#Christian Compassion

[iamthewaybook]

Christian Compassion | I Am The Way Book

Introduction

Nestled in the heart of New York, Williamson Town is a community that thrives on the spirit of togetherness and shared values. Amidst the quaint charm of its streets and the warmth of its people, the teachings of Christian compassion find a special resonance. “I Am The Way,” a book that delves into the principles of love, compassion, and spiritual harmony, provides a profound framework for understanding and practicing Christian compassion in our daily lives. In this blog, we will explore the essence of Christian compassion as outlined in “I Am The Way,” and how these teachings can be applied to enrich the community life in Williamson Town.

The Heart of Williamson Town

A Community Rooted in Faith

Williamson Town, with its historic churches and close-knit neighborhoods, is a place where faith plays a central role in the community’s identity. The town’s rich Christian heritage is reflected in its numerous congregations, each contributing to the spiritual and social fabric of the area. These churches are not just places of worship but also centers of community life, offering support, fellowship, and outreach programs that embody the spirit of Christian compassion.

Everyday Acts of Kindness

In Williamson Town, acts of kindness and compassion are woven into the daily lives of its residents. Whether it’s helping a neighbor in need, volunteering at local food banks, or participating in community events, the people of Williamson Town consistently demonstrate a commitment to caring for one another. This culture of compassion is a testament to the enduring influence of Christian values in the town.

Understanding Christian Compassion

The Teachings of Jesus

At the heart of Christian compassion are the teachings of Jesus Christ. “I Am The Way” emphasizes Jesus’ message of love, forgiveness, and selfless service. Jesus’ life and ministry provide a blueprint for compassionate living, challenging us to love our neighbors as ourselves and to act with empathy and kindness towards all.

The Good Samaritan

One of the most powerful parables illustrating Christian compassion is the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37). In this parable, Jesus tells of a Samaritan who helps a wounded traveler, demonstrating love and mercy regardless of cultural or religious differences. This story encapsulates the essence of Christian compassion — extending love and aid to those in need, regardless of who they are.

Compassion as Action

“I Am The Way” emphasizes that true compassion is not just a feeling but an action. It involves actively seeking out opportunities to help others, whether through direct assistance, advocacy, or simply being present for someone in their time of need. This proactive approach to compassion is essential for fostering a supportive and loving community.

Christian Compassion in Action in Williamson Town

Supporting the Vulnerable

Williamson Town is home to various outreach programs aimed at supporting the vulnerable and marginalized members of the community. Local churches often organize food drives, clothing donations, and support groups for those facing difficult circumstances. These initiatives are a direct expression of Christian compassion, providing practical help and emotional support to those in need.

Building Inclusive Communities

Inclusivity is a core aspect of Christian compassion. “I Am The Way” highlights the importance of creating communities where everyone feels valued and included. In Williamson Town, efforts to promote inclusivity can be seen in community events that celebrate diversity and foster mutual respect and understanding among residents of different backgrounds and beliefs.

Fostering Connection and Fellowship

One of the key ways Christian compassion manifests in Williamson Town is through fostering connection and fellowship. Regular community gatherings, potluck dinners, and social events provide opportunities for residents to come together, build relationships, and support one another. These connections are vital for creating a strong, compassionate community where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

Personal Reflections on Christian Compassion

Stories from the Community

In the spirit of “I Am The Way,” it’s important to share personal stories of compassion that highlight the impact of these teachings in Williamson Town. Stories of neighbors helping neighbors during times of crisis, volunteers dedicating their time to support local initiatives, and acts of kindness that have touched lives in profound ways can inspire others to embrace and practice Christian compassion in their own lives.

The Transformative Power of Compassion

The transformative power of compassion cannot be overstated. “I Am The Way” illustrates how acts of compassion not only help those in need but also enrich the lives of those who give. In Williamson Town, many residents have experienced personal growth and deeper spiritual fulfillment through their compassionate actions, finding joy and purpose in serving others.

Practicing Compassion in Daily Life

For those inspired by “I Am The Way” and the examples set by the Williamson Town community, practicing compassion in daily life can take many forms. Simple acts like offering a listening ear, being patient and understanding, or lending a helping hand can make a significant difference. By making compassion a daily practice, individuals can contribute to a more loving and supportive community.

The Role of “I Am The Way” in Nurturing Compassion

A Guide for Reflection and Action

“I Am The Way” serves as a valuable guide for those seeking to deepen their understanding and practice of Christian compassion. The book provides insights, reflections, and practical advice for living a life of love and service. By reflecting on the teachings of “I Am The Way,” individuals and communities can find inspiration and guidance for their own compassionate journeys.

Encouraging Interfaith Dialogue

While “I Am The Way” is rooted in Christian teachings, its message of compassion is universal. The book encourages interfaith dialogue and cooperation, promoting understanding and respect among different faith traditions. In a diverse community like Williamson Town, such dialogue can strengthen bonds and foster a more inclusive and harmonious environment.

Inspiring Future Generations

The teachings of “I Am The Way” have the potential to inspire future generations to embrace and carry forward the values of Christian compassion. By sharing these teachings with children and young adults, and by modeling compassionate behavior, the community of Williamson Town can ensure that the spirit of love and service continues to thrive.

Conclusion

Christian compassion, as illustrated in “I Am The Way,” is a powerful force for good in the world. In Williamson Town, New York, the principles of love, kindness, and selfless service are deeply ingrained in the community’s way of life. By embracing and practicing these principles, the residents of Williamson Town create a supportive, inclusive, and compassionate community where everyone can thrive.

“I Am The Way” provides a profound and practical guide for understanding and living out Christian compassion. Its teachings resonate deeply with the values and experiences of the Williamson Town community, offering a pathway to deeper spiritual fulfillment and a more connected and caring society. Whether through small acts of kindness or larger community initiatives, the practice of Christian compassion can transform lives and create a better world for all.

This blog aims to provide a thorough and heartfelt exploration of Christian compassion as it manifests in Williamson Town, New York, inspired by the teachings of “I Am The Way.” It should resonate with readers who are part of the Williamson Town community, as well as those interested in spirituality, community building, and the practice of compassion in everyday life.

[queerprayers]

Hello! I'm a genderfluid Christian and I'm currently trying to discern whether going on HRT would be a good idea, both in terms of whether it would be worth the inconvenience and whether it would be glorifying to God. Do you have any recommendations?

(For a long time, I was comfortable in my gender without it, but a few months ago something shifted and now I can't stop thinking about it. I would ask a pastor, but I'm between churches at the moment; the Baptist church I went to for many years, despite its many good qualities, is not at all affirming, and I'm still in the process of finding a better spiritual home, which is further complicated by the fact that I am nocturnal.)

Thank you for running this blog, by the way. It means a lot to me.

Hello, beloved! I will do my best and I'm so glad you're here.

I hope you've heard this quote from Daniel M. Lavery, but just in case you haven't: "As my friend Julian puts it, only half winkingly: 'God blessed me by making me transsexual for the same reason God made wheat but not bread and fruit but not wine, so that humanity might share in the act of creation.'"

Another quote from that book (Something That May Shock and Discredit You, which I highly recommend) that comes to mind is “Trying not to transition was the hardest work in the world. The nicest thing about transition was letting go.” I believe you that you're unsure, and I'm not trying to make your decision for you, but on the off chance that any of your discerning has taken the form of trying to convince yourself not to transition in this way, or downplaying your current discomfort, or not trusting yourself out of fear, I'd say that being trans in this world is hard enough without being on your own side.

