#A most excellent Psalm

[pastorroye1]

The Importance of Choosing a Good Bible Translation Selecting a reliable translation of Scripture is crucial when beginning to read and study the Bible. The Bible is God’s Word to us, divinely inspired and meant to guide our lives. From the time the written Word was first recorded, there have been efforts to translate what God has said. Some translators have approached this work with reverence, carefully rendering God’s holy words as accurately as possible. Others, however, have injected personal interpretations, agendas, or biases into the text. The result? Some translations are excellent and faithful to the original text, while others are misleading—potentially even dangerous. Personally, I want to hear what God has said, not what man has interpreted. Man’s words will never suffice, but God’s Word stands eternal and unchanging. Types of Bible Translations There are two primary translation philosophies: Literal Translations (Word-for-Word): Definition: These aim to stay as close as possible to the exact words and structure of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Purpose: They prioritize accuracy over readability, preserving the original wording and phrasing. Examples: King James Version (KJV), New King James Version (NKJV). Note: Literal translations are considered the most faithful to the original texts, making them excellent for study. Dynamic Translations (Thought-for-Thought): Definition: These focus on conveying the ideas or thoughts behind the original text rather than adhering to a word-for-word rendering. Purpose: They prioritize readability and comprehension for modern audiences by adapting expressions and idioms into contemporary language. Examples: New International Version (NIV), New Living Translation (NLT), The Message, The Passion Translation. My Perspective on Bible Translations I primarily use the NKJV (a literal translation) for study and teaching. On a limited basis, I reference the NLT (a dynamic translation) for clarity. My caution with dynamic translations lies in the potential for human bias to overshadow God’s intent. The most dangerous example, in my opinion, is The Passion Translation (TPT). This version often strays far from the original text, adding interpretive language that may mislead readers. For this reason, the Passion Translation is not used or taught in our church or ministry. A Comparison: Psalm 23:1-2 NKJV:
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. Characteristics: Literal and concise. Retains the structure and tone of the original Hebrew. TPT:
1 The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd. I always have more than enough.
2 He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss. Characteristics: Highly paraphrased and interpretive. Adds relational and emotional language not present in the original text, such as "best friend" and "luxurious love." Key Differences: Literal vs. Interpretive: The NKJV stays close to the original text, while the TPT expands on it with added interpretations. Tone and Imagery: The NKJV is formal and restrained; the TPT is poetic and emotionally charged. Concerning Trends in Translations Some modern translations have even removed gender-specific references to God, reframing "God the Father" in neutral terms to avoid offending cultural sensitivities. Such changes undermine the integrity of Scripture, shifting focus from God’s revealed truth to man’s agenda. To truly know God, we must seek His Word as He intended it—not a watered-down, culturally reimagined version. Overcoming Challenges in Understanding Scripture If you find the Bible difficult to understand, take heart! God has provided pastors, teachers, and study tools to help you navigate its complexities. Let’s rise above the temptation to settle for simplified versions and pursue the richness of what God truly says. Timeless Truths About God’s Word Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV): "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Isaiah 40:8 (NKJV): "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever." Psalm 119:105 (NKJV): "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Matthew 4:4 (NKJV): "���Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’" Romans 10:17 (NKJV): "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV): "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV): "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Let us approach God’s Word with reverence and diligence, seeking His truth above all else. God’s Word matters most.

[walkswithmyfather]

Psalm 150:1-6 (ESV). [1] “Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! [2] Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! [3] Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! [4] Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! [5] Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! [6] Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”

“Praise: An Expression of Love” By In Touch Ministries:

���Spend time today praising God for His abundant love and goodness.”

“Most of us know what it feels like to love someone. We think about him or her often; we share stories and describe attributes so others know how remarkable the person is. In a word, we praise the one we love.

In the book of Psalms, that’s exactly how David talked about God. His writings are filled with worship and sentiments such as “Because Your favor is better than life, my lips will praise You” (Psalm 63:3). He also danced with abandon, expressing his passion and devotion before the Lord—he didn’t care what others would think (2 Samuel 6:14).

Do we love God with the same enthusiasm David had? Some of us may be less prone to fervent, emotional displays than others are. But we should never allow embarrassment or timidity to stifle our praise.

