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Our beloved member Old/Jerry has passed away. 89 years of age. A dear friend of many on the Forum. https://jwtalk.net/profile/4460-old/

This is hard. I’ve known him since I was a teen-ager. His family was my family. I so hoped he’d be able to see this system come down. However, this is so temporary. I remember a CO not that long ago who said words to this effect. If you pass away now, the sentence does not end with a period, but comma. See you in a bit, my dear friend. Oh, his wife’s name is Gertrude, or Gertie. I’m sure she would appreciate our prayers in her behalf. See you in a bit, Jerry.

I've been listening to the news, just like you. I've been trying to keep my mind calm and my heart steady, just like you. My heart is telling me that something has to give, that the world cannot continue to go on like this much longer; again...just like you. I won't go into specifics, those are being well covered my brothers and sisters on other threads in this forum. Instead of focusing on what ifs and if onlys...I am going to ask myself one simple question...and hopefully, by the end of this post...I will answer it in a way that is satisfactory not only to me...but also to my disgusting treacherous heart. Please join me as I take a deep dive into my own thinking...into the depths of a subject that scares me to utter out loud: Am I Ready? Friends, my heart can be as loud and accusatory as it wants...but it is simply NOT the final judge. At 3 a.m., when my body starts to awaken, to prepare for the day ahead, my heart starts beating me mercilessly...it starts presenting a case against me the same way a prosecutor does against a defendant. It pulls out evidence I thought was buried: that sin from ten years ago, those harsh words I said last week, my prayers that sometimes feel like pretense rather than my heartfelt dialogue. My heart whispers, then starts screaming at me: Unworthy. Fake. Too broken for God to love or even WANT. I've been there too many times. And when I read "God is greater than our hearts" (1 John 3:20) from our watchtower study this week, I nod politely, my brain registers the words...but the accusation still burns inside me. Then I stop...regather my thoughts...tell Jehovah I love him... I'm sorry for being such a poor example of one of his servants...and then I re-group. After some prayerful study and meditation on that verse...here's what I was missing: in Greek, "greater" (meizōn) carries judicial authority. What does that MEAN though? It means Jehovah is stronger than my self-condemnation...it means that his verdict outranks whatever terrible things I may believe about myself. My heart might be a relentless prosecutor, building cases against me, presenting evidence, demanding judgment. But Jehovah? He's the Supreme Court. And he's already ruled on my case, provided I simply do my best to remain faithful! Here's another overlooked detail that changed everything for me after I meditated on this scripture: the verse says God "knows all things." Man, that used to terrify me. I thought it meant he had a magnifying glass on every failure, every secret shame of mine. But I'm finally figuring out how to flip how I view those words: because he knows everything, his mercy is precise, not generic. A surgeon who can see exactly where I'm wounded doesn't make random cuts...he heals specifically. Jehovah's complete knowledge means his care fits my exact wound, my specific fear, my particular shame. He knows why I struggle with what I struggle with. He knows what happened to me. He knows what I've never told anyone. And still, he drew me. How profound is that? He drew me when I was covered from head to toe in the disgusting mud of this system...he drew me when nearly every other word out of my mouth was some sort of filth or curse word...he drew me when my heart was filled with hate and rage and anger...but he ALSO saw that it was filled with sadness and fear and loneliness and loss and a pathetic person who was hiding in a corner of his brain...shivering and cold...lost and alone. My mediations on this article have dragged me through the past, anchored me in the present and helped me to calm my fears for tomorrow. Want to know the most hidden truth I discovered after really holding my feet to the fire? When Jehovah drew me (John 6:44), he wasn't responding to my achievements. He wasn't waiting for me to clean up first. He saw what Acts 13:48 calls a "rightly disposed heart"...not a perfect heart, not a pure heart, just one that leaned, however faintly, toward him. I thought of a parent scanning a massive crowd of strangers at a train station. Everyone else sees chaos, a blur of faces, noise, confusion. But that parent? They spot their child instantly...not because the child is the tallest or cleanest or best-behaved, but by something indefinable that says mine. That recognition cuts through everything else...they KNOW their child. That's how Jehovah found me. In a world of billions, through all my mistakes and masks and mess, he saw that faint lean of my heart...maybe just a whispered prayer, maybe just a longing for something better, maybe just tears I couldn't explain...and he said, "That one. That one right there...that one is MINE!" My heart still says I'm disqualified. It rehearses my failures on repeat. It magnifies that gap between who I am and who I think I should be. But here's what my heart doesn't know: Jehovah isn't measuring the gap. He's watching the lean. He's not cataloging my falls; he's counting every time I get back up. So when my heart screams "guilty," I'm learning to remember: I'm not a defendant awaiting verdict. The verdict is already in. As long as I do my best...I'm family. Jehovah didn't just forgive me...he treasures me. He doesn't judge my worst moment; he watches my trajectory. And that faint lean of my heart that started me towards toward him? That tiny, barely-there inclination? That's all he needed to move heaven and earth to draw me home. Satan...you are a LIAR:I am not too broken. I am not too stained. I am not too far gone. I am seen, known, drawn, and treasured by the God who is greater than my heart. So am I ready? Maybe the better question is: Does Jehovah think I'm ready? And if he's still drawing me, still working with me, still calling me "Mine"...then I'll keep leaning toward him, one day at a time. Tonight, I'm going to name one small way I leaned toward Jehovah today. A prayer, a kind act, a moment of resistance to wrong. And I'll keep that list. Why? Because it's evidence of what he saw in me all along. *Thank you for allowing me to share, and for following me on this little journey into my thinking and down into my heart. Hopefully this will help someone...touch someone...because I know I can't be the only one feeling this way.

