#Gospel-centered living

[pastorjeremynorton]

Navigating Conflict through the Gospel Lens

Discover biblical principles for resolving conflicts inspired by 'The Peacemaker' by Ken Sands. Gain insights from Matthew 18:15-17, Philippians 2:3-4, and Galatians 6:1-2. #ConflictResolution #Peacemaking #BiblicalPrinciples

Finding the Way of Peace with Ken Sande’s ‘The Peacemaker” In his book, The Peacemaker, Ken Sande offers a comprehensive framework for navigating personal conflict, not just to seek resolution, but also to glorify God. Sande integrates practical wisdom with Scriptural principles, offering a roadmap that removes personal bias, restores relationships, and pursues reconciliation. Most importantly,…

[a-crimson-impressionism]

Pros of watching The Midnight Gospel: it's an incredible show, it feels very transformative, and it's short if you don't have time to commit to something long. Great to binge

Cons (if you interpret them that way, they could just be more pros): you might cry, don't be surprised, especially if you binge it! And I feel like I can't watch anything else now since it was such a magnificent, wacky, introspective work.

[tmarshconnors]

"In our efforts to not be offensive to people, we can be very offensive to God."

Francis Chan is an American Protestant author, teacher, and preacher. He is the former teaching pastor of the nondenominational Cornerstone Community Church, an Evangelical church in Simi Valley, California founded by Chan in 1994.

Born: 31 August 1967 (age 56 years), San Francisco, California, United States.

Author and Speaker: Francis Chan is a prominent Christian author and speaker known for his impactful books, including "Crazy Love," "Forgotten God," and "Erasing Hell." His writings often challenge readers to deepen their faith and live more devoted lives.

Founder of Cornerstone Community Church: Chan founded Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, California, in 1994. Under his leadership, the church grew significantly, emphasizing simplicity, discipleship, and outreach.

Emphasis on Radical Living: Chan is well-known for his emphasis on living a radical Christian life. He advocates for sacrificial living, intense commitment to following Jesus, and serving others, often questioning comfortable or complacent Christianity.

Humble Living: Despite his success, Chan is known for his humble lifestyle. He and his family have made significant financial sacrifices, including giving away much of his book royalties and reducing their standard of living to support charitable causes and missions.

House Church Movement: In recent years, Chan has been involved in promoting and participating in the house church movement. He left Cornerstone Community Church to focus on a simpler, more organic form of church that meets in homes and emphasizes intimate community and discipleship. He has been working on this vision through his involvement with We Are Church, a network of house churches in San Francisco.

[revdrjamesjshowersjr]

Dallas Life Foundation

I was just reading the Bio on our 1 lt. Bailey, and thinking about the Dallas Life Foundation and their work with the Homeless in Dallas,Texas. So let us add the Dallas Life Foundation and the HUD/VASH Program in Dallas Texas and the prayer requests for today. Medline and the Veterans Resource Center-Dallas,Texas. US Air Marshals Service...

[lifeovercoffee]

Passive obedience is what God is doing in our hearts, while active obedience is our responses to His great work in us. If someone is not a "doer of the Word," something is not happening inside them.

[mimi-0007]

FATHER & SON: James Earl Jones with his Father Robert Earl Jones on Stage in the 1962 Production "Moon on a Rainbow Shawl."

Robert Earl Jones (February 3, 1910 – September 7, 2006), sometimes credited as Earl Jones, was an American actor and professional boxer. One of the first prominent Black film stars, Jones was a living link with the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s, having worked with Langston Hughes early in his career.

Jones was best known for his leading roles in films such as Lying Lips (1939) and later in his career for supporting roles in films such as The Sting (1973), Trading Places (1983), The Cotton Club (1984), and Witness (1985).

Jones was born in northwestern Mississippi; the specific location is unclear as some sources indicate Senatobia, while others suggest nearby Coldwater. He left school at an early age to work as a sharecropper to help his family. He later became a prizefighter. Under the name "Battling Bill Stovall", he was a sparring partner of Joe Louis.