The Lord is worthy of acclaim. He is our Friend, our Rock, and our Protector. What’s more, He saved us from death! If we let ourselves get caught up in others’ opinions, we could forget that God’s viewpoint is the only one that matters. Ever since creation, the Lord has deserved and received praise offerings. Don’t let fear or discomfort keep you from expressing your love and appreciation. How can you glorify Him today?”

[Photo thanks to Priscilla Du Preez at Unsplash]

[thewordfortheday]

Psalm 16:6 ‘The lines have fallen to me in the best places, yes, I have a most excellent heritage.’

As you are still in the beginning of the year, remember that each day is an opportunity for you to recognize that God has good things in store for you. You have a great inheritance that the Lord has prepared for you. There are still so many things that the Lord wants to show and do for you as you walk in obedience and do His will. Start rejoicing and be thankful, for all that He will do for you.

PRAYER: Lord, You have been so good to me and I have seen Your mercy and kindness towards me. Help me to walk pleasing in your sight. Thank You for the most excellent heritage I have in You, my God. In Jesus' Name Amen.

[yourwakingnightmares]

2024 Writing Roundup

I was tagged by @process-pending

words posted: 211,150

additional words written: 102,136

grand total of words: 313,286

fandom(s): Batman (All Media Types), The Tarot Sequence, a few Marvel/DC crossover oneshots.

highest kudos: Screaming In the Dark, 1196

highest hit oneshot: When You Were Young, 4,911

new things I tried: Writing present tense, and now most everything I've done in the past six months has been present tense lol.

fic I spent the most time on: Not specifically 'this year', as it's been a year and a half since I started, but the Cover Your Hands With My Eyes Closed series.

fic I spent the least time on: Any of my shorter one-shots? I tend to knock most of 'em out in a night, but I think Oh No, Oh My God (How'd I Get So Damn Unlovable?) was like... two hours of mad rush keyboard spamming lol

favorite thing I wrote: Well... I'm pretty pleased with The Killer You Know (The Killer You Chose), which was like, the first dark humor thing I've ever written and turned out really well lol. But Things We Lost In The Fire is probably the only thing I wrote this year that actually made me tear up a bit writing it, so...

favorite thing(s) I read:

Oh geeze, there's way too many to list here, but to limit it to five...

The I Am Home series by @process-pending; and I've gotten to read the whole thing so far, and good christ, is it one of my favorites. I can't wait until she gets hte whole thing posted up for everybody, swear to god, it's amazing.

Shatter Together, by thepartyresponsible. One of my favorite fics, Clint/Jason, and two broken boys falling in love.

i'm coming home (tell the world), by ijustmightwing. An excellent Jay/Roy story with amazing characterization, all the good hurt/comfort, and just an amazing piece in general.

a second psalm of life, by r_astra. Excellent characterizations, lots of angst, and an amazing story.

writing goals for 2025: Finish up the Cover Your Hands series, and polish up some of my unfinished stuff that I really want to post.

new works: 51

[albertfinch]

Praying The Psalms - December 14, 2023

In Jesus, I take refuge and behold His face. (Psalm 11:1,7)

The Word of the Lord is as pure as silver tried in a furnace seven times. (Psalm 12:6)

I trust in Your loving kindness, my heart rejoices in Your salvation. (Psalm 13:5)

I sing to the Lord because He has dealt bountifully with me. (Psalm 13:7)

I dwell on Your holy hill, Lord Jesus, and abide in Your tent, since You are my righteousness and I carry Your Word in my heart.  (Psalm 15:1,2)

LORD, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. (Psalm 16:5)

The purpose you have given me is a pleasant calling, I have a most excellent heritage. (Psalm 16:6)

I will bless the LORD who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. (Psalm 16:7)

I know Jesus is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is dwelling in me. (Psalm 16:8)

Praise the Lord!  Great is my Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.  (Psalm 147:1,5)

      Why pray the Psalm scriptures out loud? 

It is hard to think about something other than what you are talking about.  Praying out loud the scriptures solves the problem of the wandering mind.  -- spoken words speak to the soul and have the power of raising thoughts in the soul. The Psalm scriptures speak of God in the Highest manner which most fully expresses the power and presence of God.

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

[pebbles-five]

[D↓A]

Dear Alexa the most massive collective of knowledge in the world.

May I pretty please know how long to boil tea leaves, your excellence...

My leige, my beloved, very cool and um... cool... pink man

You have forgotten to list your titles but I do not want to elongate this any further.

