Anna

@Bible Speaks Oh! did you take back your negative "like" on one of my posts?

35 minutes ago, Bible Speaks said:

@Anna Liking something it like giving it second approval. Or the saying "so be it!" Think of the positives here, we only care about others, we "like" to encourage all. Thank you for "liking" us too!               Agape, Bible Speaks ???

17 minutes ago, Melinda Mills said:

Agree,  Ann. Seems like you can post any old picture or video with any date about some current event and call it something and people would believe it and forward it to others.  Witnesses  should learn to spot fake news and evaluate information as they should be more attuned to what is truthful.  We  were warned in the Kingdom Ministry years ago when the Internet was new.

Yes. Not only that, but it doesn't cease to amaze me that we still have a hard time understanding that all our info. (pertaining to spiritual and/or organizational matters) always (should) come either from the Bible, via a letter read to the cong. or on the website. Any other means is hearsay or opinion. As regards the veracity of pictures shared, well a little bit of common sense definitely helps!

13 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

It's hard to imagine that traffic to jw.org will not increase, perhaps even explode. In view of the publicity, people will want to see if it is truly extremist. This may be especially true with those we find difficult to reach: the newsworthy and well-connected. What will be the result when they discover that it is not?

Perhaps that is the greatest contribution our Russian brothers make to Jehovah.

True, some are preaching the Christ out of envy and rivalry, 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; 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. ...  Phillipians 1:15-18

Here is a nice bit of trivia I heard: IF we have sent 9 million letters to one official (a realistic possibility) and each envelope is 1mm thick and  stacked on top of the other, then they will reach higher than Mt. Everest . I like this visual. Better than the picture of a US post office with Christmas mail, hailed as our letters to Russia. Yes, this was circulated on social media and thousands fell for it, just like they did with the "announcement at morning worship"

4 hours ago, Melinda Mills said:

Letters from millions of people from all over the world and in different languages? Who will open them, sort them, translate them? Hardly Putin. He will probably sample a few. I worked for top executives  for many years and never knew one to open letters.  At best it might be delegated to some officer who will manage the whole affair and do some kind of précis of them, that is, if the whole lot are not discarded.

 

That doesn't mean that I did not write mine but not to Putin.  The very fact that we did something shows that we are giving Jehovah something to bless. But Putin opening thousands of letters? Hardly.  Wishful thinking.

I think True Tom was just being "poetic" not realistic. He is a writer you know, they can't help themselves . No offense @TrueTomHarley it was a good read

17 hours ago, Bible Speaks said:

What must we continue to do to please Jehovah........

It's always a good idea to cite your source when quoting from publications ect. for two reason: 1.so people can look it up, and 2.So you are not mistakenly credited as the author.

8 minutes ago, Bible Speaks said:

@Anna If you agree with a statement it proves so be it! If I didn't like be worried? ???

I thought by posting it you are already agreeing with it. Why would you post something you don't agree with?

40 minutes ago, Bible Speaks said:

 Ummmm......if you don't mind me asking, why do you always like your own comments?

On 3/31/2017 at 8:32 AM, bruceq said:

ONE OF MY BIBLE STUDIES YESTERDAY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES ARE THE TRUE RELIGION BECAUSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN RUSSIA. HE NOTICED THAT ONLY THE WITNESSES AND NO OTHER RELIGION IS TARGETED TO BE BANNED ON APRIL 5. HE SAID "THERE ARE OVER 2,000 RELIGIONS IN RUSSIA AND THEY ARE PICKING ON A SMALL PEACEFUL RELIGION THAT CANNOT FIGHT BACK AS MOST WOULD DO. WHY ONLY THE WITNESSES?" HE SAID IT IS NOW OBVIOUS THAT THEY HAVE THE TRUTH. MANY RELIGIONS ARE BEING RESTRICTED IN RUSSIA BUT ONLY ONE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE SUPREME COURT TO BE ABOLISHED !!!

