JOHN BUTLER

I can laugh as I'm retired so no work. Well old age has to have something good  I was 69 on Friday.
Oh dear next year I'll be 70.  That will be my three score year and ten. Then lights out maybe. 

short intermezzo to relax before working Monday 

Would I be insulted and upset at being called a thief .....  if I did not return the 20 backpacks full of hundred dollar bills drug money  I found  where two rival drug cartels had wiped each other out?
If that ever happens, I will pout, and have my feelings hurt.
BOO  HOOO HOOOO
HahahaHahaha !
 

If I correctly label a (farm animal) Jackass as a Jackass, have I insulted them?
If I correctly label  a child rapist as a pedophile evil person, have I insulted them?
If I correctly label a midget as a midget, have I insulted them?
If I correctly label someone as mentally retarded, have I insulted them?
If I correctly label someone as stupid, is it an insult  ...or merely a fact of life?
The solution to stupidity in many cases is education, experiences ... AND CONFLICT.
IRON SHARPENS IRON
Snowflake liberal sensitivity is NOT a mental health survival trait.
STOP THINKING LIKE PETULANT CHILDREN !

Thanks ones more time John. Patience? haha, sometimes i have more, sometimes less, but yes it can be said how i enduring some situations too long or longer than other people. Who knows why? :)))
With more or less success from my side , but it can be tell how it is given to me this skill, gift to present or give some thoughts on certainly subject. Not always of course, in rare moments for sure :)))) It would be easier for me to speak on my language in compare to written words in Croatian too. In English with help of G+translator or some grammar page, dictionary - but tenses are primary deficiency on my part.
Greetings from Zagreb!     

I worry you do i billy ? That you want me removed. I've already said what Twat means in the English. Remember I'm not American. 
If you are offended then why oh why are you on this forum ? Wasn't this forum once called something else, related to trouble ? 
Take a lesson here from Jesus, at John 1, v 45 - 47
5  Philip found Na·thanʹa·elc and said to him: “We have found the one of whom Moses, in the Law, and the Prophets wrote:dJesus, the son of Joseph,e from Nazʹa·reth.” 46  But Na·thanʹa·el said to him: “Can anything good come out of Nazʹa·reth?”f Philip said to him: “Come and see.”47  Jesus saw Na·thanʹa·el coming toward him and said about him: “See, truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
Jesus seems to have found what Nathanael said as funny. Whereas he could have found it offensive.  Learn from it. 

Srecko, you are much better than me at explaining this and it seems you have more patience too.
Well done. 
And yes, the reason the GB and the JW Org don't want witnesses to talk to ex - witnesses is because they don't want the congregations finding out the real truth about things such as Pedophilia, or past failures, wrong predictions etc.  

I worry you do i billy ? That you want me removed. I've already said what Twat means in the English. Remember I'm not American. 
If you are offended then why oh why are you on this forum ? Wasn't this forum once called something else, related to trouble ? 
Take a lesson here from Jesus, at John 1, v 45 - 47
5  Philip found Na·thanʹa·elc and said to him: “We have found the one of whom Moses, in the Law, and the Prophets wrote:dJesus, the son of Joseph,e from Nazʹa·reth.” 46  But Na·thanʹa·el said to him: “Can anything good come out of Nazʹa·reth?”f Philip said to him: “Come and see.”47  Jesus saw Na·thanʹa·el coming toward him and said about him: “See, truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
Jesus seems to have found what Nathanael said as funny. Whereas he could have found it offensive.  Learn from it. 

They were probably referring to version 2.2, in the definition posted above ... a common malady suffered by about 40% of the Earth's population. 
The problem is with being stupid, it is somewhat like being dead, in  that those afflicted by stupidity or death  do not know they are stupid or dead .. . it does however, create problems for those around them.
They might have meant to type TWIT.

What should a member of the JW community do?

JW TV and publications does not provide balanced news regarding events related to the WT organization and the legal aspects involved, such as court cases concerning pedophilia and failure to report such events to secular institutions.

It also forbids JW members to contact the former JW, even to say simple "hello" on street or wherever. Even when they (GB of WTJWORG) allowing a JW member to talk to their excluded family member who living in the same family (house, under same roof - literally, because if exJW not live in same family place, instructions are that JW have to cut all possible contacts), WT prohibits them from discussing so-called "spiritual things." Because they consider that the former JW could be repulsive and "fool", spoil the true JW witness with "inaccurate proofs" and "apostate teachings".

