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Please, let's not start rumors about GB adjustments when none have been announced ...

A million or more are expected in Times Square tomorrow night. There are no public toilets available. I was told that in a previous year, someone gave a public address and said, "For those wearing an adult diaper, raise your hand if you have used it yet." Of course, I wasn't there and never wanted to be.

Zadok lived at a time when choosing sides was not easy. David had been chosen by Jehovah, but not everyone accepted that yet. Zadok showed courage by supporting Jehovah’s choice before everything was settled. He did not wait to see who would win. He trusted Jehovah enough to take his stand early, even as a young man, even while surrounded by thousands of others. That tells us something important about loyalty. Loyalty is not proven after the outcome is clear. It is shown when a person decides, “I will stick with Jehovah,” even when there is pressure, uncertainty, or risk. Zadok did not need to be famous or loud. Jehovah noticed him because his heart was already decided. That same kind of loyalty is shown today in quiet, everyday ways. A student may already be sitting when others stand for a flag salute or national anthem. Staying seated may not draw attention, but it still takes courage. That choice quietly says, “Jehovah comes first,” even when it feels uncomfortable. Loyalty is also shown in regular spiritual routines. Showing up for field service, following up on not-at-homes, or writing letters may feel ordinary. But those efforts show respect for the precious truths Jehovah has trusted us with. They show that we care whether others benefit from what Jehovah has given us to share. Sometimes loyalty simply means staying steady—going to meetings when tired, keeping spiritual habits when no one is watching, and not drifting when it would be easier to blend in. Like Zadok, we show Jehovah our loyalty before outcomes are known. And just like then, Jehovah sees it.

Saturday, January 3 Zadok [was] a mighty and courageous young man.—1 Chron. 12:28. Picture the scene. A crowd of over 340,000 men had gathered to make David king over all of Israel. For three days, the sounds of animated conversation and joyful songs of praise echoed throughout the rocky hills near Hebron. (1 Chron. 12:39) A young man named Zadok would not likely have stood out in that large crowd. However, Jehovah made sure that we would know that Zadok was there. (1 Chron. 12:22, 26-28) Zadok was a priest who worked closely with High Priest Abiathar. Zadok was also a seer who was able to discern the divine will and who was granted extraordinary insight. (2 Sam. 15:27) He was a man of courage. During these last days, Satan is intensifying his attacks on God’s people. (1 Pet. 5:8) We need to be courageous as we wait on Jehovah to put an end to Satan and his wicked system. (Ps. 31:24) In doing so, we can imitate Zadok’s courage. w24.072 ¶1-3

Yes, and I think at least three current GB members are over 80, and there has been no website announcements.

That announcement applied to branch committee members, not the governing body.

Likewise with Belarus, though the only meetings showing up are in Russian, none in Belarusian 🤔

Interesting - traditionally we've always been used to fairly large Conventions here in London/UK, and if you're not on the border, it's never really been noticable .... but with the 2026 dates coming out in 'dribs and drabs' over 4 or so months I suppose it's become much more of a topic of conversation when meeting up with the circuit at Assemblies 🤷‍♂️ and virtually all the publishers I've mentioned about our own circuit being split up have been surprised in a - to quote - 'weird, can they do that?' way.

Interesting distinction. I can imagine a tourist coming back from Rome with a souvenir T-shirt "I went to the Vatican and all I got is a lousy T shirt". I wouldn't view the T shirt as an idol. So, I'm trying to imagine a tourist in the year 600 C.E. coming back from a Christian pilgrimage to the Holy Lands with a small vessel decorated with an ornate cross and the Greek inscription "Lord's blessing from the holy places" merely as a reminder of their vacation. It's possible! This got me thinking about the televangelists that used to beg for money on TV. They offered "seed" gifts to make the transaction feel more real. Popular gifts were "anointed" prayer cloths, or handkerchiefs. The preacher would claim to have personally prayed over the cloth, maybe even wiping his forehead with it, and it would bring luck and fend off calamity. Another hot gift was a small bottle of Jordan River water, or olive oil, and the donor was told to dab some on their doorposts (seriously!!). Jim Bakker took a new approach , he offered Survival Food Buckets to his donors, to survive the coming apocalypse. Jim is still working the gullible. After doing 5 years in prison, his ministry was ordered to pay $156,000 in restitution after he falsely claimed "Silver Solution" cured COVID19. Oh, well. From the Byzantine era down to today, "there's nothing new under the sun".

