#Faith And Leadership

[schoolofuncommonprophets]

Dr John Tetsola: A Leader in Apostolic Ministry and Spiritual Empowerment

Learn about Dr John Tetsola, an apostolic leader, author, and mentor, who empowers spiritual leaders worldwide through his teachings on faith, leadership, and personal development.

[serpentface]

Faiza performing the Kagnoma Odo (pretty literally 'lion dance'), a weapons dance and one of the more important ritual duties of Odonii priestesses. A relatively new addition to this traditional dance involves the musket as the primary weapon, which is fired mid-twirl into the ground at the climax of the dance. Faiza is experiencing an 'oh fuck' moment because her shot is more than ideally diagonal, but she’s being so cool with it.

This is a wholly ceremonial performance at the onset of the pilgrimage, performed in full regalia and lion skin (of the small, semi-domesticated strain) but no armor. It’s also distinctly a display of political allegiance between the powerful and beloved Odonii priesthood (and its loyal military) with the increasingly reviled and destabilized imperial family, with Faiza prominently wearing a bracelet of the royal serpent, which was gifted (along with the musket) by the usoma Stavis Amanti himself (Usoma is the Wardi word for king, which has been retained in the context of emperors).

The Kagnoma Odo is the ultimate demonstration of the Odonii as an embodiment of the Lion Face of God and living vessel of military might and sovereignty, demonstrating her fitness and proficiency with weapons and as a spiritual unifier for soldiers. It is accompanied by drumming and occurs in stages, running through the three keymost weapons used in war- the spear, the sword, and the musket. The musket is of the most significance, given the weapon has developed a particular esteem as the ultimate embodiment of might and superiority. Assistants (almost always other priestesses, occasionally high ranking soldiers) load and prime the musket to be fired at the climax of the dance, where it is shot into the ground as the priestess leaps out of range of the shot. The firing signals the end of the dance and the rite itself.

While not the utmost exemplar of trigger discipline, only fully inducted and senior (and therefore very thoroughly trained) Odonii are permitted to perform the dance, and injuries during actual performances are quite rare (though are known to occur during training, more than a few Odonii have burns and wounds on their feet).

The most important renditions of this dance are performed upon declarations of war and before battles (in this case, generally done in full armor along with the lion pelt). It is also done during some trainings (while a dance, it is carefully choreographed to include naturalistic maneuvers of the weapons involved and helps soldiers limber up and learn to move their weapons). It is regarded as an impressive and motivating sight and a morale booster, and, seen at a distance, potentially intimidating to enemies.

A special variant of this dance is performed as means of fully incarnating the Odomache, which is done in full nudity with the body covered in the blood of the freshly sacrificed lion and cloaked in its raw pelt (the lion has become the corpse of Odomache in the moment of death, as part of its recreation of God's sacrifice). Her public, full nude appearance once (and only once) in this act is what allows the Lion Face of God to incarnate within her. Those in attendance see the spiritually vulnerable, naked human body obscured with the sanctified and deified blood and cloaked in the sanctified and deified skin. It is a merger of the contradictions of mortality and divinity, the boundaries between the two indistinct in flickering firelight and the flash of musketfire. She is witnessed by her people, dangling in between humanity and divinity and leading them in dance, and and is thus transformed.

[succulentsiren]

Stop giving away your power by letting what others think of you, define you. People’s perceptions of you hold no value unless you allow it. If you don’t agree with how others see you, create you own narrative and start defining yourself.

Shift your mindset from needing validation, to knowing who you are. Don’t walk into the room thinking “I wonder what they think of me.” Walk into the room thinking “I don’t mind what they think of me. I know who I am. I am the best.”

And sure, this mindset may seem like arrogance but it is far better than craving approval or trying to explain yourself to others.

You can either give your power away by depending on the approval of others or you can free yourself, become the main character and perceive yourself the way you desire.

