bruceq

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/charity/2016/7/patriotic-organization-in-us-sets-record-collecting-letters-for-military-personne-434844 CURRENT HOLDER A LITTLE OVER 100,000 LETTERS FROM GUINNESS - LINK ABOVE Patriotic organization in US sets record collecting letters for military personnelBy Christine CremonniPublished 07 July 2016 Share Facebook Twitter Google+ Email Whatsapp LinkedIn Reddit In the build up to Independence Day many Americans were seen demonstrating their national pride, and the US organisation National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) has set a new record doing so. DAR has officially set the record for the Most letters to military personnel collected in one month with 100,904 letters collected on June 18, 2016 in Washington, DC. Most letters to military personnel collected in one month record Founded in 1890, DAR is a non-profit women’s volunteer service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, education, and historic preservation and this special attempt took place to celebrate the organisation’s 125th Continental Congress, at Constitution Hall. Unequivocally, they chose to do something that would help support the active troops of the United States, and decided to collect support letters to send to the American troops overseas. This was a new record title, with the DAR being the first to attempt it. The original goal was for a 10,000 letter collection, but people from all over the United States kept sending notes in, leading to the massive 100,904 letter collection. i SENT AN OFFICIAL SUGGESTION TO THE GUINNESS OFFICE EXPLAINING THE SITUATION AND GAVE THEM THE WEBSITE JW.ORG FOR MORE INFO. IN CASE THEY WERE NOT AWARE. ONE ISSUE IS WE DON'T HAVE ANY EXACT NUMBER SO THAT MIGHT HINDER IT FROM BEING A RECORD

Daily chartFreedom of worship is on the decline in many countries A new report quantifies religious persecution by both governments and individuals Graphic detail Apr 14th 2017 by THE DATA TEAM NEARLY 2,000 years ago today, according to the Bible, Jesus of Nazareth was crucified for “subverting” the people of Judea. Even after two millennia, humanity has still not managed to eliminate religious persecution. In fact, one index published on April 11th suggests that freedom of worship is actually declining. Pew, a think-tank, evaluates obstacles to the observance of religion in two dimensions, based on the text of countries’ constitutions and on reports by governments and human-rights groups. It measures laws and policies that limit religious beliefs in a government-restrictions index, and violence and other intimidation from the public at large in a social-hostilities index. The overall level of restrictions on religion is surprisingly elevated: the study finds it “high” or “very high” in fully one-quarter of the 198 nations assessed. Moreover, the situation appears to be getting worse: both the government and social indicators show that religious freedom deteriorated in 2015—the latest year for which data are available—for the first time in three years. State restrictions on freedom of worship are concentrated in the Middle East and North Africa, the origin of the Abrahamic faiths. In that region, 95% of governments engage in harassment and the use of force against religious groups, with Egypt’s policies the sternest of all. However, European countries, including some of the continent’s secular liberal democracies, can be intolerant as well. Pew found more than 200 cases of government constraints on religious groups not only in Russia, which forbids some forms of public religious practice, but also in France, which maintains a ban on face-coverings in public spaces. The increase in the social-hostilities index largely reflects rises in mob violence. In India the government counted 561 incidents of religiously motivated physical conflict during the first ten months of 2015, which resulted in 90 deaths and 1,688 injuries. Although such incidents are far less frequent in Europe, they are becoming more prevalent. Pew listed 17 mob-violence incidents on the continent in 2015, up from nine the year before. That figure is sadly likely to have risen again last year.

Russian media portray Jehovah's Witnesses as American spies JEHOVISTS AND MORMONS COLLECT INTELLIGENCE IN RUSSIA FOR AMERICAN SPECIAL AGENCIES Interfax-Religiia, 17 April 2017 The intelligence community of the U.S.A. sends into Russia representatives of Christian sects for collecting intelligence, retired General Major Valery Malevanny, the vice-president of the Berkut Association of Veterans of Special Services, declared. "The sects even exist for this and for this they are financed by western intelligence agencies so that these sects will conduct ideological, diversionary, provocational, and, of course, spy work," the expert declared on Monday on air with TV channel Zvezda. He said that networks of "religious saboteurs" have often tried to operate on Russian territory. "Youths are sent on supposed survival expeditions in the guise of Jehovah's Witnesses. Literally 2 to 2.5 years ago they arrested such an expedition on the border of Pskov province, where they tried to collect information about military objects that are located on the border with the Baltic states. This information was instantly dispatched by instructors, and the instructors, naturally, were from American intelligence services," V. Malevanny noted. He gave an example of when in 2015 on the border of the territory of the Arkhangelsk province an expedition of students of the "church of Mormons" was arrested. "It turned out that when FSB counterintelligence arrested them, among them were two instructors who were found to be agents of the C.I.A., and the students themselves took samples of water, air, and soil," the vice-president of the association explained. He recalled that the Plesetsk cosmodrome is located in Arkhangelsk province. "Under the pretext of this Mormon student expedition, American intelligence agencies tried to find out what launches occurred, how many vessels were involved, what was their precision, and what were the time intervals," V. Malevanny added. (tr. by PDS, posted 17 April 2017)

