James Thomas Rook Jr.

Hmmmm... I thought the Governing Body was supposed to be faithful and discrete slaves .....   ministering to ..... to the brotherhood.
The IDEA of providing " food at the proper time" is not to spiritually feed God ... it is supposed to feed the Brotherhood ... QUALITY food at the proper time.
WHOLESOME food at the proper time.
We seem to have, with BLIND respect for the Governing Body,  evolved into an idolatrous situation, divorced from common sense reality.

I agree with you to a certain extent ... but there is a line ... and it has to be drawn "somewhere" .... otherwise honest hearted people with the very best of intentions unknowingly will direct you to jump off a cliff (so to speak...) and ruin your life ... all with the very best of intentions.
As a young man, at periods in my life, I was more empathic, and  was sorta like the Congregation "Ann Landers".
I ruined several Brother's  lives with my ignorant advice ... with the very BEST of intentions, because I was not competent to give good advice, on the subject being discussed.
Perhaps they SHOULD have asked me about the things of which I was expert, such as photography ... but they did not.
Bro. Lett is in a position to help ... or ruin ....  MILLIONS of Brothers and Sisters lives ... so he has to be evaluated on what he actually says ... NOT his reasonably assumed pure heart and good intentions.
I have no doubt that Bro. Lett is deeply loved by Jehovah God, and many, many people.
Unfortunately, there is no way for me to wind back the clock, and make reparations for the unintentional evil I did ... and the same applies to almost anybody else, with very few exceptions ... and that includes Bro. Lett.
Here is an example, from his own words.

Gravity Electricity Wind .mp4 Being of the Anointed does NOT give license, or a "free Pass", to encourage deliberate cluelessness in others.
 
 

....like a blind pig that occasionally will find an acorn  .... I suspect you are right on THIS one.
 

Don't worry about ANY of all that you mentioned.
Just keep taking your medications, and stay away from microwave ovens.
After April 8, 2024, when the second "Great American Eclipse occurs" you may be disappointed ...
 

Unfortunately one has to stand up for their belief in the Bible, in my experience, it was a bit harsh, it consist of both hate, racism a chalk full of discrimination being directed towards me and several instances of the same person attempting to provoke me so I can physically hit him, in an attempt to play the blame game to pin the accusations against me, another instance is where I almost did something because I was pushed to do so, but I merely pinned the same kid down and it was only then he had been exposed for what he has been doing to people who is not the same race as him, and I guess that pin down caused the other kids to speak up finally when they saw the bully on the ground, mind you this was the 3rd grade, granted the fact at the time, most American kids were not aware of someone their age who knows twice as much as they do of not just the Bible, but of a lot of other things, education and learning was kid key in my household since I was on the islands.
I was not Nationalistic or Patriotic either, for when I was 10, when 9/11 happened, when the Twin Towers fell, I remember someone, my age, saying why didn't America stop the plane and save all those people, as I grew older, I know the truth and how monstrous people can be, the blood of all those was of government hands by means of corruption and money and power, should such have not been in place at the time, those Towers would have still been standing, but this is the price they pay for messing around in the Middle East, but history repeat itself and we can see this now being played out by world powers and their supporters.
Other than that, such is the reason why I can be very strict when it comes to history, the Bible and other things because the way I see it, it is as if I am back in that class, despite being a young adult now. Unlike my younger self though I am more restraint, I do not pin people down physically, if anything, I throw knowledgeable punch with facts, reasoning, and logic, and expose some people for speaking things that are false and or of conspiracy - for, knowledge is indeed power.
There will be always someone for or against you, so being on a defense is always key, for at times it is not the faith they target, it is your race, your background, the way you look either physically or the say you dress, they care not for who you are as a person because they brand you the second they discover who you are and or what you follow.
But that being said, if a child is very, very intelligent for his or her own good, all that can be said is for this young one to prepare for the storm, the storm can be positive at times, and negative. For some parents do not give a phone or a tablet to a child to play games all day without breaks, Temple Run, Candy Crush, or what have you, perhaps that new Fortnite nonsense that is blowing up, on the other side of the spectrum, some parents give physical books, have a give do research and more.

