Thinking

I am happy you have found comfort with another family…but Mathew please understand that there are others who have been badly hurt within their congregation…you described your terrible conditions inflicted on you…well I can honestly say my appalling experience within the cong was far worse than that…and it took me some time to come and see that it was done by individuals who abused their positions of power with in the cong,…I also have seen what I call false brothers and real brothers ….there are some I will call made up of fairy floss and no real substance to them….but there are many who are fighting to be as good as they can in a world full of wickedness …and are weary with the stake they carry…and I hope one day that your wounds may heal a little..perhaps the time is not now….but future…I genuinely wish you nothing but calmness and peace..and please don’t hate us all…we are not all the same…for myself I know full well I certainly am a broken Cracked vessel …and many of us are not worth anything really but stand before our God like Joshua did in rotten dirty clothes .
Take comfort in that Jehovah sees all…and he remembers your tears
 

Ha! Yeah, like another one who regularly complains of “no spirituality here” and yet shows up as reliably as the rising sun.
Shakespeare it ain’t but if it is a complete waste of time what does that say about the person who constantly attends to it?

@Witness We know the difference between a prophet inspired and a prophet not inspired. Still - No one after John, not even his students, had the ability to profess visions, have a prophet level of prophesying, miraculous gifts, etc. So you, myself, everyone here, the Jehovah's Witnesses as is others in the Abrahamic Faith, on both factions, are not prophets inspired, and or has any ability of that nature of what Prophets of old as is followers of Christ were capable of doing, anyone who claims such, well, one can call upon the words of Apostle Paul, Galatians 1:1-11. Moreover, those who make claim often than not are affiliated with Spiritism and or Demonic Forces, as is those who claim they can speak to or bring back the dead like that of the Christ. Likewise with those who said they had visions of Heaven and or Hell (which can be contributed to revelations from fallen ones, rebellious angels) - hence the verse in the same passage:
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
It is also noted if Prophets Inspired existed after Apostle John, we would never have the situation with Constantine the Great, or what any of the Church Fathers did. We would not be having revised Bibles, for an Inspired Prophet can simply get everything together accordingly. There would not be a need for denominations or the Anti-Trinitarian vs Trinitarian factions, for a Prophet Inspired would definitely remedied that, essentially a single flock, the spiritual house of the chosen and the followers against the world itself.
This was addressed to you before in a discussion, the distinction between the 2 is noticeable.
These are the notable figures in the 2nd Century, I've already mention the students of Apostle John to @Patiently waiting for Truth - Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp.
 
There's Church Father/Bishop Irenaeus of Lyons, who he himself is a student of Polycarp.   Papias Aristides Barnabas Shepherd of Hermas II Clement Justin Martyr Tatian  Athenagoras Theophilus of Antioch Theodotus of Byzantium
NOTE: Tertullian is 3rd century, however, concerning Polycarp, he attested that Polycarp was appointed by John, hence why he is seen as a student/disciple of John himself. Likewise with Irenaeus, who said the same thing to a similar effect.
None of them were to be seen and or believed to be Prophets Inspired, for if that were the case, as mentioned, The Church would have not been infiltrated and or attacked from the inside out, nor would the events of Constantine, and later, Theodosius, would ever take effect.
The Apostolic Church would have been like that of a Fortress, from then, into Present Day, into Tribulations times and eventually, God's Day which is Near.

I’ve tried to be patient with you but your viciousness and vile talk against so many cannot go on any longer.
you do have a lot of knowledge which I upvote often..because it is truth ..but the way you talk to people and about people cancels all that out as worthless.
I personally don’t know any witness who would speak as you do and cast others into damnation  and death as you so quickly do.
I think you need to ban yourself now as you are putting your own life In spiritual jeopardy.
I certainly hope those that read here realize witnesses are not at all like you..and you would never be tolerated  in any cong for speaking as you do.
 

