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little-chattes · 3 years ago

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Ok so I’ve done a complete re-read through and one thing that kept nagging at me was how little Gideon and Harrow’s relationship makes sense given its quite frankly abusive origins. Harrow spends her whole life making Gideon’s a living hell and Gideon just… forgives her. Total and complete forgiveness for an irredeemable girl.

At first I took the sudden shift in their relationship as lazy writing to rush along the end of the story, but that didn't make any sense either. Muir strikes me as an intensely purposeful writer. Then I remembered that Muir is also an intensely Catholic writer and it hit me. Muir isn’t writing a story about a healthy human relationship, oh no, she’s writing a story about Christ’s relationship with The Church… if Christ was a sword toting butch lesbian and The Church was a sardonic bone witch. Call it tender blasphemy.

Now Gideon’s role as a Christ figure is fairly easy to parse out given that her dad is… God. But for the sake of self indulgence (I have to put my 15 year long flirtation with Christianity to use somehow) I’m going to go through all the parallels anyway. There are a LOT of them.

Let’s start at the very beginning (a very good place to start).

Miraculous Conception

Luke 1:34-38

34 But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I [e]am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the [f]holy Child will be called the Son of God.

Gideon is conceived by artificial means when one of God’s own servants (Mercy) delivers a sample of John’s genetic material to Wake, a ‘normal’ human woman who chooses to carry Gideon in her womb. Notably, the sample lives far beyond its point of expected viability, thus making the conception somewhat miraculous (“Only the sample was still active, no idea how considering it was twelve weeks after the fact” HTN 441).

The Cuckold

Matthew 1:18-25

18 Now the birth of Jesus the [a]Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been [b]betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to [c]send her away secretly.

Gideon the First decides not to kill his lover, Wake, and releases her out the airlock (AND HE TOOK PITY ON ME! HE TOOK PITY ON ME! HE SAW ME AND HE TOOK PITY ON ME” from Harrow’s vision of Wake’s note, HTN 124) just as Joseph took pity on Mary, his betrothed, by deciding to divorce her quietly instead of making her infidelity public which would condemn her to death by public stoning (Deuteronomy 22:21). Gideon the First knew that Wake was pregnant and didn’t tell John because he thought the baby was his. Similarly, Joseph goes on to raise Jesus as his own son.

The Birth

Luke 2:7

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a [f]manger, because there was no [g]room for them in the inn.

Neither baby Jesus nor baby Gideon were given a proper cradle, one being laid to rest in a manger where the animals ate and the other stuffed in a transplant bio-container (GTN 23).

The Dead Children

16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

King Herod intends to kill the prophesied King of the Jews and instead of finding the specific baby, he just has a bunch of them slaughtered. However, Jesus escapes the slaughter of the innocents by Herod when his parents secret him away to Egypt.

When the great aunts gas the nursery and kill the 200, Gideon is meant to die along with them but escapes her fate.

Now this event has a completely different biblical connotation for Harrow.

Firstly, the murder of the 200 children represents Original Sin. In the bible, Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, and as their descendants, all of humankind is doomed to also bear the weight of that sin from the moment we are born until the day we die. This is a fact that is drilled into Christians as soon as we’re able to understand it, we are born wretched and unworthy sinners, and there’s nothing we can do ourselves to fix that.

“I have tried to dismantle you, Gideon Nav! The Ninth House poisoned you, we trod you underfoot—I took you to this killing field as my slave—you refuse to die, and you pity me! Strike me down. You’ve won. I’ve lived my whole wretched life at your mercy, yours alone, and God knows I deserve to die at your hand. You are my only friend. I am undone without you.”

Harrow is a multitude, she is 200 children, the entire future of her house. Shes not just one human being,, she’s the whole damn church.

Naz/Nav

he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Although Gideon is not from the Ninth, she is given the Ninth name Nav when she arrives as a baby. Similarly, Jesus is known as Jesus of Nazareth, though that is not where he was born.

The Poor Bondservant

Jesus' role as a servant is emphasized many times in the bible. He was a carpenter's son born in a stable

Philippians 2:5-8

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Gideon is described as being made “a very small bondswoman” (GTN 24)

The Sword

Matthew 10:34

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

The Wretched Sinner

Harrow is wretched, self loathing, and cruel.

She is in thrall of the enemy of god, a figure who was once gods most favoured warrior, cast into hell.

She is like the depiction of the sinner who loves the devil

It's important to note that Harrow isn’t a single person, she is a multitude, the entire future of her people condensed into one body.

The Enemy of God

20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, nholding in his hand the key to othe bottomless pit1 and a great chain. 2 And he seized pthe dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and qbound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into othe pit, and shut it and rsealed it over him, so that she might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

Before the fall, Satan was described as a “guardian cherub” who resided in the garden with God (Ezekiel 28:14)

(a funny aside, in the bible the devil is known as the great deceiver but in HTN Muir specifies that Alecto is incapable of lying)

A Life of Abuse

Isaiah 53:3

"He was despised and rejected by mankind,

a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.

Like one from whom people hide their faces

he was despised, and we held him in low esteem”

They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff" (Luke 4:28–29).

Gideon lives a life of mockery and is abused by Harrow.

An Unlikely Savior

Despite the fact that Gideon does not fit the expected image of a Cavalier, Harrow chooses Gideon to be her sword and protector.

Despite the many openings Gideon has to make Harrow pay for the pain she caused her, she remains loyal to her

Trust

Harrow realizes that she cannot face the lyctor trials without Gideon, and places her trust in her

Christians are told they must place their trust in jesus in order to reach salvation

Purifying Water

Acts 2:38

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Harrow confesses her sins to Gideon and puts herself at her mercy

Gideon forgives Harrow totally and completely, she baptises her

One Flesh

Mark 10:8

and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh.

“The imagery and symbolism of marriage is applied to Christ and the body of believers known as the church. The church is comprised of those who have trusted in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and have received eternal life. Christ, the Bridegroom, has sacrificially and lovingly chosen the church to be His bride” (x)

Ephesians 5:25-26

25 gHusbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and hgave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by ithe washing of water jwith the word,

They take the vow of necro and cav, one flesh one end

Gideon’s forgiveness of Harrow is reaffirmed

Harrow risks her life to stay and fight with Gideon, even if it means her death and thus the destruction of her death. Her love for Gideon is now greater than her love for the Body.

The Sacrifice

John 19:34

Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

They will look on the one they have pierced'" (John 19:36–37).

Gideon chooses to die for Harrow, death by piercing

and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

In order to complete the lyctor process, Harrow both physically and spiritually consumes Gideon

Because of Gideon’s sacrifice, Harrow attains eternal life at the right hand of god

The Tomb

The Resurrection

1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus

Harrow turns her body into a tomb for Gideon, a tomb fashioned after that on the Ninth

Resurrection on the Third Day

Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:46-47

“So many months had passed: and yet, at the same time, she had only lost Gideon Nav three days ago. It was the morning of the third day in a universe without her cavalier: it was the morning of the third day—and all the back of her brain could say, in exquisite agonies of amazement, was: She is dead. I will never see her again.” (HTN 374)

Just in case you missed this important piece of information, Muir repeats it three times.

Go, and tell them, then, that he that was dead is alive, and lives for evermore, and has the keys of death and the grave,"

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noramoya · 5 years ago

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#ThrillerLiveCloses #ApprovedByMJon2009

“Right now our world has been turned upside down, with a pandemic that is changing our way of life. It is affecting us all, financially, emotionally and socially. For me it has resulted in THRILLER LIVE closing prematurely (and permanently) in the West End, as all theatres around the country have been shut, in the public’s best interest. Myself and the rest of the team totally understand and respect that we must all practice social distancing, working together to beat this virus. But yesterday was a very sad day as I joined the cast, crew and other creatives at the Lyric Theatre for one last time. We wanted to come together to say goodbye to each other at the theatre that had become our home for the past 11-years. Ironically we were just two more performances away from becoming the 11th longest ever running show in the West End. Still to be 12th, and the longest ever running show at the Lyric Theatre is an incredible achievement. Another thing the coronavirus has shown us is that we never know what is around the corner and we shouldn’t take what we have for granted. Through hard times, we get to see what matters most and what we really need to value.

One of our cast members said that leaving the Lyric Theatre was like losing a loving partner. And that is partly true, in that sometimes you don’t appreciate what you have until it is gone. But I am sure that each and every one of the Thriller Live cast and crew will go on to great new ventures, just as previous associates have. It’s been an INCREDIBLE journey which has formed great friendships, partnerships and even relationships with babies to boot! For me it seems that things have gone full circle. For it was 30 years ago today (20th March 1990) when I first met the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, and he inspired me to see a world of endless possibilities. He showed me humility, kindness and a laughter like I’d never heard before.

We were at Record One Studios where he was free and at his creative best, producing the ‘Dangerous’ album. Watching a genius at work, who since the age of 5 had been perfecting his craft to become the world’s greatest ever entertainer was a true privilege. And then came an invitation to lunch at Neverland. That was the most memorable weekend ever. I’d never seen a landscape and home so beautiful. A place where Michael could dream peacefully, and one could lose themselves in magical abandonment. Which I did playing on the arcades, riding on the funfair and watching movies in the theatre. Just before I left, as I walked out the oak door, Michael said come back anytime. And I did, at least once a year - return to Neverland, as did many lucky fans, and various charitable organisations that Michael opened his doors for, because he loved to give, help and see others happy. That was the Michael Jackson I knew - a humble, innocent soul, who also happened to be one of the greatest artists of all time. There are many, many other stories that I have shared over the years, and fans and friends will know. Each one of them still as colourful in my mind now as it was when I first lived them. I thank Michael for those memories, and even though he is gone, it has never felt like a goodbye.

From all of us at “Thriller Live”, we want to Thank everyone who came to see the Show in the West End. We are Grateful that we could keep Michael’s Legacy and Music alive through the production and cá look forward to continuing touring the world in years to come. Now here follows a long, long list of thanks to just a few of the many people who made the show possible in the West End. There has been literally hundreds of people involved on and off the stage, so apologies that I can’t list everyone, but each of you are just as important in making this show a special part of West End history ! Producers Paul Walden & Derek Nicol, Mark Strange – General Manager, Ginette Sinnott – Head of Marketing, and everyone else at Flying Music (past and present) – thank you for believing in the show and all you have done to make it a worldwide success.

•Gary Lloyd our amazing Director & Choreographer. I could write a book about his character and talent, so please go read his own ! John Maher our meticulous Musical Director extraordinaire. • Every single band member past and present including Damien Cooper, Oliver Latka, Ryan Alex Farmery, Adam Kovacs and Mike Bradley - the greatest compliment you can pay these guys, is that some audience members still ask if the show is ‘live’. Yes! Applause when screen goes back and our musicians are revealed ! • Yasmin Yazdi, Jo Dyce, Rose Wild and Aisling Duffy – our fierce Resident Directors and Assistant Choreographers whom over the years have put hundreds of cast members through their paces. • Sharon Speirs and Caroline Stroud, our two long running and outstanding Company Managers over the past 11-years. And thank you to others who stepped in. • Nigel Catmur – Lighting Designer, Chris Whybrow – Sound Designer, Jonathan Park – Set Designer, Rob Jones and Catherine Teatum – Costume Designers – thank you for making this show look and sound so great ! • Our hard-working crew – Dawn Harvey, Paul Bond, Glenn Jenkins, Sophie Kemp, Kelvin White, Bill Dimeo, Matthew Giles, Alice Johson, Sara Markwick, Gemma Tucker, Melissa Cooke, Karli Can Heerden, Inca Jaackson, Rosie Woods and Jo Conlon – thank you for being there every day and making the show possible. • Not forgetting dozens of former crew members from Becky Potts and Jessica Plews to Craig and Kate Garratt and many, many more. • A big shout out to Haydon Eshun and John Moabi, our longest running West End cast members. These two guys are stage legends, whose performances did Michael proud every single night. • Respect to Kevin Wilson PR for keeping our name up in lights and doing it always with the utmost enthusiasm. • Thank you to Debbie O'Brien Casting – the talent we have seen over the years has been incredible including Zoe Birkett, Hayley Evetts, Maria Lawson, Samantha Johnson Carter, Cleopatra Madonna, Britt Quentin, Alex Buchanan, Jerome Singer, Trenyce Cobbins, David Jordan, MiG Ayesa and so many more outstanding vocalists ! • We have also been blessed with hundreds of amazing dancers since 2006 and through to the end of this West End run. They, with the singers and musicians are the life blood of the show, which relies, not on massive production, but pure heart and soul to deliver the energy, authenticity and chemistry that was part of Michael Jackson. • Thank you Nica Burns at Nimax for giving us a home for 11-years, and all the staff at the Lyric Theatre for looking after us, and over 2 million audience members throughout the years. • Massive appreciation to Kerys Nathan, our original Director & Choreographer from 2006-2008. You’ll always be a part of the show. • Thank you to every single cast member from the original West End cast featuring Ben Forster, Roger Wright, Denise Pearson, Ricko Baird, Kieran Alleyne, Layton Williams (OFFICIAL), Sterling Williams, Lewis Davies, Kamilah Beckles, Christabelle Field, Elliot James, Earl Perkins, Emily Rumbles, Dannielle Rothman, Sean Williams, Ashton Russell, Ross Sands and Jordan Darrell, to our last with – Wayne Anthony-Cole, Vivienne Ekwulugo, David Julien, Miles Anthony, Florivaldo Mossi, Lauren Gore, Filippo Coffano, Leslie Garcia Brown, Deavion Brown, David Devyne, Mitchell Eley, Ike Fallon, Eliza Hart, Gabriela Hernandez, Amelia-Annie Layng, Arnold Mabhena, Rishard-Kyro Nelson, Oskarina O'Sullivan , Shola B Riley, Triple Calz, Cannon Hay, Isaiah Mason, Ishaan Raithatha and Messiah Unusudimi. • To everyone on our suspended touring production, and all those before which has seen us visit over 34 different countries, thank you, thank you and thank you again. We will see each other hopefully soon as we continue this journey. Until then stay safe, and don't eat too many pies, there is only one costume budget. •Apologies too many not named above, some whom I greatly admire and some whom I am proud to now call friends, you are all in my thoughts.

Lastly, and most importantly – thank you to MICHAEL JACKSON ! “THRILLER LIVE” is your Music, your Artistry and your Magic ! Thank you for your Inspiration , Love and Humanity . 🙏🏼

Dreams do come true — Adrian Grant .

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weekendwarriorblog · 5 years ago

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The Weekend Warrior February 21, 2020 – CALL OF THE WILD, BRAHMS: THE BOY II, THE IMPRACTICAL JOKERS MOVIE, EMMA and more!

After overestimating Birds of Prey… I mean, Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey… it looks like I underestimated Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog… I mean Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik… with Sonic. It truly spanked my lowball prediction in the mid-$40 millions, but I wasn’t alone there at least. Hey, it’s a fun movie and my positive review wasn’t off-base with the critical world at large, so there’s that, too. (Apparently, I liked both Downhill and Fantasy Island more than most people, including CinemaScore voters who gave the movies a “D” and “C-“ respectively… ouch!)

This is likely to be another down week as neither of the two new movies are particularly strong, which gives me a chance to focus instead on this week’s FEATURED MOVIES! And we have four of ‘em this week, no less!

That’s right. I think it’s time I go back to my previous desire to use this column to focus on smaller movies that you may have missed since very few of the bigger outlets bother to cover them, and there’s a few worth pointing out this week. I’m gonna start with the two foreign films, because hopefully, you’ve listened to Bong Joon-ho and his translator and are not as fearful of subtitles…

First up, opening on Wednesday at New York’s Film Forumis Jan Komasa’s CORPUS CHRISTI (Film Movement), Poland’s selection for the Oscar International Feature category, which was actually nominated for an Oscar in the category in which everyone already knew Parasite was always gonna win! It’s a shame, cause this is a really amazing film with Bartosz Bielenia playing Daniel, a troubled youth just out of juvenile hall who steals the trappings and identity of the youth prison’s pastor and is therefore mistaken as an actual priest when he arrives at a small community village that has suffered a tragic loss. It’s an amazing film about faith and forgiveness and redemption, and how the script came to Komasa from screenwriter Mateusz Pacewic is an equally amazing story. Seriously, if you get a chance, definitely check this powerful drama out, since it’s another fantastic film from a country that has continually been delivering the goods in terms of original storytelling.

