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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.

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.

I met a man on door to door on a Monday afternoon. He seemed nice and has a belief in God. I wanted to go back on him so I tried at different times on different days for months but it was always his wife I had in. I preached to her when I met her and she listened well and she agreed with many scriptural points in raised. Then after about 4 months of trying every week, I found the man in! It was an evening on a Friday and he’d just got back in from work. He said “Would you mind calling back tomorrow at 12pm?” I said “sure.” I kept my appointment and he was in! He said “come on in.” He said that his wife had told him about every time I called when he wasn’t at home and he felt bad for keep missing me, so he was super pleased that I called when he was in. It turns out he is a born-again Christian and became one in his twenties. He had a few bibles open on his table when I went in and he tries to spend a bit of time that he has when he’s not working. He’s also dyslexic so he says he was able to get better at reading because of reading the Bible regularly. I just listened to what he was going through. A lot in his family is going through illness at the moment, including his wife. I mentioned that I would keep him in his prayers. That first visit, I spent three hours there. We exchanged numbers and arranged another day at a specific time. One of the issues he raised was the blood issue. I mentioned about recent clarifications on use of your own blood during medical procedures and I also added “I think you’d benefit greatly by seeing bloodless surgery in real time, rather than me talking about it. It’s really eye opening when you see it yourself.” So the next visit, I took the blood alternatives DVD and we watched it all together at his home. He would pause and ask questions on certain procedures and he added “This is phenomenal. I was quite ignorant about blood, but seeing this is amazing and how doctors are specialising in surgeries like this. It’s opened my eyes. Is there a chance I could write out my own DPA that I could use if I had to go into hospital?” I explained that he could write his wishes on what procedures he wanted on paper, sign it and date it and to keep it on his person. That way, doctors have to view that as a legally binding document. That was another 4 hours with him. On the next visit, I invited him to my house. We spent time talking about his religious background, talking about what hopes there are for the future and the divine name. He left his religion due to mainly the hypocrisy he could see compared to where the Bible was point in to. I got the website on my TV and we read scriptures from the NWT that spoke about those who had the earthly and heavenly hope. When I read scriptures in Romans 2, he said “Do you know, this is my favourite book of the Bible? And yet all the times I’ve read it, I’ve never seen that about what it really means to be a Jew. That is phenomenal.” I highlighted that the divine name is preserved in this translation and we watched the video of Geoffrey Jackson explaining the reasons why and the history behind how translators of the past took that name out. He said “What gives people the right to take his name out when he wanted people to remember it according to Exodus 3?” I agreed with him. We arranged that the next time we get together, we’ll have a look at the history of the organisation and how Jehovah has used them through the years. That was another 5 hours we spent together. Today, he came round and we watched Part 1 of the history of the organisation from Russell to Rutherford. He loved the title “Bible Students,” he said that really captured where they were getting their teachings from. He was shocked at the long sentences Judge Rutherford and his associates had when “The Finished Mystery” was published. Many times, he was ahead of where the video was concluded that “some of those Bible students were worshipping the creature and not the Creator” when Russell died. I commended him for seeing that. He was amazed that Russell had been writing about the year 1914 40 years before it happened as a time of anarchy! He wasn’t offended by the brothers finding out that the trinity, hellfire and the immortality of the soul were false teachings. He agreed! He said “You’ve got to go where the Bible is taking you.” He was also impressed with the Photo Drama of Creation. He asked a few questions about the year 1914 and how the brothers got to that date, which I said we could look at for the next visit. We also agreed to watch Part 2 of the history on the next visit. That was another 5 hours together. He said to me “Tom, I’ve had interactions with witnesses in the past and didn’t think much of them but I remember the first time you called at my door and I could see something different in you. I can see your light shining for Jesus. The knowledge you have of the scriptures is unbelievable, and do you know what impressed me too? You let your yes mean yes. You came at the times I asked for and honoured. That really impressed me because you make the time to visit me and that makes me make time for you. You’ve been able to open my eyes to things that are new to me and I’m able to process them, thing’s I’d never seen in the Bible more. I’ve told people at work about you and they’ve said ‘so are you going to become a JW now?’ I said to them ‘well, you can’t be dismissive of these people. It’s blatant ignorance if you do.’ You’re a real friend to me.” I pray for him and his family every night to help them endure but also to open their heart to the truth even more.This has all happened without even starting in the book yet! I said that the all credit goes to Jehovah and the training through his organisation that have helped me see the truth. But, why does Jehovah use me? He could use anyone, why me? I’m just pleased that he can see the value in the truth through how I’m able to preach and teach. One thing it teaches me though is that persistence pays off. Any good we see in a person, keep going back. Even when they aren’t there, keep going. Only stop going when they tell you to stop. For as long as they want to talk, stay. If it’s 5 minutes or 5 hours, stay as long as they want to talk. I thank the angels for directing me to him and for Jesus for helping me reflect the Father to people and becoming real friends to the people I preach too.

