David Normand

My fear is that other governments, rather than being outraged by how Jehovah's Witnesses are being treated in Russia, will look at what was done as a how-to manual on how to get rid of or at least silence them. 
Oh well, this entire world lies in the hand of the wicked one. We can expect no less from him and his supporters.

It's not necessary to bash other religions here, it's not a subject I'm trying to focus attention on or wish to continue.
BUT
As is usual, especially with the evangelicals, they are letting Jehovah's Witnesses do their heavy lifting for them, because they fear perhaps they will be the next group to be accosted. Read around and you will see that this is (once again) true.
They hold back. Whatever support they offer is very tepid, because Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult that does not believe in the Trinity. If we win, they will latch on for the ride. Will they be grateful? Not for a second. We will continue to be maligned as a cult that fully deserves whatever bad comes upon it.

Today it's Jehovah's Witnesses. Tomorrow it may be the Protestants or Catholics who are getting skewered by the state officials. It may even be the Russian Orthodox Church. 

Circuit Overseer told the congregation tonight to listen only to the GB on this issue. Go to j.w.org we can find out what is true there.

Don't know for sure is this is related to the Russian attempt to disband Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, but it is at the very least an interesting coincidence that will make some people give consideration to the two events being linked.

Don't know for sure is this is related to the Russian attempt to disband Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, but it is at the very least an interesting coincidence that will make some people give consideration to the two events being linked.

Here, Putin is routinely reviled by politicians and media. Respectful letters from ones who have every reason to gripe may make more impression than we realize.

#StopJWBan Письма Свидетелей Иеговы Российскому руководству !!!
#StopJWBan Letters from Jehovah's Witnesses to the Russian leadership !!!
One of Russia's own lawyers says here that his government is making a mistake, if they try to ban Jehovah's people......  very interesting !!
Posted on: 26 Mar. 2017
The editor-in-chief of the journal "Religion and Law" regards the claim on the prohibition of Jehovah's Witnesses as a colossal legal and religious mistake.
"From my point of view, the federal bodies of executive power, which is the Ministry of Justice, have made a colossal legal error and ... religious studies. The whole history shows that the attempt to ban, liquidation does not lead to anything. Just Jehovah's Witnesses will be in hiding.
And when I talk with religious people, with clergymen, they ask me a question, in fact, rhetorical: "Anatoly Vasilievich, what happens?" This is a colossal error of the federal executive bodies. I'm not talking about the violation of basic constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens. Article 28 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of conscience and religion, is simply trampled upon, simply ignored.
Jehovah's Witnesses exist today throughout the world. And even Nazi Germany, which for them was creating their Auschwitz camp, or in Polish it is called Auschwitz, where one million four hundred thousand people were killed - it was created for Jehovah's Witnesses. They wore a purple triangle ... And how did it end? It ended in the collapse of Nazism. But other states have drawn the right conclusions from this. Today, Jehovah's Witnesses exist, freely operate in the same Germany, in other European states. But why does this happen to us? I'm asking this question. And I'm absolutely sure that it will not lead to anything good.
I, perhaps, do not share the creed of Jehovah's Witnesses, but today I am for defending them, because the violation of rights begins here.
And I want to remind you of the famous words - they may sound trite, but they should be repeated more often, - the famous priest Martin Nimöller, by the way the German priest, the Lutheran, who said: "At first they came for the Communists, but I did not say anything. Then they came for the Jews, but I did not say anything, because I was not a Jew either. They came for the Catholics - I did not say anything. And when they came for me, there was no one to say a word in my defense. " So, do not be silent. If we say that we are a law-based state, we are a state where human rights and freedoms are guaranteed, where the law has the power of supremacy, then let's raise our voice in defense of Jehovah's Witnesses! "
Anatoly Vasilievich Pchelintsev, honorary lawyer of Russia, senior partner of the Law Office Slavic Law Center, editor-in-chief of the magazine Religion and Law, Doctor of Law, member of the Expert Council of the State Duma Committee on Public Associations and Religious Organizations, member of the Commission for Improvement Legislation and law-enforcement practice of the Council for Interaction with Religious Associations under the President of the Russian Federation
 

This was in the discussion thread of the article.
Jose M Caraballo Bravo
March 10, 2017 16:12 Note Clarification on the beating of the minor in Morón. Luis Lemagne Milian, only 15 years old, IS NOT JEHOVAH'S WITNESS, his parents and other relatives if they belong to that religion. It was a writing error in the headline of the news.Nevertheless the weight of the chronicle lies in the brutality of the police.