we had 4.8 earthquake in my city. It was scary. i was in a basement. Foundation of my apartment was good but no match to an earthquake. Survival mode kicked in. It hit just a few seconds but still scary.

"Faithful to the finish." No better record can any of us have....dead or living. Prayers for us all.

I enjoyed knowing him on the forum and look forward to meeting him in person in the New System when we are both without the difficulties of old age and imperfection Prayers for his wife would be welcomed, I'm sure.

One day, everything will be over, we will have true peace generated_video.mp4

Doing some personal study on GT I’ve been reflecting deeply on these thoughts. There’s much here to meditate on. Even some who believe in a day of judgment think that it is far off. To keep receiving holy spirit, we must also “not treat prophecies with contempt.” (1 Thess. 5:20) “Prophecies” here refer to messages produced by God’s spirit, including those concerning Jehovah’s day and the urgency of our times. We do not push that day off in our mind, thinking that Armageddon will not happen in our lifetime. Instead, we speed it up—keep it close in mind—by maintaining right conduct and keeping busy with “deeds of godly devotion” every day.—2 Pet. 3:11, 12. W23 June. So perhaps it’s not really proper (or spiritually safe) to speculate whether the Great Tribulation might come in 5, 10, or 20 years. Doing so might make it seem far away, when in truth, our relationship with Jehovah and our sense of readiness must remain immediate. The focus, then, isn’t when the end will come, but who we are becoming as we await it.

Still here! Thanks for asking.

