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Looking forward to more of these ...

Tim, I've always enjoyed your posts here. You have a very deep knowledge of scripture and I'm thankful that you're willing to share it online. I hope you're able to attend more meetings even if only for the "free hugs" from your brothers and sisters.

Teeth is already a plural, isn't it? Teeths?

TEETHS: Total Electoral and Executive Transfer for Humanity's Survival.

When the GT starts, I'd love an update where the host would review our recent understanding of the GT prophecies. Then he would ask: so does the recent news is really fitting with our understanding? /Casual voice/ Yes. /Pause/ /Serious voice/ Yes. /Pause/ /Same voice, with even more solemnity/ This is it. I'd be faith/zeal/courage-boosted beyond any recognition

Guys even social media requires AI notices on content made with AI….😉

Public-Radio Interview — “A Stunning Shift in World Power” HOST: Good evening. I'm Daniel Brooks. Tonight, we're following what may be the most extraordinary development in international politics in generations. Governments around the world have announced an unprecedented decision: They are transferring significant power and authority to the United Nations. The announcement came with startling speed. Leaders who, only hours ago, appeared divided on fundamental questions of national sovereignty are now speaking with remarkable unity. To help us understand what we're witnessing, we're joined by Dr. Elena Marovic, former senior diplomat and widely respected scholar of international affairs. Dr. Marovic, thank you for being with us. DR. MAROVIC: Thank you. It's good to be here. HOST: Let me begin with the obvious question. What happened? DR. MAROVIC: That's precisely the question governments, intelligence agencies, and ordinary citizens are asking tonight. The speed is extraordinary. We have seen international agreements before, but this is fundamentally different. Governments appear to be acting almost simultaneously, surrendering a degree of authority that they have historically guarded very carefully. HOST: So you're saying this isn't simply another international treaty? DR. MAROVIC: No. A treaty normally involves months or years of negotiation. There are disagreements, amendments, parliamentary debates, objections from opposition parties. This doesn't look like that. What we're seeing is remarkably sudden. Governments that have disagreed on virtually everything are now saying, in effect, "We will act together." HOST: And the United Nations is suddenly at the center of this? DR. MAROVIC: Yes. The United Nations has existed for decades, but its role has traditionally depended on the willingness of individual nations to cooperate. Tonight, we're seeing something fundamentally different: Nations appear willing to place an extraordinary measure of their political authority behind the organization. HOST: Some leaders are calling this the beginning of a new era of global cooperation. Do you think that's an exaggeration? DR. MAROVIC: From a conventional political perspective, perhaps. But I would be careful about making predictions tonight. We're witnessing something so unusual that our normal political models may not adequately explain it. HOST: What would you say to people watching this who are frightened? DR. MAROVIC: I would say that uncertainty is understandable. When political structures change this quickly, people naturally wonder what happens next. The important thing is to distinguish between what we know and what we don't know. HOST: And what don't we know? DR. MAROVIC: We don't know the full consequences of this decision. We don't know how individual governments will implement it. And we certainly don't know where this leads politically. HOST: There's another remarkable development tonight. Several governments that have historically maintained close relationships with major religious institutions are now announcing measures against religious organizations. DR. MAROVIC: Yes. That may ultimately prove to be one of the most consequential aspects of what we're seeing. HOST: Why? DR. MAROVIC: Because governments have traditionally viewed religion as an important social and political force. If governments suddenly begin withdrawing their support from religious institutions on a global scale, that would represent a profound transformation. HOST: So you're suggesting that tonight's announcement may be only the beginning? DR. MAROVIC: I think everyone should recognize that possibility. We have entered unfamiliar territory. HOST: Dr. Elena Marovic, former diplomat and international-affairs scholar, joining us tonight. One final question. After watching governments around the world make a decision of this magnitude with such extraordinary speed, what do you think historians will say about this night? DR. MAROVIC: They may say that this was the night the international system changed before the world fully understood that it was changing. HOST: Dr. Marovic, thank you. DR. MAROVIC: Thank you. HOST: And we'll continue following this developing story.