Sometimes we have to be careful that we don't single ourselves out as being the only religion that is persecuted, because that simply is not true (I know you are not saying that). Even the Orthodox Church in Russia has as its fair share of persecution during the Bolsheviks. However, your Bible study is quite right, at present it seems that the only ones that are due to be banned are Jehovah's Witnesses. Interesting indeed

Here is an interesting article (I apologize if someone has already posted this). I like this comment: " “No one else is in a comparable position to that of the Jehovah’s Witness community,” Alexander Verkhovsky of the SOVA Center for Information and Analysis told Forum 18 last month".

http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2017/march/russia-liquidate-jehovahs-witnesses-evangelicals.html

17 hours ago, ThePraeceptor said:

I'm leaving here a sample letter in Greek for anyone who may be interested.

Very professional layout, but I can't understand a word!

17 hours ago, Judith Bosch said:

Anna I believe that, as any mail addressed to authorities, unless different, it's the authorities that have to open them perhaps by their administrative assistances if nothing else, but the letters will get to the offices addressed to.  So those offices will have to contend with the bombardment of our letter writing campaign.  But just think, as the one picture shows the line up at the post office what a witnesses to all in all countries who are writing.  And with all the talk about Russia in our news here in the U.S. the post office people will certainly be very curious to what is going on because I'm sure they have never seen anything like this before even though there has been letter writing way in the past all those in the post offices now are all new people I'm sure.  I was told today that our CO said if all Witnesses wrote just one letter those letters put together would be 25 miles long.  I sent out to all 6 on the list and then my husband sent out to all 6 on the list and a person can write multiple times so I might just send out another 6 this week.  

I never disputed any of that. I just said no one important will read them . I mean it's logical, would you read over a million letters? (perhaps 8 million). Would you even want to OPEN that amount of  letters? I worked as a secretary for a government official, and I can tell you, if I got over a million letters every day for several days, I know what my employer would have said. I don't want to be rude on here. In any case, what would have happened, because they are pretty identifiable (they follow a particular address format), my employer  would have probably employed a few college students to sort through them and put all the ones that look like they are regarding the same subject into a big bag to deal with "later" . I wouldn't be surprised if similar instructions might be given at post office level in Moscow, where they are all going to bottleneck, and never even reach their destination. In which case the post office will be livid too. The funny thing is, they will have to sort through them in case they miss an important letter. Or it's possible they might have ways around that..... close the post office for a few days, and have in going and out going official and presidential letters mailed privately.... 

15 hours ago, ThePraeceptor said:

I am not being critical. I am just saying that they are ruining the surprise! The Russian government has proven itself hostile to anything not Orthodox time and time again. So identifying the envelopes containing the letters of our campaign just increases the chances to get discarded or "misplaced" without even being opened. Of course it also increases the chances of giving testimony to all the people involved in the mail handling and transportation.

Anyways there are going to be some busy days ahead for all the secretaries of these officials.

To be absolutely honest, and realistic, in all none of those letters (whether in a JW org. envelope or not) will be read by anyone important and they will go straight into the garbage even without the pretense of being "displaced". Also they will annoy quite a few people because of the sheer volume, namely post office employees, and as you say, the secretaries But regardless of that, they will have still fulfilled their objective.

Thanks for the pics!

I hate being a spoil sport, but most of us know no one important will read these, and if Russia has already made their mind up (which it probably has) then these letters won't budge them. However, they will know what they are about and who sent them, they will clog up the Moscow post office, they will bring worldwide attention, and most importantly, they will strengthen and encourage our friends in Russia. So I just mailed ours.

On 3/22/2017 at 10:11 AM, Ann O'Maly said:

Oh the Org has its own effective way of punishing open dissenters by banishing them from their loved ones - often for life.

I don't understand why this ever has to become a problem. An "open dissenter" surely knows that they will get thrown out and that in all probability no one, not even their loved ones will fraternize with them as if nothing has happened. They are not ignorant as to the consequences, and they should not have been ignorant of them at their baptism either. (Ch14 in the Organized to do Jehovah's Will book, and page.193 question 27).

