Melinda Mills

That's genius. Never thought it would be so easy! Don't know what Anna would say!

They are encouraging us to eat more walnuts as it is a healthy kind of fat. Therefore Date-Walnut Bread is a great choice. Like how you savour eating good food. Looking forward to your secret recipe for Banana Bread.

Good to know you can remember the ingredients and the methods. Glad you enjoyed going back to old recipes but please continue with the vegetables and substitute them for some of the cheese, hamburger/mincemeat for their health-giving benefits and because of your age. Don't forget you were young then. I think you said grade and grading respectively in two instances, where I believe you meant grate and grating. There is nothing like going back to eating foods you partook of when you were young. All the best!

Ascended?? Greek word has a connotation of lowly service - walking through the dust. "dakonos

What is the subject the person is being examined on?

Lending a scriptural passage alluded to above by Arauna. 2 Samuel 24:10-14 10 But David’s heart* was struck with remorse+ after he had numbered the people. David then said to Jehovah: “I have sinned+ greatly by doing this. And now, Jehovah, please forgive your servant’s error,+ for I have acted very foolishly.”+ 11 When David got up in the morning, Jehovah’s word came to Gad+ the prophet, David’s visionary, saying: 12 “Go and say to David, ‘This is what Jehovah says: “I am giving you three options. Choose the one that I should bring on you.”’”+ 13 So Gad came in to David and told him: “Should seven years of famine come on your land?+ Or should you flee for three months from your adversaries while they pursue you?+ Or should there be three days of pestilence in your land?+ Now consider carefully what I should reply to the One who sent me.” 14 So David said to Gad: “It is very distressing to me. Let us fall, please, into the hand of Jehovah,+ for his mercy is great;+ but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”+15 Then Jehovah sent a pestilence+ on Israel from the morning until the designated time, so that 70,000 of the people from Dan to Beʹer-sheʹba+ died.+ 16 When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Jehovah felt regret* over the calamity,+ and he said to the angel bringing destruction among the people: “It is enough! Now let your hand drop.” Jehovah’s angel was close to the threshing floor of A·rauʹnah+ the Jebʹu·site." Read on, to verse 24, it is interesting. This discussion has gone way too far over the brink. Hope the scriptural passage can redeem and refresh in some way.

Who are these people?

Yes, and we learned recently that by and large God's people went into captivity to Babylon the Great (Christendom, etc) around 200 CE and emerged again around 1919 liberating light again began to shine - Bible Students Association, etc). So we are looking at the King of the North from thenceforth, when true worship was revived. (This is not to say that Jehovah had no worshippers on earth during that long period - we had Bible translators that persisted even unto death; non-Trinitarians burned to the stake, scientists and artists who definitely believed in God like Sir Isaac Newton, etc) There was no organized true religion during that period until 1919. Jesus said the wheat and the weeds would grow together until the last days, the harvest time. (Matt 13:25-30) So there were wheat-like persons who believed the Bible and worshipped to the best of their ability and perception during that period. As the True God, he must have Witnesses. (Isaiah 43) False gods have none. We learned recently that it was not in 1776 when America gained Independence but later when Britain and America began to cooperate together that the Anglo-American world power came into force. So Britain-America has been the King of the South for some time now. (Was looking for this information yesterday but I did not find the source, so this is just all from memory and perception.) Perhaps JWI, Arauna or someone else may wish to bring out these points better. I am a bit busy today.

