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"Are you angry at Jehovah?" After being asked this on my last post...I have been mulling this thought over and over again in my mind. Honestly, how on earth am I supposed to address this question...no, please...hear me out...how am I REALLY supposed to address this question? (And I'm not mad that it was brought to my attention...please keep reading...you'll see!) What does it really mean to be angry at Jehovah? Realistically, it sounds as stupid, (and as pointless), as being angry at the sun shining...at the wind for blowing...at myself...for existing. But am I? Am I REALLY angry at Jehovah? Truthfully...yes...yes I am. I didn’t want to type those words. I didn’t want to see it in writing. But pretending I WASN’T angry...wasn’t making me any more faithful. It was just making me more tired...more worn out...and the hurt and the pain just continued to bleed through. I didn’t know what to do with that. How do you talk to Jehovah...about being angry at Jehovah? How do you engage in that conversation with him without feeling like you’re crossing some invisible line? Honestly... I didn't even know if I WAS truly mad at Jehovah...I just knew I was worn down, and every new delay of dealing with these feelings...felt like another layer of weight on my chest. Then the strangest thing happened, (and at the strangest place, ironically enough, AT THE MIDWEEK MEETING), a brother reached out...someone who’s currently wading neck deep through his own terrible life circumstances. Now, please understand...this brother didn’t know about this question being addressed with me. He didn’t know what I had admitted to myself. He didn’t know the place I was in. But, after the meeting, he approached me, gave me a quick hug...and handed me a slip of paper with a verse written on it. Now, please believe me when I say that this was not one of the usual "comfort" verses. Not something polished and familiar that we all love to hear when we're facing times of distress. No, this was all together different. I didn't have a chance to look at it until I got home that evening, but after I read it...I simply had to call him and find out WHY he had recommended that particular verse. It was something gritty...something raw...something so unexpected and off-putting that honestly, it almost felt WRONG. What's the verse? You guys know me by now, I'm not going to leave you hanging: Job 7:19: “Will you never turn your gaze away from me, or leave me alone until I swallow my saliva?” In all my years as a Witness, I have NEVER seen that verse used to encourage ANYONE. I had to do some digging, because on the surface, it sounds obvious: I mean...it SOUNDS like Job is pushing Jehovah away, like he’s had enough of being under God’s gaze. But the more I sat with it, the more I tried to really put myself in his "bare feet"...the more I started to FEEL like Job wasn’t trying to get away from Jehovah at all. He wasn’t saying, “Stop looking at me.” He was saying, “If you’re looking at me this closely…then WHY am I still like this?” Job wasn’t asking Jehovah to look away. He was asking WHY BEING "SEEN"...DIDN'T MAKE ANYTHING BETTER. That’s not distance. That’s someone who still believes Jehovah is close enough to do something, and is hurting because he hasn’t done anything YET. This new line of thought made me think about my own anger in a way I wasn’t expecting. I kept trying to figure out what it meant that I was angry at Jehovah. I kept wondering if that meant I was slipping, or drifting, or losing something I didn’t want to lose. But the more I think about Job’s words, the more something quiet has started forming in the back of my mind...something I didn’t see coming...and the more I think I'm starting to understand what that brother was trying to tell me. If my pain still turns me back in his direction, then I haven’t lost him. If my frustration still causes me to reach towards him, then I don't hate him. If I’m still speaking to him...even in anger...then I’m still searching for him. No, Job wasn’t trying to get away from Jehovah. He was simply trying to UNDERSTAND why being held in God’s sight...didn’t STOP the hurt. Friends, that’s not rebellion. That’s someone who hasn’t let go of the only person who he feels can save him It’s strange how that realization settled in. I spent quite a bit of time over the past few days thinking my anger means I'm drifting away...when the truth is that anger like this only moves TOWARD someone you still believe is there...someone you still expect something from...someone you still think can change the situation. And that’s when it finally clicked for me...the reason this brother gave me that particular verse. He looked at me and saw the same hurt and anger in my eyes as he felt himself...and after speaking to him...he straight out admitted that he didn't come up with that verse on his own, his wife had given it to him just before she started slipping away into dementia. He struggled to get the words out over the phone...but he reminded me that his wife was a nurse and therefore she KNEW what was coming for herself...and she wanted him to prepare for the anger that HE was going to feel towards Jehovah. He said that she spent more time with him in those last couple of months then they had in years...he said it felt like they were dating all over again. I honestly don't know which one of us was crying the harder at this point...he was struggling to get the words out, I had never seen him like this. He seems like a very stoic brother...but he opened up to me on the phone in a way I didn't expect. He said he could tell when she started phasing out, there would be times when she would be lucid and he said he started to treasure every single one of those moments. We finally reached a point where neither one of us could really talk...we just sat on the phone and had a few seconds of mutual silence. Finally he said that one of the last real conversations he had with his wife involved them discussing Job again...and he said she absolutely floored him by saying..."When you start to REALLY feel the pain...please don't mistake Jehovah's silence for distance...you're just in the part of the story where Jehovah hasn't spoken yet." And that's where I'm going to end this post...I'm going to go to sleep tonight with that thought on my mind...I'm just in that part of the story where Jehovah hasn't spoken...yet.

A devastating flash flood struck the Himalayan border region between Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday, leaving at least nine people dead, dozens injured and hundreds missing. The powerful flood swept away roads, bridges, homes and power projects. A mudslide also struck Gyirong Port, an important border crossing, cutting transportation, electricity and communications in the area. Officials suspect that an earthquake may have triggered an avalanche of ice and rock along the Lhende Khola River. This may have caused the sudden flooding, although the exact cause had not yet been confirmed. 384 were reported missing. Rescue efforts remain difficult because of deep sediment, damaged roads and high water. China has sent hundreds of rescuers, while India is coordinating with Nepal on relief efforts. South Korea also plans to send an emergency-response team. Authorities remain concerned that another flood could occur because a blockage is still lodged upstream. People living near the river and in low-lying areas have therefore been moved or warned to remain alert. Events like this remind us how suddenly circumstances can change. Our thoughts are with all those who have lost loved ones, those who are still searching for family members and the rescue workers laboring under dangerous conditions. As Jehovah’s Witnesses, we look forward to the time when disasters will no longer bring suffering and fear.—Revelation 21:4. Based on facts reported by Reuters on August 26, 2026.

