Melinda Mills

"It is up to EVERY INDIVIDUAL Brother and Sister to review in their own mind how COMPETENT this advice was .... because it has not changed" Agree 100% - no one can force you. A sacrifice is a real choice.

Too funny! If you are not going to be accurate, sign as Tom, not True Tom.

People who are successful in this life made sacrifices to get where they are now, and some continue to make sacrifices. See quote below from a successful writer/journalist, Thuy Yau. “We have to make the choice between our immediate desires and the needs that will propel our dreams forward. Fact is, it’s not wrong of us to have these immediate desires, these temptations to choose the ‘easier’ option’. It’s normal to feel that way. However, when we sacrifice what we want right now, we are saving our time and energy for something more important. Something that will bring us one step closer to our real goals. Something we truly want, not just something we want right now. Maybe we don’t want to sacrifice our time, stability, personal life, sleep, health, stillness and sanity. Maybe it just feels too difficult. But I’ll tell you right now, I’ve sacrificed every one of these things at one point or another. I wouldn’t have gone from writing on a personal blog to working as a freelance writer/journalist, if I had chosen the easier option. I wouldn’t have grown as a person if I hadn’t made those sacrifices either. If you want to be successful and achieve what you really want in life, you’ll have to make sacrifices. But when you reach the end of that mountain, you’ll be so very glad that you never gave up the journey.” == Note the sacrifices it took to arrive at the success she attained as a writer. If people can make sacrifices to attain transient goals and treasures, what is so wrong for true Christians to choose to make sacrifices and focus on the real life (everlasting life in perfect conditions) which is promised in the scriptures. Paul’s letter to Timothy encourages us to choose the real life and not the illusions of this system of things. (1 Timothy 6:18, 19) . . .Tell them to work at good, to be rich in fine works, to be generous, ready to share, 19 safely treasuring up for themselves a fine foundation for the future, so that they may get a firm hold on the real life. Jesus Christ said to seek first the Kingdom of God not worldly things. (Matthew 6:33) “Keep on, then, seeking first the Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you. (1 Corinthians 15:19) If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are to be pitied more than anyone. (Hebrews 6:9, 10) 9 But in your case, beloved ones, we are convinced of better things, things related to salvation, even though we are speaking in this way. 10 For God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love you showed for his name by ministering and continuing to minister to the holy ones. We make decisions taking into consideration the real life promised in the Bible. We talking about excellence in everything we do - we are not talking about sloppiness, carelessness, leaving school without any qualifications or skills. We are talking about not using the world to the full so we may have more time to do God’s will. (1 Cor 7: 29-35) 29 Moreover, this I say, brothers, the time left is reduced. From now on, let those who have wives be as though they had none, 30 and those who weep as those who do not weep, and those who rejoice as those who do not rejoice, and those who buy as those who do not possess, 31 and those making use of the world as those not using it to the full; for the scene of this world is changing. 32 Indeed, I want you to be free from anxiety. The unmarried man is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he may gain the Lord’s approval. 33 But the married man is anxious for the things of the world, how he may gain the approval of his wife, 34 and he is divided. Further, the unmarried woman, as well as the virgin, is anxious for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in her body and in her spirit. However, the married woman is anxious for the things of the world, how she may gain the approval of her husband. 35 But I am saying this for your personal advantage, not to restrict you, but to move you to what is appropriate and to constant devotion to the Lord without distraction. People are not coerced to apply these scriptures. Jehovah God has confidence that persons who understood the scriptures and the urgency to get on the side of His approval would do this willingly. He said prophetically on his Son’s coming to power as the King of God’s kingdom, people would offer themselves to do the King’s bidding. (Psalm 110:3) “Your people will offer themselves willingly on the day of your military force. In splendid holiness, from the womb of the dawn, You have your company of young men just like dewdrops.” The important work that they would buy out time for is the preaching of the good news of his Kingdom which would solve all the problems now plaguing the world. People need to hear the real solution. (See Matthew 24:14 and Matthew 28:19,20.) Paul further showed that we should buy out time for this. (Ephesians 5:15, 16) 15 So keep strict watch that how YOU walk is not as unwise but as wise [persons], 16 buying out the opportune time for yourselves, because the days are wicked. He warned also about materialism. The more “successful” you are the more gadgets to care for, and service; more travelling, more appointments, parties, etc. If you simplify your life there will be more time to get down to doing God’s business. (1 Timothy 6:9, 10) But those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge men into destruction and ruin. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains. It was true in the first century too that some had left the faith because of reaching out for things that the love of money brings. The precursor to getting more money is usually higher education. People who discern what God’s will is will cut down on or avoid things that would prevent them from living a simple life where they will have time for God and his purposes. The apostle John also encourages us not to love the world and the things in it. (1 John 2:15-17) Do not love either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; 16 because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. 17 Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever. True Christians want to do God’s will and remain forever after the disobedient world passes away. (Rev 7: 14). Those who fall asleep in death look forward to a resurrection to life in heaven or on a paradise earth. (John 10:16; Luke 12:32; Ps 37:10,.11) So some persons make sacrifices to obtain more money and prominence in this life, whereas true Christians make sacrifices in this life to attain the real life, everlasting life.