Hmmmm... I thought the Governing Body was supposed to be faithful and discrete slaves .....   ministering to ..... to the brotherhood.
The IDEA of providing " food at the proper time" is not to spiritually feed God ... it is supposed to feed the Brotherhood ... QUALITY food at the proper time.
WHOLESOME food at the proper time.
We seem to have, with BLIND respect for the Governing Body,  evolved into an idolatrous situation, divorced from common sense reality.

Hmmmm... I thought the Governing Body was supposed to be faithful and discrete slaves .....   ministering to ..... to the brotherhood.
The IDEA of providing " food at the proper time" is not to spiritually feed God ... it is supposed to feed the Brotherhood ... QUALITY food at the proper time.
WHOLESOME food at the proper time.
We seem to have, with BLIND respect for the Governing Body,  evolved into an idolatrous situation, divorced from common sense reality.

We need to be compassionate and understanding of other cultures, and ways of life.
They have a hard and uncomfortable life, and are naturally very, very irritable.
The women wear black cargo tents in the hot summer sun,  and likewise the men's fashions are hot and scratchy, especially the bomb vests.
Not all Muslims are evil people ... I mean ... statistically.

This puts it in a nutshell and is overall perceptive and appreciative of the work of others. The reason that nobody knows anything today is because at the first misstep it is 'OFF WITH HIS HEAD!' leaving only inexperienced clods to run the show.
There are new battle lines being drawn today, and they have to do with human authority. The trend today is to despise it in every setting, not just JW. It is also one of the trademarks of the 'apostates' discussed in Jude and 2 Peter.
We have overall largely fought and won the battle of 'is there a Trinity?', blood transfusion, military non-participation, from the standpoint of nuetral observers. With determined opposers they will never be won, and each new 'weapon formed against you that will not succeed' will for them forever be a grand slam home run, but this is not where one must look. One must look at impartial parties.
Today it is largely 'apostates' who are succeeding in doing what Jehovah's Witnesses could never do on their own: putting Jehovah's name at the center of all creation.' In Russia it is anti-cult. In the West it is anti-cult and child abuse accusations. None of the reports are groundless, but they are all misframed and misrepresented. The trick will be to frame and represent them properly.
Amidst some of these accusations, Bethel seems to me to resemble 'a deer caught in the headlights' but it has shown many times in the past that it can adapt quickly. Sometimes I think that the lightning-like chariot image is applied too hastily, but then other times it actually moves lightning light and I am caught looking stupid for wondering about it.
Responding effectively to some of the modern accusations is complicated by the fact that there are some places that Bethel just doesn't go, in accord with verses to not even say a greeting to certain ones. They like the model of the plowman who is not much good if he keeps looking behind at the furrows. They like Jesus saying wisdom is proved righteous by its works and so not responding to critics who lambaste him no matter what he does. It may be for certain perceptive ones to 'go to bat' for them, and knowing that they may not even think it a good thing to do, and that it may not even be. However, in many instances, Bethel is cool toward something until they see someone who makes it work. This is true of computer and internet developments. It was true of the quick-build arrangements.
At present it is individual rights, all the rage today, versus individual responsibilities, which is downplayed and sometimes ignored. It is the rights of individuals versus the rights of organizations that would ensure some of those rights in the case of minority beliefs. 
"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country," are the words of John F Kennedy, thought noble for many decades after he said it. Today they would be the words of a cult leader.
I think the operating verse will be the one in Phillipians:
"True, some are preaching the Christ out of envy and rivallry, but others out of goodwill. The latter are proclaiming the Christ out of love, for they know that I have been appointed to defend the good news;p but the former do it out of contentiousness, not with a pure motive, for they are intending to create trouble for me in my prison bonds. With what result? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed, and I rejoice over this"
We might never have chosen the particular battlefields that opposers have chosen for us, but that does mean we cannot respond to them. 'They will lyingly say every wicked thing about you' Jesus said to his followers. Tell me about it.