Good morning, thank you very much to everyone who has posted a comment or send an emoji or sent me a personal message through DM. It's nice to know that I'm not alone in how I feel, it's comforting to know that I'm not the only one who has experienced these types of issues. Even though I KNOW I'm not, it's comforting when other people share their thoughts and feelings on one of my posts. I'm trying to get back to my spiritual routine, honestly sometimes I feel like it's a sputtering motor that is running out of fuel. Trying to refuel amidst everything that is going on is very difficult. Eventually I'll get there, but for right now I'm okay with puttering along until my tanks get restocked. I don't intentionally try to make my posts sappy or overwhelmingly emotional. Mostly I just sit down and allow my thoughts to come spilling out onto the page, tumbling over each other till they have some semblance of structure and meaning. Lately my thoughts have been jumbled and confused, like everything was being ran through an industrial size washing machine. I'm grateful to Jehovah that my words seem to strike a chord with some of you, because that means that there is an interchange of encouragement occurring, no matter how small it may be. I actually managed to make a couple of comments on last week's Watchtower study at our meeting, it felt comfortable to get back into the groove. I'm going to attempt to post this week's Watchtower study comments on here, it's almost like I'm running an experiment to see if my spiritual brain is working again. Thanks again for all the comments and emojis, and just know that the personal expression have encouraged me as well!

Global Initiative for National Governance, Intervention in Vigilance, Institutional Treaty Integration and Security. GINGIVITIS

Made me so sad! I met her in person once, she was recording her "Halo and Horns" Album at the recording studio my son-in-law owned. She came out of the recording booth and spoke to my Sis and Mom and me for awhile. She was so sweet, my daughter made her special kind of cookies to give her. We shared some of her last batch, she said she took them home and put them in the freezer to enjoy with her hubby. She was such a good person, hopefully Jehovah will remember her in the resurrection, along with my daughter and her husband, both are now deceased.

Wow. I just realised this is from a few days ago.. I hope your doing better Tim.. I can just tell from your well written message, that Jehovah cherish your entries, every time you pray, I can imagine Jehovah's excitement, Jesus on the edge of his seat, all the angels looking down with anticipation and eagerness thinking "what is he going to tell our father now?" and Jehovah is there, with his book of remembrance ready, on a fresh new page, and he's like "Tim, just say the words.. I'll hang onto every single one.. I'll write it down, I'll cherish it." Jehovah doesn't want you to "pause" your prayers like you can do on a recorder. He doesn't want to strain to listen to you. He wants your words, your voice.. to flow.. as he writes, almost like a river! So don't stop, he cherishes your voice. The truth is.. your words have truly touched me. I actually couldn't read this in one go. It's just what I needed. I stopped about 4-5 times throughout, each time I read the following lines: "I don’t have some powerful spiritual comeback story." "there is temporary pain in serving Jehovah" "...but there is everlasting death in choosing the other side." "Jehovah misses your thoughts too! Not your performance...not your “perfection”...no, he misses your thoughts...the ones you used to give him...the ones you still want to give him even if you don’t know how." "the silence between me and my best friend is something that I can no longer endure." Each line has made me cry. I type this now with dry fingers, dry tears all over my face, and a new set of tears threatening to spill out. Because the truth is.. I thrive with joy in the presence of my brothers and sisters. A spiritual bubble that keeps me euphoric. But in private, I just about hold it together.. it's as if I lack that joy deep down, and so when you say you've "been mentally and emotionally exhausted in a way I don’t know how to explain to anyone...not even to Jehovah," nothing more needs to be said. I feel like I can relate. My prayers go quite from time to time, but I think I'm at a point Jehovah knows I need him most. I feel like he's using what's around me to keep drawing me in, for example, the other day, I was emotionally and mentally, both exhausted and overwhelmed to the point that I was hyperventilating. I then looked on the 'whats new' section on JW Library, I saw the new excerpt on "Pursue What Builds Loyalty - Self-Control" I couldn't watch it then, because I needed to turn to the scriptures. But the next day, I watched the video.. and I cried.. because again it felt like Jah telling me "I see you, I see what your going through, I see the mental struggle, I see your pain, but I now, you can do it.. because I don't want to see my slave girl like this." So, what is Jehovah using, to keep drawing you in? To keep you close? I look forward to when that video is played at the midweek meeting in 2-3 weeks time. I love a hug from Jehovah when I'm low. Until then, you've built my determination to "unpause" my voice recording to Jah, and continue to share my load of thoughts with Him. Like you said, not the performance others see.. so each time I want to share my thoughts but I don't know how, I'll try, I'll keep pushing, I'll persevere in praying. I want my prayers to "flow" like yours! I want Jehovah to keep filling my section in his book of remembrance too. I'm glad you were able to go to the meeting. Celebrate your wins, even if you think they're small.. because Jehovah.. he beams at the little you do for him, and I know he was glad you were in his house, and I can imagine the angels flying midheaven with joy, at the fact that you were at the Hall, for your friend, your God- Jehovah. I'll keep your wife in my prayers 😊.

GUMS?

Thank you for your expressions, again, it's a bit humbling to know that what I write move other people. But it's also not surprising in another way because other people's words move me similarly, I guess it's to be expected. I'm doing what I can to continue serving Jehovah the best way that I know how it's a day by day struggle but I'm like you, I know Jehovah understands each one of us intimately and knowing our strengths and our weaknesses. What an incredible feeling it will be to get into the new system and realize that all these problems and troubles have been lifted off of our shoulders. Even thinking about that makes my head spin, it's like I can't fully wrap my head around time when there will be absolutely no pain or no loss in that way.

Peru: Strong earthquake shakes southern Andes https://www.dw.com/en/peru-strong-earthquake-shakes-southern-andes/a-78450656

My Shih tsu was called Teeth!!😅

https://variety.com/2026/music/news/dolly-parton-dead-dies-country-music-1236842727/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2026/08/25/dolly-parton-death-cause-country-music-legend-singer/89232175007/ https://apnews.com/live/dolly-parton-8-25-2026 She was a very talented singer, musician and songwriter. Who knows, maybe we will see her in the New System where she can get a whole new 'cup of ambition'

Thank you, Brother Tim, for your kind words. I'm a little late, I'm only now reading this, but they encouraged me a lot. I've been through some difficult days, I have anxiety problems, I'm currently facing financial difficulties, and I'm neglecting my worship of Jehovah and my spiritual activities. I have a meeting today; lately I've missed some meetings and field service trips because of work. I'm a little insecure about going through those Kingdom Hall doors, as you yourself wrote. Many of us are pressured in every way. I want to go back. I need to go back as soon as possible! Thank you, Brother Tim. It's a pleasure to be here with you and to be able to connect with you.