The Librarian noted that it was done on purpose - maybe to catch our attention. He said: "Glad you caught that Melinda. I actually wrote it that way on purpose. ;-)." There are others on this site whose second language is English and who might appreciate a pointer or two.

"Melinda has her letters that she doesn't send. I have my books. We're all encouraged to have our say in our heart to Jehovah and leave it at that, wherever possible. Reveal stuff in the context of where it may help, and there are such times, but don't put it on the clothesline in the front yard where the whole world sees......" ---TrueTom Never wrote any letters; never sent any. Think Anna said she did that as a coping mechanism. Read again.

As long as imperfect people are given authority over others, there will be misuse of that power. We can sympathize with some of the victims; for example, an old sister personally told me she was disfellowshipped in the olden days for passing a loaf of bread through the Kingdom Hall window. Of course, my mum had already told me about it. Sounds unbelievable? At the time the sister told me, she had sat me down to tell me about the foibles of many of the leading brothers at the time, especially what they did in their youth. They were all behaving in a fleshly manner, although they had authority in the congregation. The old sister in question left the congregation in her area and traveled to a farther congregation and was faithful until her death. Once an overseer became despotic in those days, there was not much recourse - you either stayed or you left. People were not confident or very well educated, so they saw no recourse. The ones who were so wounded tended to talk about it over and over. As you can see the sister was still relating her experience - now to my generation. She was passing on the history of injustice.That is probably the only outlet she and others saw at the time. Injustice might be less blatant now, but things will still happen (e.g. child abuse not dealt with adequately). The only solution I see is the comfort mentioned in Isaiah 65:17: "17 For look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be called to mind, Nor will they come up into the heart." But Jehovah will act: (Ezekiel 34:1-10) 34 The word of Jehovah again came to me, saying: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and say to the shepherds, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who have been feeding themselves! Is it not the flock that the shepherds should feed? 3 You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, and you slaughter the fattest animal, but you do not feed the flock. 4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bandaged the injured or brought back the strays or looked for the lost; rather, you have ruled them with harshness and tyranny. 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; they were scattered and became food for every wild beast of the field. 6 My sheep were straying on all the mountains and on every high hill; my sheep were scattered over all the surface of the earth, with no one searching for them or seeking to find them. 7 “‘“Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of Jehovah: 8 ‘“As surely as I am alive,” declares the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, “because my sheep have become prey, food for every wild beast of the field, for there was no shepherd, and my shepherds did not search for my sheep; rather, they kept feeding themselves and did not feed my sheep,”’ 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of Jehovah. 10 This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: ‘I am against the shepherds, and I will demand an accounting of them for my sheep, and I will dismiss them from feeding my sheep, and the shepherds will no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouth, and they will no longer be food for them.’”