Jones became interested in theater after he moved to Chicago, as one of the thousands leaving the South in the Great Migration. He moved on to New York by the 1930s. He worked with young people in the Works Progress Administration, the largest New Deal agency, through which he met Langston Hughes, a young poet and playwright. Hughes cast him in his 1938 play, Don't You Want to Be Free?.

Jones also entered the film business, appearing in more than twenty films. His film career started with the leading role of a detective in the 1939 race film Lying Lips, written and directed by Oscar Micheaux, and Jones made his next screen appearance in Micheaux's The Notorious Elinor Lee (1940). Jones acted mostly in crime movies and dramas after that, with such highlights as Wild River (1960) and One Potato, Two Potato (1964). In the Oscar-winning 1973 film The Sting, he played Luther Coleman, an aging grifter whose con is requited with murder leading to the eponymous "sting". In the later 20th century, Jones appeared in several other noted films: Trading Places (1983) and Witness (1985).

Toward the end of his life, Jones was noted for his stage portrayal of Creon in The Gospel at Colonus (1988), a black musical version of the Oedipus legend. He also appeared in episodes of the long-running TV shows Lou Grant and Kojak. One of his last stage roles was in a 1991 Broadway production of Mule Bone by Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, another important writer of the Harlem Renaissance. His last film was Rain Without Thunder (1993).

Although blacklisted by the House Un-American Activities Committee in the 1950s due to involvement with leftist groups, Jones was ultimately honored with a lifetime achievement award by the U.S. National Black Theatre Festival.

Jones was married three times. As a young man, he married Ruth Connolly (died 1986) in 1929; they had a son, James Earl Jones. Jones and Connolly separated before James was born in 1931, and the couple divorced in 1933. Jones did not come to know his son until the mid-1950s. He adopted a second son, Matthew Earl Jones. Jones died on September 7, 2006, in Englewood, New Jersey, from natural causes at age 96.

