Melinda Mills

I am trying to find out what was really said about animals, but it seems I will have to wait, if it is really on the programme. So far what was hinted at or rumoured according to Witness does not sound plausible. But I know many people, especially women, seem to love animals better than people. God made man/people in his image, not animals. People will live forever, if they are loyal to Jehovah and pass the final test (which would entail true love for Jehovah) but animals were never promised everlasting life, and Jesus did not die for them. Animals are captivating and truly beautiful but humans are really lovable, that's why Jesus was fond of them even before he came to earth. (Proverbs 8: 31) The other angels find them to be lovable and interesting too, they are intrigued by the things men are doing connected to God's will. (1 Peter 1:12) 12 It was revealed to them that they were ministering, not to themselves, but to you, regarding what has now been announced to you by those who declared the good news to you with holy spirit sent from heaven. Into these very things, angels are desiring to peer. But Jesus wants us to imitate him and practise the real love that Anna is talking about. Principled, unselfish love, Agape. Sentiment can cause people (even high officials) to make wrong decisions. All the other forms of love are basically selfish, even of they are enjoyable like Eros, but Agape is the force that puts everything back onto the right track. Agape is first, then other forms fall into place.

Seems chicken was introduced centuries later - not at the time of these festivals. Some Jews kept pigs to sell to others, others probably also kept chickens but it was not in their diet until maybe the Roman times. Eggs were mentioned by Jesus as a gift to one's children.

It's not going to be sung at the Convention this year. I checked the programme.

Yes, it is No. 61 - just checked it and I have a note on it saying "original by Bro Frost". Can't remember what that was about. JWI might know.

James, we slightly off topic you know. Back to your topic now you have a bigger audience.

Forgot to use this scripture in my first post. Reason we go to meetings and conventions and assemblies (apparently these two are not synonyms) (Hebrews 10:24, 25) And let us consider one another so as to incite to love and fine works, 25 not forsaking our meeting together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you see the day drawing near. Plain and simple.

OK, great! Go ahead. Going to music now - have to perform a little piece.

People making a lot of money these days out of unconventional things. You never know. Continue writing, don't mind me.

Hope you are not getting paid to take the notes.

Next week DV I will know, and will tell you. Maybe this time your children will learn something that will show them the need to visit more often and to process information so they practice godly devotion more fully which includes checking on your parents. (mentioned somewhere in 1 Timothy.) Work in progress.

Law of diminishing returns is also a fundamental principle in Economics, not only Engineering. And you talking money already. But remember you go to meeting every week and you don't necessarily learn anything new, it costs clothes, gas, tyres, road tax, etc. The Convention is just a bigger meeting. You don't complain for regular meeting, so why complain for a more exciting, bigger meeting, even if you are eating ordinary spiritual food served in prettier plates or settings. Where did you meet your wife? Put yourself in the place of those who are new to the spiritual food, are now meeting other Witnesses/Christians or are even looking for mates, all these are normal things Jesus mentioned in Matthew 24. But he said some would take no note of the spiritual things until they are swept away. So what can you/I do to show more appreciation for what may begin to look ordinary? Form a longing for the ordinary food (milk) - it is necessary to grow from infancy to maturity both literally and spiritually; it will help you to grow to salvation. You know a year in advance and you prepare with anticipation. When it comes you show appreciation. I already have three sets of clothes put out and a bag packed. My convention is next week. I got my lapel card today. (1 Peter 2:2) "As newborn infants, form a longing for the unadulterated milk of the word, so that by means of it you may grow to salvation," Even if we really knew everything that we need to know, we are all works in progress, we need to work on what we know. There is always room for improvement in putting on the complete suit of armour and the new personality; in setting spiritual goals. (Ephesians 4:23, 24) And you should continue to be made new in your dominant mental attitude, 24 and should put on the new personality that was created according to God’s will in true righteousness and loyalty. Always remember that the Israelites complained about the manna, then God send the bird with lots of flesh and while they were still eating they were punished. (Someone can enlarge on the reasons why he gave them meat and then punished them.) (Numbers 11:31-34) 31 Then a wind from Jehovah sprang up and began driving quail from the sea and causing them to fall around the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp, and they were about two cubits deep on the ground. 32 So all that day and all night and all the next day, the people stayed up and gathered the quail. No one gathered less than ten hoʹmers, and they kept spreading them all around the camp for themselves. 33 But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it could be chewed, Jehovah’s anger blazed against the people, and Jehovah began striking the people with a very great slaughter. 34 So they gave that place the name Kibʹroth-hat·taʹa·vah, because there they buried the people who showed selfish craving. Let's appreciate the spiritual manna. Fancy a dish prepared by God himself and people were complaining about it! If we were starving and someone gave us plain rice and water, it would help us to survive, though it might not satisfy us completely. While we are excited about new information, we still need the milk of the word as it would help us to live to salvation. It would help us renew our goals, remind us of what we already know, and keep us on the path to salvation as the apostle Peter said. We need manna and milk to live, grow and mature. People would be there who are at different stages of Christian development; some still need milk, some would be there who need solid food, some would be there who need the deeper things of God to satisfy them, but we all need spiritual food. "Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need". Matt 5:3. If and when we get into the Kingdom of God, we will be learning about love forever, as there will always be Jehovah, Jesus, and people to love. Love (Agape) never fails. (1 Cor 13:8)