My first trip began in October, 2012. The first congregation Janet and I visited was at Weston, West Virginia. We were to revel in the topography and autumnal colours of the 'Hillbilly' country and I was in that area to visit an old friend who'd worked as a teacher in Australia. We stayed at Buckhannon the night before and drove to Weston, following the Garmin GPS to... ...Kingdom Drive, which really tickled us. The first thing we noticed, and it was to us quite outstanding, was the lack of windows in the hall: Our old Dodge pickup is at the extreme left of this pic and Janet is there talking to Brother Edwin Stalnaker who I was to learn had a large part in bringing this hall into being. He provided the land and used his earthmoving equipment to level sufficient ground for the hall, also building the entry road. There'll be more about this hall much later in the thread as I returned there in 2024, but for now it was eye-opening to an Aussie couple finding their way with accents and getting to know people. One sister, Jo Ellen Fitzwater, spent some time talking with Janet and later wrote to her back home. Janet really appreciated that and it's a shame that the correspondence wasn't able to continue much longer. No, it's not a large congregation, but it's firmly established and spiritually strong. It was a nice place for us to begin our 'International Tour' and to spend valuable time with brothers and sisters.

Imagine if the UN was suddenly given complete control of every military force of its member states. It would have full control of the largest military force in the world. Truly cause to declare P&S.

My Shih tsu was called Teeth!!😅

I must OD on chocolate. Give me more!

Known as Operation TEETH

I've been thinking about doing a thread relating to my visits to many congregations, Assembly Days and Regional/International Conventions over the past 14 years. And there have been visits to Bethels in four countries. In that time I've made five trips to the USA, with two of them branching into Canada and one extending to 21 countries in Europe. Whenever possible I've attended meetings wherever I have been, often timing my trip to enable me to do so. Two trips were based around Conventions. This is particularly relevant following the Watchtower study article last weekend, in which paragraph 16 asks, "When travelling have you ever visited a different congregation?" It goes on to explain why we should, "The next time you do, reflect on the love and unity among our brothers and sisters. It will underscore that Jehovah is indeed using his Witnesses to accomplish his will today." And I have to agree. As this thread progresses I will post pictures relating to congregation visits and tell how that love and unity was shown. It's a 2-way thing, of course, and while I consider that I have benefitted more, I hope that I have also conveyed to the hundreds I've met something of value to them. I've not put this into the publicly visible section as I will be using names of our brothers and sisters as the story progresses. I welcome comments, in particular - but not limited to - comments from people who are members of the congregations I've visited or others who see something they want to discuss.

Teeth.... That should be an acronym for something, like "Time Everyone Eats The Harlot"

NATIONS IN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE: GOVERNMENTS SUDDENLY HAND OVER POWER TO GLOBAL AUTHORITY Political leaders announce sweeping transfer of power and authority to the United Nations. SHOCKWAVE THROUGH WORLD POLITICS: NATIONS SPEAK WITH “ONE THOUGHT” In a stunning development, governments unite behind a single political arrangement, giving unprecedented authority to the United Nations. “HOW DID THIS HAPPEN SO SUDDENLY?”: WORLD LEADERS CARRY OUT UNEXPECTED DECISION Observers struggle to explain the rapid political transformation as nations surrender their authority to the global political arrangement.

I can only imagine they would claim it's a good thing. They will probably spin it to praise themselves for being bold, selfless, visionary, or whatever strokes their egos. Anyone who opposes them is regressive, anti-peace, etc. I don't think there's a single chance the GB would fail to announce the start of the GT or at least that the UN has power and the GT will soon begin (they might be shut down before they can make the second announcement). Their one job is to keep us spiritually fed; it would be weird to drop the ball on the most important day besides Armageddon.

Yes, Paulo identified it... Not that far from: Benton Harbor.

I bought a key. It looks good.

Thursday, August 20 The former things will not be called to mind.—Isa. 65:17. What about all the things that have caused God’s people pain and distress? Eventually, those things “will be forgotten [and] concealed from [God’s] eyes.” (Isa. 65:16) Jehovah will make our troubles go away, and in time the pain of such memories will vanish completely. Even now, it is soothing to our nerves to be at our Christian meetings, where we can relax and put behind us the stresses of this wicked world. We contribute to the calmness of our spiritual environment when we manifest the love, joy, peace, kindness, and mildness that are included in the fruitage of God’s spirit. (Gal. 5:22, 23) What a blessing it is for us to be associated with God’s organization! Those who remain in the spiritual paradise will see the complete fulfillment of God’s promise of “new heavens and a new earth.” w24.04 22 ¶9-10

I believe it will be too but the headline won't be " all leaders turn their power over to the UN". I think it will be more like "World Leaders declare World Peace as UN now makes decisions" or something like that. It won't make the leaders seem so weak and ineffectual.