I was just going to do three featured movies this week, but a really good German thriller is finally hitting the States, opening at the Quad in New York Friday then in L.A. on March 13 before a nationwide rollout. Michael Bully Herbig’s incredibly suspenseful German thriller BALLOON (Distrib Films USA) is about two families from the GDR (aka East Germany) who try to cross over into West Germany in 1979 using a hot air balloon, over a decade before the fall of the Berlin Wall. Based on the actual events, their story previously was adapted into the Disney movie Night Crossing (which oddly, isn’t on Disney+ yet-- I checked, but it’s on Amazon Prime if you wanna compare the two movies). The movie doesn’t spend nearly as much time in the balloon as something like The Aeronauts, as the family’s first attempt fails miserably, so much of the film involves them working towards a second attempt, while trying not to be caught.

Balloon is a pretty heavy film (irony?), sometimes a little overwrought with drama but it keeps you on the edge of your seat as it cuts between the families trying to figure out their escape plan and the authorities trying to put together the clues to find these defectors. There’s a particularly amusing man in charge of the investigation, played by the always-amazing Thomas Kretschmann (The Pianist), who is constantly berating his men, something that helps lighten the otherwise heavy tone that permeates the film. This is another fairly low-key foreign film that’s worth seeking out.

Another movie people should make an effort to seek out is Rashaad Ernesto Green’s PREMATURE (IFC Films), an amazing film that follows the relationship between two young people in Harlem over the course of a summer. We first meet Zora Howard’s Ayanna as she’s hanging with her friends kibitzing about boys, as they begin their last summer before Ayanna heads to college. Shortly after, she meets Josh Boone’s Isaiah, and the two hit it off. The rest of the film follows the ups and downs of their relationship including incredibly intimate moments that lead up to Ayanna getting pregnant.

I won’t go through the plot play-by-play style, because it’s interesting to discover the twist and turns in their relationship in a similar way as we do our own relationships. Needless to say Green has a pretty amazing partner and lead in Howard, who co-wrote the screenplay, which is probably why it feels so authentic and real. Sure, there are a few scenes between Howard and Boone, both fantastic actors, that feel a bit too showy dramatically but otherwise, it’s a fantastic second feature from Green who has mainly been directing TV since his earlier film Gun Hill Road. I’ll definitely be very curious to see what Green and Howard get up to next either alone or working together.

Opening in New York and L.A. this Friday but in theaters nationwide on March 6 is the latest incarnation of Jane Austen’s novel EMMA. (Focus Features), this time starring the wonderful Anya Taylor-Joy (from The VVitchand Split/Glass) as the title character, Emma Woodhouse, a 28-year-old matchmaker who prides herself on the relationships she’s put together even while unable to find her own mate. The film follows as the latter starts coming in the way of the former as she infiltrates herself into things as an “expert on love” who can’t find it herself.

Maybe it’s not surprising that I haven’t read much of Austen’s work and have missed this one altogether, never having seen any of the other iterations, but it’s a fairly wild and witty ride. Much of that is due to the amazing and wonderful cast around the young actor, the most surprising behind Mia Goth, who is in fact three years older than Taylor-Joy, but plays the younger wide-eyed Harriet who looks up to Emma and elicits her advice. Emma basically steers Harriet from the farmer she likes to Josh O’Connor’s Mr. Elton, the wealthy local vicar who is more than a little bit of a dark. This leads to a bit of a revolving door of who is interested in whom, etc especially when Emma’s nemesis Jane Fairfax (Amber Anderson) returns to Hartfield.

Some of the other men in the mix are Johnny Flynn’s dashing George Knightley – the brother-in-law to Emma’s sister – and Callum Turner’s wealthy Frank Churchill, whose attentions lead to more misunderstandings. Both were great but I was more impressed with O’Connor who transforms into a completely other person when Emma spurns his affections and seems like a different person from the way first-time features director (and photographer) Autumn de Wilde shoots him. Of course, Bill Nighy is as great as always as Emma’s father, always feeling a slight draft, but even more impressive is the wonderfully hilarious Miranda Hart (from Spy) as Miss Bates, a woman who gabs at length about how wonderful Jane Fairfax is, much to Emma’s annoyance. As much as Emma. is Anya Taylor-Joy’s show, it’s the ensemble cast around her that makes the movie so infinitely enjoyable, getting better as it goes along.

This is a very good first feature from de Wilde, who has directed quite a number of music videos for Beck, and Emma. seems very different from the movies we normally get from video directors, much of that to do with Austen’s source material and the cast. Either way, how things develop over the course of the film makes it more enjoyable as it goes along. (Although I have never read the book, the film seems fairly faithful to the book’s Wikipedia page, so Austen fans should enjoy it, too.)

I guess we can now get to the wide and semi-wide releases and the rest of the movies – merging my two columns into one means you get more 5,000-word columns, you lucky ducks!

The higher-profile of the two new wide releases is probably CALL OF THE WILD (20thCentury Studios), a PG adaptation of Jack London’s classic novel starring Harrison Ford and the most adorable CG dog (i.e. not real, so back off PETA!) you’ve ever met named Buck! Sure, dog lovers might say, “Why would we want to watch a movie with a CG dog when clearly, a movie with actors in green suits turned into dogs using CG would suffice?” But no, it’s actually a very heavily CG movie directed by Chris Sanders, who directed Lilo & Sitch, the first How to Train Your Dragon and The Croods before giving a go at live action. (Sanders also provided quite a few voices in earlier animated films like Disney’s Mulan and Tarzan.)

A film that already was well into production when Disney bought Fox (now 20thCentury Studios), Call of the Wild also stars Omar Sy (returning for next year’s “Jurassic World” finale), Karen Gillan, Dan Stevens, Bradley Whitford but the real star of the movie is the dog Buck, which is performed by the immensely talented Terry Notary, who you’ll know for his work on the “Apes” movies with Andy Serkis, Kong: Skull Island and some of the characters in the last couple “Avengers” movies.

Of course, opening the weekend after Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog, which has turned out to be a bigger hit than anyone imagined, certainly won’t help The Call of the Wild.

In many ways, this reminds me of the 2002 Disney movie Snow Dogs, which opened with $17.8 million over the 4-day MLK weekend. The combination of Ford (who appears in very few movies) and the adorable dog antics might be enough for the movie to make $15 to 17 million this weekend, maybe a little more, although it only has two weeks to do business before Disney’s next Pixar movie, Onward, takes over, not giving it much time to make bank.

Mini-Review: It’s pretty evident that this exceedingly faithful take on Jack London’s book will not be for everyone. While I personally was mixed, I expect this to be one of the rare positive reviews just ‘cause. Surprisingly, it’s also the most “Disneyfied” movie that could possibly come from the newly-renamed 21stCentury Studios as it’s a movie clearly made for kids and animal lovers even if never the ‘twain shall meet, in some cases.

The story follows a large St. Bernard named Buck (portrayed by Terry Notary – but we’ll get back to that), who begins his life as the spoiled and pampered pet of a wealthy judge in California but is sold to a man who trains Buck with his club sending the dog on a wild journey across the Yukon as part of a dog sled for a pair of Canadian postal workers (played by Omar Sy and Cara Gee from “The Expanse”). Eventually, he’s paired with an alcoholic frontiersman (Harrison Ford) and he finds true love, as the two of them go off looking (and finding) gold.

Some might be surprised that director Chris Sanders (who has an extensive animation background) decided to go for straight-up CG when depicting the animals and some of the environments in Call of the Wild. In fact, it feels almost necessary to make Buck as expressive as he needs to be to carry this film, and that’s where Terry Notary (Andy Serkis’ partner-in-performance-capture from the “Apes” movies) and the CG team comes in handy. Buck is already lovable but being able to make him so expressive doesn’t hurt, and the scenes where he’s interacting with other animals are pretty amazing.

We do have to discuss the negatives, and one of them is the episodic nature of Buck’s story that means that Harrison Ford, other than the narration and a brief appearance, doesn’t play a large part in Buck’s story until about the 45-minute mark. I didn’t think much of the performances by Sy and Gee or Dan Steven and Karen Gillan as the spoiled rich people who buy Buck to drive their dog sled off to find gold. Buck’s experiences as part of the first dog sled is far more positive even though it’s rigorous and it puts him at odd with the dog pack leader. The problem is that most of the human actors don’t come close to delivering what Notary does as Buck, the exception being Ford, but it’s still one of those odd CG-live action amalgations that doesn’t always work.

If you’re fond of Jack London’s Arctic adventures (as I generally am), Call of the Wild offers as much good as it does bad, but it’s worthwhile more for the amazing vistas and terrific use of CG (and Terry Notary’s performance as Buck) than anything else.

Rating: 6.5/10

I won’t have a chance to see the horror sequel BRAHMS: THE BOY II (STXfilms), but I never got around to seeing the first movie either, although this one, starring Katie Holmes, does look kind of fun. 2020 has not been a great year for horror so far with almost a new horror every weekend and few doing particularly well – The Grudge tops the heap with just $21 million and that opened almost two months ago!

I really don’t have a lot to say about this other than the fact that the original The Boy(not to be confused with The Boy, The Boy or The Boy, which are also movies about a different “Boy”), also directed by William Brent Bell, opened in January 2016 to $10.8 million on its way to $35.8 million domestic but it also opened at a time when there were no strong horror films in theaters. Some could argue that there are still no strong horror films in theaters, especially since so many of them quickly lost theaters after bombing. Still, there have been a lot this year already and the most recent one, Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island underperformed this past weekend, so why would anyone want more?

STXfilms’ marketing has been solid even as this moved from its December release to now, but I still think it will be tough for this to make more than $10 million this weekend and probably will end up closer to $8 million or less.

Opening in limited release but also sure to be exciting to the fans of the TruTV hidden camera prank show is IMPRACTICAL JOKERS: THE MOVIE, which brings the hilarious Tenderloins comedy troop – Q, Murr, Sal and Joe -- to the big screen as they go off on a cross-country adventure to attend a party in Florida, playing their usual prank-filled games to see which three get to attend. At this writing, I have no idea how many theaters it’s opening – I’m assuming 150 to 200 maybe? – so no idea how it might do although there are already some sold out showings in my general area (NYC) where the guys are from.

Mini-Review: It feels like there need to be two reviews for this movie – one for those who already know and love the show and find the Tenderloins hysterical (this includes me) —and then one for everyone else. The former can probably skip the next paragraph.

The Tenderloins are a group of four Staten Island friends (names above) whose antics led to a successful TruTV hidden camera show where they pull pranks and challenge each other to say and do whatever they’re told. The show has run eight seasons, and it’s made the Tenderloins such big stars they regularly sell out enormous venues (like Radio City Music Hall) to perform live for their fans. Considering the success Johnny Knoxville’s “Jackass” show has had in movie theaters where it can take advantage of an R-rating, there’s little reason why the “Impractical Jokers” shouldn’t be able to do the same. (For some context, I watched this movie with a theater full of the group’s friends, crew as well as Q’s firehouse buddies, in other words, 75% of Staten Island.)

The movie, directed by Chris Henchy, long time McKay and Ferrell collaborator – the film is presented by their “Funny or Die” brand –opens with one of a number of scripted/staged scenes to frame the road trip the Tenderloins to attend a party in Miami being held by Paula Abdul. Since they only have three passes, they need to compete in their usual challenges to determine who misses out.

If you are a fan of the show, I’m not going to spoil any of the challenges or pranks they plan on each other, but they generally get better and funnier as the movie goes along, to the point that when it returns to the “story” and the scripted stuff, the movie does falter a little. Although the Tenderloins aren’t the greatest actors, they are great improvisers and you can tell when they’re coming up with lines by the seat of their pants.

The majority of the movie is basically what we see on the show without all of the commercial breaks cutting in just as things start to get outrageous, and as someone who watches more of the show than I probably should admit, I find it hard to believe no one watching the movie will at least get one good snicker out of the movie. There are a few recurring gags throughout the movie as well as a follow-up to a memorable punishment from an earlier season. (Like with the show, you’re likely to feel bad for Murr and Sal, the nicer half of the group who always get the most abuse because of it.)

If you’re already a fan of the Impractical Jokers, you’ll probably like the movie, but if not, you might not get it and there’s just no real use trying. In other words, not a great intro to the “Impractical Jokers” but a fine bit of fun for the already-converted.

Rating: 6.5/10

This week’s Top 10 should look something like this…

1. Sonic the Hedgehog (Paramount) - $29 million -50% (up $1.5 million)**

2. Call of the Wild (20th Century) - $17 million N/A (up .3 million)** 3. Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey (Warner Bros) - $9 million -48%

4. Brahms: The Boy II (STXfilms) - $7 million N/A (down .6 million)**

5. Bad Boys for Life (Sony) - $6 million -48% (down .1 million)**

6. The Photograph (Universal) – $5.5 million -55% (down .6 million)**

7. Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island (Sony) - $5.3 million -57%

8. 1917 (Universal) - $5 million -38%

9. Parasite (NEON) - $3.6 million -35%

10. Jumanji: The Next Level (Sony) - $3.3 million -42%

-- The Impractical Jokers Movie (TruTV) - $1.8 million*

-- Las Pildoras de mi Novio (Pantelion/Lionsgate) - $1.3 million*

* These last two projections are made without much info on either movie, including theater counts for the former.

**A few minor tweaks as we go into weekends with actual theater counts, although this weekend will still mostly be about Sonic the Hedgehog. I still don’t have any theater counts for Impractical Jokers on Thursday night so I guess we’ll just have to see if the theaters playing it report to Rentrak and it gets some sort of placement, presumably outside the top 10, on Sunday.

LIMITED RELEASES

There are lots of other new limited releases this weekend beyond the ones I mentioned above.

On Wednesday night, Fathom Events is releasing Masaaki Yuasa’s new movie RIDE YOUR WAVE (GKIDS) across the nation for one night only in some places, although it will get a limited release on Friday at New York’s Village East and maybe other places, as well. If you’ve seen any of Yuasa’s other films like 2017’s The Night is Short, Walk on Girl or Lu Over the Wall or Mind Game, then you can probably expect this to be another wild ride, except this time it’s on a surfboard. It follows the story of a surfer and a firefighter who fall in love. You can learn more about how to get tickets here.

Like Portrait of a Lady on Fire last week, Una director Benedict Andrews’ SEBERG (Amazon) received a one-week release in 2019 but it’s getting a legit limited release this Friday. It stars Kristen Stewart as French New Wave icon Jean Seberg who came to the States in the late ‘60s and began a relationship with civil rights leader Hakim Jamal (Anthony Mackie), putting her in the sights of the FBI who were hoping to use her to bust the Black Panthers. The film also stars Jack O’Connell, Margaret Qualley, Vince Vaughn, and Stephen Root, and it’s a pretty solid historical drama, although I haven’t seen it so long I’m not sure I can say much more about that.

I was never a huge fan of Bob Dylan or the Band but I found Daniel Roher’s doc ONCE WERE BROTHERS: ROBBIE ROBERTSON AND THE BAND (Magnolia) (about the latter) to be quite compelling as the story is told by various people who were there, including the film’s exec. producer Martin Scorsese who directed the band’s legendary concert film The Last Waltz. This is also produced by Ron Howard and Brian SGrazer of Imagine, so you know it’s gonna be a quality music doc, and it certainly is, although I’m not sure it will be of that much interest to people who aren’t already fans of The Band.

Opening in roughly 350 theaters this weekend is LAS PILDORAS DE MI NOVIO (Pantelion), translated as “My Boyfriend’s Meds,” a comedy about a woman (Sandra Echeverria) who falls for a mattress store owner who suffers from multiple personality disorder and when they go on vacation… he forgets to bring along his meds! Humor abounds. As usual, this won’t screen in advance for critics.