Ultimately, you know yourself and your experience, and I'd hazard a guess that you've already decided more than you think. Often by the time I'm reaching out about a life change, I'm asking permission more than advice. If that rings true, here's your permission (not that you need it from me).

I hope you don't mind, but I checked in with my partner (a certified Transgender) while answering this, and I'll paraphrase what they had to say about HRT and inconvenience: Is the travel time to see a loved one worth the inconvenience? Ultimately, you are worth dealing with inconvenience. The happiness you could have is worth the inconvenience. Being trans is hard with or without medical transition. But sharing in the act of creation is worth it. We are all worth doing hard things for, and for some that includes fighting to get on HRT and being visibly trans in public.

You can't know until you begin a journey if it will be "worth it"—but I would imagine answering this for yourself, giving this instinct inside you a chance, would be worth it even if it's not forever. There are people who start HRT and decide it's not for them—and their lives aren't ruined. Their lives are fuller for honoring what they wanted at that point in time. Obviously regret happens—but we cannot refrain from living because of that. Your gender identity and your relationship with your body may change and grow, and all parts of that change are worth of honoring.

As to whether this would glorify God—are you honoring the person God created? If (to paraphrase St. Teresa of Ávila) Christ has no body now on earth but yours, if yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world, the feet with which he walks to do good, the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world —what body are you moving through this world with, and how will you care for it? What will enable you to live out Christ? Jesus calls us to meet every stranger as himself—what would happen if you met yourself as such, too? If everything we do to another is what we do to Christ—feed, clothe, honor—why would you be any less? Why would your body not be worthy of existence, of shelter?

If our bodies are temples to God, are they not places of worship? Of course my journey with accepting my body has shown me that we can be faithful Christians before accepting ourselves, and as we learn to care for ourselves. I don't mean to imply we cannot. But our peaceful existence in these places of worship takes work, and just as we work to make our churches more accessible and accepting, so must we work to care for our bodies and fully inhabit them as prayer. My work of love to my body was accepting it as it is, welcoming its change and faults, and also taking psychiatric medication so that I could function better. It was prayer for me, the journey to find a medication that worked and paying attention to how it was changing me, how it enabled me to better serve as a child of God.

Every trans person I know has been more fully able to love when they live as themselves—when they've had access to transition care, when they've been respected and affirmed. These were not selfish choices, they were self-honoring choices which have shone outward ever since. We can look to the Bible to see name changes at moments of God-glorifying change, and we can also see physical change—the shining face of Moses, the woman who only seeks to grasp the hem of Jesus's clothing to be healed, Paul going temporarily blind, Jesus himself at his transfiguration. We cannot serve God and stay the same.

Romans 12 tells us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice—living. Yes, we are called to be willing to die for love, but also to live for it. Preventing your flourishing because it would be scary, or inconvenient, or misunderstood, or because it may not be where your flourishing lies forever, is not a sacrifice for love. Transition, the way I've seen it in the people around me, is.

I also want to point out that you've done the work—you introduced yourself as a genderfluid Christian. I don't know your story, but I know the years of reconciling saying those words can take. You have the language for yourself. You know who you are. HRT can be a huge first step for some, but it can also be just the next part of that work. It doesn't have to be huge. For some it is simply bringing things more in line with the self they've known all along. Make it a big deal if that feels true (and it is a big deal in terms of bravery and access), but it may become just one of many ways you care for yourself. You don't have to cater to those who see it as drastic or an emergency, those who fearmonger or want you to prove you need it. You've done the work, so trust that you are capable of making this decision.

It is your God-given right to make decisions about your body. As Christians, we believe we are called to serve God with those decisions. But God gave us the reins. God gave us all different skills and stories and paths. It is not easy or obvious and sometimes we circle back or regret or repent. God gave us the capacity for those kinds of stories, too. Be human with God—our God who entered into time and space, who participated in our having-a-body-ness, who reconciled the ways his body held him back and the ways he could serve with it. Jesus's relationship with his gender/body/health is not something we're privy to but from other parts of his life we can assume it was a participation in his time and place—a 1st century Jewish man. In the communities you're a part of, with the resources you have, with the identities you have welcomed, how will you be human with him?

I don't know what healthcare is available to you where you are, but a good doctor can tell you the side effects, refer you to counseling as you make choices, give you dose and timeline options. Even if you don't end up going on HRT, seeking out trans-inclusive healthcare and community is a good choice, and I would recommend learning your options. If you can't stop thinking about this, trust that it's worth taking seriously.

I wish you all the best in finding a church/community—there are people equipped to love all of you, and you deserve to find them. I relate with the nocturnal bit—I know Catholics usually have a Saturday night service, and every so often another kind of church will. Online community can fill gaps and give us other ways of connection as we look for physical communion. I wish I could promise affirming religious spaces in every place, but I can only pray and work for that to someday be the case.

So, to answer my lover's question, the travel time to see a loved one is worth it. The journey to the you more full of love is worth it, and the journey to find a spiritual home is worth it. If we are pilgrims on this earth, may the things in our control be done with love, may our journeys be faithful, may our bodies be Christ's body, trusting in the Love greater than anything we can do. How you will be a steward of God's creation is not something I can answer for you, but I believe in your ability to sow the seeds within you. HRT may be the next part of your creation—you can give yourself some time, talk to some people, sit with the idea, consider how you would handle regret, and don't let me tell you what to do, but ultimately there is only one way to know, and waiting until we're sure is stagnation if it is not an active waiting.

To quote my Easter/TDOV post: Come to life, beloved. God sees you. The first steps out of the tomb may be stumbling, the dawn too bright, but we will meet you in the garden, where you were first created. Bring with you whatever is still bleeding—Jesus believes in you, touches the ache in your ribs. Mistake him for a gardener; let him plant you anew. Look to the wound in his side, see how it births the Church, and continues to until there is room for you. Look through the holes in his hands and see the world you were redeemed for, the self that you have already found or may only imagine. God made the grapes, and Christ stands in the winepress with you. Trample out your wine.

And lastly, to turn the patron saint of receiving sacraments presenting as God calls, even unto death, Joan of Arc's affirmation into a command (and purposely quoting an angel in the process): Be not afraid. You were born to do this.

<3 Johanna

[secular-jew]

Please share and help stop propaganda and educate people.

I was born to hate jews. By Kaseem Hafiz

It was part of my life. I never questioned that. I was not born in Iran or Syria. I was born in England. My parents moved there from Pakistan. Theirs was the typical immigrant story: Move to the West hoping to create a better life for themselves and their children.

We were a devoted Muslim family, but not extremists or radicals in any way. We only wanted the best for everyone - everyone except the Jews. The Jews, we thought, were aliens living in stolen Muslim land, occupiers involved in a genocide against the Palestinian people. Our hatred was therefore justified and just. And it left me and my friends vulnerable to radical extremist arguments. If the Jews were as evil as we've always believed, shouldn't those who support them - Christians, Americans and others in the West - be just as evil?

All of this had its desired effect. At least it did on me. It changed the way I looked at the world. I began to look at the suffering of Muslims, including in Britain, as the fault of Western imperialism. The west was at war with us, and the Jews controlled the west. My experience at the university in the UK only reinforced my increasingly radical conviction. Hating Israel was a badge of honor. Set up an anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian rally, and you were sure to attract a huge, approver

While in uni, I decided that the protests and propaganda against Israel were not enough. Real jihad requires violence. So I made plans to join the real fight. I want to drop out of college and join terrorist training camp in Pakistan. But, fortunately for me, fate intervened - in a bookstore.