All governments have the 'sword' or else they cannot maintain the peace and good order. Note what the apostle Paul said in the Christian era at Romans chapter 13 verses 1 and 4: 1 " Let every person be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God. ....4 for it is Gods minister to you for your good. But if you are doing what is bad, be in fear, for it is not without purpose that it bears the sword. It is God's minister, an avenger to express wrath against the one practicing what is bad." In the 20th century BCE when Joseph was administering Egypt I would think that things were even stricter. Also in the period when he Jewess Esther was Queen of Persia (some time between the period 493 to 475 BCE) use of the sword was fairly liberal; one could not come in to the King unless he/she were invited. They did so under the penalty of death. When Adam an Eve listened to Satan and sinned, God knew that human kings/governments would come on the scene. That is why he told Samuel, that the Israelites did not reject him, Samuel, it was Jehovah whom they rejected when they asked for a king. As early as Genesis 49 we see prophecy relating to the the coming of royal offspring eventually leading the Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who was to be the root of David. His throne would eventually be a heavenly throne and has in fact become so. Therefore what human kings/governments do is allowed by God to keep order on earth. There is no record, as far as I remember, of Joseph's dealings with ordinary citizens but whatever he did seemed was fair and in good taste. He was later given total power over everyone in the Egyptian realm except for Pharaoh himself. Pharaoh recognized in 30-year-old Joseph the man wise enough to administer affairs during the time of plenty and the time of famine. Joseph was therefore constituted second ruler in Egypt, Pharaoh giving Joseph his own signet ring, fine linen garments, and a necklace of gold and other trappings of high office. Fast forward to when his brothers came to Egypt to buy food, he sent them back to fetch his younger brother and gave them a series of tests to see if their murderous attitude had changed. He then revealed himself to them, hugged them and cried profusely and told them: "Now do not feel hurt and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here; because for the preservation of life God has sent me ahead of you. For this is the second year of the famine in the midst of the earth, and there are yet five years in which were will be no plowing time or harvest. Consequently God sent me ahead of you in order to place a remnant for you men in the earth and to keep you alive by a great escape. So now it was not you who sent me here, but it was the true God." Genesis 45;1-8; 14,15. Being a ruler did not stop him from being a servant of God; even if he had to order the execution of thieves it would not have stopped him from being righteous in God's eyes, because God had given that authority to the state. That Joseph was approved by God is seen in the fact that the twelve tribes of spiritual Israel mentioned in Revelation 7 verse 8, includes his name, whereas in the literal twelve tribes of Israel his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, are mentioned. Also in the Christian Greek Scriptures Joseph is included in the "great cloud" of Witnesses whose faith is worthy of imitation. It mentioned at verse 22 of chapter 11 of Hebrews that "By faith Joseph, nearing his end, spoke of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and he gave instructions concerning his bones. We see his actual request at Genesis 50:24,25. That this was carried out we see in the record at Joshua 24:32: "The bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought up out of Egypt, were buried in Shechem in the portion of the field that Jacob had acquired from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, for 100 pieces of money; and it became the inheritance of the sons of Joseph." I wanted to include God's approval of the worship of the Syrian war chief Naaman on becoming a worshipper of the True God but don't wish to be too long. Check the record at 2 Kings 5:15-18. However, for Christians it is a little different. The apostle Paul goes further than Jesus in explaining the spirit of the Christian law. Since Jesus's ransom sacrifice, all nations are one under Christ. When Peter cut off the high priests ear in the garden of Gethsemane at the time of Jesus' arrest, Jesus healed it and restored the ear and rebuked Peter., saying those who live by the sword shall perish by the sword. He had told Christians to be neutral in John 17:15-17, namely "..They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world." That the character of a soldier was not in keeping with the character of a Christian, the apostle Paul wrote to Titus and Timothy: 1 Tim 3:2, 3: 2 "The overseer should therefore be irreprehensible, a husband of one wife, moderate in habits, sound in mind, orderly, hospitable, qualified to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent (or a smiter - footnote), but reasonable, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money...". History of the first century Christians show they did not take jobs which entailed violence of any sort, but they cooperated with those who had the sword by obeying the laws of the land. (Romans 13)

Re-read the Acts of the Apostles, the book of Revelation and the Yearbooks especially the ones on Germany and Malawi and see if you still feel so. Will quote one from the book of Revelation. Revelation 12:9-11: 9 "So down the great dragon+ was hurled, the original serpent,+ the one called Devil+ and Satan,+ who is misleading the entire inhabited earth;+ he was hurled down to the earth,+ and his angels were hurled down with him. 10 I heard a loud voice in heaven say:“Now have come to pass the salvation+ and the power and the Kingdom of our God+ and the authority of his Christ, because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down, who accuses them day and night before our God!+ 11 And they conquered him+ because of the blood of the Lamb+ and because of the word of their witnessing,+ and they did not love their souls*+ even in the face of death."

Only thing we should be sure to remember is Daniel 11 and 12 - King of the North in the time of the end. Read over Pay Attention to Daniel's Prophecy, chapters 15 and 16, which are being played out now, mostly in Russia, but might soon apply to other areas. Remember we are neutral in these conflicts and to pray for our brothers.

At least accrediting Jehovah is better than saying it evolved from something.

Judas was appointed by Jesus also, and he was of the heavenly calling. And I agree with the last sentence above by Bro Tom Harley. By the way Adam was made by God, and appointed to take care of all the earth and the animals. But he used his free will in the wrong way.

Romans 8: 39,39

Looks great. Thanks a million!

I agree it is mostly accurate; a very informative article which fills in many details we don't usually get about the work there. The outcome of the request for registration is not unexpected, knowing what happened in different eras and with Jesus himself. I like the way the writer expresses her understanding of everything throughout the article, e.g. this statement: "Apparently, a religious minority is a convenient target for slanders and distorted facts, as the Jews themselves know from their bitter experience.”

Paul had holy spirit, which is also supernatural help. Jesus said he would leave the holy spirit to help us. Paul was appointed directly by Jesus to be an apostle to the Gentile nations. (Acts 9:15-18) Jesus was with him all the time, and gave him whatever was necessary to accomplish his ministry. Ananias was given supernatural power by Jesus to heal Paul after he was blinded by the light from heaven when Jesus was talking to him. It was necessary at that time for that help to be given. The church was still in its infancy and powerful works due to supernatural help were still in evidence. (1 Corinthians 13:8-11), e.g. speaking in languages not learnt previously, nullifying effect of snake bite, etc., and healing and resurrection. Paul raised Eutychus from the dead (he was picked up dead) when he fell asleep while sitting in a window. (Acts 20:7-12). He never credited his success to his high worldly education; rather he relied on the strength he was given by God and Jesus. He said when he was weak he was powerful because that is when God's power was evident. Don't know anything about dog help.