Experts disagree on an exact length of time, but it is between two and five "Karmical Sin" Psalms. Though often religious folk disagree on an exact or approximate timeframe and simply let them boil until it "feels right".

[lightyakami]

hello! i would like to know

1. what has been your favorite quick time event?

2. have you ever heard an album where you really liked every single song?

3. what's a thing you can talk for hours about?

hi hello for these excellent questions!!!!!

ok tbh i like most of the quicktime events in metal gear rising: revengence but i'm especially fond of the whole sequence where you run through a collapsing building and like. leap off a bunch of flying rocks and such. it is so incredibly long and makes no logical sense but is so cool. this is true of the whole game. also the mgr 'ripping out your enemy's heart' quicktime event that is part of your main combo is fun bc its a bold choice to have so many quicktime events in one game. platinum game's whole philosophy is to include the occasional 'bad game design' element and i think this is really smart and admirable.

oh omg absolutely. let me link some. psalms (mute): this is one of the best albums i've heard in my life and i think everyone should listen to it asap. headphones highly highly recommended. ura.: from the same artist (with a different name.) SUCH an incredible and calming yet disconcerting and ethereal album sbwy: no commentary i just think this is great inform-educate-entertain by public service broadcasting: i am especially fond of night mail but this is an absolute non-skip when i say to you black lightning by common holly: i'm so obsessed with this. i saw common holly live once and it was lifechanging. anyway that's probably enough albums but these are so good

ok death note is the easy and correct answer. i can also talk for hours about writing and interactive fiction

[psalmonesermons]

Who cares wins-Part 4:/5 What quality should our care be?

All our care/ministry for others should be excellent!

Question: Why should our ministry both to and for God be excellent?

Answer-The first and foremost reason is that our God is the most excellent God.

Psalm 8:1 O LORD our Lord, how excellent [is] your name in all the earth! who has set your glory above the heavens.

The Lord our God has an excellent name and He is worthy of our very best.

Question: why does it matter what we offer to God in terms of our ministry.

Answer: All through the Old Testament God made it clear that whatever was offered to him in sacrifice should be without spot or blemish. The book of Leviticus has dozens of sacrifices specified but all without blemish.

Lev 19:2 This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD has commanded, saying: ‘Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without blemish, in which there is no defect and on which a yoke has never come.

In the New Testament, Ephesians 2:5 Jesus will present his Father God with a glorious church not having spot, or wrinkle. or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Jesus offers only excellent ministry to his father. We should copy Jesus.

In other words, anything that we give to God whether spiritual, material or service it should be excellent in every way. We should never offer anything that is a reject or substandard or second quality nor damaged in any way, Everything, that we offer to God should be excellent in nature, not defective in any way, not sloppy, ill-prepared, or executed.

For example, if you have three weeks, three days or just three hours to prepare a bible study, God will give you the grace to make up the difference in what you can achieve.

However, if you have plenty of time, we honour God by making excellent preparations.

This applies at work-place too!

Obstacles to caring; sometimes the people we care for look terrible or they have an unpleasant smell, they may be aggressive, unhelpful, unwilling to share and often ungrateful. There but for the grace of God go I.

Prayer: Lord, help us to offer excellent care to our fellow human beings which is pleasing to you. Help us to see the poor through your eyes.

Amen.

[girlactionfigure]

The Jewish Bollywood Star: Esther Abraham

She was India's first female film producer

Esther Abraham was a Jewish Bollywood superstar and the first female film producer in India. She was a proud observant Jew even while shaping modern Indian culture.

Esther was born in Calcutta in 1916 to an Orthodox Jewish family. The Abrahams were Baghdadi Jews who had emigrated from Iraq in the 19th century. In school Esther excelled academically and athletically. She was a talented hockey player with a roomful of trophies. Esther was also an artist who attended Cambridge University after high school and majored in art.

After university, Esther became a kindergarten teacher at a Jewish school in Calcutta, but she yearned to be a performer. Her first job in the entertainment industry was as a dancer for a silent movie theater. Esther’s job was to entertain the audience during a pause in the film while the reel were changed.

Many members of Esther’s family were talented musicians and performers. She went to visit an actress cousin in Bombay who was appearing in a theater production. The director noticed tall, beautiful Esther and gave her a screen test.