Well I wouldn’t let them around my kids…alas the days are dark…and they at times seep into the congregations…it’s a sad fact..and hard to understand  at times….but inevitable…
But Jehovah has had complaints according to revelations… with all his congregations down thru times….we really are no different than the Israelites that were in the wilderness…once we understand  that…REALLY understand that….the walk will become easier…and as you reminded us….Paul had to deal with false brothers as well…..but he also dealt with such great faithful ones with all their faults..whom he loved…so it was certainly worth it in the long run for him.

It is worth noting that there were plenty of false brothers in Paul’s day and they made considerable trouble for him.
“ in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brothers,  (2 Corinthians 11:26)
Having said that, I don’t know that those in Matthew’s past were necessarily false. They were just pieces of work.

I am happy you have found comfort with another family…but Mathew please understand that there are others who have been badly hurt within their congregation…you described your terrible conditions inflicted on you…well I can honestly say my appalling experience within the cong was far worse than that…and it took me some time to come and see that it was done by individuals who abused their positions of power with in the cong,…I also have seen what I call false brothers and real brothers ….there are some I will call made up of fairy floss and no real substance to them….but there are many who are fighting to be as good as they can in a world full of wickedness …and are weary with the stake they carry…and I hope one day that your wounds may heal a little..perhaps the time is not now….but future…I genuinely wish you nothing but calmness and peace..and please don’t hate us all…we are not all the same…for myself I know full well I certainly am a broken Cracked vessel …and many of us are not worth anything really but stand before our God like Joshua did in rotten dirty clothes .
Take comfort in that Jehovah sees all…and he remembers your tears
 

I’ve tried to be patient with you but your viciousness and vile talk against so many cannot go on any longer.
you do have a lot of knowledge which I upvote often..because it is truth ..but the way you talk to people and about people cancels all that out as worthless.
I personally don’t know any witness who would speak as you do and cast others into damnation  and death as you so quickly do.
I think you need to ban yourself now as you are putting your own life In spiritual jeopardy.
I certainly hope those that read here realize witnesses are not at all like you..and you would never be tolerated  in any cong for speaking as you do.
 

I am happy you have found comfort with another family…but Mathew please understand that there are others who have been badly hurt within their congregation…you described your terrible conditions inflicted on you…well I can honestly say my appalling experience within the cong was far worse than that…and it took me some time to come and see that it was done by individuals who abused their positions of power with in the cong,…I also have seen what I call false brothers and real brothers ….there are some I will call made up of fairy floss and no real substance to them….but there are many who are fighting to be as good as they can in a world full of wickedness …and are weary with the stake they carry…and I hope one day that your wounds may heal a little..perhaps the time is not now….but future…I genuinely wish you nothing but calmness and peace..and please don’t hate us all…we are not all the same…for myself I know full well I certainly am a broken Cracked vessel …and many of us are not worth anything really but stand before our God like Joshua did in rotten dirty clothes .
Take comfort in that Jehovah sees all…and he remembers your tears
 

He knows. He's just being intentionally antagonistic. He knows it's logical to let Witnesses stay with Witnesses. He doesn’t want to admit the bond those of like mind and faith have, because he doesn't have that anymore. 

I cut you considerable slack when you spoke of weird things in your past. Especially did Thinking do so. And that was before you dropped this game changer: 
Hgp just addressed the plain facts of your statements, without knowledge or reference to your history. You have no reason to complain of your treatment here. Nobody has laughed at you on this thread.
Dimitar has beaten you up, probably, but he beats up everybody and no one can figure out where he is coming from.

Wrong, "real" JWs respect the 8 men as fellow servants. You are the one making them out to be something they are not. The respect as inscribed in scripture is for the weight and responsibility they have before God.
Wrong, that's you take not the truth. Baptism is made before God.
The choice has always been for the individual to serve God properly. You are an example of that choice.
If a person has no Christian conscience such as former witnesses, how can you explain by your choice why you weren't taken over by the GB and Elders? Wouldn't you, in effect, be in control of an institution like a zombie?
I believe there has been ample evidence to show how the Watchtower has dealt with child abuse through the decades. Aside from the notifications to the Elders, there are plenty of Watchtower articles condemning such behavior.
That you have a different agenda to make false claims, then that's on you, and former and present Jehovah's Witnesses here.