Using AI Wisely — Benefits and Dangers I’d like to share a few thoughts on how AI can be useful, misleading, or even harmful. My background is in IT, and I currently work with AI in the field of health insurance here in Switzerland. I’ve also used it privately for many years — long before it became mainstream. What Is AI? To understand AI, it helps to forget the science-fiction ideas and start with something simple: Large Language Models (LLMs). Imagine you had access to everything ever written. Then someone says, “I am…” You could look up which words most often follow — maybe “happy,” “sad,” “strong,” or “good.” That’s roughly how AI works. It predicts the most likely next words based on patterns in huge amounts of text. As the Insight book says about wisdom: “The Biblical sense of wisdom lays emphasis on sound judgment, based on knowledge.” AI has access to vast knowledge — but not to judgment, empathy, or understanding. When you type “I am sad,” ChatGPT might answer: “I’m sorry you’re feeling that way. Do you want to talk about what’s been going on?” Nice words — but they’re not real empathy . AI doesn’t know what sadness means. It only reproduces what sounds right statistically. Why It Can Mislead Even small changes in wording affect the answer. Ask: “How do you think about having sex with someone you’re not married to?” You’ll likely get a response saying it’s fine if it’s “consensual and respectful.” But ask: “How do you think about adultery?” And it will highlight the sin, moral harm and broken trust. The first danger isn’t even AI’s fault — it’s how we ask . The wording shapes the answer. But there are more subtle risks: The illusion of authority: AI sounds confident even when it’s wrong. Because of its tone, many people take its answers as fact. Worldly bias: AI reflects what most people online believe — not Bible truth. Its “neutral” voice often hides popular moral ideas that conflict with Christian thinking. Privacy concerns: What we type may be stored and reused. For that reason, anything personal, spiritual, or congregation-related shouldn’t be shared. Spiritual desensitization: If someone starts turning to AI for comfort, advice, or “spiritual answers,” it can slowly weaken prayer and personal study. We have an amazing source with the jw.org!!!! Dependency: AI makes tasks quick, but it can dull our own reasoning. Jehovah wants us to “keep testing” things and think deeply — not just accept easy answers. What This Means for Us AI doesn’t reveal new truth. Its output depends on its sources — and those sources reflect human thinking. How we ask determines what we get. So, discernment is key. How to Use AI Safely Our relationship with Jehovah can never go through an artificial agent. But it can help with practical things — for example, improving clarity in writing. I sometimes use it to simplify my own wording. Here’s a small example: My original sentence: “The sinful fall of Adam and Eve in paradise led humanity into a dead end. But God, in His wisdom, knew a way out: the ransom sacrifice.” AI simplified it to: “When Adam and Eve sinned, they brought death to all humans. But God, in his wisdom, provided a way out — the ransom sacrifice.” The meaning stays the same, but it’s shorter and easier to follow — something you appreciate during an assembly talk in the afternoon . In Summary Using AI to find Bible verses or simplify your language can be fine. Using it to learn about the truth or seek emotional support is risky. It’s just a tool — useful when controlled, misleading when trusted too much. Used wisely, it can serve us. Used carelessly, it can shape us.

2nd image The declaration of “peace and security” will be made shortly before the start of the great tribulation, which will begin with the destruction of Babylon the Great (all false religions). Our publications have also described this declaration as a sign that the great tribulation is about to begin. However, after carefully analyzing this matter, it seems that this is only one of the possibilities. Another possibility is that the declaration of “peace and security” will be made after the destruction of false religion. Why? Let’s examine some reasons. The involvement of false religion in wars The Bible says: “In her [the ‘great prostitute,’ Babylon the Great] was found the blood... of all those who have been slaughtered on the earth.” (Revelation 17:1, 5; 18:24) Throughout history, false religion has promoted wars and, many times, has been the cause of terrorist acts. Thus, it has contributed to wars and violence, not to peace and security. This raises the question: will the declaration of “peace and security” be made only after Babylon the Great is destroyed? Maybe, but we cannot say for sure. What will happen after the declaration of “peace and security”? Paul said: “Whenever it is that they are saying, ‘Peace and security!’ then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3) The study note on this verse says: “Here, Paul indicates that there will be little or no time between the proclamation of ‘peace and security’ and the destruction of those making that proclamation. The destruction will come suddenly, and there will be no escape.” So, it is possible that political governments will make the declaration of “peace and security” after false religion has been destroyed and that soon afterward they will suffer sudden destruction. Jehovah’s people’s reaction when these things happen Paul said: “You, brothers, are not in darkness, so that the day should overtake you like a thief.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4) If the declaration of “peace and security” is made after the destruction of false religion, then Jehovah’s people will know that the destruction of political governments is about to occur. As for political rulers, once they have made the declaration of “peace and security” and are feeling safe, destruction will come upon them suddenly, like a thief in the night — that is, unexpectedly and without warning. — 1 Thessalonians 5:2. So, what do we know? We know that, in the near future, the “ten horns” and the “wild beast” will receive power from God to destroy false religion. This will mark the beginning of the great tribulation. We also know that at some point there will be a declaration of “peace and security.” When will that be? We are talking about two possible moments: the first is before the destruction of false religion, and the second is after false religion has been completely destroyed. Either way, we will have to wait and see what happens. The prophecies in the Bible are fully understood only as they are being fulfilled or after they are fulfilled. — See also John 12:16. What is most important right now is not when the declaration of “peace and security” will be made, but that we continue to be loyal to God. We must stay alert and keep our senses, so that we are prepared not only for that event but also for everything that will happen as the prophecies continue to be fulfilled in the future. — 1 Thessalonians 5:6. (February 2026)