THEATRE

1945 The Hasty Heart (Blossom) Hudson Theatre, Broadway

1945 Strange Fruit (Henry) McIntosh NY theater production

1948 Volpone (Commendatori) City Center

1948 Set My People Free (Ned Bennett) Hudson Theatre, Broadway

1949 Caesar and Cleopatra (Nubian Slave) National Theatre, Broadway

1952 Fancy Meeting You Again (Second Nubian) Royale Theatre, Broadway

1956 Mister Johnson (Moma) Martin Beck Theater, Broadway

1962 Infidel Caesar (Soldier) Music Box Theater, Broadway

1962 The Moon Besieged (Shields Green) Lyceum Theatre, Broadway

1962 Moon on a Rainbow Shawl (Charlie Adams) East 11th Street Theatre, New York

1968 More Stately Mansions (Cato) Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway

1975 All God's Chillun Got Wings (Street Person) Circle in the Square Theatre, Broadway

1975 Death of a Salesman (Charley)

1977 Unexpected Guests (Man) Little Theatre, Broadway

1988 The Gospel at Colonus (Creon) Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway

1991 Mule Bone (Willie Lewis) Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway

FILMS

1939 Lying Lips (Detective Wenzer )

1940 The Notorious Elinor Lee (Benny Blue)

1959 Odds Against Tomorrow (Club Employee uncredited)

1960 Wild River (Sam Johnson uncredited)

1960 The Secret of the Purple Reef (Tobias)

1964 Terror in the City (Farmer)

1964 One Potato, Two Potato (William Richards)

1968 Hang 'Em High

1971 Mississippi Summer (Performer)

1973 The Sting (Luther Coleman)

1974 Cockfighter (Buford)

1977 Proof of the Man (Wilshire Hayward )

1982 Cold River (The Trapper)

1983 Trading Places (Attendant)

1983 Sleepaway Camp (Ben)

1984 The Cotton Club (Stage Door Joe)

1984 Billions for Boris (Grandaddy)

1985 Witness (Custodian)

1988 Starlight: A Musical Movie (Joe)

1990 Maniac Cop 2 (Harry)

1993 Rain Without Thunder (Old Lawyer)

TELEVISION

1964 The Defenders (Joe Dean) Episode: The Brother Killers

1976 Kojak (Judge) Episode: Where to Go if you Have Nowhere to Go?

1977 The Displaced Person (Astor) Television movie

1978 Lou Grant (Earl Humphrey) Episode: Renewal

1979 Jennifer's Journey (Reuven )Television movie

1980 Oye Ollie (Performer) Television series

1981 The Sophisticated Gents (Big Ralph Joplin) 3 episodes

1982 One Life to Live

1985 Great Performances (Creon) Episode: The Gospel at Colonus

1990 True Blue (Performer) Episode: Blue Monday

[idylls-of-the-divine-romance]

Mean and violent Christians drive me almost insane. "What if I punch your face for Jesus?"

SERIOUSLY!? You think Jesus of Nazareth, the nonviolent Jewish Messiah who was beat and scourged and whipped and killed on a humiliating torture device by a violent relgio-political mob wants you to punch someone in the face for religio-political reasons and then blame HIM for it!? Do you even hear yourself!!!

You. Conquer. Thru. Self. Sacrifice. You're. Exalted. Thru. Humble. Submission. THIS IS THE ENTIRE GOSPEL!!!! That the King of the World came to earth to conquer oppressive powers but giving up his life! That his crucifixion was his enthronement!! And that his followers would then lead humanity in "ruling and reigning" by serving and giving their lives in other-centered life-giving love for each other and for humanity and for God!!!

What happened to us???

[whencyclopedia]

Sermon on the Mount

The Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew (chapters 5, 6, and 7) became a foundational element of the religion of Christianity. The sermon is based on the traditions of Judaism and the Law of Moses, but with added interpretations of the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Matthew placed it at the beginning of Jesus' ministry, and its themes continued throughout the gospel.

Sermon on the Mount

Carl Bloch (Public Domain)

Background & Setting for Matthew

Like the other gospels, there are no internal dates in Matthew. The 2nd-century Church Fathers placed Matthew as the first gospel in the New Testament, but we know that Mark was the earliest, c. 70 CE or beyond. Matthew (c. 85 CE) and Luke (c. 95 CE) contained almost verbatim stories from Mark, so the consensus is that they had a written copy of Mark. The sermon is not in the Gospel of Mark. Scholars have concluded that Matthew and Luke had additional sources for Jesus beyond Mark, known as the "Q" source. It has not survived independently but was named "Q" for the German Quelle ("source") because German Bible scholars were the first to categorize these additional teachings. Luke had a similar version, in his Sermon on the Plain.

The provenance for Matthew is understood to be Galilee. This is derived from several factors, one of which is that the gospel ends with the resurrected Jesus telling the disciples to go to Galilee and meet him there. He then appeared and commissioned them "to make disciples of all nations", the Gentiles (Matthew 28:19).

When the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple complex in 70 CE, some Jews, which may have included some Pharisees, survived by escaping the city and establishing formalized schools for the study of their scriptures now that the sacrifices in the Temple cult were no longer possible. Some of these schools were located in Galilee and centered in the synagogues. This became the beginning of what is known as Rabbinic Judaism over the next centuries.

Throughout Matthew's gospel, the vitriol against the Jews increased. His Jesus consistently taught against doing things the way the Jews do it in their synagogues. We have an image that Christians may have literally moved out of the synagogues and established their own version, which became the early churches.

Christians claimed that Jesus was the messiah predicted by the prophets in the final days. God would then establish his kingdom on earth. But as the decades passed, the kingdom was not manifest. Early Christianity rationalized this with the concept of parousia, or second appearance. Resurrected and exalted to heaven, at a future time, Jesus would return and fulfill everything the prophets had predicted. The overall purpose of the sermon was twofold:

to state that Christians have the correct understanding of the Laws of Moses as opposed to the Jews

to teach believers how to live in the interim while awaiting the return of Jesus.

Continue reading...

[hymnsofheresy]

Recentering Christ in Christmas

(original post on my Instagram)

"Keep Christ in Christmas" is often lauded by reactionaries in their crusade in the so-called culture war. There is a fear amongst them that Jesus Christ can somehow be removed from the very essence of Christmas. And that the only way to "protect" Jesus is for the mainstream culture to be blatantly Christian and the corporate world to sell us a specifically religious Christmas.

Christians should not be concerned with such worldly matters. Capitalism and its systemic nature of greed, consumption, and waste should not be the center of our Christmas.

We should have no desire to align Jesus Christ with the worldly powers of capital. Rather, this is an encouragement for centering religious practice and embodiment.

It has become profoundly clear that more people are becoming disillusioned by capitalism. There has been a long critique of the festive consumerism that has been a part of Christmas for hundreds of years... and has only gotten more extreme in the past century. So consider this an invitation into the spiritual root of Christmas.

Let us talk about the birth of Jesus Christ. More specifically, recognizing the Christ that is all around us.

Christmas is not a story without suffering. Christmas is a story surrounded by darkness and despair.

The world Jesus was born into was far from ideal, both historically and mythologically. Christ was born from an unwed mother who was forcibly displaced along with her fiancé. The people of this land were living under the Roman occupation and were coerced into obeying the laws of this empire.

After being born, Christ was placed into a lowly manger, since the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph were only able to take shelter along with the animals.

This is where God chose to be born.

Throughout the Gospel, Jesus identifies Himself as literally being the poor, the foreigner, the infirm, the prisoner, and the hungry. It is clear why Christ was born in that manger in destitution, and not amongst the wealthy who were happily aligned with the state.

The Logos (the pre-existent Jesus Christ) was intentional in where They would manifest themselves in this world.

When upon approaching the liturgical calendar, it is important to note that Advent and then Christmas mark the cycle of rebirth of Jesus Christ. For Christ is not born just once, but again and again perpetually.

This Advent and Christmas, I encourage you to look around you and seek out the Christ child (He is closer, and more relevant, than you might expect). Meditate on the True Peace that comes from Liberation and allow that Peace to be your guide. And find time to rest in the Hope of God's promise to us: we belong to Love.

[sage-is-in-fact-very-tired]

uh. nothing is neurotypical about this post <3

[Word Count, for everyone's reference because we all know my habits - 1,526]

The framing of Icarus’ shots. The framing of all of the shots but we're starting at the beginning and *mmmm* the framing of Icarus’. Them being front and center, the light being purple, their wings being out and *big*, their desk being behind them, *their scars.* The way you can *see* Icarus’ lightning scars but it is so much harder to notice with all of their things (makes sense why no one really noticed them.) Just the entire way they act during their segments. *mmmm*

Icarus having the lines about having friends on the other side makes me go bonkers - because they *do.* the whole bit is at the end of Fable, they had Midas on their side - they had *the person in the Worldport*, the person *on the other side*, on *their* side.

Midas having “I find delight in the gruesome and grim” like. Something about how despite the fact they're decaying and their realm is falling apart and their family is dead - they can still find time to mess with Icarus and fuck around and have *hope* that Icarus will make the right choice and. *mmmm.*

Cedar having the line about putting a spell on [someone] makes me giggle - potion lad makes potions and *literally* puts spells and things on people. (Also Cedar's freckles??? I love them??? I hold them so gently??? They look so pretty in this shot, I love this so much-)

Caine having the “be prepared” line is so. Mans fights *so much* and does so many things that involve fighting - it almost feels like a taunt? you know, telling their opponent to be prepared for [the future] or something. (This does immediately follow Icarus saying how he can read [someones] future.)