"At the home of Victor Vomidog, an alarm panel light pulsed red. Victor read the incoming feed. It was serious. Someone was saying nice things about Jehovah’s Witnesses. Instantly, he swung into action. There was not a moment to lose. He opened his door and whistled. The media came running. “Witnesses are selfish!” he cried. “They only think of themselves! Why don’t they help everyone? Why do they just do their own people?” That evening, media ran the headline: “WHY DON’T THEY HELP EVERYONE?”
"But they had asked the wrong question. The headline they should have run, but didn’t, because they didn’t want to deal with the answer, was: “WHY AREN’T OTHERS DOING THE SAME?” The answer to the first question is obvious: Witness efforts consist of volunteers using their vacation time. Just how much time is the boss going to grant?"
(from Tom Irregardless and Me)
Of course, it is about opposers' efforts to denigrate the disaster recovery work Witnesses are known for.
And to think I didn't even know you then.

"My my my my my my my my my. What a mess."  Tommy Lee Jones (The Fugitive)

DO  WE STILL  DISFELLOWSHIP  THE  MENTALLY  ILL ?
I was a teenager in the 60's,  and I had a good friend that on Scout camping trips I introduced to the Truth, and I was there in NYC at Yankee Stadium when he was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witness. He was a true "straight arrow", and pioneered, always dressed immaculately, and eventually over the years became an Elder.
One night, at an Elder's Meeting, he announced to the other Elders that he was Jesus Christ, and that his mother was the virgin Mary, and of course he was disfellowshipped.
He spent several years in private mental institutions until his insurance money ran out, then in a State institution for several years.
He called me up, and told me the story, and I told him I was the Great Turtleman, and every November, before I hibernated, I rose from the swamp and gave toys to all the good little boys and girls.  I was just pulling his leg, but he was dead serious.
Later, he was in England, while his wife was trying without success to get him to take his medications, and fell over a balcony at Heathrow Airport and got killed.
DO  WE STILL  DISFELLOWSHIP  THE  MENTALLY  ILL ?
 

Give the Congo a visit, perhaps the islands. You cannot judge a faith community as a whole for the actions of one. This is the same problem I have to teach strictly to racists who discriminate time and time again because of one's color. A guy who does a crime does not define a whole race, a man who bombs a school does not define a whole group, etc.
The mind set and mentality of the West, at times, is silly.

It states that anything that is presented without evidence can be dismissed without evidence
 

NO!

Thank You.   These folks who are on various sites to cause trouble and try to stir up dissention need to turn off their computer and go do some physical work instead of the devil's work.   

See .... you can make very valid points without having to resort to vulgarity ! 
That was a very STRONG essay.

I think that Jehovah's Witnesses love people strictly on an intellectual level, a "principled love".
The harder life is ... the more people love each other on an emotional level.
The fact is, in our current policy driven culture ... a deep emotional love of general humanity is impossible in most circumstances, and for most people  ..... and even normal deep family love is being systematically "bred" out of our theocratic culture.
With the adoption of extreme and cruel rules of disfellowshipping, dependent on our OWN social survival, to treat family with extreme cruelty INSTEAD of mercy, we have learned to turn love on, and off ... and back on .... like a light switch.
-------------------------
"We have met the enemy, and he is us"  - Pogo
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..... placekeeper for whn I get back from the Meeting, and have time for a good answer ...
 

Yeah ....
My allegiance is only to God ... but I will fight with anyone who believes as I do about Freedom and Justice.
It is quite obvious that for the time being, we are on our own .... and we have to do the best we know how.
The only thing necessary for evil to prevail, is Good Men to do nothing.
At least if I screw up, and make a mistake ... it will not cost the Brotherhood 56 MILLION dollars.
 

