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Showing content with the highest reputation since 07/09/2025 in Posts

  1. jdcarlson

    GB 2025 Update #4

    There are several interesting posts in this thread, some of which resonate with me. As to those who have known Brother Lett, and his personality, I cannot claim that privilege. BUT - his father served as our CO before he got too old to move every week. I found his father to be a very loving and considerate person, especially level headed. When he "came off the road" he settled in a small town in the next county west of us, and in the same circuit as our congregation. I appreciate the comments by JWHESS about age. I was born 7/24/1944. So, I will be 81 years old the end of this month. I can appreciate the difficulty these GB members have caring for all of thier responsibilities at close to my age. In some ways I am still the 19 year old kid who got married to a girl from Pensacola, and moved here to pioneer in 1963. BUT in many other ways (especially when I try to physically move around) I am brutally reminded I cannot do the things I could 60 years ago. Even my mental acuity is not what it was years ago. It is good to see the younger members of the GB. Not that they are any "better" than the older ones, but because at my age a lot of things a MUCH harder to do, and it is good to see younger members of the GB to use their energy to advance Kingdom Interests. It is a little discouraging to read all of the speculation about "what will change next." A couple of posters have commented on having seen changes over the years. I started talking at doors and reporting field service time in Ocober, 1949 (at age 5 - yes I could read by then and was able to do magazine work - other things came later). In the 75 years since then, I have seen a lot of changes. Yes, in the 1950s many things were more strictly defined than they are now. This can be understood by remembering the strength of belief of many people 60 years ago about heaven, hell, soul, trinity, etc. These were common things we had to discuss in field service back then. Now, it seems that most people do not care about them. This can really be seen if we compare the Let Good Be True book (that we used in the 1950s) with the publications we use to start studies now. The clarification on "toasts" is part of (as one poster called it) the "maturing" of Jehovah's organization. What is important is not how some (but not all) ethnic groups viewed something 500 years ago, but how is it viewed now, provided it is not something clearly addressed in the Scriptures. People of the world now do not care about theology the way the did 60 years ago. Now, they want to know how to deal with the problems they have. Just because clarification has been made about one thing should not make us speculate about what will change next. We just need to be thankful that Jehovah's organization is clarifying things for us when it is Jehovah's time for that particular item. Thanks, Jim
    20 points
  2. 15 points
  3. Tortuga

    GB 2025 Update #4

    Its interesting that the GB Update about toasting will be shown during the same MWM that discusses the use of alcohol.
    14 points
  4. ▶ Introduction of panelists, including Jehovah's Witnesses representative from World HQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEFVHsCcdgA&t=480s ▶ Fellow panelist mentions—among other faiths—persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEFVHsCcdgA&t=795s ▶ Our Brother from World HQ begins his presentation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEFVHsCcdgA&t=2200s Commission Hosts: Vicky Hartzler, USCIRF Chair Asif Mahmood, USCIRF Vice Chair Panelist: Stephen Capus • President and CEO, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Willy Fautré • Director and Co-Founder, Human Rights Without Frontiers Jarrod Lopes • Regional Director of Communications, World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses Dan Storyev • English Managing Editor, OVD-Info Halyna Coynash • Journalist, Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group
    14 points
  5. ijsvogel

    GB 2025 Update #4

    I would love to toast every day. Preferably with melting cheese or an awful lot of strawberry jam 🤭
    12 points
  6. Doug

    GB 2025 Update #4

    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.
    12 points
  7. LeslieDean

    GB 2025 Update #4

    I remember my PO years ago in the Beverly Hills Congregation had a bottle of expensive wine he said he and his wife splurged on while visiting in Italy for their anniversary. This bottle set up high on a glass shelf with their wedding picture on the side. It was the first time I had ever seen a bottle of alcohol on display with what appeared to be a beautiful jeweled necklace..I asked about it and was told it was their GT bottle! He said it keeps their conversation lively with hopes of the GT and when will they open it to celebrate this long awaited event! I loved the way that scene played out it my mind. When Rick passed i.sat his urn on the mantle and have a favorite picture of us on one side, a love he wrote me years ago I found folded in a book sets under his urn..I ordered wine bottle jewelry which is a really elaborate rhinestone 'necklace' that drapes around a beautiful bottle of whiskey. I thought it for the appearance of the bottle. Now I too, set in my recliner staring at this commemorative shelf and wonder when I took can open the bottle and pour a celebratory drink. It brings me peace and comfort to think back on my years in the truth and so grateful I am still here.
    12 points
  8. Tortuga