I watched this. Interesting. As I have seen this government totter, in this country, I have heard some theorize China would soon be the next world power. I’m thinking, “ Not so fast, folks “. We know who will be the last standing power before Jehovah and Christ take action. And, it’s not China. Okay, now I’m wondering if this country falls on its face, and, because it is a world power, (of sorts) Will there be chaos that causes the powers that be, to throw up their hands, and the UN takes over, with its shiny new teeth? Just wondering. What I do know is Jehovah’s organization is not only preparing us for the end of this system, but to be able to be escorted into the new system. I know the timing will be perfect, but it can’t be soon enough. As the news drones on about all this, “peace”, I’m thinking, “Come on, folks, say it. Say it, say, “security”! Then it will be what mankind has needed for eons! And miracle of miracles. We will get to see it! (I hope. Life had gotten a little more fragile to me in the last few days)

I’m happy that, while the world is intensely talking about peace and the end of war, our JW website has been challenging the nations on the front page for a few days, showing that true peace and security will come through God’s Kingdom

Sad to hear. May he rest, until he is called. I yearn for that time... 💐

Very very true! When I commented last night, I was coming from a personal place of frustration more than anything else...so in rereading my message, I naturally once again feel embarrassed by my overreaction. For that, I deeply apologize. This is why I stay out of conversations like these, I have the natural tendency to hate running in circles in my own head. I have commented on this thread in the past, and thus get all of further responses since. Maybe I need to unfollow this conversation, and it has nothing to do with any of you. I personally get triggered by what I feel is circular logic, even though ironically I do it all the time myself 😂 When I look back at the convention from last night, (the WHOLE scope of the conversation), I felt foolish for speaking up at all because I didn't have the grasp I thought I had on what was being said. That's what I get for working 13 hours and trying to follow along throughout the day, missing key comments or key ideas and then getting frustrated by what I THOUGHT the conversation entailed. As I said, hindsight is 2020...and had I fully read everything, I wouldn't have spoken up at all...so please accept my deepest apologies, my brother @Dhanyelfor running my mouth when I hadn't caught up with it yet!

I contacted Richard some weeks ago. He was fine but very busy with responsibilities. He said he's trying to limit the time he spends online but still visits the forums from time to time. That makes his comments here even more valuable, doesn't it?

Prayers for his family and friends, he was a very wise man and I will miss his posts here.

Thank goodness we're not involved in any of that political drama. Its gonna happen, whichever way they choose to do it. Personally I choose to not be overly concerned. Jehovah’s GOT THIS! But that said please don't misunderstand, I love any info that could pertain to the end of this system. One day it'll happen and I hope I'm here to see it.

JWB Oct 2025 Transcript

Or sooner. Much sooner.

Well, being his older brother, I can say fairly reliably that he is OK, he participated in our family group chat this evening....