What does the magazine "Awake" say about whether to listen and to be familiar with the opposing views? Here is what WT consider as "positive". It is in context of "evolution issue" but we can see "the principle", don't we? Would you, do you use the same principle and be careful and wary about WT claims how "all is apostates lies"?! Quotes are as following;
 
Examine the Evidence
IF YOU were on trial in a court of law, would it be fair if only your opponent was allowed to present evidence? No, you would surely want the court to hear your side of the matter.
Reasonable persons agree that the only fair method is to examine the evidence on both sides, both for and against a disputed theory. That is how one arrives at the truth.
But, as physicist L. Dolphin wrote to the San Francisco Chronicle: “It is intellectually dishonest to fail to answer some of these problem areas in textbooks, and to exclude other scientifically based models on the grounds that they are merely fundamentalistic religious beliefs.”
Truly it is “intellectually dishonest” not to want any opposing views heard on such a disputed matter. It has to make reasonable persons ask, Why?
Reasonable persons also consider it unworthy of serious scholarship to try to stamp out criticism of evolution by dictatorial methods, by intimidation, or by attitudes such as that of prominent American scientist Isaac Asimov, who said that questioning the theory of evolution is like “attacking the theory of gravity.” He added: “It’s a fact, not speculation.” But gravity can be demonstrated, tested, and proved in the laboratory and elsewhere. Evolution cannot, which is why so many are challenging it. No one is challenging the idea of gravity.
Trying to insult the intelligence of critics of evolution to silence them is especially “intellectually dishonest” when many evolutionists themselves admit that the theory has not been proved.
No, it will no longer do to try to browbeat or insult persons who challenge evolution, or to imply that they are intellectually deficient. To get to the heart of the matter, we have to put the “guessing” aside and honestly analyze the facts that are available.
What happens when we do examine the facts, without the “guessing”?
 
end of quotes from https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101973762    Awake 22 10 1973, page 7.
How do you feel about this? "Old truth" but truth :))))
 

Anna , i am not laughing at your post. But must laugh on situation that took place. It can be that old man collect gun artifacts, but if it is forbidden by law, it is funny, strange, against her conscience maybe, but also normal on other hand (she living with him), that his wife, JW sister, not reported to police this "criminal behavior" of her husband :)))))

You can not resist to "correct" people, to giving lessons,  don't you?
I am very well aware of difference, but rhyme is so,  so good and as "cryptic" message it suits to me well.
But why trying to, attempt to  explain..... when you know almost everything :)))))))))))))))  

Truly, truly I say on to thee, if you really read the Bible, The Word of God, as you yourself made claim to, you'd be wise to watch your tongue wherever you are, even online so called follower of God and his Christ.
I will leave here verses for you to read the next time you think, even the slightest of assumption, that somehow God is okay with that kind of language.
Ecclesiastes 10:12 - The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. Colossians 3:8 - But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Colossians 4:6 - Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Ephesians 5:4 - Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving. Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Matthew 15:11 - it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” James 3:10 - From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. That being said, you've proven the point made in the discussion regarding forum/social media, to which I mention such briefly in this regard.
Repent and go pray.
Do so if you must, the the actual effort to care is not in me, for I speak and a response regardless, for I have a disdain for falsehood, untruths and conspiracy. But it would seem when someone who knowledgeable walks into the room, it is seen as a problem.
Tom mention the Christmas colors, so let's apply:
If you knew the teachings of God, you be well aware of the Strong's to which you show a total ignorance of, knowing that both the words supplication and substituting share the exact same Strong's. You'd know that the Ten Commandments are still in application by means of the foremost commandants, for the Laws itself, from the Ten Commandments are Bible Principles that are still followed to this day. You'd be aware not to speak such a word, which is regarded as vulgar slang. You'd understand things regarding what girdled/nakedness means, granted it's Strong's straight off of Biblehub even tells you and it is not to be confused with the English Word. When you speak that one lacks Spiritual Wisdom, and you are question, and do not answer properly only shows that you were the one who lacks all this time, for if you teach people, they wouldn't take that answer from you in the real world when it comes to the gospel spreading. You'd be well aware that those who are fighting against sexual immorality will always need help to which you had stated the opposite, and your own words regarding this is not taken kindly to other Christians who help such ones in that domain, information I will not post here for they has quite the colorful words for you. You'd be well aware of what is actually false and what is true, and not using false information to justify  something that is of conspiracy. In nearly every discussion, when one thing is being talked about, throw in child abuse, when such as been discussed already with many pages as proof, twice in 2 threads, one of which admin locked down, and as of recently when the topic was regarding 2 specific things of sexual immorality, also locked down for the same reason, for such a thing you cannot throw into the mix when something else is being spoken of. For there is a time and place for that, even the thread in question that anyone can still post in. You'd be open to truth facts, but clearly you are not. You grow angry an frustrated when a truth is spoken, even when a truth is spoken you do not agree with it when your OWN source says it is true. You cannot say you teach if you do not teach yourself, and it shows, so the advise given is of your benefit, Butler.
Before I was sincere with you, but it would seem you show yourself of who you really are, hence a foreshadowing of my words some weeks ago coming into the light now.
That being said, Mr. Butler, you can do whatever you want, but people will also speak truth about the Bible, the history of Christianity, our Church Fathers, the didache and the truth of God, and do yourself a favor since you are in the UK, going to Speaker's Corner with your the lack of Spiritual Wisdom will only get you refuted, tenfold.
All that said, disgruntled one, I will advise you read, study and make research in all things spiritual because clearly, even with JWs holding your hand before, you still cause yourself to stumble and be the type of person who is not just quick to be angered, but quick to accept something as a truth without merit.
So I leave you with these 2 verses so you can remind yourself every time you actually make an attempt to read the Bible:
Proverbs 15:31 - If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.  
Proverbs 24:16 - for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity. God and his Son of whom he made Christ, Jesus, can read hearts, Mr. Butler and the heart is very treacherous when it comes to some people.