U.S. says Russia's Jehovah's Witnesses ban is latest sign Moscow views independent religions as a threat The Russian justice ministry’s call for the country’s Jehovah’s Witnesses headquarters to be shut down represents an attempt to “eliminate the legal existence” of the religion, said the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). The USCIRF is a bipartisan federal commission, with commissioners appointed by the president, the Senate and the House. The justice ministry suspended the Jehovah’s Witnesses headquarters in St. Petersburg last month, alleging that its activities “violate Russia’s law on combating extremism.” The Russian branch of the U.S.-based religion said a ban on its headquarters would directly affect around 400 local branches in the country and all 2277 of its religious groups, with their 175,000 followers. Russia’s Supreme Court is set to rule on the matter Wednesday. The USCIRF said that if the court sides with the justice ministry it would constitute the first time Russia has banned an organized religious organization. “The Russian government’s latest actions appear designed to eliminate the legal existence of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia,” Thomas J. Reese, S.J., chair of the USCIRF, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, said in a statement released Monday. “If the Supreme Court rules in April that this group is ‘extremist’ it would mark the first time that Russia legally has banned a centrally-administered religious organization and would effectively criminalize all Jehovah’s Witnesses’ activity nationwide. USCIRF calls on the Russian government to stop its harassment of this peaceful religious group.” The statement from the group added: “The treatment of the Jehovah’s Witnesses reflects the Russian government’s tendency to view all independent religious activity as a threat to its control and the country’s political stability.” The Russian branch of the Jehovah’s Witnesses has vehemently denied the Kremlin's charges, stating that “extremism is profoundly alien to the Bible-based beliefs and morality” of members of the faith. It warned of the far-ranging impact in the country for religious liberty. Russia’s dominant religion is Russian Orthodox Christianity, which comprises about 72 percent of the population, up from just 31 percent in 1991, according to analysis from the Pew Research Center.“Millions of believers around the world consider the action of the Ministry of a big mistake,” the group said. “If the claim is satisfied, it would entail catastrophic consequences for the freedom of religion in Russia.” http://www.newsweek.com/russia-jehovahs-witnesses-ban-religion-579045

