#[[THANK YOU BILLYE!!!!!

[whirling-fangs]

17 and 25 uwu

Munday numbers // accepting!!

17 - fanon interpretations

[[ BIG big "it depends" on this one. I am an extremely boring person who usually favors sticking to canon above anything else, but sometimes... canon is bad. Sometimes canon deserves some fixing or some big rewriting.

I'd say it really doesn't apply to the muses I've had though. I stay clear of any sort of fanon interpretation people might have about my muse, mostly because I usually find them Bad :') I'd rather forge entirely my own series of little headcanons, but again, nothing drastic.

When it comes to other people's muses, however... I drink that shit every day. It's super super interesting to see everyone's own take on their muse, and most of the time, it makes me realizes sides to a character that I wouldn't have seen by myself.]]

25 - your character

[[ my sweet little baby boar... how am I supposed to write down my feelings about him in just a couple paragraphs. Let's add a munday theme here or I'm going to be ranting for Ever: how he ended up becoming my Main Blorbo.

it's honestly a wonder that he didn't take over my brain when the original anime first aired, but I guess I wasn't quite ready to let my former blorbo go haha. From the moment I saw him in the opening, I KNEW he was going to be my favorite. He exsuded the exact amount of unhinged, energetic crazy that vibes just right with me. Plus the obvious animal/wild themes. I also knew he was bound to be the comedic relief, and man... what can I say. I like a character who makes me laugh :')

I can pretty much pinpoint when I realized he would be the Next One. I did draw an outfit trade of him with my former main blorbo back in 12/2021, when the Entertainment District arc was airing... and I'm entirely sure that's when he took over. The baton had been passed ♥ ]]

[matrilinear]

(( ooc question, favorite soreana hairstyle ? How long does she let it grow ? Would she be seen with her hair loose ? ))

Unprompted asks • always welcome!

I've said before it was one of the qualities she received a lot of praise for. That's because it was very long, at times reaching mid-thigh length, well cared-for, and lend itself splendidly to styling. Nowadays, she wears it at mid-back length.

In Soreana's culture covering the hair up is common; started off for practical reasons as strong waterborne winds would be blowing it every which way. Second to that, Vindorian folk lock the hair into place through braiding.

As to whether she would be seen wearing it loose, I tried doing some research to pinpoint exactly why people have been historically wearing their hair up. Apparently it was a symbol of sensuality; ergo, young people would wear it loose to incite desire while mature people would put it up to maintain an image of sexual frigidity. I did snag one idea off of a study on ancient Greek hairstyling [src]; it being that mourners would wear it loose as part of the grieving process. Given Soreana's still actively wearing mourning garments and despite the fact she prefers to wear it up for reasons I've discussed before, I believe the nobles ultimately would give her a pass if she decided to wear it half-up.

But enough about academia and the real world. It's time to get funky.

Note that back in the era of insane hairstyles she used to have people helping her out even if she was the one drawing up the sketches. At the height of her vanity, she was likely controlling the whole process so the final result would be exactly as she'd imagined it.

I do believe she enjoyed those hairstyles where one uses the hair to craft accessories. There was enough of it to achieve some intricate necklacework, for example. More so once they had moved to Shurima where adornment is common.

Other than that, she would also wear headdresses like the one shown in the comic (middle) and whenever she wouldn't be wearing one she enjoyed having her hair sculpted some way (left, right).

[noxianwilled]

✒️ + Cassiopeia uwu

send me ✒️ + a ship (romantic or not!), and i will write a meta about it.

— @vixtionary

Without any official ages or interactions or anything, this is purely speculation based on how I see it ofc but here we go!

I see Katarina and Cassiopeia as being close in age (1 or 2 years apart) — so there was very little room for Kat to grow used to being an only child before she had siblings, and I don't think that sort of jealousy was ever a factor. While Soreana obviously favoring the younger may, at times, have made the eldest sour as a child, I do think Katarina wasn't ever one to blame her siblings or turn her frustrations on them for her parents' behavior, so I don't think this would have had a huge impact in her relationship with Cass.

Kat's bio suggests she had... an unconventional childhood, to say the least. "So it was that Katarina’s childhood—if it can be called such—had little room for kindness or rest. She spent every waking moment honing herself into the ultimate weapon, testing her endurance, her dexterity, her tolerance for pain." Based on that, I think most of her time was filled with assassin training, which definitely led to some distance from her sister, who instead took after their mother.

Still, they were together since they were basically babies. They definitely had a bond, and honestly I think it was perhaps the most normal thing about Katarina's childhood. Cassiopeia was her closest (possibly only? until Talon?) friend as a child, because she wasn't given the room to care for relationships and connections and playing or whatever, she was already being made into a weapon. But at home, with her sister, there would be a little bit of room for that.

They're very different in personality, but Katarina had genuine love for her sister. I think their relationship was fairly typical in that they could be getting along in one moment and fighting the next then getting along again the next; like most siblings, they likely fought over stupid stuff (though i tend to see them arguing and pulling hair more than. really fighting, since Cass wasn't trained like she was and Kat would pull her punches a little — actual physical fighting, messy and without rules, was likely more reserved for Talon).