Sherwood has the line about “trusting [them]” they're a pirate lad and they cause *trouble* and well, if you've just arrived somewhere or you're trying to convince someone - only makes sense you'd ask them to trust you.

Ripley has the poor unfortunate souls line and rah rah rah - they are a ghost and they're silly and I love them and. They are a soul <3

Helix's part is wonderful - because like. something about just how the game of among us works and how you *should be* scared and worried and on your toes - also importer Helix <3

Ajax Ajax Ajax Ajax - look at them and their silly area and *mmmm.* Their *introduction* being “beware take care he rides alone” hurts me personally because that's what Ajax has always intended to do; ride alone. They planned not to make attachments - but they still *did.* And then the lines they speak being "this vampire bat, this inhuman beast, he ought to be locked up and never released" is so. Something about hurting people over and over and over again throughout the events and something about becoming someone everyone fears and wants dead and something about the *box,* and the needing to be inside during storms, and being *trapped* underground for a whole season.

Oh Ripley. “He swears to the longest day he's dead.” Yeah cause they are. Blorbo is dead. They are g h o s t. ghost guy. They're dead. They died. Of course they'd swear they're dead-

Ashril ashril ashril - not being normal about any of ashril's parts. “The world was such a wholesome place until..” guys guys we know ashril *did something* and it was a mistake and they had to run and *mmmmm.* It was good, they were living, they had a family and a life, *until they did **that*** and then they didn't anymore and.

Sherbert's “He had a plan to shake things up, and that's the gospel truth” This line is really ambiguous, but the thing that most immediately comes to mind is Sherbert's letter they write to Icarus, and leave in the stream room. Trying to stop Ic and get them back on the right path. (Also can i just say Sherbert looks so pretty in this shot??? Like they look pretty in all the shots really but the outside shots *especially*)

Reo having the lines about hellfire and their being fire in them - fighting boy goes and does fighting things and is okay with it and likes doing it and. Something about adrenaline or something.

Rina. oh the lyrics on Rina's part. "Yes it is he, but not as you know him. Read my lips, and come to grips with reality” while their eye is bleeding *and* while they're gesturing at the computer - which, might I add, has Icarus on it (doing the other parts of the song), and while they are wearing the same hoodie as Reo. Something about how once their eye started bleeding they had to come to terms with the idea that oh shit, all of this is *real* - This thing that *I made* is so very real. And, I guess if you really wanted to look at the first part of that - the idea that the first time their eye was bleeding was because Icarus was there. “Him” being Icarus, but obviously he wasn't in their body, he was in Rina's and. Yeah. Very normal about this part. (Also the way its framed???? Guys it's such a pretty shot??? And the way they spin the goggles???? Biting it nothing on it eating it whole /pos)

Icarus having the lines about changing, and how they're doing it??? Sobbing. Something about how Icarus is always changing and always going through something and it's never been completely *them* and-

Krit krit - they're just a little lad <3 They have the crab from Moana's part and I hold that so gently. I don't have thoughts about Krit's part they're just happy and they are crab and them <333 guys I love krit so much I cry about them so often /pos

Cedar has love is an open door and I. They are in love with the herb lady. They love Azalea. They have a *very big* crush on her - and they also have no rizz - I love them for that <3

Guys it's Ashril again. Guys it's ashril again and I'm trying so hard to be normal but oh my gosh Ashril having the line “But they guzzle up the things you prize” is so. Guys Ashril is running from something and it's not pretty and they've been *hurt* before (gestures at the scar that I think so much about often)

Icarixis having “I hope you're satisfied” guys *Icarixis having I hope you're satisfied.* Because this is what they've worked for for months and years - to be able to fix everything and to be able to make it all work out in the end and. *mmmm* “But if you ain't, don't blame me.” Something about how they'd blame Midas - the Quixis before them, or something.

