James Thomas Rook Jr.

Of course, you can MAKE a Trinity, as I did when I was younger ... I cut a worm into three parts, that he could have friends!

There is of course, that ... but even MORE insidious is that during World War II American submarines used Mercury as ballast, because it would flow, and could be pumped, and when they had to dump the ballast to surface the boat, the Mercury settled into low points on the ocean floor in large pools .... contaminating the local flora and fauna ( ... that means vegetation and animal life, for those in Rio Linda ...). The price of Mercury today made it economical to salvage those subsurface pools of Mercury, and much was recovered ... however, it could not be used, because it was contaminated with Tuna Fish. .

"What, Me Worry?" Why not make it public? This is the "Arena of Ideas" ... even stupid ones. Rather than take a field trip down Booger's Woods, why not clarify why B=A, but that A is NOT equal to B. OOOoughah ... Pretzel Alert! .

I prefer to disregard fake news, and the nice thing about being a rascally curmudgeon with Barbarian overtones is that, being 70 years old, I can usually spot fake news. When I was younger the credibility gap was compensated for by my gullibility fill, but I got TIRED of being wrong ALL the time, and played for a fool by my own inexperience. I suppose it's a skill that one has to get used to .... as sheep never figure it out that the reason they are being cared for is to shave them bald, and EAT them. That analogy has ALWAYS bothered me ... I mentioned it in a comment at the Watchtower Study years ago, and a Brother, sitting four rows behind me got the microphone and exclaimed "Jehovah does NOT eat his sheep!". I recall a line from the 1978 "SUPERMAN - The Movie" that pretty much sums things like that up ..... Lex Luthor, speaking about his dull assistant Otis: " It's amazing that brain can generate enough power to keep those legs moving.". ... or, as Abraham Lincoln once said: "Don't believe anything you read on the Internet!" When I get discouraged, I go to YouTube and watch "COWS WITH GUNS". .

A million words, presented to a guy that would chain-saw the elephant in his bath tub without discussion. Put on your visualization hat, and explain to me what is going on in Revelation 1:1, in the first 11 or so words. OBVIOUSLY GOD IS NOT JESUS ... says so there in black and white in EVERY English Translation, at least the 20 and more I quoted previously. GOD gave the revelation to Jesus ... who until that happened, was IGNORANT of the revelation's contents ... THEN Jesus gave it to John. Be a sport ... try to get around the simple, clear, unambiguous description of who is who, and who is NOT .. in Revelation 1:1 .... without fracturing the English language, or bending your mind into a pretzel. Be a sport .... I will enjoy the gymnastics. OH ... and When revelation describes Jesus sitting at the right hand of God, John was NOT suggesting proctology .. or having one sit on his OWN lap. . .

When a person or institution is worried about what someone else does with the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth ... that person or institution is doomed. To paraphrase Adolph Hitler "You have your Truth, and I have my bayonets ... let's see who wins.". It took nine years to find out.

TTH: As a stamp collector, you should know how the Universal Postal Union systems work ... We know from the Russian Federation's Supreme Court Ruling that the Brothers in Russia did NOT benefit from the letter writing campaign, but the GOVERNMENT DID. The Universal Postal Union paid the Russian Federation 70% of the face value of the international postage affixed to deliver the approximately 45 million letters to their recipients ... whether they did so, of just hauled them to the dump. That means the Russian Federation got $56 MILLION DOLLARS as a Universal Postal Union terminal duty, paid for by the Brothers. That will buy a LOT of Vodka. That having been said ... *coff*..... my main point is .... " I am still waiting for an honest, Word-for-word translation of the JW Russian court trials from the Society, in English, but hopefully in all languages that they normally translate into. " Tome of a recalcitrant Philatelist with Numismatic interests. .

Atlas Shrugging refers NOT to what the workers do or do not do .... but to the OWNERS and risk takers who by genius, sweat, and THEIR labor cause some engine of the world to exist ... when having their labors confiscated by Governments and Liberal perversions, shrug, and abandon their successful efforts to make life better for everyone, and make a profit while doing it. These "Captains of Industry" who make the world a better place, and hold it all together ... decide to drop the ball and let the incompetent and the stupid run the show into the ground, causing great equity and fairness, by reducing EVERYONE to poverty, and ruin. People demand "fairness" .... but if the world were truly "fair", the stupid and lazy would starve to death.

