John Lindsay Barltrop

So nice, our Brothers and Sisters in Russia still in a good state of mind ! We shall see, what will bring the next week...  Our prayers may help, yes❤️

The practice of "protection" money which is used by the mafia - originated when the Muslims ruled this area.   One pays the "jizya to be a subject of the Islamic state for your protection.  The problem is that they push up the price until one cannot pay and then one forfeits your life.
 
"Jizya or jizyah (Arabic: جزية‎‎ ǧizya IPA: [dʒizja]; Ottoman Turkish: جزيه cizye) is a per capita yearly tax historically levied by Islamic states on certain non-Muslim subjects—dhimmis—permanently residing in Muslim lands under Islamic law."

many people will do anything for money...........look at Judas Iscariot and the counsel at 1 Timothy 6:9, 10 9 But those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge men into destruction and ruin. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains.

Is this RUSSIA, or IRAN, or SYRIA...............nooooo............its America the free??????...........was the Dr. mistaken for Kim Jong Un??????

Brazil and South Africa (junk status) who were part of the BRIX are both falling apart financially at present.  When Busch went into Iraq USA created severe debt  (I remember we were supposed to build 18 hospitals in Iraq and only 2 were completed - the rest of the money is unaccounted for.)   At the end of Busch's term we were trillions in debt with the financial crisis - very close to collapse.  Few people realize that Obama (whether you like him or not) had the banks tested for resilience and many banks were closed for a day to find out 2 days later that they were taken over by some bigger bank as instructed by the government.  Disaster was averted. All happened quiet so as not to create panic.  And the FED printed a lot of money to get us out of the  sinkhole while the bigger companies were bailed out such as GM by this extra printed money.
Now that things were starting to improve- although we have not yet addressed the deficit and the checks and balances brought in by Obama have been nullified - we may be going to war again.  I agree with this article that this time we may be in too deep as many countries do not want to use the petro-dollar any more.  This could lead to US economic collapse. 
We know the end is close, as predicted by Jesus  - all the signs are here.  After the collapse of Babylon the great we see in revelation 17 + 18 how the merchants cry.   So yes, financial collapse of the world system (stock exchange etc.) will bring severe distress.  We will see the supply chains which bring in food from other countries collapse and people will kill to get their food.  It will not help to hoard food because there may not be law and order and people will do as they please and take food from those who have.
It is a dire picture - but it is realistic - because the worst of human nature appears when there is no law and order.  When the internet collapses (via warfare or otherwise) most bank balances will be obliterated.... and people can just as well throw their gold on the streets as the Bible predicts because the financial system as we know it today will be no more.
Do we still place too much value on our stuff? ....and the status that goes with it?  It is reality check time.

Although this is "off topic" i found this video clip very interesting - reminds me of Isaiah 1:6-9

@John Lindsay Barltrop Enjoy your day!
i have 1,000's more coming non witnesses. They are being drawn! Thank Jehovah more will come. Of course many speak other languages, I must translate but so far so good! ?
I learned computers on my own and by mistakes! Ha! My Granddaughters taught me some too!
if we had 20 million last year at Memorial maybe (?) I'm sure more, can't guess not that good ? 
Are you behind or ahead in time? It's 10:07 am here Monday?
Take care, don't overdo, my famous words I must live by. 
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"Simple question are easter eggs pagan?"
Simple answer...........Is the pope a catholic