    GB 2025 Update #4

    When we get Updates like this, it is like a Local Needs talk for the entire organization. Generally there is a specific reason for a Local Needs talk, so I wonder why the GB felt this information about toasting was important enough to make an Update about it now. I wonder why it wasn't put in a WT study article instead.
    12 points
  9. I think debating the principles of this adjustment is good, and asking if it also applies to holidays is a good question, but...some comments seem to be phrasing things as if the GB has given us explicit permission to decide which holidays/celebrations we are allowed to participate in and that's where I think it goes too far. Perhaps they will address it in the future, but as of this moment we have not gotten any new direction on holidays or birthdays.
    11 points
  10. One thing I find interesting, and I wonder if anyone else has noticed this: when someone infiltrates JWs, they usually pretend to be faithful so they can gain information about who is in the organization or how it is run, etc. When someone infiltrates other organizations, they tend to steer the organization in a new direction until the whole thing becomes corrupt. I don't think that's possible with JWs because as soon as an infiltrator starts to teach things that aren't biblical, he would be removed from positions of responsibility and then from the congregation if he continued. I guess that's the protection that comes with not following humans and constantly realigning ourselves with scripture.
    11 points
  11. The days when our return visits start calling us back!... 😄
    11 points
  12. 11 points
  13. SteveAus

    GB 2025 Update #4

    Maybe so we can all toast to the start of the GT very very soon... 😂 hmmm... a GT toast.. with a G&T 🍸
    11 points
  14. 11 points
  15. It is good to keep in mind that, although these political issues stagger from one issue to another, they are nothing compared to the sudden-ness of the coming Great Tribulation. The speed and might of its arrival may be a surprise and shock to all of Jehovah's people, too, unless we maintain our spiritual balance as the world wobbles.
    11 points
  16. 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!!!!
    10 points
  17. Ivar

    GB 2025 Update #4

    The Bible study books from before "Enjoy Life Forever!" also mention it. How to remain in God's love: https://www.jw.org/en/library/books/in-gods-love/do-celebrations-holidays-please-god/ Keep yourselves in God's love: https://www.jw.org/en/library/books/gods-love/celebrations-holidays-that-displease-god/ Now we focus more on this principle: https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102003687
    10 points
  18. rocket

    A good joke

    A truck loaded with Vicks Vaporub overturned of the highway... Amazingly, there was no congestion for 8 hours.
    9 points
  19. I think most of the friends are looking to whether todays news fits in with bible prophecies. I did more research on Daniel last night. Yes, we are very close. Amazing how this is all unraveling. Maybe not in ways we thought but, unraveling it is. The End is close at hand indeed.
    9 points
  20. We are going to need more magazines...
    9 points
  21. ijsvogel

    GB 2025 Update #4

    Your reasoning makes sense in English (thank you for that; I like your reasoning about the memorial of Jesus Christ’s death). But it made me smile for Dutch. I wouldn’t use this in Dutch to explain it to a Bible student. The word holiday translates as ‘feestdag’, which means literally ‘Party Day’. I can already hear them saying ‘what’s wrong with a party?’ 🙈
    9 points
  22. Osprey

    GB 2025 Update #4

    I found this: *** w98 7/15 p. 24 Some may see no harm in throwing flowers or a handful of soil into a grave. A Christian, however, would avoid this practice if the community views it as a way of appeasing the dead or if it is part of a ceremony presided over by a minister of false religion.—See Awake! of March 22, 1977, page 15. It seems that some here have taken this a step too far. It is clearly a conscience matter.
    9 points
  23. blanchard

    GB 2025 Update #4

    and also the act of saying "happy new year" ...
    9 points
  24. vjohzon

    GB 2025 Update #4

    Having a mother we never really lose the anointed we just can’t see them anymore, but I believe in Jehovah‘s love and that the anointed after Armageddon or after the thousand year reign, they will be able to come and visit us since the judging will be done in the world will be at peace. I could be wrong, but I don’t think so. Be that the anointed too have many ties to people on the Earth so visiting would amplify Jehovah‘s love for all of us.
    9 points
  25. LeslieDean