Esther did so well on the test that she soon appeared in her first movie, Bhikaran, in 1936. Around this time she was given the screen name Pramila. Audiences fell in love with Pramila and she quickly became one of the most famous actresses in India. She also worked as a model and appeared on many magazine covers. In 1947, at age 31, Esther won the first Miss India contest – while pregnant with her fifth child.

At that time in India, the movie industry was controlled by a handful of extremely wealthy producers who exploited their actors and crew members and paid them only a measly salary. Esther Abraham decided to change that. She defied the studio system by becoming the first female producer of Bollywood feature films. Esther formed her own production company, Silver Productions, and produced sixteen feature films. She treated her cast and crew with respect and paid them well.

Esther starred in 30 films. In addition to being an actress and producer, she did her own stunts and worked as a stunt double for other performers. Esther also designed her own costumes and jewelry for every production.

Famous for her enchantingly beautiful eyes, audiences didn’t know that her eyesight was very poor and she did dance moves by counting the steps. Audiences also were likely unaware that she was Jewish – and probably wouldn’t have cared. Unlike so many countries with Jewish communities, India has no history of antisemitism.

Esther’s daughter Naqi Jahan was crowned Miss India in 1967, and they are the only mother and daughter who both won the title. Her son Haidar Ali is a successful Indian actor and screenwriter. Haidar described his mother: “A woman who was gifted by God with internal power and strength… she magnetized power…. One the home front she kept us together [clenching his fist] like this.”

Esther Abraham appeared in her last film in 2005, at age 90, playing a grandmother in the movie Thaang. She died a few months after its release. Until the end of her long life, Esther remained a practicing Jew. Her funeral was at the Maghen David synagogue, and her son Maurice read Psalms in Hebrew. Esther was buried in the Jewish cemetery in Mumbai.

For entertaining audiences for seventy years, and for being the first female film producer in India, we honor Esther Abraham, aka Pramila, as this week’s Thursday Hero.

[reddy-reads]

moon day books (books for 7/20/24)

Moon Day* is coming up, and that sounds like as good an excuse as any for talking about some books

Here's my list, rationale is below the jump

The Lady Astronaut series by Mary Robinette Kowal

by Becky Chambers, Record of a Spaceborn Few (or The Galaxy, and the Ground Within. Or Psalm for the Wild-Built)

The Last Hero by Terry Pratchett

So You Want to be a Wizard by Diane Duane

The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin

Martha Wells's Murderbot Diaries series

*Moon Day is the anniversary of the first Moon Landing, July 20 :) I'm aware it's not really a holiday but I love the idea

The Lady Astronaut series by Mary Robinette Kowal This is a really excellent series. It's an alternative history of space travel. It has lots of women, and there are characters of colors (although they're thus far limited to the supporting cast). They're exciting, emotional, and gripping. I loved these books.

SUMMARY: A meteor decimates the U.S. government and paves the way for a climate cataclysm that will eventually render the earth inhospitable to humanity. This looming threat calls for a radically accelerated timeline in the earth’s efforts to colonize space, as well as an unprecedented opportunity for a much larger share of humanity to take part. One of these new entrants in the space race is Elma York, whose experience as a WASP pilot and mathematician earns her a place in the International Aerospace Coalition’s attempts to put man on the moon. But with so many skilled and experienced women pilots and scientists involved with the program, it doesn’t take long before Elma begins to wonder why they can’t go into space, too—aside from some pesky barriers like thousands of years of history and a host of expectations about the proper place of the fairer sex. And yet, Elma’s drive to become the first Lady Astronaut is so strong that even the most dearly held conventions may not stand a chance.

2. One of Becky Chamber's books, probably Record of a Spaceborn Few or perhaps the Galaxy, and the Ground Within.

These are both standalone set in the same series. Record of a Spaceborn Few follows multiple characters whose lives intersect but are not especially intertwined. All these characters live on or are visiting the Human Fleet, which is the uh the… vessels that humans left the Earth on, as we jettisoned ourselves into space? I mentioned this one a little while back in conjunction with the waves hands Ship of Theseus and museology thing. The Galaxy, and the Ground Within like… doesn't have humans in it? It's basically a book-long bottle episodes, and it has themes of what is the significance art, what does it mean to negotiate one's identity as an individual and with respect to one's group identity. (By this I mostly mean like. the characters are all nonhuman alien species, and several of them negotiate their relationship between being a "typical" whatever vs being themselves.) One thing I love about Becky Chambers's books is that the aliens actually feel alien to me. They don't just feel like a different kind of human, they feel like they have meaningfully different biology and this affects their worldview.