I came across a book called The Case for Israel by Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz. The case for Israel? Which case could that be? The title itself infuriated me, and I started reading the pages almost like a travesty. How ill-informed, how stupid, can this guy be to defend the defenseless? Well, he was a Jew. That must have been the answer

👉Still I am reading. And what I read challenged all my dogmas about Israel and the Jews: I read that it was not Israel who created the Palestinian refugee crisis, it was the Arab countries, the UN and the corrupt Palestinian leadership. I read that Jews did not exploit the Holocaust to create the state of Israel; the movement to create a modern Jewish state dating back to the 19th. century, and eventually to the beginning of the Jewish people almost 4000 years ago. And I read that Israel is not engaged in genocide against the Palestinians. On the contrary, the Palestinian population has actually doubled in just twenty years.

👉What I saw with my own eyes was even more challenging than what Dershowitz had written. Instead of apartheid I saw Muslims, Christians and Jews coexisting. Instead of hate, I saw acceptance, even compassion. I saw a violent, modern, liberal democracy, full of flaws, for sure, but fundamentally decent. I saw a country that wanted nothing but to live in peace with its neighbors. I watched my hate melt before my eyes. I knew just then what I had to do.

Too many people on this planet are consumed by the same hate that consumed me. They have been taught to despise the Jewish state - many Muslims through their religion, many others by their university professors or student groups.

So here's my challenge to anyone who feels this way: do what I did - seek the truth for yourself. If the truth can change me, it can change anyone.

I am Kasim Hafeez from Prager University.

[whitehairedanimeboyfriend]

Sorry for the ask, but I'd like to straight up ask someone.

So I may be misunderstanding, but proshipping is just saying, "do what you want in fiction," no? Why is this controversial? I completely understand having squicks and blocking people over that, but threatening lives over this seems way over the line. I hate feet fetish content, but I can just... filter that out and not bother enjoyers. I get a lot of content is not so easy on the brain, but is it not better for people to throw those thoughts on a page? Personally would rather people vent it out through fictional means than be eaten by those thoughts.

Am I missing something or is this another case of people creating a wildfire over simple concepts?

You would think, wouldn't you, anon?

There's a lot of reasons why antis think the way they do. Most basically is that humans instinctively assign morality to the feeling of disgust. "If I'm disgusted by this thing it must be bad." Basically everything else after that is justification for this thought process.

Some common justifications for the mindset:

Children can be exposed to this content.

Adult groomers could use the content as material to further bond and groom their child victims.

Anyone that regularly consumes perverse fictional content may become desensitized to the disgust all humans should feel towards it and therefore will eventually try to act out these fantasies in real life.

Sexual arousal has a unique ability to corrupt people in this way and it's not the same as playing a violent videogame or listening to true crime podcasts.

Of course, examining these points objectively leads us to the following conclusions:

Children can be exposed to any graphic content, regardless of the "morality" of said content. It happens all the time and has been happening since graphic content was first depicted. Kids get curious, especially about things we try to keep them away from.

Abusers can and will use anything to bond with their victims. Maybe it is a adult/child ship or noncon fantasy. Maybe it's My Little Pony or Steven Universe or comic books. Maybe it's Game of Thrones or Steven King. It can be anything the victim cares about. Contentious material is not uniquely effective in this manner.

Disgust should not be what guides one's moral compass regardless. While there may be people that eventually become abusers that start out with fictional material, the order of operations is "I want to abuse kids. -> I will read/watch/look at fictional content until I get access or opportunity to exploit kids -> I now have the opportunity to abuse victims" rather than "I'm interested in exploring dark material, perhaps including fictional abuse of underage individuals -> I can now no longer control myself around kids and I'm a ticking timebomb."

This is literally just Puritanical Christian beliefs and isn't true.

[ardent-apostasy]

to the churches that claimed they saved me,

i am not a christian anymore. (you might say that i never was, since a true christian can never turn away, or whatever.) but having lost my christianity does not mean i have lost everything.

i am not faithless. i have faith in myself; in my ability to learn and grow and be good. i have faith in people; in their kindness and intelligence and compassion.

i am not loveless. i love myself, in a way you never let me (because i can be proud of myself and because i can be at peace with my flaws). i love the world, in a way you always condemned (because there are good people who do good things and that's worth more to me than words in a book from 2000 years ago).

i am not mindless. i am mindful, despite all your attempts to take that from me. i am not some clueless idiot who just follows whatever the "woke" crowd is doing, nor some fish who must always swim with the current.

you taught me to anchor myself to the bottom of the sea, to never drift or wander towards the horizon. you told me that you set me free when all you did was drag me down.

but i am not the person you thought i'd be, or the person you wanted me to be. i am not the obedient, dependent, submissive girl you taught me to be.

so this is me, having walked away from the church, saying that i never needed you to have faith, or love, or control of my mind.

you never saved me. maybe i did need you -- your love, your support -- but you never came through, and i don't need you anymore.

you never saved me then, and i sure as hell don't need you to save me now.

[cloverandcrossbones]

Who TF decided that the His Dark Materials (Golden Compass) books were for kids/young adults?

I attempted to read them when I was the "target" age for them and it was the first time I ever remember tapping out on a book because it was above my reading comprehension (I regularly read books that were 2-3 years ahead of my "reading level" and was generally up for a challenge so that should tell you how much of I struggled). I gave up partway through the second book, The Subtle Knife, and didn't touch them again until this year.

And, boy, am I glad I waited! There is so much to this series that would have just been totally lost on me as a kid. The way it explores theology and morality would have gone right over my head. Even now with a bachelor's degree in English literature under my belt the depth to these books astounds me.

Every chapter of the Amber Spyglass opens with a quote from Milton's Paradise Lost, or one of William Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience, or some other theologian or philosopher or outright Bible verses. Every chapter. In a series that was regularly promoted to 10 year olds. Yes, kids can be pretty smart and I hate when adult authors talk down to them, but what 10 year old is reading Paradise Lost?

I'm not saying you need a degree to understand this stuff, but you would have to have read a lot of foundational texts to get the full depths of the references. I also ended up leaning a lot on the religious study courses I've taken (and theological education from growing up Catholic) to identify specific religious theories/schools of thought which was just fascinating. Religious groups HATE these books! They're extremely critical of organized religion and Christian beliefs especially as they are canonized by the Catholic and Anglican churches. It's a three-book fiction trilogy exploring and arguing against Milton's interpretation of original sin.

So why was this series labelled as YA? Simple, the protagonists are kids; they're 12 years old.

Why did Pullman write about 12 year olds if the series wasn't meant for them? Because the biggest theme of the story is sin and children are considered innocent. Lyra and Will are coming of age and transitioning from childhood innocence to adulthood and its accompanying consciousness/self awareness that allows us to be held responsible for sinning.

Anyway here's an entry to the literal Wikipedia page for the series that I think sums it up:

Although His Dark Materials has been marketed as young adult fiction, and the central characters are children, Pullman wrote with no target audience in mind.