Enjoyed it! You can get it on Youtube also. But it says 1958 Convention.

Dec 2016 Watchtower, Study Edition: "However, are we also determined to be “obedient from the heart” by doing our best to avoid sins that SOME would view as less serious?—Rom. 6:14, 17." (Uppercase mine) Lying is something that SOME view as a lesser sin. But in light of the scripture in Revelation 21:8 it is not. It is in the same category as spiritism, murder, etc. People practising it will merit the second death - everlasting destruction.

A couple of Jehovah's Witnesses were in the vicinity last week and I used the opportunity to get the latest magazine, as I hadn't seen you for a little while. I am studying with a Jehovah's Witness couple. Check the difference in these two sentences.

A wedding of a Jehovah's Witness couple - not a couple of Jehovah's Witnesses. That is not what you mean. English is very subtle.

The first man seems to have got some kind of terrible news; his blood pressure shoots up and he has a stroke - now in hospital. Helps us to remember Jesus's words about not being anxious. The second part of the picture seems to me to be some kind of emergency. The man seems to be warning the community to flee from the area. Hence the lady with the injured or sick child, trying to flee. Could be a warning of unsafe shelter/building after a bombing or earthquake event. Many scenarios are possible - and all bring anxiety of the worst possible kind. Critical times hard on everyone.

I saw my photo on the Facebook post. Could you kindly remove it.

Comfort, that reply was well written and I understood the reasoning - that it could be a conscience matter. Your language was excellent - I like the way you used "charge" and "discharge". I still don't subscribe to it but I appreciate your going to lengths to explain.