Tye Sheridan stars with Knives Out’s Ana De Armas in Michael Cristofer’s thriller The Night Clerk (Saban Films), Sheridan plays a hotel clerk with Asperger’s Syndrome who witnesses a murder in one of the rooms but ends up as the main suspect by the lead detective, played by John Leguizamo. The film also stars Helen Hunt and it will be released in select theaters (including New York’s Cinema Village), on demand and digitally this Friday. Just couldn’t into this one, having at least one good friend with Asperger’s, due to the way Sheridan played this often-debilitating disease. (Think Rain Man without the talent of Dustin Hoffman.)

Opening exclusively at theMetrographFriday with an expansion on March 3 is Portugese filmmaker Bruno de Almeida’s Cabaret Maxime (Giant Pictures), starring Michael Imperioli as Bennie Gaza, the owner and manager of the title nightclub specializing in a mix of burlesque, striptease, music and comedy. Bennie is fairly old-fashioned so when a modern day (translation: trashy and demeaning to women) strip club opens across the way, Bennie finds himself pressure to make changes to stay in line as he starts getting pressure from his mobster financer to change. I was kinda mixed on this movie, which delivers another typically great performance from Imperioli but the way it cuts between various acts and disparate scenes that do very little to move the story forward (including the far-more-interesting subplot about Bennie’s wife Stella, a performer suffering from depression, as played by the amazing Ana Padrão). I think one of the reasons I just couldn’t get into the movie is cause a friend of mine attempted a similar film based out of a nightclub and the film never got much traction. De Almeida should have paid more attention developing the storytelling than showing off his talented musical singing/dancing friends.

A second Portugese filmmaker, Pedro Costa, also releases a new film this week. Vitalina Varela (Grasshopper Film) will open at New York’s Film at Lincoln Center on Friday. The title of the film is also the name of the non-actor who returns from Costa’s Horse Moneyto play a woman from Cape Verdean who comes to Fontainhas for her estranged husband’s funeral and sets up a new life there.

Also opening at the Quad Friday is the latest from the Dardenne Brothers, Young Ahmed (Kino Lorber) about a 13-year-old (Idir ben Addi) who has come under the grips of radical jihadism in his Belgian town, putting him at odds with various factions. When he carries out an act of violence, he ends up in a juvenile detention facility. The Dardennes won the Best Director award at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, where their films have been honored with the Palme d’Or twice. I’ve never been much of a fan but what do I know?

Opening at the IFC Center Wednesday is Nicolas Champeaux, Gilles Porte’s documentary The State Against Mandela and the Others, which is built around recently recovered audio recordings of the 1963-4 Rivona trial in which Nelson Mandela and eight others faced death sentences for challenging Apartheid. The film mixes animation showing the trails with contemporary interviews with the survivors including Winnie Mandela, about their fight against the country’s corrupt system.

Another doc I know little about is Andrew Goldberg’s Viral: Antisemitism in Four Mutations, which will open at the Village East Friday but it includes the likes of Julianna Margulies, Tony Blair and Bill Clinton as anti-semitism rears its ugly head over 70 years after the end of World War II and the Holocaust.

Also opening at Cinema Village is Matt Ratner’s Standing Up, Falling Down (Shout! Studios) starring Billy Crystal and Ben Schwartz (the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog!), the latter playing a stand-up comic whose L.A. dreams have crashed and burned leaving him with little money, forcing him to return to Long Island. Once there, he pines over his ex (Eloise Mumford) and becomes friends with an eccentric dermatologist (Crystal) as they help each other deal with their respective failures.

Playing at the Roxy for a one-week run starting Friday is Sam De Jong’s Goldie (Film Movement), starring actress/model Slick Woods as the title character, a teenager in a family shelter pursuing her dreams of being a dancer while trying to keep her sisters together. This premiered at the Tribeca Film Festivallast year.

Oscilloscope (the distributor that brought you the cat doc Kedi) is doing something called “Cat Video Fest 2020,” which will take place at the Alamo in Brooklyn (although the Saturday screening is sold out there) and the Village East Cinema. This screening of pre-selected cat videos is also taking place at other cities throughout the country, and you can find out where right here.

REPERTORY

METROGRAPH (NYC):

This Friday, the Metrograph will debut its newest series “Climate Crisis Parabels,” a series of varied future shock films, this weekend with Robert Bresson’s The Devil, Probably (1977), Steven Spielberg’s 2001 film A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke (1999) (hosted by Naomi Klein Sunday afternoon, but also playing as part of the Playtime Family Matinees”) and Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner: The Final Cu ton Sunday night. “To Hong Kong with Love” also continues with screenings of Stanley Kwan’s Rouge (1987) and the 2016 film Raise the Umbrellas. The ongoing Welcome To Metrograph: Redux also continues with HarunFarocki’sdocumentary Before Your Eyes: Vietnam (1981). This week’s Late Nites at Metrograph is another Japanese thriller, Hiroshi Teshigahara’s 1966 thriller The Face of Another, and the Metrograph’s Japanese love continues as Playtime: Family Matinees will also show Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke from 1999.

ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE BROOKLYN (NYC)

Tonight’s “Weird Wednesday” is Ken Russell’s 1987 film Gothic, and this week’s “Kids Camp” offering is the 2006 animated Curious George with a special “pick your own price.” In preparation for the release of Emma. On Friday, the Alamo is doing a “Champagne Cinema” screening of the 2005 Pride and Prejudice, starring Keira Knightley, which unfortunately, is sold out already. (Waugh Waugh) Monday’s “Out of Tune” is the Prince film Under the Cherry Moon from 1986, which is also sold out. (Hey, Jeremy Wein, why don’t you tell me these things are going on sale so I can go!?!) Next week’s “Terror Tuesday” is the horror classic Candyman (1992), which is ALSO almost sold out and then we’re back to “Weird Wednesday” with next week’s offering, 1985’s soft-core actioneer Gwendoline.

If you’re one of those poor souls living in L.A., you can also go to see Don Coscarelli’s 2002 film Bubba Ho-Tep, starring Bruce Campbell, on Wednesday night or the 1986 Little Shop of Horrors on Thursday at the grand, new(ish) Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Downtown Los Angeles. Saturday afternoon is a matinee of Steven Soderbergh’s Out of Sight (1998), starring George Clooney and J-Lo and Saturday night, you can see Cassavetes’ Minnie and Moskowitz (1971), starring Seymour Cassel and Gena Rowlands. Monday night is Juliet Bashore’s 1986 Kamikaze Hearts, which looked into the X-rated SF underground of the ‘80s. The West Coast “Terror Tuesday” is Francis Ford Coppola’s 1992 film Bram Stoker’s Dracula, starring Keanu Reeves, Gary Oldman and Winona Rider!

THE NEW BEVERLY (L.A.):

Wednesday’s afternoon matinee is the classical musical The Sound of Music (1965) and then Weds and Thurs night’s double feature is Robert Redford’sThe Hot Rock (1972) and Cops and Robber (1973). Friday’s matinee is the late Tony Scott’s The Hunger (1983) and then the Tarantino-pennedTrue Romance (1993, also directed by Scott), will play Friday midnight and Saturday’s midnight movie is the 1967 film Carmen, Baby. This weekend’s Kiddee Mattine is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005). Monday’s matinee is Terrence Malick’s Badlands (1973) and the Monday night double feature is A Man for All Seasons(1966) and The Mission (1986). Tuesday’s Grindhouse double feature is 1980’s Super Fuzz and 1977’s Death Promise, both in 35mm, of course.

EGYPTIAN THEATRE (LA):

Weds’ “Black Voices” movie is William Greaves’ 1968 film Symbiopsychotaxiplasm, and then on Friday night in the Spielberg Theater, you can see the 1913 film Traffic in Souls with live music as well as a couple shorts. The Japanese horror film Kwaidan(1965) will play in the normal theater. On Saturday, the Egyptian is presenting “Leigh Whannell’s Thrill-A-thon” a series of four films that helped to inspire Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man, which comes out next week with some great options worth seeing, including 1987’s Fatal Attraction, David Fincher’s 2014 film Gone Girl, Rob Reiner’s Stephen King adaptation Misery(1990) and the classic Aussie thriller Dead Calm(1989) starring Nicole Kidman … all for just 15 bucks!

AERO (LA):

The AERO’s “Black Voices” film for Weds. is the great Stir Crazy, starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor, and then on Thursday afternoon, you can see Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 classicDr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb for $8 (free to Cinemateque members!) New restoration of the Russian film Come and See (also opening at the Film Forum in New York) will play on Saturday evening as part of the “Antiwar Cinema” series. Sunday’s double feature in that series is Kubrick’s Paths of Glory (1957) and the Russian film The Ascent (1977). Tuesday’s “Black Voices” matinee is Julie Dash’s Daughters of the Dust (1991) and then Greg Proops will screen the 1996 film Ridicule as part of his Film Club podcast which precedes the film.

MOMA (NYC):

Modern Matinees: Jack Lemmon continues through the end of the month with Mister Roberts (1955) on Weds., Billly Wilder’s Avanti (1972) and the classic (and one of my all-time faves) Some Like it Hot (1959) on Friday. This weekend also sees movies in the continuing “Theater of Operations” series, which will include Kathryn Bigelow’s Oscar-winning The Hurt Locker (2009) on Saturday afternoon and a bunch of docs including Werner Herzog’s 1992 film Lessons of Darkness on Sunday. Weds also kicks off “Television Movies: Big Pictures on the Small Screen” – pretty self-explanatory, I think – with 1953’s The Trip to Bountiful and 1955’s Tosca on Weds. and Sunday, 1967’s Present Laughter Thursday and Tuesday and more. (Click on the link for full schedule!) Following Film Forum’s focus on black actresses (for February, Black History Month, get it?) MOMA begins a “It’s All in Me: Black Heroines” series with All By Myself: The Eartha Kitt Story and Julie Dash’s Illusions, both from 1982, on Thursday and many more running through March 5.

ANTHOLOGY FILM ARCHIVES (NYC):

The Anthology still has a few more films in its “Devil Probably: A Century of Satanic Panic” including Eric Weston’s Evilspeak (1981) tonight in 35mm, but also David Van Taylor will be at tonight’s screening of his 1991 film Dream Deceivers. I’ve never seen either of these, by the way. Robert Eggers’ The VVitch and Alan Parker’s Angel Heart screen one more time on Thursday night, as well. This weekend also begins a new series, “Dream Dance: The Films of Ed Emshwiller” but since I have no idea who that is, I have nothing further to add. (Sorry!)

NITEHAWK CINEMA (NYC):

Williamsburgis showing David Lynch’s 1990 film Wild at Heart as part of its “Uncaged” series on Friday just after midnight and John Singleton’s Poetic Justice on Saturday morning as part of “California Love.” They’re also showing Rob Reiner’s The Princess Bride on Saturday morning for an “All-Ages Brunch Movie.”

FILM FORUM (NYC):

Elem Klimov’s 1985 Russian drama Come and See (Janus) will have a DCP restoration premiere at the Forum and Sunday afternoon will be a screening of the 1953 Mexican film El Corazon y La Espada in 3D. This weekend’s “Film Forum Jr.” is the 1953 pseudo-doc Little Fugitive. Monday night is a screening of David Rich’s Madame X (1966) introduced by actor/playwright Charles Busch.

IFC CENTER (NYC)

This weekend’s Weekend Classics: Luis Buñuel is the Mexican film The Exterminating Angel (1962), while Waverly Midnights: Hindsight is 2020s will screen Keanu Reeves’ Johnny Mnemonic and Late Night Favorites: Winter 2020is taking a surprising weekend off.

QUAD CINEMA (NYC):

Still waiting to see if Pandora and the Flying Dutchman continues through the weekend, as at this time (Monday), there is nothing repertory listed.

BAM CINEMATEK(NYC):

Horace Jenkins’ Cane River continues through Friday. Saturday night’s “Beyond the Canon” is a double feature of Ida Lupino’s The Hitch-Hiker(1953) and Malick’s Badlands (1973).

MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE (NYC):

This weekend’s “See It Big! Outer Space” offerings include1974’s Space is the Placeon Friday and 1924’s Aelita, Queen of Mars and the 1980 Flash Gordonscreening on Saturday and Sunday. As usual, 2001: A Space Odysseywill screen on Saturday afternoon as part of the ongoing exhibition.

ROXY CINEMA(NYC)

Weds’ Nicolas Cage movie is Martin Scorsese’s Bringing Out the Dead (1999) and then Thursday is a 35mm screening of Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2012)!

LANDMARK THEATRES NUART (LA):

Friday’s midnight movie is Who Killed Roger Rabbit (1988).

STREAMING AND CABLE

Let’s see what’s going on in the world of streaming this week, shall we?

Netflix is debuting Dee (Mudbound) Rees’ new movie THE LAST THING HE WANTED on the streaming service Friday, even though apparently, it opened in select cities last week, including New York’s Paris Theater, although it got such terrible reviewsout of Sundance, maybe Netflix didn’t want any more bad reviews before it begins streaming. Regardless, it stars Anne Hathaway, Willem Dafoe, Ben Affleck and Rosie Perez, and it’s based on Joan Didion’s novel about a D.C. journalist named Elena (Hathaway) who abandons her work on the 1984 campaign trail to run an errand for her father (Dafoe). I guess I’ll watch it when it’s on Netflix just like everyone else but my expectations have been suitably lowered.

The Jordan Peele-produced series “Hunters,” starring Al Pacino, which is about a group of Nazi hunters will hit Amazon Prime this Friday as well, and a new season of the popular series“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” will debut on Friday on Disney+, adding to the amazing amount of content already available on that network.

Next week, Saw and Insidious co-creator Leigh Whannell revamps The Invisible Man for Universal with Elisabeth Moss, and there’s also (supposedly) a movie call The Ride, which I know nothing about. You can guess which movie I’ll be focusing on.

By the way, if you read this week’s column and have read this far down, feel free to drop me some thoughts at Edward dot Douglas at Gmail dot Com or send me a note on Twitter. I love hearing from readers!

#TheCallOfTheWIld BrahmsTheBoy Premature Emma Balloon CorpusChristi Movies Reviews Repertory Streaming TheWeekendWarrior

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blueoswin · 6 years ago

Text

Let’s make him jealous!

Summary: Eliott went back to Lucille. However Lucas can't forget him. For now he just has to try to get over him, even if the boys want to push them back together. They all come up with an awesome plan ( their words) in order to do so. Well Emma does : making Eliott jealous. How ? By hiting on Lucas obnoxiously. Too much for his taste. And for Eliott's as well. Or : Eliott is sad raccoon pining from afar. Lucas is grumpy, Emma is a snake and the boys are elu stans #1.

Chapter 2

Saying Eliott is looking forward to the end of this week would be a big understatement. He can't stop thinking about Lucas, every waking hour of his day and since he hasn't been able to sleep more than a couple of hours each night lately, let's say he's been thinking way too much about the other boy. Perhaps that's why his friends think he's been more distant the previous days, or the dark circles under his eyes gave his nightime activities away, go figure. He wants so badly to get up from the bench he's sitting on to go talk to Lucas, tell him every thoughts weighing his heart down that it physically hurts. If he's lucky, maybe Lucas will listen.

But he can't, wouldn't even dare coming in close proximity with the boy. Partly because he's ashamed, he knows pertinently he's the only one to blame for this hell of a situation; he cowardly chose to ruin the beginning of a beautiful blossoming relationship to go back to his previous one, easy but loveless. Only for him to realise his mistake a few days later and break up with Lucille. Again. It wasn't his proudest moment. The other reason is that Lucas is never alone . Back in the days too, obviously but now everyone seems to gravitate towards him. When he isn't with the boys, he is always accompanied by a bunch of girls, overly tactile. Every touch leave a bitter taste in Eliott's mouth. Although he can't blame them, Lucas is the sun luring every planets in his orbit. It doesn't mean he has to like it though, quite the contrary in fact.