Also on my Becky Chambers thoughts is her book Psalm for the Wild Built. I love how she spins the setting, presenting a very rosy concept of how humans could renegotiate our use of the planet we live on. One of the appeals of the Lady Astronaut series (above) is the realism. For the Psalm for the Wild Built, it's kind of the opposite; I love the… almost courage of imagining "what if we collectively did do better? What might that look like?" In a world where cynicism seems like a pragmatic form of self-protection, this sort of imagining almost seems brave.

3. For a slightly off the wall book idea, how about Sir Terry Pratchett's The Last Hero?

I love this book, it's a relatively quick read due to its format. The art is gorgeous. The story is wry and warm in that special Discworld way, and altitude is a factor in the story :) So that's the moon connection.

Cohen the Barbarian. He's been a legend in his own lifetime. He can remember the good old days of high adventure, when being a Hero meant one didn't have to worry about aching backs and lawyers and civilization. But these days, he can't always remember just where he put his teeth… So now, with his ancient (yet still trusty) sword and new walking stick in hand, Cohen gathers a group of his old -- very old -- friends to embark on one final quest. He's going to climb the highest mountain of Discworld and meet the gods. It's time the Last Hero in the world returns what the first hero stole. Trouble is, that'll mean the end of the world, if no one stops him in time.

4. As a YA lover, I have to include a shout-out for So You Want to be a Wizard by Diane Duane. This is the first of the Young Wizards series, which I love, and the characters (and I believe Ms Duane) LOVE the moon. It's really heartwarming, it reminds me of those videos of the astronaut talking about what going to the moon means to him.

Nita Callahan is at the end of her rope because of the bullies who've been hounding her at school… until she discovers a mysterious library book that promises her the chance to become a wizard. But she has no idea of the difference that taking the Wizard's Oath is going to make in her life. Shortly, in company with fellow beginner-wizard Kit Rodriguez, Nita's catapulted into what will be the adventure of a lifetime—if she and Kit can both live through it. For every wizard's career starts with an Ordeal in which he or she must challenge the one power in the universe that hates wizardry more than anything else: the Lone Power that invented death and turned it loose in the worlds. Plunged into a dark and deadly alternate New York full of the Lone One's creatures, Kit and Nita must venture into the very heart of darkness to find the stolen, legendary Book of Night with Moon. Only with the dangerous power of the wizardly Book do they have a chance to save not just their own lives, but their world…

5. Not to be cheeky, but if that's too wholesome, perhaps The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin will hit the spot? :D

This is the way the world ends. Again. Three terrible things happen in a single day. Essun, a woman living an ordinary life in a small town, comes home to find that her husband has brutally murdered their son and kidnapped their daughter. Meanwhile, mighty Sanze -- the world-spanning empire whose innovations have been civilization's bedrock for a thousand years -- collapses as most of its citizens are murdered to serve a madman's vengeance. And worst of all, across the heart of the vast continent known as the Stillness, a great red rift has been torn into the heart of the earth, spewing ash enough to darken the sky for years. Or centuries. Now Essun must pursue the wreckage of her family through a deadly, dying land. Without sunlight, clean water, or arable land, and with limited stockpiles of supplies, there will be war all across the Stillness: a battle royale of nations not for power or territory, but simply for the basic resources necessary to get through the long dark night. Essun does not care if the world falls apart around her. She'll break it herself, if she must, to save her daughter.

6. Final one. Why not use Moon Day as an excuse to reread Martha Well's Murderbot Diaries books? (Paper-thin excuse: MB's favorite TV show is… sanctuary moon!)

In a corporate-dominated space-faring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. For their own safety, exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids. But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern. On a distant planet, a team of scientists is conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid--a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, Murderbot wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is, but when a neighboring mission goes dark, it's up to the scientists and Murderbot to get to the truth.

[I said I wasn't going to add Andy Weir's The Martian because it's a gimme, but I'm a liar! I also love The Martian. Yes I know it's on Mars, not the moon, but! Humans! In! Spaaaaace!]

If you made it this far, what do you think? What books does "moon day" make you think of? Which books are on YOUR list?