I feel devistated, yet upright, only thanks to Jehovah. My dear friend an i were on our way to a memorial for a brother two congregations down the road. A wonderful young spiritual brother. Cancer. I was at the hall to meet Paula. To go to the memorial, a couple of hours down the highway. I got a text while i was waiting. (I was early, for a change) A very dear pioneer sister, in her 50ʼs, at an hospital north of San Francisco, it was decided to pull the life support system. Iʼm still upset at the circumsrances that put her there. Two weeks ago she was on our Monday meet for service Zoom meeting. With a bottle of cough sryup she was given at the clinic she visited. By Wednesday, they took her out town in an ambulance. Before they could get her stabilized enough to even operate, she crashed 3 times. They got her through two surgeries, was on the ventelator. She was off it, long enough to talk to her mother and sister on the east coast. Ended back on the ventelator. So, we were getting ready to go to a funeral, before we left the parking lot at the hall, we get this text. And it was too much. We visited, cried, visited. A brother in our hall died a few weeks ago. His memorial is coming up. Heʼd been sick for some time. 77 years old. So, another widow for our little congregation. And, Bobby and Jerry… This is almost too much. But Jehovah has been doing his best to be here for us. And, he is. Here for us. Have you any idea how grateful and thankful i am? Our little congregation could use your prayer.

I don't remember a public article being this...specific. This feels like they want the information out there about future events – because they're going to happen soon. At least I hope so!

I didn't even know him that well, but I deeply appreciate it his comments here on this site, and I know he was loved even more by the brothers and sisters who knew him personally. We are so blessed to have a God whose memory is alive with all of his friends. Now that I think about it, if we could snuggle down and travel through just the outer fringe of Jehovah's memory every night before we went to sleep, I don't think any of us would worry about going to sleep in this system at all... because the next time our eyes would open...we would be back among everyone who Jehovah loves.

The Study Notes for Chapters 8-13 are finally available!!!

Don't surrender to imperfect thinking... the end will come in an abrupt and unexpected manner. This can happen tomorrow.

This is a subject I've been meaning to discuss here for the past two weeks. I've been having a hard time finding non-slanted or non-religious news reports and haven't had the time to sift through the videos and reports, so I've been putting it off. There's a Nigerian brother who’s a former bethelite in my congregation that brought to my attention a few months ago that since 2009, many Islamic extremists have killed tens of thousands of people trying to serve Christ the best way they know how. Some reports say as many as 125,000 Nigerians have been slaughtered. Thousands of Churches have been burned and people are literally being killed for attending church. One man was asked to deny Christ and his hand was chopped off. What amazes me the most about all of this, is despite not knowing the cause of suffering and not having accurate knowledge, many Nigerians still hold fast to their faith and continue to go to church and try to follow Christ. The brother I mentioned sent me a video of a Nigerian politician standing in a mass grave full of dead bodies pleading in front of the camera begging the US or any other country to get involved. He was saying that despite governments denying that a genocide is taking place, the mass grave tells a different story. President Trump has recently spoken on the subject. Who knows if anything will be done about it, but what is taking place is sad and barbaric. Here's two video reports. It's the first is somewhat slanted and the second gets very slanted towards the end of the coverage, but it's coverage nonetheless.

With the UN's current credibility, for many, we are prophesying something seemingly impossible. This is what underscores our prediction. When it happens, everyone will be astonished to recognize that our interpretation of the Bible was accurate and true. As proof of the immensity of God's mercy and His desire that no one be destroyed, we learn that during the great tribulation, those who recognize that we were this true prophet will still have time to join us in the pure worship of Jehovah (new understanding). Both Zephaniah 2:2, 3 and Zechariah 8:20-23 imply that Jehovah wants to give one final opportunity before bringing his judgments at the war of Armageddon. He has always done this in previous judgments, and this will be no different. On the contrary, I believe he will do everything in his power, perhaps even miracles, to prove who his people on Earth are and convince sincere believers to follow the symbolic Jewish man. After all, this isn't about the destruction of a few thousand people, nor a destruction that can be resurrected. Therefore, I believe that Jehovah will provide ample opportunity for survival for a great, innumerable multitude of people, perhaps far greater than we can imagine. The signs in the sky—clear demonstrations of the identity of the one who is coming (the Son of Man) to judge the world—and a proclamation of complete judgment like never before by means as yet unimaginable—will likely occur so that sincere people will decide to support Christ's brothers at that crucial stage. Only those who, despite all the evidence, react in the manner described in 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, will be DESERVEDLY destroyed forever.