Summary of day four of Jehovah's Witnesses trial SUPREME COURT SPENDS NINE HOURS IN SEARCH OF EXTREMISM AMONG JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES Kavkazskii Uzel, 13 April 2017 Eight witnesses questioned, examination of charters of local congregations, history of a believer's illness, search for answer to the question what believers do with extremist literature—this is the way a session of the Supreme Court in the case about the liquidation of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia turned out, which was conducted on 12 April. As Kavkazskii Uzel wrote, at the start of the session, lawyers for the believers declared that the Administrative Center informed local religious organizations about the entry of some publications into the list of extremist materials and created a commission to prevent their appearance. It also was reported that several believers from Taganrog (Rostov province) had received political asylum in Europe as their congregation was liquidated and the court sentenced them to fines and suspended prison terms. In the opinion of the Russian Ministry of Justice, the activity of Jehovah's Witnesses threatens the rights of citizens and public safety. Lawyers for the defendant called the attempt to ban their activity political repressions, although the court did not agree with this assessment. A lawyer for the Ministry of Justice said that after liquidation of the organization, law enforcement agencies will be able to initiate cases on the basis of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the RF (arranging the activity of an extremist organization) providing for fines of from 300 to 800 thousand rubles and imprisonment of from two to 12 years. The Ministry of Justice also demanded the confiscation of the property of Jehovah's Witnesses. We learned about this story only in court One of the central topics of the 12 April session was a discussion of a decision earlier made by the court to add to the case evidence of "violations of the rights of citizens on the part of Jehovah's Witnesses." As attorney Viktor Zhenkov explained, the issue was a story of the illness of a minor patient, whose parents made the choice to use bloodless medicine. "The doctors diagnosed the child with a low hemoglobin level. The question was how to raise it. The doctors recommended to the parents a treatment of a blood transfusion, although the parents decided to use a drug that helps an organism to produce red blood cells. Whether blood was used or not is unknown. There was no operation and the child spent several days in the hospital. He is alive and healthy. We, the defense, learned about this story only in court," Zhenkov reported. The attorney thinks that the story of illness has nothing to do with the case about extremism. "Every patient has a choice of how to be treated," Zhenkov told a Kavkazskii Uzel correspondent. We note that in the course of consideration of the question, the attorney read excerpts out of an order of the Russian Ministry of Health pertaining to the dangers of transfusion of components of blood and also to the necessity of getting written agreement for conducting this procedure from the patient in advance. "There is no qualification in the order that representatives of some religions are allowed to exercise the right of informed consent and others are not allowed," Zhenkov quoted the official website of Russian Jehovah's Witnesses. The defense also expressed puzzlement because the justice ministry possessed a document containing medical confidence. Kavkazskii Uzel still has not obtained commentaries from lawyers for the ministry. In June 2010, the European Court for Human Rights, having reviewed the case of Religious Community of Jehovah's Witnesses versus the city of Moscow, and others against the "Russian Federation" came to the conclusion that refusal of blood transfusion cannot be compared with attempted suicide or murder. "If one understands the decision of the national courts as implying equality between refusal of a blood transfusion and suicide, then, in the opinion of the European court this analogy is not applicable, inasmuch as the situation in which a patient tries to hasten the onset of death by means of discontinuing treatment is different from situations in which patients, for example Jehovah's Witnesses, simply select a method of treatment while wanting to recover and not wanting to reject treatment in general," the decision of the European court says. In June 2013 the ECHR ordered the Russian government to pay 5,000 euros to the daughter of a female Jehovah's Witness from Nalchik, finding disclosure of information from her medical record to be a violation. Function of the Administrative Center is purely logistical A special place in the trial was occupied by clarification of the role that the Administrative Center plays in the activity of local religious congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses. This question was studied in the context of the liquidation, by decisions of courts, of eight congregations, a Kavkazskii Uzel conrrespondent who was in attendance in the courtroom reported. Defense attorney Yury Toporov declared that the charters of regional organizations may differ. The Russian Administrative Center, at the request of fellow believers from the regions, provides recommendations, for example, what are the dimensions for building a house of worship. However the local religious organization agrees the construction project with local authorities. To the question of Judge Yury Ivanenko whether the head office had confirmed the charters of liquidated local religious organizations, Toporov answered that the founders of a new local religious organization may send a request for membership in the structure of the Administrative Center in order to speed up the procedure of registration. In that case, the Administrative Center examines the charter in order to be sure that the founders are Jehovah's Witnesses and that their goals coincide with the teachings of the religious organization. Congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses in the South Federal District and North Caucasus Federal District have frequently been fined for the use of literature that was later entered into the Federal List of Extremist Materials. And several local organizations have been liquidated, including those in Taganrog, Abinsk, Cherkessk, and Elista. Believers have reported increasing incidents of plants of printed materials ruled to be extremist in houses of worship and Russian rights advocates have noted that prosecutions have attained unprecedented proportions, according to information of "Jehovah's Witnesses—extremists or victims of lawlessness?" published in Kavkazskii Uzel. "Did the Administrative Center import literature that subsequently was ruled to be extremist?" the Russian Jehovah's Witnesses' website quoted the judge's question. The defendants described the function of the head office as "purely logistical": a foreign publisher amasses orders from individuals and then sends literature to the believers. As regards publications ruled to be extremist, Jehovah's Witnesses' attorneys said that the Administrative Center reports to local congregations about the entry of printed materials into the Federal List of Extremist Materials and asks them not to use them. "What is the fate of printed productions that have been ruled extremist? Is it taken away from believers by the center? Is it destroyed?" the judge asked. The attorneys declared that the Administrative Center cannot dictate to believers what to do with literature that is in their possession but it only calls attention to the provisions of the law. A justice ministry's attorney asked what measures had been undertaken by the Administrative Center for "preventing extremist activity." After attorneys' repeated information that had been voiced in previous sessions, Judge Ivanenko recalled that even in the event of an absence of such measures, these are not grounds for the liquidation of all congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses, Portal-Credo reported. "Is there extremism on the basis of carelessness or inaction?" the judge asked a lawyer for the plaintiff and he received a negative answer. [. . .] I destroyed [publications] that were entered into the list of extremist materials In the course of the session, attorneys for the defendant questioned their own witnesses: for this role, four believers with academic degrees were chosen. Most emotionally spoke Vilen Kantere, a doctor of technological sciences and member of the Russian Academy of Engineers, the International Academy of Engineers, the International Academy of Organic Products and Biotechnology and laureate of the State Prize. "After becoming a Jehovah's Witness 25 years ago, did