James Thomas Rook Jr.

I posted this story before longer time here. Very heart-touching, yes Â Â Thanks for the very thoughtful story ! 

A Box of Kisses ???
Some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. 
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Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box and give a gift.
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Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, “This is for you, Daddy.” He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found the box was empty.
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 He yelled at her, “Don’t you know that when you give someone a present, there’s supposed to be something inside it?”The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said,”Oh, Daddy, it is not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy.”
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 The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness.It is told that the man kept that gold box by his bed for years and whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.
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 In a very real sense, each of us as humans have been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, friends, family and Jehovah God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold. -
      ?????

Next time it may not be just your furniture, @James Thomas Rook Jr.

By the way, the MIDDLE picture is my favorite ... looks like a squadron of F-15 fighter planes, heading to Iran.

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(hehhehheh)  Just kidding ... it DOES NOT look like a squadron of F-15 fighter planes heading to Iran.

They are only required to fly a Chilean Flag (if they have a flagpole ... possibly for a JW.ORG flag) once a year.  Or, if they do not have a flagpole, affix it to the outside of their building.

..... human capacity to believe two or more entirely different and contradictory things at the same time ... unfortunately, is what defines us as being human.
AGENDAS supply the focus ... not searching for TRUTH.

We have not yet reached the million word mark for this thread, and under the rule of Universal Silliness, we are required to argue these points for the next several years.
I have wasted MUCH of my life devoted to such things, and consider them now ALL .. light entertainment.
Only.
MANY years ago I lamented that Ecclesiastes 12:12 was my favorite scripture, as it expressed the burden of carrying around many heavy bags of sand on my back... loaded on by others.
I am going to do the best I can, hope it's good enough ... sit back, and "watch the show"
How many angels can dance on the head of a pin is irrelevant.
I strongly suspect that soon enough ... too soon ... WE WILL ALL KNOW.

No ... it's not ... that is why there are MANY different types and sizes of 12v batteries that you can buy, all at the same auto parts store ... once you put a load on them, that POTENTIAL energy behaves quite differently when actually doing work.

Ecclesiastes 12:13:
" Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
    for this is the duty of all mankind."
PERIOD!

We have not yet reached the million word mark for this thread, and under the rule of Universal Silliness, we are required to argue these points for the next several years.
I have wasted MUCH of my life devoted to such things, and consider them now ALL .. light entertainment.
Only.
MANY years ago I lamented that Ecclesiastes 12:12 was my favorite scripture, as it expressed the burden of carrying around many heavy bags of sand on my back... loaded on by others.
I am going to do the best I can, hope it's good enough ... sit back, and "watch the show"
How many angels can dance on the head of a pin is irrelevant.
I strongly suspect that soon enough ... too soon ... WE WILL ALL KNOW.

He did. I found a copy. Attached below. Try from about the 6 minute mark through the 9 minute mark.
Also note this picture from Rutherford's book Religion (1940) p.16. Notice the plumes on the head of the giant on the left?

This came from Seola:
"Mounted upon the back of each huge beast was a black dwarf robed in scarlet and holding a guiding wand in his hand. In front and rear were seen a band of gigantic men, clad also in scarlet, with black plumes upon their heads, and marshalled in battle array. These I knew must be the terrible beings of whom my father had spoken, Darvands, the offspring of angels and women..." (Seola - 1878, Page 63,4). The original Seola had two additional races joining humankind, giants and black dwarfs as slaves (because the author was a little bit racist). A&W got rid of the black slaves, and also got rid of all references to storms, clouds, and rain prior to the Flood, even references to clear skies, and changed them all to references about the hard-to-see-through firmament or "water canopy."
Other references to the giants in Seola describe them with headbands (as shown here and still shown in recent publications) and with leaves (shown here) and with talismans (perhaps shown here as what appears to be a rock in the hand).