Yeah ... a great deal of Hislop was pure fantasy ... but there is ALSO "If it walks like a duck, Quacks like a duck and Looks like a Duck ... IT'S A DUCK !" Th Vatican is FULL of pagan statues to other gods, and thousands of things the imagry is adopted from the pagan world... If the "Dagon Pope's Hat" thing can be DISPROVED somehow ... THAT I would be interested in. Until then ... QUACK!

The way we use language today is quite different in syntax from the way it was used thousands of years ago ... or even during the times of Shakespeare ... back then all manner of people from Aztec Shamans to Roman Emperors were considered to be "gods". Anybody with the power of life or death over you often considered himself to be a local "god", and demanded you address him that way, or you watched your blood squirt between your fingers as you died. There are many "gods", and many "Lords". English Judges are referred to as "My Lord", and there is a "House of Lords" in their parliament. When you see something astounding, you may exclaim "Oh, My LORD!" to the air, and no one in particular, and it takes a highly disciplined person to after smashing his thumb with a hammer, to yell out "Oh, random fluctuations in the Spacetime Continuum !!!". I have thought about getting a black robe, and a Barbara Bush wig, and walk around muttering "hurrumph!, hurrumph" and see if people will refer to me as "Lord", but I suspect they would just roll their eyes and say "Oh Lord! ... what is he up to now?". ..and then of course there is Geoffrey Jackson's proclamation before the Australian Royal Commission in case no. 26, under oath ... that the Governing Body are NOT inspired by God, but are "Guardians of the Doctrine" .. ( G.O.D.) and not to forget that cultural Icon ... Lord Darth Vader. .

Well ... we know from the Russian Federation's Supreme Court Ruling that the Brothers in Russia did NOT benefit from the letter writing campaign, but the GOVERNMENT DID. The Universal Postal Union paid the Federation 70% of the face value of the postage affixed to deliver them to their recipients ... whether they did so, of just hauled them to the dump. That means the Russian Federation got $56 MILLION DOLLARS as terminal duty from the Universal Postal Union, paid for by the Brothers. That will buy a LOT of Vodka. That having been said ... *coff*..... my main point was .... " I am still waiting for an honest, Word-for-word translation of the JW Russian court trials from the Society, in English, but hopefully in all languages that they normally translate into. "

...sigh .... I am still waiting for an honest, Word-for-word translation of the JW Russian court trials from the Society, in English, but hopefully in all languages that they normally translate into. So far, an estimated $80,000,000 ( EIGHTY MILLION DOLLARS) in International postage seems to have nothing to show for it, except fuel a LOT of home furnaces this coming winter, in the Kremlin. To be "in the Truth" .... you have to do things that actually ADVANCE the TRUTH. . .

I am still waiting for an honest, Word-for-word translation of the JW Russian court trials from the Society, in English, but hopefully in all languages that they normally translate into. So far, an estimated $80,000,000 ( EIGHTY MILLION DOLLARS) in International postage seems to have nothing to show for it.

I grew up with Hula Hoops being the societal crazy thing of the time ... my children grew up with Pokemon Cards, and Sonic the Hedgehog video games. In 2015-2016 it seemed that Caleb and Sophia Merchandise, purses, briefcases, pins, buttons, slacks, suspenders and bow ties, and pictures, back car window decals, book covers, wall posters, 3d dolls like GB Bro. Anthony Morris III has in his Bethel Office, Videos, DVDs, coloring books, decorated birthd...er... baptism cakes, stand up displays, literature bags, greeting cards, Sophia colorful tote bags for girls, and Sophia cloth shopping bags for Wal-Mart, etc., book markers, key chains, 3d Printer statues of Caleb, ball point pens, and penlights, pins and brooches for older Sisters, and cartoon wall hangings for the inside of Caleb and Sophia dioramas, or JW.ORG men's ties, lapel pins, wristwatches, aluminum military style dog tags, rings, aluminum pendants for neck chains and charm bracelets, car bumper stickers, car window decals, women's pocket mirrors, flags to tie to radio aerials, etc. . Then there is the JW.ORG blue oversized umbrellas, Unisex Hoodie Jackets, neck lanyards, hand lunch boxes with Paradise scenes, and of course Caleb and Sophia., and to contrast, from Peru, a BRIGHT Pink Caleb and Sophia Bible cover entitled New World Translation of the HOLY SCRIPTURES ... over a large picture of guess whom? Of course the refrigerator magnets and motivational jewelry are big sellers, not so much for the Caleb crochetable doll ..were the craze and along with the JW.ORG logo seem to suck all the air out of the room. It is my perception that the "crazy years" have passed, or that it has become the new standard. Has the MADNESS over Caleb and Sophia subsided? .