Soon Tim, we will all go home. You will again see your wife. Make all the efforts necessary to receive her. I believe James might know my uncle in Pensacola. "Miguel Leon" and the rest of my family there. However, as sad as all these experiences are, we are holding on to that precious hope. Life everlasting. As in the early christian era when Jesus told his disciple that Satan was demanding to have them sifted, we too are being sifted today. How it hurts. Trust in Jehovah, He will not forget us. He is about to act. My brothers stay faithful!

My dear brother, I have not followed all of your posts here, but I have read many of them. I know a little bit about the situation with your wife's health, and the difficulties both of you are facing in trying to get her the medical care she needs. Many times those of us who have spent our whole life in just one country do not comprehend the difficulties individuals in another country face because "the way things operate" are so different from what we are used to. I can appreciate your emotional distress. I know you used to post comments about each paragraph in the Watchtower study for each week. I would "cheat" by copying your comments for each paragraph and then paste them in the space for each paragraph where the week's study article is put in the sections of JW Library for the meetings. Having feelings of "guilt" or "despair" are not uncommon when we realize that we could have done certain things in the past. Several years ago my wife's mental state began to deteriorate, especially short term memory. Thankfully, as a CPA I had several older clients and I was able to talk with them about various facilties in the area. I finally settled on a retirement facility quite cose to our house. They have "Independent Living" apartments, provisions for "assisted living" and a section for "skilled nursing." Quite by accident it is the same facility the social worker helped my mother find for my father when his dementia surfaced 25 years ago. He made a decent living for us. We never lacked for anything. But my parents did not have the resources for this facility. The social worker found a "Medicaid Qualified" bed at this facility for my father. My father was at the point that he could not remember everyone's name. He did not understand everything that was said. But, to him, it was VERY important that he be at the Kingdom Hall every Sunday for the Publc Talk and the Watchtower Study. When I would drive out here to pick him up, the staff here would have him already dressed with a coat and a tie. I did not have to get him dressed. My wonderment was: "Who does that for a MEDICAID patient?" I was very thankful for the dignity and kindness they showed him, even if he was here with MEDICAID instead of paying like the rest of the patients. So, my wife and I moved out here eight years ago. We were here together in the "independent living" apartment for about 18 months, and then my wife's memory problems REALLY surfaced. It got to the point that there were four nights in a row that I had to call my son at bedtime. He had to get out of bed, get dressed, and drive out here to tell his mother that he knew I was his father and her husband. He had lived with us, or in the same neighborhood, for over 50 years. On the fifth night she would not even believe him. I called the "wellness office" here and they sent a nurse and a security guard. The nurse finally convinced my wife it was appropriate for us to sleep in the same bed. So, we went to bed. Then I got a call from the Administrator of the facility. She said: "I want to help any way I can, but I cannot send a nurse to your apartment every night to convince you wife to let you sleep in the same bed with her. She needs to be in our memory care unit (i.e., "skilled nursing" - dementia/Alzheimers' care). When a person with the training, experience, expertise, and authority tells you that, it kind of takes the decision out of your hands. My wife was transferred to the memory care/dementia/Alzheimers' unit. When you must do something like that you always wonder "what did I do wrong" or "what did I not do right" or "what else should I have done" etc., etc., . . . When I would go to visit her, she was not the same young, energetic, vibrant, energetic young woman I married 62 years earlier. I found the visits extremely difficult. As a result, I did not go as ofter as I should have. She died February 1st of this year. So now the guilt is really there about not doing enough, or not doing the right things, etc, etc. /////After all, she had put up with me for over 62 years. She deserved some consideration for that. I can imagine how you have felt "down" with all of the things you have endured. One experience has helped me. There was an older brother in our congregation whose health had declined to the point that he was not physically able to do field service, get to the Kingdom Hall, or do anything else. He was VERY depressed. When the Circuit Overseer was at our congregation he visited the brother. The brother's son-in-law was there with the Circuit Overseer and told me about the conversation. Circuit Overseer: Ben, do you remember the very first house you called on the first time you went in the field ministry? Ben: Yes. Circuit Overseer: Do you remember the second house you went to in the field ministry? Ben: No. Circuit Overseer: What about the third house or the fourth house? Do you remember them? Ben: No Circuit Overseer: Well, Jehovah remembers that first house you called on the first time you went in field service. He also remembers the second house. He also remembers the third and fourth houses you called on. In fact, he remembers EVERY HOUSE you ever called on in the DECADES when you were regular in the ministry. And, he does not, and will not, forget all of the other things you have done in building Kingdom Halls, preparing hour talks and presenting them, the people you conducted a bible study with, the times you and another Elder went to visit one of Jehovah's dear ones who had a problem. He will never forget all of those things, even if you cannot remember them. Jehovah will never abandon his faithful ones, and he will never abandon you. Just keep thinking about him and pray to him regularly. He will NOT forget. Hearing Ben's son-in-law relate that experience he had when he went with the Circuit Overseer to visit the brother has given me considerable help. Yes, I have made mistakes. Yes, I have at times failed to do something as well as it could have been done. Psalms 130:3 is very comforting: If errors were what you watch, O Jah, Then who, O Jehovah, could stand? Jehovah does not keep track of our mistakes. He keeps track of how we have tried. About 30 years ago an instructor at an Elders' School said: "Jehovah is not praised by our success. He is praised by our efforts." I am sooo thankful Jehovah has not kept a tally of my mistakes. I am thankful that he and his son cared enough for their human creation that when Satan rebelled, they established the Kingdom Arrangement with the Ransom Provision. Even though is was extremely physically and emotionally painful for Jehovah's son, and emotionally painful for Jehovah to watch his son go through it, they went ahead and set up the Kingdom Arrangement with the Ranson Provision for us. There is not any more they could have done. It hurt both of them VERY much, but they still put it all together for us anyway. That shows the extent of the love that both of them have for their human creation. I am so VERY thankful for that. Thanks, Jim

Permit me to digress. If you were angry at Jehovah, Jehovah understands it's normal. Like one shouldn't be ashamed to say, "oh am hungry." Being angry is a normal reaction when: 1. You don't understand why a situation persists that is not to your liking (see Habakuk) 2. Or you understand but you don't know why it's allowed to continue (first century Christians must have expressed that sentiment hence 2 Peter 3:15,16). 3. It's more painful when events seem to be out of your control (that's why Elijah ran away even after killing 70 prophets of Baal). And you have Jehovah, you know he's the Sovereign of the universe, the all powerful, most powerful that no one can ask him, "what have you been doing!?" That's ironic and contradictory. So Jehovah understands why we're angry if and when we say we're angry. Sincerely I have been in the past until I realized I am not the only one. Righteous servants of God in the past shared my sentiment. But what helped me get a balanced view of the situation. Just one word: Trust. Do I trust Jehovah is acting for my good even though I might not understand how? Do I trust Jehovah always does the right thing? Do I trust that Jehovah that Jehovah's love covers me, an imperfect ant, that does wrong once in a while who has no right to even be angry at such Holy of Holies? When I decided the definite answer was YES to all 3, tears came to my eyes. I realized it was my little perception of events or anxiety due to world conditions and mine. I learned to trust more. To believe the vision will not delay. It's panting towards its accomplishment. I just need to handover control to Jehovah and que sera sera. So it doesn't bother me anymore. Whether the mountains tumble into the sea, or the Sun misses a rotation for a second (forgotten who said that), I just seat at the back seat, knowing my driver is the best driver in the world. So I do my best and leave the rest into his arms. Just to share. Because we all love you. 🫶

Good Night!! We love you too!!

