#┆ ╰ ❀ ╮ ┆ bloodstains on our hands. (john wick)

[foxys-left-foot]

Overload --- Johnny Silverhand x John Wick

In which, an assassin meets a strange man and finds that they have much more in common than it seems.

Tw for: self-cest (mainly because they're both played by Keanu Reeves) , bxb sex, alcohol consumption, smoking, foul language, etc.

It was a night like any other --- the stars dotted the skies, the moon shone a dim blueish color, and occasional clouds rolled by. A man thudded through the town, fatigued by all the running and fighting he'd done. "Oh God, fuck. I need a drink." he grumbled. "Any drink. And something to eat." He looked off into the distance, spotting a glowing, brightly lit sign with the words 'HOWLING HAL'S BAR AND GRILL' in bright orange lettering. Perfect.

He made his way towards the establishment, breathing heavily and wiping some blood off of his face. Meanwhile, inside the bar, the patrons were enjoying their drinks and entertainment. A male with dark brown hair and a metallic arm chugged his drink, coming up for air. "Ahh," he sighed in satisfaction. "Nothing like a good ol' margarita to get you hyped up." His band, SAMURAI, had a gig at this bar tonight. They were allowed to stay in the rooms on the above floor for the night.

The music suddenly stopped when the doors practically flew open, almost falling off their hinges. The crowd gasped at the man's appearance. He was all cut up and bloody, accompanied by a huge bloodstain on his blazer. He looked rugged and exhausted as he slowly walked to the bar. "Bourbon! On the rocks!" he demanded.

"Yessir!" The bartender said, rushing to prepare the drink. The assassin sat down in a barstool, eagerly awaiting his alcoholic beverage. Everyone else eventually went back to partying. "Well, aren't you quite a fucking character? Name's Johnny. Johnny Silverhand. Who're you?" Johnny asked, extending his metallic hand for a friendly shake.

The drink was finally served. The stranger took a few big swigs before speaking, "They call me 'the baba yaga,' but my name is John Wick." Johnny raised his brows, then furrowed them. "Baby gaga? What does that mean?" he questioned. John snarled, "First off, it's 'baba yaga,' not whatever the hell you said! Second, it means 'the boogeyman' in Russian."

He took another swig. Johnny bit his lip. "You speak Russian?" he replied. A nod came from the slick-haired man. Wow, the cyborg thought, he's so hot! He stared down at John's pants. They seemed to be a bit tight on him. How was he to win him over? It'd been a long while since he fucked anyone, let alone flirted with them. "Hey," he began, "Get all the drinks you want. I'll pay." Before Wick could open his mouth, Johnny put a metallic finger to his lips.

"I'll pay," he repeated, "You look exhausted. My band is playing here tonight, so we're allowed to sleep upstairs. Room's gonna be limited, so bear with us. You might have to share. That okay?" John sighed and nodded. "Sure. But you're not going to treat my dog like shit. He goes where I do." he growled.

"You have my word, compadre. I love dogs." He replied as he petted the pitbull sat at his feet, chuckling with childish glee when his hand got licked in return. "Name for this bundle of joy?"

"He has none. I just call him Dog."

"Oh."

"Say, how'd you get that arm?"

"War bullshit. How'd you get those scratches and that big ass blood stain on your blazer?"

"A fight. I won, of course."

"Gnarly. Hey, you know how to sing, man? Our bassist has a sore throat today and can't sing."

"I can try. Haven't sung in a while."

Later, after the show had concluded, everyone practically went wild over them. "Man, you can SCREAM!" Johnny laughed, lifting his shades. "Well, Silverass, when you've been through what I have, you scream a lot, trust me." Wick half-joked, a smile finally on his face. "You never told me about yourself," he said, "Where are you from?"

"Somewhere out in Texas. You?"

"New York. It sucks. Don't go there."

"Noted. Say, John, are you lonely? Just like I am? When's the last time you ever had fun? With someone else, mm?" Silverhand asked seductively, resting a hand on his lap. Wick bit his lip. "I don't know what you're talking about. Assassins don't just 'have fun' whenever they want." He went to move the veteran's metallic appendage away from him, but hesitated.

So he decided to do nothing. "You know what I mean. When is the last time you've made love?" Wick blushed softly before hissing, "No woman will EVER replace my angel Helen!" Johnny just laughed, the smell of booze on his breath. "No, no, baby..." he scolded playfully, lifting his chin slightly. He took off his shades again. "With a man. Specifically, me?" he purred.

The darker-haired male blushed a deep red as he whimpered quietly. "What a babygirl!" Silverhand teases, to which the latter snarls. "Excuse me, but I always give the orders! I'm always in control! I'm no babygirl or plaything! I'll show you!" He replies. "Oh? Prove it. Don't fight me; prove to me that you could take me over! If you can, I'll take back everything I said." Johnny grinned mischievously.

John got up and yanked the smooth-talking male by his shirt. He threw him to the ground and stood above him. "You were saying?" he somewhat grinned. "Not bad for a bottom." Johnny laughed. John growled in frustration, a fight ensuing. At one point, he found himself pinned against the wall by his opponent.

He thrashed around, desperately trying to punch and kick out. But Silverhand was prepared, his dirty boots on top of his clean flats, and his grip on his wrists tight. "Hold still." he commanded. John, confused but cautious, froze in place. His foe suddenly ... KISSED HIM?? What was going on?

He wasn't thinking as impulse took over and he returned the kiss. His body relaxed, his muscles no longer tense. Lust began overwhelming him, overriding his precautionary approach and aggressive attitude. "J-Johnny..." he stuttered. Johnny grinned and nipped at his neck, licking and kissing the skin every so often, too. The sharply dressed man whined, squirming in his grasp. "Trust me, princess, I'm going to make you feel so good that you see fucking stars." With that, he was lifted over his shoulder and carried upstairs to the bedroom.

Smut ahead!!! Don't like it, skip it!!

"Let me g ---" John landed on the bed, wincing in pain. His heart stopped when he tilted his head upwards, only to see Silverhand shutting and locking the door. Johnny bent down for another kiss, which John wasn't hesitant to return --- but the former soldier moaned when he felt his balls getting massaged by Wick's knee. "Sneaky fuck." He hissed, tone faltering. He barely managed to pull away from him before getting up on the bed. "Strip." He commanded.

"Make me!" Wick barked. "You don't want me to do that, babygirl." The other man shot back. John still didn't move much; he just changed his sitting position. Johnny chuckled and yanked him by the tie, making it so their foreheads touched. His metallic hand reached down to skim over his clothed buttocks, staying there before moving to unbuckle that pest of a belt. "You want me to make you want to strip?" He spoke. John just feebly nodded. " 'Kay then."

Without wasting much more time, the belt was discarded to the floor and the pants unzipped. He slid them down so that John's bare ass was exposed. He grinned devilishly as his metallic index finger traveled down his sensitive skin and penetrated the assassin's butthole. John yelled out, to which Johnny kissed him. "Gotta be quiet, baby. Can't let them know about our love." He whispered. John let out a quiet whine, nodding. With that, he started pumping his finger in and out.

Wick shuddered, his cheeks clenching tightly around it. "M..ore.." he finally mumbled. "More? Okay, pudding." Johnny cooed.

He added a second finger, stretching him out. He went on to use his other hand to slowly slide his pants down in full. "What a whore. Already getting hard, for me? I'm so flattered." He chuckled, giving his dick a quick squeeze. Not knowing what to do, John thrusted his hips forward. "More, please, more." he begged.