Dogs were ceremonially unclean animals and not likely to have been pets in Jewish homes. They were wild carnivorous animals. Job a non-Jew had flocks of dogs, but none are mentioned among Jewish shepherds. Look it it in the Insight Book. Paul was from Jewish background, so his customs would have been Jewish, although later he came to embrace all nations of men. It would be unlikely that Paul would have been accompanied by something revolting to the Jews. He had enough problems already and a dog accompanying him would not have helped. Interesting, but not particularly beneficial to pursue this.

I don't think I wish to be responsible for transporting people, for several reasons, so that would suit me, but I would like to see other members in person from time to time.

Never saw anything about God-dishonouring sin re eating turkey, since I was living. Where you got that one from? That's a new way to tell lies, and add fuel to fire? Of course, I am not an American and turkey was not a staple here until in recently years, but for all the time associated and, reading nearly everything, I would have come across it some where.

Seems certain people will soon claim that JWs started the pandemic. Christians were blamed also for the fire of Rome. Seems it will soon get to things like that. We seem to be going back to the Dark Ages.

https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/bible-about-pandemics-disease/#link0

Nice play. Not convincing though. God did tell him to go subduing in the midst of his enemies (competing kings for world domination). However, God is not the cause of the future conditions that were shown on earth, which have started to be fulfilled around World War I. When you read Revelation 12: 7-12 you will see that as a result of Jesus assuming Kingship he ousted Satan from the heavens (verse 7) and as a result Satan confines his attention to the earth and the resulting woes come about. It says at verse 12: "On this account be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them! Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing that he has a short period of time". Go back to Genesis 3:15 and see that Jesus is the one assigned by God to fix the problem started by rebellion in the Garden of Eden. He is the Seed or Offspring that will crush the great Serpent, Satan in the head. His ride started by removing Satan and turning his attention to the earth. He promised when he went away to be with his disciples. The good news of the Kingdom is being preached since the late 19th Century; now being done in over 240 lands and islands of the sea. Don't forget all the court victories establishing the right to preach and assemble that were won by his people over these years. He has many Kingdom interests here on earth which he is overseeing. "All authority has been given me in heaven and in earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And, look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things". How is he going to have disciples and future subjects of his Kingdom, if God is going to ask him to kill them with a pandemic. Tell me. And how is he going to help people to avoid destruction and inherit the new heavens (heavenly government) and new earth (earthly society) if he is not going to save them now by being patient with them so they can hear the good news and repent. Tell me. 2 Peter 3:9-15: " 9 Jehovah is now slow concerning his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire anyone to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance. 10 But Jehovah's day will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar, but the elements being intensely hot will be dissolved, and earth and the works in it will be exposed. 11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, consider what sort of people you ought to be in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion, 12 as you await and keep close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah, through which the heavens will be destroyed in flames and the elements will melt in the intense hear. 13 But there are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise and in these righteousness is to dwell.... 14 Further, consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also write you according to the wisdom given him." How could this sound like a person who wants to kill people with a pandemic! Is God you friend? I rest my case.

You well know that Jehovah did not send the horsemen. That is like saying Jehovah started the World Wars and other recent disturbances. Forgot the scriptures that say that Satan knows his time is short? Read Revelation chapter 12. Jehovah is prophesying about the horsemen, only. At Armageddon he will send the angels led by Jesus Christ who will use all the forces stored up for the day of destruction. Job 38:22 speaks of the storehouses of snow and hail stored for the day of battle. Do some research.

"So listen to me, you men of understanding: It is unthinkable for the true God to act wickedly, for the Almighty to do wrong! For he will reward a man according to what he does and bring upon him the consequences of his ways." Job 34:10,11. "Every good gift and every perfect present is from above, coming down from the Father of celestial lights..." As shown in the scripture at Job 34 above, and the scripture mentioned in the post by Emma Rose, God is not to be associated with evil things, but he is associated with and the source of every good gift. God could foresee that man would eventually ruin his environment, through his persistence of mismanaging the earth and its environment; hence the prophecy by Jesus 2000 years ago that "pestilence" would be a sign of the last days of this system of things. Luke 21: 11 says: "There will be great earthquakes, and in one place after another food shortages and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and from heaven great signs." Jesus gave the prophecy at Revelation to the apostle John, while he was on the penal isle of Patmos. Verse 18 of chapter 11 says: "But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time came for the dead to be judged and to reward your slaves the prophets and the holy ones and those fearing your name, the small and the great, and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth". It acknowledges that man has been ruining the earth, hence the consequences we are seeing today. So we can expect a roller coaster ride down the slippery slope until God intervenes in men's affairs and bring the Kingdom that we pray for in Matthew chapter 6 verse 9. Jesus said that is the solution.