I totally understand your comment, and I see the logic behind the Hospital Liaison Committee's guidance in today's climate. However, before the Hospital Liaison Committee (HLC) arrangement, doctors would frequently get a court order enabling them to countermand the wishes of the parent and transfuse the child. At the present time, after the HLCs were formed, and have had many years to work with medical professionals, the attitude of the medical profession is totally different from what it was 50 years ago. That is why I said that I believe the HLC arrangement was one of the better things Jehovah's Organization has done to assist all of Jehovah's dear ones keep true to his righteous requirements. In areas where the HLC has had opportunity to work with medical professionals, things are totally different now. I studied with one individual who "made the truth his own" and progressed to be an Elder. His oldest son was born with spina bifida (a neural tube defect where the spinal column fails to close compltely during the early prgnancy) in 1968, which leads to significant complications and can make the child paralized in the lower body. This condition was not apparent befor the child was born. The brother and his wife (and related family members) all of a sudden had to become well read on treatments that could be used and still comply with Jehovah's righteous requirements. He ended up on the local HLC (as well as having many additional privilegs including temporary Bethel Service, Department Head responsibilities at Circuit Assemblies and District Conventions). His experience with his first child gave him the ability to talk with medical professionals. He and his fleshly brother were both very dear to me. I studied with both him and his younger brother. The younger brother became a Ministerial servand. The one who became a Ministerial Servant died of a massive stroke about ten years ago. The one we became an Elder died of leukemia about four years ago. His son is wheelchair bound and is now 58 and is serving as an Elder. He had another son (about two years younger than the first) who spent five yeaars at Bethel, and is now serving as an Elder. In today's environment I can understand why the HLC would not recommend running from the hospital with a child. In the environment today (particularly in the U.S.) there are usually much better ways to handle the situation. That is bacause of all of the great effort put forth by the brothers who have been working so hard for the rest of us while serving on the HLC. When I made the comment, I was NOT trying to encourage someone to take a particular course of action today. I was just relating what historically happened in this particular situation 50+ years ago. The couple even had to "do battle in court" in the city where they went. There was an attorney from Canada who had experience with these matters who came from Canada to help the U.S. attorney (both of these attorneys were brothers) during the court hearing in the city where they went. The problem was that the local doctor had gone to the court to obtain the court order without notifying the parents, so they had no opportunity to present their side of the case before the local judge make his ruling. When the couple were able to get legal representation in the city to which they went, the judge there allowed the couple to avail themselves of alternative medical treatment. There was a brother in that city who was a doctor, and he was able to treat the child using appropiate treatment, as well as providing excellent testimony before the judge at the hearing. In today's environment (especially in the U.S.) it is not likely that a judge would issue such an order if the parents had been able to present their case to the court. If I gave the impression I was suggesting someone "run from the hospital with their child" I apologize sincerely and totally. I was just attemptng to relate an experience of which I had personal knowledge to illustrate one of the tremendously good things Jehovah's Organization has done for Jehovah's dear ones to help all to endure, by loyal, and keep their faith. Thanks, Jim

https://www.counterfire.org/article/un-at-80-toothless-ignored-and-irrelevant/ This article is from 2025 but this is how the UN is regarded at the moment. What a shock when it becomes the most powerful organisation in the world!

Wednesday, August 26 Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you.—Matt. 5:44. We can only begin to imagine the pain Jesus felt as well as the indignity and the injustice that he endured. Yet, he was not conquered by the injustice he suffered. Instead of cursing the soldiers who had nailed him to the stake, he prayed: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) When we pray for those who mistreat us, it can lessen our feelings of resentment and anger and even change the way we view those who offend us. There is no telling what injustices we may yet face before this system ends. Whatever comes our way, let us never stop praying to Jehovah for help. Also, may we imitate the way Jesus responded to mistreatment and continue to apply Bible principles. If we do, we can be sure of inheriting a blessing from Jehovah.—1 Pet. 3:8, 9. w24.11 6 ¶16; 7 ¶17, 19

The digitizing was a game changer for us who organize the ministry and for the publishers as they now feel more engaged in working a territory by changing the status of homes. In addition what I have done is in the scheduler for each territory under the information tab you have 2 fields you can assign links to. The 1st one I labeled Directions. From the Satellite of Google maps I selected a spot that allows for parking of a few cars, that way you go straight from the meeting for field service into the territory and not have another meeting place where again rearranging what was already done after the conclusion of the meeting for field service.

I agree fully with @More4me2do. Once you add all the addresses to a territory, the concept of "blocks" becomes useless. If the territory is unworked, you can assign one or more groups with instructions like: "Work all the blue houses on Adams Avenue". If partially worked already, the instruction might change to "work all the orange houses (ie, NH once) on Adams Avenue. Since houses will be marked in real time, the group overseer as well as each car group can immediately see the progress on each street in territory.

In october it would be interesting to see a woman on that role for the first time And the nations giving power to UN during her 5 year mandate 😅

This is so true. In the past I had the privilege of working with the Legal Deparment on some tax matters. If I have counted correctly, over the years I accumulated 16 weeks of temporary Bethel Service. I know the Society does not pay taxes. But there are certain 'Hoops' any tax exept organization has to "jump through" to keep their exempt status. So, a Certified Public Accountant may still have reason to interact with the legal department to be sure Jehovah's Oranization is "giving to Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar" and to keep Jehovahs Earthly Organization above reproach. Some of the matters covered took 10 years to work through. There were other projects that turned out not to be feasible or useful, and went nowhere. One matter concerned the change of one word in a departmental instruction. That took two years befor it was finalized. Many things can come us that can delay a project, or make a project not feasible. To me that demonstrates the thoroughness of everything Jehovah's Organization does. I saw many examples of research and documentation on the part of Jehovah's Earthly Organization that would be considered "way over the top" by worldly Attorneys, CPAs, Engineers, Architects, etc., and any of the worldly professionals with whom I have worked locally. The "professionaism" and absolute care exercised by Jehovah's Organization is just one more example of the GB doing their VERY BEST to make sure everything is done "just so" - the same way Noah built the ark. Seeing the care and research that has gone on in the few sitiutions where I have had the privilege of working with ones at Bethel, when I watch the episodes of The Good News Accordng to Jesus I marvel about how much research had to go into the production to be absolutely certain that everything was presented as accurately as possible. Thanks, Jim

🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️ I didn't even realize it was the 2024 update!