Those girls are always touching him, his arms, his shoulders, his cheeks, his thighs... Emma touched his thigh! The audacity! The worst thing though, Lucas let her do it, he even seemed to find it completely normal. Eliott didn't appreciate it. Not at all. His hand should have been on Lucas's thigh, his Lucas, his hedgehog.

Stop it Eliott, Lucas isn't your property. He chastises himself.

Although his only desire is to take the place of any of these girls as soon as he sees them swooning over Lucas. Or kill all of them one by one, slowly, to enjoy watching them squirm. Every single girls are hitting on Lucas which pisses Eliott more than he'd like to admit, mostly because Lucas enjoys the attention. He often flirts back, leaving a kiss on their cheek, throwing his arm around their shoulders, sometimes holding their hands... In short, Eliott has to find a way to talk to him before drowning in his jealousy. It's not like he hasn't tried before, he spent all his breaks the past two weeks trying to catch a glimpse of his boy in the hallways so that he could explain his actions. However he never caught sight of him, he knew Lucas has been avoiding him. He had to, it was the only logical explanation because Eliott had explored every dark corners of the school in his desperate quest, even the boiler room. Yet, no traces of Lucas. Until a little over a week ago, when suddenly Lucas was everywhere, always in good company too. Each corner Eliott turned he saw him, a girl hanging off his arm, his bright laugh echoing in the hallways. At least he seemed alright, it was the only thing Eliott cared about at this point. Well, that and maybe getting the girls away from Lucas. He's selfish he knows that.

In the cafeteria at lunch break, he can't help shamelessly devouring him with his eyes. He doesn't even try to hide it anymore, the others might as well think what they want, Eliott couldn't care less. Subtlety isn't his strong point but desperate times call for desperate measures and he is so desperate it's not even funny anymore. He would give anything to hold Lucas tight in his arms at least one last time. So Eliott indulges himself, he stares, stares and stares some more even if from where he is sitting he can only glimpse at his back with a mop of hair on top. What a beautiful back it is though, muscular but slim, topped by even more beautiful hair, the reflecting light casting specks of gold on the brown locks. God the things he would do to be able to touch his hair again, pulling it gently while they kiss, hearing Lucas moan...

His memory decides to betray him then, flashing snippets of the perfect morning they spent together after their first kiss. Coming back to the flat completely soaked, giggling like children, stopping every now and then on the way back to kiss against walls, the both of them not being able to keep their hands off each other, holding each other oh so close while kissing in Lucas's bed, their minds chanting in unison, needing to be closer closer closer, trying to melt together to be forged as a whole again, fusing beautifully never to be apart again, Eliott feeling like he was finally complete, having found the missing piece of his puzzle.

The boy is so lost in his memories it takes him a few minutes to notice someone is all over Lucas again. He should have grown accustomed to the sight by now, only it's not a girl this time but a boy. A boy Eliott vaguely recognises, Valentin something. They are so close together,so comfortable basking in each other presence, so intimate Eliott feels his heart shaterring in his chest. He can almost hear the glass cracking. Valentin has his arm around Lucas's waist,the latter resting his head on his shoulders. The perfect little couple. The couple they would have made, the one they made in a parallel universe. Yes Eliott his bitter, sue him.

“Go talk to him Eliott, instead of moping.” Hugo's voice pulls him back to reality.

He sighs, angling his body towards his friend, not wanting to see more of what was happening in front of his eyes. He's seen enough already. He rubs his eyes tiredly.

“What's the point? It looks like he's moved on. Have you seen all those people chasing after him?”

“Mmmmm, I've noticed your boy was a bit busy lately, yes. I've got eyes you know? Hugo pauses, thoughtful. Eliott can almost see the gears turning in his head. “Let me ask you something Mr.Grumpy. Do you know all those people around him?”

“Most of them yes, he introduced me once when... When everything was good between us.”

He can feel his eyes watering at the thought, the lump in his throat increases. Because he knows he can't move on, call him dramatic all you want but he knows deep down Lucas is his one and only. He'd rather stay single the rest of his life than move on from their not-quite-relationship. He brushes a tear away before it rolls down his cheek. His friends don't seem to notice though, or they just simply ignore it, too used to his emotional outburts by now.

“Don't you find the whole situation weird though? I mean, suddenly all of his friends are flirting with him, all at the same time? Don't get me wrong, your boy is attractive but sounds shady to me.”

Eliott frowns, thoughtful. Hugo's got a point.

“What do you mean?” He tilts his head to the side, inquisitive.

His friend rolls his eyes so hard he's genuinely worried they will stay stuck in his skull. The habit reminds him so much of Lucas his heart clenches a little. Everything reminds him of Lucas these days.

“Eliott I love you man but you're so dense I swear”. He sighs, shaking his head in disbelief. “Lucas hasn't moved on dummy, he's simply trying to make you jealous.”

Eliott scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest. It seems so out of character, even for someone as petty as the boy.

“No way, Lucas would never do that.”

“Never underestimate the length to which people are ready to go to when they're in love Eliott.”

Hugo looks so serious he represses a shiver under his piercing gaze. Eliott wants to believe him. His heart believes him already.

“Oh yeah it's true” Isaiah interrupts. “One of my exes once reenacted the Romeo and Juliette scene for me you know, the balcony one. Anyway I was on my balcony and he was in the street, in front of my house, waxing poetry. He was making his grand declaration of love at 3 am. It was cute” He says fondly. “And embarrassing. Hard to explain to my parents why there was a boy confessing his love for me at such an ungodly hour.”

“Why did you leave him then?” Hugo asks, genuinely curious.

Isaiah rewards him with a shrug.

“I saw him kissing another guy in a bar barely a week later.”

Ouch. Eliott winces. Someone just threw a cold glass of water in his face. The situation is too similar of the one he was currently in. He doesn't appreciate the feeling, even though he knows he deserve it. He decides it's better to stop listening for now, instead focusing back on Lucas (he's a masochist he knows) still sitting at the table, alone with Valentin .Eliott scowls. All of their friends have left, probably wanting to give the two lovebirds some time alone. Said Valentin is holding Lucas hand with care, as if it's a precious jewel, his other one stroking his thigh softly. The latter is blushing, happy by the turn of events. Eliott feels his eyes watering with each passing second. A snap of fingers in front of his eyes makes him look away.

“Why do you keep doing this to yourself? You know it's unhealthy right?”

“I know I know, I can't help myself that's all. I really hate seeing people all over him. I mean, it's great for him to have so many friends really but why do they have to be so touchy?” Eliott groans, pushing his tray away in order to rest his head in his arms, closing the world off for a moment.

“I feel you really but if this is some sorts of mind game as you claim it is Hugo, both are great actors I must say.” Isaiah replies, noticing Eliott's hunched shoulders, burying his head farther in his elbows.

“Or really close friends ” Hugo retorts.

“Let it go guys” Eliott sighs defeated,emerging from his makeshift pillow. “He's clearly over me, I need to move on too.”

He gazes down at his untouched food. Eliott isn't hungry, hasn't been for a few days. He flinches when he feels Hugo sit up straight as an arrow next to him, receiving a hard nudge in the stomach.

“Eliott look up. The door. Now”

“Wh...”

The words die on his tongue the moment he lifts his head up. He freezes, swallowing with difficulty. He's entranced by a pair of electric blue eyes he used to drown in an eternity ago. Across the cafeteria, Lucas is staring at him, hand intertwined with Valentin's, who is pulling him quite forcefully towards the exit Eliott notices. Before they vanish in the maze of hallways, Eliott stares right back, Lucas raising an eyebrow in pure smugness. His eyes are challenging him. All of his being is, in fact.

Come and get me. The boy mouthes at him, winking for emphasis, the ghost of a smile playing on his lips.

It's Eliott's only wish. After all, he's not ready to give up so easily, he will raise up to the challenge. He'll redeem himself. Eliott doesn't now how yet, but he will. He doesn't have a choice.

#elu fic #skam france #elu fanfic #lucas x eliott #lucas x eliott fanfic #lucas lallemant #eliott demaury #elu #this chapter wasn't supposed to be this long lol #i hope you enjoy it #chapter 2

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body-in-revolt · 5 years ago

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ALL OVER - ACTS OF LOVE: interview with director Marcus Azzini

text: Haroon Ali

“In All Over – Acts of Love I simply want to tell a beautiful love story.”

It’s as if the activist has awoken in theatre director Marcus Azzini (47), as we discover on the roof terrace of the International Theatre Amsterdam (ITA). Azzini made the performance Small Town Boy, based on the eponymous gay anthem (Smalltown Boy) by Bronski Beat, together with ITA especially for the Amsterdam Pride this summer. Like the famous Eighties song, the piece is about a gay boy escaping the countryside to seek happiness in the big city. ‘It’s my first performance specifically made for the LGBTI community’, Azzini confides.

‘It’s important that we keep telling these stories’, so the Brazilian-Dutch artistic director of Toneelgroep Oostpool tells us. ‘Until we’re no longer regarded as minorities. That term alone: “minorities”. We’re clearly in search of a new vocabulary for the discussions that are playing out now. Why should it be “extraordinary” that I, a homosexual man, have a 12-year-old son? Indeed, I advocate that no one should need to “come out of the closet”. Because it implies that some shame must be overcome before the real life can begin.’

After Small Town Boy, the rehearsals for All Over – Acts of Love, a unique collaboration between Arnhem based Toneelgroep Oostpool and contemporary dance platform ICK Amsterdam got underway. This performance is about two people who fall for each other – and who happen to be men. ‘In other words, another pink theme. I’m not intent on jumping onto the barricades, but after talks with choreographers Emio Greco and Pieter C. Scholten and writer Hannah van Wieringen I realized that this has to become a positive piece that, for once, does not problematize gay love. It wears me out to be regarded as “different”, just for sharing a bed with men. In All Over – Acts of Love I simply want to tell a beautiful love story.

What distinguishes this romance from other love stories?

‘Superficially these are just two men in their early thirties who live in a metropolis. Soon, however, it becomes clear that they’re living in our time in which climate change is constantly breathing down our spines. How do you live with that? How does it affect them? In other words: love in a time of climate change.’

What does the title All Over – Acts of Love stand for?

‘The first bit means to say: what if it’s all over and the world is really done for? But then it also means something like being all over each other. Acts of Love refers to love as a string of actions. Love is something you do, maybe even more than something you feel. That may also touch upon the psychology of a couple who have been together for long. What does it do to you to spend a whole life with one person; what does it do to your body to lie in bed beside the same person for fifty years? It’s something we can hardly imagine anymore. I’ve been with my man for nine years now --and I find even that something special.’

Will you be staying together for the rest of your lives?

‘The wish is there, at least. Matthijs (van Bergen, fashion designer – ed.) spent nine months in London last year. I found out then, that I sleep and recharge better if he’s in bed beside me. So, he’s a sort of power pack; my love charger. Isn’t it strange that my body needs his body that much? Not just for romantic reasons, but truly for the physical aspect of love.’

Are you someone who’s always in relationships?

‘As it happens, I’ve had several long-lasting relationships. The first one eleven years; then single for five years; now nine years at a stretch. Since I regard love as something you can do or make, it also becomes possible to create love in the theatre. If I play that I love you and you experience that as love even though you know I’m acting, then that’s love. You must keep seeing it as a play. If you are so merged together after all those years, then it’s nice to keep surprising each other and to ask yourself again and again: who do I want to be now? That merging and playing at love are the focus of this performance.’

How did you get involved in this project?

‘ICK approached me. I made the performance LIstEn & See (LIES) together with Ann van den Broek, in which we also brought together actors and dancers. I generally focus on the physical aspect of acting and I want to connect the brain and the body. So, I do understand why ICK came to me – and I immediately wanted to accept the challenge. That’s what set the ball rolling

I called in Theun Mosk, a scenographer I enjoy working with, and Hannah van Wieringen, who is writing the text. She always comes up with strong dialogues that are very up to date. She knows how to capture beautifully how real people talk, while rendering it just a bit more poetic.’

How did you put together the cast?

‘The piece follows the four seasons, performed by Ludwig Bindervoet and Kendrick Etmon. I chose them because they’re both powerful and inspiring actors who are fully engaged with the world and keep an open mind. There’s also a good chemistry between them. They’re two fiery men who project love, vulnerability and sex, even. The cast of dancers consists of Beatrice Cardone, Denis Bruno, Arad Inbar, Edward Lloyd, Isaiah Wilsson and Siva Canbazoglu, and others.’

Wouldn’t a cross-over of the two disciplines be more exciting?

‘Dance and drama are not separate for nothing, since you need to be so damn good in either discipline. So, there’s little point in drawing them out of their comfort zones. There are actors who can move well, but they will never dance at the level of ICK. And a dancer who has to speak becomes less of a dancer because he cannot focus on his specific talent. Therefore, I don’t use the term cross-over, but see it as a meeting. I want to look at what happens when actors and dancers practise their own disciplines alongside and betwixt each other. I had this wild idea, initially, to keep the actors out of sight altogether and just let them be heard, rather like an audio play. But it’s much more exciting after all to see the bodies of the actors move in between the dancers.’

So, what role does dance play in this performance?

‘I had long discussions with Emio and Pieter about the choreography. I asked them if I could use their entire body of work to create a new dance language. Like directors often use a play by Shakespeare to do with it what they want. Well, they were a little hesitant at first, because a choreography is a work of art that has been perfected to the finest detail. Once you begin to toss around with it, it doesn’t do well. When we talked about it some more, they came up with the idea of creating a choreography together with the dancers especially for me, like a gift tied in a bow. It’s up to me to decide if I use the whole choreography or just a little piece of it. It’s still a dialogue, of course. Everything comes together in the rehearsals and then I see what works best.’

Do Pieter and Emio still have an influence on the performance, or do you keep them out?

Laughing: ‘I try to ban them as much as possible. No, not that, but they won’t meddle with it much. I do have a rehearsal director overseeing the technique of the dance movements, so that each toe is placed the way it should. It will take all parties some getting used to, but Emio, Pieter and I have fortunately known each other for years, so there’s full trust between us. And we’ve put together such a good team, so it feels like a creative playground.’

Is this cross-over – sorry: meeting – of dance and drama a new trend?

‘I don’t know. Some people are wary of cross-overs, because they think that it dilutes the arts disciplines. The performing arts are continuing to innovate, but it can be confusing to the audience sometimes. That is why I tell everyone explicitly that All Over – Acts of Love is a dance performance, so as to keep things clear.’

ALL OVER – ACTS OF LOVE

DANCE AND LANGUAGE FIND EACH OTHER IN THE SEARCH FOR LOVE

In All Over – Acts of Love, a collaboration with Toneelgroep Oostpool, dancers and actors present movements of love. Hannah van Wieringen has written dialogues in which there is exploring, thinking and feeling. Emio Greco and Pieter C. Scholten have created a choreography. Theatre director Marcus Azzini has brought everything together in a space designed by Theun Mosk in which bodies and language find each other without one yielding to another. Both go to great lengths in their urge for complete abandon.

For credits and tour dates please visit

www.ickamsterdam.nl

Publicity image: Henri Verhoef Portrait Marcus Azzini: Bas de Brouwer Stage photography: Alwin Poiana

#theatre #dance #love #performance #director #Marcus Azzini #Toneelgroep Oostpool

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acousticloveruk · 6 years ago

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It Is What It Is

Storyboard

Written by: Isaiah E. January

Are You with Me

Sitting in his manor; throned with a crown on head, he is the ruler of an uninhabited kingdom. Pondering this significance, he swirls his sherry clockwise in a gemmed golden grail just before taking a sip. Now heavily influenced & daunted by thoughts of being ever-alone, he begins to question the existence of his Kingdom and if it were there or merely an unrequited dream.