Katarina was, nevertheless, a very caring older sister. They'd have played together as children, braided each other's hair, stayed up late talking and giggling until they fell asleep. She'd have been there to look after her baby sister and kick the ass of anyone who harmed her in any way. She'd have been there to listen to Cassiopeia no matter how trivial her concerns may seem to others. And especially when they move to Shurima I figure that may have brought them particularly closer, as they went to an entirely foreign place and sticking to those you know and love is a very natural response at first.

But as they grew older, I think their differences were not only more apparent, they were also capitalized on by their parents in a way that certainly made them more dire. I don't think what we see of Marcus in the comic changes that previous characterization — his feelings for Soreana could be sincere, he could have acted on what he believed best for the empire (and house Du Couteau) by supporting Swain, he could have come to regret it later with the dismantling of nobility and the attack on his wife being somehow connected to Swain — and the division within their household would still be somewhat obvious. Soreana had her own secret agenda, and she was grooming Cassiopeia to follow in her footsteps, much like Marcus had his own, less secret, goals and to an extent prepared Katarina to be like him.

So I don't think the gap between them was created when Marcus left Shurima with Katarina, it only widened with that and as Cass became more involved with the Black Rose. She knew her mother kept it a secret from the rest of the family, and it became her secret too. I think it'd have been easier for her, as a teenager, to keep that secret from her sister by letting that natural distancing happen than by lying to her face (though I have no doubt she could have done it; Katarina was easily deceived by those she loves precisely because she didn't expect falseness from them). Soreana, too, probably had no interest in Cass keeping Kat close. Which is to say, after Kat leaves with Marcus, I don't think there'd have been an effort from the younger sister to reach out to the eldest, at least not for a time.

Time enough for Katarina to be sent to her first mission, fail due to her own pride and need to prove herself, and their father to disown her and have Talon try to kill her. Considering Kat eventually made with her brother, I can see her eventually trying to reach out to Cassiopeia. She loves her siblings and, again, wouldn't want her issues with their parents to get in the way of that. But I also think there's a huge divide between them, and Cassiopeia was raised to be politically inclined. Associating with her disgraced sister when the public stance was that the family renounced her likely wouldn't have been a wise move in that sense, regardless of how she felt about Katarina.

Kat would see the way it is and drop it and not try to reach out again. She wouldn't even be entirely resentful because Cass could be unwilling to reconnect for a number of reasons, not the least because Kat would have rejected her connection to the Du Couteaus just as actively as she was rejected. She wouldn't have wanted to talk to them or see any of them for a considerable amount of time. So she made her part in breaking up their bond, too.

The last time they saw each other in person, they were teenagers. Any contact after that was short-lived, and Katarina has no idea what her sister has been up to, much less of her transformation. All she knows is Cassiopeia remains in Shurima with their mother. Learning of Soreana's ties to the Black Rose, she certainly expects Cass is also involved by then — which makes her no less an enemy than the rest of the family.

I do think she loved her sister (I wouldn't say loves because she doesn't know the person Cassiopeia grew up to be, not really), I think she misses her still, and I think, much as is the case with Talon, she'd like to believe there's salvation for Cass — that she can still find a better path, that they don't have to be enemies. As always, though, Katarina would put the empire before family. If it came to it, for Noxus, she'd kill Cassiopeia too. And at this point Katarina is only waiting for when her sister will resurface to get her shot at trying to kill her.

[ofmistnmoons]

☆ Put this star into the inbox of your favorite blogs. It's time to spread positivity! SLAMS IT IN UR INBOX !!

*audible screeching in the distance*

[cryopathiic]

hey there! quick question for billye, have you ever thought about writing fanfiction for some kny ships?

just a shy anon who like the blog content from far away... 💙

HEY thank you!! I'm not sure which ships we are talking about but if they are Douma related then... I don't know why someone would want to read about him playing onigokko with Kotoha in the temple hallways like a freaking 6 year old (: ( I would want to read it, can someone else write it and link me pls )

But in either case thank you so much for this kind ask !! ;~; Aaaa I feel honored but I don't think I'd make a very good fanfiction writer anymore, I don't have the patience or the motivation tbh :' )

[shammah8]

Pleading Our Case:

Redeemed by the Blood!

A great courtroom procedure has ensued since the fall of man.

God the Father is God the Judge of all. (Hebrews 12:23.) Jesus Christ, the Righteous, is our Advocate. (1 John 2:1,2.) The American Heritage Dictionary defines advocate as: One that argues for a cause. One that pleads in another's behalf; an intercessor.1 Satan is the Prosecuting Attorney—the accuser.

REVELATION 12:10,11 10...for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

The title "the accuser of our brethren" reveals Satan's character and, therefore, his ongoing activity. (That's why I try not to listen to accusations against brethren. I know where they originate. And I fear to be found on the accuser's side in any matter.) The Bible is the Book of the Law.

Someone has said, "If man's redemption is to be real, it must be solidly lawful."

Redemption is the crux of the matter.

Adam exercised his free will and fell into the hand of the enemy.

The Blood of the Lamb redeemed man from Satan's hold and unto God and His plan.

The American Heritage Dictionary gives this definition of redeem:

"To recover ownership of by paying a specified sum."2 As a child, I heard an evangelist tell a story which helped me understand redemption.

A father and his small son worked together and built a toy boat. They whittled out its hull, painted it red, and attached a white sail. Then they enjoyed many happy hours sailing it in the river running through their village.