[random-thought-depository]

I've developed a kind of weird relationship with HDG cause it's sufficiently conceptually interesting to me to motivate me to, like, read some of the stories and post about it a little, and it it is adjacent to stuff I find hot and that's part of why it's interesting to me, but it mostly really doesn't actually do much for me as erotica; so far Core Carving is the only HDG fic I've found that's really hot to me.

The HDG fanwork I'd be interested in doing if I had way more resources and skills and more passion for the idea than I actually do wouldn't be anything erotic or kinky, it'd be something like Farya Firaji's ancient/Medieval battle themed symphonies but for a Compact vs. Accord battle or three. So, like, a video like one of these but for a battle in the domestication campaign against the Terrans:

Some ideas:

The song the Nineveh video uses for introducing Heraclius would just straight-up be a very appropriate introductory song for the Terran Accord: "Our father who art in Heaven / Lord, have mercy / ... / Thy kingdom come / Lord, have mercy / ... / Lord, save the kings / and listen to our plight..." Also, make it a Pyrrhic Terran tactical victory, and... Have the Terran lyrics for the part about the most intense and hopeless for the Terrans part of the battle being a sung recitation of Psalm 23 (the "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..." thing) sung by a chorus with people dropping out of the chorus as the song goes on and repeats once or twice, representing human casualties. Then have the turning point of the battle being the heavy hitter ship of the Affini task force getting a firewall malfunction, and there's a short part of the symphony devoted to that crucial turning point and the Terran half of the lyrics in that part is just the "Give thanks unto the Lord for he is good, alleluiah / To him who alone does great wonders" thing from the Nineveh video sung once. It'd have layers!

Alternate Accord intro idea: something like "Soil of my world... / seas of my world..." with the narrator talking about how their world has been battered and depleted and much has been taken from it but ending it with saying it's theirs so it's dear to them and they will defend it.

Also, Battle Hymn of the Republic or John Brown's Body or something like that showing up as part of the Terran songs.

I don't have many firm ideas what the content of the Affini side would be. I think in terms of Farya Faraji's stuff some of it might be closest in spirit to their intro for Xerxes, like I could see the Affini intro being about the greatness of the Compact and how long they have been its managers and guardians and missionaries. I could also see a lot of the Affini side being expressions of grief for their enemies. I think the "vocals" would be an excellent opportunity to make the Affini seem like actual aliens! Like, make Affini speech sound about as alien as whale song; make the Affini equivalent of songs/poems in the symphony something a human might be able to appreciate without the subtitles in the sense that it'd sound kind of like pretty music to us but it make it not sound at all like a human language.

OK, one possible exception to the "if I ever actually did this project it wouldn't touch much on the erotic/kinky side of the setting" thing:

"...Romanos himself was captured in battle and presented to Alp Arslan. ... Romanos remained unrepentant, asserting that he had merely done what was "possible for a man, and which kings are bound to do, and I have fallen short in nothing. But God has fulfilled his will. And now, do what you wish..." ... ...Alp Arslan asked Romanos what he would do if their situation were reversed and Arslan was imprisoned by the Byzantines. Romanos bluntly answered "The worst!""

Imagine a floret who relates to their Affini like this! I might be interested by a fic about that! Realistically I'm probably not interested enough in the idea to write one, but, like, it's now on my list of premises to potentially use if I ever do write a HDG fic.

[thecatholicbozo]

"The most devout King David danced before the ark of God with all his might (2 Kings 6:14), commemorating the benefits bestowed in times past on the fathers. He made musical instruments of sundry kinds; he published psalms, and appointed them to be sung with joy; he himself likewise often sang them, playing upon his harp, inspired with the grace of the Holy Ghost. He taught the people of Israel to praise God with their whole heart, and to join their voices in blessing and magnifying Him every day.

If such great devotion was then used, and such remembrance of the praise of God before the Ark of the Covenant, how great ought to be the reverence and devotion which I and all Christian people should have in the presence of this Sacrament, and in receiving the most excellent Body of Christ!"

-Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

4 Popular Lies about Singleness

by Elizabeth Woodson

Many unmarried people in the church struggle to accept the label “single,” since churches can treat singles as second-class citizens. This treatment rests on wrong teaching about singleness. Simply put, the church can idolize marriage and make it the ultimate goal for maturity in Christ, relegating singles—no matter how old—to perpetual immaturity until they find someone to marry.