*** W16 8/15 page 15, pf 8. “Although the Bible does not provide specific rules about the kinds and limits of love play that might be associated with natural sexual intimacy, it mentions displays of affection. (Song of Sol. 1:2; 2:6) Christian marriage partners should treat each other with tenderness.” Hi Comfort, re the above, I appreciate your mentioning these things difficult subjects as you have successfully done before; communications on these things is necessary, so don’t give up. (It is like discussing sex with your pre-teens, unpleasant to some people but it is necessary.) However, please note this reference says “natural” sexual intimacy. I believe people should understand the Bible and the spirit behind God’s laws, as well as perceiving that the will of God is when it is not spelled out. So I beg to disagree with you here. In fact I like what was written before time and which has not been mentioned much recently. For this reason I continue to believe what I see here in “True peace and Security – How Can You Find it”. *** tp chap. 13 pp. 149-151 Your View of Sex—What Difference Does It Make? *** Wisely Avoiding All Uncleanness and Sexual Greed 17 Sexual relations plainly have a proper place in the lives of married persons. God provided this as the means by which children would be produced, and also as a source of pleasure to the parents. (Genesis 9:1; Proverbs 5:18, 19; 1 Corinthians 7:3-5) Nevertheless, he warned against abusing this gift.—Ephesians 5:5. 18 Because of the emphasis placed on sex today, many young folks find that their desire for sexual satisfaction is aroused even before they are in position to marry. As a result, some of them seek pleasure through self-stimulation of their sexual parts. This is masturbation, or self-abuse. Is it a proper or wise practice? 19 The Scriptures counsel: “Deaden, therefore, your body members that are upon the earth as respects fornication, uncleanness, sexual appetite, hurtful desire, and covetousness.” (Colossians 3:5) Is one who practices masturbation ‘deadening his body members as respects sexual appetite’? On the contrary, he is stimulating the sexual appetite. The Bible urges that one avoid the thinking and conduct that lead to such problems, replacing them with wholesome activity, and that one cultivate self-control. (Philippians 4:8; Galatians 5:22, 23) When earnest effort is put forth to do this, such self-abuse can be avoided, with benefits mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. 20 What the Bible says respecting “uncleanness, sexual appetite, hurtful desire” applies to all Christians, single and married. It is true that husband and wife have a Scriptural right to engage in sexual relations with each other. But does this mean that they can throw off all restraint? The fact that God’s Word urges all Christians to cultivate self-control argues against such a view. (2 Peter 1:5-8) The inspired Bible writer did not have to explain the natural way in which the reproductive organs of husband and wife complement each other. Homosexual relations obviously cannot follow this natural way. So, male and female homosexuals employ other forms of intercourse in what the apostle refers to as “disgraceful sexual appetites” and “obscene” practices. (Romans 1:24-32) Could married couples imitate such homosexual forms of intercourse in their own marriage and still be free in God’s eyes from expressing “disgraceful sexual appetites” or “hurtful desire”? 21 On considering what the Scriptures say, a person may realize that his former thinking on these matters was molded by those who are, as the Bible says, “past all moral sense.” But, with God’s help, one can “put on the new personality,” which is molded in accord with God’s standards of righteousness. (Ephesians 4:17-24) In this way a person shows that he truly means it when he says that he wants to do God’s will. Your View Vitally Affects Your Peace and Security 22 Applying the counsel of God’s Word as respects sexual morality is not burdensome. Contrast the fruitage of the course the Bible outlines with the world’s high rate of divorce, broken homes, delinquent children, prostitution, disease, and the violence and murders committed in connection with sexual passion. (Proverbs 7:10, 25-27) How evident the wisdom of God’s Word! When you reject worldly thinking based on selfish desire and bring your thinking into harmony with Jehovah’s counsel, your heart is greatly strengthened in right desires. Instead of fleeting pleasures of sexual immorality, you enjoy a clean conscience and enduring peace of mind. Marriage and family ties are fortified with the growth of mutual trust between marriage mates and with respect from the children. 23 And do not lose sight of the fact that your very hope of eternal life is involved. So Scriptural morality will contribute to more than your present health. (Proverbs 5:3-11) It will become part of the evidence that you truly deplore the detestable things done by people who have no regard for God and that you have been ‘marked’ for survival into God’s “new earth,” where, not immorality, but righteousness is to dwell. How vital, then, that you ‘do your utmost now to be found finally by God spotless and unblemished and in peace.’—Ezekiel 9:4-6; 2 Peter 3:11-14. Further, I think the will of God in these things can be perceived and it is not left up to the persons in their bedroom to do what they wish. Servants of God are always in God’s view and presence. I think these scriptures bear on the topic. (Ephesians 5:17) On this account stop being unreasonable, but keep perceiving what the will of Jehovah is. God’s will can be perceived when we get to know him well from studying the things he says he likes and the things he says he hates. (Proverbs 3:5, 6) Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, And do not rely on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways take notice of him, And he will make your paths straight. (Jude 7) . . .. 7 In the same manner, Sodʹom and Go•morʹrah and the cities around them also gave themselves over to gross sexual immorality and pursued unnatural fleshly desires; they are placed before us as a warning example by undergoing the judicial punishment of everlasting fire. If he can see our heart and know our thinking, he surely is interested in everything we do – so nothing is out of his range. In all our ways we should take notice of what he wants us to do (bedroom included). We should like the things he likes, and hate the things he hates. Proper view would not come overnight but we can work on it as a work in progress. We will get there. For example, if we are diagnosed with a common disease such as diabetes, hypertension, etc., we don’t go along as usual if we wish a cure or have it under control, we amend our regimen, more exercise, proper diet, less salt, etc. Because we might like certain foods, that does not mean that we can’t forego them so we can have better health. God expects us to give up things that we once did that were part of this world’s darkness so as to have his friendship. On the matter of the “harm” that is done to couples who desisted from practicing them after coming into the truth, that could be said for also refusing to take blood or obedience to other Godly requirements. We took up our torture stake and agreed to suffer to be friends with God. Anyway, God says he is teaching us to benefit ourselves. ========== On the matter of the Royal Commission, this showed up a lot of deficiencies, many of which were well itemized in your post. Hope these would be handled better from now on. Recently a letter was read emphasizing that matters of child abuse should be reported to the authorities.