Somehow the father died. When the boy sailed the boat alone, it brought back good memories. Until... One day a big wind caught the little sail and carried the boat down the river faster than the boy could run after it. Out it sailed into the sea.

The boy missed his boat so much for the long time it was gone.

About Thanksgiving time, he was overjoyed to see his little boat appear in the toy shop window.

He ran inside and said, "That's my little boat in the window! My father and I made it and it was lost to the sea."

The shop owner said, "The little boat was brought in by fishermen who found it. I'll let you have it for what it cost me."

The boy had no money. But he went to work. He cut wood. He sold papers. He did everything he could think of to do. Each day he counted his money. And each day he held his breath as he passed the toy shop to see if the little boat was still there.

At last, on Christmas Eve, he had enough money. But had someone bought the little boat for a gift? How thankful he was to see it still in the window.

When he came out of the shop, he clasped the little boat to his chest and cried, "Little boat! Little boat! You're twice mine! I made you! And I bought you!"

God made us and He redeemed us. He redeemed us not with silver and Pleading Our Case: Redeemed by the Blood!

gold, but with "precious Blood."☕️Billye Brim

[enigma-absolute]

Aw neat! Thanks Krakens!

Last Song I Listened To: ‘The Villain I Appear To Be’ instrumental from the Diamond Jack short! It’s part of my detective OC’s playlist, so it hits the vibe!

Currently Watching: Haven’t gotten into watching much lately, but I would love to get back into Columbo or try out some more of the OG Twilight Zone!

Currently Reading: It’s between Orthodoxy by Chesterton or a little booklet by Dr Billye Brimm on how to divide the Word. I’ve fallen off a bit with both, but I hope to pick back up super soon!

And as for more biblical reading, I’m chewing through Zechariah. Ever since finishing the NT, I went back, started from Daniel and kept powering on from there.

Current Obsession: You think it would be my own honours project of my OCs and while this is true, I’ve also been plagued with a Glunkus from My Brains

He’s a Star Wars OC who is built like an early 2000’s animated Disney protag, came originally from earth to the SW universe and became a rebel spy, but when he was caught on a mission gone wrong, the Empire gave him amnesia. He manages to escape and start recovering his memories through the Force but having him as my main RP character on discord means he’s rotating in my head faster than any rotisserie chicken in my brain atm

Send help

I’m not usually a big tagging gal, so if you just wanna join in on the fun and do this, hop in!

9(ish) People You'd Like To Get To Know Better

tagged by @cultivating-wildflowers ! thank you!

Last Song I Listened To: I've been cycling between Strawberry Switchblade albums, Ghost In The Shell 1995 ost, and the Hylics 2 soundtracks lately while I work :]

Currently Watching: I haven't been keeping up with any TV show of late but the last thing I watched was Twin Peaks; I really like it a lot. I watch a lot of movies though; I watched the 1977 Lord Of The Rings last Friday, I actually liked it quite a bit despite how tremendously silly it is

Currently Reading: The Curse Of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold, Stiff by Mary Roach, and No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy (audio book) I'm enjoying all of these a lot :]

Current Obsession: Trigun 💀 I'm still absolutely in the trenches. I also have grunge typography, 90s manga art, and dinosaurs/prehistoric animals making a resurface as an interest as well

No Pressure Tags: @dragonsbloodsnowcone @thepartyponies @artimies6 @fortes-fortuna-iogurtum @swinging-stars-from-satellites @littlebluebarista @loubuttons @takineko @enigma-absolute @kat-of-the-night @brown-little-robin @songsintheattic

[virtuosin]

@vixtionary​ Ah how wonderful you’ve elected to show yourself on an optimism post and NOT send one in for yourself-- :^) cracks fingers-- Alright, everyone, listen up and listen good. This blog would literally not exist if not for Billye. Literally I can equate everything to this good bean. I had such AWFUL writing anxiety and I didn’t feel good enough. But Billye and Swain were the ones that kept me hanging on. Top three favorite threads on my multi? You should already know that ours was in that list but in case it wasn’t obvious our threads were always one of my favorites. Even when I was going through the worst of my writing anxiety/depression, my adoration for Sona remained, and I attribute that largely to our threads, theory crafting sessions, and the back and forth of memes, music links, and art we would share. Out of all my muses, my love for Sona remained, and I think it’s because you were around back then to inspire me, to push me to be the best I could be. I was always so excited to chat because honestly? Billye, you as an individual are amazing and I love shooting the shit and chatting about anything and everything with you. I said it the other day but I’ll say it again--I really am grateful to the high heavens that we met and I consider you a dear friend in this community. For all the love and support you’ve shown me and Sona, I thank you, and truthfully I wish I could do more to show you that love and appreciation. I think about these two often and lord knows I draw them or things about our threads often. You’re simply one of those writers that bring out this insatiable appetite in me as another writer--each time we reply to each other, I find myself eager to read, excited to reply, and to ensure I’m always dishing out something that you can enjoy as well, and I always do my best to always improve because I want to be the best I can be. For you and Swain, for everyone else who follows me, and for Sona herself. You have encouraged me throughout the many months, even when I go quiet cuz life gets too hard. Honestly, the end of last year was SUPER rough on me, but you were always there, inspiring me from the sidelines with words of kindness and support. I’ll never be able to repay that, but I’ll do my best to be a pillar of trust and support for you whenever you need it, Billye. Never stop being such a sweetheart and a reliable friend, never stop writing, and never think for a moment you are not a beloved member of this community. <3

