James Thomas Rook Jr.

I was once talking to my wife at a restaurant about the disadvantages, physically, of growing old, and a waitress servicing the table, who was listening, asked me "Don't you wish you could be young, again?"
I looked up at her and grinned "If I become young again, do I have to NOT KNOW what I have learned over the years?
She replied  "Of course!"
I replied "No, thank you,"
I can take aspirin for my aches and pains.
There is no such thing as a "smart pill".

I would like to thank BillytheKid46, for consistently and doggedly exposing who he really is, to public view.
 
 

I know it's reported that Prince gave $30,000 a month to his local Kingdom Hall, and I would guess that Michael Jackson gave a similar amount to the one he attended, and they were never officially and publicly censured by the Society, or the Elders, so it would be consistent that this is the ruling operating principle that protects Serena Williams.
THE GOLDEN RULE:
He who has the Gold, makes the rules.

In my High School, in Richmond Virginia, it was occasionally seen boys walking down the hallways with rifles, to work on them in Shop Class, usually refinishing the stocks.  Nobody thought anything about it.   In the school parking lot, pickup trucks had rifle racks in the rear truck windows, with various rifles and shotguns openly displayed during classes.   This was 1962 to 1966,
In Jr. High School, I was badly bullied because of being one of Jehovah's Witnesses, and because I was a generally objectionable person, and I wore Levis with a carpenters folding wooden ruler pocket on the right leg, and I kept a large kitchen butcher knife there, with the full handle in plain view, and after lunch, to avoid being beat up, I leaned against a wall and made a show of cleaning my finger nails with that big knife.   The teachers never objected, as then they could use their individual best judgement, and they knew what I was up against.

I know it's reported that Prince gave $30,000 a month to his local Kingdom Hall, and I would guess that Michael Jackson gave a similar amount to the one he attended, and they were never officially and publicly censured by the Society, or the Elders, so it would be consistent that this is the ruling operating principle that protects Serena Williams.
THE GOLDEN RULE:
He who has the Gold, makes the rules.

I have many, many times shared Bro. Swingle's opinion that " ..if the lives of actual people were brought more into the write-up" it would carry more power.
Intellectual integrity naturally intrinsically generates good journalism, and answers the questions "who, what, when, where, and how much" .... and sometimes "why", which is the most important.
For me, "Bob and Alice, pioneers in a city in Estonia  ..... " .... just does not cut it for me.
If it cannot be independently checked ... it didn't happen ... is bad journalism ... and lacks intellectual integrity ... AND IS NOT WORTHY OF BEING BELIEVED!!
... and should NOT be believed at face value.
... The stuff Novels are made of.
I find it completely amazing that adults putting out a publication of global scope .... ignore principles that I was taught in the 7th grade English class, and are still true and valid today.
 
 
..... sigh ....
 
 

I have it on good authority that the two Russian Journalists were Boris and Natasha Badenov, working under the direction of those notorious American rascals, Moose and Squirrel.
When you see a flying squirrel, and a moose pulling a rabbit out of a hat ... always suspect there may actually be a Russian Bear in the hat.

5,200 years from now, after WWIII .... and the Earth has reverted to a much more primitive time, and only insectoid humanoid insects evolved by radiation into humanoid shaped creatures roam the Earth ... Insectoid Archaeologists will be digging through the Earth's crust to search out their past, and 32 feet above the now famous Iridium level in the Earth's crust, will be the then famous global AOL CD Disk level.

I have heard that a team of the best medical minds in the world are pooling their expertise and knowledge on the latest techniques in non-blood medical management  to assist this poor little boy as a result of hearing about this sad and tragic case. Their immediate reaction was "How can we respond?"
What an excellent and compassionate result has been achieved through the generous publicity provided by the editorial team of ZimEye, and the appeal for assistance by the hard-pressed, under equipped, and under resourced medical team at United Bulawayo Hospitals
Long Live the power of the internet!