"Quite the needy little slut, aren't you?" Johnny growled, the man whining again. "Take me." He whispered, wrapping his arms around his waist. "Pl..ease. It's been so long since I've done anything sexual. You need to fuck me." Wick admitted softly. Surprised, he took his hand out of his hole. He silently stripped him of his underwear, biting his lip when he saw his dick.

When he went to go reach for his shirt, he got stopped by a pair of normal hands. "Allow me. My clothes are mine." John growled. He removed his tie, followed by his blazer, then his undershirt. Johnny marveled at his stature. He was actually bulky beneath the suit, his backside the most notably strongest part of his upper body. Tattoos were crafted along the skin, telling tales that he'd like to explore further.

"'Fortune favors the bold', eh? Nice. Now who's your fucking master?" He taunted. "Nobody!" John snarled, to which he got spanked. He decided to surrender. "You, Johnny. You're my master." John replied seductively. "Strip me, baby." He marvelled at how smooth he was, taking his time but not being too slow. His bare upper chest made John want to blow then and there. Not a single hair in sight.

He continued, removing his clunky boots, pants, and underwear. "All done, sir." He said obediently. "Good boy! Now suck my cock." John got on his hands and knees, putting his lips on the tip. He looked up for permission. Once he got the nod, he went the whole way down.

He started moving his head in a metronome-like fashion, holding onto the bedsheets for support. Johnny groaned. He wanted to cum already! But he couldn't let that happen just yet. "Okay, Sir Blows-a-Lot, that's enough. Now, I want you to lay down on your back for me." He ordered gently. "Remember, quiet."

"Yes, master Silverhand." He mumbled, doing as told. "This is going to hurt. I won't move unless you want me to. Got it? Good." He lifted Wick's legs over his shoulders and entered him. This caused them both to yelp in pain. "Go." John mumbled. He grunted as the dominant man started thrusting.

"Babygirl," the boy said, "I want to hear you. Moan for me, baby." He himself started moaning, moving his hands to roam John's body aimlessly. He pinched his nipples harshly, watching him wince. "Why aren't you letting Master hear you?" he teased.

"I-I sound embarrassing when I moan! Please, don't make me do it ---!" Before he could utter another word, he was met with a slap to the face. He let out a high-pitched groan, blushing red afterwards. "Beautiful," Johnny said, "so beautiful and loud enough for only me to hear."

Wick would be lying if he said that that didn't turn him on. He whimpered as Johnny sped up in his thrusts. When he did, he hit the bundle of nerves that set him off most. "Deeper." he demanded.

"What?"

"You heard me! I SAID DEEPER, SILVERASS!" The futuristic male was practically pounding into him at this point and they began to feel close. John finally cracked an exhausted, lazy, lustful smile for the first time in ages. "Baby, I'm gonna c ---" Johnny attempted to warn him, but spilled his load into him before he could do so.

"MASTER, JESUS CHRIST!" The other boy screamed.

He spilled all over himself, to which Johnny helped himself to some of his seed. "Not half bad for a grump puss." he commented, laughing. He cleaned himself up and put on his underwear. "John, let's get you all clean and such." Silence. "John?" He again called.

He looked over to see him snoring, eyes closed. "Kinda cute for a fighter." He smiled softly for once, stroking his black hair. "I hope you have a nice rest, beautiful." He turned off the lights, making sure that both he and Wick were dressed enough for a sociable standard. As he opened the door, he was greeted by a whining pitbull. "Hey, Dog! You wanna see the other Johnny? You hungry?" he offered.

The dog scratched at the door, looking back at the metallic-armed man. "Okay." He opened the door back up. He felt guilty for abandoning the guy he slept with. Most experiences were one night stands, but he felt he needed to protect him. With that, he took off his shades and walked back in.

This caused a half-asleep John to be alarmed, glaring despite having droopy eyelids. "Relax. It's just me, Silverass. I'm here to protect you."

"I don't need protecting. It's fine."

"You do, and you're not kicking me out as easily as you think you are."

Too tired to fight, John rolled over in bed and closed his eyes. Johnny climbed onto the mattress, which let out a few squeaks and groans as he laid down. "Night, princess." He chuckled. John smacked his metallic arm, which only caused him pain. Johnny rolled over, wanting to hold him. But he refrained.

Instead, he spooned.

[noteasilyswayed-arc]

tumblr ate my tags again - verses 1 of 2 tags (drop 3/5)

[dralanabloom]

VERSES TAG DROP 1/2

[noteasilyswayed-theme2]

VERSES TAG DROP 1/2

[moral-turpitudes]

Drowning:

Trigger Warnings: Angst, Swearing, Guns, Neglect, etc.

Word Count: 2,400

Characters: Thomas Shelby x Shelby!Sister 

I’ve wanted to try my hand at OC’s for a while so her name is Evelyn Shelby lol.

Request: “Hey! Maybe one with Thomas were he kind of forgets that his little sister actually has feelings. He keeps on using her as bait for the business and one day she snaps, pointing a gun to her head. Just an angst fic. Love your writing so much. xx”

Requested by: Anon

Summary: Years after returning from London and agreeing to help out her family, Evelyn Shelby soon comes to terms with the horrors of her job and hopes someone can help her see the good she’s done for the family, even if it means talking to her ever-distant brother Thomas.

“That’ll be 3 pounds Mr.” The third youngest Shelby said quietly, grabbing her hand gun from her purse while the man looked away, giving her enough time to slip her coat on over her bare body, and hiding the gun in her pocket.

“I’ll give you 5 if you tell Mr. Shelby I’m coming for him tomorrow, I know you’ve seen him around here.” The man said, his breath reeking of whiskey as he whispered in her ear.

Shivers went down her spine as the man touched her face. He caressed her cheek roughly before moving away from her, placing two extra bills on the bed before heading to the door.

“Wait, I forgot to tell you something...” She said as he stopped to turn around. He smirked, eyeing her up and down as she walked towards him.

“You won’t be seeing anyone.” She said, giving him a wicked smile as she quickly pulled the gun out and shot the man point blank. As he fell to the floor with a loud thud, blood dripped down her face and bare chest as she looked at the mess of the bedroom.

Tommy saved this area of the Garrison for when anyone in the family needed a place to stay or a place to fuck, and tonight was her night to use the room as she pleased, all in the name of blinder business.

She walked over to the en-suite bathroom, looking at her haggard reflection in the mirror. Blood glinted off her face and chest in the dimly lit room, her makeup was smeared in some areas, and her hair was in a messy bun of sorts.

As she glanced silently in the mirror, she lit a cigarette, letting the smoke escape through her lips before curling it back through her nose, desperately needing to calm her nerves as she thought about the past couple years.

After her brothers left for war, she left for London, leaving Ada and Polly to care for Finn in order to start her life on her own terms for once, knowing she couldn’t stay out in Small Heath like the others as it held too many memories. But when she eventually got news of her brothers coming home, she knew she couldn’t leave them, especially after their mother’s death and their fathers sudden departure.

As the memories came flooding back, she remembered that she took this job to help them and to spend more time with them, but it only took a toll on her as time went on.

On the outside, she remained calm much like her older brother Tommy, but on the inside she was drowning. Drowning in the darkness that consumed her thoughts when she was near her brothers, thinking that if she’d succumb to the waves, that no one would be there to pull her out, not unless they were forced to. The only ones who paid her any mind these days were Polly and Finn, as Ada was out with her son most days and the boys were out wreaking almost as much havoc as she was.

As she finished her cigarette, she dabbed some of the blood off her face and chest, realizing there weren’t many wash cloths to use.

“Fuck it.” She mumbled under her breath as she quickly got dressed and put her bloodstained coat back on. Her dress was wrinkled and torn where the man had roughly gone for her chest, not having any sense in his drunken state.