Dream Girl

Laying in his royal chambers beside a fair Lady; Isaiah is resting. The ambience still, where the sunshine cast a silhouette through closed white linen curtains. Whilst slumbering he hears a smidgen of restlessness as nine soft pitters sounded on the wooden floor; she had awoken. Suddenly a warm and radiant light caresses his face as a song then breezes its way into his ear. He promptly rises and discerns the Lady pining at the sights of taking on such a beautiful day.

Don’t Go

After a whirlwind romance and night of divine passion Isaiah begins to contemplate confessions of his undying affection for Lady. She; fixated on the uncertainties of their love’s endeavors, continues an ambiguous wide-eyed stare out the open window of the royal chambers. Her heartbeat synced with each footstep he took as he made his approach and gathered the thoughts of a proposal. Just before his legs reached the frill of her gown which gently fluttered about the breeze Lady abruptly spoke of her dues to the Earth before such arrangements could be made.

Red Roses

Taken back by Lady’s words Isaiah is understanding of her disposition and excuses himself. Making his way through the courtyard onward past the rockery & into the garden he sees his Mother tending to the roses. “Give her one for your love, or perhaps a dozen if you’re keen.” Mother smiled and handed her son a red rose. “Remember the floret shields the bud; ‘til it blossoms will each petal rest beside it, hm?” Lady finishes watching from the window as she then gathers herself to journey out to what’s rumored as the city.

2 / 6

What You Need

Arriving in the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles Lady is awestricken by how the buildings put the depths of the skies into perspective. “City of Angels”, she says as she exits the downtown Union Station. She sets off to explore the city, stopping briefly to ask passerby’s directions. Suddenly she hears a melody; it’s faint yet define enough to follow. Reaching the source of the music a gentleman is center stage playing an acoustic guitar.

Traveling Man (Pt.1)

“I was sitting in my chair, without a worry without a care oh where I wasn’t really there, but I found you staring at me from across the room.” Intrigued by the words that are being soulfully spoken over a rhythmic groove Lady approaches the stage and sits at a table that seemingly was just for her. Entranced by the performance, each song resonated with her travels; depicting her journey as she began to ponder why it was she had come. She knew there had to be some connection between the two of them and so she listened whilst waiting for an opportune moment to speak to the Artist. After a spectacular encore, the unknown artist thanked the audience and slipped backstage where Lady promptly followed. "Took you long enough, if it's an autograph you're after best have a pen ready", his words echoed. The air smelled of marijuana, alcohol, and as she entered she noticed two girls fondling each other on the love-seat. Lady tensed up and immediately began to regret making such a spontaneous decision. "Are you with me or what?" He turned and noticed her expression. "I'm assuming you've never been backstage before, he smiled slyly as he approached her, "My name is Izzy."

Traveling Man (Pt.2)

Rock & roll music played in the background as Izzy extended his hand towards the young woman. "C'mon it's an American custom. Took me only a week to understand this place and it's done with a hand shake", he said with a dubiously charming grin. Reluctant Lady reached out and took Izzy's hand. It's grip decisive, warm, firm, and seemed to answer just about every question she was ready to ask. “This culture and its class is a smidgen forward wouldn’t you say?” Lady gawked over at the two women completely naked on the sofa in their own lustful purgatory of passion. “American custom.” Lady gave an intensely sharp look to Izzy. Taking a moment to breath in the ambiance of the room he understood what that look implied. “This place, it is for lucid living. Seems that the desires of the heart & mind do not coincide with one another, it’s one or the other. The girls were here when I arrived. The owner of the bar hardly gave me a day’s pay and feels as though his spirits are sufficient compensation.” Izzy reached behind his ear; swiftly pulling out a joint and sparking it as he gave it four puffs and exhaled in acquiescence. “This is my only piece of this world. I am merely a traveling man.”

3 / 6

Who’s to Say

Taken back by his words Lady stood in contemplative thought. “Not some egotistical hotshot? A traveller? You’re serious?” Lady began to pry. “You seem disappointed”, Izzy chuckled lightly. “Wrapped up in the starlight and being cheered on? Sure! It’s a great time, and is certainly an unbelievable thrill. The other half is the silence after the applause. You’ve given them pieces of you, and the quintessential essence of its construct is interpreted by each listener individually.

We’ve got to live with that. The thought that someone has consolidated about our existence.” Lady stood, awestricken. “There’s so much to say, but I find that when it comes to how I feel words only get in the way.” Izzy gazed sincerely at Lady who blinked a few times just before saying, “Who’s to say you won’t leave that all behind? Perhaps it’s not what seems fair but remember that the sun is shining through what you may consider closed blinds. Give it a moment. For what it’s worth I found your performance to had been wonderful! I had so many questions, and now as we’re standing here I don’t know exactly how to describe the feeling but I understand you. Mr. Traveling man.” She smiled politely and placed her hand on his shoulder.

It Is What It Is

Formalities have been exchanged. Izzy began to load up his gear in his vehicle. “Do you need help with your instrument?” Lady was fairly familiar with an array of musical means, and to have seen an acoustic performance live in the city of Los Angeles she became intrigued for what adventure awaited. “Yeah! Go ahead and head backstage into the venue my guitar is just to the right of the love-seat in a hard-shell casing.” She gave an assuring nod.

As the two of them who were once unacquainted drove off leaving the venue full & well understanding one another Lady mentions her travel and how her life has been strictly circumstantial.

Not keen on the idea of grand-orchestration but that there being a generator of divinity; all life and purpose belonged to it and that significance was equivalent to itself. Izzy enjoyed a good conversation. Didn’t matter what so long as whomever was speaking had pieced together their thoughts and either acquiesced with a question or left enough wiggle room for commentary. “So you’re saying your life is what it is?” Pondering the bulk of Lady’s bittersweet disposition Izzy did his best to fathom just how her journey came about. There was so much he wanted to wrap his head around wholeheartedly as to conjure up inspiration and draw from its creative depth.

4 / 6

Simplicity

“Simple is as simple does I suppose.” Izzy always had this way of ending his sentences on a philosophical note. Whether or not the individual truly grasps the wisdom or intended purpose wasn’t exactly anything he paid much nevermind to nor was it intentional. “What does that even mean? You’re always so deep with your words.” Even for Lady, who realms apart had an infinite amount of wisdom bestowed to her couldn’t quite figure out Izzy’s angle or if he even had one for that matter.

Tension and release; a childish indulgence of tug of war with no true understanding of the objective or what it meant to win is just how the relationship began to shape itself. Neither of the two wanted to make sense of what it meant, just that so long as they continued to talk the world was balanced and all was right, and to be touring about Los Angeles they both seem to agree that nothing about the city was simple.

The Depths of You

Having made idle chit-chat throughout the duration of the drive from Downtown Los Angeles Izzy has set out for more booking. Being accompanied by such a fair lady was more than ideal it was fate. At least that is what the both of them continued to believe given the charismatic chemistry between them. “I haven’t a moment to waste, and having to travel about especially now that you’re here, I must assure these performances.

Having them in the books is top priority.” Izzy let out a sighed laugh followed by a woolly smile. He knew that though his mind was dedicated to his career that his heart was yearning to beat alongside another. The more he had listened to Lady go on about where she was from and her dedication to preserving the Earth, or at least saving the men who had inherited miscellaneously meaningless task to control its population, etc. He knew she was his muse; A fathomless depth of universal truth.

Not Today

After speaking with many of venues around and about the Greater Los Angeles area the dynamic duo has spent countless hours expounding on Izzy’s performance catalogue. “Ever hear of a place called Hollywood Bowl?” A puzzled expression crossed Lady’s face. “I’ve heard what’s rumored as the city of Los Angeles and plenty tales of its rags to riches. Hollywood Bowl, it’s used as a symphony hall, right?” Izzy gave a quiet nod. “That’s where we are headed next.” A determined smile; pensive and sure of his place on such a grand stage he looked to Lady as the car whizzed about the eased traffic. Just as they arrived there was a conversation taking place at the ticket counter and from the sounds of it a fairly serious one.

5 / 6

“My orchestra is paid up upfront. This is non-negotiable! You’ve gotten us all the way out here and expect these musicians to give their pieces for your entitled bowl? They’ll live with the thought of what your audience has made of this performance. You’d be fortunate that you’re paying us and not the lot of them individually!” A stillness gripped the proximity as this gentleman had gotten the last word in, & not only was its tone resonant it was a parallel of the way he had phrased how he’d felt when the thought of a performance crossed his mind. There weren’t many people who truly understood the essence of music and how it constructs itself as composition.

Lady continued watching diligently for the slightest chance of this encounter being a confrontational matter. That and if talking to management about booking

at this time would be in Izzy’s best interest. “Perhaps another time would be best?” She gave a lean in towards Izzy as her eyes nervously had shift toward the parking lot suggesting to head back to the car. “Perhaps. .” Izzy agreed, but couldn’t bring himself to leave without an inquire as to who this gentleman is. A conductor?

Tomorrow It Gets Better

Lady’s demeanor had a subtle shift, as the unknown virtuoso and the presumed concert hall management continued their conversation in what now was a speak-easy decibel level. Izzy continued to tune into the conversation; making out just about every other word. He was certain that this well composed man was in fact the conductor of an orchestra. What orchestra was the following question that crossed his mind, and next when would the ensemble be performing. “Aren’t you the least bit intrigued by this happenstance?

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readingshenaniganss · 3 years ago

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Monday Review:

Starting Pride with a bang, I read One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston. Well, I actually read it the last day of May, but shhhh, I'm counting it.

This book was phenomenal. It was fantastic, and cute, and wonderful, and lovely, and every other word that in any language that could indicate I loved this book. It was just perfect.

The story is about August Landry as she moves to New York after transferring universities and majors. She's not sure about her roommates but it's the cheapest room available. She's not sure about her program but maybe third time's the charm. She doesn't know what she's doing at her new job and hopes she doesn't get fired in the mean time. But she does know one thing.

She has a huge crush on Subway Girl. Like, 'imagine putting Ikea furniture together' levels of crushing.

But a random photo brings August to question just who this girl is and where she comes from. Or more precisely, when.

This book was everything, and I mean everything. August and Jane have such great chemistry together that it was always fabulous to see them interact. In fact, the entire cast had great chemistry with each other and I was never waiting for the story to change which characters we saw.

August, while a little brusque for me at first, I warmed up to pretty quickly. I really appreciated seeing her growth throughout the book because it felt natural and didn't stem 100% from the lover interest. Her friends are a major part of her journey and help her open up to loving trusting others, even if she might get hurt, because they let her know that they'll be there to catch her when she falls.

Jane was great. She's charming, and dashing, and feels so alive she could jump out of the page to start a dance party in your house. But she also has such painful depths, and as we discover with her the ups and downs she's been through, we see the pain she feels knowing she's stuck in some weird time prison while everyone she knew has grown old and and moved on from the point she's trapped at. We see her go from frustrated not knowing who she is, to agonized over the knowledge that those she loved are gone, with complete lives she never got to see.

And for the rest of the cast is just-*Chefs kiss*

So I'm just going to get this out of the way, Niko owns my whole ass heart. He is great, and I love him, and he can do no wrong ever.

Below are several lines from him that live rent free in my head. To those who have read the book already, yes, they are all from the same scene and I make no apologies.

Like, I'm obsessed. There's nothing else I can say but that this non-toxic goth psychic has my heart.

Myla is also wonderful. She's just this positive force that keeps on going and reminds August that times get tough but you have to get through them anyway. I also really appreciated that August and Myla didn't have a whole melodramatic fight just for the sake of one. I had been worried about that with the trust issues August started with and Mylas' insistence upon August being her friend that there would be a blow up, but there wasn't one!!!

Wes is the quiet introverted roommate who has the social skills of a giraffe on ice. He mainly shows up to give vibes of 'why am I here?' and honestly, relatable. I really liked him here because he acts as a mirror to August. Both have issues with letting people in with their backgrounds and can sort of commiserate with each other their struggles. It gave depth to their relationship that could have been overlooked, but instead created a couple of beautiful moments as they both deal with their emotions.

And then Isaiah are just a fucking delight. Isaiah, drag name Annie Depressant, is a brilliant star every time when on page. I want to go to one of his brunches and get drunk with him. And he's so easy goin. 'Hey, we're breaking into a bar to do a séance, want to come?' Sure! 'Hey, going to help cover their asses as they do and Ocean's Eleven style heist to save Jane from her subway time capsule?' Absolutely!

There are a few more characters in the background, like Augusts' mom, her boss and her coworkers. While they don't really play a bigger part in the book, to say they do nothing to the story is just a huge oversight. Casey does a outstanding job of weaving everyone together so that, while the plot of the story doesn't necessarily revolve around their actions, leaving out the interactions leaves a hole where they were. Their relationships to August add the faintest sketch lines to create a more detail painting and in doing so creates a masterpiece.

One thing that I also really enjoyed seeing was just how young everyone was, how young they all sounded. All of the main cast felt so young, it didn't feel like an author trying to figure out how you sound in your early 20's, it was an author who knew how you sounded, and the choices to made, and the humour you have. When Wes was complaining about the trains and said 'But go off I guess' I was startled into laughter. One, cause I forgot about that meme, but two, cause it was so on the nose. It felt like something I would melodramatically deadpan to my fried group. And maybe it will be super dated in a few years because of it, but I rather think of it as preserving what 20 year olds were like in the 2020's.

I also love that everyone in the main cast is queer. It's just a much more realistic aspect of life, especially in a city like New York. Hell, I'm from a small town in the middle of Canada, and my highschool group still ended up being 75% queer, though some of us didn't realise what flavour we were until later. Seeing a group of friends whole, while not all identifying the same way, share the experience of not being heteronormative, and it shows in ways that you just innately recognize when you're a part of that group too.

I also really like how much of the queer activism of Jane's life was interwoven. While it's not the main aspect of her personality, it is an important one, and rightly so. She was a lesbian punk in the 70's, there's no way you can just ignore everything that was going on then, and this book doesn't. It talks about the history, and what it was like. How that colours your view of the world and your reactions to it.

The only thing I found to be slightly annoying was when they tried to explain the science behind Janes' time travelling. Specifically, the theory that she was hopping through several points in time. I see no evidence how they got to that conclusion, it's not like Jane is going 'yeah, today I'm in 2021 but yesterday I was in 1986.' So I didn't love seeing that, 'cause it felt like a completely illogical guess to make for the situation, and only brought in to create more drama at a later plot about her becoming more and more stuck in the present while the subway line is about the get shutdown.

But even with that irritation, I loved this book, this book was almost perfect, and if I tried to describe everything I loved about this story I'd be here forever. Instead I'll just say thatwhen I have disposable income, I'm buying a copy. For now, just going to take it out of my library on repeat. Go read it

10/10

#One Last Stop #Casey McQuiston #book reviews #readingshenanigans #reading shenanigans #pride #pride month #book blog #bookish #booklr #books & libraries #lgbtqia #pride 2022 #queer reads #i loved this book #Niko is supreme

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double-m1nd · 7 years ago

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Genesis 12:1, 3

Now the Lord had said to Abram:

I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Hebrews 11:8-9

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise

Luke 7:2-6

2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this,5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them.

Acts 10:2

[Concerning Cornelius, the first gentile to receive salvation] was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God.

John 4:22

You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.

Acts 13:47

Paul and Baranabas to the Jews

For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,

that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

Acts 8

And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”

30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 And he said, “How can I, unless some man guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.

Romans 11:1-2

I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.

Galatians 3:16

God gave the promises to Abraham and his child. And notice that the Scripture doesn't say "to his children," as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says "to his child"--and that, of course, means Anointed One- [namely Isaac. Though Abraham had other children as well] -> [Personal Note]

Psalms 2:8

Ask of me, and I will give thee the Gentiles for thy inheritance

Romans 11:17

But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree.18 But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.

Romans 3:1-2

What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the words of God.

Romans 11:15

For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead!

Isaiah 66: 18, 19 (second half), 21, 20

it shall come, that I will gather all nations (Gentiles) and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.

and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.

And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites (attached ones, onto Israel), saith the Lord.

And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord.