[tenebriiis-archived]

Yo, you're one of the most genuinely kind hearted and caring people I know. I appreciate you an unfathomable amount and I hope to see you around prospering and growing for as long as possible, because you are such a giving and generous soul and always brighten up my day with your creativity and your ideas. You're inspirational to be around and I will never tire of saying that because honestly I've been following you for like, a year now and I still get EXCITED to see you post. I'm happy you're in this community and I hope things look up for you soon. Never change Annie cause you're a queen u.u Sending all the love in the world your way 🖤🖤🖤

{ 🙗 }  // Lissen here, you beautiful & marvelous soul... you are not allowed to be this nice & kind to me & make me go sniff sniff ( ´•̥̥̥ω•̥̥̥` ) ! ! ! ... 

Oh dear, I’m so glad & blissful by your words, & I want you to know the feeling is absolutely & sincerely mutual, Billye. You are equally an inspiring & marvelous person who brightens my day each time I see you in the dash. I adore you so so much & I’m ever so happy to have you in this community, thank you for ever been so supportive, caring & sweet ; ; 

I send you all the love & good wishes your way too, thank you for taking the time to write to me ; it really means tons. I hope all your days following this one are filled with tons of smiles & beautiful memories cause you deserver all of them! (˃̥̥ω˂̥̥̥)

[shehili]

What is your muse’s moral alignment?

TRUE NEUTRAL

True Neutral people believe in the ultimate balance of forces, and they refuse to see actions as either good or evil. True Neutral individuals do their best to avoid siding too strongly with any one force, whether that force is good or evil, lawful or chaotic. For this reason, True Neutral personalities sometimes find themselves drawn into rather peculiar alliances, friendships, and life paths. To a great extent, they side with the underdog, sometimes even changing sides as the previous loser becomes the winner. Such people often see good, evil, chaos, and laws as simply prejudices that lead to dangerous extremes. Like the Taoist masters of ancient China, they tend to believe that the universe functions best when the light and the dark, the yin and the yang, are in balance.

TAGGED BY: @vixtionary; thank you so much, 🥺 I love ranting about her. TAGGING: I’m too tired for that. Go ahead and take it, if you like. 😔

So, I still don’t understand alignments. Nonetheless, there were two points that resonated strongly with Mariam: True Neutral’s refusal to perceive actions and individuals as either strictly good, or strictly evil, and the tendency to form odd alliances. The former is pretty self-explanatory. 

Actually, allow me to expand on that; Mariam is just the type to find heroic antics endlessly frustrating. She won’t backtrack to secure a hopeless objective, nor will she hesitate if her target tries to lever an innocent life against their own. She will drive her sword through both without a moment’s hesitation. She’s all about economy: time, movement, and resources should not be wasted on fruitless endeavors.

Then there’s the tendency to form odd alliances. In my and Billye’s joint canon, Mariam supported Swain in his bid to overthrow Darkwill. He was the underdog, and his vision as he presented it aligned with her own. Mariam is likely to make allies of people whose methods are more extreme than her own, so long as they contribute towards a shared goal. Cruelty for cruelty’s sake doesn’t do it for her.

TL;DR: prolific bastards get a pass.

[whirling-fangs]

[ blonde ] what is your favorite type of music? favorite artist? favorite song? [ lime ] describe yourself as a character / mix of characters you've always related to the most. [ coral ] give a shoutout to one of your favorite blogs.

𝑪𝑶𝑳𝑶𝑼𝑹𝑭𝑼𝑳 𝑰𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑹𝑽𝑰𝑬𝑾

[ blonde ] what is your favorite type of music? favorite artist? favorite song?

[[ There are many genres I love!! Punk rock is probably first (Green Day, Rise Against), with all sorts of pop-rock to metal (from Mika to Muse), J-rock as well (Official Hige Dandism, Asian Kung Fu Generation), video game music, 8-bit or symphonic (Super Mario Galaxy OST my beloved), anime songs, piano covers...

Picking just one song is of course impossible, but a few eternal favorites from the aforementioned artists in order are Still Breathing, Last Man Standing, Happy Ending, The Globalist (10 minutes of pure bliss!!!!), Cry Baby, Rewrite, and Gusty Garden Galaxy.

[ lime ] describe yourself as a character / mix of characters you've always related to the most.

Answered here!

[ coral ] give a shoutout to one of your favorite blogs.

ooooh this is a mean one!!! I want to give a thousand shoutouts!!

But since i have to pick one and we've been plotting Lots of good and Evil content, here you go @cryopathiic ♥♥♥ top tier writer, absolute Mastery of Douma's character with all his complexity and his villainy, not afraid to delve into deeper topics, to break the blorbo apart and see what's inside.... And I can't thank Billye enough for the opportunities I get to develop my blorbo in return!!!