Sometimes I use Audio punctuation (spoink!)
Especially in sentences (cank!) depending on the structure (cank!) where commas are necessary (spoink!)

Srecko  i have to thank you for your research concerning the lies that the GB of the JW Org used concerning the 7000 year creative days. 
Even if a person doesn't want to include the Bible Students, your quotes from 1951 to 1987 proves that the GB are not the Faithful and Discreet slave class that they pretend to be.
Where is the direction from Our Heavenly Father to the GB ?  It does not exist. The GB are not who they pretend to be. 
Each creative day 7,000 years ?  Um, please remember, God does not lie, nor does He give false information. 

@BillyTheKid46 As we can see when someone cannot handle truth, they grind their teeth, just like the lukewarm Christian who goes by the name Bob the Builder.
@JOHN BUTLER So much for Spiritual Wisdom, therefore, you own words, hence you lack and not me, as quoted here:
Can be used against you, in a sense, you shot yourself in the foot by your own hand. So let me enlighten you so maybe this time you can actually take time and read the Bible for once because if you cannot answer this, it cannot be believed that you not just read the Bible, but study it, of which can be seen here.
Now the question posed seems complex, granted it was asked by someone who use to believe in God and attended an African-American only Church, of which believed in the Trinity, but later on became an Atheist, hence it is one of these questions that such a person brought up of which I took note of at the time. It looks complex, but it is not, it seems difficult, but it is easy, that is, this question.
How can you have free will if it is punishment for disobedience?
The answer: God gave us free will with the intention that we would use our free will to glorify Him in a variety of ways, one commandment being we are to love him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength – for this hangs off the greatest commandment of all, which includes principles from the Ten Commandments (Deut. 6:4, 5; 10:12 Matthew 22:36-40, Jos. 22:5; Luke 10:27 and Mark 12:28-34).
The people weren't forced to follow laws or commandments, they followed it because they know God's Will and follow it seriously, out of free will, even saying to God they will do all that he will say compared to their neighbors who don't even know these laws.
Since the laws were introduced, there is also the opposite of not following the laws, one can be cursed or punished for disobedience. The law had a helpful effect of keeping an imperfect group of people partially upright and focused on God and it keeps the people in order so they do not fall to sin, even the use of offerings to atone for one's wrong doing early on.
While the punishment looks extremely harsh, in actual fact if you look at it from the other way around, it was to help keep a people morally upright enough for Jesus to be born, later sacrificing himself for the sins of the entire world, committed by mankind.
Because the real nature of God Yahweh, who is my Father, your Father and Jesus’ Father, such applies to the Son, Jesus. You have free will to do what you want. But, as pointed out, there are consequences, being wide open to those that oppose God, reaping what you sew (adultery, idol worship, immorality subjected to disease, causing strife to friends and family or any sort of trouble). One also has the free will to repent for their sins and change from their ways because forgiveness is a possibility; this was the case with several examples in the Scriptures found in the Bible.
Case and point.
You are absolute welcome. Now go read, study and research the Scriptures because you yourself is lacking, greatly, if I may add, a former JW, such as yourself, I advise you do more research because the lack in spirituality shows like empty plastic bottle in the street. If  child can answer such, you can also, so studying is key, Mr. Butler.
That being said, since you reside in the UK, I assume, best you stay away from Hyde Park if this question gives you this much trouble, for those like you get burned and rinsed with facts on the daily there.

Srecko didn't waste his time, his research was good. 
You on the other hand are a blind person that does not want to see. 

This is fantastic stuff. Kingdom Ministry May 1974. 
Lovely.      Last days...  People sold their houses because they were told Armageddon would be 1975. 
Yes i know it doesn't say it in exact words, but those that were there know it was told that way. 