We had setup various groups in connection to our KH project. It seems that one group got some strange messages from someone claiming to be from the LDC. It turned out that a publishers phone was hacked. The group chat was closed down.

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.

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.

When I went to my grandpa’s funeral the other day, I honestly didn’t expect anything to break through the spiritual fog I’ve been living in. If I'm being blunt...I’ve been spiritually thin for weeks...maybe even months now...and I’ve been carrying around this quiet shame about it. I’ve been attending meetings on Zoom, half-present, half somewhere else entirely. My study habits have fallen apart. My prayers feel like they start strong in my chest...but die before they have the ability to reach my mouth. And honestly, (except for a few people), I’ve been afraid to admit any of this out loud because it feels like one more failure stacked on top of everything else that’s already crushing me. But at the end of the funeral, my Uncle gave the prayer and said something in it that stopped me cold. It clung to me...refusing to let go...and I now fully believe that wasn't JUST my Uncle speaking...that was Jehovah...talking through him...directly to me. He said Jehovah misses my grandpa’s thoughts. Not just his presence...not just his service...but his thoughts. I don’t know why that hit me the way it did, but it felt like someone reached inside my chest and pulled a cord I didn’t even realize was still connected. Because if Jehovah misses my grandpa’s thoughts, then Jehovah has been missing mine too...and that realization crushed me. For the first time in a while...I went home...fired up my computer, made myself a steaming hot cup of Maxwell House...and started doing some personal research. Not research for a Midweek meeting...or a Watchtower study...but just for ME. You know...Psalm 139:1-4 is one of those scriptures we hear so often that it becomes background noise. “Jehovah knows our thoughts before we speak them.” I usually take that to mean he’s interested in us...that he's aware of everything. But sitting there in my computer room...sipping from that steaming mug...I suddenly heard it differently. If Jehovah knows my thoughts before I speak them, then he also knows when those thoughts toward him have gone “quiet”. I mean, that only makes sense, right? He knows when the conversation has stopped. He knows when the prayers have dried up. He knows when the spiritual part of me that used to reach for him with wide open arms has suddenly gone silent. And if he knows what it's like when we're engaged...when we're pouring our heart out to him...if he can FEEL that...then it follows that he also feels the absence of it. But he's not angry at me...he's not judging me...he's actually longing for me to start speaking again. The more I thought about this...the more another verse began to tug at my brain...pulling me deeper into my research...pushing me further from Satan and his thinking...tugging me towards Jehovah...towards his outstretched arms. Malachi 3:16 suddenly sprang to mind...the verse about Jehovah listening so closely to the conversations of those who fear him that he writes them down in a book of remembrance. I’ve always thought of that verse as something encouraging, something that shows how much Jehovah values loyalty. But now I’m seeing the other side of it. If Jehovah "writes down" our spiritual conversations...if he records them, if he appreciates them THAT much...then what does it mean when the pages go blank...when the entries stop...when a gap appears, like when you're recording your voice and suddenly stop talking for a few seconds. Again, it means Jehovah notices. It means he feels the silence...it's like he starts straining to hear us...to detect WHY we've quit talking. It means he misses the sound of MY voice. And that’s where I’ve been...I've been living in that silence...in that “pause” of the voice recording. My wife is overseas, dealing with medical issues that keep getting mishandled. She’s in a homeless shelter. She’s not getting the help she needs. Every day I wake up with this knot in my chest that doesn’t go away, and every night I go to bed with the same knot, only tighter...thicker...heavier. My thoughts have been consumed by fear, frustration, helplessness, and guilt...that's just the plain and simple truth. And somewhere in the middle of all this chaos, my spiritual voice dimmed. Not because I stopped loving Jehovah. Not because I don’t care. But because I’ve been mentally and emotionally exhausted in a way I don’t know how to explain to anyone...not even to Jehovah. (Try THAT thought on for size) So when my Uncle said Jehovah misses my grandpa’s thoughts, it felt like Jehovah was quietly telling me, “Tim, I miss yours too.” Not in the way to make me feel ashamed. Not in a “get it together, Tim!” kind of way either. But in a way that reminded me that my relationship with him isn’t built on perfect attendance or flawless study habits. It’s built on connection...on conversation...on thoughts that turn toward him even when life is tearing and ripping you apart...even then. That’s why I’m going to the Kingdom Hall this morning. It’s been over a month since I’ve walked through those doors. I don’t have answers for the questions people will ask. I don’t have a neat explanation for the mess my life is in. I don’t have some powerful spiritual comeback story. But I do have one desire today...just one honest, fragile goal that I desperately want to accomplish this morning. I want to turn the volume up just a little. Not all the way...I'm not ready for that yet...I'm not even sure I'm ready for this. But I'm going to try...because if there's one thing I know for certain: there is temporary pain in serving Jehovah...but there is everlasting death in choosing the other side. And if any of you reading this are struggling in your own way...if your prayers have gone quiet, if your study has gone cold, if your meeting attendance has slipped...if your thoughts toward Jehovah have been drowned out by fear or grief or exhaustion...please believe me: Jehovah misses your thoughts too! Not your performance...not your “perfection”...no, he misses your thoughts...the ones you used to give him...the ones you still want to give him even if you don’t know how. Honestly...just speaking plainly among friends...I may regress. I may crawl back into my hole and ask the ground to cover me over. I may get hurt today...someone may offend me...may unknowingly rip open wounds that are still bleeding and raw...but I'm going anyways. Why? Because Jehovah misses my thoughts...and because the silence between me and my best friend is something that I can no longer endure. Even if everyone else in that Kingdom Hall were to suddenly descend upon me and start asking hurtful questions or saying mean things, (obviously I'm exaggerating), I'm not there to listen to them anyway. I'm there because my best friend is there...because HE misses my thoughts...and truthfully...because I can no longer endure the silence between me...and Jehovah.