Writing is always teamwork and I just feel so happy and inspired whenever I get to write a reply for them. It's the endless possibilities that come with all the scenarios we explore, and the hype of building our own little timeline of events!! My biggest wish with RP is to have character stories intertwine, for the best or the worst... and that's definitely what we're doing here ;w;]]

[orbemnews]

Over perilous odds, the late Hank Aaron leaves behind legacy of determination, benevolence | The Atlanta Voice In this May 17, 1970, file photo, Atlanta Braves’ Hank Aaron, center, who became the ninth player in Major League history to get 3,000 hits, kisses a baseball alongside Famer Stan Musial and Braves owner Bill Bartholomay, in Cincinnati. Bartholomay, the former Braves owner who moved the team from Milwaukee to Atlanta in 1966, died Wednesday, March 25, 2020, at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, according to his daughter, Jamie. He was 91. Bartholomay sold the Braves to Ted Turner in 1976 but remained as chairman of the team’s board of directors until 2003, when he assumed an emeritus role. (AP Photo/Gene Smith, File) For many, Henry Louis Aaron was the epitome of what a man is supposed to be: a servant leader, a master of a trade, and above all else, both honorable and dignified.  The man who came to be known as “Hammerin’ Hank” possessed each of those qualities in abundance. Not only was he an exemplary baseball player — he closed out his playing days as Major League Baseball’s all-time home run king with 755 home runs, and holding more than 21 records — he would later become an executive for the Atlanta Braves for more than 40 seasons while also emerging as one of the city’s most beloved philanthropists. He passed away whilst sleeping last Friday, Jan. 22 in his Atlanta home. He was 86 years old. Aaron is survived by his wife of 50 years, Billye, and daughter, Ceci. He also had five children with his first wife, Barbara Lucas. On Wednesday, the Atlanta Braves, with Billye in attendance, announced the creation of the Henry Louis Aaron Fund, which will be used to increase minority participation in baseball. The fund already includes a $1 million donation from the Braves and separate $500,000 donations made by both the MLB and the MLB Players Association. “God gave him the talent, and he used that talent to become the greatest baseball player of all time,” Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman said in a tribute video. “But, more importantly, he used it to make our city, our country, and the world, a better place. For those who were blessed enough to know Hank, he left a lifetime of impact with every encounter. His life made you want to better your own.” Aaron’s career spanned 23 seasons between the Milwaukee Braves, the Atlanta Braves, and the Milwaukee Brewers.  During his dazzling career, Aaron hit for a .305 batting average, possessed a .374 on-base percentage, and an exemplary .555 slugging percentage. He tallied 624 doubles; 755 home runs; 2,297 RBI; 2,174 runs; 3,771 hits; and 240 stolen bases.  Hammerin’ Hank retired as the all-time home run leader and held the record for more than 33 years. He remains the all-time leader in RBIs and total bases. He also holds the record for the most All-Star games at 25. Yes, his name is all over the record books! However, Hammerin’ Hank also would be known for something deeper than lofty stats: a statesman for African-Americans.  Aaron was born to poverty and segregation on Feb. 5, 1934, in the port city of Mobile, Alabama. He was one of eight children born to Herbert and Estella (Pritchett) Aaron. His father worked in the Mobile shipyards to make ends meet. His mother was a homemaker. Aaron would eventually make it to the Negro Leagues, playing for the Indianapolis Clowns. Aaron was also in negotiations with the New York Giants. He said a difference of $50 kept him from being teammates with Willie Mays. Aaron would make his major league debut with Milwaukee Braves in 1954.  In 1966, the Braves would relocate to Atlanta and that’s where Aaron’s leadership off the field would match his example on the baseball diamond. In 1969, Aaron launched a four-year scholarship program at the historically Black Morris Brown College, covering all expenses for deserving students. It would be his first foray into philanthropy.  Aaron also joined the United Negro College Fund as an advocate during his playing days. Later on, his wife Billye served as the Atlanta-based philanthropy‘s vice president.  In the Sept. 29, 1973 edition of The Atlanta Voice, it was reported the City of Atlanta sought to create the Hank Aaron Foundation Center, as a monument to the player while driving proceeds toward scholarships for Black students who sought to attend historically Black colleges and universities that were supported by the UNCF.  Ultimately, the creation of the UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball in 1983, would be spearheaded by Aaron and Andrew Young instead. “Hank and Billye Aaron’s sincere belief in our motto, ‘A mind is a terrible thing to waste,’ led them to co-found with former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, the first-ever Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball,” said Maurice Jenkins, UNCF’s Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer. “The Mayor’s Masked Ball has become an annual fundraising tradition in Atlanta for more than 30 years, drawing ever-larger crowds each year and breaking the million-dollar mark several years in a row.  “The Mayor’s Masked Ball has now been franchised across the United States to several other cities to help UNCF raise money in other locations because of its model of success—all thanks to the passion and ingenuity of Hank and Billye Aaron,” Jenkins added. As Aaron’s march toward Babe Ruth’s home run record continued, Hammerin’ Hank would face racially-motivated death threats directed toward him, his family, and journalists that chronicled his career. In spite of the vitriol, Aaron continued to perform with unmatched grace and unrivaled humility.He would tell legendary New York Times sportswriter William C. Rhoden, “April 8, 1974, really led up to turning me off on baseball.” “It really made me see for the first time a clear picture of what this country is about,” he said. “My kids had to live like they were in prison because of kidnap threats, and I had to live like a pig in a slaughter camp. “I had to duck. I had to go out the back door of the ballparks. I had to have a police escort with me all the time. I was getting threatening letters every single day,” he continued. “All of these things have put a bad taste in my mouth, and it won’t go away. They carved a piece of my heart away.” On April 4, 1974, Aaron hit his 714th home run against the Cincinnati Reds, on the six-year anniversary of the murder of The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.  Four days later on April 8, in front of 53,775 people at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Aaron would hit his 715th home run off of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing.  Fabled broadcaster Vin Scully said, “A Black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of a baseball icon.”  Aaron’s parents met him at home plate. Herbert Aaron Sr. threw his arms around his son while his mother, Estella, kissed him and hugged him with all her might. It would be the moment that the quiet lad from Mobile would crack a smile for the world to see.  He grabbed a microphone to say, “I thank God it’s all over with,” as photographers and reporters surrounded him. A further irony of Aaron’s 715th home run on April 8, would be its coincidence of the six-year anniversary of King’s funeral. As trailblazers and champions for equity, the two would forever be linked in history. Aaron had a passion for discovering young baseball talent while nurturing his business acumen.  Braves owner, CNN founder, and Chairman Ted Turner appointed him an executive for the Braves in 1980. He served 13 years as Atlanta’s vice president of player development.  Notably, Aaron gave a young minor league catcher his first job that year. That player would become current Braves manager, Brian Snitker. “I wouldn’t be sitting here on this call if it wasn’t for Hank Aaron,” Snitker said. “He’s the reason I’m here. I’ve said many times, I’ve been blessed to be around Hall of Famers throughout my career, none more important to my career, my family, and my life than Hank Aaron.” Aaron’s offices were on the 14th floor of the CNN Center, not far from Turner’s.  In 1996, Aaron purchased two West End restaurants from Churchs’ Atlanta-based parent, America’s Favorite Chicken Co. (AFC). “If the playing field is not level, then we need to have some way for people to step in and say, `Hey, we need to give people an opportunity,’ ” Aaron said in a 1996 interview. “But not everybody wants to go into fast food. We’ve got contractors and people who want to work in government.” And that was the epitome of Aaron. He was emblematic of the foreign policy mantra of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt: “speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function()n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments); if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)(window, document,'script', 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); fbq('init', '174966086481892'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); Source link Orbem News #Aaron #Atlanta #atlantabraves #atlantatechnicalcollege #benevolence #billyeaaron #determination #Hank #hankaaron #henrylouisaaron #Late #Leaves #Legacy #MLB #news #Odds #perilous #philanthropy #sports #topstories #uncf #Voice