With light footsteps she padded over to the bed to strap on her heels, and grabbed the money as she headed for the door, avoiding the puddle of blood and stepping over the mans body.

Her heels clicked down the stairs as she made her way through the back hall of the Garrison, the bar seemingly empty except for her brother Tommy.

“What are you doing here?” She asked, almost no emotion in her voice as she spoke from tired lips, a cut from a few hours before making itself known as she remembered the man slapping her for being too “bossy” when explaining her rates like rehearsed.

“I’m here to drink, Evelyn. I’m also here to collect that mans body so I don’t have to deal with it tomorrow.”

“Tommy Shelby, getting his hands dirty? I thought that was for Arthur these days. What about uncle Charlie? You seem to have enough blood on your hands already.” She remarked, sitting down across from him at the booth and looking at his bloodied knuckles. He scoffed as he took a swig of his whiskey, the smell of it making her stomach churn slightly.

“Did he do that?” Tommy said, an angry look filling his eyes as he looked at the cut on her lip.

“What do you think?” She said putting out her cigarette as she blew out a final puff of smoke.

“It’s a good thing he’s already dead.” He said, looking out the window and avoiding his sisters tired gaze.

“How was the family meeting? I wasn’t invited apparently.” She remarked, ripping him out of his thoughts.

“I’m not doing this, Ev we talked about this.” He said rolling his eyes at her as he sat back in the seat, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“I just want to know why in the hell you include everyone except me in the meetings. I want to know why you make time for everyone except me...Tell me. Now.” She demanded, her heart racing and face flushing with anger as her temper flared. Her eyes eerily mimicked her brothers as she looked at him.

Tommy sighed as he spoke, choosing his words carefully.

“We think that limiting your attendance at meetings can be good for you. We’re just wanting to protect our sister.” He said.

Evelyn scoffed as she took the bottle of whiskey in her hand, drinking straight from the bottle.

“You think you’re protecting me but you’re not. One day Tommy...one fucking day you’ll realize that I’m valuable to this god forsaken family as more than a whore. You can pull that shit with the others about what’s best for us but you’re not pulling that with me.” She said taking another cigarette out of her coat and lighting it herself as she continued.

“I want to be here, believe me I do, but not being let in on what’s happening doesn’t help as much as you think it does. I barely know what’s going on unless you come to me personally...If you cared about me, you wouldn’t cast me out as the fucking bait of the family and then leave me hanging.” She said, tears threatening to fall down her blood stained cheeks.

“You’re helping with the business because it’s in your blood, Evelyn. We’re family, and we’re paying you more than you could back in London. Would you want to abandon us?” He asked, getting defensive.

“What difference would it make Tommy? I’m no more valuable to you dead or alive. I just lure the men you can’t kill right away and I don’t get any recognition for that. I’ve killed 20 men since I’ve moved back to help the family and I can remember each of their faces.” She said, looking away from him annoyed.

“Don’t you get tired of seeing their faces haunting you?” She asked, taking another swig from the bottle, the alcohol burning her cut lip as she swallowed.

“I stopped seeing their faces a long time ago Ev, and you need to as well. This is why we’ve been keeping you out of the business most days.” He said taking the bottle from her grasp.

“I’m sitting here still covered in his blood, I’m sitting here after another night with a drunken evil man and I’m disgusted Thomas...I feIt nothing when I shot him.” She said, her fingers grazing the metal of the hand gun in her pocket.

“You know how you said you felt like you were drowning when you came home from France?” She asked.

“Well I feel like that too, but no ones dared to ask how I've been. I’ve always been the last in command. Hell, fucking Finn has more say in this family than I do.” She said, putting the gun to her head shakily. Tommy froze inside, barely being able to speak at first.

“Evelyn...listen to me...your work has helped us, we’ve just been too busy to stop and fucking think about anything else. Who was the person that cheered me up when Arthur and John and I got home aye? It was you. Not Ada, not Finn, just you. If you’re drowning...I’d like to help, if you’ll let me...” He said, looking into his sisters eyes that were almost a reflection of his.

With a sigh she set the gun on the table, sliding it to Tommy. He immediately put it in his coat and stood up.

“What are you doing?” She asked, running her hands over the dried blood down her cheek.

“We’re going to talk about this and I’m going to clean you up.” He said, lighting a cigarette before heading over to the bar.

“What’s eating at you aye? You may not think I can tell that you’ve been off but I can. You know Polly sent me here for you...” He said, pouring her a glass of water and drenching a cloth in alcohol.

He handed the cloth to her and got to work on the other one as she wiped off the blood on her chest, looking at the tear in her dress and pulling her coat tightly to her as she tried to cover the large rip.

“Polly will kill me herself if she sees the dress is torn. Fucking bastard.” She said taking a sip of water.

Tommy sat near her and dabbed the cloth on her face and inspected the cut on her lip, causing her to wince as he cleaned it.

“I’m not talking about the dress Evelyn, that can be fixed. What’s going on up here?” He asked, pointing to his head.

“Everything and...nothing...” She said, looking down at her hands that were clenched together in her lap.

“I guess it’s in our blood because I like this business...getting rid of bad men that keep fucking us over, but...killing them takes a toll. I see their faces when I try to sleep some nights, and other nights I sleep as if nothing happened...” She said as Tommy sat back in his chair, he nodded for her to continue.

“I just get so scared that one day I’m going to lay with a man and not come back, some of them are vile people.” She said, wincing at the memory of a past painful business deal.

“If I put you on regular business in the shops, would that help you?” He asked.

Evelyn scoffed at his offer.

“You know me Tommy, I have to keep moving. I have to do something more than sitting at a desk crunching numbers. I’m too wild for that.” She said smirking, her features resembling her aunt Polly at times.

Tommy smiled at the memory of her chasing rats with Ada, shooting at them with a revolver as they played in the streets near their house.

“I know. That’s why I’m planning on changing your job.” He said giving her his signature smile. Not many people saw it after the war, but when she’d returned from London when the boys had gotten back from France, it was the one thing he reserved for her, the one thing that made her realize she didn’t completely lose her brother.

“What are you planning? I can practically see your brain flipping over in that ugly head of yours.” She joked, lightly punching his arm.

“I’m wanting to hire some lighter muscle. Someone who can get info on the inside but still be able to hold their own. Ada’s been working on getting some inside information about her contacts she had with Freddie, and I think you could help me when we go on more blinder business.” He said.

“Do I look like I could hold my fucking own? Are you mad?” She asked.

“I’ve seen you shoot my enemies plenty of times, and you wrestled Arthur and I to the ground years ago. I’d hate to see what you could do now.” He said smirking.

“I’m sure with enough training I could still take you down.” She said looking up at her brother. His eyes tired and wrinkling at the edges.

“I wouldn’t doubt it. You’ve never liked being in one place and never liked people picking on us. If anything you’re the only one of us whose really held on to our gypsy roots aye?” He said, adjusting his coat as he stood up.

“You have a point.” She said, smirking as she got up as well.

“Are you drowning now?” He asked quietly, his eyes scanning hers.

She sighed and looked down, trying to think about all that’s upset her over the years since she’s been home.

“Not anymore.” She said, giving her brother a hug, taking him off guard at the sudden contact.

He gently placed his hands around her in a warm embrace as she kept herself there, not remembering when the last time was that she’d given one of her siblings a hug.

“Tell Polly thank you. And I guess since I still love you guys, thank you for checking in too. I accept the offer as well by the way.” She said releasing herself from him.

“Isn’t that what big brothers are for?” He asked as she walked towards the door.

“I guess.” She said chuckling as they both walked out of the Garrison.

