Jack Ryan

How is this not equivalent to passing the plate?  
Why would there be a need for an ATM, or many,  at an event like this? There is no food to be purchased or items to buy that I am aware of. 

I saw this quote on another thread. Can anyone verify or remember this person?
 

Google translate:
The Christian Assembly of Jehovah's Witnesses
April 1, 2017
TO ALL MEETINGS
Theme: Using the Synodal Translation of the Bible in New Conditions
Dear brothers!
From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank you for your active participation in the campaign to write letters. Your participation in this campaign was a clear testimony of brotherly love in action (1 Peter 2:17). At the same time, we realize that the most important thing that we can do to support our brothers facing persecutions is to offer our prayers to Jehovah for them.(Read 1 Timothy 2: 1--4.)
As already reported, the Ministry of Justice wants to impose a ban on the activities of the Christian congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. If the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation decides to ban, this will negatively affect more than 175,000 of our brothers and sisters, on their honorable duty to carry God's words from door to door.
Perhaps opponents think in this way to hinder the preaching work, but our main tool is the Bible, and we can participate even more diligently in the preaching work (1 Corinthians 15:58, Ephesians 6:17). Although the translation of the New World has helped us for many years to better understand the truth and carry the message of the Kingdom of God to other people, but in the new conditions that have arisen in Russia, we must start using the synodal translation of the Bible again.
This is necessary to avoid accusations of distortion of God's word from the world of Satan and discourage our opponents until the verdict of the Supreme Court.
Your brothers,
A copy of the district overseers
Note for coordinators of councils of elders.
Please ensure that this letter is read at the next meeting on weekdays, and also at a weekend meeting. Do not post this

Google translate:
The Christian Assembly of Jehovah's Witnesses
April 1, 2017
TO ALL MEETINGS
Theme: Using the Synodal Translation of the Bible in New Conditions
Dear brothers!
From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank you for your active participation in the campaign to write letters. Your participation in this campaign was a clear testimony of brotherly love in action (1 Peter 2:17). At the same time, we realize that the most important thing that we can do to support our brothers facing persecutions is to offer our prayers to Jehovah for them.(Read 1 Timothy 2: 1--4.)
As already reported, the Ministry of Justice wants to impose a ban on the activities of the Christian congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. If the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation decides to ban, this will negatively affect more than 175,000 of our brothers and sisters, on their honorable duty to carry God's words from door to door.
Perhaps opponents think in this way to hinder the preaching work, but our main tool is the Bible, and we can participate even more diligently in the preaching work (1 Corinthians 15:58, Ephesians 6:17). Although the translation of the New World has helped us for many years to better understand the truth and carry the message of the Kingdom of God to other people, but in the new conditions that have arisen in Russia, we must start using the synodal translation of the Bible again.
This is necessary to avoid accusations of distortion of God's word from the world of Satan and discourage our opponents until the verdict of the Supreme Court.
Your brothers,
A copy of the district overseers
Note for coordinators of councils of elders.
Please ensure that this letter is read at the next meeting on weekdays, and also at a weekend meeting. Do not post this

Google translate:
The Christian Assembly of Jehovah's Witnesses
April 1, 2017
TO ALL MEETINGS
Theme: Using the Synodal Translation of the Bible in New Conditions
Dear brothers!
From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank you for your active participation in the campaign to write letters. Your participation in this campaign was a clear testimony of brotherly love in action (1 Peter 2:17). At the same time, we realize that the most important thing that we can do to support our brothers facing persecutions is to offer our prayers to Jehovah for them.(Read 1 Timothy 2: 1--4.)
As already reported, the Ministry of Justice wants to impose a ban on the activities of the Christian congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. If the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation decides to ban, this will negatively affect more than 175,000 of our brothers and sisters, on their honorable duty to carry God's words from door to door.
Perhaps opponents think in this way to hinder the preaching work, but our main tool is the Bible, and we can participate even more diligently in the preaching work (1 Corinthians 15:58, Ephesians 6:17). Although the translation of the New World has helped us for many years to better understand the truth and carry the message of the Kingdom of God to other people, but in the new conditions that have arisen in Russia, we must start using the synodal translation of the Bible again.
This is necessary to avoid accusations of distortion of God's word from the world of Satan and discourage our opponents until the verdict of the Supreme Court.
Your brothers,
A copy of the district overseers
Note for coordinators of councils of elders.
Please ensure that this letter is read at the next meeting on weekdays, and also at a weekend meeting. Do not post this