[aingeal98]

Rewatching aos s5 and s6 and it's so funny that regardless of whether the writers intended it or not, the way Daisy communicates with fellow agents she leads makes is clear that she would in fact, be a great director. She's compassionate and practical and confident and not a single agent we see outside of fs family and yoyo have issues with her. Her fatal flaw is that she's too attached to her old friends who she loves and trusts despite them both having gone a little evil and ruthlessly immoral due to the past season's trauma. Like literally if fitzsimmons respected her as much as they respect each other and as much as Daisy respects them, s5 and s6 would be drastically more positive for the whole team.

[clowniconography]

I'm not gonna keep adding to that shapeshifter post but i also wanted to say that even though it is kind of discouraging that chilchuck's version of laios is so overtly stupid, the whole point of the chapter/episode is laios proving himself to party after they've clearly started losing faith in him, and since chilchuck's known him the longest it would make sense for him to be the most critical after recent plot events, especially considering he's already expressed doubts about laios' people skills recently

[queencaramilflinda]

The real message of Lucy vs Buddy is that worshipping a divinity is about following the values that the god puts forth, not about preaching or praying or evangelizing.

When Buddy was offered to die a Helio worshipper or live with a different god, he chose to abandon the faith he claimed such devotion to. When Lucy was offered the same thing, she looked to her values as they related to her religion and decided that she would not add to the coldness of the world. Lucy, even in death, remains a light in the dark, the warm memory in the coldness of the ratgrinders. That’s true devotion. That’s the point of religion.

[aadmelioraa]

Eärien and Valandil parallels Rings of Power Season 1

[awfullybigwardrobe44]

Empty Church reflections

Last night I went back to church several hours after rehearsal to retrieve something I’d left by accident. I think there was one car in the entire parking lot, and even then I’m not sure anyone was there.

The lights were all on in the sanctuary just like they would be if we were having a normal rehearsal, and the tech booth had lights on, but I think everyone was at dinner. There may have been one person there but I have no idea where they were if they were there.

It was the weirdest feeling. And it was honestly more positive than negative. But I’m still thinking about it.

I peeked out onto stage from the curtains, because I was afraid someone would see me and be either startled or weirded out by me just Lurking. But I wanted so badly to just go stand in the middle of stage and just feel the entirety of the No One Is Here feeling

It’s this building I love and have been hanging around at for 10 years. (I’ve been attending for longer than that but that’s how long I’ve been on the worship team and been familiar with the backstage and stage areas.) And it’s where I often see this team I love with my whole heart.

And also, just the anticipation of Christmas Eve. In the next week, that sanctuary will see probably a thousand people, and honestly probably more than that. We will play through the music for 4 services.

And for a moment, it was just me there. Just one person.

They say that “church isn’t a building,” and that is absolutely true. A church can be a small group of people meeting up anywhere.

But the buildings are special too. There’s something “magical” about them, especially when you’re there alone. I don’t like using that word here, but it feels like the right word. Because it feels “spiritual,” but I don’t like using that word because it’s not that the church building itself is Holy or something, it’s just a building.

But I’ve had talks with friends who agree that the buildings are so special. There’s another church in my area where I grew up playing with my friend on random weekdays and helping my mom decorate her classroom when she worked at the preschool there. Playing in church buildings is a really kind of magical feeling too.

Enjoy some pics of my church the past few years. Most of these are from Christmas services but not all. Just because I’m feeling nostalgic. None of these capture the I’m Alone At Church feeling, but they’re special to me anyway so I feel like including them.

Pic our piano player took of me one Sunday

Fun fact! The lady with the glowing hair is Filipino celebrity Jaya! She attended my church and served on the worship team for probably 2-3 years before moving to a different state. She is the sweetest, most humble famous person who probably ever existed.

This is a moment where we sing Silent Night completely acapella and the singers don’t use their mics, so it’s just the entire congregation singing together with their lit candles raised. Chills every time.

My view from stage a few Christmas Eves ago. This song was absolutely magical and I worked so hard on those runs, and I was proud of how it turned out.

View from backstage, maybe last year (?). It’s funny because this year they put lights on JUST the fronts of the trees so from backstage it looks really funny.

