James Thomas Rook Jr.

It's good to question. And it's a good question: Are they promoting themselves?
A small group of men, a committee of elders, claim themselves to be the very group of men that Jesus had in mind when he gave a parable about how a faithful slave would act, as opposed to how an unfaithful slave would act. 
Did that claim arise from outside this group of men, or did they promote it about themselves? I'm guessing that you already know the answer.
Do they personally claim to be the only currently living persons that Jesus was talking about when he spoke of the one who would prove himself to be "the faithful and discreet slave"? Is this not the same as saying "we are faithful" and "we are discreet/wise" and "we are that selected/appointed slave that Jesus was referring to?"
*** ws17 February p. 21,22 Who Is Leading God’s People Today? ***
And how can we “remember those who are taking the lead” among us, especially “the faithful and discreet slave”?—Hebrews 13:7; Matthew 24:45.
JESUS LEADS THE GOVERNING BODY
...
In 1919, three years after Brother Russell’s death, Jesus appointed “the faithful and discreet slave.” . . . Even during those early years, a small group of anointed brothers at headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, provided spiritual food to Jesus’ followers. The expression “governing body” began appearing in our publications after 1940. At that time, the governing body was closely connected with directors of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. However, in 1971, it was made clear that the Governing Body was different from the Watch Tower Society, which was responsible for legal matters only. From then on, anointed brothers could become part of the Governing Body without being Society directors. . . .  The July 15, 2013, issue of The Watchtower explained that “the faithful and discreet slave” is a small group of anointed brothers who make up the Governing Body.
*** ws17 February pp. 24-26 Who Is Leading God’s People Today? ***
“WHO REALLY IS THE FAITHFUL AND DISCREET SLAVE?”
12 The Governing Body is neither inspired nor perfect. It can make mistakes when explaining the Bible or directing the organization. . . .  What evidence is there that the Governing Body is the faithful slave? Let us consider the same three things that helped the governing body in the apostles’ time.
13 Holy spirit helps the Governing Body. . . .
14 Angels help the Governing Body. . . .
15 God’s Word guides the Governing Body. . . .
“REMEMBER THOSE WHO ARE TAKING THE LEAD”
16 Read Hebrews 13:7. The Bible says to “remember those who are taking the lead.” One way we can do this is by mentioning the Governing Body in our prayers. . . .17 We can also remember the Governing Body by following its instructions and direction.
This is quite different from saying that the Governing Body strives to be faithful and discreet. That is proper.
*** w18 January p. 19 par. 12 Why Give to the One Who Has Everything? ***
With prayerful consideration, the Governing Body strives to be faithful and discreet with regard to how the organization’s funds are used.
It's slightly different when the same claim is reworded to directly claim that the Governing Body IS faithful and discreet.
*** ws18 January p. 18 par. 12 Why Give to the One Who Has Everything? ***
The Governing Body is faithful and discreet in the way the contributions are used.
But at least that is an understandable statement in the context of an article requesting that we give money and resources for various uses to further the preaching work worldwide, etc.
But it is another thing altogether to claim that they (a handful of men) are the only "faithful and discreet slave" on earth today, that Jesus appointed as a small class in 1919, and that they must be obeyed, and that they are the only source of true spiritual food.
*** w18 April p. 31 par. 1 Questions From Readers ***
Jehovah has entrusted the responsibility of providing spiritual food to “the faithful and discreet slave” alone.
*** ws11 7/15 p. 25 par. 11 Have You Entered Into God’s Rest? ***
What do you do when the faithful and discreet slave tells you to try a way of preaching that you never tried before? Do you obey . . . ?
*** ws11 7/15 p. 24 Have You Entered Into God’s Rest? ***
We need to obey the faithful and discreet slave to have Jehovah’s approval 