Way off topic.

Nice to hear of the work you did to facilitate your mother's comfort. Sometimes just attending one of these functions is a high point in one's life in that under normal circumstances one might not get to experience it. In 2001 I got invited to my uncle's wedding (not a Witness) (he got married for the third time to a socialite). It was the best spread I ever saw. It was in a garden with water pools with lights shining in the water, and food stations every couple of yards - items of the richest quality. So I always remember it, and can also say I was really impressed. That same year I had two other very impressive invitations - one theocratic, one in connection with secular work - which I would not mention here. I always remember them. I am still wondering how I was selected. In God's new system these things would be regular occasions, I believe, but we might still show great appreciation for an invitation to share with others.

Many persons don't have the thinking ability to come to the conclusion mentioned in the last sentence. They usually learn by trial and error (often refusing to listen or without asking for advice from those with experience) and the aftermath is usually worse than when they were living a simple unpretentious life. One has to examine himself/herself also as to why we might wish to share this kind of experience, as that in itself could also be a showy display. Are we too secretly impressed with this state of affairs? The heart is treacherous.

If the head of your firm sent you to head up a project in an out-of-city office and you did such a good job that on finishing your assignment your manager thought you should be promoted and not merely returned to your former office, this is something that happens regularly. It is not strange that Jehovah God would wish to do the same for Jesus when he returned to heaven. Just an understandable situation - nothing farfetched about it. (Acts 2:32-36) 32 God resurrected this Jesus, and of this we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore, because he was exalted to the right hand of God and received the promised holy spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to the heavens, but he himself says, ‘Jehovah said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet.”’ 36 Therefore, let all the house of Israel know for a certainty that God made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you executed on a stake.” (Philippians 2:9-11) For this very reason, God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every other name, 10 so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend—of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground— 11 and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. When an employee does a good job it is to the credit or glory of the company that employs him. Jesus was a good representative and ambassador for Jehovah while on earth, that is why he said: (John 5:19-24) 19 Therefore, in response Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, the Son cannot do a single thing of his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things that One does, these things the Son does also in like manner. 20 For the Father has affection for the Son and shows him all the things he himself does, and he will show him works greater than these, so that you may marvel. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead up and makes them alive, so the Son also makes alive whomever he wants to. 22 For the Father judges no one at all, but he has entrusted all the judging to the Son, 23 so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Most truly I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes the One who sent me has everlasting life, and he does not come into judgment but has passed over from death to life. (John 14:9-11) .9 Jesus said to him: “Even after I have been with you men for such a long time, Philip, have you not come to know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father also. How is it you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in union with the Father and the Father is in union with me? The things I say to you I do not speak of my own originality, but the Father who remains in union with me is doing his works. 11 Believe me that I am in union with the Father and the Father is in union with me; otherwise, believe because of the works themselves. (1 Corinthians 15:25-28) For he must rule as king until God has put all enemies under his feet. 26 And the last enemy, death, is to be brought to nothing. 27 For God “subjected all things under his feet.” But when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that this does not include the One who subjected all things to him. 28 But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone. Jehovah the King of the Universe is not subject to anyone.