Yesterday, after the announcement at the congregation meeting, we received these instructions. INFORMATION SHEET No Heating or Electricity During Winter HOME OR APARTMENT Do not try to heat the entire house or apartment. Insulation: Choose the smallest, driest room (in the center of the home, away from exterior corner walls). Close the doors tightly and cover them with thick blankets. Windows: During the day, open the curtains if the sun is shining. After sunset, close the windows tightly (with curtains, blankets, plastic sheeting, or cardboard). Radiators: Even if the radiators are barely warm, attach foil (or a heat-reflective screen) behind them. This will direct heat into the room rather than toward the exterior wall. Micro-shelter: Inside the room, you can set up a tent or create a “cocoon” of blankets over the bed. The temperature inside will be 5–7 °C higher. Sleeping area: Place as many layers as possible under the mattress on the bed (sleeping mats, old blankets, or even corrugated cardboard) to create insulation between the mattress and the cold air below. Hot-water bottles: Fill plastic bottles with hot water (60–70 °C), wrap them in cloth, and place them in your bed or under your clothing. LED strips / USB LED lights: They consume minimal power from a power bank but provide diffused light for a long time. KEEPING YOUR BODY WARM Layering: It is better to wear three thin layers than one thick one. Layer 1: Thermal underwear or close-fitting clothing (wicks away moisture). Layer 2: Fleece or wool (retains heat). Layer 3: A loose-fitting jacket or vest. Head and neck: Up to 30% of body heat is lost through the head. Wear a fleece hat and scarf even indoors. Feet: Wear two pairs of socks (thin + wool) and indoor footwear with thick soles. The cold comes from the floor. FOOD AND DRINK Warm yourself from the inside: Drink warm tea, broth, or simply hot water. Eat high-calorie foods (fats and proteins). Thermos: If you can heat water (on a gas burner or over a fire), immediately pour it into a thermos. SUPPLIES Sleeping bags rated for below-freezing temperatures. A tent large enough to accommodate the family. Chemical hand and foot warmers (self-heating packs). High-capacity power banks. Gas burner + canisters: for heating food. DEALING WITH DAMP AND CONDENSATION In a cold, enclosed room, moisture from people's breathing accumulates quickly. Dampness = cold. Ventilation: Open a window for 2–3 minutes several times a day. Cold, dry air warms up faster than humid, heavy air. Collecting moisture: If possible, place containers of salt or baking soda in the corners — they will absorb some of the excess moisture. PROTECTING PLUMBING If the temperature indoors falls below freezing, water in the pipes can freeze and rupture them. Draining water: If the heating is off for a long time, drain the water from the system (if you live in a private house) and from the toilet tank. Antifreeze for water traps: A salt solution or a special non-freezing compound can be poured into the traps of toilets and sinks so that the “water seal” does not freeze. SAFETY Carbon monoxide: Do not use gas stoves, generators, or “potbelly stoves” for heating in apartments without special ventilation. This is life-threatening. Carbon monoxide detector: If your budget allows, buy a battery-powered standalone carbon monoxide (CO) detector. It can literally save lives because carbon monoxide is odorless. Candles: Do not leave burning candles unattended, and do not sleep with them burning. Gas canisters for camping heaters: Do not store spare canisters in the cold. If they are brought into a warm place, the sudden temperature change and expansion of the gas may cause them to explode. USEFUL PRINCIPLES w11 1/12 — Coping With Natural Disasters g17 No. 5 2017 — When Disaster Strikes—Steps That Can Save Lives mvs.gov.ua — How to Keep Your Home Warm When There Is No Electricity or Heating: Basic Rules acc-company.com.ua — What to Do During Emergency Heating Supply Shutdowns February 2026 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ INFORMATION SHEET Preparing for Possible Water Supply Disruptions Tips to Help You Prepare for Temporary Water Supply Interruptions Individual Supplies Drinking water: Store a supply for drinking and food preparation — approximately 3 liters per person per day, for a minimum of 5–7 days. Store water in a clean container in a dark, cool place. Mark the date when the water was collected and regularly replenish your supply. Utility Water Keep available containers filled: jars, canisters, and, if necessary, the bathtub. This water will be needed for hygiene, cleaning, and sanitation. Use water from the bathtub as a last resort. Water Treatment Supplies Have a portable water filter or a supply of water-disinfection tablets. Whenever possible, boil water before use. Tips for Saving Water Use spray bottles or wet wipes for washing your hands or dishes — this helps reduce water consumption. During periods of critical water shortage, use disposable dishes to minimize the need for washing. General Principles Keep drinking water and utility water separate. Prepare your supplies in advance rather than at the last minute. Use water sparingly and check the condition of your supplies. Useful Materials g 6/15, pp. 3–4, subheading: “Water supply” g97 11/22, p. 11, “Six Ways to Protect Your Health”