LOL. I'm always happy to address a challenge. In this case you have claimed that I stole unauthorized material, perhaps hoping to use it against the Watchtower, somehow.
I did not steal anything. And I'm not sure what would make certain material "unauthorized." I suppose you could argue that only material that was published in our publications was authorized. But does that mean that everything else that any Bethelite saved or collected must be destroyed? Really?
Also, this first letter I shared actually went out to a sister and was therefore "published" (with only minor alterations) and the material was reused for future letters on the topic. I have three letters from Governing Body members that were written to me personally. Should I destroy them? One was a letter of recommendation to help me get a secular job after I left Bethel. Do you really think we should be ashamed of or hide anything that goes on behind the scenes at Bethel? You think that we shouldn't talk about any of these things, or that we shouldn't share anything that was written?
You appear to be afraid that this material I saved could be used against the Watchtower, somehow. Anything that I kept, I saved out of a spirit of appreciation for the experience I had at Bethel, which was a wonderful experience. I wanted to remember it and I kept things that would help me remember it. If I had wanted to find a way to use them against the Watchtower, I don't think I would have waited about 40 years to share them.
I admit that I have also shared experiences from Bethel that we could (and should) learn from. Even a negative experience could be profitable to others. I find that most people hold back on this count because they think that certain types of negative experiences cannot be profitable to anyone. This flies in face of scripture. Did Paul hold back from telling the Galatians and Corinthians about negative experiences? Did Jesus hold back? Did not Paul say we should be imitators of Paul himself?
(Acts 20:20) while I did not hold back from telling you any of the things that were profitable . . .
(1 Corinthians 10:6-12) . . .Now these things became examples for us, in order for us not to desire injurious things, as they desired them. 7 Neither become idolaters, as some of them did; just as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink. Then they got up to have a good time.” 8 Neither let us practice sexual immorality, as some of them committed sexual immorality, . . .  11 Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for a warning to us upon whom the ends of the systems of things have come. 12 So let the one who thinks he is standing beware that he does not fall.
(1 Corinthians 4:14-5:6) 14 I am writing these things, not to put you to shame, but to admonish you as my beloved children. . . .  16 I urge you, therefore, become imitators of me. . . . 18 Some are puffed up with pride,. . . 5 Actually sexual immorality is reported among you, and such immorality as is not even found among the nations. . . 6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven ferments the whole batch of dough?
Neither Jesus nor Paul held back from sharing things that were profitable, both old and new.
(Matthew 13:51, 52) . . .” 52 Then he said to them: “That being the case, every public instructor who is taught about the Kingdom of the heavens is like a man, the master of the house, who brings out of his treasure store things both new and old.”
(Mark 4:22) . . .For there is nothing hidden that will not be exposed; nothing is carefully concealed that will not come out in the open.

Afraid it gives the idea that it would have been OK to just let go even if we felt we could not hang on another minute, because we would have survived the fall anyway. After all we were never more than two feet off the ground.
The better idea is there, too, of course: that if we hang on to some anchor for our faith, in spite of the dark, raging storm of this world, that there will come a time when we see how easily and gently it will all works out, as if we were never in danger.
All in all, however, it would be good to balance this tense and confusing illustration with one that is a little more in line with Jesus' words of comfort:
(Revelation 2:2, 3) . . .. 3 You are also showing endurance, and you have persevered for the sake of my name and have not grown weary.
(Galatians 6:9, 10) 9 So let us not give up in doing what is fine, for in due time we will reap if we do not tire out. 10 So, then, as long as we have the opportunity, let us work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to us in the faith.
(Matthew 11:28-30) 28 Come to me, all you who are toiling and loaded down, and I will refresh you. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am mild-tempered and lowly in heart, and you will find refreshment for yourselves. 30 For my yoke is kindly, and my load is light.”
Yes, we fight a fine fight of the faith against the dark forces of this system, but we have been given all the tools necessary to find joy in our daily victories. We are NOT trying to hang in there until Armageddon proves so close that it becomes the solution to our problems. That's the same as living with a date or time period in mind. Instead, we are trying to live a Christian life of joy, finding happiness in successfully conquering the weaknesses and sins of the flesh with the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, etc. It's about being the person we ought to be -- not surviving to the advent of Armageddon.

I have it on good authority that the two Russian Journalists were Boris and Natasha Badenov, working under the direction of those notorious American rascals, Moose and Squirrel.
When you see a flying squirrel, and a moose pulling a rabbit out of a hat ... always suspect there may actually be a Russian Bear in the hat.

That is why the Red Cross will not let vegetarians be blood donors .... FIRST ... you have to blood OWNERS.