[semidecentpoet]

Queer Christian "mini" ramble :P

I'm a nonbinary lesbian and a practicing Catholic Christian, and ik that Christianity has been and continues to be used as a justification for queerphobia (by people who have clearly never read a Bible smh), but that hasn't stopped me from thinking ab how even just the themes of faith and queerness collide and intersect and come together and shit in such,,,,, just,,,,, beautiful ways imo???

Even going beyond the whole "Love thy neighbor as thyself" and Jesus just being a Swell Guy—The Swell Guy—it can get really fucking interesting, especially considering the context of modern times (I'm a little coo-coo for literary analysis, so just allow me to get my energy out here lol)

Like, Isaiah 49:15 says, "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" (wording varies based on the version of Bible, but you get the picture)

God is literally saying, "I love you even if your own mother doesn't," and somehow, in the context of so many queer kids getting kicked out/disowned by their parents—to the point where 28% of queer youth have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives as of 2021—too many fucking Christians think God hates gays??? Pick up the damn Book, bitches???

God is an ally, you fake motherfuckers. Leave Their kids alone, goddamn.

(As an aside, I don't want to make anyone feel like I'm pushing my faith onto them, especially when it comes from a religion and institution that has done a lot of fucking harm. I'm not trying to convert anyone—that would be a bitch move. I just get really excited about these two parts of my identity that are very important to me lol)

I feel like this adds up to the bigger point that God is all ab the OutcastsTM, those who mainstream society has marginalized and all that. Several examples from the Gospel to support this come to mind immediately, but listing them all would take a Hot Minute.

But this line from Isaiah is one I think ab a lot. In a text that relies heavily on parable—to the point where you'd think more Christians would understand what metaphors are by now—this line hits especially hard in the context of today bc it's something that literally happens frequently to a specific group of people.

It's eery, at the very least, how on-point it is.

To anyone that's read this far—not to be that cheesy Christian, but I'm gonna be that cheesy Christian—God loves you. Even if you're not religious or have a rocky relationship with religion, I want you to know that God loves you. I have textual evidence and everything. Take it or leave it, doesn't matter <3

At the very least, I, some okay-ish poet on Tumblr (who rarely posts any actual poetry lol), am in your corner. Should you ever need it <3

Ok, ramble over, go drink some water. Hydrate or die straight, you sexy bitches

[radical-revolution]

"These are extraordinary times for a spiritual seeker. Modern spiritual bookstores bulge with texts of Christian, Jewish, Sufi, and Hindu mystical practices. The many contradictory perspectives we encounter pose one of the great dilemmas of spiritual life: What are we to believe?

Initially, in our enthusiasm for our practice, we tend to take everything we hear or read as the gospel truth. This attitude often becomes even stronger when we join a community, follow a teacher, undertake a discipline. Yet all of the teachings of books, maps, and beliefs have little to do with wisdom or compassion. At best they are a signpost, a finger pointing at the moon, or the leftover dialogue from a time when someone received some true spiritual nourishment. To make spiritual practice come alive, we must discover within ourselves our own way to become conscious, to live a life of the spirit.

When we are faced with a variety of spiritual teachings and practice, we must keep a genuine sense of inquiry: What is the effect of this teaching and practice on myself and others? Am I being led to greater kindness and greater understanding, to greater peace or freedom?

Spiritual practice can never be fulfilled by imitation of an outer form of perfection. This leads us only to "acting spiritual". In fact, initially, spiritual practice may feel like it is leading us in the opposite direction. As we awaken, we tend to see our faults and fears, our limitations and selfishness, more clearly than ever before. When we begin to encounter our own limitations directly, we may then try to look for another form of practice, a faster way, or we may decide to change our life radically - move our home, get divorced, join a monastery.

In our initial discouragement, we may blame our practice, or the community around us, or we may blame our teacher. This happened to me in my first year as a monk. I was practicing diligently, but I became quite frustrated after a time. The restlessness, doubt, reactivity, and judgmental mind I encountered were very difficult for me.

The more frustrated I became, the more the monastery looked sloppy and not conducive to enlightenment. Even my image of the master began to fit right in with this frame of mind. So I went to confront him. I bowed and paid my respects and told him I wanted to leave for a stricter monastery, that there wasn't enough time to meditate where I was. "Eh," he said, "there isn't enough time to be aware?" "No," I answered, somewhat taken aback by his question. But my frustration was strong, so I went on, "Besides that, the monks are too sloppy and even you aren't silent enough. You are inconsistent and contradictory. This doesn't seem like what the Buddha taught to me." Only a Westerner would say something like this, and it made him laugh. "It's a good thing I don't appear like the Buddha," he answered. Somewhat annoyed I replied, "Oh, yes, why is that?" "Because," he said, "you would still be caught in looking at the Buddha outside of yourself. He isn't out here!" With that he sent me back to continue my meditation.

"It is our very search for perfection outside ourselves that causes our suffering," said the Buddha. Even the most perfect moment or thing will change just a moment later. It is not perfection we must seek, but freedom of the heart.

The Third Patriarch of Zen Buddhism explained that liberation arises when we are "without anxiety about non-perfection". The world is not supposed to be perfect according to our ideas. We have tried so long to change the world, yet liberation is not to be found by changing it, by perfecting it, or ourselves. Whether we seek enlightenment through altered states, or in community, or in our everyday life, it will never come to us when we seek perfection. The Buddha arises when we are able to see ourselves and the world with honesty and compassion. In many spiritual traditions there is only one important question to answer, and that question is: Who am I?

What images do we hold of ourselves, of our spiritual life, of others? Are all these images and ideas who we really are? Is this our true nature? Liberation comes not as a process of self-improvement, of perfecting the body or personality. Instead, in living a spiritual life, we are challenged to discover another way of seeing, rather than seeing with our usual images, ideals, and hopes. We learn to see with the heart, which loves, rather than with the mind, which compares and defines. This is a radical way of being that takes us beyond perfection."

— Jack Kornfield, A Path with Heart: A Guide Through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life

[aerodaltonimperial]

I cried through my therapy session today, I am STRAIGHT UP NOT HAVING A GOOD TIME, I am fantasy booking and no one can stop me, but we all see what's been set up as a possibility here, right?

The Bucks attacked Darby and Sting after they won the tag belts. This was sort of the first "seal," let's say, to be released on the new heel run of the Bucks, and it was obviously a big deal since it set up the eventual retirement match. But it also set up Darby coming back as an anti-hero; he's well primed for it, considering he's always occupied the somewhat murky gray middle waters as far as morality is concerned, and they've loaded the magazine already so the fire makes sense. Darby and Sting were the first "focus" of the EVP Bucks, and it makes sense that they will call back to this now that the Bucks are established in the new Elite storyline. Even the poster for the match they made framed the whole thing as vigilante good guys Sting and Darby going after the evil corporate overlords.

Darby is currently alone. One of the big sticky points with Jack’s original summer heel run was that he was alone, because it's hard to run a story when you don't have any other threads to weave in. Darby is minus Nick, and that storyline is pretty SOLIDLY wrapped up, and he's minus Sting. Darby works in the ring well enough on his own, but he NEEDS people out of the ring to really land story beats well. They need to put him somewhere, and there's no obvious opening with Copeland sliding into HoB storylines.