Would you have followed this man?
Watchtower 1941 Sep 15 p.287 
"Why, then, should a man who has the prospect before him of being of the great multitude now tie himself up to a stack of bones and a hank of hair?" (Applause)" This was a quote from J,F, Rutherford in a convention talk.
Vindication I (1931) pp.156-157 
"The women make monkeys or dupes of men. The men have become effeminate, soft and easily influenced, and have lost their real manhood and sturdiness in the affairs of state and home. For instance, when men are sitting at a table and a woman approaches, all the men arise and pay her homage and thereby elevate her to a place above men. The men remove their hats upon entering an elevator, if a woman is present; and these things are said to be acts of respect and to show that a man is a gentleman. But it is subtle, and the real meaning is much different from that. It is a scheme of Satan to turn men away from God and from his announced rule of the proper position of man and woman. The Lord has declared that no effeminate man shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. (1 Cor. 6:9) This proves that the scheme or habit of paying homage to women is not of God, but from the great enemy of God. It is a veneer of being a proper thing, and therefore it is more subtle than otherwise."
Golden Age 1930 Apr 2 p.446 
"Whether the identity of the sexes, as such, will be preserved, we do not know. There have been some well authenticated instances in which women have been transformed into men, and it is possible that this transformation may become general and we shall all be brothers together."

Skip to 36:31
Children of the King by JF Rutherford

Google translate:
The Christian Assembly of Jehovah's Witnesses
April 1, 2017
TO ALL MEETINGS
Theme: Using the Synodal Translation of the Bible in New Conditions
Dear brothers!
From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank you for your active participation in the campaign to write letters. Your participation in this campaign was a clear testimony of brotherly love in action (1 Peter 2:17). At the same time, we realize that the most important thing that we can do to support our brothers facing persecutions is to offer our prayers to Jehovah for them.(Read 1 Timothy 2: 1--4.)
As already reported, the Ministry of Justice wants to impose a ban on the activities of the Christian congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. If the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation decides to ban, this will negatively affect more than 175,000 of our brothers and sisters, on their honorable duty to carry God's words from door to door.
Perhaps opponents think in this way to hinder the preaching work, but our main tool is the Bible, and we can participate even more diligently in the preaching work (1 Corinthians 15:58, Ephesians 6:17). Although the translation of the New World has helped us for many years to better understand the truth and carry the message of the Kingdom of God to other people, but in the new conditions that have arisen in Russia, we must start using the synodal translation of the Bible again.
This is necessary to avoid accusations of distortion of God's word from the world of Satan and discourage our opponents until the verdict of the Supreme Court.
Your brothers,
A copy of the district overseers
Note for coordinators of councils of elders.
Please ensure that this letter is read at the next meeting on weekdays, and also at a weekend meeting. Do not post this

Google translate:
The Christian Assembly of Jehovah's Witnesses
April 1, 2017
TO ALL MEETINGS
Theme: Using the Synodal Translation of the Bible in New Conditions
Dear brothers!
From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank you for your active participation in the campaign to write letters. Your participation in this campaign was a clear testimony of brotherly love in action (1 Peter 2:17). At the same time, we realize that the most important thing that we can do to support our brothers facing persecutions is to offer our prayers to Jehovah for them.(Read 1 Timothy 2: 1--4.)
As already reported, the Ministry of Justice wants to impose a ban on the activities of the Christian congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. If the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation decides to ban, this will negatively affect more than 175,000 of our brothers and sisters, on their honorable duty to carry God's words from door to door.
Perhaps opponents think in this way to hinder the preaching work, but our main tool is the Bible, and we can participate even more diligently in the preaching work (1 Corinthians 15:58, Ephesians 6:17). Although the translation of the New World has helped us for many years to better understand the truth and carry the message of the Kingdom of God to other people, but in the new conditions that have arisen in Russia, we must start using the synodal translation of the Bible again.
This is necessary to avoid accusations of distortion of God's word from the world of Satan and discourage our opponents until the verdict of the Supreme Court.
Your brothers,
A copy of the district overseers
Note for coordinators of councils of elders.
Please ensure that this letter is read at the next meeting on weekdays, and also at a weekend meeting. Do not post this

How ridiculous. Anyone asking such questions is not reading the material nor either listening to or attending meetings. Uniforms? Smacks of apostate individuals spreading falsehoods. 

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.