Yeah... Google "Dagon Pope's Hat" and go to "images".

Oh Tom! Tom, Tommy Tom Tom ..... I have never taken an insult from you, even IF one was intended ... I have never been offended by your continuous ad-hominid attacks instead of discussing issues. To the best of my knowledge, I cannot be insulted, and I certainly don't expect you to hold back on whatever it is you believe to be true. Please feel free to pull alongside, open the gun ports, and give me a cannonade of your best shot. FREEDOM is when you have the right to say ANYTHING you want .... also to fire back. .

This scripture applies to EVERYBODY!

Although the Governing Body was FORCED to admit, after the fact, by the Australian Royal Commission on Child Abuse that they were NOT inspired of God ... OR infallible ... until the ARC met and pried that out of Geoffery Jackson, under oath ... the "working theory" was that they WERE inspired of God, and infallible. At the very least they are in actual fact TREATED like they are ... even now ..... EVEN BY YOU! Abraham was loved by God so much that they had a special two-way relationship and TALKED TO EACH OTHER DIRECTLY! If you think the Governing Body has that relationship it would demonstrate one of TWO things ... (1.) it would prove that Jehovah God is flaky, petulant, cruel, irrational, and that there is no real love or Justice in his principles .. all of which is absurd on the face of it ... or (2.)that the people claiming to be his "Faithful and Discrete Slave" are flaky, petulant, cruel and have no real love Or Justice in ITS applied interpretation of core principles. If you have been keeping up with current events internationally, and have eyes to see, you know that one or the other HAS to be true. There is no third choice for rationally thinking people. If I had the same personal relationship with Jehovah God that Abraham had, and I do not ... I also would have had the faith that Jehovah's Justice would prevail, and that slaughtering my son was a righteous thing to do. When the Governing Body commands that Love and Justice as defined by Jehovah God involves what disfellowshipping has become ... for people that DO love Love and Justice ... that too is absurd on the face of it ... and unfortunately, we here down at the bottom of the theocratic food chain have to sacrifice the sheep to the ones with the power to disfellowship US ALSO, if there is any real discussion, questioning, or demand for accountability. We too are sheep, and MAY BE NEXT TO BE EATEN. THERE IS A REASON that Judicial Trials at the Kingdom Halls are held in secret ... and that those charged cannot have tape recorders, stenographers, or friendly Witnesses to observe the goings-on, completely unlike the Judicial System that worked well for thousands of years, where the accused would be tried in the City Gates, where all people could observe, and the Judges, KNOWING that, were restrained by fear of retribution from incensed everyday Jews, to actually act justly. Back then, the judges were accountable to the general population to actually make Justice happen. Now, there is no Earthly checks and balances whatsoever on whatever the Governing Body says is the standard ... and because that is true ... the NATURAL result is that is self aggrandizing tyranny ... as is ALWAYS the case among the affairs of men, when there is no restraint of power. There has never been any exceptions in the history of the world, and there are none now. With my own eyes I have seen the cruelty and injustice of punishing whole families for one person's transgressions, and the shedding of crocodile tears, and seeing people beat down with a metal fist in a feathered silk glove, with soothing words, and a LOT of them. So don't pull this "Abraham" crap on me .... they are two entirely different scenarios ..... except for those who bent it into a pretzel to support their cruelty, power, position and status. The Governing Body cannot be criticized, or FIRED for screwing up peoples' lives ... they are accountable to NO ONE on this Earth. .If I personally screw up my life, I personally am responsible, and I personally have to pay the price the Universe always demands. If the Governing body screws up my life to sustain it's position of power and authority ... NO ONE is responsible. They NEVER apologize for ANYTHING!

Sure sounds like Dragons to me.... (?)