You're right. Nothing in our Christian life should change if the prophecies (such as those of the KoN) were fulfilled, are being fulfilled or will be fulfilled. If we serve Jehovah out of devotion we will continue to worship him no matter what the end comes tomorrow or in a million years.
In fact, not giving prophecies too much emphasis protects us from disappointment. But what happens to me is that since a good part of the Bible consists of prophecies, I can't help but "take a look".
(2 Peter 1:19). . .So we have the prophetic word made more sure, and you are doing well in paying attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place (until day dawns and a daystar rises) in your hearts. .
 
By the way, I love your cartoons

…… could be worse …..
 

I’m terribly sorry Mathew if you had such unstable parents as you describe ,,,this does happen at times. I am for the last few years talking with and adult who experienced what you seem to have . This person can see we are not all like that and has a even started praying again after twenty years of hating all religion. This person has also told me strongly they will never ever go back (kh) I said that was fair enough…they have made contact with Jehovah and he is a reader of hearts…I’m sure he will do what is right with this person’s situation.
Again I really am sorry for your particular situation…and wish you well.
And yes the match stick quote was a cringeworthy time for me also….we are all so  different in nature…

I’m terribly sorry Mathew if you had such unstable parents as you describe ,,,this does happen at times. I am for the last few years talking with and adult who experienced what you seem to have . This person can see we are not all like that and has a even started praying again after twenty years of hating all religion. This person has also told me strongly they will never ever go back (kh) I said that was fair enough…they have made contact with Jehovah and he is a reader of hearts…I’m sure he will do what is right with this person’s situation.
Again I really am sorry for your particular situation…and wish you well.
And yes the match stick quote was a cringeworthy time for me also….we are all so  different in nature…

The DPR Supreme Court ban is the latest development in an escalating pattern of religious oppression against Jehovah’s Witnesses in eastern Ukraine.
Source

No no no, you’ve got it all wrong. I did not say charities are attacking Jw. I said you were. It is the first thing you did on this thread started by another person: find fault with Witnesses focusing on their own rather than aiding indiscriminately. I did not criticize other aid-workers. I praised them, as did Thinking. But you criticized our efforts.
Well, maybe this accounts for it. If you come in contact with nuts given to strong statements—well, it really is so that people reap what they sow. But even so, I suspect you are being selective. Unbalanced people are everywhere and a mature person learns to screen them out. (Granted, they don’t make that easy.) In T.I & Me I related how Bro Bob said something truly outrageous, that brothers determined to stand at the convention had jumped and beaten up the attendant carrying the ‘Please Be Seated’ sign—that this evil report got around and stirred up turmoil throughout the circuit, even district, but eventually truth got its pants on and people learned the source. Upon which they said, “Oh….well…..you know Bob. He says things like that.” I made the incident up, it didn’t actually happen. However there was a Bob, he would say things equally nutty, and (most) people would just cut him slack, focusing instead on his good qualities, which he had in abundance. 
I have no doubt you’re sincere in relating this, nor would I ever say that a person’s own experience is not theirs, but it may also be that your memory is selective. It is not especially uncommon for parents to provide training and have goals for their offspring, nor is it uncommon for teens to feel “attacked” if they do not accede to those goals. I’ll concede that Witness goals include some not of the mainstream, so the “attack” of someone kicking against the goads of parental upbringing may seem greater.
Well, it’s not as though the Bible itself waxes in appreciation for those who oppose and seek to undermine worship. (Ps 3:7—‘Arise, LORD! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked,” says David.) I know the snippet you speak of.  I know what he said. I know that he meant it. I recall he lit a match, then blew it out without further comment, and that reinforced what he had already said about the likely success of apostates opposing the Christian cause.  And I also know that it is one of the 10,000 things he has said. Everything must be put in context.