“Aren’t you going to take care of the bastard upstairs?” She asked.

“I will once I take you back home. He’ll be gone before the morning.” He said, lighting a cigarette and driving off towards her apartment.

“I’m counting on that. Can’t have the coppers after me.” She said, looking back behind her as the Garrison shrunk in the distance.

“I’ve told you this before, you don’t have to worry about the cops. They’ll leave ya alone if they want to keep their eyes.” He said, driving as the sun set around them, the plans for the future of his business rolling around in his head the whole way there.

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[araitsume]

The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 359-371: Chapter (34) A Consecrated Ministry

In His life and lessons Christ has given a perfect exemplification of the unselfish ministry which has its origin in God. God does not live for Himself. By creating the world, and by upholding all things, He is constantly ministering to others. “He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:45. This ideal of ministry the Father committed to His Son. Jesus was given to stand at the head of humanity, by His example to teach what it means to minister. His whole life was under a law of service. He served all, ministered to all.

Again and again Jesus tried to establish his principle among His disciples. When James and John made their request for pre-eminence, He said, “Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26-28.

Since His ascension Christ has carried forward His work on the earth by chosen ambassadors, through whom He speaks to the children of men and ministers to their needs. The great Head of the church superintends His work through the instrumentality of men ordained by God to act as His representatives.

The position of those who have been called of God to labor in word and doctrine for the upbuilding of His church, is one of grave responsibility. In Christ's stead they are to beseech men and women to be reconciled to God, and they can fulfill their mission only as they receive wisdom and power from above.

Christ's ministers are the spiritual guardians of the people entrusted to their care. Their work has been likened to that of watchmen. In ancient times sentinels were often stationed on the walls of cities, where, from points of vantage, they could overlook important posts to be guarded, and give warning of the approach of an enemy. Upon their faithfulness depended the safety of all within. At stated intervals they were required to call to one another, to make sure that all were awake and that no harm had befallen any. The cry of good cheer or of warning was borne from one to another, each repeating the call till it echoed round the city.

To every minister the Lord declares: “O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at My mouth, and warn them from Me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it, ... thou hast delivered thy soul.” Ezekiel 33:7-9.

The words of the prophet declare the solemn responsibility of those who are appointed as guardians of the church of God, stewards of the mysteries of God. They are to stand as watchmen on the walls of Zion, to sound the note of alarm at the approach of the enemy. Souls are in danger of falling under temptation, and they will perish unless God's ministers are faithful to their trust. If for any reason their spiritual senses become so benumbed that they are unable to discern danger, and through their failure to give warning the people perish, God will require at their hands the blood of those who are lost.

It is the privilege of the watchmen on the walls of Zion to live so near to God, and to be susceptible to the impressions of His Spirit, that He can work through them to tell men and women of their peril and point them to the place of safety. Faithfully are they to warn them of the sure result of transgression, and faithfully are they to safeguard the interests of the church. At no time may they relax their vigilance. Theirs is a work requiring the exercise of every faculty of the being. In trumpet tones their voices are to be lifted, and never are they to sound one wavering, uncertain note. Not for wages are they to labor, but because they cannot do otherwise, because they realize that there is a woe upon them if they fail to preach the gospel. Chosen of God, sealed with the blood of consecration, they are to rescue men and women from impending destruction.

The minister who is a co-worker with Christ will have a deep sense of the sacredness of his work and of the toil and sacrifice required to perform it successfully. He does not study his own ease or convenience. He is forgetful of self. In his search for the lost sheep he does not realize that he himself is weary, cold, and hungry. He has but one object in view—the saving of the lost.

He who serves under the bloodstained banner of Immanuel will have that to do which will call for heroic effort and patient endurance. But the soldier of the cross stands unshrinkingly in the forefront of the battle. As the enemy presses the attack against him, he turns to the stronghold for aid, and as he brings to the Lord the promises of the word, he is strengthened for the duties of the hour. He realizes his need of strength from above. The victories that he gains do not lead to self exaltation, but cause him to lean more and more heavily on the Mighty One. Relying upon that Power, he is enabled to present the message of salvation so forcibly that it vibrates in other minds.

He who teaches the word must himself live in conscious, hourly communion with God through prayer and a study of His word, for here is the source of strength. Communion with God will impart to the minister's efforts a power greater than the influence of his preaching. Of this power he must not allow himself to be deprived. With an earnestness that cannot be denied, he must plead with God to strengthen and fortify him for duty and trial, and to touch his lips with living fire. All too slight is the hold that Christ's ambassadors often have upon eternal realities. If men will walk with God, He will hide them in the cleft of the Rock. Thus hidden, they can see God, even as Moses saw Him. By the power and light that He imparts they can comprehend more and accomplish more than their finite judgment had deemed possible.

Satan's craft is most successfully used against those who are depressed. When discouragement threatens to overwhelm the minister, let him spread out before God his necessities. It was when the heavens were as brass over Paul that he trusted most fully in God. More than most men, he knew the meaning of affliction; but listen to his triumphant cry as, beset by temptation and conflict, his feet press heavenward: “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.” 2 Corinthians 4:17, 18. Paul's eyes were ever fastened on the unseen and eternal. Realizing that he was fighting against supernatural powers, he placed his dependence on God, and in this lay his strength. It is by seeing Him who is invisible that strength and vigor of soul are gained and the power of earth over mind and character is broken.

A pastor should mingle freely with the people for whom he labors, that by becoming acquainted with them he may know how to adapt his teaching to their needs. When a minister has preached a sermon, his work has but just begun. There is personal work for him to do. He should visit the people in their homes, talking and praying with them in earnestness and humility. There are families who will never be reached by the truths of God's word unless the stewards of His grace enter their homes and point them to the higher way. But the hearts of those who do this work must throb in unison with the heart of Christ.

Much is comprehended in the command, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled.” Luke 14:23. Let ministers teach the truth in families, drawing close to those for whom they labor, and as they thus co-operate with God, He will clothe them with spiritual power. Christ will guide them in their work, giving them words to speak that will sink deep into the hearts of the listeners. It is the privilege of every minister to be able to say with Paul, “I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” “I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, ... repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:27, 20, 21.

The Saviour went from house to house, healing the sick, comforting the mourners, soothing the afflicted, speaking peace to the disconsolate. He took the little children in His arms and blessed them, and spoke words of hope and comfort to the weary mothers. With unfailing tenderness and gentleness He met every form of human woe and affliction. Not for Himself but for others did He labor. He was the servant of all. It was His meat and drink to bring hope and strength to all with whom He came in contact. And as men and women listened to the truths that fell from His lips, so different from the traditions and dogmas taught by the rabbis, hope sprang up in their hearts. In His teaching there was an earnestness that sent His words home with convicting power.

God's ministers are to learn Christ's method of laboring, that they may bring from the storehouse of His word that which will supply the spiritual needs of those for whom they labor. Thus only can they fulfill their trust. The same Spirit that dwelt in Christ as He imparted the instruction He was constantly receiving, is to be the source of their knowledge and the secret of their power in carrying on the Saviour's work in the world.

Some who have labored in the ministry have failed of attaining success because they have not given their undivided interest to the Lord's work. Ministers should have no engrossing interests aside from the great work of leading souls to the Saviour. The fishermen whom Christ called, straightway left their nets and followed Him. Ministers cannot do acceptable work for God and at the same time carry the burden of large personal business enterprises. Such a division of interest dims their spiritual perception. The mind and heart are occupied with earthly things, and the service of Christ takes a second place. They seek to shape their work for God by their circumstances, instead of shaping circumstances to meet the demands of God.