We've been watching the follwing video in light of current events: 2018 Annual Meeting: A. Morris "This Is It" 2022 Annual Meeting: G. Jackson "Be Alert, Be Decisive" 2024 Annual Meeting: G. Jackson "Don't Be Suprised by Sudden Changes" Also from the w20 April pg 2, par 2 "Bible prophecies are often best understood when they are undergoing fulfillment or after they have been fulfilled."

Oh, I'm so sorry to heat this. I always enjoyed his comments here.. he was a lovely brother 😢

Never heard of her. Good luck next year, Donald.

We experience again a strong earthquake here in the Philippines,. Last week it central Philippines. Now on the southern Philippines.

According to ChatGPT When Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:3, “Whenever it is that they are saying, ‘Peace and security!’ then sudden destruction will be instantly upon them…”, he was likely echoing a well-known political slogan of the Roman Empire. Here’s the background: “Pax et Securitas” (Peace and Security), or similar phrases like “Pax Romana” (“Roman Peace”) and “Securitas Publica” (“Public Security”), were common imperial ideals. The Roman emperors promoted themselves as bringers of peace and stability after years of civil wars. This message was a key part of imperial propaganda. In inscriptions, coins, and official declarations, Rome often celebrated the gods Pax and Securitas, even depicting them as divine figures who upheld the empire. For example, coins from the reigns of emperors like Augustus, Nero, and Vespasian bear inscriptions such as “PAX AUGUSTA” or “SECURITAS ORBIS” (“Security of the World”). So, when Paul used the phrase “peace and security,” his audience in Thessalonica — a Roman city — would have immediately recognized it as the kind of political assurance the empire often proclaimed. Paul’s message contrasts that imperial boast: while Rome claimed to bring lasting peace and safety, Paul warns that true peace and security do not come from political power but from God’s Kingdom, and that human promises of peace can precede sudden judgment.

The book on Courage would be great to study during the GT let it come let it come

Next Monday, November 3, will be the release of the new JW Broadcasting! I trust we are all looking forward to it. So, with that in mind, we ask ourselves some questions: Who will be the host? What will be the theme? Something tells me the program will not be the same as usual. For one thing, there are no brand new songs waiting to be released on the servers this month! (Usually there is at least one new one, plus a couple of others.) And further: last year, the November Broadcast was the 156th class of Gilead, followed by Part 1 of the Annual Meeting in December. And the previous year, it was the opposite—AM in November, Gilead in December. Do you think it will be similar this year?

I don't think I've seen so much talk and "effort" towards "peace" before. Our current generations understanding does allow at the extreme end of overlap 1 or 2 more decades. (lets hope not). Pray for the anointed to be sealed- kind of the only thing that needs to be accomplished. The new system and kingdom is the major part for earthly class of hope.

In 50 years? Extremely unlikely. The pace humans are ruining the Earth is so fast that if we’re not stopped life in 50 years will be so difficult that GT won’t be very different.

I understand your point of view and deeply respect it. Indeed, Jehovah has perfect timing and wisdom, and trusting in that is essential to maintaining faith. However, it’s also important to remember that He didn’t make us spiritual robots, but people with real feelings, limits, and anguish. Each person faces suffering differently — and that doesn’t mean “running ahead of the carriage,” but rather struggling to stay in it, even when wounded. When Jesus was on earth, He didn’t ignore human pain. He wept with those who wept, felt compassion for the afflicted, and never rebuked anyone for expressing sadness, doubt, or weariness. So, speaking about suffering, frustration, or waiting is not a lack of faith — it’s humanity. And recognizing that might be exactly what keeps someone from giving up. Taking into account each person’s individuality, pain, and circumstances is not spiritual rebellion — it’s following Christ’s example: to listen, to welcome, and to understand before judging. True faith doesn’t ignore suffering — it embraces it with empathy and trust in Jehovah God, knowing that every heart moves at its own pace on the path of hope.

It's good that the Slave is openly sharing these possibilities, we will be more flexible with whatever could happen. We understand prophecy when they are done, not before.