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!

The video is insane. Straight out of an apocalyptic disaster movie. We need the new system so badly.

All Do not forget. Tomorrow night at 12AM we begin our 2027 field service year. I’m planning to have a party for it. You are all invited. Just bring enough chocolate for you and I. This ought to be enough.

A serious and growing disaster is unfolding in the Philippines, where successive tropical cyclones and prolonged monsoon rain have affected approximately 8 million people in 2.3 million families. The official toll stands at 32 dead, 19 injured and three missing. At least 25,800 people remain in evacuation centers, while nearly 3,000 homes have been damaged, including 349 that were completely destroyed. The Philippines has recently been affected by Tropical Cyclones Luis, Maymay and Neneng. These weather systems strengthened the southwest monsoon, known locally as habagat, drawing additional moisture over the country and producing repeated periods of heavy rain. Because the rain has continued through several weather systems, the ground across much of Luzon is already saturated. Rivers and drainage systems are under pressure, while waterlogged hillsides have become increasingly unstable. Further rainfall can therefore quickly cause new flooding, rockslides or landslides, including in places that are not directly in the path of a tropical cyclone. Benguet has recorded the greatest loss of life, with 15 people killed in landslides. Other deaths have been reported in Rizal, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Caloocan, La Union, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro and Negros Occidental. The fatalities have been caused by drowning, landslides, rockslides, falling trees and electrocution. Three people remain missing in Quezon City, Manila and Batangas City. On Saturday, August 29, a retaining wall collapsed at Tipo High-Tech Park inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales, triggering a landslide at about 10:45 a.m. Two men — one Filipino and one Chinese national — were killed, while two Filipino men were injured. One of the survivors has since been released from the hospital. Authorities are investigating why the retaining wall collapsed. It is not yet clear whether the two deaths in Subic are included in the national toll of 32. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau has identified 8,823 barangays, or local communities, as susceptible to flooding or rain-induced landslides through September 1. The warning covers parts of northern and central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Mindoro. Officials warned that nearby and downstream communities could also be affected, even if they are not included on the list. The physical damage is already extensive. Infrastructure losses have reached approximately ₱6.11 billion, while agricultural damage is estimated at ₱2.32 billion. At least 117 local governments have declared states of calamity. The agricultural losses will continue to affect families long after the floodwaters subside. At least 69,615 farmers and fishers have been affected, with approximately 60,896 metric tons of produce lost across 62,732 hectares of agricultural land. Rice accounts for about ₱1.39 billion, or nearly 60 percent, of the recorded agricultural damage. Many of the damaged rice crops were still in their vegetative or reproductive stages. High-value crops suffered an additional ₱692.21 million in losses. Corn, livestock, fisheries, agricultural machinery and farm infrastructure have also been affected. The figures are still being assessed and could rise as officials reach additional farms and fishing communities. These losses could reduce food supplies in affected areas and place upward pressure on local prices, especially if continuing rain causes further damage or prevents farmers from planting and harvesting. For farming and fishing families, the destruction represents more than the loss of food. Crops, livestock, equipment and fishing gear are often their principal sources of income. Replacing what has been lost can take months, leaving families without their usual earnings while they are also trying to repair their homes and recover from the disaster. The full effect on the Philippines’ national food supply cannot yet be determined. However, localized shortages, reduced market supplies and serious losses of family income are increasingly likely in the worst-affected areas. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has previously warned that repeated disasters in the Philippines can severely disrupt agricultural livelihoods and threaten food security. Back-to-back emergencies make it particularly difficult for farming and fishing families to recover because they must replace seeds, tools, livestock, boats or fishing equipment before they can begin earning an income again. This remains an active and growing situation. A low-pressure area east of northern Luzon is expected to continue strengthening the monsoon, even if it does not make landfall. More rain is forecast through September 1 in areas where the soil is already saturated, raising the risk of additional flooding and landslides. The number of people affected, the amount of agricultural damage and possibly the casualty toll may therefore continue to rise. Please keep our brothers and sisters, and all those affected by this disaster, in your prayers. Sources: Philippine News Agency, PAGASA, GMA News, Philstar.com, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Department of Agriculture and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Note: This is an original news item composed from facts obtained from the sources listed above. Where future effects are discussed, they are identified as likely consequences rather than confirmed outcomes.