1 hour ago, TrueTomHarley said:

showing concern for Russia's leaders.

52 minutes ago, Eoin Joyce said:

showing concern for Russia's leaders

Then I misunderstood what David Normand meant by concern. In context, to "show concern for the Russian people and their leaders" I took to mean to show care, interest, involvement and to "worry over". Other synonyms for care (concern) are  tenderness, warmth, and friendship. That kind of concern is fine for the Russian people on the whole, but I feel would be hypocritical regarding the leaders and has nothing to do with the recognition of the leader's relative authority and respect for their position. Of course, if someone feels genuine concern, interest, worry and care for the leaders they should not hesitate to show that. I just said I couldn't do it.

1 hour ago, Eoin Joyce said:

obsequious

Thanks, I learned a new word. Much more sophisticated than "brown nosing".

1 hour ago, TrueTomHarley said:

At the drop of a pin, Western media and politicians will describe them in the most insulting terms. We need not play that game. Our perception of the king there need not be formed by the king here.

True

1 hour ago, TrueTomHarley said:

Having said that, I've not been there. But most of those saying vile things have not been there, either.

I have had my fair share of the taste of Communism. It was enough.

On 3/21/2017 at 5:21 PM, ARchiv@L said:

here is an interesting image too ...
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/gallery/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/E/2017/40/406
thanks ..

Pity that a hand with a nail hadn't been found also

I doubt anybody is even going to read the letters, but the fact that the Russian postal service is suddenly going to be inundated with millions of letters to Moscow will speak volumes. There IS strength in numbers, and Moscow will know who these letters are from and why they are being sent, and that's the important part. The whole world is going to notice.

21 minutes ago, David Normand said:

show concern for the Russian people and their leaders.

I don't think I could stomach showing concern for Russia's leaders. We don't have to "brown nose" to put our point across. We would surely be hypocritical if we did that...

2 minutes ago, Eoin Joyce said:

http://khazarzar.skeptik.net/books/crux002.pdf

Cool! Thank you Eoin!!

1 hour ago, AllenSmith said:

If you have a chance to read “Crucifixion in Antiquity 2011 “

OK. Thanks

On 3/19/2017 at 9:45 PM, AllenSmith said:

Only if one overly exert what is meant to "forsake" meant for God allowing the pain and suffering of Christ sacrifice.

Allen, I DO know what it meant for God to have forsaken Christ. 

WT 11/ 8/15 p.16

16 The Messiah would seem forsaken by God. (Read Psalm 22:1.) In accord with prophecy, “at the ninth hour [about three o’clock in the afternoon] Jesus called out with a loud voice: ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ which means, when translated: ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Mark 15:34) Jesus had not lost faith in his heavenly Father. God abandoned Jesus to his enemies by taking away His protection so that Christ’s integrity might be fully tested. And by crying out as he did, Jesus fulfilled Psalm 22:1.

So my point was, would God interfere with the manner of execution, and torture device to which he was nailed to? IF traditionally the Romans used a cross, then would Jehovah make them use a stake? As I said, the whole process was wrong. Jesus was wrongfully sentenced and he was killed like an ordinary criminal. He was put into the hands of Pagans. And Jehovah let it be. So why shouldn't he be nailed to a Pagan symbol as well? That doesn't mean I necessarily believe it was a cross, but I wouldn't insist it wasn't. Because we really don't know for sure.

5 hours ago, Ann O'Maly said:

I already said that I disagree with Putin's/Russia's ban. It's a basic human right, after all, to have freedom of belief and worship ... as long as those beliefs do not infringe on others' rights and freedoms. (Articles 18 and 30, http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/)

I know. But you seem to think that JWs do infringe on the other's rights and freedom...

2 hours ago, AllenSmith said:

, do you all still want to blame the Russian Government for our own internal persecution?