The Vatican 1933 Concordat, signed July 20, 1933 by Cardinal Pacelli, Vatican Secretary of State (Papel Nuncio), was a "Holy Covenant" between the Vatican and the Third Reich, stipulating that in Germany and German controlled lands, the Catholic Church would be the ONLY officially approved Church ... and the Nazi Party would be the ONLY official political party of German Catholics.
Before the Church could appoint any clergy, they had to be vetted and approved by the Nazi Party.
Later, during WWII, Cardinal Pacelli became Pope Pius XII and was referred to as "Hitler's Pope".
During the times of the Vietnam war, a NY play about this was produced called "The Deputy", which sparked rioting and protests.
In the mutual quest to control the world, The "Universal" wannabe Catholic Church "bet on the wrong horse"
 

Google "Vatican Rat Line".
The Vatican supplied the SS and other Nazi war criminals with Vatican Passports for the rough equivalent of $15,000  each.
 

The Vatican 1933 Concordat, signed July 20, 1933 by Cardinal Pacelli, Vatican Secretary of State (Papel Nuncio), was a "Holy Covenant" between the Vatican and the Third Reich, stipulating that in Germany and German controlled lands, the Catholic Church would be the ONLY officially approved Church ... and the Nazi Party would be the ONLY official political party of German Catholics.
Before the Church could appoint any clergy, they had to be vetted and approved by the Nazi Party.
Later, during WWII, Cardinal Pacelli became Pope Pius XII and was referred to as "Hitler's Pope".
During the times of the Vietnam war, a NY play about this was produced called "The Deputy", which sparked rioting and protests.
In the mutual quest to control the world, The "Universal" wannabe Catholic Church "bet on the wrong horse"
 

It was like the "B" side of 45 RPM records.
Usually, with few exceptions, the "B" side was just filler.
.... and occasionally, drive-ins would have "movies 'till dawn", and at dawn, they would have to send someone around to charge batteries, jump start cars, and wake people up.
By the way ... you might think that California would have the most Drive-In Theatres ... but actually, 30 years ago, it was Ohio.  I have been to a Drive-In North of Cincinnati, with snow on the ground.
Here in the Charlotte area there are several .... a new one ... very modern .. with 23 very nice restrooms,  a two story projection booth between two screens opposite each other, and a campground ... The "Hounds" Drive-In.
 

I can tell you from first hand knowledge that after the first show, and even before ... no one cared.  The car windows were steamed up so much no one could see out, anyway.
The move "Plan 9 from Outer Space", arguably the WORST "Scifi" movie ever  made had only two criteria ... it had to be "so long", and be produced for $70,000, as no one was going to watch it, anyway.
 

Google "Vatican Rat Line".
The Vatican supplied the SS and other Nazi war criminals with Vatican Passports for the rough equivalent of $15,000  each.
 

I take vitamin and mineral supplements, and probiotics, not so I can live longer ... but that when mourners (if any ...) file by my cardboard box before I am cremated, for one last look, or to stick a pin in me to make sure this is not a prank, can look down and say in all earnestness .... "Yeah ... he's dead .. but doesn't he look terrific ?"
 

I remember this all too well....

The Kid must be on something quite strong that gives him hallucinations. Poor Kid.
I think TTH was referring to how Paul collected information by using all the people's viewpoints. I don't think TTH was in any way comparing himself to the Apostle Paul as the Kid seems to imply. But the Kid is getting desperate and needs to hang on to any little bit of grit that he can. 
Keep it up Kid, you make yourself looks more foolish by  the day. 
Oh yes and we all seem to be totally off topic too  

If I did NOT have the sense of humor that I do Billius T. Pettifog 46, and had YOUR sense of humor (if any, which has not to date exposed itself to forum view ...) I might take your intended, malicious, and vulgar insult personally, and take appropriate action.
You have not identified who I am with your malicious, vulgar libel ... but with your own words ... you sure have identified  who YOU are.
The phrase for that is "Undressing yourself in public.", to which I have no objection.
In fact ... I encourage it.
.... always good for a laugh!
... and it does give all interested people  a perspective of how to view the REST of your alleged logic and reasoning.
 

If I did NOT have the sense of humor that I do Billius T. Pettifog 46, and had YOUR sense of humor (if any, which has not to date exposed itself to forum view ...) I might take your intended, malicious, and vulgar insult personally, and take appropriate action.
You have not identified who I am with your malicious, vulgar libel ... but with your own words ... you sure have identified  who YOU are.
The phrase for that is "Undressing yourself in public.", to which I have no objection.
In fact ... I encourage it.
.... always good for a laugh!
... and it does give all interested people  a perspective of how to view the REST of your alleged logic and reasoning.