[artterrell]

He was the best to ever do it not because of the records he holds but because he did it with civility in the face of adversity. You would never know his life was threatened every day as he chased Babe Ruth’s record, he was called every name under the sun or that people wanted to harm his family. You wouldn’t know these things because he was a humble man whose excellence spoke louder than any force that came against him. His was my HERO not only because he was a great ⚾️ player but because he repped this city, my city B4 it was cool. This city became what it is because Hank Aaron gave to the people of this city thru his philanthropic efforts, built successful businesses and did it while living in the SWATS. Every drive pass his house was inspiring. It always felt like greatness lived right around the corner. REST IN THE LIGHT MR. AARON. Thank you 🙏🏽 My condolences to his wife Billye Aaron and the Aaron family. #justkeepswinging #RIPHANKAARON https://www.instagram.com/p/CKXQ-AzB_Bp/?igshid=18ouufzs018bl

[sherrystravels]

Thursday, July 9, 2020 Day 3

The Ativan gave me about 6-7 hours of good sleep - lots of crazy dreams but no nightmares and just a bit of short-lived dizziness after I was up and around. Thank you, Cissie & Barbara!

Connor phoned around 8 am to tell me that all of Fibi’s labs were good, and the chest X-ray showed her heart & lungs to be healthy - so she could have anesthesia for the MRI. She would be first for the procedure. But, more importantly, Connor told me that Fibi had actually take a few steps alone this morning! Thank you, Lord!

I have to mention here our fantastic support system! Friends, neighbors and family members have lifted up this precious pup in prayer nonstop for days - and I believe & trust that God will answer those prayers and take care of us.

Overjoyed by the good news, I walked over 3 miles very early then had coffee & worked my puzzles. Finally I stripped my bed and showered. I had barely dried my hair and dressed when Dr. Lind (Jenna) called.

The MRI showed no herniated discs and no reason to suspect anything besides an FCE (fibrocartilaginous embolism). So, a stroke had caused this - no fault of mine or Fibi’s - the cause is unknown. But a bit of a disc broke off and traveled through a spinal artery or vein into the spinal cord, blocking blood supply. Dr. Lind called it a “bruise” where the right side of her neck meets her spinal column. This is why the right side suffered more damage. No surgery is needed, just pain meds for awhile accompanied by crate rest, lots of daily physical therapy (she gave me 4 pages of PT instructions. She will fit Fibi with a special harness that has 3 handles, to facilitate my helping her learn to walk again. AND, I can pick up my girl at 2:00 pm.

Neshma rode with me on this trip, which I greatly appreciated - but not as much as my kids & brothers. They all thanked her profusely!

Connor first brought out all the instructions, checkout sheet and meds; after I had plenty of time to read over it, out she came with Fibi in her nifty harness. Fibi was too woozy from anesthesia to do any walking, so I gave her some water then headed home.

