Manuel Boyet Enicola

Here is the notebook that I did for the 2024 "Declare The Good News" RC. TB
2024 Declare The Good News Convention Notebook.pdf 2024 Declare The Good News Convention Notebook.doc

Manuel, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but considering that you have openly admitted it here, I strongly suggest that you refrain from using your actual name. Instead, opt for a different alias, much like James does with his amusingly named "Pudgy". 
Either that, or remain in the close club where people are indifferent to causing offense.

At the mid-week meeting we had the Bible reading that included Psalm 26. We also sang song #34.
It's a very beautiful melody, even though I have other favorites. What I like most about the song is that it follows the Psalm very closely. It's a good reminder that the words of the original Psalm 26 were also sung, even though we don't know the original melody. But the tune and music we use seem very appropriate for the tone of the Psalm itself. 
Last week, of course, we had this for the 23rd Psalm, too. And I think the same about that melody and how appropriate it is to the words of the Psalm. 

Speaking of insights …. have you ever wondered why you have NEVER seen a picture of Ernest Borgnine and Elizabeth Taylor, in the same picture?

As you have a strong knowledge of biblical times, could you describe Jesus' daily life as a young boy?

Judaism was the true religion during Jesus' times. But most Jews did not accept Jesus as the prophesied messiah; hence, the whole nation was rejected by God and replaced with Christianity. This 'new' religion is still based on Judaism sans observance to the Mosaic law. The additional belief is faith in Jesus' ransom sacrifice. Ergo, no resignation letter needed.... 😁

Judaism was the true religion during Jesus' times. But most Jews did not accept Jesus as the prophesied messiah; hence, the whole nation was rejected by God and replaced with Christianity. This 'new' religion is still based on Judaism sans observance to the Mosaic law. The additional belief is faith in Jesus' ransom sacrifice. Ergo, no resignation letter needed.... 😁

Here is the weekly material for the weeks of Feb. 12- 18 and Feb. 19-25, 2024. TB
Additional Highlights -FEBRUARY 19-25, 2024.pdf Meeting Workbook and CBS week of FEBRUARY 12-18, 2024.doc Meeting Workbook and CBS week of FEBRUARY 12-18, 2024.pdf Meeting Workbook and CBS week of FEBRUARY 19-25, 2024.doc Meeting Workbook and CBS week of FEBRUARY 19-25, 2024.pdf Watchtower February 12-18, 2024.doc Watchtower February 12-18, 2024.pdf Watchtower February 19-25, 2024.doc Watchtower February 19-25, 2024.pdf Additional Highlights - FEBRUARY 12-18, 2024.doc Additional Highlights - FEBRUARY 12-18, 2024.pdf Additional Highlights -FEBRUARY 19-25, 2024.doc

This story is about a fairly unknown R&D engineer at a Japanese company. 
So naturally, I'll start off by somehow making this about myself. Just kidding. I'll make it about my father. Just kidding . . .well, almost.
From 1964 to 1984 my father ran a couple of electronics labs for the University of Missouri. This was great fun for him and even more fun for me and my brother. The world was transferring from tubes to transistors, and my father invented a "semiconductor curve tracer" onto a simple oscilloscope screen that made testing transistors as easy or even easier than the old ways of testing vacuum tubes. The University got a patent for it. 
And from 1984 to 2004 he designed amplifiers and sound systems for a company in California, and also for several Assembly Halls. I had fun with the electronics stuff, but never really learned it very deeply. Mostly because I quit school when I was 15 to start regular pioneering, and then I went off to Bethel to draw pictures for the publications and then do library research. But my brother was a few years older than I was, and graduated HS and went into an electronics company immediately. He went to Bethel just after I did and he was assigned electronics projects and had a little research lab which was a mini version of what my father had. 
In the 1990's My father was always going on about how they make transistors and spoke about gallium arsenide "doping," silicon "doping" and other terms I had never heard of. In the mid-1990's a company sent him some blue LEDs. He said even one small one cost a few hundred dollars. Blue LEDs were a kind of "holy grail" of LEDs. If one could be made with the same brightness control and at the same cost of Green and Yellow LEDs, then any color could be mixed. (With paint and ink you can create almost any color by mixing red/magenta, yellow, and blue/cyan -- but with light you can only get any color by mixing red, yellow, and green.) My father used to try to fake the blue by putting a blue transparent plastic cap on a bright red/green combination, because red+green=yellow, and a blue cap would then make a blue-green color, but not bright enough or "true" enough to mix well with the other colors.
Anyway that brings me to the video of the blue LED hero. The story would also make a great story of a working-man hero standing up against the stronger and more monied corporate powers. Someone has probably made a book about him, or they should. 
 