Ma was in the kitchen fiddlin around when she hollars out... "Pa you need to fix the outhouse!" 
 
Pa replies, " there ain't nuthin wrong with the outhouse."
 
Ma yells back, "Yes there is now git out there and fix it."
 
So... Pa mosies out to the outhouse, look's around and yell's back, " there ain't nuthin wrong with the outhouse!"
 
Ma replies "Stick your head in the hole!"
 
Pa yell's back "I ain't sticking my head in that hole!"
 
Ma says "ya have to stick your head in the hole to see what to fix."
 
So with that, pa sticks his head in the hole and looks around and yells back,
"Ma there ain't nuthin wrong with this outhouse!"
 
Ma hollars back, " now take your head out of the hole!"
 
Pa proceeds to pull his head out of the hole, then starts yelling, " Ma!
Help! My beard is stuck in the cracks in the Toilet seat!"
 
To which ma replies "Hurt's , don't it?!

Much as I hesitate to offer observation to Allen because he knows more than I do on most things: on the internet, you assume up front that everyone is a liar. It's icing on the cake if it turns out otherwise, and you never know for sure, because they are digital bits. Through participation in one thread and reading this one, I get an idea of who is who. But I don't know any of it. Nor does anyone know if that guy in the blue shirt and goofy hat is really me. Nor do I assume the overlords here are Witnesses; if they are, they certainly are avant-garde Witnesses. They're all liars, or potential liars, on the internet. It's only those you personally know that you can be sure of.
I have an entire circuit full of people that like me, and I them. I know who they are, or can readily find out. If I want association, I go there. If I want to brawl, I come here. I'll keep coming here, because sometimes I like to brawl. (or share something light somewhere else) But it's hardly fine association as can be had among real people. And I don't offer suggestions to God's organization as to how to conduct itself because no one has asked me. Anyone here who asks me doesn't count.

That's why one shouldn't take anything personally and keep things merely factual, without too much emotion. These are merely discussions (or unfortunately sometimes debates) and people expressing their views and opinions and then giving reasons for their views and opinions. It we can respect that, then one can have some meaningful discussions sometimes.....Just my opinion!

No. I don't believe that. I don't believe one can have meaningful discussions with apostates (and I'm not saying that you do). 
You can reason with the surly neighbor. You can reason with the person who hates Jehovah's Witnesses' guts. You can reason with one who has left the faith, for sometimes they reassess. You cannot reason with apostates. They're easily smart enough, but they have no interest in reasoning. They have only interest in persuading. How many apostates have you seen budge one iota here? Imagine yourself a one-time Mormon. For whatever reason, you left the church 10 years ago. And yet you spend huge amounts of your time trolling the comments of your one-time fellow Mormons, trying to shake them from the religion. Are you one who can be reasoned with?
I say, blow them out of the water, until the overlords say you cannot, and if they should say that - well, that also tells you something. Expose their motives. Expose their bizarre obsession with ruining the faith of others without offering any substitute. I mean, as World War III breaks out, can't you imagine Ann (has she been on this thread or just the other one?) upset that the Australian commission has to desist from questioning our people?
Of course, your indignation must be controlled. For one brief moment, Allen gave reign to wrath, and it's back to Bible 101 for him! But he will gain a refresher certificate (I know, because I have a few of them) and then he will be back for more battles. Or maybe he will move on to other things. Either way, he will be fine, and I am glad to know he is around.