Here are a few more:
1. "I got kicked out of Riverdance for using my arms." - Michael Flatley (lead Riverdancer)
2. (On the difference between men and women:) "On the one hand, we'll never experience childbirth. On the other hand, we can open all our own jars." - Bruce Willis
3. "And God said: 'Let there be Satan, so people don't blame everything on me. And let there be lawyers, so people don't blame everything on Satan.'" - George Burns
4. "What are the three words guaranteed to humiliate men everywhere? 'Hold my purse.'" - Sandra Bullock
5. "The Web brings people together because no matter what kind of a twisted sexual mutant you happen to be, you've got millions of pals out there. Type in 'Find people that have sex with goats that are on fire' and the computer will ask, 'Specify type of goat.'" -Jason Alexander (from Seinfeld)
6. "Luge strategy? Lie flat and try not to die." -Carmen Boyle (Olympic Luge Gold Medal winner 1996)
7. "There are only two reasons to sit in the back row of an airplane: Either you have diarrhea, or you're anxious to meet people who do." - Henry Kissenger (former US Secretary of State)
8. "My cousin just died. He was only 19. He got stung by a bee - the natural enemy of a tightrope walker." - Dan Rather (News anchorman)
9. "I saw a woman wearing a sweatshirt with 'Guess' on it. I said, 'Thyroid problem?'" - Arnold Schwarzenegger
10. "Honesty is the key to a relationship. If you can fake that, you're in." - Courtney Cox (Monica on "Friends")
11. "Hockey is a sport for white men. Basketball is a sport for black men. Golf is a sport for white men dressed like black pimps." - Tiger Woods
12. "I read somewhere that 77 per cent of all the mentally ill live in poverty. Actually, I'm more intrigued by the 23 per cent who are apparently doing quite well for themselves." - Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead)
13. "I discovered I scream the same way whether I'm about to be devoured by a Great White or if a piece of seaweed touches my foot." - Axel Rose (Guns'n'Roses)
14. "Capital punishment turns the state into a murderer. But imprisonment turns the state into a gay dungeon-master." - Rev. Jesse Jackson
15. "My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch." - Jack Nicholson

I saw that video .... and I laughed myself silly, and fell over backwards with my feet up in the air, laughing, when the Circuit Overseer said his name was "Neal", and you thought he meant K-N-E-E-L ... so you .....
HahahHAHAhahaha

Revisionist History.
If you change it ... you cover up the fact that gullibility reigns, and makes the context of remarks and comments confusing.
That is why they do not delete amendments to the US Constitution, such as for "Prohibition", which was later rescinded by ANOTHER amendment.
It is my opinion that revisionist history is dangerous to the mind, soul and personal integrity.
Give BOTH titles, if you must.

This is HIGHLY unlikely to be true for the following reasons:
1.) The GB never admits a mistake, or apologies for anything, no matter how blatantly absurd, or especially grievous, and
2.) Anything without proper attribution, and that cannot  be independently checked from that stated attribution, can be disregarded summarily.
The probability of this being true approaches ZERO.

I saw that video .... and I laughed myself silly, and fell over backwards with my feet up in the air, laughing, when the Circuit Overseer said his name was "Neal", and you thought he meant K-N-E-E-L ... so you .....
HahahHAHAhahaha

Revisionist History.
If you change it ... you cover up the fact that gullibility reigns, and makes the context of remarks and comments confusing.
That is why they do not delete amendments to the US Constitution, such as for "Prohibition", which was later rescinded by ANOTHER amendment.
It is my opinion that revisionist history is dangerous to the mind, soul and personal integrity.
Give BOTH titles, if you must.

Some fake news is made for fairly obvious humorous purposes, and some is made for satirical purposes. But fake news that doesn't have much context to tell us whether it is for humor or satire can be dangerous. Putting it here is not a bad idea since there should always be people around to judge whether it's fake or not.

This is HIGHLY unlikely to be true for the following reasons:
1.) The GB never admits a mistake, or apologies for anything, no matter how blatantly absurd, or especially grievous, and
2.) Anything without proper attribution, and that cannot  be independently checked from that stated attribution, can be disregarded summarily.
The probability of this being true approaches ZERO.

It would be good to see Scriptural support for this practice and WT interpretation on possible Bible verse about recording and documenting sins of people for future purpose or for any kind of purpose.
You here described one reason for WT collecting records of  one specific sin. Topic i put is not about one sort of sin only, but about "principle" that stand behind practice of "confession" and who are involved in this process. And as main question: what connecting Catholic priests and JW elders in this religious custom called "confession of sins"?
It can be ... or it is, as you conclude. Do you think how this justifying  wrong decisions of priests and elders?
In this "principle", how priest have not obligation to testify about person's sin, does this also mean how elder must to keep silent about "confessed sin" of bro/sis and not spread this knowledge to other elders in congregation? I am not going in problematic on what sort of sin is about, we just discussing  about idea and mechanism of this in every day life of believers. 
 
This is not real thing to aspect. Only few of many  candidate to baptism would be in such mental state to go and start talking about past sins, of every sort. Only few individuals (in specific mental  and psychical  state) would be burdened with past sins, who would try to find peace in confession (or not to stop feel guilt no matter of how much they repeating confession of sin/s). 
Again, agree.  But, we all know how ordinary people expect more of those who are sitting on "spiritual adviser" (priest, elder) chair. So, again: Does imperfect "worldly" legislation gave justification to those individuals, groups and organizations, who made Bible Principles to be weak, imperfect and  also bad as secular law? 

Lots of 73 year old women have given birth to twin girls. And the twins are at least 30 years old by now.

A 73-year-old woman in India has given birth to twin girls. Erramatti Mangayamma is believed to be the oldest person ever to give birth. She became pregnant through IVF and doctors delivered the babies via caesarian section.

Sometimes, when a Judge's ruling is not unanimous (referring to the headline ...) the Judge's body twists around at the waist and both feet face backwards., and one arm flaps like a wounded bird trying to fly.
What?
Judges'?
Oh............
Nevermind.

wow!
It's been NINE years since the first "Shepherd the Flock Of God" Elder's handbook came out, that was so top secret that non-elders were forbidden to read it, and sisters were not even allowed  to touch it, and to this day, most Jehovah's Witnesses are not aware that the book even exists.  At the same time copies were given to the Finnish Department of Justice, and the Department of Education, and the Australian Royal Commission on Child Abuse.
Here it is 2019, and the latest 2019 version is out, available all over the Internet in PDF format, but I have not had a chance to read it yet.    
I still do not know what all the top secret hub-bub was about .... I read the 2010 version and the subsequent updates, and found it a fine publication that ALL Jehovah's Witnesses would benefit from reading.
I did not mention I knew of the 2010 version's existence until they started giving out copies to lots of government officials, my reasoning being that the Society had thereby "declassified" it.
Does anybody know if the Society has given the OK for the general Brotherhood to read this book, by which we are governed?
Can any Brother or Sister at the Kingdom Hall request, and get a copy?
I will ask at my Weekend Meeting, in two days, and let you know what I have found out.

I seriously doubt they care.  It would be like someone copying Windows XP, which was a standard of the world for about 11 years.
THEN, they progressed to Windows Vista.
Hahahhahahhaaahhhaa.
( .....sometimes my jokes are just for me.)

I seriously doubt they care.  It would be like someone copying Windows XP, which was a standard of the world for about 11 years.
THEN, they progressed to Windows Vista.
Hahahhahahhaaahhhaa.
( .....sometimes my jokes are just for me.)

I was truly embarrassed to have to give this post an upvote.
I wish with all my heart that it was not true.
But, like Charles Taze Russell said in the first issue of the Watchtower ... If Satan tells you the truth .. it's STILL the truth.

Basic symptoms of Narcissistic disorder grabbed from google
Grandiose sense of self-importance. ... Lives in a fantasy world that supports their delusions of grandeur. ... Needs constant praise and admiration. ... Sense of entitlement. ... Exploits others without guilt or shame. ... Frequently demeans, intimidates, bullies, or belittles others. Gets irate if someone leaves them suddenly. Accepts no responsibility, no accountability. Lies. Can be charismatic at times.  
Yes, proof of this was at the 2019 "Love Never Fails" regional convention. The last talk on Sunday Geoffrey Jackson made the claim that WW2 was started because of Satan's desire to attack Jehovah's people in Germany. Keep in mind that nearly 50 million died during the war. 10 million Jews died in concentration camps. Less than 5000 JW's died from surrounding European counties, NOT ONLY GERMANY. Yes still the JW's find a way to make it about them. That, is the definition of a narcissist.
Takes no real responsibility as an organization and puts all the burden on it's followers.
If I got my facts wrong, it's your fault. If you can't accept my abuse at it's worst, you aren't worthy of my abuse at it's best

The worst 'answered prayer' story i have heard, is about a couple. They did well for themselves, husband worked hard and made a bit of money. Wife pioneered and what-not. They have some money invested here and there, but decide to take most of their money form the various investments and put it all in to a hotel somewhere in the Caribbeans.
They spend years planning, and building a resort on one of the beaches, but of cause the husband is away for months on end, the marriage is strained, wife spirituality is dropping, husband's non existed. When the husband is home, he out drinking and making dealings because it costing more and more.
CO pays them a visit, and they agree that they need to make a change. So later that night they pray, "jehovah, help us out here, do we finish the resort and sell it? Do we get out now and cut our loses? please help us?"
The words of that brother telling me this where, "at that exact moment, a hurricane changed direction", it wasn't going to make land fall. But at that moment they prayed it changed course and head straight to they resort and destroyed it.
Yes, that was their answer to their prayer. God sent a hurricane to show them that they must leave the resort. Never-mind the lives lost because of it making landfall, or the damaged it caused. It was the answer god sent. Even as a PIMI it didn't sit right with me. However, they did make great changes to their lives, i believe he even become a elder.
I still can't believe that they thought god would answer a prayer in that way.