I was sitting in my house yesterday afternoon, playing a few games of chess online and just listening to some music in the background when all of a sudden a song started playing that I hadn't heard in years. Being alone, my feet started moving to the beat...toes tapping as Chris Brown's voice filled my surround sound speakers and started echoing around the room. "It's you...and me...moving at the speed of light into eternity!" "Cause we only got one night...double your pleasure, double your fun...and dance forever...ever, ever" https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=w_gK0chm8MA&si=x9yVbPk17z0TWG9C Scenes from The office started floating through my mind...Michael Scott moving like a man who had lost a bet with gravity...Dwight accidentally kicking his date in the face as he tried to do a "cool" kick move...and Angela marching down the aisle as if in protest, as though dancing were a mortal sin and against the nature of humanity itself. Instantly I paused the song, jumped on YouTube and watched the video...14 million views and counting. As I watched...I had the most unexpected reaction...I started laughing and crying at the same time. Not only were they all having fun, not a single one of them cared what they looked like to others while they did it. All of a sudden I was no longer in my living room, mentally I had been transported back to the day of my wedding...and just like that, I started crying all over again. You see...truth be told...I can't dance. I hate it...I don't even like to try because I have absolutely zero rhythm and anybody looking at me would probably think I'm having a seizure of some sort and try to rescue me 😂 My wife and I had our wedding dance...oh yes, you know what I mean...the obligatory few moments of awkwardness with just the two of us shuffling around on the dance floor while everybody else watched. I stepped on her feet, I stepped on her dress...I absolutely know that I made a fool out of myself...but thankfully she just kept talking to me as we shuffled around...and that somehow made it okay...it made it bearable. As soon as the music stop playing...I left that dance floor like my feet were on fire. She was joined by other sisters and the dancing went on...but I fled...using the excuse that I wanted to mingle with others and talk and thank everybody for being there. Coming back to myself in my living room, I suddenly realized that there was another video that I had never seen...the video that The Office crew had directly copied the idea from. Out of curiosity I clicked on it...amazed that this video had over 107 million views...and still counting. Almost immediately I started laughing out loud...and crying all over again!! The way these people were moving...it reminded me of several videos I'd seen online with "church people" who had the "holy ghost"...I was hiccupping with laughter...and yet bawling my eyes out in envy at the same time. How on Earth were they not afraid to look so stupid?? Surely they must have known they couldn't dance...I couldn't help but wonder if there had been a doctor present...would they have assumed these people were having catatonic fits? 🤣 (Disclaimer: This next part is purely from personal experience after sitting 15 years in prison, so please don't roast me in the comments!) If there had been a single African American person there...I could imagine every single one of them would have received a host of incredulous looks along with a stern talking to afterwards about how NOT to appear like you were a fish flopping around out of water out there. 🤣😂 But back to me and MY failures...back to me and MY ridiculousness on my wedding day: You see...after I left...Cate LIVED out there on that dance floor. She danced with everyone...completely and utterly at home out there. She was free...unencumbered...just like The Office...just like the people in that JK wedding video. But me...I was afraid...afraid to look stupid, foolish...afraid to let go. And it wasn’t just that night. There were other weddings, other gatherings, other songs where she wanted to dance and I didn’t. Moments where she was ready to be silly and I was too busy protecting my pride. Moments where she was laughing and I was calculating how foolish I might look. Moments I didn’t take. Moments I can’t get back now that she’s gone back to England and our communication is barely a thread. Sitting there in my living room...I started thinking about all the "views" these two videos received...all the people who sat there and laughed and cried and commented on those two videos...watching these two groups of people be open...free...foolish...and yet HAPPY at the same time...and suddenly it hit me. How many "views" have I gotten? Not from below...but from above? After all, along with Jehovah and Jesus...there are HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of faithful angels up there...and ALL of them are directly interested in us...in ME...in YOU. Picking up my phone, I downsized the YouTube video and clicked on my JW library app, pulling up my Bible after doing a quick search for verses regarding the subject of dancing. I don't know why I clicked on this verse, but after doing a little bit of research and going down a rabbit hole for about 20 minutes...sniffling the whole time...I finally came to a very stunning realization...and THAT is what prompted me to make this post. The verse? Psalms 149:3 "Let them praise his name with dancing..." The Hebrew word behind that word dancing absolutely blew my mind: "machol": The core idea behind machol (and its verbal root chuwl, which means to twist, spin, or whirl) is a complete lack of self-consciousness or uninhibited, wholehearted joy. (That reference was from the Internet) Or: to tremble, to writhe, to be moved so deeply that your body reacts WITHOUT PERMISSION. How crazy is that? This whole time I've been avoiding dancing because I have no rhythm 😂...and here Jehovah WANTS me to become so joyful that I LOOK like I need a medical intervention?? To Jehovah...I guess dancing isn't ABOUT skill...it's about surrender. (Although I still don't PERSONALLY think I would want to rachet it up to the degree of the south surrendering to the north...maybe just me surrendering to the tug of a late night snack of me, a spoon and a tub of ice cream 😂🤣) You know...maybe my real regret isn't that I can't dance...it's that I WOULDN'T. It's in all those little missed moments of awkwardness that never happened because I never gave myself over to the joy of the moment...and now it has me wondering...how many joyful "views" and "comments" have I missed out on from Jehovah's realm...and how can I change that now?