TrueTomHarley:
In any REAL  civil debate the TRUTH will always win out.
IT IS EVERY SEEKER OF REAL TRUTH'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PRESENT ACCURATE FACTS, AND TO KNOW WHAT IS TRUE ... if for no other reason that YOU PERSONALLY can win an argument on any topic, Antarctica to Zepplins ... based on facts, reason, logic and common sense.
Calling people names and trying to disparage their character, or appealing ( read: WHINING) to "overlords" only sends up a red flare into the night sky, that you cannot defend what is true, based on what is actually true, and need a "Big Brother" to shut the opposition down .. because you cannot defend your position, facts, philosophy, perspective of Theology in the REAL world, outside of pretzel shaped sentences and words.
The TRUE test of ANY philosophy, perspective or God supported religion is this ;
1.) It must make plain 'ol common sense outside of a convoluted million word semantics trap, where ANYTHING can be rationalized, and explained with applied stupidity.
2. It has to be based on free will, without coercion in any way, shape or form.
3. It has to be defendable against ALL COMERS ... in every circumstance ... in every case ... and the Arena Of Ideas by necessity must run red with rivers of blood from bad ideas exposed, and piled high with the bodies of the deluded, to stink in the hot midday sun.
The reason people inside, and outside of the Brotherhood fail at this is that they are afraid of philosophical combat, and TRYING to find out what is true.
THEY FEAR BEING PUNISHED SEVERELY FOR RATIONAL THOUGHT AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH.  This is why in in a judicial system based on FEAR, in 50 years, with 1,006 criminal child molesters, in over 5,000 incidents ... ONLY ONE was reported to the Australian police.
The word the entire Planet uses for this  ... is TYRANNY.
Without rational thought being encouraged, and Freedom of Speech, with EVERYBODY encouraged ... we become draft animals for anyone who, even though they may have the highest goals and the very BEST motives as rulers, and shepherds ... THEY INTEND TO RULE.
The effect  ALWAYS is an almost imperceptible slide from fear, to accepting tyranny as "the way things should be",
Instead of debating and abandoning what is false ... they debate and defend their untenable and wrong positions, ideas, and totems, and lose the simplest arguments about what is True and what is not, resorting to "Theocratic Warfare", where lying is an acceptable tactic.
It's a TRAP.

Jehovah's Witnesses asked to hide a one-million-euro entrepreneurial hole at a Northern Spain supply firm. The cult appealed to the "peace" of the congregation to pressure the co-owners of the firm and prevent them from reporting the case to ordinary justice.
The case concerns a well-known construction supplies company based in a large northern city. The company, founded in 1975, belongs to a family that has been a member of the Witnesses since it was born.
When one of the parents died in 2014, one of the daughters inherited a share in society. The rest of the capital remained in the hands of his relatives.
"ONE MILLION EUROS"
When the citizen received the shareholding inheritance, she discovered a remarkable puff in the firm in what seemed a solvent company, according to the documents to which this newspaper has been able to access.
According to the documents in the hands of several congregations of Witnesses in the northern area, the partner would have discovered the suspicious sale of an industrial warehouse and diversion of funds.
Likewise, the creation of a very similar company with a similar name emerged, a redirected web portal and an identical telephone. With this stratagem, the parallel merchant would have taken the goodwill, the merchandise and the clientele.
The complainant estimates that the loss caused by the alleged unfair administration totals one million euros, 400,000 euros in diverted funds and 600,000 in goods transferred to society B.
THE WITNESSES SUGGEST TO BE SILENT
As a Jehovah's Witness by birth, the neighbor came to the internal justice of the millenarian cult. Its first complaint of 2014, to which this newspaper was able to accede, suggested that its partners had committed fraud, unfair competition and irregular administration.
The response of the head office of the denomination in Spanish Bethel was very clear. "We want to encourage you to apply the biblical principles in all your decisions and not to be carried away by the emotions," says the letter.
SECOND COMPLAINT
Not content with the answer, the affected ones took another step. They sent an official letter to the headquarters of the Witnesses in which they insisted on indications of fraud. In addition, they called for the creation of an internal committee to investigate what happened.
Again, the leadership of the cult responded ( letter enclosed ) calling on the family to avoid ordinary justice. "Is the money and the rights, or the peace and family unity of the congregation more important to us?" asks a passage from the response letter.
"We are sure," continues the letter, "that as Christians who wish to do things in Jehovah 's way you will strive to follow these and other advice."
PRESSURES
In the rest of the documentation, the affected people emphasize the pressures received.
As the documents read, the businesswoman is affiliated with the denomination's internal justice administration circuit that has been relentless with her even though she would have delivered money to the family society when she needed it.
According to the latest communication with Spanish Bethel, the citizen has now turned to the Witnesses legal department at the world headquarters in the United States to try to reopen the investigation.
 
 

POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – A Polk County mother is outraged after she claims a school bus driver used her son to spread hate. Natalie Encarnacion told News Channel 8 that the bus driver, now identified as Violeta Jacobo, told her seven-year-old son he would go to hell for supporting his mom’s same-sex relationship. One afternoon, in the beginning of February, her son had missed his bus from Alta Vista Elementary School, so a different bus driver took him home. “He mentioned [to the bus driver] he was hoping his two mom’s wouldn’t be upset that he was home so late,” Encarnacion said. “She said ‘whoa God doesn’t like that,’ then she went on and on telling him how he wouldn’t make it into heaven and there is a such thing as hell.” She claims the bus driver even sent him home with a Jehovah’s Witnesses card, and hate in his heart. “Later that night, he explained why we should not be together anymore,” Encarnacion said. “He is absolutely questioning this now, something we have so smoothly transitioned into and never had any issues with.” Encarnacion said she contacted the school board and never heard back. She also contacted DCF. She told News Channel 8 the agency looked into the incident, but closed the case when they did not find any neglect. According to Polk County School Board Spokesperson Jason Geary, they are still reviewing the matter. However, they have spoken to the bus driver and instructed her that she must follow the code of ethical conduct. According to Geary, Violeta Jacobo is an active bus driver, employed since August 31, 2012. There is no past disciplinary action in her personnel file. “It’s shocking and it’s infuriating to know that nobody is doing anything about it. Just the thought that she could do this to other kids.” Encarnacion said she hopes something is done so she can’t do this to another family. “I am extremely devastated. My home life and everything is being affected by this. My son is rebelling against our relationship and it’s just putting everything into question. It’s really upsetting and I hope nobody ever has to go through this,” she said. “This has put hate in his heart.”

http://wfla.com/2017/03/07/polk-woman-claims-school-bus-driver-told-7-year-old-son-he-would-go-to-hell-for-moms-same-sex-relationship/

... especially when it's the 7 year old's mother(s) being talked about. Whatever one's personal beliefs are about same-sex relationships, you don't dump your misgivings or condemnation on the child! Smh.

Rather contradictory reporting here about a boy who was told he would go to hell by someone who also told him hell does not exist???? 
Maybe not fake but certainly confuse news!
Regardless, the topic is certainly inappropriate for discussion between a 7 yr old and an unrelated adult.

If the cap fits then wear it !!!! 
The bible and therefore Almighty God who had the bible written for our instruction clearly states in several passages that same sex relationships are indeed abhorant and unnatural and will not inherit Gods Kingdom - the same outcome also for all the liars , those without faith , men / women who lie with men- women , also those who are not obedient to Gods requirements..... don't shoot the messenger for trying to save all your lives !!!!!

Jackie Chan visiting Bethel of the Jehovah's WItnesses

February 13, 2017 TO ALL BODIES OF ELDERS Re: Memorial and Special Talk
 
Inactive Ones: Please follow closely the instructions in the May 23, 2010, letter to all bodies of elders as you endeavor to invite inactive ones to the Memorial and special talk. As you meet with them, please convey the love and concern of the Governing Body and the local congregation. (1 Thess. 2:7, 8) Offer to help with transportation or to provide any other practical assistance so that they can be in attendance.
The 2017 Memorial will be held on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
The 2018 Memorial will be held on Saturday, March 31, 2018.
The 2019 Memorial will be held on Friday, April 19, 2019.
 

Interesting. His political work for the campaign of William Jennings Bryan is another part of his past around this same time is of interest too, especially when we consider Rutherford's later politics approved for publication in the Golden Age, Watchtowers, various booklets and convention talks. (William Jennings Bryan himself is also of renewed interest to those who see current parallels with Donald Trump.)

Someone just sent me a scan of the Boonville Advertiser newspaper in which it mentions J.F. Rutherford as a member, and not only just a member but the toastmaster for the inauguration of the Golden Gate Lodge No.91, Knights of Pythias.

Also, he was a member of the Woodmen of the World.
Although not a "Masonic" organization, it was included in Russell's condemnation of such organizations:
the Free Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, etc., perform certain rites and ceremonies of a religious kind... We place upon one level all of those who have any religious ceremonies, teachings, etc., and consider them all as parts of Babylon ... We admonish the New Creation to have nothing whatever to do with any of these semi-religious societies, clubs, orders, churches; but to "Come out from amongst them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing." (`2 Cor. 6:17`)" —1904; "The New Creation", pp. 580-581
Of course, this was in 1899, about 7 years before Rutherford became a Bible Student (JW). But still, this is something about his life that I haven't seen anywhere else on the internet or on the WT history books I have read.
Here is the evidence:
Boonville Advertiser, Feb. 17, 1899, pg. 1, col. 5.pdf
Boonville Advertiser, Jan. 13, 1899, pg. 1, col. 3.pdf
Boonville Advertiser, Jan. 20, 1899, pg. 1, col. 2-5.pdf
What do you think of this?
 
Here's some info:
"A member must be at least 18 years of age, not be a professional gambler or involved with illegal drugs or alcohol, and he must have a belief in a Supreme Being. The oath taken by members: