David Normand

Great. Another attempt by man to end warfare. Nice try. Will not work as mankind does not possess the tools necessary to root out all the causes of armed conflict between nations. Sometimes the causes are superficial such as the perceived need for territory or free trade. Mankind can address such things. But when the causes go much deeper such as hatred between nations then the only way to end war is to change the minds and hearts of the individuals and only God's Kingdom with Christ as the king can do this. 

It's a choice. I have never known friends who were that steadfast about not speaking with a disfellowshipped family member, but some who take the admonition to speak with disfellowshipped family about family business to the extreme. To the point of using the disfellowshipped person (who was out living on their own) as a babysitter for their younger children. Like all things one needs to be balanced. 
For my part we allowed our two daughters to stay at home for the simple reason we believed that kicking them out would have resulted in far more harm. My choice. Consequently I have not served in a congregation for about 10 years; but, my daughters are not living on the street subject to all the dangers and problems of that environment and know that they have a safe place to stay. They are family and that is exactly what I told the elders.  

Does this apply only to Jehovah's Witnesses or are other groups also having to go through this process? Makes sense that it would apply to all adults who are in a position of trust that would allow them the opportunity to abuse that trust. 

@David Normand
Yes, it reminded me of when Jesus Christ Our Lord was on trial and Pilate asked the people who do you want released? They chose the criminal! Yet, Jesus Christ was free of any true charges. As the scriptures say, they hated me without cause. Truth is Truth!
 Thank you for your support!
Jehovah bless!
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Expect no less from the world in Satan's control. This is the world that he wants us to have and live in and that world which people have for the most part chosen. Only God's Kingdom can correct all of these deficiencies and in addition bring about an end to sickness and death. Though our prayers will not hasten the great day, it will let our Heavenly Father know that there are some on earth who yearn for an end to Satan's rule and the restoration of the world as he wants it. 
 

Just watched it. I thought Rocketman had done the dirty.....Whew!
Actually, I don't really like theocratic trinkets, except these ones. They save you having to find real money to get a supermarket cart! And if some one drives into you in the carpark and knocks you out...hopefully you're covered!
 

Well, in America it generally means a minor conflict of some sort. Hubbub is another good word choice. I could have also used imbroglio. Point is, there is no context to the altercation. But, the brother should have kept his cool. 

It would be interesting to know what the brouhaha was about. But any rate sometimes is is difficult to keep one's cool when dealing with offensive people. 

In hindsight everything is clear. The Kings mentioned in Daniel's prophecy are clear to us now. After Armageddon any who are blessed to live through it will certainly say, "Well now it makes sense", but up till that time even some of God's faithful servants may be unsure of what is happening. The key is to remain faithful and be there to see the manifestation of of all these things and how it all turns out. 

So, basically the government does not want to have an alternative service program in place. They are probably concerned that too many folks would take advantage of the program and that might undermine their national defense program. Of course, it seems unlikely that in the case of an invasion by North Korea the small number of people who actually take advantage of any alternative service program (hence not learning the business end of a rifle) would not be enough to really effect the outcome when you consider that North Korea has one of the worlds largest standing armies. 
Basically North Korea exist to serve two groups. 1. To provide support to the Kims and their dynasty and 2. The military whose sole purpose is to keep in power the Kims and their dynasty. 
Only Jehovah's government has the ability to end this situation to the benefit of everybody concerned. 

In hindsight everything is clear. The Kings mentioned in Daniel's prophecy are clear to us now. After Armageddon any who are blessed to live through it will certainly say, "Well now it makes sense", but up till that time even some of God's faithful servants may be unsure of what is happening. The key is to remain faithful and be there to see the manifestation of of all these things and how it all turns out. 

My wife worries about us working in the North Carolina back country where you are more likely than in the city to be met with hostility over race and religion. Sad that even in what one would consider a safe area for witnessing you can never be truly safe because of the world in which we live.  

How can you not like Coco? We all hope she keeps her head on straight, because that is not a given when operating in the stratosphere. But then, it is not a given anywhere.
Exactly
 
Exactly
 
Exactly

As long as they paid for the properties they can do what they want. No credit, just cash. 