Thinking about the silence: As a writer and a word nerd, sometimes words just fail me, and I have to pray to Jehovah to understand that which seems incomprehensible. Glad you are still trying. And best wishes to all who are offering wordless prayers.

Hello all, I am working on a single HTML web app (runs in your browser) called BRiSA - Bible-Reading Scheduler Application. Its purpose is to create your own custom-designed Bible-reading plan. It will be available in all the major languages, but I need some help translating the strings. I could do it with online tools, but the real-person touch is better :-) In particular, I am looking for help with: Português, 中文简体, Dansk, Français, Italiano, українська, 한국어, Română, Nederlands, Polski, Русский, Deutsch, and Svenska. If you feel comfortable in any of these, please contact me via a private message and I will share the strings. Thanks in advance, Eryk

Sometimes I wonder when we actually started listening to one another less. Not hearing less. We do that constantly. We hear voices, opinions, news, comments, and countless words. Every day there are more. And yet something seems to be becoming rarer: real listening. Perhaps that is why it is time to think about a word that used to be completely natural and today sounds almost a little old-fashioned: Respect. A small word. But one with astonishing weight. Because respect does not mean that we have to agree with everything. Nor does it mean that we have to like every person. Sometimes respect simply means: I see you. I take you seriously. You are a human being just like me. You have your own story, your experiences, your fears, and your reasons that I may never fully understand. And perhaps that is exactly where something begins that we are increasingly losing in everyday life. We live under the same sun. We breathe the same air. We see the same stars. And yet we can make life difficult for one another. Sometimes all it takes is a single sentence. A thoughtless word. A mocking look. A derogatory remark. Or that small, seemingly harmless rolling of the eyes, which can say more than a hundred words. The other person notices it. Of course they notice it. Perhaps they simply do not let it show. And that is exactly what is sad: We often have no idea what a person takes home with them after meeting us. Perhaps they smiled. Perhaps they even said, “It’s all good.” And yet it may be that later they sit alone in their room and hear that one sentence all over again. “Why did he have to say that?” There are words we forget immediately. And there are words that stay. For years. Perhaps an adult still remembers a sentence someone said to them when they were a child. “You can’t do that anyway.” “You’ll never amount to anything.” “You’re too sensitive.” “Why can’t you be like …?” Back then, perhaps it was only a sentence. For the person who said it, it was forgotten again after a few minutes. For the child, perhaps not. Perhaps the child put that sentence away somewhere deep inside. And at some point, a sentence spoken by someone else became their own thought: “Maybe I really am not good enough.” That is what makes words so powerful. They can lift a person up. But they can also settle somewhere deep inside them. Perhaps respect therefore begins much earlier than we think. Not only in professional life. Not only in a partnership. Not only when we become adults. It begins where a child first experiences how people treat one another. A child observes. How do people speak to one another? How do they argue? How do they talk about other people when they are not there? How is a mistake dealt with? Is someone allowed to say, “That hurt me”? Or are they told, “Stop making such a fuss”? Children do not only hear our words. They learn how we treat one another. And eventually they carry that out into the world. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why we sometimes meet people who can be remarkably disrespectful without even realizing how they affect others. Perhaps they never learned that strength and thoughtlessness are two completely different things. It is not much different among adults. You can greet a person every morning and still not really see them. You can sit next to one another and yet talk past each other. You can work together for years and still hardly know what is really occupying the other person. And yet respect can sometimes be something very simple. Letting someone finish speaking. Not interrupting immediately. Not immediately seeing a different opinion as an attack. Not taking a “thank you” for granted. Or simply saying once: “Tell me how you see it.” Perhaps that one sentence changes more than we think. Because somewhere in their life, every person wants to have the feeling: I am seen. Not judged. Not compared. Not put into a box. Simply seen. It becomes particularly strange on the internet. There, people sit in front of screens and write things to others that they would probably never say to their face. A comment is written quickly. A sentence is sent quickly. A judgment is made quickly. And then it is out there. Only the person it was directed at is left with the words. Sometimes I therefore wonder: What would change if, before sending a message, we could briefly see the other person’s face? Not their profile picture. Not their name. But their real face. Perhaps the tired eyes. Perhaps the worries behind them. Perhaps the tears nobody sees. Perhaps some words would never be written then. Because behind every screen there is not an “account.” There is a human being sitting there. Of course, there are people who deliberately provoke. People who want to hurt. People who take out their own dissatisfaction on others. And sometimes it really is better not to respond. Not every door has to be opened. Not every argument has to be fought. Not every provocation deserves our energy. Silence can sometimes be much stronger than a sharp response. Not out of weakness. But because you have understood: I do not have to accept every fight simply because someone offers one to me. Perhaps that too is respect. Respect for the other person. But equally, respect for yourself. And then there is that special form of respect that is particularly difficult: Respecting people who do not treat us respectfully. That is probably the point where it becomes clear what respect really means. Because being kind to someone we love is not particularly difficult. It becomes difficult with the person who has hurt us. With the colleague who constantly provokes us. With the family member with whom every conversation becomes difficult. With the person whose opinion we simply cannot share. Perhaps respect here does not mean that we allow closeness. Perhaps it simply means: I will not become the person whose behavior I am currently upset about. They hurt me. But I will not therefore hurt others myself. They were unfair. But I will not therefore be unfair. They made me feel small. But I will not therefore make anyone else feel small. Perhaps that is a quiet form of freedom. A little illustration comes to my mind again and again. Imagine an old mirror. It hangs somewhere in a hallway. Perhaps it has been there for many years. One day someone throws a stone at it. A small crack appears. The mirror remains hanging there. Later someone comes and throws something at it again. Another crack. And another. Eventually the mirror is full of cracks. If you look into it now, you no longer see yourself as you really are. Everything is distorted. Perhaps people are similar. We never know how many invisible cracks a person is already carrying inside. Perhaps someone has already experienced a great deal of criticism. Perhaps they have often been rejected. Perhaps someone made them feel for years that they were not good enough. And then we come along. We see only this one moment. We know nothing about their story. And yet we judge them. Perhaps it would sometimes be good to remember: We see a person – but not their whole story. Respect therefore perhaps also means being more careful with what is unknown. Not immediately judging every behavior. Not taking every reaction personally. Not immediately thinking: “He is arrogant.” Maybe he is insecure. “She is unfriendly.” Maybe she has just had a terrible day. “He doesn’t care about anyone.” Maybe he himself is currently struggling to cope with his own life. We do not know. And that is exactly why a little restraint can sometimes do us good. Perhaps in the end, respect is not really anything great. Perhaps it is found in the small things that nobody photographs and nobody publishes anywhere. In the person who holds the door open for someone else. In the one who lets an elderly person finish speaking. In a son who listens to his mother once again, even though he already knows the story. In a partner who does not strike back after an argument. In a friend who keeps a secret. In a colleague who does not embarrass someone for making a mistake in front of everyone. In a person who can say: “You are right. I was wrong about that.” And perhaps even in the person who takes the first step after an argument, although they are convinced that they themselves are right. Not because they have lost. But because the relationship is more important to them than winning. Perhaps one day we will realize that we do not remember most of the conversations of our lives at all. But we remember certain people. And usually not because they were particularly clever. Not necessarily because they were particularly successful. But because somehow we felt good in their presence. Safe. Accepted. Respected. Perhaps that is one of the most beautiful things a human being can give to another: the feeling of being valuable. And it does not take much. Sometimes a look is enough. Listening. An honest “thank you.” An “I understand you.” Or simply the decision to remain silent for one moment longer before answering. Perhaps we should therefore not wait for the world to become more respectful again. Perhaps change begins much smaller. With us. With me. With you. With the next conversation. With the next message. With the next person we meet. Because someone has to begin. And perhaps that is the most beautiful thought about respect: We do not have to wait for someone else to give it. We can begin with it ourselves. Today. Quite unremarkably. Perhaps even where nobody notices. And perhaps, at some point, someone will simply notice: “Somehow, that conversation today was different.” Perhaps that person will not even understand why. But perhaps they felt something. Something that is becoming ever more precious in our noisy world: Respect. Dignity. Humanity. Respect. Perhaps the word has not been forgotten after all. Perhaps it is simply waiting for us to give it once again the weight that it deserves.