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A foghorn creates a sound that cuts through the fog. So if you meant that as a compliment, thanks. But that wasn't my intent because I was merely stating something based on Russell's own words. I realize that he distinguished himself from pure "universal salvation" believers. My point was that, if we don't dismiss Russell's own words, we can see that he was much closer to a universal salvation believer than we are (as JWs) and therefore, we shouldn't be surprised that Russell may have expected many demons to repent, even though they were perfect and we tend to view loss of perfection as rebellion. After all, he expected most of humankind to live on the earth, and most Christians (of all varieties) to go to heaven.
Many of us grew up with the very different ideas about salvation that Rutherford started to push and which Fred Franz promoted with numbers attached. Franz gave talks and wrote articles assuring us that BILLIONS would be destroyed forever at Armageddon, even putting the percentage of those who would be slaughtered at 99.9% on the side of Satan. Because of this we might not easily understand that Russell, while not a Universalist, tended to agree with them to an extent quite different from most other Christian religions of his time.
When Russell wrote an article on Universal Salvation he made points that would seem agreeable to many of them: [R 1436,7,8]
UNIVERSAL SALVATION.  "We trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe."--1 Tim. 4:10. It is very generally conceded among Christians that Universalists are the only class of people who have any claim upon, or use for, this text of Scripture; but although we are not Universalists, we also, with Paul, trust in the living God [Jehovah], who is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe. Thus the Apostle declares that in one sense the salvation which God has promised is to be universal, while in another sense it is to be restricted to believers. . . . But, while thus the Savior of all, there is a particular or special sense in which God is the Savior of those that believe and accept this reconciliation and the opportunity offered of making it everlasting salvation. This salvation is conditional: "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." (Acts 16:31.) This is an unequivocal promise of actual and permanent salvation to every individual who believes, i.e., heartily accepts. To such an one, God not only stands in the attitude of a savior, ready and willing to save, but he will go farther and actually accomplish his salvation; and this is the special sense in which he is the Savior of them that believe. . . . Others, while claiming that God is willing and ready to save all, practically deny it by claiming that the necessary believing must be done in the present life-- which practically excludes three-fourths of the race from any opportunity of sharing in it, since more than that proportion have died without any knowledge of the only name given under heaven or among men, whereby we must be saved. This view contradicts God's Word; because for even one member of the human race to be left unprovided for--to be left without the needful information and opportunity-- would render false the statement which God makes, that he stands as a Savior to all men. The entire matter is clear, however, when viewed from the standpoint of the Plan of the Ages-- which shows that through the redemptive work of Christ God has provided salvation for all from all that "was lost" in Adam; and that the knowledge necessary to the acceptance of this provided gift, while it has reached only the few in the present life, is to be testified to all in due time--in the coming age, in which Christ and his Church shall reign over and bless, with his gracious offer, all the families of the earth. We should keep in mind that Russell (and Rutherford for many years) also had quite a different view of Armageddon than that which developed over time in the Watch Tower publications. Today, many Witnesses fret over what will happen with Hindus and Buddhists, for example, many still thinking that Jehovah must destroy any and all (plus their kids!) who had some opportunity to hear the good news as preached by us, because any who had a good heart condition would surely have rushed over to our side. How else can horses be practically swimming in blood?
Relative to the beliefs we held in the 1940's through the 1970's, Russell was more of a believer in universal salvation.

And, let's not forget. . . . . [do not scroll down if you are squeamish]
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Let's offer a wider selection of favorites:

Awwww..........that was a let down!

AllenSmith:
Your tirades are too much to answer.  Too convoluted.
I would be happy to answer your questions if they are fair or sensical questions, but " Then, why did you attempt to sarcastically apologize back then... "  has two problems, to wit:
1.) What are you talking about? and
2.) a sarcastic apology is self explanatory.
If you are not a "drinking man", my considered suggestion is that you take it up.
If you are already a "drinking man", I suggest you quit.
When people insult me, I ALWAYS think it is funny ... and the more pointed and vitriolic the insult, the funnier it is!
 Years ago I was at a "Renaissance Faire" with my then 12 year old son, Tommy, who was wrapped too tight, and I paid a roving costumed Insulter $5 dollars to insult me while I was with my boy. 
The Insulter had just finished BLISTERING someone else about 30 feet away, continuously, for about four minutes, up one side and down the other, but my son was not paying attention.
I called the Insulter over, gave him $5 dollars,  and he reamed me out about my looks, weight, bathing habits, table manners, cowardice, my parents cowardice, THEIR bathing habits, and ugliness, ancestry, genetic deficiencies, body odor, sexual preferences and the lack of skill thereof, clothing, and topics I did not even know existed, for about two minutes.  All original insults, I had never heard before.
I was stunned about how GOOD the insults were ... but they were not as good as the ones I had just finished listening to when the other man had been insulted. 
He took a bow and I was laughing hard,  and I applauded him !
My son was standing beside me,  totally horrified and aghast.
He was also afraid I might shoot this guy and he would lose his Dad to the police.
Tommy was almost crying, and was shaking and upset.
I took him over to something,  we sat on it, and I explained to him that he was just "wrapped too tight", and needed to "lighten up" ... that this is how men talk to each other in the REAL world and that he needed to stop being such a sissy.
When I was working on the Peru Bethel Branch construction about 35 years ago, the American construction workers would insult each other as they worked .... and Brother Burt, the Branch Overseer,  called us all in and told us that we had to stop calling each other STUPID ( ... insert extra expletives here as needed ...) because the Peruvian Brothers were upset, and thought a fight was about to start.
From their viewpoint, a fight to the death was called for.
May I be so presumptuous to give you, AllenSmith, the same advice I gave my eldest son?
Don't let the sound of your own wheels ... make you crazy.
Tommy eventually developed a sense of humor, and is doing quite well, serving Jehovah whole souled, and is a strong and competent man, he and his wife are serving in an American Sign Language Congregation.
If you are DETERMINED to go nutso crazy ....
.... don't let someone else drive the clown car.
I guess I should have given the professional Insulter $15 dollars, instead of $5 dollars.
.... sigh.
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Wait on Jehovah ... but HUSTLE WHILE YOU WAIT!
Remember the Haiti earthquake relief fiasco?
Check out the details on JW.ORG.