Here is one method that I find to be the easiest to understand and support. 
.PREMISE: Babylon was destroyed in 539 BCE (Won't go into it here, but there are many ways to reach this date. Even the Watchtower "accepts" this date, in spite of the fact that the Watchtower does NOT accept the evidence for it. Because accepting the evidence for it means rejecting 607 BCE as NEB 18.)
PREMISE: Babylon was to have its period of greatest domination over all the surrounding nations for 70 years. Biblically supported by direct statements in Jeremiah 25:8-17 and accepted by the Watchtower publications as shown in the following statement found here:
 https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270023/388/2 *** ip-1 chap. 19 p. 253 par. 21 Jehovah Profanes the Pride of Tyre ***
Evidently, the 70 years represents the period of Babylonia’s greatest domination—when the Babylonian royal dynasty boasts of having lifted its throne even above “the stars of God.” (Isaiah 14:13) Different nations come under that domination at different times. But at the end of 70 years, that domination will crumble. 
CONCLUSION: If the Babylonian Empire ended in 539, we can count back 70 years and see that it must have started when the Assyrian Empire fell in 539+70 = 609. That means NABO 17 (fall of final Assyrian capital Harran) = 609, therefore NABO 14 (the fall of Nineveh) = 612 BCE

So that you can select from this small group of faiths the one comprised of true followers of Christ. If a religious group is not hated, it is disqualified from consideration, since the Bible repeatedly says that true Christians will be hated. For example: 
If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you. (John 15:19)

Just wondering why so much 'hatred' (sorry for lack of term; do help me here.) for the GB/JWorg.  Same thing could be said of other religious groups --- and even worse.  😁

Who do you think pays the kingdom hall bills, the government, lol!
In addition to the expansion of spreading the good news globally, the Watchtower should consider investing in other areas that align with its mission. While you inaccurately refer to tax benefits as alleged financial benefits, these tax credits would provide the Watchtower with opportunities for financial growth and stability for that mission. These tax credits essentially function as subsidies, as they allow the Watchtower to save money by not having to pay taxes. This is similar to how the Norwegian government, despite denying subsidies to a select few, still provides financial support to entities such as the Vatican, which may seem hypocritical. It is important to recognize that contributions to the worldwide work also play a crucial role in assisting our fellow brothers and sisters who may be impacted when governments cannot provide or have exhausted their support. 
The Pharisees would occasionally back the people, yet their loyalty was demanded in return, directed toward themselves rather than God. Should sincere Christians support Christian sects, such as the Vatican, that endorse "same-sex unions" simply due to their parishioners' contributions to the needy? I can inform you that, at the very least, 90 cardinals and bishops have expressed their disapproval to the Pope through a letter.
If the money isn't going back into the pot, where is it going? Have you witnessed a Governing Body member amassing wealth like individuals such as Joel Osteen and others who reside in their own private $30 million homes? How many private planes and trains do the Governing Body possess?
The Salvation Army provides its top leaders with a personal residence and an annual income based on their rank, such as $96,000 a year for a "Major." These funds are sourced from contributions. Therefore, both you and Pudgy lack credibility in this regard, haha!
It's time you started proving your lies.

WTJWorg has affiliate organizations all over the world. The smallest of them are called by the name - congregation. Congregations are part of, under the administration of a national body registered in a particular country. Shortened, colloquial name - Betel. Each such religious registered body receives a certain amount of money from its state and thus has financial support for its activities. It may also have some other financial benefits, such as exemption from tax on purchases and the like.
In addition to donations from its own membership and government money, WTJWorg buys, sells and builds real estate. So organization (GB) is also involved in the real estate business. I guess that's what Jesus recommended. lol
Furthermore, WTJWor goes so far as to sue the state if it wants to be denied its "annual appanage."

 

I fully agree with doctrinal unity. But uniformity? Mmmm, creation shows us to leave room for variability. 

What you generally describe does seem to work with the gospel accounts. There are some specific points I would still question, including the fact that Anna already pointed out: Jesus was not nailed until reaching the final place of execution.
Some have shown concern about whether Jesus could really have carried his stauros considering the weight. There is some evidence that the Roman execution process could include putting a notch in the patibulum beam of the stauros that was carried in public on the way to the execution site. 
Some have also shown concern about the extra time it would take to prepare a patibulum with a notch while in the midst of a "rush" to judgment. But if a stake/tree was already standing at the place of execution "Skull Place" it could have already contained the notch that the patibulum was merely hoisted onto.
The idea of the arms stretched wide across a patibulum to carry it, and then later having the hands nailed widely apart onto that same patibulum also solves an issue about whether a ladder was needed. If Jesus were already nailed to a patibulum then 2 or 3 soldiers who were 6-feet tall could easily hoist it to a notch (already prepared) about 8 feet off the ground. If the arms remain at about the same level as the head, then Jesus' feet are still a foot or two off the ground depending on his height. And they would need to be nailed, too.
Previously, some have speculated that the very fact that this Skull Place existed and two criminals were being executed there on the same day could be an indication that the scarce timber of this country was already standing in place ready for constant re-use without the need to dig new holes and hoist tall poles into them and shore them up so that they could not fall over. The patibulum practice of making someone march through the public carrying it on their back, makes perfect sense in such an environment. 
But it's still speculation. To me it's a matter of which way the overall evidence leans.