Could she be the one in Revelation 17 - 18 chpts riding on the UN?

Tuesday, August 25 Safeguard your heart, for out of it are the sources of life.—Prov. 4:23. Unwholesome entertainment can divide our heart. So can bad association and materialistic thinking. If we detect that something is beginning to weaken our love for Jehovah, let us take swift action to remove it. (Matt. 5:29, 30) We must not let our heart become divided. We could fool ourselves into thinking that by increasing our spiritual activities, we need not reject bad influences. To illustrate, imagine yourself outside on a brutally cold and windy day. On arriving home, you turn on the heat. How much good would that do you if you left the door open? The cold air would quickly fill your house. The point? We need to do more than just take in spiritual food that warms our relationship with Jehovah. We must also close the door on unwholesome influences, so that this world’s cold “air,” or ungodly attitude, does not enter our heart and divide it.—Eph. 2:2. w24.07 21 ¶6-7

“My Sheep Listen to My Voice” John 10:27 Imagine this scene. It is early in the morning. A flock of sheep is moving through the Neckar Valley. On one side is the river, on the other a country road. The night has been cold, and a thick mist lies over the meadows and the river. You can hardly see a few metres ahead. The shepherd knows the way. The sheep follow him. Everything is quiet. Until suddenly, a large truck drives past. The driver sounds his powerful horn. A tremendous noise! The sheep are frightened. And suddenly something happens that could become deadly: Panic. They stop thinking. They stop looking at their shepherd. They simply run. And unfortunately, they run in the wrong direction. Straight toward the Neckar. The mist hides the river. They cannot see the steep bank. They cannot see the freezing water or the strong current. All they know is: “Get away from here!” The shepherd immediately sees the danger. He calls out: “Stop! Stay where you are!” And then something remarkable happens. The sheep stop. Why? Not because the mist has disappeared. Not because the danger is suddenly gone. But because they recognize the voice of their shepherd. They know that voice. They have heard it again and again. They know: “That is our shepherd.” And suddenly his voice is stronger than their fear. The panic loses its power. Because something much deeper is there: Trust. The shepherd also told a sad story. A friend had asked him to take five of his sheep into the flock. But those five sheep did not know the shepherd. They did not recognize his voice. And when the danger came, they kept running. They ran into the Neckar and drowned. That story is deeply moving. Those five sheep were not worse than the others. They were not deliberately disobedient. They simply had never become familiar with the shepherd’s voice. And that makes Jesus’ words especially meaningful. At John 10:27, he said: “My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Jesus did not simply say: “My sheep know the rules.” He said: “My sheep listen to my voice.” That is much more personal. It is not just about knowing something about our Shepherd. It is about knowing his voice. Now think about our own life. We may never stand in the mist beside the Neckar with a flock of sheep. But we know what it is like when life suddenly becomes very loud. A bad report. A disappointment. A conflict. A family problem. A decision that overwhelms us. Someone hurts us. We feel treated unfairly. Or we become afraid of what tomorrow may bring. And something similar can happen to us. Fear becomes loud. Disappointment becomes loud. Our own thoughts become loud. Our heart may say: “Run away.” “You can’t do this.” “There’s no point.” “You’re alone.” “No one understands you.” “Why would Jehovah help you?” If we listen only to those voices, we can easily start moving in a direction that takes us farther and farther from our Shepherd. Maybe not all at once. Just little by little. We pray a little less. We read a little less. We trust a little less. We have a little less connection with the congregation. And one day we realize: “I have come a long way.” Not because we intended to. But because fear became louder than the Shepherd’s voice. So we need to ask ourselves: Would we recognize Jehovah’s voice if everything around us suddenly became loud? The Shepherd will not always remove the mist. He will not prevent every “truck horn” from sounding in our life. We will experience problems. We will become frightened. We will sometimes be afraid. But perhaps Jehovah does something far more valuable: He helps us become familiar with his voice. Long before the crisis comes. Think about a little lamb. The shepherd explained that during the first week of a lamb’s life, he carries it in his arms as often as possible. While talking to it, the lamb becomes familiar with his voice. It learns: “That voice belongs to someone who cares for me. I am safe with him.” A bond develops. And that is a beautiful picture of our relationship with Jehovah. We do not learn his voice only when we are in the middle of a crisis. We learn it beforehand. When we read his Word every day. When we pray. When we think deeply about his thoughts. When we experience how he carries us through difficult times. When we meet together with our brothers and sisters. Each time, we are, in a sense, hearing our Shepherd’s voice. And each time, our bond with him grows stronger. Perhaps one day our life will become misty. We cannot see clearly. We do not know what will happen next. We cannot see the danger. But then we hear a familiar voice. Maybe through a Bible verse. Maybe through a thought at a meeting. Maybe through a brother or sister. Maybe through a sentence we have read a hundred times, but suddenly it reaches our heart in a completely different way. And we realize: “That is the voice of my Shepherd.” We may not know what lies beyond the mist. But we know who is leading us. And perhaps the most moving thought of all is this: The sheep did not simply hear the shepherd’s voice. The shepherd knew his sheep. Jesus said: “My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them.” Jehovah knows us. Not just our name. Not just what others can see. He knows our thoughts. Our fears. Our disappointments. Our struggles. He knows when we appear strong even though we are exhausted inside. He knows when we smile even though we feel like crying. And that is why Jesus’ words are so comforting. He did not simply say: “My sheep know me.” He said: “I know them.” Then comes another beautiful thought: “And they follow me.” That may be the key. The sheep did not say: “We trust the shepherd,” and then run in the opposite direction. They heard his voice. They recognized it. And they followed him. Because trust is not shown only by what we say. Trust is shown by where we go when we are afraid. Maybe one day we will find ourselves at our own personal “Neckar.” There is mist ahead. We do not know what is coming. Behind us is panic. And somewhere in the mist we hear the voice of our Shepherd: “Stay where you are.” “Trust me.” “Follow me.” What will we do? Maybe we still will not see the river. Maybe we will not know the solution. Maybe the fear will still be there. But we can do something: We can follow the voice we have spent our life learning to recognize. So perhaps we should not ask only: “Do I hear Jehovah’s voice?” But: “Do I know his voice well enough to recognize it when my life becomes loud?” Because one day we may not be able to see everything clearly. At that moment, we do not need a Shepherd who explains everything. We need a Shepherd whose voice we know. The story at the Neckar ended tragically for five sheep that did not know the shepherd’s voice. But our story does not have to end that way. We can choose today to become even more familiar with that voice. We can listen. We can trust. We can follow. And then the words of John 10:27 can become a thought that stays in our heart for a lifetime: “My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Maybe the mist will come again. Maybe life will become loud again. Maybe we will become frightened. But when we hear the voice of our Shepherd, we can say deep inside: “I know that voice.” “That is my Shepherd.” “He is here.” “I do not have to run away.” And perhaps that is the difference between a sheep that blindly runs away and one that is saved: It has learned to recognize the voice of its Shepherd. So may we never stop listening. Because one day, that voice may be life-saving.