I disagree. In most countries, if you taunt the king too much you risk your neck. But if you make it your aim to live quietly, as Christians do, won't they leave you alone?
It is a different form of government, that's all. "What, you think we're so righteous here?" Trump said. If they tolerate interference less than is done here, there is yet no reason to think they are not genuine in their desire to provide stability and good government. 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.
Having said that, I've not been there. But most of those saying vile things have not been there, either.

You know, you may be correct in your statement that Russians are very very family oriented. However, The Russian government decriminalizing of physical spouse abuse would seem to be at odd with your statement and also lend credence that the Russian legal attack against Jehovah's Witnesses is based upon something else entirely. Could it be that the Russian authorities are using family problems as a pretext rather than really getting to the heart of the matter which is that Jehovah's Witnesses don't support the military and also siphon members away from the Russian orthodox church? 

When you are writing to the Russians about their proposal to ban Jehovah’s Witnesses, there may be a temptation to speak of legal and constitutional issues, for their recent conduct flies in the face of many of them. There may be temptation to observe that, surely, ISIS provides the template of what extremism is. But I suspect leaders there are aware of these things and, for whatever reason, have chosen to ignore them.
Tell them something they don’t know. Tell them about eight million people, from every nation, who don’t know their Russian brothers personally, but care about them anyway. Let them ponder the significance of what if the whole world was like that. When they look to the outside world of international relations, all they see is bickering, bitching and bellyaching. Let them see another world.
Convey that we are ordinary, decent people, the sort who appreciates government’s role to preserve social order and improve the moral fabric of persons within its borders, and that we everywhere cooperate with governments as they pursue such goals. I like the suggestion at jw.org to relate some practical way in which the truth has helped us personally.
Imagine! An invitation from Bethel to write to high Russian officials about the proposed ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is a fine way for individual Christians, most of whom feel quite helpless, to ‘bring their gift to the altar.’

This was in the discussion thread of the article.
Jose M Caraballo Bravo
March 10, 2017 16:12 Note Clarification on the beating of the minor in Morón. Luis Lemagne Milian, only 15 years old, IS NOT JEHOVAH'S WITNESS, his parents and other relatives if they belong to that religion. It was a writing error in the headline of the news.Nevertheless the weight of the chronicle lies in the brutality of the police.

Short illustration regarding the "Cowbird"
? ? ?
Hello, CM We recently dedicated our remodeled Kingdom Hall here in Los Angeles , and our guest speaker was Bro. Javier Hernandez from Brooklyn Bethel.
Bro. Hernandez did a program in English and Spanish, which was outstanding. Then on Sunday he gave our Public Talk and then a service talk entitled "Imitate Their Faith." It highlighted the hard work of the governing body, and why we should imitate their example. Bro. Hernandez is very knowledgeable of the Governing Body, because he serves as Bro. Herd's personal secretary.
I have to relate the wonderful illustration he gave of the lazy cowbird. It is so good. Bro. Hernandez grew up in West Texas , and often saw cowbirds. These birds spend most of their time on the backs
of cows eating parasites. When they spot a bird building a nest they will wait for the bird to leave and then go and lay their eggs in someone else's nest. The cowbird is lazy, so it goes back to the cow.
The unsuspecting bird doesn't notice the extra eggs, and when they hatch, she begins flying off to feed them. This tires her out so that when her own eggs hatch she is too weak to feed them, and her babies
end up dying.
Today Satan is like the cowbird. He watches us and then tries to drop eggs into our nest. They may be work, school, entertainment, recreation, or whatever, and we begin to take more care of Satan's eggs than our own spiritual needs. If we are not careful, our spirituality will die because we are too busy feeding Satan's eggs.
So watch out for those deadly eggs and get them out of your nest! 
What a simple practical real life illustration! Maybe you have heard it before but it was so good I had to share. Bro.Hernandez also repeatedly said we are living in the last seconds of the last days.
No doubt working closely with the Governing Body, that phrase is common. It's a good reminder of our need to get and be ready.
 

@David Normand Yes, much joy now in being approved! Can you imagine life without end at last? Agape, ???

Big Eyes is one of the few movies that portrays Jehovah's Witnesses in a positive light. Shows them a normal people for a change. 

Big Eyes is one of the few movies that portrays Jehovah's Witnesses in a positive light. Shows them a normal people for a change. 