Ben met us with my large crate, and Myra bought us a box of pee pads - both of them saved my life. Never could I have gotten Fibi situated by myself.

Soon she had visitors - Myra, Linda, Billye, Bobbie & Monroe. It pleased her, although she was still woozy until late that night. I gave Fibi her first round of meds: 1/2 a 500 mg Methocarbamol for muscle relaxation and a 100 mg Gabapentin for pain relief. She ate a couple of handful of her kibbles and drank water. Ben, Myra& I had tried to get her to pee but she was just too out of it.

Dr. Lind has prepared me for temporary incontinence, until she got a bit stronger. And she wet the towels twice tonight. I’m temporarily sleeping in my chair or on the sofa, as I won’t be able to carry this crate up & down stairs. And she does not want me out of her sight right now.

I read and started my blog tonight, and I doubt I’ll sleep much (if any) tonight. Just so thankful!

Okay, instead of putting the next part on Friday’s entry, I decided to add it here. I truly expect great things tomorrow - here’s why:

Thursday night/Friday morning GIFT

I had to clean Fibi up around 1 am, so I gave her more meds then. Put her back in the dry crate, and I thought she was going back to sleep. But at 2 am, she started whining in earnest, trying to get up and out of the crate. So I put on her harness and took her out to the grassy area by Pam’s house.

Fibi STOOD AND WALKED BY HERSELF!! She took several steps, then pooped a lot. After that she just stood and looked around. I nearly cried - I took a photo so I’d know I wasn’t crazy later this day!! She WILL recover - as Gabby said, Fibi acts only 5. ��️ 🙏🏻



[shammah8]

Blinking Sign One day, years ago, the Lord made this Scripture come alive to me.

PHILIPPIANS 1:28 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

The Bible instructs us not to be terrified by our adversaries. It further specifies "in nothing," in no thing.

Just by doing this we send them "an evident token." Remember "token" means sign. An evident sign is one easily seen. Just not being terrified by our adversaries sends them an easily read sign.

A sign of what?

Of their "perdition."

Perdition means doom.

The day the Lord revealed this to my spirit I saw it like this.

The Blood and the Glory When we are not terrified, it's like we put up a huge blinking neon sign in the face of Satan and his demons.

"You're doomed! You're doomed!" the message flashes.

And that's not all it says. The Bible says it is to them "an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation...."

It also blinks, "I'm saved! I'm saved! I'm redeemed! I'm redeemed!"

Satan and demons are not all-knowing. They don't know your heart.

They can only read your countenance. And they are observing you. The original Hebrew of the following verse shows us that.

PSALM 27:11 11 Teach me thy way, 0 LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

This is one of my favorite Psalms. So I read it often. When I got a new Bible recently it had a reference to the last phrase that my previous Bible did not have. It gives the original Hebrew of "mine enemies," as, those which observe me.

I ran a reference and found this in the original Hebrew of other Scriptures.

What kind of signs are you sending those who observe you?

If you are not afraid, they won't stay around to read, "You're doomed!

You're doomed!"

When you get up in the morning, send the right signals.

Don't say, "Oh, I'm so depressed." Those who observe you will laugh with glee and stay around to feed your mind with fear and sadness.

Say, "Praise the Lord! Oh, I'm so glad for this new day! Thank You, Father, for Your great plan of redemption! Thank You for the Blood of Jesus! I place the token of the Blood between me and mine and all the power of the enemy."

Those who observe you will flee as if in terror!☕️Billye Brim

[nolimitsongrace]

The Prayer of Agreement for Healing

The Power of Family AgreementSeptember 3, 2020

The prayer of agreement is one of the most powerful tools God has given us.

It is a prayer that Jesus Himself guaranteed would bring results every time.

“If two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask,” He said, “it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 18:19, NASB).

Jesus said that if any two on earth agree, He would be in the midst of that agreement to see that it comes to pass. You are on earth, so you qualify. If you agree with another believer as touching anything that lines up with the Word of God, He is there in your midst to carry it out. With guaranteed results like that, why don’t we use this spiritual tool more often?

The prayer of agreement will work with any faith-filled group of people—including a group of friends or a Bible study. It seems to work especially well within a family, between a husband and wife, between parents and children, etc.

There is extraordinary power in family agreement because a family is a God-ordained unit with a collective purpose, and when a family unites in faith around that purpose, the results are astounding! Your family is also where you have the most authority; you make the decisions of what you will or will not tolerate from the devil and what promises you will choose to believe God for.

There is a special support within a family that is like no other, and when a family prays in agreement, mountains will move! Here, we’re sharing some ways to put the power of family agreement to work in your own home to see results.