It’s great that we’ll have the Enjoy Life Forever! brochure campaign this September 2026, with the goal of offering Bible studies. At the same time, at our literature carts, we’ll be using the banner and displaying the magazines featuring the theme: “Is World Peace Possible?”

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'

I had the same question but I guess we would not tell to secure the anonymity and security of the surviving ones, if any. Such info would be secret and only dealt with privately and locally.

Pray for our brothers and sisters

I saw this and it showed the massive wall of water coming towards the populated area. One disaster after another. but it helps us appreciate where we are in the stream of time.

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 😊.

It seems that almost every day we hear about another disaster—an earthquake, a flood, a fire, or a war. Recently, there have been several especially destructive earthquakes. When these reports keep coming, one after another, they can shake us emotionally. But they do not have to shake our faith. Psalm 112:6-8 says of the person who trusts in Jehovah: “He will never be shaken. . . . He will not fear bad news. His heart is steadfast, trusting in Jehovah.” That does not mean bad news will not affect us. We feel deeply for those who suffer. But the news does not leave us without hope or an explanation. At our midweek meeting, we considered the faith of Abraham. Abraham was not superhuman. He was a man like us, with feelings and fears. What made him different was that he knew Jehovah. When he faced a test that must have seemed almost impossible, he reasoned that Jehovah could even raise Isaac from the dead.—Hebrews 11:17-19. That is the kind of faith we need today. We know what is happening and why. Jesus foretold earthquakes and other calamities as part of the sign of the last days. Of course, this does not mean that Jehovah causes these disasters. It also does not mean that Satan personally causes every earthquake or flood. Natural forces, human decisions, and “time and unexpected events” all play a part.—Matthew 24:7; Ecclesiastes 9:11. We know who controls this world. Satan has been cast down to the vicinity of the earth, “having great anger, knowing that he has a short period of time.” His selfish and cruel system makes human suffering much worse. And he would be very happy if frightening news caused us to doubt Jehovah or lose our spiritual balance.—Revelation 12:12. We cannot let him win. We already know how this story ends. Jehovah’s Kingdom will remove Satan’s system and every cause of suffering. Even if we lose our life before that day arrives, we still know what is coming. Like Abraham, we trust in Jehovah’s power to restore life. What lies ahead is far better than anything we have now.—John 5:28, 29; Revelation 21:3, 4. So we do not ignore the news or become indifferent to the suffering of others. We grieve with those who grieve. We pray for our brothers and sisters, and we help whenever we can. But we keep the news in its proper place. The earth may shake. The news may disturb us. But with our heart firmly fixed on Jehovah, our faith does not have to be shaken.