@Allen Smith .......a little bit more on that "christian" Constantine, from a W/T: “Constantine never became a Christian,” states the encyclopedia Hidria, adding: “Eusebius of Caesarea, who wrote his biography, says that he became a Christian in the last moments of his life. This doesn’t hold water, as the day before, [Constantine] had made a sacrifice to Zeus because he also had the title Pontifex Maximus.” ...................."Constantine sensed that the “Christian” religion—albeit apostate and deeply corrupted by then—could be effectively utilized as a revitalizing and uniting force to serve his grand scheme for imperial domination. Adopting the foundations of apostate Christianity to gain support in furthering his own political ends, he decided to unify the people under one “catholic,” or universal, religion. Pagan customs and celebrations were given “Christian” names. And “Christian” clergymen were given the status, salary, and influential clout of pagan priests. Seeking religious harmony for political reasons, Constantine quickly crushed any dissenting voices, not on the grounds of doctrinal truth, but on the basis of majority acceptance. The profound dogmatic differences within the badly divided “Christian” church gave him the opportunity to intervene as a “God-sent” mediator. Through his dealings with the Donatists in North Africa and the followers of Arius in the eastern portion of the empire, he quickly discovered that persuasion was not enough to forge a solid, unified faith. It was in an attempt to resolve the Arian controversy that he convened the first ecumenical council in the history of the church."
Another couple of interesting points, also came to light in this article: under the heading, Dynastic Murders
"Under this heading, the work Istoria tou Ellinikou Ethnous (History of the Greek Nation) describes what it calls “disgusting domestic crimes that Constantine committed.” Soon after founding his dynasty, he forgot how to enjoy unexpected achievement and became aware of the dangers surrounding him. Being a suspicious person and perhaps egged on by sycophants, he first grew suspicious of his nephew Licinianus—the son of a co-Augustus he had already executed—as a possible rival. His murder was followed by the execution of Constantine’s own firstborn son, Crispus, who was dealt with by his stepmother Fausta because he seemed to be an obstruction to her own offspring’s total power.
  This action of Fausta was finally the reason for her own dramatic death. It appears that Augusta Helena, who had influence over her son Constantine until the end, was involved in this murder. The illogical emotions that often controlled Constantine also contributed to the spate of executions of many of his friends and associates. The book History of the Middle Ages concludes: “The execution—not to say murder—of his own son and his wife indicates that he was untouched by any spiritual influence in Christianity.”" (my highlights in bold type)
 

We've  many  different  kinds  of  humor ~~~~

But how do we know that the name didn't come from Queen "Esther" or the fact that eggs have cholESTERol?
In any case, I think that eggs should be OVOIDed.

Do the traditions of Easter have anything to do with the resurrection?
The customs of Easter involving bunnies, colored eggs, candles, and lilies were all adapted from pagan religions, as was the name Easter itself. None of these things have anything to do with the resurrection of Jesus, which Easter purports to represent. Does it matter ?
Yes  -  God’s  Word commands us to separate ourselves from false  religion and to  “worship the Father with spirit and truth.”
John 4:23  -  2 Corinthians 6:17

@AllenSmith Interesting! Mystical I did read in my links also. Do you have the link where this is from? Thank you for your research. People really don't understand what all this means. Through the ages and different countries we still see how false ideas even continued to be taught. Are we not happy to know the Truth of God's Word? One day, all these false teachings will be gone! Let God's Kingdom come!
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The Wikipedia article on Easter Egg gives a picture of one these styled eggs and says it is from a Greek Orthodox Church https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_egg:

  Red coloured Easter egg with Christian cross, from the Saint Kosmas Aitolos Greek Orthodox Monastery  
I suspect the same. The writer probably came across the same idea that is also presented in the Wikipedia article:
The Christian custom of Easter eggs, specifically, started among the early Christians of Mesopotamia, who stained eggs with red colouring "in memory of the blood of Christ, shed at His crucifixion".[6][7][8][9]
That idea isn't a perfect fit for the rest of the article about paganism, therefore, it probably seemed useful to replace "the blood of Christ" with "blood of sacrificed infants." You have to admit that the latter has a more pagan ring to it.
By the way, the references linked as 6,7,8,9 in the quote above point to some overlapping evidence, most of which sounded very weak to me.

I have no interest in celebrating Easter, and it's obvious that the rabbit and egg fertility symbols are completely out of place. I'm glad that the Watchtower points these things out. But there does come a point when, just because we don't like something, we tend to believe anything bad about it. In fact, one of the source sites for this information is here: https://warriorsoftheruwach.com/easter/
That site has all the info that Bible Speaks includes, and then some:
Here is my favorite:
 
 

16 "The trees of Jehovah are satisfied,
The cedars of Lebʹa·non that he planted,
17 Where the birds make nests.
The home of the stork is in the juniper trees.
18 The high mountains are for the mountain goats;
The crags are a refuge for the rock badgers.
19 He has made the moon to mark the appointed times;
The sun well knows when to set.
20 You bring darkness, and night falls,
When all the wild animals of the forest roam about.. (Psalms 104:16-20)

@ARchiv@L I translate Spanish, don't speak it though. You can help if you want? I'll send you Spanish Can't tag it on post not knowing language well. I give them to you? ???
@John Lindsay Barltrop I'm a softie, already crying it's so close to my heart. Jehovah has held my two hands, I know we will all rejoice soon when the King ? reigns over the entire earth ? My Memorial is in 7 hours. May the attenders be blessed! Joy, Peace and Love His life gave us forever so many blessings, wish more could see it, ? ? ? ? ?