1. Run a Harmony Check in Your Family

“If two of you agree on earth about anything they ask for, it will be done for them.” (Matthew 18:19, NIV)

The word agree that Jesus uses in Matthew 18:19 can also be translated to harmonize or make a symphony. A symphony is composed of many instruments that seem to be a single voice when played together. If you’ve ever heard a symphony, you know that when the individual instruments are tuning up, each one playing separately from the other, it’s not much to hear. But when the conductor raises his baton and all those instruments begin to harmonize, the sound they make is tremendously powerful. The same thing is true in prayer. Believers agreeing together in the Holy Spirit are a powerful, unstoppable force. That’s why Satan fights Christian families. That’s why he doesn’t want men and women unified in marriage. He wants us fighting and fussing all the time because he knows it will hinder our prayers (see 1 Peter 3:7). Anytime you fail to get results from the prayer of agreement, run a harmony check. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you if you’re in strife with your husband or wife (or anyone else). Then follow the instructions in Mark 11:25 (KJV), where Jesus tells us, “When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you.” It is not sufficient for you and your spouse simply to agree on the particular issue you are praying about. You must also be in harmony with one another in other areas, or your prayer will not really be in agreement.

Beyond your own four walls, you must also be in harmony with those outside your home. Mark 11:25 reminds us that when we are praying, we FIRST must forgive anyone we have anything against before our prayers are received. He did not say, “Think about it for six weeks and then forgive if or when you feel better.” He said forgive when you pray.

How important is this? In Galatians 5:6, the Bible says faith works by love. If you are operating with an unforgiving heart, your prayer life will be paralyzed.

The Word says we know we have the petitions we have desired of Him if we do the things that are pleasing in His sight (1 John 3:22). Put these scriptures together, and you quickly see unforgiveness would actually ruin the whole prayer system.

2. Write Down Your Family Agreement

“Write the vision and make it plain.” (Habakkuk 2:2, KJ21)

Here’s why writing down your agreement is so important. Seeing it in black and white on paper will make a difference! You will be more likely to line up your confession and your actions with your agreement.

Here is an example of a prayer of agreement, based on scripture, you could write for a financial prayer.

“We hereby agree, according to Philippians 4:19 and Matthew 18:19, as follows:  

‘Father, we see in Your Word that You will supply all our needs according to Your riches in glory. We are setting ourselves in agreement that our financial need is met according to Your Word. We believe we receive (be specific) __________________. We establish this agreement, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.’”

(Find a FREE written prayer of agreement for finances to download HERE.)  

Amen means, “So be it.” When you stand on the Word, as far as you are concerned, the matter is closed.

Learn how to pray like a seasoned pray-er from Gloria Copeland and Billye Brim.

3. Refuse to Waver as a Family

“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” (James 1:6-7, NIV)

Now that you have written your family agreement, from that point forward, just thank God for the answer, knowing that you must not waver if you want to see results. To waver is to doubt.

If Satan brings doubt, simply speak to him in the authority of Jesus’ Name and say, “Don’t bring us your lies. Not only is it written in God’s Word, but we have agreed. We have written it down.” As far as you are concerned, the need is met. There is no doubt about it because you have agreed according to the Word of God.

If you ever waver, take it to God, and receive forgiveness for unbelief, reinforce your original decree,and go at it again. We all make mistakes in the walk of faith. The important thing is to keep walking. If you miss it, go at it again. The biggest mistake of all is to become discouraged and quit before you receive your answer.

4. Get Your Family Established on God’s Word

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything      according to his will, he hears us.” (1 John 5:14, NIV)

The prayer of agreement will only work if it is based on the Word of God. You and your husband or wife might jump up one day and agree that you’ll own a hundred oil wells by midnight, but you’ll never see that prayer of agreement come to pass because it’s not founded on God’s Word. So when you have a desire as a family, go to the Word first. Find the promise that covers the particular situation you’re praying about. Then write it down and meditate on it until, as Psalm 112:7(KJV) says, your “heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.” Get your whole family established on this promise, so your agreement will be based on a firm foundation.

Then, the battle is on! The devil will send all kinds of things your way that are CONTRARY to the Word of God you’ve determined to stand on. Here’s where you need your whole family to come together and STAND.

One way to do this is to bring “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5, KJV). You must do that if you’re to see results from your prayers of agreement. Continue to meditate on the Word of God to keep your faith strong (Philippians 4:8).

Say to yourself, “I refuse to think or believe anything contrary to this agreement.” Then, when Satan tries to slip in negative thoughts and break down your faith, you’ll have to tell him, “No, no, no, devil! I don’t believe what you say. I believe what the Word says.” Then get out your Bible. Go back to the Word and soak your mind in it. Obey Proverbs 4 and keep it before your eyes.

5. Act As If It Is Done as a Family

“Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24, NIV)

This is where so many believers miss it. They pray the prayer of agreement, taking a faith stand together. Then as soon as they walk out of the prayer closet, they start wringing their hands and saying, “Oh my, I just don’t know what we’re going to do if this problem doesn’t get solved!” Don’t make that mistake. Once you’ve settled the issue through the prayer of agreement, refuse to act like that issue is a problem anymore. Instead, just start praising God. In every way you can, act as though all is well.

(Find 3 Ways to Act As If It’s Done HERE.)

When you have agreed—spirit, and soul (mind)— your actions must come in line. If finances are what you agreed on, expect the money to come in. This is part of being in agreement. You cannot agree in prayer about something, then act the opposite and expect it to come to pass. If you do, your actions will eventually take over your thinking.

The prayer of agreement within a family is a powerful tool. Agreement makes prayer work! So don’t be discouraged by your past experience. Just make the necessary adjustments and keep on in agreement—as a family. You will have what you ask for and stand for in faith, in Jesus’ Name!

Watch as Kenneth Copeland walks you through the prayer of agreement for healing.