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A gentile's acceptable offering unto the Lord is the preaching of the gospel to the lost sheep of Israel. The Jews that have yet to accept Christ

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The best explanation of the Jew/Gentile Christian relationship is that of a husband and wife. The Jewish Christians are called to lead the church while the Gentile Christians are called to support it.

#personal #scriptures #bible #salvation #jews #gentiles #christians

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mylifewithhurley · 4 years ago

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Joy in Suffering

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself perfect you, establish you, strengthen you and settle you. 1 Peter 5:10

When I look back at my old social media posts, all I can see is how happy I used to be. I could see and remember how much joy I took in putting myself together and posing for a picture. I could see how I used to enjoy being in the company of friends and family, just eating out or shopping. It's depressing realizing that I no longer find as much pleasure in these simple things that I used to love.

HS has stolen a lot from me. I'm tearing up now just thinking about it. HS is an 'invisible disease', in which sufferers don't 'look sick' to non-sufferers. Most of the people around us will be shocked to learn we even have a disease. But really, this disease affects us daily, in more ways than we could count on our fingers, and probably in more ways than we even know.

HS has tried to steal my

My Body: This is probably the most obvious way HS attacks us. It changes our skin, making it displeasing to the eye, but even worse, it causes unbearable and excruciating pain.

My Esteem and Confidence: With open wounds and disfigured skin, it's hard to feel confident and beautiful. As a woman, loving our bodies is already a difficult task. HS makes it much harder.

My Style: In order to hide scars and wounds, I am unable to wear articles of clothing I used to love or would love to try. As an example, I do not buy or wear anything sleeveless, and definitely nothing white.

My Happiness: Depression is not an uncommon symptom of HS. It just makes me sad. Really sad. I am always on the verge of tears. One small offence, or sometimes even just a really good hug, and you'll see the water works from me. There's just so much bottled up sadness, that one small shake will cause me to explode. It's hard to explain, but also, do I really have to explain?

My Strength & Energy: Fighting disease is hard. It takes a lot out of you, mentally and physically. There are mornings that I am truly, truly, exhausted after just taking a shower and barely getting dressed - and all I want to do is crawl back into bed and get some rest. Such simple tasks can take the life out of you because your body is doing so much work just to keep you on your feet.

My Comfort: Even if I am somehow granted a few minutes free from pain, I am always uncomfortable. I always feel some sort of pressure, or irritating rubbing, or burning. This disease doesn't really let you forget that it's there.

My Relationships: It's hard to maintain relationships with someone who doesn't fully understand the extent in which your disease affects you. We're often just not in the mood, or physically just can't, and hate to have to pull out the 'I'm in pain/I'm just sad' excuse, every time. In intimate relationships, just the thought of having to show our scars to a love interest is terrifying, and may even cause us to avoid dating at all.

My Fun: It's hard to do anything fun or truly have a good time when you're in pain or extremely uncomfortable.

My Hopes & Dreams: Hopes and dreams that I once had for myself have simply just died somewhere inside of me while I have been busy trying to figure out this disease and how to manage it. Coping with or trying to cure yourself of HS becomes the number one thing in your life and you really don't have much time to dream or hope for anything else.

My Mind: As mentioned above, HS doesn't really give you a chance to forget it's there. It's on my mind all the time. It controls my decisions. It controls my schedule. It controls where I go, and what I do. I have honestly felt like I was losing my mind at times - not being able to think about anything else but the pain and frustrations that's come with such an ugly disease.

My Sleep: Of course, it's difficult to sleep while experiencing pain. Depending on the location of your flare, it could be impossible to get into a comfortable position. I've spent nights just scratching or picking at irritable skin that just won't let me get any rest. Oh, and lets not forget the nights we wake up due to completely soiled pajamas and bed sheets from a large abscess that has finally erupted - half thankful and half annoyed.

Thankfully, God has promised to return everything that was ever taken from us. He will restore. He will recompense. Not only will He return what was lost, He will multiply it. It's a truth that we must believe and put hope in. It's a truth that should give us great joy. We do not have to accept sickness. Restoration is God's will for us. You will recover. He will restore.

But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.’ Jeremiah 30:17

Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. Isaiah 61:7

When the fig tree will not blossom, there is no fruit on the vine, and the fields yield nothing, I will still rejoice. God is my strength. Habakkuk 3:17-19

Although HS may sometimes rob us of happiness, It's important that we remain joyful. Joy comes from what we know: that we have a God of restoration and that He is for us. Without joy when things are painful, uncomfortable or just plain bad, we become prideful - challenging and questioning God. If you've ever read the book of Job, you know that pride interferes with restoration. We must humble ourselves before God if we want to be restored. Let me explain:

In the book of Job, God allows Satan to test Job by inflicting a large amount of suffering. Fun fact: one infliction Job experienced was boils all over his body. Of course, the disease didn't have a name back then; it may not have even existed back then, but to relate to Job a little better, I'd

like to think he had HS. As a God-fearing man, at first, Job continues to praise God. He explains, should we accept only blessings from God and not adversity? But as his suffering continues, he begins to cry out to God in anger, demanding an explanation for his terrible suffering. He eventually becomes extremely prideful - pleading innocence, listing all the good he has done in his life, and even accusing God of doing wrong by punishing the righteous just as he punishes the sinful, and by allowing evil doers to prosper while good people suffer.

God responds to Job and effectively puts Job in his place. God is God. He is creator of everything. He decides what is wrong and what is right. He has infinite power and infinite knowledge while we are limited by the constraints of human understanding. We are in no position to question or challenge God. He does what He pleases, and it is always right. “It is impossible for God to do wrong, and for the Almighty to act unjustly” (Job 34:10). Returning to this realization, Job humbles himself before God, and repents. It is only after this that God restores Job's life by granting him twice as many possessions as he had before, more children, and long life.

Another important lesson in this book is that while Job's suffering was challenging and emotional, he never lost faith in God. Yes, he was loud and graphic and brutally honest about his frustrations and his depression. He was being real. It's okay for us to groan in pain, and cry in our devastation. God already knows how we feel, and so we don't have to hide it. While we acknowledge and express how we feel, what's important is that we stand on what we know: that our Redeemer lives (Job 19:25) and he will rescue us. Believe and rejoice! The faith that God will heal me has been crucial in preventing me from going down some dangerous and destructive life pathways. The joy of the Lord has been my strength. If you're missing this, ask God to restore this to you, first. Having joy changes everything - and when this is restored, everything else will be restored to you, also.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Psalm 51:10-12

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18

#hidradenitis #hidradenitissuppurativa #hswarrior #hswarriors #mylifewithhurley #godoverhurley #autoimmunedisease #skindisease #autoimmunecondition #autoimmune

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ochibuogwu5 · 4 years ago

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Jesus Christ Crucified is the only way to Heaven

"I will worship toward Your holy temple and praise Your name for Your loving-kindness and for Your truth and faithfulness; for *You have exalted above all else Your name and Your word and You have magnified Your word above all Your name*!"

(Psalm 138:2)

Jesus is the only way to Heaven thus "Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and life, nobody can go to God the Father except *through me*" (John 14:6)

God did not create religion rather He sent His only Son Jesus Christ Crucified as the only means of *having an eternal relationship with HIM* whether biologically dead or alive hence anybody who hears this truth about GOD and the only means of having an eternal unbroken relationship with HIM and rejects it will spend eternity *burning perpetually in hell-fire for ever and ever*

This is the decision of God and judgment of God from the beginning of the world till eternity.

God will never retrace His word/decision/will/judgment just as you can see in Psalm 138:2 posted here

and

Isaiah 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: *it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it*."

Malachi 3:6 "For *I am the LORD, I change not;* therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."

"If we are faithless [do not believe and are untrue to Him], *He remains true (faithful to His Word and His righteous character), for He cannot deny Himself(or disconnect Himself from His unchangeable characteristics)*." (2 Timothy 2:13)

God's word are settled and unchangeable for all eternity in Heaven, Earth and under-world because God is the same with His word thus "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)

Jesus as the Son of God went to hell-fire *for eternity* as the first being to serve the punishment for sin which He did not commit but other human beings via Adam committed and inherited hence anybody who does not accept that the punishment Jesus served in hell-fire for eternity is *on the behalf of his/her own inherited and actual sin* will go to hell-fire for eternity and serve the punishment for his/her own sins thus

John 3:14 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: *but he that believeth not is condemned already,* because *he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God*."

And these are Scriptures were Jesus confirmed that those who do not believe in His death on the Cross and His resurrection as their own prize of redemption from sin and hell-fire which is the eternal consequences of sin/the flesh/unbelief in the gospel...

John 3:18 "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

John 3:36 "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

Mark 9:43 "And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 9:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 9:45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 9:46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 9:48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt."

Luke 13:1 "There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Matthew 25:41 "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."

John 8:24 "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."

John 8:34 "Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

Revelation 14:9 "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."

Revelation 20:11 "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

Call on Jesus Christ Crucified in your heart/mind and mouth to save you from sin/the flesh/unbelief-in-His-gospel and you will *start enjoying eternal life (an unbroken eternal relationship with the GOD-HEAD {Father, Son and the Holy Spirit})* from this earthly existence unto the complete bliss in Heaven until He calls you home in biological death or Jesus second coming thus

John 6:47 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, *He that believeth on me hath everlasting life*."

Great Grace Brethren!!!

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firstpresfp · 5 years ago

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Blue Christmas: A Service of Hope & Healing

Traditionally held on the longest night of the year, First Presbyterian Church held its 2nd Annual Blue Christmas Service on December 10 at 12:00 Noon. Special thanks to Connie Durham for her piano accompaniment.

This service is adapted from a Blue Christmas service held at the Cathedral Church of St. Andrew.229 Queen Emma Square, Honolulu, HI 96813

Call to Worship (read responsively) One: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All: God made All things, and without God nothing came to be. What came to be through God was life, and this life was the light of the world. All: The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Welcome

Hymn 121 “O little town of Bethlehem” (Tune: St. Louis) Sung by all, standing

The First Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 (All sit)

3 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

9 What gain has the worker from his toil?

10 I have seen the business that God has given to the sons of men to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time; also he has put eternity into man’s mind, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

Psalm 22 (All read the boldface verses together) One: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, so far from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. All: In you, our ancestors trusted. They trusted and you delivered them. It was you who brought me from the womb, you who kept me safe from the moment I was born. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. One: God does not despise the affliction of the afflicted. God is near. When I cry to God, God hears me. All: Thanks be to God.

Psalm 23 (read responsively)

One: The LORD is my shepherd. I shall not want. All: He makes me lie down in green pastures. One: God leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul. All: God leads me in paths of righteousness for his Name's sake. One: Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil because the Lord is with me; All: God’s rod and staff, they comfort me. One: The Lord prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. God anoints my head with oil. My cup runs over. All: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Special Music – "Beautiful Things” Rev. Tom Martin

The Second Reading: Isaiah 40:1, 25-31

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hid from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary, his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Music Interlude “Still, Still, Still”

Litany of Remembrance

(The first candle of the Advent wreath is lighted.) Leader: We light this first candle to remember those whom we have loved and lost. We pause to remember clearly, their faces, their voices, and their presence with us. We embrace and give thanks for the memories that bind them to us in this season of expectation, when all Creation waits for the Light. All: We remember them with love. May God's eternal love surround them.

Response (singing together “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” Printed lyrics vary from traditional)

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear

Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, 0 Israel.

A period of silent reflection

(The second candle is lighted) Leader: We light this second candle to remember the pain of loss: loss of relationships, loss of trust, loss of jobs, loss of health, loss of faith, the loss of joy. We acknowledge and embrace the pain of the past, O God, and we offer it to You, asking that into our wounded hearts and open hands You will place the gift of peace, shalom. All: We remember that through You all things are possible. Refresh, restore, renew us, 0 God, and lead us into Your future.

(Singing Together)

O come thou Wisdom from on high,

who orderest all things mightily

To us the path of knowledge show,

and teach us in her ways to go

Rejoice, rejoice,

Emmanuel shall come to thee, 0 Israel.

A period of silent reflection

(The third candle is lighted) Leader: We light this third candle to remember ourselves this Christmas time. All: We pause and remember the past weeks, months, and for some of us years, that have been heavy with our burdens. We accept and lay before you, God, the sharpness of memory, the sadness and grief, the hurt and fear, the anger and pain. We accept and lay before you the ways we feel we have fallen short, and the times we have spent blaming ourselves, and you, for all that we have suffered. We accept and lay before you the time we have walked alone, in darkness; and in knowledge of our own mortality. We remember that though we have journeyed far, and that, while lost, we may have turned away from the light, the light itself has not failed. We remember that though winter be upon us and though the night be dark,As times passes the dawn will come, and dawn always defeats the darkness.

(Singing together)

O come thou day-spring, come and cheer

our spirits by thy advent here

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

and death's dark shadows put to flight

Rejoice, rejoice Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

A period of silent reflection

(The fourth candle is lighted)

One: We light this fourth candle to remember faith, the gift of light and hope that God offers to us in the stories of salvation and Christmas, which also began in abandonment, insecurity, and humbleness, in a time of war and in a poor stable. We remember that the loving God who sent the Light of the world to shine among us people and who came to share this life with us promises us comfort and peace.

All: We remember the One who shares our burdens, who shows us the way to the Light, and who journeys with us into all our tomorrows.

(Singing together)

O come desire of nations, bind

in one the hearts of all mankind

Bid then our sad, divisions cease,

and be thyself our King of Peace

Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel

shall come to thee, O Israel.

A period of silent reflection

The Prayers of the People (All stand)

One: God of wisdom, we come to you this Christmas Season tired, in turmoil, and in pain. As the nights have grown longer, so has darkness grown and wrapped itself around our hearts. In this season of long nights of winter darkness, we ask your healing blessings upon all that we carry in our hearts -- sorrow we fear may never end, wounds we cannot even put into words.

All: Lord, hear our prayer and in Your mercy, make your answers clear to us.

One: God of mercy and compassion, there are those among us who are grieving over what might have been. Death or loss or terrible hurt has changed our experience of Christmas. We remember that once it was a special day for us, too, but someone or something precious has gone away from us in this life. We have lost a beloved, a job, a goal, a cause, a dream. We find ourselves adrift and alone. We are weary from the journey, and we have found no room at the inn. We come to you seeking rest, and peace, and shelter from the storm.

All: Lord, hear our prayer and in Your merciful love, show us the Way.

One: God of grace, in the spirit of the season, grant us all that we need to comfort us as we journey through this Christmas season. We ask that you shelter and sustain all those of us, both here and throughout the world, who wander or want or weep or are heavy laden, that we may be lifted up in courage and journey on in Thy peace.

All: Lord, hear our prayer and in Your merciful love, show Yourself .

One: God of love, in this Christmas Season we embrace and offer up to you all that used to be which is now lost to us, and cannot be again. With celebration all around us, memories of what was, and fears of what may be, weigh heavy on our hearts. Please hold us close in your embrace, be near to us this night, until the light returns and morning comes.

All: Lord, hear our prayer and in Your merciful love, answer.

One: Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give Your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, comfort the afflicted and shield the joyous; all for thy love's sake. Amen.

All: Amen.

Hymn 115 “Away in a Manger” (Sung by all, standing)

Third Reading: Luke 2:1-7 (All sit)

Offering of Light

One: One story many people celebrate in this season tells how a few brave fighters, defending their temple, had only enough oil to light the sacred lamp for one day, but it burned eight days until relief arrived. Another legend tells how in a little hill town a homeless couple with tax problems took shelter in a stable among the animals and gave birth to a Light that would change the world.

Let us pray.

All: Gentle God of love, help us reach out together for the light of faith, for renewal and recovery and a new day coming. Grant that hope may come to rest in our hearts, and let it go forth with us into the darkness, this night and in the nights to come, until we truly see the dawn.

One: Lighten our darkness, we beseech you, O God; give us light in the night season; and by your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night. Amen.

Anthem “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” (Trad. Appalachian, printed lyrics vary from traditional)

Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land. I am weak, but thou art mighty; hold me with thy powerful hand. Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more, feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain whence the healing stream doth flow; Let the fiery, cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through.

