Doug

I get you, bro. There have actually been more in-depth study articles dealing with the topic of immigration, as well as videos. One article I recall said that the mother went abroad to make money for her family back home. After a while, she returned home but her son wasn't happy to see her back. He wanted her to keep sending money and gifts from abroad!!!! And, these articles were discussing legal immigration, for material reasons. Hopefully the GB will provide counsel to help those who find themselves here undocumented, by choice or through no fault of their own. Personally, I think it would be a couple of WT study articles rather than an update. There's a lot to be considered, especially if you were brought in as a child and are subject to removal .

Respectfully, these articles aren't on the front page of jworg. They are archived under the Library tab. The first one is dated May 2012. The second one July 2015. They do "touch" on immigration, but it's a lite touch. I totally agree with you that the GB will eventually address the immigration issue.

I just listened to a press conference with Trump and the Secretary General of NATO Mark Rutte. Apparently they have a new plan to provide Ukraine with all the weapons it needs/wants. I didn't hear the opening statements, but it seems Trump is giving Putin 50 days to reach a settlement. If not, severe sanctions (tariffs) will kick in. 50 days from now put us into mid-September. Our campaign will be in full-swing and the Annual Meeting will be just ahead in October. This is very exciting! VERY EXCITING!!!!

IMHO ~ The adjustment didn't rise to the level of a WT article. GB updates started as a response to the rapidly changing circumstances during a pandemic. The friends needed direction asap. Now that's behind us. Rather than discontinue the updates, they now have to decide what the topic will be. The updates now seem to be a convenient vehicle to deal with less important items efficiently.

The music in his head . . 😂

Our HQ spokesman, Jarrod Lopes, mentioned something I tend to forget. One tactic the government uses is having their agents feign interest in our faith. These are covert operators attempting to get inside and identify who are taking the lead. How stressful that must be for the brothers and sisters! I imagine they may be suspect of anyone who seems "too interested" in a Bible study. And yet they wouldn't want to deny a "rightly disposed" one the opportunity to learn the Truth. I wonder how they handle that.

In the image, the table with the bowl suggests some kind of ritual and the brother is explaining why he won't participate. Can someone who knows what this gathering is about explain to the rest of us?

In San Bernardino, California a Catholic bishop made the following announcement: "All members or the Faithful in the Diocese of Jan Bernardino who, due to genuine fear of immigration enforcement actions, are unable to attend Sunday mass or Masses on holy days of obligation are dispensed from this obligation". So, he was telling his congregation it was okay to not attend church under the circumstances. The "genuine fear of enforcement action" could mean getting caught outside the church or, possibly, the authorities entering the church. This aggressive enforcement action can happen near any church, including our Kingdom Halls.

That's a double entendre If it said "I'm drivin' my truck and drinkin' my beer over you" it just isn't the same .

I find it interesting that our brothers and sisters in India use the "prayer hands" gesture Anjali Mudra. Better known as Namaste, it carries deep cultural and spiritual significance. It is used to show respect to the elderly, teachers, or anyone held in high regard. I like it. I think we should all use that gesture, along with hugs. ❤️

It sounds comical, and yet it's really what Aaron said (but did he keep a straight face ?) Ex 32:24

Would you dismiss the idea that Satan could be behind these things? He disguises himself as an angel of light. He would like nothing better than finding a subversive way to corrupt our worship of God due to adoption of what may at one time have been a custom, tradition or practice of false religion. Br. Lett said that Christians must stay far away from any symbol or custom related to false religion or spiritism. With the caveat that what is of primary concern isn't what the symbol may have represented originally, but what it means now to most people where we live. If a particular shape or design is commonly understood where you live to be a religious symbol, there is good reason to avoid it. Regardless of how far back it goes, or who ascribed meaning to it back then. Frankly, today we have a new design or symbol that we would do well to avoid. The pride rainbow image.

I looked into cuff links , as mentioned in the update. No unique superstitious connections that I can find. But, as a piece of jewelry , the design may have utilized "good luck" symbols like four-leaf clover or horseshoe.

Aaron had an interesting response to Moses ~ " I said to them 'Whoever has any gold must take it off and give it to me'. Then I threw it into the fire and out came this calf". Imagine that !!!

In my 50 years, I have only preached in one area that made us obtain a permit. I want to say it was Camarillo, CA, but not positive. The city could make us obtain a permit, but they couldn't charge a fee for it. So, after the meeting for field service, our first stop was City Hall to get our "one day permit". Before long, the city clerk decided to give our service overseer a large supply of the permits so that we wouldn't be clogging the lobby almost every day as other people would be there for other needs. All we needed to do was write in the date and carry it with us.