They are setting Jack up to eventually turn on the Bucks and Okada. It's subtle enough now, but there: he is always slightly off to the side when they post photos together, they are essentially a 3+1 setup right now, and the way Jack is spinning the Scapegoat character will eventually come to a head against the Bucks when their priorities no longer align. He's definitely being written as someone who follows his OWN compass, and it's gonna bite the Bucks, for sure, when he flips. Given the little hints on social media, I WANT to assume that his flipping will eventually line up with Luchasaurus finally betraying Christian, which would give us all a REALLY AWESOME heel Jurassic Express that's rooted in "fuck the systems that are broken" and it feels solid.

But the Darby vs Elite story is there, hovering on the horizon. And Jack and Darby’s loop from the Pillars story remains open, indefinitely at this point: they made that big deal about Darby not trusting anyone and how Jack had finally gotten a bit of an in only for MJF to ruin it (and then a few months later, Darby was Mr. Forgiveness to AR Fox lol), Darby is the reason Jack didn't win the PPV (wouldn't hit him to cheat), and Jack is the reason Darby didn't win the PPV (Jack broke up Darby’s pin on MJF and they also made a big deal out of this moment in the match where they literally slapped each other like it was some kind of BETRAYAL). Nick is literally still Jack version 2.0 with Christian. Their stories have been hilariously close to each other for a long time without ever managing to overlap, due to extenuating circumstances. This current setup puts them in line for a potential collision.

I'm just saying that I, personally, would be fixed of all mental illnesses if Jack turning on the Bucks happened to come down when the Bucks try to take out dissenter Darby like they did Kenny, given that should Jack ACTUALLY say, hit Darby with a steel chair, he would be finally betraying the only person he canonically has not turned on yet. Would be cool if, y'know, he couldn't seem to do that. Again. And honestly, it would be really cool if Darby eventually aligned with Jack and, lets say, Luchasaurus, considering there was kind of a thing in those fall matches where I thought it was not impossible that Darby was gonna be the one to break that hold Christian has on Lucha. It would make a neat trio: a lot of unfinished business.

I don't know how long they are gonna run the new Elite. And I don't know how much longer Lucha is going to be under this thrall, but it's already been longer on that one than I expected, and usually when that happens, there was some sort of delay involved. There have been a good number of people out in the past half year, but Jack is really the only one there that makes sense. ANYWAY I am just fantasy booking to keep my mental health from crumbling before the end of the work day lol

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Devotional Hours Within the Bible by J.R. Miller

Jesus the Healer (Matthew 8:2-17)

A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said: “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean!”

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy!

After the Sermon on the Mount, we have narratives of many healings. The first was that of a leper. The case was remarkable because the disease was loathsome, contagious and incurable. The leper’s cry to Jesus was very earnest. He had no doubt of Christ’s power to cure him, “You can,” but he seems uncertain regarding His willingness to do it. Instantly came the answer, “I will.” As He said this He reached out His hand and touched him. Straightaway the cure was wrought. The man was ready to go back again to his home and to take his place once more in society. Marvelous always, was the touch of Christ. It never took defilement; it was so full of health that it cleansed the utmost loathsomeness! The same touch that changed the leper’s flesh into cleanness, changes the worst lives into whiteness and wholeness.

The next act of healing was wrought on a slave. A Roman centurion had a servant who was very sick and a great sufferer. Somehow the centurion had heard of Jesus and the wonderful works he was doing, and he went to Him beseechingly and told Him of his trouble. We learn more about this soldier from seeing him at Jesus’ door. He was greatly distressed, and yet it was not his child that was sick it was only his slave. This tells us what kind of a man the centurion was he had a gentle heart. All of us are continually manifesting what we are, through the little windows of our common, unconscious acts. By the way a boy treats his dog or his pony, or birds and insects, especially by his treatment of his sisters, and by his manner toward his playmates, and toward the poor and the weak he is showing what he really is.

We see here also the immortality of good deeds. It is sweet to be remembered, long after one has passed out of life, by what one has done. It was a great while ago that this centurion went on his errand but here we find his gentle deed set down among the memorials of Christ’s own life. This deed of the centurion’s is found imbedded on a gospel page. Every good deed done in Christ’s name, is recorded in God’s books and on human lives. It is worthwhile, therefore, to train our hearts to gentle thoughts and our hands to gentle deeds.

Jesus received the Gentile soldier most graciously and said at once He would accompany him home and heal the servant. Here we have a revelation of the heart of Christ. He was quick to respond to every cry of suffering. It will greatly help us in our thoughts of Christ in heaven, to remember that He is the same now, that He was while on the earth. He is still quick to hear our prayer and respond to our requests. His heart is yet tender and full of compassion toward pain. The gospel pages are not records of what Christ was but glimpses of what He is !

Another lesson here is for ourselves. It is said that Dr. Livingstone rarely ever offered a prayer, even in his early Christian life, in which he did not plead to be made like Christ in all his imitable perfection. This should be the daily prayer of every Christian. We should seek to have Christ’s great kindness of heart. The world is full of suffering and we ought to seek in all possible ways to give comfort, relief or help. We have power to scatter happiness, to relieve distress, to give cheer and hope. We may not be able to heal diseases but we can love people in Christ’s name, and give them courage and strength to go on with their troubles and be encouraged.

But the centurion shrank now in his lowliness from having Jesus enter his home. This was true humility. We cannot truly see Christ and not be humbled. The reason we are so proud and self-conceited, is because we do not see Him. If our eyes but beheld Him in the glory and splendor of His Divinity all our vain pretensions would instantly shrivel. We should look at Christ with a long, loving gaze until a sense of His Divine greatness fills our hearts.

Another thing here to be noted, is the centurion’s conception of Christ. He thought of Him as a great Commander with all the forces of the universe under Him. The soldier knows only one duty to obey; and all these forces know only to obey Christ. Christ is the Commander of the army of the universe! The stars and planets are under Him and obey Him, all winds and tempests and all the powers of nature are subject to His sway. All diseases, all events, come and go at His word.

This ought to give us great confidence in the midst of dangers of whatever kind. Diseases and pestilence are only Christ’s soldiers. They are obedient to His will and can never transcend it not to go contrary to it. They can go only where and as far as He sends them. Death is one of His soldiers, too, and can do only His command. Why then should we dread death, since it is the obedient servant of our King? So of all events and occurrences they are but the messengers of our Master and cannot harm us. It was not necessary for Jesus to go to the centurion’s house to heal his slave. He had only to speak the word and the illness would obey Him and flee away!

The centurion’s great faith wrought a great cure. “As you have believed so be it done unto you.” Blessing depends upon faith, the measure of blessing upon the measure of faith. Little faith gets little help. We have all God’s fullness from which to draw, and there can be no limit to our receiving, save the capacity of our believing. It is because we have such small faith that the answers to our prayers are so meager.

The next case of healing was wrought in the home of one of the disciples. Jesus blesses homes. It was after a Sabbath service in the synagogue. When Jesus entered the house He found the woman lying sick with a fever. We are not told of any request for healing by any of the family. The thought seems to have been the Master’s own. He saw her sick and His heart was full of compassion. The record is very beautiful. “He touched her hand and the fever left her.” What strange power has that touch! There are other fevers besides those that burn in people’s bodies. There are fevers of the mind, of the soul. There are fevers of discontent, of passion, of ambition, of lust, of jealousy, of envy! There are fevers of anxiety, of remorse, of despair. All of these, all life’s fevers, the touch of Christ has power to heal. Let Him only touch the hot hand and the fever will flee away and quietness and peace will come!