Please Bible Speaks do find also Mexico "cartilla" and then make compare about neutrality, refusing, bribe, persecution, worship.... 

When I go through Las Vegas, I spend $100 gambling before continuing my trip.
One time, years ago, after about 20 minutes, I had the "programming" of a $1 slot machine figured out, and was making $3.00 every 4 pulls.  Soon I had a bucket full of real U.S. $1 "silver" dollars.
I had been there four hours.   THEN, I hit a small jackpot and the money clattered down into the tin tray, lights flashed, and I think I remember sound effects of some sort.
A very attractive "cigarette girl"/waitress tapped me on the shoulder and asked me if I wanted a drink.
I asked her how much were they?
She said they were complementary ( I am thinking a coca-cola or a root beer ...).
She explained I could have any kind of drink, would I like a cocktail?
I said I sure could use a Southern Comfort Whiskey Sour.
Every time my glass was empty, she brought another.
after four, it occurred to me I had a BETTER "system"
Next thing I knew, my buckets of silver dollars were empty.
I figure those  free Whiskey Sours cost me about $400 each.
Could be worse .... Obama said if you like your plan, you can keep your plan, and if you like your Doctor, you can keep your Doctor ... and every family would save $2,500 every year!
 
 

Probably a lesser risk than my getting killed in my car, driving to Home Depot ... by a factor of about 20,000.
The GOOD news is that Bill can now spend all day, every day ... day in and day out ... 24/7/365 ........ with Hillary.

I was being very brief, but yes, in the EU, mainly the UK, hate crimes have been on an all time high and it is mostly directed by people of a specific race and or religious belief, other situations it is of a radicalized person killing anyone in his or her path. Hate Crimes are usually carried out by both acid and knife attacks, for knife attacks end up causing the great injury and or death. Granted with the up in religious violence nowadays, pretty much anyone can and will be a target.
Yes, this might be the case, but we have to take into account of how much hate you guys get also, and despite such action of what this person, as with the others, are doing, such ones against you will pin the blame on you without having all the facts together and should something bad do happen, they will point the finger easily, as is of what has taken place in some situations already; several arson, a church of yours riddled with assault rifle fire, etc.
All in all, influence is also a factor, and such influence can drive people to do things be it physically and or verbally, from minor to major, being of the cause in question they are against and or for something. Granted on the actions of the arsonist, and others, already it is clear such ones hatred, and is fully aware of what they are doing, and what we see on the other side of the spectrum are those mocking and attacking such ones like yourself and making the claim that you people deserve what is coming, and of course comments like this will only result in those who will come forth clearly against the man's actions and what is being said by those who see you as an opponent, as is the gassing with the political gassing some months ago.
No need for psychiatry. The actions and ill intent of such ones is obvious, for if people like that are all knowing about their own actions of causing that much damage on to one church and the next, it is already seen, even by some, as hatred and disgust for the church and it's people, of which as already put that small community on the edge as it is, and this is but one of several attacks already.
There is a lot of hate speech about religion in the UK, even towards you, after the death of one jw inside the church he was in, it was ruled out as a hate crime, which resulted in the PM talking about hate crimes and censoring media due to influence that comes from such things. This was done but was only minimized slightly, thus people are still on the edge and are vigilant, such had taken place as of last year, and since then, the hate crimes just spiked towards those of religious background and or a specific race, mainly with the whole immigration thing that is another factor in the EU.
I guess when more comes form the investigation we will see, for if this person was able to get this far and what he has done, one can say it is out of hatred and such put such a person into this course to enact such. That being said, we can say this, yes, but even a trapped man will go forth with actions that is deemed crazy and wrong by others.
I am talking about anti-jws, these guys hate both jws and exjws. I would consider them more of a wild card for they are not a fan of anything to do with God and or the Bible whatsoever. Despite this, towards jws and exjws, it is either extreme hatred and constant mocking of them and brutal attacking and insult, of which can be seen on another thread similar to here but in full force, on the other side of the spectrum, they want nothing to do with both groups, but will often speak their peace in terms of using logic and fact checking anyone who speaks ill. These guys adhere to and carefully listen to famous atheists, for instance, Hemant Mehta (The Amazing Atheist) being the go to guy and the only person they tend to get their information from, at the same time others have gone to people like him in order to get information to use against a group and or a person they dislike.
But yes, as for exjws, not all of them are bad, in fact, some of them defend jws and fact check those who speak badly, and end up being the very ones to be attacked.
Yes, but you'd be surprised, the more angry ones wish to see a faith burn down to the ground, some of them even attempt to get the current President to help them do it, granted Trump is an avid Twitter poster, as they have done several times last year.
In the end though, the biggest concern here is safety, do what you can and be vigilant and aware, for such ones are quite angry and there is no telling what a concerned man in the dark will do. So it is very goo to see that community in that town actually stepping up to find this guy, as is the other affected areas.
But I was right about what I say bounty hunters, you may not know this but whenever money is involved, there are people who try to look for such persons themselves, for that is what they see, any information and or tip, etc that will enable them to be a step closer to the reward they want and the US has a lot of bounty hunters, even among the police force.
 