You know, you may be correct in your statement that Russians are very very family oriented. However, The Russian government decriminalizing of physical spouse abuse would seem to be at odd with your statement and also lend credence that the Russian legal attack against Jehovah's Witnesses is based upon something else entirely. Could it be that the Russian authorities are using family problems as a pretext rather than really getting to the heart of the matter which is that Jehovah's Witnesses don't support the military and also siphon members away from the Russian orthodox church? 

It is great that some courts actually uphold the rule of law in spite of pressure from those who oppose religious freedom. We do not know how long we will have religious freedom and as such should not take it for granted, but avail ourselves of every opportunity to spread the kingdom message while the climate (political or otherwise) is favorable. 

A couple of Jehovah's Witnesses and a Jehovah's Witnesses couple are both correct. Low-cut is in the eye of the beholder. Unless the brother officiating at the wedding objects then there should not be any problem.  

Many years we called upon a home. The lady of the house answered and was obviously in mental distress. She explained that she normally would not even talk to us, but her life had changed. She lived in a well-to-do neighborhood with large houses and manicured lawns. As she looked around her neighborhood from the front stoop she said she thought she was in paradise. Then she found out that her husband has been unfaithful and was divorcing her and her oldest son was diagnosed with cancer. As she stated, in times past she would not have listened to us as she thought she had everything, but today she realized how fleeting everything is and was in search of something better. Something that can give her hope for a future.
It was my service companions call and we moved away some time later so i do not know how the story ended. However, the point is peoples circumstances changes. You never know when someone will finally wake up to the fact that this life is all a mirage and the real life in in the future and that only Jehovah can provide it with the loving kingship of his Son Jesus the Christ.

Why Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Speak With People Who Have Previously Said,
“I’m Not Interested”?
Jehovah’s Witnesses, motivated by love for God and love of neighbor, enjoy sharing the Bible’s message with all people, including those who have previously said “I’m not interested.” (Matthew 22:37-39) Love for God moves us to obey his Son’s command “to give a thorough witness.” (Acts 10:42; 1 John 5:3) To do this, we bring God’s message more than once, just as God’s ancient prophets did. (Jeremiah 25:4) Because we love our neighbors, we try to share the lifesaving “good news of the Kingdom” with all, including those who at first were not interested in it.—Matthew 24:14.
We often find interest when we return to homes where we found no interest before. Consider three reasons:
    People move.
    Others in the home show interest  in our  message...
    People change. World events or personal circumstances cause some to become more “conscious of their spiritual need” and to take an interest in the Bible’s message. (Matthew 5:3) Even those who are opposed can have a change of heart, as did the apostle Paul.—1 Timothy 1:13.
Nevertheless, we do not force our message on anyone. (1 Peter 3:15) We believe that each person must make his own decision in the matter of worship.—Deuteronomy 30:19, 20.

This can certainly apply to people who are known deceivers. Con artist and such. It can also be a warning about associating with people of whom we are not sure of such as people we only meet on the internet. Via the internet people can portray themselves in any manner including changing their gender so suit their audience.
We are all judged by the company we keep. If we associate with drug addicts then we will be grouped in with that crowd. If we associate with bigots then we will be grouped in with that crowd. If we associate with people espousing christian principles then we will be grouped in with that crowd. Jesus can read hearts and all judging has been given to him; however, in the temporal we are judged by people and they cannot see our hearts. They can only see the outward appearance. If we declare that we are a Christian yet regularly socialize with people who abuse drugs, people who denigrate other races, people who look down on others because of their station in life how will this affect how people view Christianity?   

This can certainly apply to people who are known deceivers. Con artist and such. It can also be a warning about associating with people of whom we are not sure of such as people we only meet on the internet. Via the internet people can portray themselves in any manner including changing their gender so suit their audience.
We are all judged by the company we keep. If we associate with drug addicts then we will be grouped in with that crowd. If we associate with bigots then we will be grouped in with that crowd. If we associate with people espousing christian principles then we will be grouped in with that crowd. Jesus can read hearts and all judging has been given to him; however, in the temporal we are judged by people and they cannot see our hearts. They can only see the outward appearance. If we declare that we are a Christian yet regularly socialize with people who abuse drugs, people who denigrate other races, people who look down on others because of their station in life how will this affect how people view Christianity?   

Very nice. I like that. Acronyms are much easier to remember.