Witness:
I remember about 11 years ago that one of the Society's investments in the armamants industry was financing the development of "hive mind" swarm of military drones that could be dropped from a plane, and each could pick a target, and tell the others not to hit that same target.
I wonder whatever happened to that program?
I should have been horrified, but I was not .. I was fascinated with the technology.
The Society should have been horrified, but they were not ... they were fascinated with the money.
I understand that.

Uh Oh!
You got me started !
Here we GO ... again!

The rewards program goes like this, as an example ...
The JW singer Prince (PBUH) contributed about $38 thousand dollars a month to his local Kingdom Hall.  Most of this was sent to Brooklyn, which was then the JW Headquarters. 
In exchange, he lived a lifestyle, and had associates both personal and professional that you and I would be disfellowshipped for.
When he died of drug overdose, you could almost hear the salivating over his estate across State lines.
You have heard that after you die, you have to pay for your sins?
Down here on Earth there is an unofficial "good ol' boys" price list.
And don't even get me STARTED about the Australian JW Michael Jackson Day Care Centers!

@James Thomas Rook Jr.
I had four children! If they Love ❤️ Jehovah it will be with them forever! I am grateful that I have those gifts ? Yes discipline was so important even in a divided Christian family? Grateful I played correctly by example and low to behold they now express that today. You can train a tree, but the roots have their own mind. Never give up! Children imitate their parents. Grateful they saw the good side, the loving side and grateful I'm alive to see them grow up. Grandchildren are so good for the soul. Glad they go home after though!! ?????????

Courtesy of USA President Johnson, Israel has more than 230 atomic bombs, and the capability, AND THE POLITICAL WILL ...   to deliver them to anyone, anywhere.
Iran would be MADMEN to attempt to destroy Israel.
Oh wait ... they ARE madmen.
.... nevermind.

Children Love ❤️ Jehovah! - Handsome young man!
I remember my adopted son, Amos ... ugly as homemade sin ... we had to chain him to the rafters in the attic when he was naughty.
We never even once yelled at him or struck him... he REALLY loved to eat ... it was enough to not give him his slop bucket full of fish heads and table scraps.
His biggest fault was when we had him on a "Timeout" to calm down .... the way he used to scratch the insides of the microwave.

... and don't even  get me started about Sparlock!

That's NOTHING!
I was out in Service, and at one door a Teletubby answered, and invited me in. 
He led me down to his basement where the OTHER Teletubbies were, and they were listening to a religious tape by the Rev. Jerry Falwell, TV preacher.
Over in the corner were the remains of Brothers who we thought had moved to Oklahoma, but there was not much remaining.
I noticed the Teletubby, whose name I found out was Tinkie-Winky,  had what appeared to be intestines and blood dripping from his teeth, but I did not make the connection.
I left them with some brochures, a tract and an invitation to the Hall, and asked if they had any questions.
In unison they all asked as if one .. "Do you have cable?"
Back in the car they asked what took so long.
I shrugged and replied "Samo Samo".
I have Polaroids.