“The fever left her; and she arose, and ministered unto Him.” She could not minister, until the fever was gone. Nor can we minister while life’s fevers are burning within us. But when the fever leaves us we at once to arise and begin to serve the Master. It would add immeasurably to our power among men and to the influence of our lives if we would always get the touch of Christ upon our hands at the beginning of each day.

One says of his mother: “My mother’s habit was, every day, immediately after breakfast, to withdraw for an hour to her own room, and to spend the time in reading the Bible, in meditation, and in prayer. From that hour, as from a pure fountain, she drew the strength and the sweetness which enabled her to fulfill all her duties, and to remain unruffled by all the worries and pettiness which are so often the intolerable trial of poor homes. As I think of her life, and of all it had to bear, I see the absolute triumph of Christian grace in the lovely ideal of a Christian woman. I never saw her temper disturbed; I never heard her speak one word of anger, or of calumny, or of idle gossip. I never observed in her any sign of a single sentiment unfitting to a soul which had drunk of the river of the water of life, and which had fed upon manna in the barren wilderness. The world is the better for the passage of such souls across its surface.”

Let other weary mothers wait each morning to get the touch of Christ before they go the day’s tasks and frets. Then the fevers of life will leave them, and they will enter upon a day of quiet peace and gentle ministry.

The closing words of our passage present a most remarkable picture. “When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.” It would seem that there were scores healed in one hour!

[natcliachen]

TASK 002 - THE EULOGY

LOCATION: The Cemetery on Woodrow grounds DATE: Sunday, September 4, 2005 TASK: Share a few words in honor of Richard.

Natalia was firmly a Chanel girl, through and through. But today, she found herself wearing a vintage black dress from Christian Dior that was hanging at the back of her closet. Her original choice of a chic yet respectable mid-length dress from Chanel's 2004 Fall line sat off to the side.

Richard gave her this dress. It was a present for her eighteenth birthday. "From the 1950s," he told her when she opened the large box it came in nearly a decade ago. "Part of the last few designs he made before he passed away in '57." It was enough to make her forget it wasn't a dress from her preferred designer.

Till this day, she couldn't tell if Richard had just confused the logos or simply didn't know who her favorite designer was. It didn't matter however because the dress was absolutely perfect. It was just what she felt was missing from her wardrobe. He had a knack for doing things like that — forgetting or mixing up details but making up for it in ways you couldn't even dream of. It felt right to wear the dress he gave her today.

--

Natalia stood behind the polished podium, her hair delicately styled with a black bow, the loose curls she painstakingly shaped cascading over her shoulders like a mourning shroud. As she addressed the somber crowd gathered at Richard's funeral, her voice carried the familiar composure you'd expect, but beneath her skin she felt anything but.

"It's not uncommon to hear Richard spoken of in glowing terms," she began, her words amplified by the microphone. "Not only was he a man born into a great life, but he actually did something with it."

Meaningful. She had wished she'd thought to write the word 'meaningful' after the word 'something'. Natalia's grip on her paper tightened but she carried on.

"If it weren't for Richard's boundless kindness and generosity, myself and many others wouldn't be where we are today. I could write a letter of gratitude the length of all of the books he has in his massive library combined, and it still wouldn't be enough to express just how grateful I am or impactful he's been in my life."

Reading the next portion of her eulogy, she couldn't help but think she should have done a better job transitioning from one topic to another. Fuck. She had to keep going.

"There's an endless list of reasons to find Richard impressive. He was a revered educator for one, as well as a tireless philanthropist, but what I've always found most impressive about him was his heart."

She paused, swallowing as she wondered if that was an insensitive choice given how Richard passed away. Goddammit, why was this the worst thing she's ever written in her life?

"He endured... unimaginable loss during his lifetime," Natalia proceeded. "But he never grew cold. In the midst of all of that pain, he somehow found resilience and chose to spend his days sharing his compassion with others."

Her fingers started to tremble. She gripped the paper she held tighter. Just finish this, she told herself. Please just finish this. She skipped a portion of her speech and went straight to the end.

"Though he retired many years ago, Richard never fails to teach. Even in death it seems. For if his life has taught me anything, it's to find the strength to carry on and do the best you can. He lived his life as a reminder that within each of us, there lies an invincible strength. That even in the depths of what seems like the darkest days of your life... a brighter one is just around the corner as long as you kept going."

Fuck, she hated this speech. When did her dress start to feel so tight? Could she not fit in it anymore?

"No one will leave a greater impact on me than Richard Woodrow. I can only hope, that for the rest of my life, however long or short it might be, that I can do something half as meaningful as he did with his."

With a subtle clenching of her fists, Natalia concluded her eulogy, folding the piece of paper in her hands and retreating to her seat among the wards. If anyone deserved the best from her, it was Richard. Unfortunately, she couldn't give that at all today. She even forgot to thank the crowd for being here — fuck!

[iamthewaybook]

Top Christian Inspirational Books

Top Christian Inspirational Books: A Journey Through Faith, Hope, and Wisdom

1. The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life” is more than just a book; it’s a guide to living a life of purpose and meaning. With over 30 million copies sold, this bestseller has impacted countless lives. Warren presents a 40-day spiritual journey designed to help readers understand God’s purpose for their lives. Each chapter focuses on one of the five purposes: worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, Top Christian Inspirational Books and evangelism. Through practical advice, biblical principles, and personal anecdotes, Warren encourages readers to live a life that honors God and fulfills His purpose for them.

2. Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

“Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young is a daily devotional that has become a cherished companion for many believers. Written from the perspective of Jesus speaking directly to the reader, Top Christian Inspirational Books this book offers comfort, peace, and hope in the midst of life’s storms. Each day’s reading is a reminder of God’s presence and His unconditional love. The simplicity and profoundness of the messages have made “Jesus Calling” a timeless source of inspiration and a bestseller in Christian literature.

3. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis is one of the most influential Christian writers of the 20th century, and “Mere Christianity” is perhaps his most famous work. Originally delivered as a series of radio broadcasts during World War II, Top Christian Inspirational Books this book explores the core beliefs of Christianity in a logical and accessible manner. Lewis addresses common objections to the faith and provides a compelling case for the truth of Christianity. “Mere Christianity” has been instrumental in leading many to faith and continues to be a foundational text for those seeking to understand the Christian worldview.

4. The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

“The Hiding Place” is the remarkable true story of Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch Christian who, along with her family, Top Christian Inspirational Books helped Jews escape the Nazis during World War II. This powerful memoir recounts the horrors of the Holocaust, the strength of the human spirit, and the unshakable faith that sustained Corrie through unimaginable trials. “The Hiding Place” is a testament to the power of forgiveness, the importance of compassion, and the enduring hope that comes from trusting in God.

5. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

Another classic by C.S. Lewis, “The Screwtape Letters” is a unique and thought-provoking exploration of the Christian faith. Presented as a series of letters from a senior demon, Top Christian Inspirational Books Screwtape, to his nephew, Wormwood, this book provides a satirical look at human nature and the spiritual battles that believers face. Through humor and insight, Lewis sheds light on the subtle ways in which evil can influence our lives and the importance of remaining vigilant in our faith.

6. The Shack by William P. Young

“The Shack” by William P. Young is a novel that has captivated readers with its profound exploration of pain, loss, and the nature of God. The story follows Mack, a man who, Top Christian Inspirational Books after experiencing a great personal tragedy, receives an invitation to meet God at a remote shack. What follows is a transformative journey of healing and understanding as Mack confronts his deepest fears and doubts. “The Shack” challenges readers to reconsider their perceptions of God and offers a message of hope and redemption.