Okay three people have the “Don't forget it” line - in order being Sherbert, Ripley, Ashril. Something about how all three of them have something they so desperately want to remember. Sherbert in a time where they could die freely and weren't confined to a world. Ripley of a time when they were alive. And Ashril of, well, their brother.

And then Helix gets the “You'll regret it” because imposter and murder and Among Us things - they're simply just a guy /pos

the next few lines are all them commenting on the land and things - which feel pretty self explanatory. I will say oh my gosh the Reo cosplay gives me so much gender envy and for what. Sherbert you look so ahhhhh /pos

Caine having “As a specimen yes I'm intimidating” because of course they do - they're a fighter boy who got strength but also they have Asshole Rizz[™] hence the specimen comment, or something. Caine is simply silly goofy-

Sherbert's part Sherbert's part *Sherbert's part* - “You got what you wanted - but you lost what you had!” Cen refer to both Icarus and Sherbert; but Sherbert *specifically* for the moment. Just - they got want they wanted, Sherb. Their world was back to normal and no longer decaying and sure they had to fix the wack but it's not longer spreading - but also they can't immediately go back to what they had. They can't go back to the infinite dying - they lost that. They may have gotten what they wanted with Icarus, Quixis - but they still lost *so much.* And then Icarus shush-ing them??? silly guys doing silly things-

(And the Icarus idea of this line, if you see it as Sherb telling it to Ic, or whatever else you can see it as - they got what they wanted, being able to fix it all and make up for everything they did; but they lost their family and their life and *themself* in the process. They can't get it back.)

Yeah, anyway. There's you CMV thoughts - definitely just a love letter to my love of all the sherbs and sherbs cmvs and their editing and *everything.* I love this cmv so much and I have very many thoughts and oh my gosh a couple of those frames my artist brain *really* wants to draw because they're so pretty-

Sherbert if you're reading this, you're really cool <3

[mybeingthere]

SISTER GERTRUDE MORGAN, 1900 - 1980, born in Alabama, USA.

“I guess my paintings spread the word; they represent something. They get me a living, of course, and help out the mission here … I am a missionary of Christ before I’m an artist. Give all the fame to some other artist. I work for the Lord. Now don’t forget to give Him credit.”

A street preacher who became an artist, poet, and musician, Sister Gertrude Morgan was guided throughout her life by visions from God. Her artistic talent was a conduit to express her religious fervor and illustrate her teachings. Self-taught, Morgan created artworks when the Spirit moved her, using found materials such as cardboard, window shades, wood, signs, and more. Her imaginative compositions often incorporated text to emphasize important themes or to cite Scripture verses. Later in her career after 1970, Morgan devoted the majority of her paintings to biblical scenes from the Book of Revelation, which focuses on the second coming of Christ. Her recurring imagery depicts the Book of Revelation’s theme of the New Jerusalem, which represents the Holy City for Christ’s followers and the fulfillment of all God’s promises. Morgan’s interpretations of this abstract, spiritual concept often include a large multistory building shown in cross section to reveal empty chambers and Christ preparing for His marriage to Sister Gertrude, as shown in New Jerusalem Court and Untitled (New Jerusalem). “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.”

Born on April 7, 1900, to a poor rural family in LaFayette, Morgan moved to New Orleans in 1939 to begin her missionary work as a singing street preacher and soon joined the Holiness and Sanctified denomination, a church where the services praised God through music and dancing. In the early 1940s, Morgan adopted the title “Sister” when she worked with two other street missionaries, Mother Margaret Parker and Sister Cora Williams. The three women built a chapel and opened a children’s shelter; the center closed down when it was destroyed by a hurricane in 1965. Morgan then moved to St. Bernard Parish where she became a nurse to a woman whose house later became Morgan’s Everlasting Gospel Mission.