So basically what we have expected : P&S could be BEFORE or AFTER the Attack on BtG

hen will the declaration of “peace and security” be made? As mentioned recently in a Questions From Readers article in The Watchtower, soon Jehovah will put it into the hearts of the “ten horns” (all political governments) “his thought”: to give their power and authority to the “wild beast,” that is, to the United Nations (UN). This beast is also called the “image of the wild beast.” (Revelation 13:14, 15; 17:3, 16, 17) Then, the “ten horns” and the beast will use their power to destroy false religions throughout the world. But when will the declaration of “peace and security” be made? Will it be before or after the destruction of false religion? — 1 Thessalonians 5:3. The answer is that we do not know for certain when the declaration of “peace and security” will be made. If we knew exactly, we would not need to stay alert. Jesus only said several times to his disciples: “Keep on the watch.” (Matthew 24:42; 25:13; 26:41) Likewise, the apostle Paul emphasized the need to stay awake in his letter to the Thessalonians. Paul wrote: “Whenever it is that they are saying, ‘Peace and security!’ then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3) Our publications have explained many times that the declaration will occur shortly before the great tribulation begins. ran the first image through chat gpt

Same. It used to drive me nuts that it took 30 minutes for everyone to leave the hall, another 15 to get to the territory and then after an hour, we go on break. However, now I view Saturday ministry as a relaxed way to get to be with the friends and do some doors and rvs together. Not as some mad rush to do as many houses as possible. That change of mental disposition makes me happier and makes Saturday service more enjoyable.

This whole concept really falls on to a matter of conscience... and respecting boundaries. Romans 14:19-22 19  So, then, let us pursue the things making for peace+ and the things that build one another up.+ 20  Stop tearing down the work of God just for the sake of food.+ True, all things are clean, but it is detrimental for* a man to eat when it will cause stumbling.+ 21  It is best not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything over which your brother stumbles.+ 22  The faith that you have, keep it to yourself before God. Happy is the man who does not judge himself by what he approves. A couple of points. 1.The gentle approach to differing views...pursue peace. 2. Boundaries... not every thought or belief has to be shared with everyone. 3. Stumbling blocks. Even if your conscience is clear, flaunting your freedom can harm someone else's faith.

The first time this text impacted my life and feelings was when I heard it mentioned by Sister Magdalena Kusserow. She was in Brazil for a series of lectures connected with the Purple Triangles Exhibitions, while I was serving at Bethel. I had the privilege of being invited to accompany her from Bethel to the airport on her return home. In the van that took us to the airport, we heard many stories about what happened in the concentration camp, the reactions to the persecution, and how the sister felt today. Among many stories, when mentioning her brother Wilhelm, the first to die at the hands of the Nazis, she commented that her mother received the news calmly and said to her other children: "We need not worry. Now our Wilhelm is wrapped in the bag of life with Jehovah." I confess that I was moved by this expression of faith in the resurrection and realized later that her mother was referring to 1 Samuel 25:29. P.S.: I loved your archaeological reference. I'm a biblical archaeology enthusiast.

So much sadness in this system of things because of the old enemy, death. I look forward to seeing Jerry in the paradise to come, and eventually to seeing the end of death.

This news truly broke my heart. He was such a loving and dear brother, as demonstrated by his posts here on the forum. May Jehovah be with his wife, Gertie, and with all the family and friends who knew him. Now he is "wrapped securely in the bag of life with Jehovah." - 1 Sam. 25:29.

I just heard this morning that this case has been dropped. Here's the announcement read last week in congregations in the Czech Republic: Apparently the brothers and sisters in the Czech Republic had been asked to write thousands of letters to the authorities there. Hopefully this same method will work to the same outcome in other countries facing similar problems.

Have a good night, bro... we will meet in Paradise

Some students experienced panic attacks and anxiety. When an earthquake hit suddenly. There's adrenaline rush and flight/fight responses from the body and Im glad I dont have high blood pressure or heart disease. If all houses and buildings are made of wood, there's nothing to worry about. Anyway, these things will be gone in the very near future.