Confusing marriage with maturity has always been wrong, but it was easy when marriage was a cultural norm for the American church. At the turn of the century a large majority of the general population was married; in the 1970s the marriage rate had dropped to 70 percent; and by 2014 it had dropped to 50 percent. The inescapable reality is that countless congregations include singles of all ages. The church needs to learn how to love singles better—and the first step is repairing broken theology.

While this list isn’t exhaustive, here are four major lies that contribute to an unbalanced theology of singleness. By correcting these misguided interpretations of Scripture, we’ll be better equipped to love and serve the unmarried people in our congregations.

𝐋𝐢𝐞 𝟏: 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 = 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 “Then the LORD God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him’” (Gen. 2:18).

Outside the companionship of animals and God, Adam was functionally alone. By default, he was also single. God declared that being on mission alone is problematic, and so he gave Adam a wife to help him.

We tend to approach Genesis 2:18 as a prescriptive text, concluding that God’s solution for lack of companionship is marriage. Yet if this is true, what does it imply about being single? It would mean God doesn’t think singleness is good. But if that were true, why were some of the major characters in Scripture single, including John the Baptist, Jesus, and Paul?

To understand this text we need to widen our lens. I believe Genesis 2:18 is a descriptive text from which we can extract the prescriptive truth that living outside of community isn’t good. God created us to live in the context of relationships, and those relationships look different for different people. For some of us, community will take the form of a spouse and kids. For others, it will look like a good network of friends and extended family members. For all of us, it will mean belonging to a local church.

𝐋𝐢𝐞 𝟐: 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels” (Prov. 31:10).

I’m particularly sensitive about the messages we send single women regarding their value and significance in God’s kingdom. One phrase I’ve heard consistently is that a woman’s greatest fulfillment comes from being a wife and a mother. And for many of us, Proverbs 31 is the passage that springs to mind when we ponder what it means to be the epitome of a godly woman.

Yes, the Proverbs 31 woman is an example of spiritual maturity, but not simply because she was managing her home and providing for her family. It was because she embodied godly character.

Temporary life roles—like wife or mother—aren’t the ultimate markers of godliness. We should most strongly accent the godly character that will help a believer glorify God in any season of life. There is nothing special you need to be successful in marriage that you don’t need in singleness. No matter our marital status, we still need to confess and forgive, communicate well, and die to self every day. Let’s encourage singles to place their value not in what is temporary, but in what is ultimate: godliness.

𝐋𝐢𝐞 𝟑: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐈𝐬 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐝 “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Ps. 37:4).

Context is crucial here. When we don’t read Scripture in context, we can make God responsible for promises he never made. David wrote Psalm 37 to remind God’s discouraged people that God would bring justice and bless their faithfulness. David wasn’t giving a blanket guarantee that whatever they desired God would grant, simply because the desire was good.

Sometimes people conscript this verse to teach about marriage, leaving many singles angry and bitter toward a God who never promised them marriage in the first place. The truth is, not all godly people get married. We need to embrace this, preach this, and celebrate this! God’s best for many will include a life without a spouse and biological children. These people will know him more deeply, serve him more powerfully, and experience greater joy than they could as a married person. Not because singleness is better, but because marriage wasn’t part of God’s perfect will for their life.

No matter how deeply we desire it, Scripture never guarantees marriage. But it does teach us to “not be anxious for anything, but with prayer, supplication, and with thanksgiving make [our] requests known to God and the peace of God will guard [our] hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6–7).

Scripture also teaches that God’s ways are higher than our ways, and his thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isa. 55:9). We can ask God for whatever we desire—but he reserves the right to decide what’s best for us. And his “best” is never a consolation prize.

𝐋𝐢𝐞 𝟒: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 = 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 One common perception of marriage is that it’s near-perfect bliss. Social media, movies, TV shows, and books communicate that all our “single problems” will be solved when Prince Charming swoops in on his white horse and rescues us. In reality, marriage is two deeply broken people joining their deeply broken lives to become one. Wherever we’ve believed one of these lies, our theology of singleness needs to be revised. We need to dethrone our idol of marriage and learn to define our identity the way God does. He views singleness and marriage as equally blessed gifts to be stewarded for his glory (1 Cor. 7:7). Do we share his vision?