Yes ever since Regional conventions have been held using assembly halls with smaller numbers our circuit has been divided out to different conventions. One year we were the only congregation from our circuit.

exactly, The reason for the question is that the Swedish "examining the scriptures" has translated the phrase “Before creation, Jehovah was alone” differently, as “En gång i tiden var Jehova helt ensam” (word by word: “once upon a time/during a period of time, Jehovah was completely alone”). It gives the impression that Jehovah existed within time before creation, which becomes strange and self-contradictory.

That has always been the case. Conventions never followed circuit boundaries.

Just a slight correction. I just counted again, and now I counted 66 congregations mentioned on the website[emoji28] And it is indeed very nice to see the Kingdom Halls in streetview. [emoji3059] Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-S911B met Tapatalk

One thing that really comes through in both the text and the comments is Jehovah’s humility. He does not ask humans to rise up to where He is. Instead, the Scriptures consistently show that He comes to us. When Jehovah speaks of His “tent,” it pictures closeness, not distance. A tent is where someone lives, welcomes, and stays near. That tells us something important about friendship with Jehovah. It is not only possible—it is something He actively wants. This same thought appears repeatedly throughout the Bible. From the Law, to the Prophets, to the Christian Greek Scriptures, Jehovah keeps expressing the same desire: His place is with His people. That theme is not accidental. It shows intention. When the Bible repeats an idea that many times, it tells us how strongly Jehovah feels about it. He values humans. He chooses to be near them. That makes our relationship with Him deeply personal, and it reminds us that we matter to Him. Leviticus 26:11–12; Ezekiel 37:27; Zechariah 2:10–11; John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Revelation 21:3

Cool, did you see any of the friends, online?? Google maps labels up the KHs - and you can see them on StreetView - identifiable with the universal blue JW.org sign https://maps.app.goo.gl/55Jz5zMUHZyNXn7V7 https://maps.app.goo.gl/iJ77mpv1uhcKpwzM8 And below you can see some friends having a chat together outside a KH - the KH door is ajar https://maps.app.goo.gl/csTxdYeoH58mHgjZ9

The Bible doesn’t frame the new world in terms of hypothetical risks. Instead, it is very clear about outcomes. Isaiah 11:9 states: “They will not cause any harm or any ruin in all my holy mountain.” That is a blanket statement. It does not qualify the source of harm or limit it to deliberate acts. Harm itself is excluded. Revelation 21:4 goes further by removing death entirely: “Death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.” If death is gone, then anything that would lead to fatality is also gone, regardless of how one might imagine it occurring. So while Scripture does not describe mechanisms or scenarios, it leaves no room for harmful or fatal outcomes. The emphasis is not on what might happen, but on what will not happen.

This is too complicated for me. I haven't downloaded Linux yet ... Thinking Mint or Zorin 18. But thank you for answers ❤️

Today I am grateful for electricity! 💡 Still cold, but only -10°C today, so I'm sitting in my writing room, enjoying the pleasant (and easy) warmth from an electric oven. Just switch the button to 3, and go! I also just enjoyed alcohol free beer. Lovely! I like this thread. It makes me more appreciative of these simple joys.

Helpers never served on the GB so their role wouldn't quite be the same as a consultant This sounds reasonable

Sorry, I meant JWL version. My bad. Thanks anyway 💜

My expectations about 2026 Governing Body Update is permit we live in tropical hot areas use shorts.😀

Either person can be the "ball and chain" if they are ill-suited, don't carry their own weight, or prove to be a burden rather than a partner.

For exemple or another position corresponding to their old fonction

The Governing Body decided that starting January 1, 2026, brothers 80 years of age or older will no longer serve as members of a Branch Committee. However, these dear brothers will serve as consultants to the Branch Committee.

At our regional convention at Excel we are always around 10000 in attendance