you pursue extremist goals?" attorney Toporkov asked. "God help me! Of course not!" Kantere literally screamed. "Extremism is not compatible with my faith. After materials were entered into the Federal List of Extremist Materials, I destroyed them, although the question of the justice of entering publications into the Federal List of Extremist Materials I consider to be beyond the limits of this discussion," a Kavkazskii Uzel correspondent quoted the witness for the defense. This speech was received by the believers present in the courtroom with enthusiasm: uneasy applause broke out. The judge looked at the bailiff sternly, who looked around the room attentively. In response to a question of the justice ministry's lawyer, Kantere explained that his religion does not prevent receiving higher education and he thinks that this question should be approached responsibly, the details of the hearings were reported on the website of Russian Jehovah's Witnesses. Regular inspections of the premises for services to find forbidden literature were described by Valentin Zavyalov, a professor of the Moscow Construction Engineering Institute and fellow of the department of theoretical mechanics and aerodynamics of the Moscow State Construction University. "The appearance of extremist materials at worship services is categorically ruled out," a Kavkazskii Uzel correspondent quoted Zavyalov, who has been a Jehovah's Witness more than 20 years. Zavyalov clarified that the titles of literature that has been entered into the Federal List of Extremist Materials are hung on the wall of premises where worship services are conducted. "We are encouraged to reject forbidden literature and to get rid of it. But there are dishonest people and we always check whether extremist literature has been hidden behind a toilet, behind batteries, or under stairways," Interfax-Religiia quotes Zavyalov. "I am engaged in prevention of child abuse and the struggle with the distribution of extremist materials among youth. I can assure you that the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses is incompatible with extremism. This teaching helped me to raise my own child, of whom I am very proud," a Kavkazskii Uzel correspondent quotes the answer to a question by the judge by Tatiana Kremneva, a doctor of pedagogy and professor of the Moscow State Pedagogical Institute. "In services do you not arouse hatred of other religions?" Judge Ivanenko asked. "No," the professor said, specifying that she deals with colleagues and students who do not share her convictions "positively, without hatred, disrespect, contempt, or discrimination," the website of Russian Jehovah's Witnesses quotes Kremneva. "Believers say that their convictions do not prevent them from being educated people, because science and religion do not conflict. Faith helps them treat all people with respect," defense attorney Viktor Zhenkov comments on the results of the examination of the witnesses. If harm was caused, why did they not appeal to law enforcement? The session on 12 April culminated in the examination of witnesses for the prosecution, which role was played by four persons who had left the ranks of the religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses. The first statement by St. Petersburger Natalia Koretska evoked a notice by the judge of active use of a notebook with notes. In his turn, attorney Omelchenko thought that Koretska's words were taken from one of the anti-cult websites. "The strong similarity of wording with notes in the notebook—How do you explain this?" the defense attorney questioned Koretska. However the woman answered evasively. "The court makes the decision to acquaint itself with the witness' notes," the judge ruled, declaring that the familiarization will occur later, the Kavkazskii Uzel reported. Koretska also was not able to explain to the court how the former believer, from 1995 to 2009, could now know about "incidents of extremist activity" of recent years, the Russian Jehovah's Witnesses website reported. The essence of Koretska's statement came down to what she said was the existing "complete and total control of life by the Administrative Center." Responding to a request from the judge to cite instances of control, Koretska reported that an example was her expulsion from the congregations after she "began her close, but not officially registered, relations with a man," TASS reports. Plaintiff's witness Pavel Zverev declared that he suffered from the activity of the religious organization in that he was not able to receive higher education, from which he suffers "in my living." Judge Ivanenko pointed out that other Jehovah's Witnesses not only received higher education but also academic degrees, Interfax-Religiia reports. Zverev also said that while working as a volunteer chef in the Russian Administrative Center "there formed in him an attitude of hatred toward Orthodoxy and the clergy." "We see that the witnesses give evidence in accordance with written materials, repeating the conclusions of so-called sect-scholarship literature. Some of them figure in open sources as activists of the movement that fights against Jehovah's Witnesses, TASS quotes defense attorneys. However Zverev denied that he is a member of anti-cult organizations, despite the assertion of the attorneys about the presence in open access of his photo with famous representatives of the "sect-scholars," the Russian Jehovah's Witnesses' website reports. "Witness, if you really were caused harm, did you turn to law enforcement agencies?" the judge asked. Zverev's answer was negative. Laughter broke out in the courtroom. The judge again looked at the bailiff sternly, and he—at the hall. The laughter ended, the Kavkazskii Uzel correspondent describes that episode. A former Jehovah's Witness, from 1983 to 2009, Volgograder Nina Petrova, declared that she did not marry since they persuaded her that she "does not need" a family, and when she "understood that this was a deception, it was too late." During the testimony, several of those present in the courtroom quietly discussed that the activity of the religious organization is not directly connected with making a family. The publications of Jehovah's Witnesses consistently criticize the teaching of obligatory singlehood (celibacy). "Although the Bible speaks highly of marriage, it certainly does not condemn singlehood, if it is undertaken voluntarily. Honest marriage is a blessing from God. Compulsory celibacy harms spirituality," the periodical publication Awake, for 8 June 1998, states in particular. Petrova considered that an example of extremist activity was that believers "expel from their ranks those who commit sins." The judge asked the justice ministry's lawyer just which arguments presented in the lawsuit confirm these testimonies. "A possible threat to an undefined circle of persons," the answer sounded. To the judge's question whether Petrova saw that believers distributed extremist literature, she responded negatively, Portal-Credo reported. In the ninth hour of the session, testimony was given by Viktor Koretsky, who ceased to be a Jehovah's Witness in 2009. The lawyer of the Ministry of Justice posed the question of what Koretsky knew about the attitude of former fellow believers toward higher education and state symbols. "These points are not indicated in the grounds of the lawsuit. Why explain this for us?" the judge addressed the lawyer of the plaintiff. "The question is withdrawn," the Kavkazskii Uzel correspondent quotes the reaction of the employee of the ministry. After that the judge declared a recess until 10:00 on 19 April. If there is an order, testimonies may be whatever is beneficial Believers who assembled after the session, not far from the Supreme Court building, were satisfied with the day's results. "Representatives of the plaintiff's side compromised themselves, especially the lady who read from notes," one of the believers told the Kavkazskii Uzel correspondent. Another Jehovah's Witness was less optimistic. "Despite the ridiculous statements of prosecution witnesses, the trial may not end in favor of believers. If initially there was an order to the court, then the testimony can be as ridiculous as you want," the speaker noted. "At the base of the decision to ban religious literature lies the "exceptionality" of Jehovah's Witnesses. But then it is logical to ban all world religious, which are based on the very same thing," trial attendee Maria shared. Conviction of the exceptional nature of beliefs is inherent to many religious movements, personnel of rights advocacy organizations and religious studies scholars surveyed by Kavkazskii Uzel declared earlier. They doubt the rationality of the lawsuit being considered by the Russian Supreme Court. (tr. by PDS, posted 15 April 2017)