– Vicki Phung Smith

https://www.juxtapoz.com/.../outsider-artist-gertrude.../

https://www.bridgeprojects.com/art.../sister-gertrude-morgan

[dnalt-d2]

I wasn't able to watch Quackity's stream just now but from what I'm getting, it's a really unfortunate development

Basically that Quackity is stepping away from the QSMP for a bit and leaving the Administration of it to other people due to fear for his personal safety, and this next part might be slightly unrelated, but it's something I've been kinda wanting to say for a bit, and this gives me a good chance to do it

I remember a lot of people wondering why Admins had to stay anonymous to the public and this sort of thing is why. If experienced streamers, who are used to dealing with this sort of thing, are going through this, imagine what could have happened to the Admins if people found out who they were

Like imagine we knew exactly who was behind the Code attacks that killed Bobby, Tallulah, or Dapper. You really think people wouldn't have dog-piled on them because they killed their favorite Egg?? Imagine people knew who Leo or Sunny's admins were during all their "drama." People were already crossing boundaries before they knew who the admins were, and I don't think it would have gone well if that information were out in the open at the time

To me, it didn't seem like a good idea to throw people who were inexperienced with this into the spotlight like that. And THIS is why. People are still dog-piling on anyone they think is the problem, and that isn't okay. Quackity just talked about how scared he was for his actual personal safety, and that's not okay. People get the smallest scrap of information and latch onto it like it's gospel, and things like this happen. It's why I haven't even made a post about some recent developments, because I know a lot of what's being spread is speculation, and I don't like to spread around things I don't have concrete information on. Maybe if CERTAIN things were more open, this all wouldn't have been as big a problem, but the fact that this is the end result kinda makes their privacy more understandable

Because this is the kind of thing it leads to. Everyone demands every bit of information, pressuring people to the point that they just want to do SOMETHING to get people off their backs even a little bit. As far as I know, Lea DID NOT mean to leak that kind of information, but she was being bombarded for information, and just tried to provide some evidence for what she was saying, and probably didn't realize that it could lead to this (That's if the information I have on that is correct, that she basically leaked a payment document that had Quackity's full legal name, and that's how people managed to track down his information. If this isn't correct, please let me know, I haven't seen enough information on it to verify 100%)

(And I wanna say that this isn't me excusing the fact that the Admins couldn't talk to each other or the CCs when it was relevant to the server. That sort of thing is a textbook manipulation tactic from bosses who want to take advantage of their workers and using the lack of information as a weapon to that end)

I said before that I NEVER expected concrete updates about everything, just hoped for acknowledgements that things were still happening at all. Because the fact that streamers are in the public eye doesn't mean everything they do needs to be public knowledge. People online love to criticize paparazzi for constantly bombarding celebrities and invading their personal lives, but this is starting to feel startlingly similar, and I don't like that. Yes, the people involved should have that information, but we should not

I really hope people manage to stay safe through all this, including Quackity and each and every Admin/Ex-Admin that's been at the center of this. There are some things going around them that I don't agree with, but that doesn't mean I wish harm on them for it. That's the magical thing about the internet. You can just not interact with people you don't agree with, and I really wish some people would remember that. Especially over on Twitter. Because Holy Shit

Anyways, that's about all I have for now, probably won't be too active for a bit still because of IRL stuff, but I'm still here. Watching

WATCHING YOU ALL

**Okay Edit I didn't know this but

I actually didn't know Leo's admin was public at the time, but considering that, I guess it's not too widespread. So while it seemed to be alright, it could've gone a lot worse if that Admin was more well-known. Or if Sunny's was known at all. Either way, thanks for the clarification!!

[momentsbeforemass]

Anyway

One of the greatest obstacles to peace is perspective.

Not just worrying about all that we have to deal with. Or making our problems bigger than they really are. But thinking that life is some sort of competition.

Trying to make sure that we get ahead of other people. Or thinking that we have to do things so that other people will think well of us.