Absolutely true. I had just thought I'd start in with the first of many factual problems with the quote, but decided I could leave that up to others. We can compare Memorial notes later.

@Bible Speaks "..........and enjoy the Memorial....."
I have just returned from our Congregations Memorial, we had the late one at 2000,...............I can assure you, you will certainly enjoy. It is a new outline for the Memorial, and I thought it was truly beneficial for all, particularly those who may be attending for the first time.........that is all I will say............enjoy.

Suirago City, Philippines last night earthquake, hope all is well. Praying for those who are  living there. ??????
 

http://reut.rs/2kYDNEV
 
Sat Feb 11, 2017 | 8:16 AM EST Earthquake in southern Philippines kills four, damages infrastructure
  4h ago | 01:16 Powerful quake kills at least six in southern Philippines (Reuters) - Four people died and more than 100 were injured after a powerful earthquake struck the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines late Friday, damaging some structures and cutting power in many areas, local officials said.
The 6.7 earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 km and the epicenter was about 13 km east of the city of Surigao, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said there was no tsunami threat from the earthquake.
Renato Solidum, head of the Philippines' seismic agency, said on radio on Saturday morning 89 aftershocks had been recorded and more could be expected but they were unlikely to cause significant damage. 
Friday's quake was the strongest since the city was rocked by a 6.9 quake in 1879, Solidum said.
People rushed to open spaces and spent the night in parks and shelter areas, according to radio reports.

Constantine was not an emperor in the 3rd century.

" But this doesn't mean that we need to imply that all persons who want to celebrate Easter are "Babylonish" and wicked."
A couple of us were talking about the very same thing this morning out in field service. The apostle Paul was mentioned.......when he was Saul, and zealous in the persecution of Christians, imagining that he was doing, a "sacred service" (Acts 8:3 3 Saul, though, began to ravage the congregation. He would invade one house after another, dragging out both men and women and turning them over to prison.)                                                                                                                               (Acts 9:1, 2) But Saul, still breathing threat and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that he might bring bound to Jerusalem any whom he found who belonged to The Way, both men and women.) and yet after all this Paul became an apostle of Jesus Christ.                    (1 Corinthians 15:9) 9 For I am the least of the apostles, and I am not worthy of being called an apostle, because I persecuted the congregation of God. 
What a fine example our Brother Paul was.............I always think of the saying "Where there is life there is hope," and isn't that part of our work, as we preach the good News of God's Kingdom. to ALL peoples, around the the earth in these last days


 