Let's boil down to the 'practicality' of this discussion:  
1.  The Romans are not stupid.  They must have figured out after their first few executions that it is very tedious to plant a stake or cross each time somebody is executed.  It will be far more easier to use a dead tree or have a permanently planted pole (stake / xylon) and simply raise and attach on top a stauros / patibulum with the condemned nailed to it.  
2.  A whole cross would weigh well over 135 kg (300 lb), but the crossbeam would not be quite as burdensome, weighing around 45 kg (100 lb). (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2651675)  If Jesus was to carry the pole (stake / xylon) only, that would still amount to 90 kg (198 lb) and is no easy task.  Carrying the crossbeam (stauros / patibulum) is deemed more realistic.  But then, an exhausted person deprived of sleep would easily stumble even on the lighter weight, so that Simon the Cyrene was compelled by the soldiers to carry it for him. 
3.  While the bible is silent on the details, it is interesting to note that nailing is associated with stauros, and hanging with xylon. 
Bottom line:  there is no conflict on translating stauros as torture stake/stake and xylon as stake or tree.  Using the word cross for any of the Greek words mentioned likewise do not give a clear picture. 
 
 
 
 

Let's boil down to the 'practicality' of this discussion:  
1.  The Romans are not stupid.  They must have figured out after their first few executions that it is very tedious to plant a stake or cross each time somebody is executed.  It will be far more easier to use a dead tree or have a permanently planted pole (stake / xylon) and simply raise and attach on top a stauros / patibulum with the condemned nailed to it.  
2.  A whole cross would weigh well over 135 kg (300 lb), but the crossbeam would not be quite as burdensome, weighing around 45 kg (100 lb). (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2651675)  If Jesus was to carry the pole (stake / xylon) only, that would still amount to 90 kg (198 lb) and is no easy task.  Carrying the crossbeam (stauros / patibulum) is deemed more realistic.  But then, an exhausted person deprived of sleep would easily stumble even on the lighter weight, so that Simon the Cyrene was compelled by the soldiers to carry it for him. 
3.  While the bible is silent on the details, it is interesting to note that nailing is associated with stauros, and hanging with xylon. 
Bottom line:  there is no conflict on translating stauros as torture stake/stake and xylon as stake or tree.  Using the word cross for any of the Greek words mentioned likewise do not give a clear picture. 
 
 
 
 

Hi folks. Just tuned in late, but this is how I see it: 
1.  Jesus carried the stauros or stake. 
2.  Both of his HANDS were nailed to it while grasping it, a meter or a yard apart.  That is, nails were driven from the back, not from the palms.  
3.  He was then HANGED on a stake, creating a letter "T" cross.  Probably the stauros (patibulum) had a notch that would fit nicely at the top of the already upright stake. 
4. The feet were then nailed or tied tight to prevent a further escape. 
With the above, we can reconcile the following: 
1.  Jesus was nailed to a STAKE (stauros). 
2.  He was HANGED upon a tree. 
3.  With arms outstretched and gripping the 'cross beam', he could last for hours until exhaustion did its job. Otherwise, any healthy person hanged with both hands tied together won't last an hour owing to a compressed lungs.
4.  Finally, we get to understand the implication of John 21:18,19 regarding 'arms outstretched' and the 'manner of death' mentioned. 
Cheers everyone!
 

Jesus carried it initially.  Later, the Roman soldiers "compelled" Simon of Cyrene to carry it for him....
 

Dear Librarian, 
Let us be vigilant lest we inadvertently post spoofs and inaccurate "news" like this one! 

I totally agree with you brother.  Going over your posts, I noticed some concerns of yours are global, some local.  But just like in he first century, the apostle Peter said: “Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life..."  (John 6:68) Today, no other organization is as close to Jehovah than the JWs.  And blessed too despite the numerous "imperfections".  Let's stick together and look forward to a brand New World!  Cheers.... 

Did you opened the link?  That was the proof!
Anyway, to make it convenient for you, here it is again, just click on it:  http://www.eliyah.com/lxx.html 
 

It's funny, really.  There are a lot of "false" prophets out there that caught media attention, but it seems the internet is picking mostly on just the Jehovah's Witnesses.  Goes to show that JWs are "different" and NOT part of the world.  After all, you won't pick on your own, wouldn't you?  

If we have to believe everything posted "as is", then that also makes Jonah a false prophet. He prophesied that Niniveh would fall in 40 days and it did not happen.  And also Moses who believed that he was anointed by Jehovah and it was time to liberate Israel from Egypt - only to wait 40 years more....