7. Radical by David Platt

In “Radical,” David Platt challenges Christians to take a hard look at their faith and consider whether they are truly living according to the teachings of Jesus. Platt argues that the modern church has become too comfortable and that many believers have lost sight of the radical nature of the gospel. Through personal stories, biblical insights, and practical steps, Platt calls readers to abandon the American dream in favor of a life fully devoted to Christ. “Radical” is a wake-up call for those who desire to live a life of genuine faith and obedience.

8. Heaven by Randy Alcorn

Randy Alcorn’s “Heaven” is a comprehensive exploration of the biblical teachings on the afterlife. Alcorn addresses common misconceptions about heaven and provides a detailed and inspiring vision of what awaits believers. Through careful study of Scripture, Top Christian Inspirational Books Alcorn offers answers to questions about the nature of heaven, the resurrection, and eternal life. “Heaven” is a book that fills readers with hope and anticipation for the life to come, reminding them of the eternal joy that awaits those who trust in Christ.

9. Love Does by Bob Goff

In “Love Does,” Bob Goff shares stories from his own life that illustrate the power of love in action. Goff’s infectious enthusiasm and joyful approach to faith inspire readers to embrace a life of adventure, generosity, and love. Each chapter highlights a different way in which love can transform lives, Top Christian Inspirational Books from simple acts of kindness to bold steps of faith. “Love Does” is a reminder that love is not just a feeling but an active force that can change the world.

10. The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning

Brennan Manning’s “The Ragamuffin Gospel” is a celebration of God’s grace and a call to embrace the unconditional love that He offers. Manning challenges the notion that we must earn God’s favor and instead invites readers to come to Him as they are — broken, Top Christian Inspirational Books flawed, and in need of grace. With honesty and vulnerability, Manning shares his own struggles with faith and offers hope to those who feel unworthy of God’s love. “The Ragamuffin Gospel” is a powerful reminder that God’s grace is sufficient for all, regardless of their past or present.

Conclusion

Christian inspirational books have the power to transform lives, offering wisdom, encouragement, and hope to those who seek to deepen their faith. Whether you’re looking for a daily devotional, Top Christian Inspirational Books a thought-provoking theological work, or a story of redemption, these books provide a wealth of spiritual nourishment. As you explore these titles, may you find inspiration to live a life that reflects the love, grace, and truth of Jesus Christ.

Article Source :- https://medium.com/@iamthewaybook/top-christian-inspirational-books-c49283cfc6b0

[herald-divine-hell]

I don’t usually make posts like this, but I want to be clear: I am a Muslim - the correct term for Muhammad’s followers would have been Mu’min, or Believers, as some of you know from my posts about Ramadan and Eid. I believe strongly in my religion and it’s called for mercy and compassion, justice and dignity, for all mankind. Do not make broad presumptions about our holy text, how it calls for the death of “non-believers” - a term not used in the Quran itself: k-f-r is multifaceted and means different things - especially to the Christians and Jews, commanding us to convert all mankind to “Islam” - a word in the Quran to mean the general practice of submitting to the Divine Will and not just the way brought to Muhammad.

Here are verses which display the Quran’s love of diviserty and commands for the Christians and Jews to follow their own faiths:

49:13: “O’ mankind! Truly We created you from a male and female, and made you into peoples [communities/nations] and tribes that you may come to know each one another. Surely the most know before God is the most reverent. Truly God is Relenting, Merciful.”

2:111-113 notes: "And they say: 'None will enter Paradise expect who is a Jew or Christian.' These are their desires. Say, 'Bring your proof if you are truthful.' Nay. Whoever submits themselves to Allah and does good will have their reward with their Lord. And there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve. The Jews say, 'The Christians have nothing to stand on' and the Christians say, 'The Jews have nothing to stand on,' although both recite the Scriptures, like those who do not know say similar sayings; but Allah will judge between them on the Day of Judgement in what they differ [dispute].”

The phrase. “And there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve” is a common sentiment made in the Quran regarding Divine salvation, and it is offered multiple times to not only Muhammad’s followers - the Believers, not the Muslims - but to other groups as well.

2:62: “Indeed, the believers, Jews, Christians, and Sabians—whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and does good will have their reward with their Lord. And there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve.”

5:69: “Indeed, the believers, Jews, Christians, and Sabians—whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and does good will have their reward with their Lord. And there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve.”

The Quran calls for the Christians and Jews to follow their own pathways to God.

5:43-48: “And how is it that they come to thee for judgment, when they have the Torah, wherein is God’s Judgment? Yet even after that, they turn their backs, and they are not believers. Indeed, We revealed the Torah, containing guidance and light, by which the prophets, who submitted themselves to God, made judgments for Jews. So too did the rabbis and scholars judge according to God’s Book, with which they were entrusted and of which they were made keepers. So do not fear the people; fear Me! Nor trade my revelations for a fleeting gain. And those who do not judge by what Allah has revealed are the disbelievers. And therein We prescribed for them: a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds, retribution. But whoever forgoes it out of charity, it shall be an expiation for them. Whoever judges not by that which God has sent down - it is they who are wrongdoers. And in the their footsteps, We sent Jesus son of Mary, confirming the Torah that had come before him, and We gave him the Gospel, wherein is a guidance and light to the reverent. Let the people of the Gospel [the Christians] judge by what God has send down therein. Whoever judges not by that which God has sent down--it is they who are iniquitous. And We have sent down unto you the Book (the Quran) in truth, confirming the Books that came before, and as a protector [guardian] over them. So judge between them in accordance with what God has sent down, and follow not their caprices away from the truth that has come onto you. For each among you We have appointed a law and a way. And had God willed, He would have made you one community, but He willed otherwise, that He might try you in which He has given you. So vie with one another in good deeds. Unto God shall be your return all together, and He will inform you of what therein you differ."

For Peace and Goodness:

8:61: And if they incline to peace, incline you toward it, and trust in God! Truly He is the Hearing, Knowing.

41:34: “The good deed and the evil deed are not the same. Repel evil with which is better [the highest good]; then behold, the one between whom and thee there is enmity shall be as if he were a loyal, protecting friend.”

The Quran does allow military action, but only for the sake of preserving one’s right to follow the Quran, and never to be transgressors. Indeed, there is evidence, given the Quran is the only true primary source of the Prophet written down, that Muhammad followed a concept of “just war” in defensive lens rather than aggressive actions. So, no, Islam does not wish to take the world and convert others by the sword. The early Muslims who succeeded Muhammad didn’t even do that when they conquered Rome [Byzantium] and Iran. The caliphate remained predominately Christian until the 9th, 10th, or 11th century.

[lizbethborden]

I mean I almost did some insane shit when I was a christian. My also gay male best friend and I considered marrying each other for the sake of being married yet still acknowledged our homosexuality and never even considered het sex. The sect I grew up in viewed homosexuality as innate but as a trial from god, and “choosing” to act on it was the part that was wrong, so fantasizing or even actively writing about gay people actually getting to be fulfilled in that way can be an outlet for what a person feels restricted from in their own life. Obviously I can’t speak to her experience and only to my own, but I can imagine the kind of mental gymnastics at play unfortunately

I meant more the part where Hoagland talks about how female socialization works to our detriment in terms of empathy/compassion, and how women use empathy for/against each other. But I was on my way out of the house when I added those tags so I do apologize for lack of clarity.