Shows an unbelievable lack of maturity and respect for human rights. We have come a long way.

Comfort, you have some excellent illustrations in here also. Like the one personifying a conscientious God-fearing soldier in the matter of King David's order to kill Nabal's household and the one about King David's order via Joab to murder Uriah. I want to add my two cents to this: "However, Paul evidently did not reason that way. […] The immediate result was that Paul had to be rescued from a Jewish mob, and he subsequently spent two years in prison. In the long term, God’s will was done. Paul witnessed before high officials in Caesarea and then was taken at government expense to Rome to witness before Caesar himself." -- ComfortMyPeople I remember in the ’70s a district overseer saying at a district assembly that God can bless mistakes. I never forgot this statement and I have also proven him to be right. He said sometimes we too much of these matters. And he brought the example of a group working a territory together. Somebody misunderstood the directions and ventured into a territory that was not allocated to be worked that day. However, the person not only enjoyed meeting an interested person but a Bible study ensued. So there was truth in that. Other cases were reported or experienced by many of us. God's hand is not cut short, and he can see our desire to obey him despite our imperfections. So he can maneuver things to bring blessings, nevertheless. That's why we can be more mild-tempered and overlook things and give the person the benefit of good motive, though imperfection was manifested. I agree with you that faulty decisions are not from God, but it is his work and he only has imperfect humans down here now, so he can maneuver things to further his purpose, as in the case with Paul getting further opportunities to preach before kings. Nothing is impossible with Him. "(Acts 9:15, 16) 15 But the Lord said to him: “Go! because this man is a chosen vessel to me to bear my name to the nations as well as to kings and the sons of Israel. 16 For I will show him plainly how many things he must suffer for my name.” I think this incident with Jesus' disciples fits in somewhere too. People will not always do things our way but they can still be working with Jehovah and Jesus (“little ones who have faith”). So we don’t have to try to control them. We have to be peaceable, as nothing progresses without peace. (Mark 9:38-42) 38 "John said to him: “Teacher, we saw someone expelling demons by using your name, and we tried to prevent him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said: “Do not try to prevent him, for there is no one who will do a powerful work on the basis of my name who will quickly be able to say anything bad about me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us. 41 And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, I tell you truly, he will by no means lose his reward. 42 But whoever stumbles one of these little ones who have faith, it would be better for him if a millstone that is turned by a donkey were put around his neck and he were pitched into the sea." Compare Jesus’ attitude to that of humans. He is not threatened; he is confident and peaceful.

A very good digest, Ann.

Yes, thanks for filling in all that interesting information. I remember most of those points. It is good to share these things to remind ourselves and others, especially the new ones.