Fine with me just the unverified issue of the news item.from others not on this forum as noted above. I am glad there are others posting it however. And I am happy you did.

Yes I noticed this as well. I was just afraid to mention it. lol

I think the best criteria is mentioned in Zeph. 2:3 :"2 Before the decree takes effect,Before the day passes by like chaff,Before the burning anger of Jehovah comes upon you,+Before the day of Jehovah’s anger comes upon you, 3 Seek Jehovah,+ all you meek ones* of the earth,Who observe his righteous decrees.*Seek righteousness, seek meekness.*Probably* you will be concealed on the day of Jehovah’s anger.+ Even if we are not with one another and we are alone we must be faithful and loyal to Jehovah. As to uncertainties I really like Bro. Jacksons talk at the annual meeting "Expect the Unexpected".

Of course, thanks

Yes thank you that was a perfect reply for us to just wait.

Wow I just noticed over 62,000 views on this topic. No wonder we are getting so much attention.

Just seems a bit hypocritical to say this about our forum when I know for a certainty that apostates have posted on theirs. After all this is social media we can't prevent people from posting I guess.

Not literally but have people not come here thinking we are apostate for posting here. But since they are also posting on social media well...?

Simon Botes said "This site http://THEWORLDNEWSMEDIA.ORG is spreading FAKE NEWS and outright lies. Friends let's not support fake news. I am sure its just an overreaction to say to ban us all.

