. If this is the standard of business in our society now, then I can definitely see that it isn’t a lowering of our dress standards (some may be worrying it is a bit). If the GB were allowing jeans, for instance, then it’s no different than Christendom. But they haven’t made the dress code casual. This is still the level corporations require. Do we have to be more conservative than them? Obviously, that is not reasonable. The conservative look was what EVERYONE wore in the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s. Could you really tell the difference between our dress and the world’s in those days? Men wore jackets and ties everywhere. Women wore hats and gloves. That was the standard for society. Then the 60s came and fashion split. Jehovah’s Witnesses kept dressing in a dignified manner. I think ladies can still maintain decorum in our current days with a look similar to what business women wear. To the world, we would still appear smart and dignified, so we aren’t stumbling them. I think it shows maturity on the part of our organisation to be more accommodating. You know how ridiculous it is in Australia to wear ties and jackets on hot days? How unusual it looks to see sisters wearing skirts in the snow, when everyone else can wear long pants (I know we get around it by wearing them under our skirts - but that’s my point really. Why do we have to do this at all?) Good on the GB! And you sisters who have already plunged in, you look great!👍