The energies of the minister are all needed for his high calling. His best powers belong to God. He should not engage in speculation or in any other business that would turn him aside from his great work. “No man that warreth,” Paul declared, “entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2:4. Thus the apostle emphasized the minister's need of unreserved consecration to the Master's service. The minister who is wholly consecrated to God refuses to engage in business that would hinder him from giving himself fully to his sacred calling. He is not striving for earthly honor or riches; his one purpose is to tell others of the Saviour, who gave Himself to bring to human beings the riches of eternal life. His highest desire is not to lay up treasure in this world, but to bring to the attention of the indifferent and the disloyal the realities of eternity. He may be asked to engage in enterprises which promise large worldly gain, but to such temptations he returns the answer, “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36.

Satan presented this inducement to Christ, knowing that if He accepted it, the world would never be ransomed. And under different guises he presents the same temptation to God's ministers today, knowing that those who are beguiled by it will be false to their trust.

It is not God's will that His ministers should seek to be rich. Regarding this, Paul wrote to Timothy: “The love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” By example as well as by precept, the ambassador for Christ is to “charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” 1 Timothy 6:10, 11, 17-19.

The experiences of the apostle Paul and his instruction regarding the sacredness of the minister's work are a source of help and inspiration to those engaged in the gospel ministry. Paul's heart burned with a love for sinners, and he put all his energies into the work of soul winning. There never lived a more self-denying, persevering worker. The blessings he received he prized as so many advantages to be used in blessing others. He lost no opportunity of speaking of the Saviour or of helping those in trouble. From place to place he went, preaching the gospel of Christ and establishing churches. Wherever he could find a hearing, he sought to counteract wrong, and to turn the feet of men and women into the path of righteousness.

Paul did not forget the churches that he had established. After making a missionary tour, he and Barnabas retraced their steps and visited the churches they had raised up, choosing from them men whom they could train to unite in proclaiming the gospel.

This feature of Paul's work contains an important lesson for ministers today. The apostle made it a part of his work to educate young men for the office of the ministry. He took them with him on his missionary journeys, and thus they gained an experience that later enabled them to fill positions of responsibility. When separated from them, he still kept in touch with their work, and his letters to Timothy and to Titus are evidences of how deep was his desire for their success.

Experienced workers today do a noble work when, instead of trying to carry all the burdens themselves, they train younger workers and place burdens on their shoulders.

Paul never forgot the responsibility resting on him as a minister of Christ, or that if souls were lost through unfaithfulness on his part, God would hold him accountable. “Whereof I am made a minister,” he declared of the gospel, “according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily.” Colossians 1:25-29.

These words present before the worker for Christ a high attainment, yet this attainment all can reach who, putting themselves under the control of the Great Teacher, learn daily in the school of Christ. The power at God's command is limitless, and the minister who in his great need shuts himself in with the Lord may be assured that he will receive that which will be to his hearers a savor of life unto life.

Paul's writings show that the gospel minister should be an example of the truths that he teaches, “giving no offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed.” Of his own work he has left us a picture in his letter to the Corinthian believers: “In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; by pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich.” 2 Corinthians 6:3, 4-10.

To Titus he wrote: “Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded. In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.” Titus 2:6-8.

There is nothing more precious in the sight of God than His ministers, who go forth into the waste places of the earth to sow the seeds of truth, looking forward to the harvest. None but Christ can measure the solicitude of His servants as they seek for the lost. He imparts His Spirit to them, and by their efforts souls are led to turn from sin to righteousness.

God is calling for men who are willing to leave their farms, their business, if need be their families, to become missionaries for Him. And the call will be answered. In the past there have been men who, stirred by the love of Christ and the needs of the lost, have left the comforts of home and the society of friends, even that of wife and children, to go into foreign lands, among idolaters and savages, to proclaim the message of mercy. Many in the attempt have lost their lives, but others have been raised up to carry on the work. Thus step by step the cause of Christ has progressed, and the seed sown in sorrow has yielded a bountiful harvest. The knowledge of God has been widely extended and the banner of the cross planted in heathen lands.

For the conversion of one sinner the minister should tax his resources to the utmost. The soul that God has created and Christ has redeemed is of great value because of the possibilities before it, the spiritual advantages that have been granted it, the capabilities that it may possess if vitalized by the word of God, and the immortality it may gain through the hope presented in the gospel. And if Christ left the ninety and nine that He might seek and save one lost sheep, can we be justified in doing less? Is not a neglect to work as Christ worked, to sacrifice as He sacrificed, a betrayal of sacred trusts, an insult to God?

The heart of the true minister is filled with an intense longing to save souls. Time and strength are spent, toilsome effort is not shunned; for others must hear the truths that brought to his own soul such gladness and peace and joy. The Spirit of Christ rests upon him. He watches for souls as one that must give an account. With his eyes fixed on the cross of Calvary, beholding the uplifted Saviour, relying on His grace, believing that He will be with him until the end, as his shield, his strength, his efficiency, he works for God. With invitations and pleadings, mingled with the assurances of God's love, he seeks to win souls to Jesus, and in heaven he is numbered among those who are “called, and chosen, and faithful.” Revelation 17:14.

[tired-college-student-writing]

Red Hood and John Wick team up to take out a common enemy

I took this slightly different then I think you intended… Hope you don’t mind.

ASK BOX IS OPEN SEND ME PROMPTS

________________________________________________

It had been a while since Jason stepped foot in a Continental, even longer since he came alone but he refused to drag Cass or Damian with him and he didn’t really feel like explaining the Underworld to anyone else. 

Like Bruce and Dick wouldn’t freak out that he was still willing to kill. 

Tim probably already guessed the little psychic, but he didn’t need the fact that Red Hood was back in the business of killing if he could help it. Perhaps it was a good thing that he always went by his real name in these circles after all. Well, that and the name the Al Ghul’s had given him as a cruel joke. 

“Ah Mr. Todd,” Julius greeted from where he stood next to Mors, “It had been a while since I have seen you, usually you stay further east.” 

“Here on a favor,” He shrugged, “Plus I’m doing freelance now.” 

“Indeed?” He questioned humming, “Well we always have a room open for one of our most loyal customers.” 

“Thanks,” He pulled out a coin and slid it across the concierge desk, “Just for one night, I don’t think I’m staying for long.” 

Taking only a second hesitation he headed up to his room with a key, noting the number with a smirk. 

319 huh? 

Right next to 321, the room his contact sent him yesterday. 

He was right, he was there for less than a day before he received a cryptic message from his neighbor through the vent in the wall. 

It wasn’t hard to keep an eye on the Italian prick, if the League of Assassins had taught Jason anything it was how to blend into a crowd flawlessly, they were known for being invisible to even the best assassins.  He had only ever been made twice, once by Ra Al Ghul himself and once by John Wick. 

He didn’t enter the continental, knowing it would be too easy to tell that the blonde tourist was anything, but a trained assassin but once the man excited and began heading to the art gallery he was planning on attending a gala at tonight, he could see the bloodstain on his cuff. 

The deal had been sealed. 

The young assassin relaxed, John could rest easy now that Santino had finished his end of the deal.  He was about to leave to return to the room he had gotten for the night but he felt a buzz in his pocket, from his work phone. A new bounty had come in, a high one. 

For murdering his beloved sister, Santino D’Antonio was offering 7 million for John Wick’s head. 

“Son of a Bitch,” He swore turning on his heel. 

Jason was pissed, far worse than he ever had been before. Of course, Santino would pull something like this, murdering the man that did his dirty work so that he could take the thrown. 