Trinity This... Trinity that... John said this.. John said that .. blahahahahaaa ... If you want to know what the Apostle John knew and said in Revelation it's VERY simple... in LESS than the FIRST 11 words! In vision he saw BOTH God and Jesus in Heaven, and they were not joined at the hip ! Be a sport ... look it up ..... Revelation 1:1 .... shows that GOD and Jesus are NOT the same. They at this time are BOTH in Heaven, and GOD... IS NOT JESUS. AAAAnd ... Revelation 1:1 is SOooo easy to remember. New Living Translation This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John, English Standard Version The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, Berean Study Bible This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, Berean Literal Bible The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants what things it behooves to take place in quickness. And He signified it through having sent His angel to His servant, John, New American Standard Bible The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, King James Bible The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Holman Christian Standard Bible The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave Him to show His slaves what must quickly take place. He sent it and signified it through His angel to His slave John, International Standard Version This is the revelation of Jesus the Messiah, which God gave him to show his servants the things that must happen soon. He made it known by sending his messenger to his servant John, NET Bible The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must happen very soon. He made it clear by sending his angel to his servant John, New Heart English Bible This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John, Aramaic Bible in Plain English The Revelation of Yeshua The Messiah, which God gave to him, to show his Servants what had been given to soon occur, and he symbolized it when he sent by his Angel to his Servant Yohannan, GOD'S WORD® Translation This is the revelation of Jesus Christ. God gave it to him to show his servants the things that must happen soon. He sent this revelation through his angel to his servant John. New American Standard 1977 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must shortly take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, Jubilee Bible 2000 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his slaves things which are convenient to do quickly, and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his slave John, King James 2000 Bible The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and revealed it by his angel unto his servant John: American King James Version The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show to his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John: American Standard Version The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John; Douay-Rheims Bible The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to make known to his servants the things which must shortly come to pass: and signified, sending by his angel to his servant John, Darby Bible Translation Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to shew to his bondmen what must shortly take place; and he signified [it], sending by his angel, to his bondman John, English Revised Version The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to shew unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John; Webster's Bible Translation The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show to his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John: Weymouth New Testament The revelation given by Jesus Christ, which God granted Him, that He might make known to His servants certain events which must shortly come to pass: and He sent His angel and communicated it to His servant John. World English Bible This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John, Young's Literal Translation A revelation of Jesus Christ, that God gave to him, to shew to his servants what things it behoveth to come to pass quickly; and he did signify it, having sent through his messenger to his servant John, .

And don't forget the Doody Trinity ... Gay Tootie-Fruity Doody, Overweight Heavy Doody, and... um.. seems the last one DOESN'T HAVE A NAME ... just like Christendom's Trinity.

That is the one example that PROVES that you have to understand idiomatic expressions of the time, otherwise one may draw the conclusion that cannibalism has occurred. ...and ARGUE FOR IT! .

sigh ..... I am trying to imagine what instant in time that the Apostle Paul was walking down a dirt road in the hot sun, and being well versed in Jewish History and the Law of God .. which he knew would call for his death by stoning, for preaching about a 3-in-1 god, stopped in revelation and against everything the Jews had learned for thousands of years, facepalmed his forehead, and realized that Jesus was praying to HIMSELF those nights ... and it finally came to me, boys and girls, what time it was .... It was HOWDY DOODY TIME! ( Apologies to those less than 65 years of age who may not get the reference ...) .

Nicola ( and /or "Guest", as the case may be ...) : Your posts are as vague as the morning fog. What taunts? What Sisters? What bullying? As far as why the Elders asked me that question I do not remember the details of why? They may have had indigestion. When you reply to my three questions above... please be SPECIFIC and VERY Detailed. I have learned that "Snowflakes" melt at the slightest friction or conversations that adults have. You can be honest, direct, and forceful with solid people of integrity ... and everybody benefits. ... but Snowflakes need to be pandered to, in soothing dolcet tones. It ain't me Babe.... It ain't me your lookin' for. Babe. ...and since you addressed my father, who is dead .... please use JTR .. it's simpler. .

Explanation of the attempted humor: I am a big fan of The Muppets .... Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Ralph the Dog, and Fozzie Bear, etc.... the joke teller of the Muppets. His voice and animation is done by a man namned Frank Oz. Frank Oz ALSO does the voice for the Star Wars character YODA. YODA speaks in a reverse syntax much like a Shakespeare Play ... but if you close your eyes while watching YODA speak, the voice, except for sentence structure ... is EXACTLY that of the Muppet ... Fozzie Bear.