Thank you so much for sharing these thoughts. 🩵

My Dear Brother, thank you for sharing this with us. Just know that Jehovah loves you and so do we, you are never alone or forgotten, Jehovah see's you, he sees your heart, your tears, your pain, he just hasnt spoken yet. We must all have patience my friend and hold on until he does speak. Don't give up because what is the alternative, we arre too far into these last days, Paradise is right around the corner. May Jehovah Be With You Always. Sent from my SM-G990U2 using Tapatalk

Monday, August 24 My God is my rock of refuge.—Ps. 94:22. Jehovah is a refuge. Just as a huge rock can be a person’s hiding place from a threatening storm, Jehovah safeguards us when we face situations that threaten our well-being. He keeps us safe and prevents us from suffering lasting harm. And he promises even more: He will eventually eliminate whatever threatens our peace and security. (Ezek. 34:25, 26) One way we make Jehovah our rocklike Refuge is by praying to him. When we pray, Jehovah gives us “the peace of God” that safeguards our heart and mind. (Phil. 4:6, 7) Jehovah is always there for us. We can trust him because he is “the eternal Rock.” (Isa. 26:3, 4) He will always be alive to keep his promises, hear our prayers, and give us the support we need. We can also depend on Jehovah because he is loyal to those who serve him. (2 Sam. 22:26) He will never forget what we do, and he will always reward us.—Heb. 6:10;11:6. w24.06 27 ¶4-6

A strong, shallow 6.0 has struck near Honcho in Japan. That is the third strong quake to strike in the past 48 hours.

Sunday, August 23 He became overjoyed in the holy spirit.—Luke 10:21. Jesus maintained a positive attitude about the preaching work. That helped him to stay enthusiastic about his ministry. For example, late in 30 C.E., Jesus saw that many were ready to respond to his preaching activity, and he likened them to a ripe field ready to be harvested. (John 4:35) About a year later, he told his disciples: “The harvest is great.” (Matt. 9:37, 38) And later he again emphasized: “The harvest is great . . . Beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2) Jesus never lost sight of the potential for people to respond to the good news, and he rejoiced when they did. Jesus taught his disciples to keep a positive view of their message, which would encourage them to maintain their zeal. w25.03 18-19 ¶15-16

Just so you know, the Branch uses Whatsapp. Its used for Conventions, Assemblies and LDC. If you volunteer for a theocratic event, you will probably be asked to use Whatsapp.

Quite similar in our hall too. An already compromised number, hacked the number of a publishers phone. After doing so, the hacker had access to chats, and groups, e.g the congregation group chat, which was then used by the hacker to message and call other publishers in the group. When they realised that wasn't working, because of how promptly everyone was informed, they hacked the number of another publisher in attempt to carry on the chain 😳. But that too, did not work.

I have a cousin who is on a Hospital Liaison Committee. Today, they don't recommend running from a hospital with a child.

We are at 1128 now.

More like Global United Mandate for Security.

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.

Known as Operation TEETH

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

I'm not sure why we would need an official announcement from the GB about the GT starting because it was my understanding that when the United Nations puts an end to all religion, that is the start. When that happens, it will make worldwide news, I don't think there will be any doubts. But it's always nice to have confirmation from the one true source of truth. When religion takes a hit, so will it's buildings and wealth, so I can imagine all religious property will be systematically confiscated and handed over to it's respective government, That is probably the reason that our publications always picture us meeting in other places besides our kingdom halls during that period of time. I would rather not think of that time as "scary", more like challenging. People outside our organization will be scared because they never imagined this happening - people are out of their minds now over the slightest thing, when something this big happens it will really amp up the craziness and chaos. But the Bible assures us that we will be "dwelling in security" because Jehovah will be taking care of us and keeping us united and still able to worship him. It will be that last moment of the GT when Gog of Magog attacks that might seem a bit frightening, but there is the reason we need to make our faith unbreakable now, so that we can "hold our heads up, knowing our deliverance is near".

One of my students mother passed away as a building collapsed. another still cannot locate his family in Cali. When it is this close, people I know and study with, pray with etc, it has an impact on my heart. I toight I had empathy before... Yesterday we were able to re-enter our building, get some stuff, clothes etc. Many arre worse off than us, and there are yet more eq in number and destruction happening even now. Fires, floods, eq, hurricanes oh we need the new world! I am trying to gather myself, for this is when the community needs the help of a better future. Gotta get out and preach!! Sorry to ramble on.