Nepal–Tibet flash flood (most severe event) Current reports indicate: At least 157 confirmed deaths. Hundreds remain missing, including foreign tourists. Villages, bridges, highways, and hydropower facilities have been destroyed. The disaster is now believed to have been triggered by a massive ice-rock avalanche and landslide rather than an earthquake. https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/deadly-disasters-himalayas-over-dozen-years-2026-08-26/?utm_source=JWtalk.net Typhoon Saudel Strong winds and heavy rain have affected Japan's Ryukyu Islands. Taiwan is preparing for tropical-storm to typhoon conditions. Eastern China is expected to face landfall within the next couple of days. https://www.moodys.com/web/en/us/insights/catastrophe-risk-insights/event-response.html?utm_source=JWtalk.net Tropical Storm Narra Flooding continues in southern China and northern Vietnam. Damage to homes, roads, and infrastructure. At least one reported fatality. https://www.moodys.com/web/en/us/insights/catastrophe-risk-insights/event-response.html?utm_source=JWtalk.net Greece – Extreme wildfire danger Authorities have issued Code Red wildfire alerts for parts of the Ionian Islands due to hot, dry, and windy conditions. https://www.euronews.com/2026/08/26?utm_source=JWtalk.net France – Severe storms Southern France is recovering from: A damaging tornado. Large hail. Winds exceeding 70 mph (117 km/h). Damage to more than 300 homes and widespread power outages. https://www.moodys.com/web/en/us/insights/catastrophe-risk-insights/event-response.html?utm_source=JWtalk.net Pakistan – Hospital fire A hospital fire reportedly killed 14 newborn babies. Authorities are investigating the cause. https://www.euronews.com/2026/08/26?utm_source=JWtalk.net Haiti – Gang attack A large gang attack reportedly left at least 47 people dead and more than 50 kidnapped. https://www.euronews.com/2026/08/26?utm_source=JWtalk.net Colombia – Magnitude 5.1 earthquake A magnitude 5.1 earthquake shook central Colombia, prompting evacuations in Bogotá and Bucaramanga. No major damage or fatalities have been reported. https://www.euronews.com/2026/08/26/51-magnitude-earthquake-hits-colombia-forcing-evacuations-in-bogota-and-bucaramanga?utm_source=JWtalk.net

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.

This week, I'm the chairman and I'm announcing my daughter being aux pio for the first time so proud

So much going on all at the same time. Plus many things like Napal and Texas Haw can anyone not be convinced https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BmsuuqcuW/

Sunday, August 30 Jehovah is close to the brokenhearted.—Ps. 34:18. Even if others have mistreated you, you can be certain that Jehovah loves you and values you. If you feel “crushed in spirit,” remember that Jehovah saw good things in your heart and personally drew you to him. (John 6:44) He is always ready to help you because you are precious to him. We can learn about Jehovah’s feelings by considering Jesus’ example. During his earthly ministry, Jesus took notice of those who were looked down on by others, and he treated them with compassion. (Matt. 9:9-12) When a woman hoping to be healed of a grievous sickness touched his garment, Jesus comforted her and commended her for her faith. (Mark 5:25-34) Jesus perfectly reflects his Father’s personality. (John 14:9) So you can be certain that Jehovah values you and takes note of your good qualities, including your faith and your love for him. w24.10 7 ¶4-5

Dolly *was* playing a character in her get-ups... that was all for the public. Her appearance was not the real her and she confirmed that all the time. My favorite anecdote was in an interview, someone asked her if she took issue with being considered a "dumb blonde". She said, "No, because I know I'm not dumb. I also know I'm not blonde". 😁😎 She was a woman completely at ease with herself and who she was. She let other people think what they wanted to. May we all be so unbothered 😌

