Melinda Mills

He (Tom Henry) probably used "some" in his explanation because the scripture says all unrighteousness is sin. The scriptures also show that there is a sin that incurs death and that we would not expect God to cover over. (See Hebrews 10;26) Therefore the apostle John said not to make request about that kind of sin. That is permanent death. (1 John 5:16, 17) 16 If anyone catches sight of his brother committing a sin that does not incur death, he will ask, and God will give life to him, yes, to those not committing sin that incurs death. There is a sin that does incur death. It is concerning that sin that I do not tell him to make request. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and yet there is a sin that does not incur death. (Hebrews 10:26) For if we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left,... ===== This is what I gather about suicide or self murder from my research in the Bible itself. (Genesis 9:6) 6 Anyone shedding man’s blood, by man will his own blood be shed, for in God’s image He made man. (Proverbs 28:17) 17 A man burdened with bloodguilt for taking someone’s life will keep fleeing until the grave. Let no one support him. Both of these remedies would be difficult to achieve for a man taking his own life. So there is a difference in taking your own life and taking someone else’s life. So it boils down to the same thing - you have to leave it to God. God knows whether it is forgivable or whether it is willful and wanton, disrespecting the Creator and life itself.

Ask your elders about the list of decisions at the last Annual Meeting. Don't think anything about suicide was in that list.

Don't think it is new light. Don't be disturbed by anything you hear. Start doing research. It is easy when you are on the computer. People in the organization always used to think one would not get a resurrection if they committed suicide. However, please read the powerful statement mentioned at the end of this answer to a question from readers (in 2002). Go to the article and read it in full. Continue to do research. *** w02 6/15 p. 30 Questions From Readers *** Questions From Readers If someone commits suicide, would it be advisable for a Christian minister to give the funeral talk? …. Any future prospect for the dead is in the hands of Jehovah, and no one is in a position to say whether the deceased will be resurrected or not. The minister can concentrate on the Bible truths about death and offer comfort for the bereaved." End Quote Underscoring = mine

Who is the moderator? This topic should be closed.

Didn't realize how good that sentence was. "But some names stick". You didn't mention the one James alluded to. You weren't Banned, why? Yes, 101 topics in one.

In the early late 50s and early 60s it was a real privilege to have a glossy magazine in the house, e.g. even something like a Sears catalogue. I remember cutting out different deodorants from a magazine for a school project when in infants school. Seems very stupid now. But some names stick.

One hundred subjects in one? I think we had a topic on what Jesus looked like already.

(1 Corinthians 6:18) . . .Every other sin that a man may commit is outside his body, but whoever practices sexual immorality is sinning against his own body. First the person sins against his own body.

Agree with what you said. Not laughing at it, laughing with it. Good advice.

"The typical JW online profile is incredible for its ineffectiveness. “Hi. I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Do you have a question about the origin of the cross? Ask me.” " - TrueTomHarley Never saw that online approach. Agree it is not effective. Also like your deliberation on the times we approach people. I keep saying to people in the service that evening is more productive. When I go out in morning, I find I am getting to the age where I no longer wish to go back out in the evening to a certain Bible study, but push myself to do so. When I get there I realize it is really the right time, no interruptions as when I do in the morning. The lady suggested I come evening, but I was trying still to get her to study in the morning. She also runs a business.

Even the ability to attend a foreign or international assembly can be used as a showy display of one's means of life. People are borrowing heavily in order to attend these assemblies. I agree with the suggestion that they can be linked up and we get some of them in our Kingdom Halls. We already do that for some of the "Zone" Representative visits. Agree with most of the points about pioneering. After being around for a good few decades I am convinced that these ones feel they are better than others. The culture around it produces these superior feelings. They forget about the real meaning of what Jesus said about the widow's might. It takes real sacrifice and coordination to get out for even a few hours, and only God and Jesus can see that, like how he saw the widow's efforts. I go out because I love the people, and no one has to tell me to go out, or to make a return visit. Comfort was very brave to write out these things, but if it is God's will, it will change but not all at once. Keep working, watching and praying.

That's an old saying though.

James, that picture of the bald head man with the little goatee must the Prophet Ebedeah.

Something does not sound right about this report or something wrong with their heads. Never heard of Witnesses who were iconoclasts. Heard of Christians destroying their own magic books (Acts 19:18,19) but not property of others or shared property. Then again it is reported that some strange strategies were used to establish the work there .

That's true, but it would not attract as much attention. Rutherford had been a political marketer before following Russell/WT/Bible Students. This is why he would ADV/ADV/ADV. And why gimmicks like putting David and Abraham on a property deed were important to him. This is why he used the title "Judge." But I think it was Covington who figured out that he could do much better in the courts if we agreed to be recognized as a religion. Religious rights were easier to fight for than unspecified rights or civil rights of a group who would otherwise be seen only as "peddlers." Tresspassing laws were decidedly against peddlers, but the United States was being recognized in the twentieth century as much more amenable to a variety of religions, and we weren't the only religion asking for (and getting) expanded rights. Thanks for this part of the history of the restoration of true worship. However, it also brings out my point that we should retire this kind of talk, since today we certainly believe that Jehovah always had witnesses, and we are not a new religion, but a restoration of true worship. In my opinion, I certainly think we were in religion in those days but not aware of our rights - or our rights were not quotable in the society of the day. Jesus was not recognized as a true prophet or as the coming Messiah in his time either, although he certainly was. If we go back to this kind of talk, then we should not talk about the true religion, restoration of true worship or Jehovah's Witnesses is not a new religion, which points we had several tracts and books relaying over the years in modern times. For example: *** rs p. 202-p. 203 Jehovah’s Witnesses *** How old is the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses? According to the Bible, the line of witnesses of Jehovah reaches back to faithful Abel. Hebrews 11:4–12:1 says: “By faith Abel offered God a sacrifice of greater worth than Cain . . . By faith Noah, after being given divine warning of things not yet beheld, showed godly fear . . . By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed in going out into a place he was destined to receive as an inheritance . . . By faith Moses, when grown up, refused to be called the son of the daughter of Pharaoh, choosing to be ill-treated with the people of God rather than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin . . . So, then, because we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also put off every weight and the sin that easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” With reference to Jesus Christ, the Bible states: “These are the things that the Amen says, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation by God.” Of whom was he a witness? He himself said that he made his Father’s name manifest. He was the foremost witness of Jehovah.—Rev. 3:14; John 17:6. Interestingly, some of the Jews asked whether the activity of Jesus Christ represented “a new teaching.” (Mark 1:27) Later, some Greeks thought the apostle Paul was introducing a “new teaching.” (Acts 17:19, 20) It was new to the ears of those who were hearing it, but the important thing was that it was the truth, in full harmony with God’s Word. The modern-day history of Jehovah’s Witnesses began with the forming of a group for Bible study in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., in the early 1870’s. At first they were known only as Bible Students, but in 1931 they adopted the Scriptural name Jehovah’s Witnesses. (Isa. 43:10-12) Their beliefs and practices are not new but are a restoration of first-century Christianity." End quote Bold text mine