The Italian prick needed a reminder of his own mortality, proof that he wasn’t all-powerful and all-knowing like he made himself out to be. Not a  single soul would know that Jason Todd had been anywhere near the sight of the murder, that he was back in action. Not with the method he was going to take. 

He was in line at a Starbucks ordering an iced mocha for himself and a hot caramel macchiato when the explosion rang out from several blocks over causing the other customers to look around in confusion at the muffled sound. 

He just smirked and took his drinks. 

No one outside of Gotham would recognize an exploding Batarang. He didn’t even need to check the explosion sight to see who survived, he already knew. 

Bruce had taught them the nonlethal zones to place a Batarang given who was in the car. 

Only Damian, Cass and Jason had made notes of how this gave them the best places to attach a Batarang to kill someone. A small flick of his wrist had placed the maximum blast at the passenger side back seat, where he had seen the prick get in, a bodyguard getting in on the other side. 

Santino was dead, murdered but no one was going to find the culprit. 

He pulled out his phone.

Got Coffee, meet at the Rockefeller Fountain? 

With the BK, have to take care of some business.

Handled it for you, but could go to the hotel instead if you want

10 minutes, hotel. 

Gotcha. I’ll be in my room, got to grab a shower, got something weird in my hair. 

A quick trip into the bathroom allowed him to change into his usual jeans and leather jacket, and he was back to the hotel, a knock sounding on his door exactly 10 minutes after the text had arrived. 

“Come on in John, your coffee is on the side table.” 

The door opened as he toweled off his once more black hair “Black?” 

“No, you can hide your sweet tooth from everyone else if you want but I know you, old man. It’s caramel.”

He pulled on his clothes, to find the ghost sitting on his bed, turning the cup between his hands. 

“He’s gone,” 

“He destroyed my home.” 

“I know,” Jason agreed. 

“Everything from Helen…” 

“I’m so sorry, John,” 

The man was clearly lost as he sipped his drink as Jason flopped down next to him. Being under the Al Ghul’s had been hard, but that didn’t mean Jason had made friends while working as an assassin, or as much of friends as any of them could in this world, but John was different. Sure Baba Yaga was a legend in the Underworld, but John, the man, was an oddity at best in this world. He had a mask crafted to perfectly disguise what he’s thinking and Jason had only seen it drop once but he knew, knew damn well that the man broke one of the biggest rules in the Underworld constantly. 

Nothing is personal.

“Did I ever tell you about where I was before the Al Ghuls?” 

Eyes flashed to him, not that he could blame him. Asking about the before, the pre assassin life was a huge middle finger, only if an assassin who wanted to share his past. 

“You don’t-” 

“Shuuut up,” Jason drawled, “Let me tell you about Gotham. Plus I think Cas and Damian would like to see you if you ever visited us there.” 

“Al Ghul and Kane?” 

“The demon spawn goes by his father’s name now, since we all got away from the League we’ve been staying with him.” 

Jason took a long drink, watching the gears turn in the other man’s head, before letting out a humorless laugh. 

“What? You thought you were the only one who ever got out?” 

“Never expected you three…”  

Jason gave a shrug, “Yeah, well… a lot has happened since we last talked, Baba Yaga.”

John stares at him hard before nodding, “What’s Gotham like Blue Jay?”

[devoursjohnlock]

The Scottish Play

In The Six Thatchers, after introductions are made at the Wellsboroughs’ house,

Sherlock spots the Thatcher shrine, just as Mrs Wellsborough is saying, “Charlie was our whole world.” Sherlock is immediately plunged into this aquarium flashback:

Something triggered the watery flashback (which... bears no resemblance to well water, by the way). Was it Thatcher, or was it that turn of phrase?

Once the flashback is over, Sherlock immediately returns to the room...

... although it appears no one else has. In the next second, Sherlock snaps back to the full room, and asks, “You were saying?” and Mr Wellsborough takes the line this time, “Well, Charlie was our whole world.”

By the Thatcher shrine, John questions Sherlock about his reaction, and Sherlock responds, “By the pricking of my thumbs...” This is a Shakespeare reference (another discussion of this here), to Act IV, Scene 1 of Macbeth:

The context of the line that Sherlock quotes suggests that the watery scene was a premonition, not a flashback. Or, at the very least, that something related to the aquarium scene is still to come.

For those who haven’t read Macbeth, it’s about a Scottish military man who receives a prophecy from three witches, saying that he will eventually become king. His wife (Lady Macbeth, naturally) then relentlessly pushes Macbeth into killing King Duncan to steal his throne. Both characters are consumed by guilt for the remainder of the play, and eventually pay for their crimes.

But “Something wicked this way comes” was not the only reference to Macbeth in The Six Thatchers.

The title of John’s blog post comes from arguably the best-known passage in Macbeth, his Act 5, Scene 5 “Tomorrow, tomorrow, and tomorrow” soliloquy:

Here, Macbeth is explaining that death is inevitable, recalling the Samarra story. But he’s also telling us that this life is not real, that we are all actors on a stage, something that is emphasized to us in The Six Thatchers many times over, in Ben’s makeup, his and Martin’s staring into the camera, the exposed cameraman in the Morocco scene, Mary’s “like it is in the movies” death scene, and the many projectors.

This soliloquy immediately follows Macbeth learning that his wife, tormented by the thought that her hands were stained by blood which she could not wash out, has committed suicide. Bloodstains are also a recurring theme throughout S4.

Before she dies, Macbeth begs her doctor for a drug to erase Lady Macbeth’s memories:

Hmm... if only such a drug existed.

The plot of Shakespeare’s Macbeth was inspired by the Gunpowder Plot. If The Empty Hearse’s gunpowder plotter, Lord Moran, was a decoy for Mary, have we come full circle with a reference to Mary in Lady Macbeth? Are these Macbeth references meant to signify a suicide (real or fake), covered up by the play we’ve been shown on the stage?

[writing-in-the-shadows-1966]

The Blood Oath Part 1 The Descendant of a Promise Prologue

Protagonists Point of View

Sitting by my dearest and most loyal friends and family by an open bonfire and eating normal human food and not letting the war distract us for just one day of our lives. I start to think to myself about how we need to defeat my baby brother. The only way to win this war is going to have to kill him for killing innocent humans here on planet Earth. I know that there are some humans that do horrible things, but I know that they have faults and that’s why I love humans most.

“Hey Akiara, how’s my amazing soulmate doing?” all Akiara does is smile.

“That man is doing the usual, thinking about you, he, he, he,” she says laughing, but then her expression then transformed into fright and all I know is that there’s something wrong. She knows something that I don’t know about, but what is she most frightened about?

“Akiara, what’s wrong? What are you sensing that has you like this?” I ask her.

“I’m getting the scent of something close by my dear friend, but are you getting the same scent of smell of what I am getting?” Akiara asks. I am just completely confused, but then I start smelling the scent of a humans’ blood, this is bad!

“Akiara, we need to go, I smell the scent of a humans’ blood, baby brother is at it again, let’s go everyone!” I say to her in alert. She nods and we all run on our way to where we can stop him with another innocent human.

As we stop dead at baby brothers bloodstained and rotting flesh scented tracks, as we were following his bloody footprints that he was leaving with his newest victim, we all stand there before him, we see him dropping the remains of a human which was missing a large part of his throat and a quarter of his face.

“Brother, you must stop this!” I yell out at him as I stop him as we then start looking into each other’s eyes, I then direct my eyes towards his victims’ lifeless body which was on the ground by his feet. His blood dripping down and sliding down from his lips and down to his chin then his neck, leaving bloodstains on his skin. I know that we will be fighting to stop this hunting of humans from happening again…even if it means killing my own baby brother. His eyes shines of dark and most disturbing nature and plans to kill everyone…maybe even me too. This is insane! The pain in my heart and soul is beyond repair as we all know that taking him to the grave is the only way of stopping this war of bloodshed and despair. Baby brother looks at me with anger and yet I feel that he knows where our destiny is laid on upon the future. If he only knew how much I love him so, even more than Mother and even more than my own mate, why baby brother? Why?