I do understand where you're coming from but at least from my perspective, it's a situation that's like... either we have the very simple answer which is that she's lying on purpose, hence why she scrubbed him from her social media, or we have the very complicated one where she's suuuuuper religious, religious enough and scared enough of her religion to marry a man, but not too religious to publicly call herself a lesbian where many people, including those of her religion, will see it, and write books about lesbianism, but also she dedicates her books to him but has also deleted almost all mention of him from social media etc... so that's where I'm coming from.

I certainly do understand/respect your perspective and experience. I'm sure that these cognitive dissonances are 100% possible. But to me I have to work with the info I have which is how secretive she is about him, how she repeatedly publicly calls herself a lesbian despite being het married, and how she markets herself to the gay community. And, also, she's 40. She's not a very young person who is still figuring themselves out and trying to learn how to live in the world. Again I understand the psychological impact of being very religious but for me it's stretching it a bit far and for myself I am hitting the limit of my compassion for this possible situation she's in. I have to go on what I see.

[eldritch-queern-magicat]

Actually, no, I haven't really changed at all since middle school. I'm still the same deeply creative weirdo with ever-growing eclectic interests. A happily blooming nerd. If I learned about something in school, I wanted to explore it at home, on my own. That's really how the electronics disaster happened. I'm actually incredibly grateful Mom and Dad monitored my Internet use. I am way too curious sometimes. And I have to see shit for myself extremely often.

I wasn't let back out properly as a specific part until sometime in the sixth grade. It was partially the cats, but also realizing Nanny probably wouldn't be around much longer. So when she did die, I was more relieved than anything else. I used to feel bad that I hadn't cried for her.

But she was stifling me and trying to tell me what to be. She didn't like me being curious about makeup? I was low-key kinda thrilled when I got makeup for Christmas in my senior year of high school. I like color. A lot. I used to constantly change my favorite color. Now I just say I love the entire rainbow.

And I had to hide that I absolutely loved Pokémon. I think she thought it was glorifying violence, but it's more like competitive high-contact sports. Either that, or it was the racism. Frankly, probably both. It's probably the one thing she might have been worse than foster care about. But honestly, watching all the stuff that had to do with entirely different cultures was so good for me. It still exposed me to to new ideas and lessons when I actually needed it. Among them, I started passively absorbing any little bit when Taoism or Buddhism were significant themes. Paired with Bible study on Saturday morning, I guess I managed better than I thought.

She was surprisingly ok with when I was really into western fantasy like Sabrina the Teenage Witch. I think she was also ok with Power Rangers and ThunderCats (the original). At least she validated my love of learning new things and legit gave me old text books (that I don't know where she even got) to look at science subjects at home.

I think that really started in the seventh grade when I got so obsessed with astronomy and in particular, black holes. It just amazed me how unfathomably massive the universe is. How far it goes, how long even light takes to travel through it. I couldn't help but find the divine in the actual, physical cosmos. And it was there with every part of it. I would think, ‘How can everything in this physical reality be bad if God had said it was good in the beginning? Surely we haven't corrupted everything. Cats and dogs know about compassion, in a sense. That's good and beautiful.’

It wasn't hard at all to be better than foster care, but she actually was. She did encourage me to ask questions if I was confused. She clarified a lot of the literalist theology so I could start to understand it. I think I asked to study the bible with her, with that very hope. According to Dad, she could keep up with devout Catholics. I had two different children's bibles at her trailer, plus she bought me my own standard bible when I was ten, for my birthday. She and Mom took me to the book store at the mall, and had them print my casual first name with my last name at the bottom right corner of the front in silver letters.

Fun fact, someone actually jokingly asked if I'd grown up Catholic because of my apparently deep knowledge of Christianity. That was during the summer last year. The irony of my current proximity to the nearest Catholic church is not lost on me.

What fucked me back up was how I was treated during high school a lot by peers and family, and largely I just got angrier more than anything else. I was trying my best to do better when it all started going downhill fast again. But apparently I was still not good enough. My cousins suddenly became spoiled brats because of my needs frequently not being met entirely, but they seemed so much better adjusted. They didn't understand, and I didn't know how to break my silence. So I started lashing out because i really didn't have the social skills I needed. So yeah, I was definitely an asshole at times. The bullshit from foster care got a refresh, and I was forced to submit to their training again.

Never had any serious issues with Grandma, though in typical moody teenager fashion, I was sometimes a brat.

There's a reason I didn't really come out of my shell again until my junior year of high school. I decided to try to be more brave the year before, since I knew I'd graduate in Ohio. I got better at my art and creative writing, and it seemed to give me a way to connect with others. I decided to go for the culinary class at the career center because hey--good food--and the only thing that was in question was my literal birth date and legal age restrictions with the student restaurant. I got in. Mom and Dad made absolutely sure it was paid for. So I decided to do another nuts thing and go try out for the spring musical. I met one of my closest friends that way. Truly a charismatic character (gonna tag you, @themerrymutants I miss you). I felt accepted and encouraged, like family is supposed to make you feel.

Memories are really just flooding in now, it's a just lot to process. Maybe it's because while answering the person on anon, I opened up a lot of my own psychological cupboards. I never really said a lot of that at once, let alone even explained my logic behind it all. It put a lot of things into perspective for me.

And I just can't help but think, oh, shit, I actually am competent. But I was constantly second-guessing myself because so many of the people around me were hellbent on judging everything I did. Now I understand that in those cases, they most likely feared how authentic I am. Some people, more or less depending on where I was at any given time, thought I was pretty cool because I was so authentic.

I stopped fronting almost entirely when Mom died. I still hadn't recovered at all from literally anything, and didn't know how to handle that. It took cycling through different roles to find something productive for me. I shattered, and ended up pushing most of my remaining idealism into the then-evolving Lilitu.

But I was always at my best when I was true to myself. There were still plenty of people who loved me for who I really was. And that was just enough to keep going. That is precisely what fueled my spite against others who didn't like me. And Mom sure as fuck never quit going.

-Era 🍎😺

[princessproductivity]

A bit about @princessproductivity!

Hey there, everyone! Welcome to the Princess Productivity blog! This blog is written by myself, a 23-year-old Christian woman, residing in the beautiful Pacific Northwest! I co-own two successful businesses with my ambitious husband, and I am now pursuing two more entrepreneurial ventures of my own.

My "business beliefs":

Everyone has room to become a better, more productive version of themselves.

Knowledge related to self-improvement should be freely available to those who are willing to take the necessary steps to improve their circumstances.

If a person wants to turn their unpaid passion into a successful business, that passion must be treated like a business, even if they aren't yet making a dime.

Entrepreneurial success can be achieved without the loss of one's humanity, compassion, and generosity.

We live in the era of opportunity, where over 300 million people in the U.S. alone have the wisdom of the internet at their fingertips. The sad reality is that only a handful (about 10%) of those 300 million have the self-discipline to truly pursue entrepreneurial success.

This blog was created for that handful.

On the Princess Productivity blog, I share the things I have learned while building two businesses, and the things I'm still learning as I pursue the founding of two more. From books and podcasts I've discovered along the way, to personal experience and lessons learned, this blog is my attempt at sharing knowledge with others.

No filters, no catch, and most importantly, no charge.

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