Nor would any Witness ever attack Matthew’s people, those meeting refugees at the border with aid. We don’t attack his people, yet he attacks ours!
On the American news network last night was a man, he looked middle Eastern, (American news is always very careful to point out people’s ethnicity) who at his own expense was distributing hot drinks and food to refugees from his own food truck. We would never criticize such efforts. The man deserves nothing but praise. Yet Matthew is incensed that there should be Christians who allow themselves to be guided by the verse you pointed out, Galatians 6:10): "...let us work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to us in the faith." That Bible verse seems to really bother him.
The most criticism Jehovah’s Witnesses will ever make of the effort Matthew rightly holds in high esteem is that they are, at best, stopgap efforts. Adopting the Jehovah’s Witness view of life will stop wartime suffering. Adopting his view of life will not.
The refugee system is overwhelmed. Somewhere I read that Brits are being asked to take refugees into their homes. How can anyone not admire the generosity of those who actually do? Nothing but praise for them here. Yet—it is easier said than done. Taking people from the general population into your home, you don’t know what you will get. Will it be a story of pure human altruism? Hopefully yes. But there will also be some who…
Alcoholism is rife today, as is drug usage. Have you ever had an alcoholic in your home? You’ll find you can quickly become an enabler. Your fine qualities will not rub off on him/her as much as his corrosive qualities will undermine your household. Suppose you find that your new guests do not live by Bible sexual morality. Will you have a problem with that under your roof? There is even the distinction between “each will carry his own load” while we “carry the burdens of one another.” Those trained by Bible principles know the difference. While grateful that their brother should share their burden, they work toward carrying their load as soon as possible. Many non-Witnesses will do this too, yet it cannot be assumed, just as the alcohol, drugs, and morality issues cannot.
There really is value in having “left the harmful way.” Jehovah’s people, with minor allowance for human imperfection, have done that and endeavor do continue doing that. They get the sense of Jesus words that the world has been judged for its opposition to God as is slated for destruction by God’s approaching kingdom. The vast majority of religion, however, does not get the sense of it. Their goal (is it that of Matthew’s church?) is to save the world, to fix it. Jesus’ position is “to come out of it.” Only from that advantageous position can one effectively lend a helping hand. For this reason Jehovah’s people will help the general populace as the occasion arises, but they rightly focus on following Paul’s counsel to above all help their own brothers.
Even during times of war, even when physical help is appropriate, the best help you can offer people is the teaching of God’s promises is in Bible (which silly people call “recruiting”) Thereby you find that by teaching the best way of life you have “taught persons how to fish,” as well as conveyed what works best for resiliency during dangerous time. Nothing but praise here for rendering help to people indiscriminately. But surely to condemn Galatians 6:1 is taking matters too far.

Believe me, I’ve been there.
Still am in many cases.  

On reflection you are right. That was my frustration speaking

Yes, I like this comment from hgp very much. It’s an entirely valid way of looking at things. Jehovah’s Witnesses are united. Churches (in almost all cases typified by trinitarian belief) are not. If they were, Russia’s “trinitarian” soldiers (the vast bulk of the Russian population holds to the ROC faith, though they’re not necessarily active) would simply not turn weapons upon their fellow Christians. 
Only this bit of hyperbole undermines the remark some:
They’re usually not “happy” about it. But they do it nonetheless, and that makes the point even more powerful. The Witnesses’ love for God and fellow man, fortified by a united human organization, prevents them from picking up arms against their fellow man. Many there are in ‘Christendom’—perhaps even most, who are basically decent people, desirous of peace. But because they don’t have the same principles and unity of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the national ‘king’ finds them easy to maneuver to support whatever is the warlike project of the day.