When, at bottom, none of that matters.

The real standard for our lives, the only opinion about us that matters in the end?

It all comes down to God. And our relationship with Him.

It’s the truth behind the advice Jesus gives in today’s Gospel. And the point of the poem that Mother Teresa had painted on the wall of her home for children in Calcutta:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

Today’s Readings

[coulson-is-an-avenger]

KILL THE WHALE (LYRICS AND COMMENTARY)

HELLO! Over the past couple of months I have been making it a personal project to transcribe and annotate the lyrics for Daniel Emond's musical adaptation of Moby Dick, called "Kill The Whale".

For those unfamiliar with this album/adaptation, here is the official description of it right from Emond's website:

Kill the Whale is a concept album and live rock opera, built in the characters and waters of Melville's Moby Dick. When Ishmael, a young rocker with an unknown past falls in love with the hiphop harpooner Q, they join Peek-Wow, the Whaleship/Orchestra led by steel-eyed frontwoman Ahab, who sets her crew upon a course to kill the gigantic sperm whale that maimed her, a plan opposed by Ahab's first mate (and secret admirer), the devout and soulful Starbuck. Contending with face-melting squalls and mad mates, the hymnic wonder of whales nursing in the heart of the Ocean, and the poignant Gospel of the castaway cabin kid Pip, Peek-Wow embarks on a rock and roll quest for vengeance. Kill The Whale is memory manifested as a 1970's folk/hiphop/rock opera, that centers two queer romances, lifts voices of color, and re-casts authority roles as women.

The album was released on Spotify in April of this year, with two live performances at Joe's Pub taking place only a few days after it's release.

I have archived and noted the lyrics as they appear in the studio album, the live variation, and Daniel's "official" lyrics as posted to his personal Reddit, and the differences therein. I and my good Melville scholar friend and partner @pocketsizedquasar-2 have also left extensive commentary, notes of context, and criticisms of this album in the document. Please enjoy the fruit of much labor and insanity :)

[gone2soon-rip]

HARRY BELAFONTE (1927- Died April 25th 2023,at 96.Congestive Heart failure). American singer, activist, and actor. As arguably the most successful Caribbean-American pop star, he popularized Jamaican mento folk songs which was marketed as Trinbagonian Calypso musical style with an international audience in the 1950s. His breakthrough album Calypso (1956) was the first million-selling LP by a single artist.Belafonte was best known for his recordings of "The Banana Boat Song", with its signature "Day-O" lyric, "Jump in the Line", and "Jamaica Farewell". He recorded and performed in many genres, including blues, folk, gospel, show tunes, and American standards. He also starred in several films, including Carmen Jones (1954), Island in the Sun (1957), and Odds Against Tomorrow (1959). Belafonte won three Grammy Awards (including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award), an Emmy Award,and a Tony Award. In 1989, he received the Kennedy Center Honors. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1994. In 2014, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy's 6th Annual Governors Awards and in 2022 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Early Influence category and was the oldest living person to have received the honour.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Belafonte

[wowe-ed]

[ Are you trembling with fear and excitement? ]

× Armand / Daniel Molloy

× Priest! Daniel Molloy

× 9.5K words

× Explicit

× Complete ✓

××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××

It's halfway through the second reading when he realizes few members of the audience are listening. What's the point in attending mass? Does it provide their short lives of meaning, if there's one at all?

How much till this ends?

Did I leave the gate open? Mom is going to kill me!

Tommy has been avoiding me lately.

Beautiful eyes. Are they orange…? No, it must be the candlelight.

The voice of a man. Armand's eyes roam around the church to find the owner of that thought. Where is he? The farmer next to him? No. The young man holding the Bible open? It's not him either. The priest is about to begin the reading of the gospel and Armand's eyes fall to the center of the altar.

Yes, they're actually orange. Absolutely stunning.

The priest is looking directly at him.