“Why brother? Stop this war and lets be family forever with peace with the human race and we can grow up together, we can dream together!” I yell out to him. Pleading for him to reconsider his horrible plans on bringing our home world to this part of the universe.

“There are no dreams other than ridding the humans from creation and bringing what we are to this place called Heaven for humans, goodbye big brother, I’ll see you when there’s a chance as if you could defeat me…that is if you can along with Mother,” he says. As he turns his back at me, he then begins to run away from us.

“We need to catch him before he leaves for the farm! Come on everyone!” I yell out with the group of my fellow hunters and other allies. As we all run after my baby brother, I keep thinking to myself as this is something that we all need to do. We need to stop him as he's beyond out of control and the only option is locking him into a cell in order to figure out about on how to kill him.

"You can't catch me big brother! I'll be the death of the human race and if our own blood tries to stop me, I'll kill them too!" baby brother screams as he runs into deep shadowed woods where he goes hunting for the flesh and blood of humans. As we keep running, we’re finally able to corner him against my demonic contractor, which is a tree that has a mind of it’s own and eating beings that are able to fly in the sky, her name is Willow-Oak and as he looks into my eyes when Willow-Oak is keeping him from running away from us. I can see that he is willing to kill me too.

"I can tell that you really do wish to go up against me, your own flesh and blood! Well newsflash brother, I don't have to beg for your return to the real winners of this war, I guess I have no choice but to kill you too," he says.

"Don't you dare dear son!" Mother says from afar. Making a sharp turn, we see Mother and her eyes are calm, but I know that she has had enough patience to be used up when it comes to baby brothers out of control behavior.

“Mother, I see that you’re choosing big brother instead of someone much more powerful and most loyal son,” he says growling immensely.

"You are still just a child and because of this, I have no choice my child, son, I have the seal for your younger brother," Mother says then throws the locket that seals the most wicked monsters in creation over to me.

"As you wish, dear Mother," I say as I then turn back to baby brother and I raise the locket high in the air and say these words of goodbye to my baby brother.

"I'm sorry brother, this is for your own good," I say then the locket opens up on its own and pulls baby brother towards to it.

"I won't let this locket take me! I'll kill you one day brother! One day!" baby brother roars as he then gets sucked into the locket.

"Will you be okay, dear friend?" a voice calls from right behind me. I turn around once again, I see Akiara smiling at me.

"I'll tell him the final choice that you've made, you'll be okay dear," she says. Pulling out a dagger from my pocket, I know that this is just the start of this war that we're in against baby brother.

"Tell him I'll be back, and that I'll always love him.

Unknown Point of View

As I look at my victim and newest meal, I have him by the throat and I slowly get closer with my fangs and sink them into his flesh and I begin taking small bites then bigger bites and as I finish taking his life, I become bored and now my big brother, John I hear his voice.

“Brother! You stop this!” he yells as he stops me as we look at each other and he looks at me along with my newest meal laying on the ground by my feet and my blood dripping down and sliding down from my lips and down to my chin then my neck, leaving bloodstains on my skin. He knows that I don’t plan to stop eating these pathetic humans.

“Why brother? Stop this war and lets be family forever with peace with the human race and we can grow up together, we can dream together!” he yells out pleading me to stop me from my plans on killing my enemies; Humans and someone who could be another one which is my big brother too.

“There are no dreams other than ridding the humans from creation and bringing what we are to this place called Heaven for humans, goodbye big brother, I’ll see you when there’s a chance at if you could defeat me…that is if you can along with Mother,” I say to him coldly then turning my back on him, I run away leaving my leftovers to rot. As I run I can hear my brother yelling out.

“We need to catch him before he leaves for the farm! Come on everyone!” he yells out with the group of his fellow hunters and other allies. As they all run after me, I know that it’s either me or him and those useless monkeys, I then start thinking to myself as this is something that I know that even though I might need to kill big brother, I’ll be lonely. He once stood by me and when I made my choice we then became enemies and now it’s all or nothing. Now all need to do is to make this war quick and have our home, the farm to connect to this human made universe what an irritating place to stay, eat and rule over it, maybe Father and our real Mother will give me my blessing as to killing dear big brother! It may be painful at first by heart, but I’ll be damned if he ruins my plans. As I keep smelling the scent of them, I begin laughing to myself.

"You can't catch me big brother! I'll be the death of the human race and if our own blood tries to stop me, I'll kill them too!" I scream as I keep running into deep shadowed woods where I find humans in here. As we keep running, I find myself being cornered by that son of a bitch, Willow-Oak that demonic tree and as I’m stuck by Willow-Oak so I can’t get away from these idiots, I look into big brothers eyes, I can see that we’re killing to fight to the death, ending the war, but in my favor. If he is willing to kill me, then I’ll be willing to kill him by my own bare hands.

"I can tell that you really do wish to go up against me, your own family! Well newsflash brother, I don't have to beg for your return to the real family, I guess I have no choice but to kill you too," I say to him.

"Don't you dare dear son!" Mother says from afar. Making a sharp turn, we see her and her eyes are calm, but I know that she’s made her choice and now stands by Johns side.

"You are still just a child and I have no choice, dear son, I have the seal for your younger brother," Mother says then throws the locket that seals the most wicked monsters in creation. That son of a bitch! I’ll make sure that when I kill big brother, I’ll be sure that he dies slowly.

"As you wish, Mother," he says as he then turns back to me and holds it in the air in front of me then as he then starts crying in silence.

"I'm sorry brother, this is for your own good," he says then the locket opens up on its own and it starts pulling me towards it.

"I won't let this locket take me! I'll kill you one day brother! One day!" I say roaring out loud as I then get sucked into the locket.

Sitting in this cell enrages me to the core. Looking back, my big brother just didn’t understand why I do these things. We are Gods compared to these pathetic humans that aren’t even smart enough to know when to cross the street, if I was the driver, I’d drive off the street and run over every single one of them.

“I might as well see where these monkeys are on how to free me from this prison,” I say to myself as I walk to my bowl that’s full of blood to contact my servants from our secret base. The blood then starts to bubble and boil and I can hear his voice within moments of dead silence.

“Dae, are there any updates on my escape?” I ask ordering him to respond. Then I hear his voice.

“My King, as I have been informed by the others, there are no updates on how to free you, my King,” he says answering my question. Sighing in utter rage, I begin to think for one minute. Maybe if I can grab that dumbass Ghost for some games? Ha! Yes that must be a great idea.

“I want you to find that demon Ghost for me, his original name is James Greenwood and I want you to give him the blood that I have given to you all from my veins, tell him that his future is to rule the cosmos and he will be finding his future Queen once he catches my big brother, do you understand?” I ask him, expecting for him to get my orders through his skull.

“Yes, my King,” he says then silence overwhelms my ears and the blood stops bubbling and settles down to a quiet stream. Well, I got a plan going, I just need to plan on what to do on how to play with Ghost and his idiotic plans to rule the cosmos. Going back to the stack of hay, I lay back down and closing my eyes, I fall asleep, dreaming about eating humans like I had once done many eons ago.

[dailychapel]

Good morning, Lord! Today's a new day, a chance for a new start. Yesterday is gone and with it any regrets, mistakes, or failures I may have experienced. It's a good day to be glad and give thanks, and I do, Lord. Thank you for today, a new opportunity to love, give, and be all that you want me to be. Amen.