No worries. It is just that I see things for what they really are, mainly when at times growing up you witness and hear things, you begin to learn and grow and understand and connect the dots from there. There is a lot I know of which I rarely speak of here so I tend to keep it to a limit, mainly on topics that is of an extreme level, unless it is of the bible of course.
Not all men are bad, as I have said many times around here, there is the good and there is the bad, those of the bad will do things with ill intent, and they do this on the daily and even to good people, at times oppress them. Some of these people play the system in order to do these bad things.
The sad reality is what I speak of is indeed true, for that is within the realm of corruption around the world and mainly the US. The system is corrupted in a way that is allows for double standards and it allows for people to get hurt when they are not suppose to begin with, get the help they need or else such things like their water supply will cause injury to them because corrupt people didn't do anything to stop the water from spoiling and a list of other things. Weapons are bought by people who do not have records and they end up doing bad things as what can be seen in our history already. At the same time there is a war going on with the NRA in this regard and clearly both sides in this fight is at fault. Which also allows why there are those in the shadow government that want to alter the 1st and 2nd amendment. Like I said, I have no care for politics, but things of this nature can cause the chaos to crank up to 11 and result in very bad things to come.
That being said, it is the same case with these church arson, damaging churches even using assault rifles on to an empty church out of hatred and or sending a message, such things will cause concern, fear and people to question, mainly in a community and or in this case, communities that never seen anything like this and it never stops at one, or two, or three, or four, for such things will continue until a time comes where it will cease.
As for this particular case, the is no telling what a man cornered in the dark will do, but as I see it, it is clearly out of hatred here, until then the investigation has to be done so we have more information, as is the case with the other similar incidents.
I simply type too fast for my own good, perhaps a bit too fast. Normally I do not make long post as such but I grew into them after that one thread a while back regarding religious church fathers, granted I defend church history and the bible's history I become way too overly detailed, I believe this is in a thread where you and I believe tom was talking about unicorns in the bible. I guess I would say the one who was trying to twist the information of the church's history and actual belief resulted in somewhat long lecturous posts.
I try to reduce the amount at times, but there is always someone who has a response to a claim, and such claims needs to be fact checked and corrected, for the last time I was extremely brief in information, the someone tried to twist passages regarding Bereans and the holy spirit, at that rate, things must be said and information must be shown.
But other than that, it takes me 4-5 minutes or less depending on what is being discussed in a response and or claim, exegesis, etc. of which I have read, at times a few typos, for since I am from CSE forums, everything that one has to say must have information backing it up or else it would be problematic.
For as you can see, this is the community I have come from, and even these people are like me and have a lot to say at times. People are serious, perhaps far more serious beyond me because I was like a small ant to them in the past, but now I am similar to them in some way.