Wednesday morning, August 26, began like an ordinary school day for eight-year-old Zoyal Ghale and his five-year-old brother, Jenish. The boys left home in a school vehicle and headed to school in Nepal's Rasuwa district, near the Tibetan border. Their mother, 28-year-old Matti Maya Tamang, stayed behind, weaving. Then she heard something. It sounded like an earthquake. Matti Maya looked outside. Things were being swept away. High in the mountains across the border in Tibet, part of a glacier had collapsed. An enormous mass of ice and rock had plunged down the mountainside, setting off a devastating chain of flooding and debris that was now tearing through communities downstream in Nepal. And Matti Maya's boys were somewhere in its path. Her first thought was that they were being swept away too. She tried to get to their school. On an ordinary day, it was only a 15- or 20-minute drive from home. But this wasn't an ordinary day anymore. Water, stones and mud had transformed the landscape. Places she knew were simply gone. She couldn't tell where the market had been. She couldn't even tell where the school had been. The school had been destroyed. But Zoyal was alive. When the flood reached the school, he remembers everything suddenly becoming very, very dark. He and a friend ran. They fled from the school and into the forest, desperately trying to get away from the water and debris. Then they climbed into the trees. Below them, the flood tore through the area. Somehow, Zoyal survived. But he was injured. His right leg was broken, and his face was scratched and bruised. Eventually, police found him. They needed to get the frightened little boy to a hospital. The officers gave him two 10-rupee notes to persuade him to go with them. And Zoyal held on to them. While Zoyal was being taken away for medical care, his mother was still looking for him. She began going wherever survivors were being gathered. One location. No Zoyal. No Jenish. She went to another. Nothing. Then another. By the time Matti Maya reached the fourth location, neither boy's name was on the lists. She had searched through the destruction. She had seen what remained of their school. She had checked four places where survivors were being taken. And still there was no sign of either of her sons. Matti Maya began to believe both of her boys were dead. But miles away, Zoyal was lying in a small, 15-bed hospital in Nuwakot. He was alive. And he was still holding those two little bills in his left hand. Reuters journalist Sahana Bajracharya had heard that an unidentified boy from the disaster had been brought there. She went to see him. Nobody seemed to know where his family was. Bajracharya spoke with Zoyal. He agreed to be filmed in the hope that someone might recognize him. Before leaving, she made sure the hospital had her telephone number. Zoyal needed further treatment, so he was airlifted to a hospital in Kathmandu. His mother still didn't know any of this. Then, in the middle of her search, Matti Maya found Jenish. Her five-year-old was alive. One son was back in her arms. But Zoyal was still missing. Somehow, Matti Maya obtained the telephone number Bajracharya had left behind. She called. The journalist on the other end knew the little boy she was asking about. Zoyal was alive. Matti Maya could hardly believe it. She had already given up hope of finding him alive. But her son wasn't nearby. Zoyal had been transferred to Kathmandu, and bus service had been disrupted by the disaster. So Bajracharya—the journalist who had found an injured little boy whose family couldn't be located—didn't stop with making the telephone call. She arranged transportation to bring his mother to him. Matti Maya and little Jenish climbed into the vehicle and began the trip to Kathmandu. On Friday, two days after the brothers had left home for school, Matti Maya finally walked into Zoyal's hospital room. There was her eight-year-old boy. His leg was broken. His face bore the marks of what he had been through. But he was alive. The little boy who had run into the forest and climbed into the trees had made it. The mother who had searched four locations and finally believed that both her children were dead had found them both. “I felt my life was back,” she said. Their family wasn't quite complete yet. Zoyal's father, a construction worker in Japan, was making his way home to join them. And after everything—the destroyed school, the desperate search, the trees, the broken leg, the unidentified little boy in the hospital, and those two small bills still clutched in his hand—Matti Maya described Zoyal in perhaps the most reassuring way a mother could. He was still her “mischievous kid.” For two days, Zoyal had been a missing child, a flood survivor, an unidentified patient. But finally, none of those descriptions mattered. He was Mom's boy again. Sources Reuters — Mother reunited with 8-year-old who climbed trees to survive Nepal floods Reuters — Nepal flood rescue and survivor coverage ABC News Australia — Flood devastation and Zoyal's reunion The Straits Times — Mother reunited with Zoyal Al Jazeera — Video of Zoyal's survival and reunion

Yeah, it's been bad with rain recently. The friends are ok so far

I had my own experience with being angry with Jehovah because he didn't relieve my suffering like I wanted him to. I took the time to reason through it and I came to the conclusion that I was angry that I lived in Satan's world and didn't get special treatment. All people suffer in Satan's system and we were promised, not a life free from stress, but a hope for a future without suffering. How could I really demand more in this life when Jehovah's people have been suffering for millennia? Well, when my suffering did end, I realized he had provided just enough of the resources I needed to survive until I was humble enough to reach a solution "on my own". Jehovah kept his promise to provide - not by ending my trial, but by giving me enough to sustain me through it. I had judged people a thousand times for being angry at God when they suffered and I did the exact same thing. I thought they had a lack of faith, but it's similar to the way Jesus saw the apostles who asked to sit at his right and left hand. He did not judge them for their audacity, but he appreciated their solid faith that Jesus would one day rule in heaven and they would be with him. When we are angry with God, I think he sees past the emotion and sees a heart that is so sure Jehovah exists and has the power to help, that we get angry he isn't acting on our behalf the way we want.

And there was I thinking which ELO song you would dance to Tim! Electric Light Orchestra.🤷🤣

good article which traces back persecution https://novayagazeta.eu/en/articles/2026/08/27/ill-baptize-you-with-eight-years-in-prison-en

On the other hand, think about Paradise... what will Jehovah do with geography? How will we name places and things? It's exciting to think about.

This is just noise. A distraction. Nothing to see here. Nobody (well, few) takes this seriously. This too shall pass.

I just watched a video clip of this. I feel sick. 400 tourists from various nations are missing. What's astounding to me is those flood waters are moving so quickly that they push a wall of compressed air in front, which in turn pushes dirt and debris ahead of the wave. That's why it looks like it does.