On looking back, it looks as though everyone was given some kind of bait so that they could ramp up their zeal for the end of this system. But not exactly. They said they were "not saying". See quote in previous comments. People at that time including JWs were not so independent in their thinking; they were glad to have someone to follow - in this case a large worldwide organization. In fact, independent thinking is not encouraged up until now. So we can agree that it was wishful thinking - most people wanted to believe that a group of men could know when Jehovah would bring the end to this system - although Jesus had clearly said (and they had read it themselves)that "no one knows the day of the hour - neither the angels of the heavens or the Son but only the Father". And they wanted to see it in THEIR lifetime regardless of who were in danger! (Despite everything we are still hearing shouts of the last memorial and the last convention!) Well, I was not deceived about 1975 but I used to deny that any kind of bait was given. I would tell people that all that was said in the chart on page 31 of the book, "Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God" was that it said that 6000 years of man's existence will end in 1975. That's all!! But recently I saw some other quotes. Well I was young and interested and I read everything but I did not have the time to digest things as I do now. JWInsider said his father used to laugh, but I remember a fairly heated discussion with my mother and my quoting the scripture at Matthew 24:36 to her. She agreed that the Bible said that, but went on to say that the Witnesses were right in 1914 (referring to the War and world change) and that they could be right again (about 1975 being the end). (I wonder how many Witnesses know that other Bible students arrived at that chronology leading to 1914 and not just the Bible students associated with Russell.) Well the best of us can be misled if we are not thinking clearly. There is no point dwelling on that now, but we can press ahead and prepare for what Jesus actually said: Matthew 24:42-44: "Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know one thing, that if the householder had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have kept awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. On this account you too prove yourselves ready, because at an hour that YOU do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming". But why would He allow us to be able to work out the year? It is simple, Jehovah does not want us to know. Respect that. But he gave some signs through his Son and told us to be ready. In other words serve him out of love every day. That is what we say we will be doing in the new system forever. So it is clear that even his true followers will be surprised when it comes. So we cannot go back to sleep we need to improve every day and keep serving with right motives - not thinking of economics, convenience, etc., but simply being ready every day. Serving Jehovah out of love - like Comfort said a few days ago. If we are ready every day, we will be ready when He comes. That is not to say we are no longer interested in the end or that we don't care when it comes. It is like a worker at his workplace. If he really knows and enjoys his work and keeps his work area tidy he will not be embarrassed if the boss brings a high executive rom the Headquarters of the company to sit near his desk, or asks him to explain his function for the benefit of the visitor. Neither would he be a clock watcher. In other words we will have nothing to be ashamed of. Meanwhile we continue to pursue excellence in every thing we do and continue to apply these two scriptures: Revelation 3:2: Become watchful, and strengthen the things remaining that were ready to die, for I have not found your deeds fully performed before my God". Yes, Jesus commended the congregations where they merited commendation and encouragement. But he said the above words which apply to all of us. Jehovah has lovingly allowed us the time to strengthen ourselves and others, to improve where we are weak so we will be workmen with nothing to be ashamed of. We need to have our deeds fully performed before Jehovah, Jesus' God. The apostle Paul was also loving in his advice at Ephesians 4:23,24: (Ephesians 4:23, 24) "And you should CONTINUE to be made new in your dominant mental attitude, 24 and should put on the new personality that was created according to God’s will in true righteousness and loyalty." Yes, we have a lot of work to do on our personalities. We are a work in progress that Jehovah is molding. He is allowing time for this, because he said he is not slow concerning his promise but he is patient with us because he does not wish to destroy us but desires us to attain to repentance so he will find us finally spotless, without blemish and in peace. He also said to consider his patience as our salvation. (2 Peter 3:14,15) So we need this time to help ourselves and others so we can be found approved by Him. Let's show by our actions that we appreciate his patience and that we love others who have not yet come to know him through no fault of their own. He is the Master of the Harvest and he knows when the harvest will be over. Agape.

Seems lots of brothers use only the Online Library but not the other resources like the Watchtower CD. If they don't see what they are looking for in the Online Library they think it is non-existent or that the information is blocked.

Just check the Internet. I checked just now: Here is the link: https://archive.org/stream/RussellVsEatonDebate/1903_Russell_Eaton_Debate_djvu.txt

(Revelation 13:1, 2) And it stood still on the sand of the sea. And I saw a wild beast ascending out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns ten diadems, but on its heads blasphemous names. 2 Now the wild beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like those of a bear, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And the dragon gave to the beast its power and its throne and great authority. Political power comes from the dragon, Satan. (see also Matthew 4:8-10) The people sponsor and support it also. The sea represents restless humanity who vote governments in. If it suits Jehovah's purpose he can intervene to change times and seasons, as he is the Supreme One. (Isaiah 57:20) “But the wicked are like the restless sea that cannot calm down, And its waters keep tossing up seaweed and mire.

Must be obedient to the laws of the land (if they are laws on this - which most countries have) (Romans 13) and not put Jehovah God to the test. (Matthew 4:7)