    GB 2025 Update #4

    Our CO/pioneer school instructor brought this point out this week. He said look at our class. 11 brothers and 25 sisters. Roughly 1/3 brothers which follows this pattern very closely in every congregation throughout the world. He said it will be interesting to see if that trend continues.
    8 points
  26. rocket

    GB 2025 Update #4

    This is a personal choice IMHO. I personally leave flowers on a family grave but others in the family do not.
    8 points
  27. This seems to be the deciding factor. We cannot point to any specific superstitious or religious origin to toasting, so clearly it's a custom that has lost all significance. In contrast, these customs in honor of the dead still have religious significance today. Nice point, @Jwanon
    8 points
  28. It was a superstitious practice, those who did this believed that doing this would have a supernatural effect. Now if we compare with the clinking of glasses, it is possible that ancient people did this to invoke luck or health from the gods (though I could not find good evidence for this, https://archive.ph/6VWUc ), but today we do this as a friendly gesture, as brother Lett said. So it's simply seen as a way to convey merriness, but knocking on wood has no other meaning than attempting to avert misfortune That is why these two practices are different, and why we don't see it as objectionable to toast
    8 points
  29. 50 days will fall upon our worldwide campaign with watchtower
    7 points
  30. TheKid23

    Meeting bag

    I do everything on my iPad but still take a small bag most meetings. I have my keys, battery pack, gum & iPad. I sometimes have to take a bigger bag if I’m picking up or returning literature for our carts, but usually I just have the basics
    7 points
  31. Mine will be on voice message ...saying ... you're progressing in the queue .. you're the 14th caller now .. sorry for delay and I greatly appreciate your patience...
    7 points
  32. jdcarlson

    Meeting bag

    I too have a problem with tablets & "smart phones." In the past I managed fairly well on computers, starting with COBOL programming on mainframes, and made the transition to PCs in 1982. In the days of DOS I was able to keep up. I even tried an early network system running through 9 pin serial ports, but it was slow. Then I installed several versions of Novell Net Ware using ethernet - I finally upgraded the office to gigabit network switches. About 2000 I went to windows to take advantage of the network flexibility. Novell Net Ware was good (extremely stable), but could only do one thing at a time. I kept our small CPA firm going including "Terminal Services" which allowed our staff to access the network sever at the office remotely. About ten years ago my son convinced me to outsource the IT work to an independent contractor, and go to a "cloud" system built specially for accounting firms (tax returns, time & billing, general ledger, audit workpapers, etc.). I knew enough to work with the system, but it was a relief not to be responsible every time the system "burped." Now my grandsons run circles around me with tablets & "smart phones." I have a Lenovo X1 Carbon that is fairly light & compact. It has quad core 3GHz processor, 1TB SSD, and 16 GB memory. My only complaint is that it does not have a "10 key keypad" like larger machines have. I take the X1 to the Hall. I have several Hartmann leather computer bags from when I used to carry my machine around for secular work. I use one of these for the X1. I keep a legal pad & some pens & pencils in it as well. I put the leather bag on my lap and the laptop on that. The leather bag is just thick enough to bring the laptop up to a comfortable level with my elbows on the arm of the chair. I have a wireless mouse that I sometimes use, but the Lenovo has the little "red eraser" trackpoint in the middle of the keyboard which facilitates moving the cursor. The LDC is in the middle of a major renovation on our Kingdom Hall, and we are meeting at another hall for now. The chairs at the hall we are currently using are a little small for best use of the computer with wireless mouse, but so far I am managing using the trackpoint on the keyboard. I like being able to have the meetings (mid-week or Watchtower) in one window, and the Bible (or other reference) in another window. Alt-Tab switches between screens immediately so I can access JW.org or on-line library in a flash. I have been tempted to try a tablet, but so far the Lenovo X1 does the job for me. And, I have used it long enough that I know it's quirks, etc. The one thing I use the "smart phone" for is to set up a "hot spot" so I can access the internet from anywhere. That also goes in my leather bag with the laptop. Perhaps I am a luddite, staying with older technology, but it works for me. Thanks, Jim
    7 points
  33. Sort of like when Obama received his 8 months after he was in office and while the US was fighting two wars. It's all a sham friends. I hate it when we talk politics with blinders on. "He is good, no he is bad". None of them put faith in Jehovah. They will all be destroyed for what they are doing. Biden cost me thousands with his policies. Trump is lowering my cost of living. But I don't care who is in office. Satan controls them. So do you really expect one to be better than the other? Eventually one of them will turn on us. He/she may be beautiful, charming, charismatic but they will be happy to do away with us.
    7 points
  34. LeolaRootStew