Part of a series on: The Memorial > 
  Daytime Events Nisan 13
Matthew 26:17-19
17 On the first day of the Unleavened Bread,+ the disciples came to Jesus, saying: “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?”+ 18 He said: “Go into the city to So-and-so and say to him, ‘The Teacher says: “My appointed time is near; I will celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your home.”’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus instructed them and prepared for the Passover.
Luke 22:7-13
7 The first day of the Unleavened Bread now arrived, on which the Passover sacrifice must be offered;+ 8 so Jesus sent Peter and John, saying: “Go and get the Passover ready for us to eat.”+ 9 They said to him: “Where do you want us to get it ready?” 10 He said to them: “Look! When you enter into the city, a man carrying an earthenware water jar will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters.+ 11 And say to the landlord of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you: “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 12 And that man will show you a large, furnished upper room. Get it ready there.” 13 So they left and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared for the Passover.
  Events after sunset - Nisan 14
Matthew 26:20-56
20 When evening came,+ he was reclining at the table with the 12 disciples.+ 21 While they were eating, he said: “Truly I say to you, one of you will betray me.”+ 22 Being very much grieved at this, each and every one began to say to him: “Lord, it is not I, is it?” 23 In reply he said: “The one who dips his hand with me into the bowl is the one who will betray me.+ 24 True, the Son of man is going away, just as it is written about him, but woe+ to that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed!+ It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”+ 25 Judas, who was about to betray him, replied: “It is not I, is it, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him: “You yourself said it.”
26 As they continued eating, Jesus took a loaf, and after saying a blessing, he broke it,+ and giving it to the disciples, he said: “Take, eat. This means my body.”+ 27 And taking a cup, he offered thanks and gave it to them, saying: “Drink out of it, all of you,+ 28 for this means my ‘blood+ of the covenant,’+which is to be poured out in behalf of many+ for forgiveness of sins.+ 29 But I say to you: I will by no means drink again any of this product of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in the Kingdom of my Father.”+ 30 Finally, after singing praises,* they went out to the Mount of Olives.+
31 Then Jesus said to them: “All of you will be stumbled in connection with me on this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered about.’+ 32 But after I have been raised up, I will go ahead of you into Gal′i·lee.”+ 33 But Peter, in response, said to him: “Although all the others are stumbled in connection with you, I will never be stumbled!”+ 34 Jesus said to him: “Truly I say to you, on this night, before a rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”+ 35 Peter said to him: “Even if I should have to die with you, I will by no means disown you.”+ All the other disciples also said the same thing.
36 Then Jesus came with them to the spot called Geth·sem′a·ne,+ and he said to the disciples: “Sit down here while I go over there and pray.”+ 37 And taking along Peter and the two sons of Zeb′e·dee, he began to feel grieved and to be greatly troubled.+ 38 Then he said to them: “I am* deeply grieved, even to death. Stay here and keep on the watch with me.”+ 39 And going a little way forward, he fell facedown, praying:+ “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup+ pass away from me. Yet, not as I will, but as you will.”+
40 He returned to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter: “Could you not so much as keep on the watch for one hour with me?+ 41 Keep on the watch+ and pray continually,+ so that you may not enter into temptation.+ The spirit, of course, is eager,* but the flesh is weak.”+ 42 Again, a second time, he went off and prayed: “My Father, if it is not possible for this to pass away unless I drink it, let your will take place.”+ 43 And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So leaving them, he again went off and prayed for a third time, saying once more the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them: “At such a time as this, you are sleeping and resting! Look! The hour has drawn near for the Son of man to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up, let us go. Look! My betrayer has drawn near.” 47 While he was still speaking, look! Judas, one of the Twelve, came and with him a large crowd with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.+
48 Now his betrayer had given them a sign, saying: “Whoever it is I kiss, he is the one; take him into custody.” 49 And going straight up to Jesus, he said: “Greetings, Rabbi!” and gave him a tender kiss. 50 But Jesus said to him: “Fellow, for what purpose are you present?”+ Then they came forward and seized Jesus and took him into custody. 51 But look! one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, taking off his ear.+ 52 Then Jesus said to him: “Return your sword to its place,+ for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword.+ 53 Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father to supply me at this moment more than 12 legions of angels?+ 54 In that case, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must take place this way?” 55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowds: “Did you come out to arrest me with swords and clubs as against a robber? Day after day I used to sit in the temple teaching,+ and yet you did not take me into custody.+ 56 But all of this has taken place for the writings* of the prophets to be fulfilled.”+ Then all the disciples abandoned him and fled.+
  Family Worship Ideas
For Older Children
The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived - 2006


 

 
For Younger Children
My Book of Bible Stories - 2004.

 
Next you'll want to read:
 

@JW Insider All nations will learn about God's Kingdom. They will know I am Jehovah, it says throughout the Bible. Psalms 2 answers all questions and reasons. I just read the Bible. Jesus spoke out at the religious leaders of his day and who His God was, Freedom of worship is in most countries, but that remains to be seen, if you believe in the Bible then you walk in the footsteps of Christ Jesus do you not? He said His Kingdom was no part of this world. They said he was a treasonous but he was not, he never claimed to be part of the world. Neither do we if we are truly Christians. 
@John Lindsay Barltrop Perhaps will get another book ? soon on events coming up with the fall of Babylon the Great? Enjoyable learning for sure. The Chariot is on the move! The finished mystery being solved before our eyes. ?

@Bible Speaks Yes I read that article.........and "..........the Holocaust Museum is concerned about Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia!" ............also very interesting is how several other non- witnesses individuals and organisations are against what is occurring to our Brothers in the Russian Federation.