I don't doubt there exist charities. I don't even doubt that they are doing something to help. I doubt, that your criticism of JWs helping in their own way is justified.
There are about 200.000 JWs in the countries near Ukraine. It is absurd to believe, that they can accommodate 2.5million refugees. Yet you criticize them for not doing what clearly can't be done. In doing so you ignore the Bible (Galatians 6:10): "...let us work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to us in the faith." Why would we ignore, what the Bible tells us?
And you ignored the point about the orthodox church. Trinitarian Christians have the belief in "one church" written into their apostolic confession of faith, but in reality they are happy to accept, that their "one Trinitarian church" is in reality divided into hundreds of churches along ethnic, racial, language borders and along theological disputes that they can't resolve for centuries. And they don't care that these groups are happily taking part in mass murder events called wars, where they destroy each other for the sake of their nations.
So they don't grasp the idea, that when the orthodox Christians from Russia are bombing Ukrainian cities, that it is the "one church" from their confession, that is taking part in murder and genocide of their own fellow believers. Ukrainians are not fleeing to Russia, because their Russian brothers from the same orthodox Trinitarian faith are out there to kill them. And Trinitarians seemingly are happy to ignore this problem. All the while JWs are persecuted in Russia exactly because they don't participate in this madness. If all Trinitarian Christians would behave as JWs, then there would not be any war in Ukraine and no one would have to flee.
In the light of this much larger problem I choose to ignore your criticism of how we handle the help of your fellow Trinitarians' victims. Trinitarians, go and do something about your fellow believers killing each other. And after you accomplished that, then you can come back and lecture us about how we should help their victims.

Yes, I believe Satan has control of everything. It is like à tsunami flood - the wickedness.  In the great tribulation we all will be tested to keep our Christian personality and faith in Jehovahs promises. Each person is responsible for their own faith. The GB is there to provide us with spiritual food but when the government cuts of electrical power (and blame Russia or some other EMP event ) we may be cut off from meetings and the support we give each other. 
I agree, the UN plans to give WHO control (UN) and they are busy extending their powers.  WHO can then call a world  emergency and the whole globe governments will have to obey..... they can call a new pandemic even if there is not one.... in order to control us.  They have already started the severe environmental reforms.... banning plastic bags (soon to come) and 
I think the 2nd lockdown will be worse and kill more people. I SPECULATE that it will be like the 2nd time the Roman's came back to destroy Jerusalem.  The UN will act as the entity of destruction..... call out peace and security and turn against religion. ... this is the beginning of the real great tribulation. .... just my thoughts. 
The entire world is watching Russia while other plans with UN are going ahead.  Right until the end the King of North will be pushing. I keep watching the UN (image of the beast) because this is our clue on how far we are down the timeline..... 
 

Not with standing the foolishness coming from uneducated former Jehovah's Witnesses, It would be nice if current Jehovah's Witnesses didn't demonstrate the same.
 
*** w71 4/1 p. 214 Preach God’s Kingdom with the Right Viewpoint ***
In modern times, among the many examples that might be cited is that of the young American couple that had settled down in a fine home and were planning to raise a family. Then one day the husband came home and said to his wife: ‘Just what difference is there between us and the people of Christendom? We are contenting ourselves with mere token service when there is nothing to keep us from being in the full-time ministry. Let’s quit our secular jobs, sell our home and enter the full-time pioneer ministry.’ His wife gulped, for she had been looking forward to the joys of motherhood, to bearing and rearing a number of children. But she went to Jehovah in prayer and asked his help. And he did help her. So they entered the pioneer ministry and in a few years were invited to attend the Gilead missionary school. For some years now they have been very joyful serving as missionaries in a South American country.
 
*** w67 2/1 Servants of God Full Time ***
7. (a) Why did a brother on the West Coast of the United States sell his home to enter the pioneer work? (b) What blessings have he and his wife enjoyed since then?
 
I'm beginning to think witnesses here weren't that effective back in their prime as God's Servants.