Anyone remember a "Convention Resolution" years ago where we all had to tell out and promise we'd never go into internet chatrooms?
Apparently NOT.
I have been witnessing on Internet chat rooms, with knock-down, drag out theological discussions on IRC (Internet Relay Chat) since 1994 or so, BEFORE THERE WERE BROWSERS and before there was "Windows 95"
Where did you get your "quote" from, Jack ?
Tom Clancy?
 

Arauna:
It is quite clear to me that you have a solid grasp of geopolitics, and global integrated systems in general.
You are wasting your time here for three reasons.
1.) None of us can do ANYTHING about any of it, and most of us just survive payday to payday, with trials and tribulations that are extremely local, and immediate, and crucial.
2.) 80% of Jehovah's Witnesses have no idea what you are talking about, and cannot grasp the nuances of what you know and relate.
3.) If you weave what you know into a novel, you can make several million dollars just by putting words on paper. You have the skill and intelligence, and perspective to do it as good as anyone. 
THEN, when bread costs $122 a loaf, and milk $200 a gallon, you and yours will have bread and milk.
...and when it all hits the fan, you and yours will have the hundred thousand dollars each for plane tickets out of there.
I enjoyed these postings immensely ... don't waste it on me.
..... and make sure your Passports are always up to date.

Thanks for your personal note.  My husband and I have lived in many countries.  And we are now in the republic of Georgia (between Turkey and Russia) because we are retired and it is cheaper here (we can survive).  We have decided to make our last stand here  and expect problems in future. (Russia is already boycotting Georgia. )
Europe is in a financial and immigration mess and one will face extinction there in future from hostile immigrants when food gets more expensive.   There are many dangerous areas where police and emergency vehicles cannot go in.  Daily  random stabbings with " Allahu akbar."  BUT  UN compact 2018 (signed by 176 nations) says it may not be published. 
America has been infiltrated by many front organizations (from Islamic ones funded by Qatar etc to those funded by foundations belonging to the super rich) and many NGOs furthering the UN objective of one world government on a so-called  "sustainable planet". Racial hatred is growing by the day as is the open hate of he Christian religion by the new minority groups.   Devide and destroy -heh?  So all the minority groups now have a loud voice which is the only one pushed in the propaganda (only 6 people own all the press too).. It is building up to a  situation which in future can ignite social forces.  If Trump wins again the hate of the left will be furious and we will see serious demonstrations and antifa  etc .  Police will not be able to curb this. I think more serious measures will be needed to keep law and order.  The dollar will fall because this has already been planned to bring in a digital currency system. 
If the Democrats win we will go into the one world government under UN sooner and the financial shenanigans will get worse and we will see cities become slums.  Much more poor people.  Weather (climate) is starting to impact food production all over the world and by end of next year we will see higher food prices.
South Africa (my country of birth)  is on the brink of financial collapse due to extreme corruption (despite financial bailouts from the West) and civil war is threatening. Black on black and also extinction of the whites. My heart goes out to friends who cannot leave (black and white). Africa is brutal . So there is really nowhere to go to. America is under severe subversive attack from all sides and the people are bickering over stupid stuff.  It will be too late before they wake up.
The "iron and the clay" is now really so irreconcileable in  all Western countries and  the financial situations so dire (debt) with restless populations  (this situation has been deliberately  engineered by the UN)  the only solution will be is to give full  power to the UN.  Many nations are now resisting to give up autonomy to the UN but as the divisions in populations are growing the social volatility will become so bad that they may willingly go along. How far this will go wee cannot foresee.  UN will bring some hope of unity and upliftment.
I started writing a book about the bible. I called it " Reality Check". Proving in an interesting way that it is the only true reality. It is a study of the intrinsic logic and continuity if the bible's main theme  It will answer many philosophical and scientific objections to the bible.... but I stopped because I doubt it will be published.  Not in the hostile world we are living in now.  Amazon removes books from their list which does not please the new agenda under far left pressure. This is the power  of the post modern way of thinking. 
We will stay here and await our inevitable future. We have had a good life. I thank Jehovah for it all.   I think it will be downhill from here with one highlight only - when UN declare "peace and security" then we know what will follow.  No time now to make money and be comfortable...... I do as much preaching as I can.  There are many tourists here from Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Jews, Russians, etc.  .... a great field to do street work. I do a lot of streetwork
 

@James Thomas Rook Jr. oh my word that was funny..... and really brought me back a few decades. Thank you.
 

Sad. Even in healthy individuals, a colonoscopy can be dangerous. In old age there is usually thinning of the colon which makes it more dangerous.  I think the doctor was not thinking clearly when he took the biopsy. He was over eager to help and it was routine for him.  The patient was to blame too by not stopping her blood thinners as instructed.