(Matthew 24:36) “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father." (Acts 3:22) 22 In fact, Moses said: ‘Jehovah your God will raise up for you from among your brothers a prophet like me. You must listen to whatever he tells you. (Mark 9:7) 7 And a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud: “This is my Son, the beloved. Listen to him.” Anyone who says anything that is not in the Bible will have to eat his words, sooner or later. God said to listen to Jesus, who said that even He did not know the timing of the end, only the Father. (There also goes your Trinity. The pot cannot call the kettle black.) All men are fallible. The disciples thought that Jesus was restoring the heavenly kingdom at that time in the first century. They thought he would deliver them right away from Roman rule - a fallacy. Jesus forgave them and taught them many other things. After he went back to heaven the gospels were written to enlighten Christians who were not on earth at the time, and later he gave John the Revelation about the end times and a thousand years into the future. Christians are imperfect and sometimes over-zealous. They can also be presumptuous. The only thing they will not be forgiven for is sin against the holy spirit. So cool it.

Jacob got rights of first born but he was not first born; same with David, Jehovah gave him right of first born in relation to kingship. Jesus is therefore the greater David. Jehovah is developing his purpose since the time of the first rebellion in the Garden of Eden, so all his sayings reflected that he was developing for the future saving of the human race. (Psalm 89:27) And I will place him as firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth.

Men and women are equal before God and intellectually equal, but he made the man to preside over the family to keep order. Hence, God put a strong craving in woman so she would desire the man to such an extent that she would be submissive to him. (Genesis 3:16)16 To the woman he said: “I will greatly increase the pain of your pregnancy; in pain you will give birth to children, and your longing will be for your husband, and he will dominate you." There is also a physical limitation - the reason men and women don't compete in sports. Women have to be more gentle so they can carry a pregnancy to term and then deal gently with the children. Women who do strenuous sports usually tend to look less feminine after a time.

Just look at the human family. The father is older, greater in knowledge, insight and all other qualities, than the son, who is junior, now learning. The son admires the father and hopes to be like him when he is grown up. The son is usually obedient to the father. Nothing far fetched about that. Any one with half a brain can understand that. I could go on and on.

That is half-baked reasoning. That can only satisfy people with partial knowledge of God and the Bible. Won't spend any more time on this. Where did God put Adam and Eve before his purpose was temporarily suspended when Adam and Eve sinned? In the earth - Garden of Eden If all of God's servants go to heaven, what would happen to God's original purpose for the earth? Genesis 1: 28; Matthew 5:5. Isaiah 55:11 Earth - a paradise - will come true in God's allotted time. Psalm 37:10,11. Meek, mild-tempered ones will inherit the earth Matt 11:11,12 Heavenly hope opened up after the days of John the Baptist. Ps 45:16 Jesus' earthly forefathers will be princes in all the earth. (Abel, Abraham, Jocob, Joseph, David, etc)

(Matthew 13:8, 9) 8 Still others fell on the fine soil, and they began to yield fruit, (Matthew 13:8, 9) 8 Still others fell on the fine soil, and they began to yield fruit, this one 100 times more, that one 60, the other 30. 9 Let the one who has ears listen.” 9 Let the one who has ears listen.” (Galatians 6:4) But let each one examine his own actions, and then he will have cause for rejoicing in regard to himself alone, and not in comparison with the other person. (2 Corinthians 9:6, 7) 6 But as to this, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. My take: All Christians should be productive, bearing kingdom fruit. Jesus already stated that he knew some would give different amounts, but still their personal 100 percent, if they are doing their best. A Christian's activity should not be held up for comparison with another's. Nothing is wrong with encouragement, though. A goal should be set by the person himself, instead of being prescribed for him. Whatever is done should be between him and God and Jesus who are the Vineyard Owners. Jehovah and Jesus saw the widow's contribution to the temple and were pleased. Ordinarily no one would have noticed. However, we should be obedient to those taking the lead, if they ask one to report time one should report time. Lots of things will be clarified/shown up in the future.

"Depends" is a brand name for nappies for the incontinent.

I won't wear it, but it is not an idol - its an advertisement. People would always want to make money off these things, and they will always have customers.

The ministry was the gift - according to Paul. Treasure in earthern vessels.

Another example of ignoring the weather: El Faro Captain Michael Davidson twice decided to stay on course while sailing into Hurricane Joaquin the night before the ship's demise, despite suggestions from crew members that he alter the ship's route. October 2015.