My wife worries about us working in the North Carolina back country where you are more likely than in the city to be met with hostility over race and religion. Sad that even in what one would consider a safe area for witnessing you can never be truly safe because of the world in which we live.  

Well said John. If you are feeding your family just because of the hours you can record and that is your goal, then that is the reward you will receive. If you are feeding them spiritually because you want them to inherit everlasting life and this is your goal, then that is the reward. 

Seems a bit of a stretch that she would dispose of her husband in such a manner just so she would not be ostracized as they put it. But, in this day and age anything is possible. The love of the greater number is certainly cooling off and familial ties are not as strong as they once were. 

RJ, Hi, the information given in the Organized book should have sufficed. I'm a pioneer, father of 5 at one time. Now think, your children are with you the majority or the time. The precept set out in Deut. 6:6-8, we could carry out 24/7, correct? How much time if we were "time mangers" could be amassed monthly? The Society keeps up with our ministry 'time' to gauge where in congregations, and circuit territories there is a need for help, why we keep such records. I could conflate my monthly hours of service just with my children, right? But teaching them, my children is a God-given command as a parent, something I should carry out as a spiritual guide of my household. So no matter how small or large my family, the Society will only allow to be counted on record the max you read about. The time and effort we put in we should desire to do as loving parents anyway. So record the max, and reap the max, the family serving Jehovah whole souled, that is the goal, correct?

During our last CO's visit one of our dear sisters was concerned about how much time to count for the morning's activities. Since she was working with the CO she put the question to him, "How much time should we count for this morning?". Then she launched into when they started in the territory, when they went on break, when they started back to the Kingdom Hall etc. (Unbeknownst to the CO the sister had been having discussions with other publishers for many months on how to count time and she wanted everybody to adopt her opinion) Well, apparently the CO has been down this road before and did not take the bait. He simply said, "Well, I know how much time I will record. What you do is between you and Jehovah." Pretty much ended the discussion and I have not heard of any further discussions from anybody in the hall about how to record time once the story circulated.
Point: how much time you put down is between you and Jehovah. If you feel you are justified in not following the Society's guidelines then this is between you and Jehovah. 
While serving as an elder in a congregation some years back one of the elders in charge of a book-study group insisted that one of the brothers who turned in his time could not possibly have preached for as much time as he reported. He complained to other elders about it and he even questioned the brother three times about it. Each time the brother affirmed that his reported time was accurate. 
Several years later while serving at another congregation the CO was asked about verifying publisher time. His response was, "We are elders in the congregation not policemen. What the publisher reports is between them and Jehovah. It is not our place to question or impute bad motives to the publisher," 
Cheers,

I too had four children. You do what you need to do for your children. Yes, it takes time, but it is time well spent. You are not limited to 4 hours a month just like any other study. If you regularly study on say Friday evening then some months you will have 5 studies some months 4. Just be regular at it.
Also, as an elder told me many years ago, the Society could just as well said you cannot count any family study time. After all, most people don't have children so all their bible studies are with truly interested not captive family members. 
Be glad you have the time to study with all of them and make the best of what you have. To soon the time will be when they don't have time for you and will have their own families. 
Cheers,

If you try to reason with pigs, muddy is all you will get.

As long as they paid for the properties they can do what they want. No credit, just cash. 

I too had four children. You do what you need to do for your children. Yes, it takes time, but it is time well spent. You are not limited to 4 hours a month just like any other study. If you regularly study on say Friday evening then some months you will have 5 studies some months 4. Just be regular at it.
Also, as an elder told me many years ago, the Society could just as well said you cannot count any family study time. After all, most people don't have children so all their bible studies are with truly interested not captive family members. 
Be glad you have the time to study with all of them and make the best of what you have. To soon the time will be when they don't have time for you and will have their own families. 
Cheers,

Oh, I think the Russians are heartier people as a whole than we are here in the West, where political correctness is the new term for what we USED to call cowardice.
ESPECIALLY the Sisters !

Lets pray for our Brothers in Eritrea exactly like for our Brothers in Russia and similar poor Brothers in such of countries   In my congregation we're praying for all by every meeting???