[jzlily333]

🌺06/25LiveWell活岀美好🌺

The most beautiful melody God has placed in your heart is praise.​​

Praise the LORD! For it is good and beautiful to sing praises to our God; words of praise are fitting (Psalm 147: 1).

06/25 Bible verses

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11: 1)

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

06/25Good words of wisdom

1. In the real world, people are becoming more and more hypocritical. Many people go out wearing masks pretending to be someone else without being  true to themselves. The word "friend" becomes increasingly abstract.

2. If you don’t want to do something, you will find an excuse; if you really want to do something, you will definitely find a way. Excellent people are always looking for ways to solve problems.

Poetry: Bottomless Love

https://youtu.be/H4MeSR_ilyY?si=RSQHEgftVC81QUk4

🌺06/25活出美好🌺

上帝放在你心中最美的旋律，就是讚美。     

你們要讚美耶和華！因歌頌我們的上帝為善為美；讚美的話是合宜的 (詩篇147: 1)。

06/25圣经金句

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  (Hebrews 11: 1)     

信就是所望之事的實底，是未見之事的確據 (希伯來書11: 1)。

06/25金玉良言

1. 在現實社會裡，人越来越虚偽，許多人帶著面紗出門，做著並不真實的自己。“朋友”這詞變得越來越抽象。

2. 不想做某事，就會找到藉口；很想做某事，一定會找到方法。職場卓越者都是一直找方法解決問題。

詩歌：深不見底的愛 

https://youtu.be/H4MeSR_ilyY?si=RSQHEgftVC81QUk4

[soaringeaglesingingjoy]

Pursue what matters most

In the book of Romans, Paul begs Christians to give their entire lives over to God because God sacrificed everything for them. Jesus gave up His life so that we could experience His unending love and grace. We cheapen His gifts if we refuse to align our lives with the way Jesus lived.

But we give our lives to God by making Him the one thing we pursue above anything else.

So here are 5 steps you can practice—right now—to help you put God first.

Give thanks

“We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds.”

Psalms 75:1 ESV

Right now, take a moment to thank God for what He’s already done for you. Reflect on His faithfulness, and recount the stories you have seen and heard of His wonderful power.

Spend 5 minutes in silence

“Abide in me, and I in you.”

John 15:4 ESV

Abiding in Jesus starts with stillness. So right now, pause, take a deep breath, and give anything concerning you over to God. Spend 5 minutes centering your heart on the One who matters most.

Remember Whose you are

“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV

God loves you. The price He paid for you cost Him everything. So remind yourself of Whose you are, and reflect on some of the things God says about you.

Meditate on God’s Word

“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.”

Psalms 119:97 ESV

One of the best ways to find out how Jesus wants you to live is by spending time in Scripture. As you do, ask God to speak to you through His Word about what His will is.

Focus on what is excellent

“…If there is any excellence … think about these things.”

Philippians 4:8 ESV

You have been given the mind of Christ. If you’re not sure what you should think about, try asking yourself: What is praiseworthy? What thoughts and actions would honor God?

Make a list of whatever comes to mind, and pursue those things.

By practicing these steps every day, you can create habits that will help you pursue intimacy with God every day, and put Him first above everything else.

[walkswithmyfather]

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” —Hebrews 10:19‭-‬23 (NLT)

“A God You Can Count On” By In Touch Ministries:

“Through all the changes and instabilities of life, God is a rock that never wavers.”

“People come and go, and each season turns into the next; continual change is normal in our life. Thankfully, this is not the case with God, who is “the same yesterday and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). We can completely depend on the Lord’s steadfastness because He is:

• Omniscient. Our Father knows what is happening for every person at every moment (Proverbs 15:3). His knowledge is complete—no circumstance is hidden from Him; there is no motive or thought process that He does not discern.

• Omnipotent. God has power over all things; nothing is outside His control. No authority in heaven or on earth can thwart His purposes (Job 42:2).

• Omnipresent. There’s no person, place, or thing in all of creation that’s outside of the Lord’s presence (Psalm 139:7-12). All space and time are within His sight.

In addition to these excellent traits, God always speaks the truth (Titus 1:2). We can fully trust the reliability of His Word and His responses to our prayers.

Because God’s character is not affected by time, place, people, or circumstances, He is more trustworthy than even the closest human friend. When our plans have failed and people have disappointed us, He is always there, steady as a rock. For all our days, God is the One we can count on.”