Yes they were particularly talking about the Jackie Chan being a Witness thing that was posted here then they noticed the Guiness book posting. On stopjwban some were saying to ban this forum in particular because of what some have posted. I simply post news and have a source if I feel it is of benefit to the brothers. I do not intend to mislead with false stories as I alsways have source material. Of course some of them may be false stories but the article said that Guiness "MAY" look into it someday, not that they already did. And since it was translated from Russian it may not be entirely accurate anyway due to English translation differences. I do not understand why some brothers, if they are brothers, need to feel so disturbed from postings here. It is up to the administrators to decide what is posted or not. I do not believe banning a forum such as this is an appropriate step just because some opposers may post here, after all apostates have been posting on #stopjwban yet no one says to ban that hastag. Is that not hypocrisy for them to try and ban us. It is the Russian Government that is trying to ban. Who is the adversary here anyway? Please let us be "peaceable to all men" as our talk stated today!

"Insider" said :"That's very true. What would make us idolators is if we devoted ourselves to imperfect men. We would be idolators if we devoted ourselves to the apostles. We would be idolators if we devoted ourselves to the Governing Body". I do not agree with you but I do agree with Jehovah's Witnesses. I am "devoted" to my wife that does not make me an idolater Acts 2:42..

Weren't those instructions directly from Jesus? Of course but since he was not alive in 66 C.E. it was through humans who were taking the lead. For more info see the Feb. 2017 article "Who Is Leading God's People Today for our position. And to JW insider : Just because we follow the admonition at Acts 2:42 does not make us idolators. For more info. on what we believe see the above Watchtower article. Thanks

"Obviously, you read these verses a little differently. I think we can apply these verses and still be very appreciative of the counsel, encouragement and guidance given by the Governing Body" I agree , I was not trying to be argumentative. Some opposers use the "imperfect men" argument about the Governing Body. I was just saying that Jehovah and Jesus use imperfect humans to lead us. Point is we follow the teaching of Jesus but we do it through a channel of human representatives "teaching of the apostles" not just Jesus alone without a Governing Body. The First Century Apostles were part of the Governing Body I was not saying we have Apostles today but we do have a Governing Body made up of humans as were the Apostles. {Correction ; At the time of Acts 2:42 the Apostles alone made up the Governing Body which was later expanded to include the body of elders in the Jerusalem Congregation. "devoted to the teaching of the Apostles". Acts 2:42. aka "devoted to the teaching of the Governing Body", that is "those taking the lead" Greek for "taking the lead is "governing ones".}

Jehovah and Jesus use imperfect humans to lead us. We need to obey and be fully "devoted" to them as the Israelites were to Moses. Not critical or undevoted as Korah and his rebels were. The Christians had to obey certain "instuctions" to survive the Great Tribulation in the first century. If anyone has any doubt that we should be "devoted" to imperfect men then just read the Bible : " 42 And they continued devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles" Acts 2 :42.

According to RT News [Russian news} they report this :"North Korea has tried, but allegedly failed, to conduct a new missile test launch, according to South Korea’s Joint Chief of Staff. The alleged botched launch comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula and a day after Pyongyang showcased its new sea based and intercontinental missiles." https://www.rt.com/news/384904-korea-pyongyang-missile-launch/ Wonder which General will be killed for that mistake.

What is important is that people right now that I am speaking with in the field are scared to death about things happening this past week. So now is a good time to "comfort them from the Scriptures".

The Russian Ministry of Justice uses the same arguments that some here do against Jehovah's people. I am sure Jehovah will take care of matters in "style". Expect the unexpected.

Nicely said Queen Esther. It is possible that a another world war or even a limited nuclear exchange by a "crazy kid" [I think you know who I mean] may trigger the nations to want to strengthen the United Nations and declare "peace and security". How fitting and timely it is that the worldwide talk tomorrow is on the subject "How to Cultivate Peace in an Angry World". Somehow I do not believe that the events in Russia with Jehovah's Witnesses, and Syria and Afghanistan and the South China Sea and now North Korea all happening at the same time are all just a coincidence. Someone once said "there is no such thing as a coincidence" {Leroy Jethrow Gibbs NCIS} Footnote: The talk outline for the talk tomorrow was written about a year ago scheduled to be given tomorrow at the same time as all of these things are happening! Interesting.

Violent Extremism. Now where have I seen that before said about Jehovah's Witnesses? Jn. 13:35

Not mentioned yet because it may happen soon is what the article is saying : "The future will show whether the representatives of the Guinness Book record a new world record for the number of letters written"