Strong deliverer, Strong deliverer, be thou still my strength and shield, be thou still my strength and shield. (From Exodus 13:21)

Psalm 121 (read responsively) I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord the maker of heaven and earth! The Lord will not let your foot be moved and He who watches over you will not fall asleep. Behold - the God that keeps watch over Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep! The Lord himself watches over you. The Lord is your shade at your right hand so that the sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil. God shall keep you safe. The Lord shall watch over your comings and goings from this time forth forever more. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever will be.

Leader: Jesus said, “Come to me all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me. I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke will fit you perfectly and it will make your burdens feel light and bearable.”

The Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Prayer (All stand)

One: Let us pray.

All: Almighty God, we thank you for your constant love and for the blessings of this day. We know that even when we cannot see or feel you, still you are there. Help us to remember You and to listen for Your voice in the words of family, friends, and strangers. Kindle our hearts and awaken hope, that we may know you as you reveal yourself in the world and in our lives. Let the light of your Holy Spirit shine like these candles in the darkness, lighting the way for all who feel despairing, lost, or forgotten. Grant that it may come to dwell so deeply in our hearts that when we leave this place it may shine on us, for us and for those we meet along the way. Amen.

Hymn 122 “Silent Night, Holy Night!” (Tune: Stille nacht) (Sung by all, standing.)

Concluding Prayers (Remain standing)

Leader: Let us pray.

All: Another day will come, 0 God. I know not what it may bring forth, but make me ready, God, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, help me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of thy Peace. Amen.

One: O God, support us all the day long in this troubled life, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then Lord, in thy mercy, grant us safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen.

All: Amen!

Blessing and Dismissal

Leader: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace, both now and forever more. Amen.

One: The peace of the Lord be with you always.

People: And also with you.

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discoveringthebible · 5 years ago

Text

Looking for Hope

This morning my church during worship played the song “Cornerstone” by Hillsong United. The song has had me thinking all day about it and hope and what it actually means to live Hope out.

For those that do not know it, here are the lyrics:

V1: My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

But wholly trust in Jesus’ name.

(repeat)

Chorus: Christ alone, Cornerstone

Weak made strong in the Savior’s love

Through the storm

He is Lord

Lord of all

V2: When darkness seems to hide His face

I rest on His unchanging grace

In every high and stormy gale

My anchor holds within the veil

(Repeat Chorus 3 times)

V3: When He shall come with trumpet sound

Oh, may I then in Him be found

Dressed in His righteousness alone

Faultless to stand before the throne

Bridge: Cornerstone

Oh, yeah, in the Savior love

He is Lord

Lord of All

(Repeat Chorus)

We are living in a society that is quickly losing hope, and trying to desperately seek it wherever we can try and find it; whether that is through material things, or through relationships. But no amount of anything replaces that void people experience in their lives, because God is actually the only Being big enough to fill it.

As a Christian, I see a lot of hopelessness. I see a lot of brokenness, and this doesn’t just include those who do not profess to be a Christian, I see it in Christians too.

In North American society, especially that of the United States, there is a great focus on individualism, which has also crept into the Church. The focus has gone away from communal, to individual, meaning that a lot of people are taking the stance, “I’m a Christian. I’m going to go to heaven. I’m safe.”

Well, that actually isn’t Christianity at all, that is a perversion of Christianity. People think it’s Christian, but it actually isn’t. It’s not biblical either. There is nothing individualistic about Scripture, Old Testament or New Testament.

According to dictionary.com, hope is defined as, “to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence” it also says, “to believe, desire, or trust.”

For many people, the future is a scary place. There is not only political unrest across the world, but there are also wars happening: countries are bombing other countries. There is also a lot of religious persecution. Not just Christians are being killed for their faith either. Even in the US, people are being killed for their religious beliefs, or their perception of people’s religious beliefs.

In the state of California, the Attorney General’s office actually does an annual report of hate crimes that occurred during a calendar year. (This is police reported data, this does not include matters that were not reported.) According to the report, in 2018, there were 201 separate events regarding religious hate crimes against individuals or groups. Of that, 126 of those crimes were committed against Jews. 10 against Catholics. 1 against Protestants. And 28 against Muslims. There were also 30 attacks of religious hate against other religions (that are not Christian or Islamic).

While we have come a long way from the first century, where Christianity began, Christians still face a great deal of persecution, especially that of other places around the world. According to Open Doors, in 2018, 4,305 Christians were murdered for their faith. 11 die on average every day.

Some ask, “So then, what do we have to be hopeful for? We’re gonna eventually die anyway, so we might as well do what we want.” (Or use the slang term, “YOLO!”)

However, there is so much more to living a life than just the material things around us. We are not only human bodies, but we also have souls and our souls continue, even after we die.

Isaiah 38:18 says, “For the dead cannot praise you [God]; they cannot raise their voices in praise. Those who go down to the grave can no longer hope in your faithfulness.”

Isaiah 51:5-6 says, “My [God’s] mercy and justice are coming soon. My salvation is on the way. My strong arm will bring justice to the nations. All distant lands will look to me and wait in hope for my powerful arm. Look up to the skies above, and gaze down on the earth below. For the skies will disappear like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing. The people of the earth will die like flies, but my salvation lasts. My righteous rule will never end!”

God’s salvation through Christ lasts forever!

Romans 5:6-11, says, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, so someone might perhaps be willing do die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

When we as Christians really believe this, our whole perspective on life should change. We were sentenced to death because of our sin, but through God’s own son we are saved!

This Good News should permeate in our hearts and in our lives that we should tell others about it, and live our lives like it actually matters.

Mark 16:15-19 says, “And then he [Jesus] told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.’ When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them [the Christians], he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.”

All Christians are called to preach the Good News. ALL Christians. We should be so filled with God’s love, hope for restoration and filled with the Holy Spirit to be able to stand bold and preach to anyone who is willing to listen. And there are a lot of people willing to listen.

When we become Christians, we therefore are at peace with God as our sin is accounted for, because of Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1-5 says, “Then, being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom, through faith, we also have access into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we also rejoice in tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings forth patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope does not humiliate. Because the holy Ghost [Holy Spirit], Who is given to us, drenches our hearts with the love of God.

Drenched with the love of God. Imagine if we took this to heart and we actually lived this way! This is how the first Christians lived. This is how the disciples lived when the Holy Spirit came upon them! (See Acts 2)

Are you a Christian? How is your faith?

Are you searching?

Have you once accepted Christ, but are now unsure of what it all meant?

God is waiting for you!

God loves you.

God wants to have a relationship with you.

Romans 5:17-19 says, “For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.”

John 3:16-17: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

Want to explore more?

Still unsure?

Message me. :)

Want to learn how to become a Christian?

First thing to do is to believe that Jesus’ sacrifice for you. (See Matthew 26-28). Jesus was beaten, murdered on the cross, and that he died for you and your sins. And three days later rose again, bringing new life, paying off your debt to God.

Next, repent of your sins and commit to turning your life to God and following Jesus’ example of how to live. (See 1 John 1:5-2:17).

Once you have repented, then the next step is to confess those sins. (See James 5:7-20)

After Confession, find a church family and to become baptized. (See Acts 2:38-39).

And after that, I would highly recommend finding a mentor. Someone to come alongside you in your new journey of faith. To teach you how to live like Christ, as well as to help build on hope. I am not going to suggest this road will be easy. There is no such thing as easy Christianity. However, through all of life’s hardships, trials, tribulations, persecutions, etc., God will be there for you. :)

And because Jesus is God’s Son, God also knows what it’s like to be human. He knows what it’s like to hurt, to have pain, to live this life. Be comforted in that. (John 11:35)

And if you have decided to accept Christ. Rejoice and message me. I’d love to be able to share in that with you. :)

If you are still thinking about it, or continuing to search, please message me and I will answer your questions, and if I cannot answer a question, I can point you to someone who can.

May God’s peace, hope, love and blessings overshadow you

Cody Marie.

#hope salvation Jesus Christ JesusChrist restoration Christianity love

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deepinsightslibrary-blog · 5 years ago

Text

My Last Argument

This is my final argument against backsliding. In this chapter you will see in very real terms the folly of backsliding. You will hear the testimonies of real Christians who made it to the very end. You will also hear the last statements of the backslidden and lost souls, and what they said as they approached the gates of Hell. You will see how really terrible backsliding is.

In our walk with God there is a certain line that we must not cross. There is a point of no return. I have heard believers say that they will backslide, but will come back to the Lord after some time. They forget that there may be a point of no return.

The Point of No Return

We will all stand before the presence of God to account for our lives. When that time comes and you are ushered into the presence of God, what will you say?

Will you be ready? Will you have done what God wanted you to do?

A Christian brother was committing fornication when he heard a loud blast. He thought it was the sound of the trumpet heralding the return of Christ. So he jumped out of the bed, but was not caught up to heaven. He was so worried, because he thought that he had been left behind at the rapture. This anxious Christian was overreacting to the honk of a big bus. A backslider lives in fear and uncertainty.

God Wants to Reason with You

Come now, and let us REASON together…

Isaiah 1:18

God is a rational Being, and He wants to reason with you.

Many people think that when you deal with spiritual things you must put aside all reason and stop thinking rationally. But the Bible records that God wants us to reason with Him. If God tells you to reason, then He must be a God who thinks logically and sequentially!

I am going to reason with you and argue with you about backsliding. You could call it “Arguments for and against backsliding”.

I will show you certain people who were happy and full of joy as they entered into the rest of God. These were Christians who served the Lord and did not fall away.

On the other hand, I will show you what some dying backsliders said as they left this earth. These testimonies alone should make you decide never, never, never to backslide.

The Saints

First, I want you to notice what Bible saints had to say when they were moving from this world to the next.

Apostle Paul

Apostle Paul was in prison when he knew that his time of death was near. He said, "For to me…to die is gain." In other words he was happy to be dying. How many people are happy to die? If you are confident of your relationship with God you will not fear death.

Jacob

When the Patriarch Jacob was dying in Genesis 49:33, the Bible declares that after commanding his sons, "…He gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost..."

What a way to go! He knew that he was going. He had time to instruct his children with confidence. After commanding his sons, he gathered his feet onto the bed and died. You see, the death of the righteous is very different from the death of the wicked. Balaam the prophet said;

...Let me die the death of the righteous...

Numbers 23:10

Now let's study how some ordinary people, after living a life without backsliding went on happily to be with the Lord.

Ignatius

Ignatius lived in 100 AD. He was the Bishop of Antioch, and a personal disciple of John the Apostle. He was sentenced to death, and as he was dying, his last words were, "I thank thee, oh God, that thou hast honoured me with thy Word, praise God!"

These were the last words of a man who was sentenced to death by burning at the stake. Some other people would have been screaming, defaecating and salivating. But this man died praising God!

Father Polycarp

Father Polycarp, another disciple of John lived during the reign of Emperor Nero. He was also sentenced to death. He was taken to court, and there, he was given an option to either denounce Jesus or be burnt to death. Polycarp suffered much for Christ's sake. The Roman Proconsul commanded him to swear allegiance to Ceasar, saying, "Swear, and I will set thee at liberty; reproach Christ." How courageous and magnificent was Polycarp's reply!

He said, "Eighty and six years have I now served Christ, and He has never done me the least wrong. How, then, can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?"

Further efforts to make him deny his Lord failed and Polycarp was condemned to be burned at the stake. When the day came for him to be burned alive, those responsible for the burning wanted to nail him to the stake, but he protested: "Let me alone as I am: for He who has given me strength to endure the fire, will also enable me, without your securing me by nails, to stand without moving in the pile."

Finally he exclaimed, "Oh! Lord, Father of the Beloved Son Jesus Christ. I thank thee that thou has allotted me a place among the Martyrs."

Augustus Montague Toplady

Augustus Montague Toplady (1710-1778), will ever be famous as the author of one of the most evangelical hymns of the Eighteenth Century, "Rock of Ages," which was first published in 1776. During his final illness, Toplady was greatly supported by the consolations of the Gospel.

Near his last, awaking from a sleep, he said:

"Oh, what delights! Who can fathom the joy of the third Heaven? The sky is clear, there is no cloud. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!"

He died saying, "No mortal man can live after the glories which God has manifested to my soul."

And with those words he went to be with the Lord.

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare (1564-1616), the world's outstanding figure in literature, of whose life, times and works a whole library of books has been written, lived near his Bible as the numerous quotations from it in his plays and dramas prove.

A Famous Man Knew the Lord

His end came when he was only 52 years old. His last will that was written in the year he died revealed his faith in God.

"I commend my soul into the hands of God my Creator, hoping and assuredly believing, through the only merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour, to be made partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth, whereof it is made."

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry (1662-1714), was the eminent non-conformist theologian who gave the Church the devotional commentary which held a foremost place in its field. He died a week after his settlement in London as pastor of a church in Hackney, but his end was full of confidence in the Saviour's grace.

His last words were: "A life spent in the service of God, and in communion with Him, is the most comfortable life that anyone can lead in this present world."

John Wesley

John Wesley, the founder of the great Methodist Church said, "The best of all is, God is with us." I really love these last words of this great founder.

John Wesley, of whom it has been said that eternity alone will reveal what the world owes to his mighty ministry, was active to the very end. Until the end, he was full of praise, counsel and exhortations.

The Great Founder Dies in Peace

In his last moments with what remaining strength he had, he cried out twice over, in holy triumph:

"The best of all is, God is with us."

The very last word Wesley was heard to articulate was: "Farewell!"

Then, without a lingering groan, the evangelist of the highways and by-ways, beloved pastor of thousands, and father of the great Methodist Church, entered into the joy of his Lord.

Notice again, death to the confident Christian - It was a peaceful transition from one world to another!

Adoniram Judson

Adoniram Judson was a missionary to Africa. In fact, the first American missionary to Africa. He went to Burma, wrote and translated the Bible into the Burmese language.

The Departure of Africa's First American Missionary

He also wrote a dictionary for them. When he was dying he said, "No one ever left this world with brighter hopes or warmer feelings."

Don't be afraid, death will not surprise me. In spite of what I say, I feel so strong in Him."

This is a man who had strength when most people are weak. Let's all pray for such staying power, that we may all prevail until the very end.

Charles Bridgman

Charles Bridgman died at the age of twelve. As a child he loved to read his Bible and desired spiritual knowledge. Young Charles would often rebuke his brothers if they forgot to thank God at meal times. When he became ill, he was asked whether he would rather live or die, he answered "I desire to die, that I may go to my Saviour."

The Strength of a Little Boy

As his time drew near, his last words were: "...Into thy hands I commend my soul! Now close mine eyes. Forgive me, father, mother, brother, sister and all the world! Now I am well, my pain is almost gone, my joy is at hand. Lord have mercy upon me. O Lord, receive my soul unto Thee." How many young boys of today would speak the way this young man spoke?

Robert Bruce

Robert Bruce, one of the most distinguished men of his time, entered the ministry and became prominent in Edinburgh. Scrupulously maintaining the established norms of the church, he exposed himself to much persecution for the truth's sake.

At the time of his death, he called for the family Bible and said to his daughter:

"Cast up to me the eighth chapter of Romans, and set my finger on these words, 'I am persuaded that NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE ... SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE ME from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus my Lord.'"

Then Bruce said, "Is my finger on them?"

"Yes," said his daughter. Then he replied:

"Now God be with you, my children. I have just breakfasted with you, and shall sup with my Lord Jesus this night."

How exciting it must be when you know you are ready! There can be no reason to backslide when you hear these exciting testimonies.

And Many Others

Another dying Christian said, "How bright the room, how full of angels!"

Some other Christian said confidently, "The battle is fought. The battle is fought, and the victory is won." With those words, he went to be with the Lord.

Alexander II, full of divine faith, exclaimed: "I am sweeping through the gates, washed in the blood of the Lamb."

Someone else said, "I wish I had the power of writing to describe how pleasant it is to die."