View from the congregation last year. I love the forest of Christmas trees but it actually makes it really difficult to walk around on stage 😅

And my view from stage this year. You can actually see how the Christmas tree that’s almost center doesn’t have lights on the back 😂

[thepersonalwords]

The African Challenge - We must end conflict in Africa. We must lead to allow the Africans to enjoy the benefits from their natural resources. We must end poverty in Africa. Every African must be educated, have access to health care and a fair chance to fulfil their dream. Preventable sickness and disease must not reduce life expectancy or rob pregnant women of a chance to continue living. Africa must develop. Africa must not depend on foreign aid. Africa must be united and governed more effectively. Africa must customize her leadership culture and philosophy in a way that gives her global relevance and respect but still remain true and authentic to herself. Will you accept the challenge? Will you be that Africa?

Archibald Marwizi, Making Success Deliberate

[enchantingepics]

Note #16

Gratitude and kindness hold immense power. They're like the sunshine that warms our souls and the gentle breeze that soothes our hearts. When we express gratitude, we acknowledge the goodness in our lives, no matter how small. It's about recognizing the little moments of joy and the people who bring light into our days. Kindness, on the other hand, is the language of love spoken through actions. It's the simple gestures that make someone's day brighter, like a smile or a helping hand. Together, gratitude and kindness create a ripple effect of positivity. When we're grateful, we radiate positivity, uplifting not only ourselves but also those around us. And when we're kind, we inspire others to pay it forward, creating a chain reaction of goodness in the world. Think about the last time someone showed you kindness or expressed gratitude towards you. How did it make you feel? It probably warmed your heart and brought a smile to your face. That's the magic of these simple yet powerful acts. In a world where negativity sometimes seems to overshadow the good, embracing gratitude and kindness can be like shining a light in the darkness. It reminds us that there's still goodness in the world, and that each of us has the power to make a positive impact, no matter how small. So let's embrace the power of gratitude and kindness, not just today, but every day. Let's take a moment to appreciate the beauty around us and spread kindness wherever we go. Because in a world that can sometimes feel chaotic and uncertain, these simple acts have the power to bring hope, joy, and connection.

[akkivee]

More Kuko ramblings because adhd, but i was driving and listening to Closer, which made me think about HitoJaku, and then Hitoyas slightly retconned backstory, and then chapter 4 of the dhbat manga, and then about Kuko and Sawamura parallels. But something we haven't seen touched on in a while is Kuko's latent anger issues, violence streak, and the sadism both of those issues inspire.

you actually beat me to talking about this thought myself lmao i’ve been planning on a creepy kuukou ‘month’ for october where i just draw kuukou with his darker aspects when i can and his viciousness was part of the plans lmao. like i still don’t how much of sougyaran bam💥 i should be taking literally or anything at all lmao, but like combined with sawamura’s story and the rocky vibes sougyaran bam 💥 has, i was going to put it out there that maaaaaaybe kuukou might be implying a body count in his chorus

and like i still can’t get over the shock on kuukou’s face when the bully tried to kill himself and kuukou intending to take the full blame for it all in that very chapter like idk??? i feel like there is a sort of violence that shaped him and he’s been fighting against with varying degrees of success lol, but especially in those early chapters where he’s still wearing that dragon sukajan

but it’d be great if that was the underlying issue in the upcoming drama track!!!! 🙏🙏🙏

[elisabethbabarci]

Inspire, lead, and motivate. Accept your true authentic self unapologetically. Be willing to own your truth, even if it is not the norm, and goes against the grain. Embrace your positive and negative aspects, as they are all part of your divine mission to evolve and grow.

Elisabeth Babarci

[quran-ruhani]

The Majesty of Surah Al-Fajr (1-14): Reflect and Revive

[wordsoftheheartandsoul]

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, "I will take revenge; I will pay them back," says the Lord. Instead, "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads." Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Romans 12: 6-21

[quotelr]

After seven days of fasten so it was, that the thoughts of my heart were very grievous unto me- and my soul recovered the spirit of understanding.

Compton Gage