    GB 2025 Update #4

    The "beliefs clarified" page doesn't include these kinds of updates (like beards or slacks); is there anywhere we can look for a full list of these smaller updates? https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200277174
    7 points
  35. Osprey

    GB 2025 Update #4

    Another funeral custom that I didn't really see as wrong is to throw a flower in the grave at the end. I saw it as a kind gesture to put something beautiful into grave as a goodbye to a person. With no additional supernatural meaning. And all other people in our culture see it the same way. Because we had some explanations that it has pagan background, we tried to avoid it. But still... nobody sees it that way today, what is wrong with it? I'm curious, how do others see it through updated lens now? To be honest, my conscience did not tell me not to do it before, it bothered me more if I was the only one that did not want to do it.
    7 points
  36. MullumMiss

    GB 2025 Update #4

    In many cultures including my original, some funeral customs are associated with spiritism. I haven’t lived in NZ for over 50 years but as a child we went to maori tangis which is a traditional maori funeral ceremony. From memory in the 70s or 80s when we no longer lived in NZ, attendance was strongly discouraged. Many of the customs relate to the after life and the spirits of those already there. So I can understand the reasoning in the Treasures part.
    7 points
  37. Ostria

    GB 2025 Update #4

    Forgive me brothers...but it must be done
    7 points
  38. Tortuga

    GB 2025 Update #4

    I like a nice sourdough with peanut butter and my wife's home made apple butter...
    6 points
  39. 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.
    6 points
  40. Tortuga

    Meeting bag

    Water, snacks, battery bank, pen, blank Auxiliary Pioneer applications, pain relievers.
    6 points
  41. blanchard

    GB 2025 Update #4

    I leave in France and I have no problem with this and since many years I do it whithout questions for me
    6 points
  42. PICTURE DESCRIPTION: After researching funeral customs, a Witness family member kindly explains his belief to his relatives.
    6 points
  43. Andrey

    A good joke

    Mood: party all day VID_20250711_094145_171.mp4
    6 points
  44. ChrisC

    GB 2025 Update #4

    Am I remembering correctly that Polish sisters wear wedding rings on the right hand? Unity. ”No brother. You can’t do that at your wedding because that will be before we actually study the article at the Kingdom Hall.” (I’m exaggerating.)
    5 points
  45. That’s of course if we get to 50 days, trump has a habit of giving a timeline and then forgetting about it
    5 points
  46. Ivar

    GB 2025 Update #4

    On the website itself there is no such list. 6 Januari 2023 - hour requirement 2023 Governing Body Update #1 7 October 2023 - ministry reporting Breaking News 15 December 2023 - beards 2023 Governing Body Update #8 15 March 2024 - disfellowshipped persons; ties and pants 2024 Governing Body Update #2 4 June 2024 - toasting 2025 Governing Body Update #4
    5 points
  47. Pabo

    Older drivers

    I remember a story of an elderly sister in our congregation was known for her bad driving. One day, she had the C/O with her in her car. When they got to the territory and she pulled up, he jumped out of the car in a flash and told her she was the worst and most dangerous driver he had even been with. This sister reacted in saying with her Italian accent, "I have been driving for more than 40years and I have never been in a accident". The C/O replied, "That's because you have never looked behind you and seen all the carnage you had created".
    5 points
  48. I don't want a big house. I want a wooden, stone home with maybe 3 bedrooms, office for bible studies overlooking the woods and a modest kitchen but, with modern stove, farmers sink. I love cooking whenever I can. I don't follow recipes but, cook with my heart. Oh and a long wooden table with benches for my kitchen. Can anyone come up with a picture of that ?? Am I asking too much?
    5 points
  49. Isn’t it ironic…. Don’t you think 🎶 😂
    5 points
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