dubois

Since you live in Michigan and its winter outside - you might be able to free up some space in the freezer for essentials, by placing non- essential items outside in "mother natures freezer".

Following yesterday's riots around the country -- a Tweet was found this morning listing our city (and several others) as targets for fires and looting beginning tonight thru next weekend. Apparently the Tweets were considered credible enough to have large stores close early sending customers / employees home, and the city's police and state troopers driving through the streets in full force. Even saw an online pic showing a SWAT positioning himself atop a bldg. While I wait at home with my nervous mom (non-believing) for the potential mayhem to begin following sunset, I'm finding it difficult to focus on searching my bible for encouraging scriptures ... I just can't seem to focus very well. Please take a moment and share your favorite encouraging verse from the bible.

Someone mentioned above that the news media tends to sensationalize events like this. True they do. However I dont think they are too far off the mark on the seriousness of this particular event. You see, I'm a "volunteer" emergency responder and this evening all local teams were informed to get our gear together for deployment. If the feds are activating a bunch of volunteers, and are willing to send them across state lines (unheard of since 911) to the front lines (wherever that is) because they are short Dr's, Nurses and the like- this can't be good.... As for my preventative measures: Staying hydrated with a bottle of gaterade then a bottle of water. Ive found when your body needs the vitamins and minerals gaterade provdes, the beverage tastes very sweet. When the body has all its levels topped off, the Gatorade tastes like watered down koolaide. Frozen fruits / veggies - they flash freeze these so they'll keep their vitamins and nutrients. The canned items are good, and have a decent shelf life, but tend to have a lot of sodium and the nutrients become diluted/nonexistent. Pouring milk into those old ice trays we used to have. Take out what you need for the next days use and thaw in the fridge. It not can it stay frozen up to 6 months, it tastes a lot better on my corn flakes then coffee does (smile) Comfort foods - if I'm stuck at home rice and beans are practical, but not satisfying. To maintain a little normalcy and a bit of sanity I always treat myself by getting a bit of chocolate and my favorite pop tarts. Not much natural value, but it offers some peace of mind...which is just as crucial when under stress. And I think we're all under a little stress these days knowing this will probably go on for several more weeks, Eucalyptus oil - pour a few drops in a steaming bowl of water and inhale deeply. Works well breaking up congestion. But never put the pure essential oil directly on your skin...its too harsh. It needs to be thined with a carrier. Chk with your holistic people for specifics, Spearment gum (not peppermint) or Vernons Ginger Ale - when your tummy is upset, this settles it down. Also, when you're hungry and know it will be a while before you eat, chewing the spearmint gum will give you a feeling of fullness. Take care, hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight, and be safe when your out and about.

ChocoBro...I had the very same thoughts given the number of living concentration camp survivors who may still reside in that part of the world.

RetroHelen...me too!! I got a smal storage unit for my extra bits and am working to pair it all down.

Being inadvertently shocked is very painful. But I just cant get my head around the shear level of pain this brother endured whilst being strangled and simultaneously electricuted - let alone in the manner these monsters inflicted such torture. So its probably true. All we can do is pray for him that Jehovah gives him peace of mind and heart as Peter received. Most importantly we have to continue praying that Jehovah will intervene soon.

I believe writing letters can be very encouraging to the recipient. It brings them much needed comfort and knowledge that were praying for them, and trying to win their release. But I wonder though, if these monsters (who have put our brothers and sisters in jail), would ever bother to give them our letters of encouragement.More importantly, as mean spirited as these opposers have become...I also wonder could my bible based correspondenceto these brothers/sisters get them into more trouble with their jailers? Before sending the notes, it might be a good thing to speak to the elders first and definitely pray very hard before sending anything. We don't want to cause them more pain, and definitely dont want to run ahead of Jehovah.

Dustparticle may be right. I too have purchased stationary items and hope a 2nd campaign will really help our sisters and brothers. I know the last campaign was encouraging to many and informative to others. Yet I had hoped it would stop the persecution. I wonder if we do another campaign, would the addressees include other nations as well so they are aware of this terrible injustice. But if not, Campanula put it very succinctly...is it not enough yet?

Just a quick word of caution from my FD Captain (for our emergency response team)...... he said quash any feelings of curosity to check out the ISIS / bad guy websites. Apparently, there are several law enforcement agencies around the globe FBI, Scotland Yard, Secret Service, Homeland Security, etc, who monitor those sites. When your computer's IP address shows up on one of those sites (even if its just to check it out), your IP address is added to a watch list. Thats not a list I want to be on.

Zacchaeus The Short....its really a great thing you are aware of that "unsafe" feeling . My experience has shown many times whenever I have that feeling pop up...something is definitely not right. So I leave the area. I can't count how many times I later found out something bad did happen to those who stayed behind. I'm so glad Jehovah blessed me with that "awareness" to sense when something isnt right!

Maybe the big news agencies didnt feel it was newsworthy as it didnt impact the vatican, it was just a loss of property (a garage fire). However when there is loss of life (as sad as this sounds) the media pick it up. Like that timed attack a few hours ago in London...thats all over the news.

Boy we must be getting close to Jehovah's Day. Hatcheckgirl....what I tell my emergency responder students...after an attack what remains - is tbe new normal.

As mentioned above ... its good to be watching for anything that seems odd. Our captain shared a sample of their tactics.... two people arrive late to the servive or meeting, sit in the back and start filming the mtg or service. When an elder or other person questions them...they respond they want to become christian. "That" is odd...but it is also the bad guys test / dry run before the actual event. So watch for "odd" things and tell someone about it. Also Ross was so right not to go looking for info about this. My captain also lectured us back in June (when that 1st letter w/8000 names came out) to stay away from sites w/ISIS info on it. He went on to say because the whereabouts of lone wolfs & sleeping cells is unknown, several government agencies are closely monitoring sites w/ISIS info, adding any names / IP addresses of any visitors to their watch lists. As for telling the public specific info...they'd rather not be responsible for mass panic if it does happen, nor look like fools if it doesn't happen. So they give out cautionary stmts like be observant and have a plan to quickly get away from there if something does happen.

Very nice!

Either that or a "theocratic" instrument! BaHaHa!!