I am familiar with this health facility in Jacksonville, Florida. Many years ago, my mother (approximately age 80 at the time) needed a total hip replacement. Thankfully, my cousin and her husband were "in the traveling work" at the time, and Jacksonville was in thier territory. She put us in touch with the hospital in Jacksonville. As I recall, the hospital administrator was an Elder in one of the Congregations in Jacksonville. They were VERY cooperative with us regarding the blood issue. One interesting point (that, to me, illustrated their seriousness about the subject) was that they had two different color file folders for ones who have objection to use of blood. One color was for those whose objection was faith based (i.e., JWs, etc.) and a different color for those who had a different basis for their objection (presumably a medical situation, but I did not have the courage to ask why at the time). All of the staff at the hospital were VERY cooperative and respectful of my mother's position on blood. My mother came through the surgery very well, and we (my son and I) were able to bring her home to Pensacola (four hour drive) for recovery. This facility was truly a blessing for us on a matter that could have caused significant difficulty at another hospital. According to the post by MJ1 (on Saturday) there is also a facility in the Bronx that will cooperate with JWs on the blood issue. I remember when the Society started the Hospital Liaison Committee program. That has been a great blessing to Jehovah's people. Before the Hospital Liaison Committee arrangement, I was well acquainted with a local couple in Pensacola who had difficulty over the blood issue on a new-born with the RH negative/positive issue. The couple had to make an emergency trip to another hospital four states away to get treatment for the baby that was in accordance with biblical principles. The doctor obtained a court order to perform a transfusion. The parents were not allowed to acces the child in the local hospital. A local sister had a nurse's uniform. She was able to get into the hospital and retrieve the baby so the parents could take it to the other hospital (four states away) to get proper treatment. The mother of the child had worked with me (back when we had live orchestras at Circuit Assemblies and District Conventions) in the Chorus. The Hospital Liaison Committee has been a significant help and a great blessing to Jehovh's people. I am very glad to see that it is not just in the U.S., but is in many other countries as well. Thanks, Jim

My congregation used to have our territory map posted on our electronic bulletin board (which were just a couple of Google docs pages). But now that the congregation uses NW Publisher, that map seems to have disappeared. I'd have to ask one of the elders what happened to it.

I remember in late 2019/early 2020, most congregations in my country had their boundaries changed. A google map link with QR code was posted on the bulletin board. Anyone could save this link and easily share it. Some KHs had as many as 10 different congregation QR maps posted on the bulletin board. The links continued to work for a year or two before they all went offline. It would be nice to have more official info on our website, both for publishers and for the public. Currently, if someone (even a non witness) wants to know which cong a specific address belongs to, they can call bethel, but why need to bother the bethel workers there for something that be done easily and automatically with technologies we’re already using?

This is quite possible to accomplish if using if using NW Scheduler (with appropriate access permissions): 1. Access JW Hub. 2. Go to Congregation Information. 3. Go to Territory. Your map will display. 4. Download the KML file. (Top right hand button). 5. Now access NW Scheduler (with sufficient editing rights). 6. Go to Congregation (Top Menu item on left) and select Congregation information. 7. Ensure the full details of your congregation Kingdom Hall address are entered, including the Latitude and Longtitude references ( Prefix the Longtitude number with -). 8. Close and reopen the program. 9. Go to Territory (4th Menu Item on left). 10. Select Master Territory Map (It should default to your KHall location if you have entered details correctly) 11. Select the 2nd icon 1n the top right hand corner to locate and import the KML file you downloaded. Your main borders will display. 12. Go to the Categories box at the top of the left hand Menu. 13. Tick the required boxes boxes you wish to display for Map categories. Their boundaries will all display on the Map. (Limit category types for legibility). 14. Zoom the map for display legibility (This does not print however). 15. Go to the Size box , second item on the left hand Menu and select the size you wish to print. (Limited selection). 16. Select other optional formatting categories as required. 17. Save (Bottom left). This will now save as a .png file which can easily be exported and printed or published as required from a suitable facility. PLEASE NOTE: The Final preparation of a map for printing might require some dexterity with image manipulation for legibility. These instructions are only ewxplain how to produce a complete territory map.