Srecko  i have to thank you for your research concerning the lies that the GB of the JW Org used concerning the 7000 year creative days. 
Even if a person doesn't want to include the Bible Students, your quotes from 1951 to 1987 proves that the GB are not the Faithful and Discreet slave class that they pretend to be.
Where is the direction from Our Heavenly Father to the GB ?  It does not exist. The GB are not who they pretend to be. 
Each creative day 7,000 years ?  Um, please remember, God does not lie, nor does He give false information. 

Item about child sexual abuse within community of Jehovah's Witnesses, RTL Nieuws (Netherlands), October 6th, 2018 English subtitles included
 

This is fantastic stuff. Kingdom Ministry May 1974. 
Lovely.      Last days...  People sold their houses because they were told Armageddon would be 1975. 
Yes i know it doesn't say it in exact words, but those that were there know it was told that way. 

Srecko didn't waste his time, his research was good. 
You on the other hand are a blind person that does not want to see. 

quotes in continue shows how WT does not know what Genesis talking about:   
Zions Watchtower Dec 1881 The Creative Week
“If the seventh period of creation in which the Father rested is seven thousand years long – as shown above – so are the other six periods; and so we have seven times seven thousand years…”
The Watchtower 1/1/1951 p. 27 The Christian’s Sabbath
7,000 years for each of the creative days as well as the rest day is consistent with the Scriptures.
The Watchtower 8/1/1954 p. 478 The Purpose of Your Witnessing
Each creative day was 7,000 years in length. See “New Heavens and a New Earth”, pages 40-43.
Awake! 11/8/1982 pp. 6-9 Science and the Bible
The Bible record, together with verifiable history, indicates that the seventh day of that creative week covers a period of 7,000 years. Hence, each of the six preceding “days” would be of the same length.
The Watchtower 1/1/1987 p. 30 Questions From Readers
a study of the fulfillment of Bible prophecy and of our location in the stream of time strongly indicate that each of the creative days is 7,000 years long.
The Watchtower 1/1/1993 p. 4 Our Grand Creator and His Works
In an orderly sequence of six ‘creative days,’ each thousands of years in length
The Watchtower 4/1/1996 p. 13 par. 10 Praise the King of Eternity!
Wonderful developments took place on earth during the six creative “days” of Genesis chapter 1, each day covering thousands of years.
The Watchtower 2/1/2003 p. 4 How to Cultivate a Balanced View of Work
at the end of the six creative “days,” or long periods of time, “God saw everything he had made and, look! it was very good”
Awake! 9/22/2003 p. 21 Science Was My Religion
the creative days lasted aeons
Awake 1/22/2004 p. 23 Why I Believe the Bible—A Nuclear Scientist Tells His Story
the creative “days” encompass thousands of years
The Watchtower 4/1/2004 p. 6 Identifying the Wild Beast and Its Mark
God’s creative week comprises seven ‘days,’ or extended time periods
The Watchtower 1/1/2004 p. 28 par. 3 Highlights From the Book of Genesis—I
the six creative “days,” or time periods of special creative works
The Watchtower 2/15/2011 p. 8 par. 10 Holy Spirit—At Work in Creation!
These are not 24-hour days but are epochs.
Awake! 11/2011 p. 9 Which Approach Is More Reasonable?
Each day evidently involved a considerable length of time.
Awake! 3/2014 p. 5 How Long Did God Take To Create The Universe?
each of the six creative days could have lasted for thousands of years.
On other side WT teach  about how long human exist is:
Timeline
“In the beginning . . .”
4026 B.C.E. Adam’s creation
3096 B.C.E. Death of Adam
HOW LONG LAST "THE ADAM DAY", 7th day?                                                                                                                                                                                   ARE HUMANKIND NOW IN  THE DAY 7?                                                                                                                                                                                                IF YES, WHEN WILL be the END of that day?                                                                                                                                                                                            BECAUSE IT CAN LAST AS EPOCHS, AS CONSIDERABLE LENGTH OF TIME, AS MORE THEN 7000 YEARS. :))))))    
Will KINGDOM of 1000 years come before the end of 7th day or after the end? Or inside of 7th day? However JW would count, it can be that they must wait for hundreds or thousands of years or eons of time to see that day. 
SO, WT have to change all concept and doctrine on few teachings and ideas  that covers these few issues.                                                                                           

It's all about credibility.
How well do you trust a prognosticator who has a 100 plus year
completely unblemished record  ...of being always WRONG?
 

 
 
AAAAaaaand .... here are some answers!

You know, I like this. I just do. I mean, he is. Say it & be done with it & move along, as he does. He is not self-aggrandizing. He doesn't do it to show off. He is merely trying to strike blows for what is truthful.