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!

Public perception of a person doesn’t determine who they really are. As Jehovah’s people, however, we look for the good in all sorts of people. And like Jehovah, we really want everyone to be resurrected and enjoy the blessings of paradise life. We also recognize our limitations and remember that only Jehovah and Jesus holds the final say. We know justice and mercy will be served perfectly.

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

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.

Yes, the transition to renewables is upending the old calculations. Now a lot of it is not about generation but the distribution networks and battery storage capacity. Here in Australia, the government has mandated that Distribution Network Service Providers and their electricity retailers offer 3 hrs of free electricity (24kWh total) between 11:00-14:00, to soak up some of the excess solar/wind being produced atm. I believe Australia has the largest uptake of rooftop solar in the world, at roughly 1 in 3 households. Guess gone a bit off topic here. But when I decided to install solar/batteries, it was in part because I was thinking of the future re: grid reliability during the GT

The Video is real though.. Romania International convention 2026.. Link below Enjoy

Open-Source projects Ezra Reader is actually a project I worked on about two years ago, before Baruch. I recently picked it up again and thought it would be a good opportunity to take it a step further. My main focus, however, remains the development of Baruch. I’m currently considering making Baruch open source as well, and eventually using GitHub as a place where others can contribute and collaborate. Before doing that, however, I’d like to gain some experience with open-source development and see what works well in practice. I have several other smaller projects that I’m planning to put on GitHub too. So Ezra Reader is partly an experiment: a chance to learn how to organize an open-source project, work with contributors, review changes, discuss ideas, and coordinate development. This is especially important for Baruch. It is a much larger project with an existing structure and architecture that needs to remain consistent. Allowing multiple people to work on it will require considerably more coordination than a small project like Ezra Reader. So rather than jumping straight into open-sourcing Baruch, I’d like to learn by doing, starting with smaller projects and gradually building up the experience needed to make collaboration on Baruch work well.

I would like to present this single HTML file web application for generating customized Bible-reading schedules. You can generate your personalized reading plan with links to JW Library or WOL. You can then open it (pop out) and save (download) to preserve the current checkbox state. Have a look at the GitHub repo for more information/features, or test/use live: BRiSA. The categorization and chronological ordering are constantly being refined/improved. Also, more languages will become available as translations are completed. So keep an eye out for updates (in the repo). As always, suggestions/observations very welcome.

There is worldly expression "BMOC" (Big Man On Compas). We have BBOC (Big Buffon On Campus). Thanks, Jim P.S. I truly hope Shawnster is right "This too shall pass." P.P.S. I know it will happen eventually, the question is will it happen while I am still around (now age 82)>

He already did it ... Trump signs executive order renaming Lake Ontario as ‘Lake America’ Trump Signs Executive Order to Rename Lake Ontario to Lake America - The New York Times Canadians react to Trump changing Lake Ontario to Lake America Who knows, maybe Canada will decide to change the name of Lake Michigan - (2 Timothy 3:3) . . .not open to any agreement. . .

It’s Ukraine. Russia tries to destroy heating and electrical infrastructure so it’s a wise precaution becase there may be days without power or heat.

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.

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.

"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.

Same. It's rare a celebrity has no one to say a bad word about them.. Dolly was one. She seemed to be a genuine soul, generous, humble, funny, SO talented, kind.. someone commented that she was big but never made herself bigger than anyone else. We should all be so fondly remembered. I look forward to her answering Jehovah's call to wake up again 🥰

Ok thanks. I'm working hard on building a "Swiss army knife" of AI tools that are free, offline, portable, and capable of running on CPU only. Even capable of running off of a flash drive! It's going slowly, but very promising. I'm about to take another break from this project, as I've reached a new milestone. I've got TTS, image analysis, and reading & finding info in files working. Though that last one runs out of context/memory pretty fast. I'll try to improve on that with my next deep dive into AI.

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.

Have you fully digitized your territories so that the publishers can change the status of each individual home / residence? After doing this to our territories the number of residences per territory is between 100 and 300. Because we can see in real time where publishers work, boundaries become immaterial as we can see where they are by the change of the status of any given home. Our FSGOs just give publishers the territory number as they appear in the NWP app and street or area in the territory. The software does the rest. Our choice of status change for homes are 1. At Home 2. Not at Home 3. Do Not Call 4. No Trespassing 5. Vacant 6. No Soliciting My guess would be that this feature will not be of benefit to those of us who have fully digitized their territories and therefore the developers most likely will not implement it.