Why, who is doing that??

5 hours ago, Ann O'Maly said:

There are hundreds of examples. Christendom, its churches, its clergy, its beliefs and practices have been called 'apostate,' 'disgusting,' 'worthless,' 'deserving of destruction,' 'God-dishonoring,' 'liars,' 'pagan,' 'blasphemous,' 'faithless,' etc, etc, etc.

Of course, taken out of context and the way you put it may sound insulting but still NOT vitriolic. In context if the cap fits....and the truth hurts....

Regardless, would you want to retaliate in such a manner, like a child, throwing a tantrum and getting "daddy" (Putin)  to go fight your battles? "We are going to get daddy to go take care of these nasty people calling us names and converting our people, adding to the already dwindling numbers of (Orthodox) church goers. We are going to get daddy to ban all other religions so that people don't have any other choice but to chose us." It's sad, and laughable at the same time.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/world/europe/24church.html

P.S. What about the other religions, what have they done to deserve persecution?

P.P.S They like to use a lot of words, and emotive language, but what do those words actually mean?? Example:

“We deplore those who are led astray — those Jehovah’s Witnesses, Baptists, evangelicals, Pentecostals and many others who cut Christ’s robes like bandits, who are like the soldiers who crucified Christ, who ripped apart Christ’s holy coat,” declared the priest, the Rev. Aleksei D. Zorin.

7 minutes ago, AllenSmith said:

then one shouldn’t imply the high status of the POPE that happens to be just a normal man, and is only falsely venerated by his status, not as a chosen member of GOD. So, that status then becomes irrelevant to anyone mentioning it as a difference.

It's irrelevant to me, but it is not irrelevant to the "world" and that is who we were talking about. I very much doubt the ARC would have summoned the Pope if he was in Australia. Trust me, they do not view the Pope the same as the GB of Jehovah's Witnesses. Not in this case anyway.

11 minutes ago, AllenSmith said:

Yet, your suggestion of the GB not being seen as any other than a Group of “anointed” brothers (assistants) Acts 6:3 that GOD has found acceptable for the purpose of GOD’s spiritual work; they’re NOT there to argue legal matters either

It wasn't just about cold blooded legal matters, it was about policies to better protect children from sexual abuse, and how to better care for victims and deal with perpetrators, policies which need to have the approval of the GB in order to become valid policies.

On 3/7/2017 at 6:50 AM, JW Insider said:

JWs continually consult with the Society or HLC members about what blood-related therapies could be acceptable to their conscience and which ones are not allowed to be acceptable to their conscience.

Hahaha, that is a kind of oxymoron as the conscience is a personal matter and what is acceptable to one persons conscience might not be acceptable to an other. I have a feeling the Society has recognized that this thinking (by the JWs who consult with them) is a bit flawed because it takes away personal research and personal conviction and the gift of free will. Like in the WT study article a couple of  weeks ago quoted a woman " Do not make me think; just tell me what to do. That is easier." 

I don't know if you or anyone else noticed a BIG change in the new Advance Directive. There are no longer any options for minor blood fractions that you can check. There is merely several lines of space under point 4 "Regarding other health care instructions" . So the holder of the directive is invited to put in his own words what other health care instructions he/she may wish to insert. When I filed it out,I did not consult with any elder as to what I should put there I merely broadly mentioned that "I may be willing to accept some minor blood fractions, but the details will have to be discussed with me...." Of course in order to be able to discuss any details, one has to inform oneself so that one knows what one is talking about, and that is the point I think. I mentioned this to the elders and they just looked at me. Then it crossed my mind that I wonder what they would have said if I asked them what I should write under point 4. I have a strong feeling they would have told me to go and do some research, and perhaps told me what publications to look up. I also have a feeling that this is also because of legal implications. No one can then say anyone was coerced into stating a particular wish. So really it is a good idea that portion 4 is left blank and it is up to the holder to inset his/her wishes. A definite improvement to get publishers to use their brain!