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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

Octoberfest?

Its interesting that the GB Update about toasting will be shown during the same MWM that discusses the use of alcohol.

▶ 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

Feeling pretty good now. I've been concentrating more on my spirituality and less on family member's problems. just wanted to say HIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!! 😀

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Maybe so we can all toast to the start of the GT very very soon... 😂 hmmm... a GT toast.. with a G&T 🍸

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.

The days when our return visits start calling us back!... 😄

All seven of them...

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

A truck loaded with Vicks Vaporub overturned of the highway... Amazingly, there was no congestion for 8 hours.

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!!!!

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?’ 🙈

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.

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.

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.

We are going to need more magazines...

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.

and also the act of saying "happy new year" ...

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

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

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.

50 days will fall upon our worldwide campaign with watchtower

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

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

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.

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

This is a personal choice IMHO. I personally leave flowers on a family grave but others in the family do not.

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.

It starts green. You can try to eat it then, of course. Teeth squeak. Flavor’s not quite there. Feels like chewing a plantain with something to prove. But wait a few days, and the banana changes. The skin softens. A little sweetness creeps in. Those freckles start to show — first one or two, then a whole constellation. And just like that, it’s ready. According to modern health science, that shift matters more than taste. A ripe banana — mellow, yellow, and halfway slouching in the fruit bowl — is known for relieving constipation. It’s packed with soluble fiber that helps move things along. But eat it too early, while it’s still green and stubborn? That same banana can have the opposite effect. Its high starch content can actually cause constipation. One fruit. Two results. Timing makes all the difference. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “For everything there is an appointed time, even a time for every affair under the heavens.” (NWT) Most of us hear that and think big thoughts — life, death, heartbreak, healing. But sometimes it applies just as well to your intestines. Or your grocery list. Truth is, Jehovah built timing into everything. Not just fruit, but feelings. Decisions. Conversations. There’s a time to speak and a time to stay quiet. A time to hold back, and a time to take a chance. A time to reach for the phone — and a time to stop checking if they’ve texted you back yet. And if you try to rush any of those things, you may wind up just as knotted up as if you’d eaten the banana before it was ready. Now, no one wants to be the person explaining that to their doctor: “Well, see, I got impatient. It looked kinda yellow in the shadows…” But in all seriousness, it’s comforting to know that Jehovah understands ripening. He doesn’t judge a heart for being in-process. He waits. He works with time. Sometimes, he asks us to do the same — even when the waiting feels awkward, slow, or uncertain. So next time you see a banana on the counter, take a second look. Is it green with potential, or golden with promise? Is it ready… or just almost there? It may be a fruit bowl. It may be your life. Either way — trust the One who knows the time for everything.

Forgive me brothers...but it must be done

update my house was on fire yesterday. No electricity, phone, etc. JUs got a second online.

I like a nice sourdough with peanut butter and my wife's home made apple butter...

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...

You’re outside in the sun when someone calls your name from inside a dark garage. You step in—and for a moment, it’s like you’ve gone blind. But within seconds, the outlines return. A minute later, you can see almost everything. How? Light adaptation is just one reason the human eye stirs awe. In bright light, specialized cells in the retina adjust sensitivity by rapidly changing their response levels. Step into the dark, and other cells—the rods—gradually take over, boosting their sensitivity by regenerating a molecule called rhodopsin. But even more striking is how the brain gets involved. The pupils shrink or dilate, sure—but the visual cortex is also at work, recalibrating expectations and filtering noise as new input floods in. You don’t merely *see* again. You *adjust*, so completely and unconsciously that you forget you were ever blind in the first place. What if our spiritual vision could do the same? When we’re suddenly thrown into a dark experience, we might feel blinded. But Jehovah created us with more than just physical adaptation. He teaches us to perceive light even in hardship. Psalm 112:4 (NWT) says: “Light has flashed up for the righteous.” That light isn’t circumstantial—it’s spiritual. We can regain our footing because our Creator designed us to. We adjust, we wait, we keep seeking the light—and eventually, we see again.

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.

Water, snacks, battery bank, pen, blank Auxiliary Pioneer applications, pain relievers.

I leave in France and I have no problem with this and since many years I do it whithout questions for me

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.

Mood: party all day VID_20250711_094145_171.mp4

Monday, July 14 He went outside and wept bitterly.—Matt. 26:75. The apostle Peter struggled with his weaknesses. Consider a few examples. When Jesus explained how he would suffer and die in fulfillment of Bible prophecy, Peter rebuked him. (Mark 8:31-33) Repeatedly, Peter and the other apostles argued about who was the greatest. (Mark 9:33, 34) On the last night before Jesus’ death, Peter impulsively cut off a man’s ear. (John 18:10) That same night, Peter gave in to fear and three times denied knowing his friend Jesus. (Mark 14:66-72) That led Peter to weep bitterly. Jesus did not give up on his disheartened apostle. After Jesus was resurrected, he gave Peter the opportunity to reaffirm his love for him. Jesus invited Peter to serve humbly as a shepherd of his sheep. (John 21:15-17) Peter responded positively. He was in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost and among the first to be anointed by holy spirit. w23.09 22 ¶6-7

Keeping things that aren't sins not public isn't sinful. There're things that are matters of conscience, but some might be offended by them. That's why we don't do it in public because it can be a stumbling block for some. Now, if you don't do it in public or show it to anyone, you do it "silently" to avoid being a stumbling block for a brother, and, that brother comes after you to see if you're doing something he finds questionable... Well, I think you've the right to keep it a secret. (And that brother should start minding his own business.) I've heard fellow believers complain about all sorts of things. From the way you dress, the places you frequent, to the way you want to live your life and the way you'll build your home in the new world (yep, some want you to live the way them want, lol). The best way to maintain unity in the congregation is for each person to mind their own business, because, in the end, is Jehovah's who's already minding the business of everyone.

Let's get back to the topic 😅😅😅😅

I live in central Texas where all of this is going on. This much rain is not normal for us , I live 1.5 hours from Kerrville and the Guadalupe River that was the most affected. My small town river flooded as well, but it wasn't near as bad as Kerrville. I have not "heard" of any brothers and sister with major devastation but that doesnt mean there hasnt been . I had convention this past weekend and it rained the entire weekend , one of the conventions entrances got closed because of flooding ,so it was 1 way in 1 way out. The parking brothers worked hard in the rain to keep it flowing smoothly . Some congregations advised to use the provision to live stream convention and not travel on roads... what a wonderful new provision that worked great! Many brothers and sisters in this area live in the country. dirt roads, and low water crossings that get flooded. They got to watch the convention just like they were there. I have heard that some brothers in Kerrville did get their homes flooded but not washed away. You really had to be living on the banks of a river for the major damage to be done. I have a childhood witness friend ( inactive now ) that lived close to the Guadalupe River and he and his family had to climb on their roof to escape the water. All of his vehicles and work trailers washed away. Another sister in the area affected said the river is going down now and has the smell of death. Horses , cows , deer , corpses all in the banks of river along with cars trucks and all manner of debris . She said it is heartbreaking to see childrens clothes 30 feet up in trees. My town is full of emergency responders from all over the state staying in the local motels. Times like this make one long for when Jehovah balances out our earth to not have such weather extremes.