[Psa 82:1-8 NLT] 1 A psalm of Asaph. God presides over heaven's court; he pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings: 2 "How long will you hand down unjust decisions by favoring the wicked? Interlude 3 "Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. 4 Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people. 5 But these oppressors know nothing; they are so ignorant! They wander about in darkness, while the whole world is shaken to the core. 6 I say, 'You are gods; you are all children of the Most High. 7 But you will die like mere mortals and fall like every other ruler.'" 8 Rise up, O God, and judge the earth, for all the nations belong to you.

[Isa 9:1-7 NLT] 1 Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. 2  The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. 3 You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. 4 For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor's rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. 5 The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire. 6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven's Armies will make this happen!

[Mat 11:2-15 NLT] 2 John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, 3 "Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?" 4 Jesus told them, "Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen-- 5 the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. 6 And tell him, 'God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.'" 7 As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. "What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? 8 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. 9 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. 10 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, 'Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.' 11 "I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! 12 And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it. 13 For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time. 14 And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come. 15 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, send us out with confidence in your word, to tell the world of your saving acts, and bring glory to your name. Amen.

[noteasilyswayed-arc]

VERSES 1 of 2 – TAG DROP 3 of 5

[dailybiblelessons]

Saturday: Preparation for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Roman Catholic Proper 20 Revised Common Lectionary Proper 15

Complementary Hebrew Scripture from the Former Prophets: 1 Samuel 6:1-16

The ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months. Then the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us what we should send with it to its place.” They said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty, but by all means return him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed and will be ransomed; will not his hand then turn from you?” And they said, “What is the guilt offering that we shall return to him?” They answered, “Five gold tumors and five gold mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines; for the same plague was upon all of you and upon your lords. So you must make images of your tumors and images of your mice that ravage the land, and give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps he will lighten his hand on you and your gods and your land. Why should you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? After he had made fools of them, did they not let the people go, and they departed? Now then, get ready a new cart and two milch cows that have never borne a yoke, and yoke the cows to the cart, but take their calves home, away from them. Take the ark of the Lord and place it on the cart, and put in a box at its side the figures of gold, which you are returning to him as a guilt offering. Then send it off, and let it go its way. And watch; if it goes up on the way to its own land, to Beth-shemesh, then it is he who has done us this great harm; but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us; it happened to us by chance.”

The men did so; they took two milch cows and yoked them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home. They put the ark of the Lord on the cart, and the box with the gold mice and the images of their tumors. The cows went straight in the direction of Beth-shemesh along one highway, lowing as they went; they turned neither to the right nor to the left, and the lords of the Philistines went after them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh.

Now the people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. When they looked up and saw the ark, they went with rejoicing to meet it. The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh, and stopped there. A large stone was there; so they split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. The Levites took down the ark of the Lord and the box that was beside it, in which were the gold objects, and set them upon the large stone. Then the people of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and presented sacrifices on that day to the Lord. When the five lords of the Philistines saw it, they returned that day to Ekron.

Semi-continuous Hebrew Scripture Lesson from the Latter Prophets: Isaiah 3:18—4:6

In that day the Lord will take away the finery of the anklets, the headbands, and the crescents; the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarfs; the headdresses, the armlets, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the amulets; the signet rings and nose rings; the festal robes, the mantles, the cloaks, and the handbags; the garments of gauze, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils.

Instead of perfume there will be a stench;  and instead of a sash, a rope; and instead of well-set hair, baldness;  and instead of a rich robe, a binding of sackcloth;  instead of beauty, shame. Your men shall fall by the sword  and your warriors in battle. And her gates shall lament and mourn;  ravaged, she shall sit upon the ground. Seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying,  “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes; just let us be called by your name;  take away our disgrace.”

On that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel. Whoever is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, once the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning. Then the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over its places of assembly a cloud by day and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night. Indeed over all the glory there will be a canopy. It will serve as a pavilion, a shade by day from the heat, and a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.

Complementary Psalm 82

God has taken his place in the divine council;  in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly  and show partiality to the wicked? Give justice to the weak and the orphan;  maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy;  deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

They have neither knowledge nor understanding,  they walk around in darkness;  all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

I say, “You are gods,  children of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, you shall die like mortals,  and fall like any prince.”¹

Rise up, O God, judge the earth;  for all the nations belong to you!

¹Jesus quotes the first part of this verse in response to those who plan to stone him. The episode is in John 10:22-39.

Semi-continuous Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,  you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth  before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might,  and come to save us!

You brought a vine out of Egypt;  you drove out the nations and planted it. You cleared the ground for it;  it took deep root and filled the land. The mountains were covered with its shade,  the mighty cedars with its branches; it sent out its branches to the sea,  and its shoots to the River. Why then have you broken down its walls,  so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit? The boar from the forest ravages it,  and all that move in the field feed on it.

Turn again, O God of hosts;  look down from heaven, and see;  have regard for this vine, the stock that your right hand planted. They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down;  may they perish at the rebuke of your countenance. But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,  the one whom you made strong for yourself. Then we will never turn back from you; give us life,  and we will call on your name.

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;  let your face shine, that we may be saved.

New Testament Gospel Lesson: Matthew 24:15-27

There are parallel passages at Mark 13:14-23 and Luke 21:20-24.

“So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel¹ (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; the one on the housetop must not go down to take what is in the house; the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath. For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!' or ‘There he is!' —do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Take note, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,' do not go out. If they say, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

¹Daniel 9:27, 11:31, and 12:11 all concern a desolation in the temple.

Year C Ordinary 20, Catholic Proper 20, RCL Proper 15, The Tenth Week After Pentecost: Saturday

Selections are from Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings copyright © 1995 by the Consultation on Common Texts. Unless otherwise indicated, Bible text is from New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV) copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Image Credit: Cloud to cloud lightning strike, Victoria, Australia, November 2008, image by fir0002 | flagstaffotos.com.au, used under GNU 1.2 license. This is not a public domain image.

[dailychapel]

Lord, thank you for your greatness. Thank you that when I am weak, you are strong. Lord, the Devil is scheming and I know he desires to keep me from spending time with you. Don’t let him win! Give me a measure of your strength so that I might not give into discouragement, deception and doubt! Help me honor you in all my ways. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Psalm 37:1-5 NLT - 1 A psalm of David. Don't worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. 2 For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither. 3 Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. 4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires. 5 Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.

Isaiah 4:2-6 NLT - 2 But in that day, the branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious; the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of all who survive in Israel. 3 All who remain in Zion will be a holy people--those who survive the destruction of Jerusalem and are recorded among the living. 4 The Lord will wash the filth from beautiful Zion and cleanse Jerusalem of its bloodstains with the hot breath of fiery judgment. 5 Then the LORD will provide shade for Mount Zion and all who assemble there. He will provide a canopy of cloud during the day and smoke and flaming fire at night, covering the glorious land. 6 It will be a shelter from daytime heat and a hiding place from storms and rain.

Luke 7:28-35 NLT - 28 I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of God is greater than he is!" 29 When they heard this, all the people--even the tax collectors--agreed that God's way was right, for they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God's plan for them, for they had refused John's baptism. 31 "To what can I compare the people of this generation?" Jesus asked. "How can I describe them? 32 They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends, 'We played wedding songs, and you didn't dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn't weep.' 33 For John the Baptist didn't spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, 'He's possessed by a demon.' 34 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, 'He's a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!' 35 But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it."

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, send us out with confidence in your word, to tell the world of your saving acts, and bring glory to your name. Amen.