Another one exclaimed, "Oh! That I could tell what joy I possess. I am full of rapture, the Lord shines with such power upon my soul. He is come, He is come."

One surviving believer said, "I shall soon be with Jesus. PERHAPS I AM TOO ANXIOUS!"

Is It Always Sweet to Die?

Another person said, "IT IS SWEET TO DIE." How will you be able to say, "It is sweet to die" when you have backslidden and you know judgement awaits you?

One Christian brother questioned, "Can this be death? What? It is better than living. TELL THEM I DIED HAPPILY IN JESUS."

Another one said, "They sing. The angels sing. IS THIS DYING? NO, IT IS SWEET LIVING."

One lucky backslider, Oliver, a doctor of philosophy, had lived the life of an infidel. But shortly before his death he repented and turned to the Saviour.

His final word was one of deep regret: "Would that I could undo the mischief I have done! I was more ardent to poison men with infidel principles than any Christian is to spread the doctrines of Christ."

The Sinners

Now, let us consider what some backsliders and sinners said as they were dying. The pride and rebellion of these wicked people did not help matters as they approached the gates of hell and accountability. Some of these people were backslidden Christians. They died as frightened, screaming and hopelessly lost souls. The first person I want us to consider in this category is a man called Tom Paine.

Tom Paine

Tom Paine (1737-1809) was considered to be a literary giant.

He wrote “The Age of Reason” and lived during the revivals of John Wesley and George Whitfield. He lived a life that was against God, and drew people away from God. I believe that this is one of the people who have made Europe so anti-Christ and atheist in their way of thinking. One person who witnessed his death said, "He is truly to be pitied."

Although he did not believe in God, at the hour of death on his bed he said, "I would give worlds, if I had them, that 'Age of Reason' had not been published. Oh! Lord help me. Oh! God, what have I done to suffer so much?" Then after that he said, "But there is no God. Yet if there is a God, what will become of me in the world after? If ever the devil had an agent, I have been that one."

He Was Frightened to Die

When an elderly woman attending him wanted to leave the room, he said, "Stay with me. For God's sake, I cannot bear to be left alone. For it is hell to be left alone."

The very last words of Tom Paine were, "My God, my God why has thou forsaken me?" And with these words he died. This is the death of the wicked. Utterly helpless and hopeless in the presence of a righteous God!

Voltaire

Whenever I go to Geneva, I cross over into Ferney- Voltaire, a little French village named after a noted infidel Voltaire (1694-1778). One night I drove with the pastor of my church in Geneva to look at a statue of this man.

I saw all of the tributes that were written to his name and all of the good works that he was said to have done for the community. But this man also lived and fought against Christianity.

The Man Who Cursed Christ

Notice what this noted French infidel said of Christ our Saviour: "Curse the wretch!" How on earth can you gather so much confidence to curse Christ and call Him a wretch?

He once boasted, "In twenty years, christianity will be no more. My single hand shall destroy the edifice it took twelve apostles to rear."

These are the people who have laid the foundations for the atheism that is so prevalent in Europe today.

Shortly after his death, the very house in which he printed his foul literature became the depot of the Geneva Bible Society. The nurse who attended Voltaire said: "For all the wealth in Europe I would not see another infidel die."

He Was Helpless and Desperate on His Deathbed

The physician, Trochim, who was with Voltaire at his death said that he cried out most desperately:

"I am abandoned by God and man! I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six month's life. Then I shall go to hell, and you will go with me. O Christ! O Jesus Christ!"

Notice the desperation and helplessness of this blasphemer as he descended into the abyss. He himself admitted that he was on his way to hell.

My dear Christian friends, let's make no mistakes about the reality of Heaven and Hell.

Thomas Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1674), was a noted English political philosopher whose most famous work was “Leviathan”.

This cultured, clever skeptic corrupted many of the great men of his time. But what regret was his at the end of the road! What hopelessness permeated his last words:

"If I had the whole world, I would give it to live one day. I am about to take a leap in the dark!"

The good news is: Christians do not take leaps into the dark! When they die they go to Heaven!

Thomas Cromwell

Thomas Cromwell (1540), who became Earl of Essex, was the noted English statesman who was next to the King in power and influence. He was responsible for the digging up of the bones of Thomas Becket, and their burning as those of a traitor.

The Man Who Was Seduced

Over ambitious, Cromwell lost his influence and also his head, for he was executed. Historians tell us that as he died, he said in a speech:

"THE DEVIL IS READY TO SEDUCE US, AND I HAVE BEEN SEDUCED, but bear me witness that I die in the Catholic Faith."

Notice how people want to associate with God at the last moment. This man was insisting that he was in the faith!

Thomas Cork

Thomas Cork cried out in anguish as he was dying. He said, "Until this moment I thought there was neither a God nor a devil. But now I know, and I feel that there are both." He exclaimed, "I am doomed to judgment by the judgment of the Almighty."

Robert Green Ingersoll

He Wrote About the Mistakes of the Bible

Robert Green Ingersoll (1833-1899), famous American lawyer and prominent agnostic, lectured on Biblical inaccuracies and contradictions. His famed lecture "The Mistakes of Moses" led one defender of the Bible to say that he would like to hear Moses speak for five minutes on The Mistakes of Ingersoll!

Do I Have a Soul?

When he came to the gates of hell he was frozen with terror and he said, "OH GOD, IF THERE IS A GOD, HAVE MERCY ON MY SOUL - IF I HAVE A SOUL."

Sir Francis Gilfort

Sir Francis Gilfort, was taught early in his life about the gospel.

The Potential Minister Who Backslid

He was a backslidden Christian. In fact, it was expected that he would become a minister, but he fell into bad company. When he was passing on to eternity, he said,

"From where is this war in my heart? What arguments do I have to assist me in matters of fact? Do I say there is no hell when I feel one in my bosom?

AYE, AM I CERTAIN THAT THERE IS NO JUDGMENT WHEN I FEEL PRESENT JUDGMENT? Oh, wretch that I am. Whither shall I flee from this?

That there is a God, I know, for I continually feel that of His wrath. That there is a hell, I am surely certain.

Oh! That I was to lie upon the fire that never quench for a thousand years to purchase the favour of God, and to be reverted to Him again. But it is a fruitless wish.

Millions and millions of years will bring me no nearer to the end of my torment. Eternity, eternity!"

Do You Want Anyone to Pray For You?

As the distress of this man increased, he was asked whether he wanted some people to be invited to pray for him. He responded "Tigers and monsters, are you devils to come to torment me? Will you give me the prospects of Heaven to make my hell more intolerable?"

Then he said, "Oh! the insufferable pangs of death." And with that he died. How frightening!

William Pope

William Pope, was a born-again Christian, and knew the love of God. But he backslid when his wife died, and he followed Tom Paine. Not long after he backslid, he contracted tuberculosis, which was known at that time as The Consumption.

He is said to have been the leader of a company of infidels who ridiculed everything religious.

They Kicked the Bible and Tore it up

This was a classic backslider who said when he was dying, "No case is comparable to mine, I cannot revert, God will damn me forever."

One of the exercises of he and his friends was to kick the Bible about the floor, or tear it up. Friends who were present in his death-chamber spoke of it as a scene of terror.

A Frightening Scene of Death

His eyes rolled to and fro as he was dying on his bed, and he lifted up his hands as he cried out, "I have no contrition. I cannot repent. God will damn me. I know the day of grace is past...You see one who is damned forever... Oh, Eternity! Eternity... Nothing for me but hell. Come, eternal torments... Do you not see? Do you not see him? He is coming for me. Oh! the burning flame, the hell, the pain that I feel. Eternity will explain my torment."

And with these words, he died.

These were the very last words of a backslider!!

Dear Christian friend, what else can I say? I have shown you the real life testimonies of real people just like yourself. If that is not enough to make you believe and stay with God, then perhaps…

I have bargained for your soul, sharing with you all that a pastor can. I have shown you why you should not backslide. I have shown you the causes of backsliding, the descriptions of backsliding, and the symptoms of backsliding. I have shown you how people who backslide behave when they approach the gates of eternity. On the other hand, I have shown you the happy farewells of Christians with staying power to the very end.

My prayer for you is that you will find Christ and STAY in Christ. For on Christ the solid rock we stand. Amen!!

To the making of many books there is no end. May this book bless your ministry. Amen.

by Dag Heward-Mills

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apostateangela · 6 years ago

Text

A Bell’s not a Bell Until You Ring It

There is a specific Mormon myth/fable/scripture story that is prevalent and used as an allegory for life. It is the story of Lehi’s dream. It is found in the first book of the book of Mormon,

1 Nephi chapter 8.

This is the Mormon’s version of the Tree of Life myth. Throughout all religious mythology, the Tree of Life bears magical fruit that is white and brilliant and gives everything from pleasure to everlasting life to those that eat of it.

In Lehi’s dream it is a fruit filled tree, shining with light at the end of a dark path next to a river. There is a treacherous mist on both sides of the path. There is a “large and spacious” building off to the side, full of people. And all along the path to the tree there is an iron rod, not unlike a railing, to hold on to as you brave the deep and dark and dangerous misty swamp.

This allegory has been explained in Mormon terms and taught to members of the church from the time you are very young. Each piece of the dream is explained in symbology as well as scripture. There are hymns and primary songs written about it.

Here is one hymn:

1. To Nephi, seer of olden time,

A vision came from God,

Wherein the holy word sublime

Was shown an iron rod.

[Chorus]

Hold to the rod, the iron rod;

'Tis strong, and bright, and true.

The iron rod is the word of God;

'Twill safely guide us through.

2. While on our journey here below,

Beneath temptation's pow'r,

Through mists of darkness we must go,

In peril ev'ry hour.

3. And when temptation's pow'r is nigh,

Our pathway clouded o'er,

Upon the rod we can rely,

And heaven's aid implore.

4. And, hand o'er hand, the rod along,

Through each succeeding day,

With earnest prayer and hopeful song,

We'll still pursue our way.

5. Afar we see the golden rest

To which the rod will guide,

Where, with the angels bright and blest,

Forever we'll abide.

And here is the symbol breakdown:

The Tree: Love of God or Everlasting Life with God

The Fruit: Happiness or the Blessings of Christ’s Atonement

The Mist= The Temptations of the Devil

The Iron Rod= The Word of God or Sacred Scripture

The Spacious Building= The World filled with Wicked People who mock the Righteous

The River= Spiritual Death

As young members of the church continuing into old members of the church, you are commanded through this vision written in scripture to ‘hold fast to the iron rod’ and not depart from the path of righteousness that leads you to everlasting life and eternal happiness with God. Holding to the Word of God means that you obey all the commandments and rules contained within the Mormon books of scripture (Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price). Letting go of the rod means you deviate from the path, tempted by the world (other people from the building) and Satan (the mist) and risk falling into the river or into spiritual death—which in case you didn’t know is worse than real death.

The purpose of my explaining Lehi’s Dream here is to provide you with the context that surrounds the depth of obedience programmed into members of the Mormon Church.

This is only one angle. But it is far reaching and prevalent.

It is designed almost perfectly:

An ancient prophet (Lehi) has a vision from God about his own family, which consists of various children; some of whom are righteous and obedient and some who are rebellious and wicked (examples of humans we can all relate to).

This God bestowed lesson/allegory is then written into scripture that is then revealed to future generations and translated by modern prophets. Then, given to the current people of the church with a charge to do everything they can to bring it into every corner of their lives: the Iron Rod story has been adapted into art, music, literature, spoken sermons, and even film.

I can almost feel my metaphysical hand grasping…

The Iron Rod story is all about what God wants you to do.

And what I find interesting is that it is a structure wrapped in God’s love and perceived safety that creates division between those that follow and those that do not.

One group is righteous, those that hold the rod and follow God step by step never deviating. The other group is labeled as wicked and mocking because they challenge those holding onto the rod. They are even put into a building, segregated from God’s followers.

Two of the basic building blocks of Christian belief are first, love thy neighbor or love everyone, to which this dream decimates. And the second, more obscure is about a counsel in Heaven. Before this life there was a counsel where God deliberated on how he wanted His children to live here on this earth. He himself wanted His children to have choice; choosing their own path and learning from this life and their experiences—saved from their sin by the sacrifice or atonement of God’s beloved son Jesus Christ.

Instances of this doctrine are in Job and Isaiah as well as Luke and the book of Revelations

(King James Version).

In the Mormon translation of this counsel in Heaven, there was actually a war where Lucifer wanted to force everyone to do what was ‘right’ so that God wouldn’t lose a single soul. And as God chose Christ’s plan of choice and redemption, fighting ensued causing Lucifer to be cast out of Heaven with 1/3 of the Hosts of Heaven (which became the Devil and his demons).

I add this bit of lore to show the strangeness of the Iron Rod piece.

If one of the main purposes of this life—something that God wants--is to explore and discover, to learn from experience, then iron-clad rules of the Mormon church prevent this very thing from happening. It traps people in a place of prescriptive living that limits not only the exploring of the outward but also of the inward and alienates those who do not obey.

There are many things that holding to the blistering iron of this rod prevented me from discovering about myself, as well as the world I lived in.

I’ve already written about sex.

It seems that journey is not over.

But before I get to the new piece I have discovered I think it is time I shared with you my journey to understanding love and relationships.

One of the most well-worn spots on the path of the Iron Rod is that of Mormon Temple Marriage. I have written about this structure as well as documented somewhat the harsh 25 years I spent there. After my divorce, and months of therapy and self-reflection I found that while I didn’t exactly know what I wanted in terms of love and relationships,

I definitely knew what I DID NOT WANT!

I did not want marriage.

Of course I did not want the psychologically abusive, Mormon version of marriage I had lived. But I also knew that I didn’t want the patriarchal oppressive structure marriage is both culturally and legally in the United States either.

From my 8-month foray into single womanhood and divorcee I quickly came to the realization that the church AND the world are not fair or kind.

As I set out to explore sex, I also was moving, albeit more slowly, towards examining different kinds of love and relationships.

I virtually stumbled upon a philosophical pot of gold in the form of a man who made a claim on his online dating profile.

He said he was a Relationship Anarchist.

He explained a little bit about it in his profile,

enough that his words set off a deep bell within me.

It reverberated, resonated like something unending—a bell that couldn’t be un-rung.

I asked him questions both about what it was and what it meant to him.

And then, I started researching.

As a teacher, student, writer, and curious intellect, I know how to research.

I read articles and blogs, and manifestos. I watched vlogs and personal testimonials and informational videos. I joined chat groups and made friends and found a very patient guru that I plagued with questions and scenarios.

With each bit of information, I asked myself, “Is this even possible? Would this actually work for you?” And more often than not the answers sent electricity into the original reverberation and resounded with either a ‘YES!’ or a ‘I can’t wait to find out!’

Then I tested it with actual experience, as any loving God intended I should.

The answers and experiences have both challenged and amazed me.

I cannot thank that golden man enough.

Before I go further, here is the barebones definition:

Relationship anarchy (sometimes abbreviated RA) is the belief that relationships should not be bound by rules aside from what the people involved mutually agree upon. If a relationship anarchist has multiple intimate partners, it might be considered as a form of polyamory, but distinguishes itself by postulating that there need not be a formal distinction between sexual, romantic, or platonic relationships.

Relationship anarchists look at each relationship (romantic, platonic or otherwise) individually, as opposed to categorizing them according to societal norms such as 'just friends', 'in a relationship', or 'in an open relationship'.

That’s Wikipedia and I’m okay with their definition.

Here’s a few more extensions that I like:

“A relationship anarchist begins from a place of assuming total freedom and flexibility as the one in charge of their personal relationships and decides on a case by case basis what they want each relationship to look like.”

“Relational anarchists are often highly critical of conventional cultural standards that prioritize romantic and sex-based relationships over non-sexual or non-romantic relationships. Instead, RA seeks to eliminate specific distinctions between or hierarchical valuations of friendships versus love-based relationships, so that love-based relationships are no more valuable than are platonic friendships...another important theme within RA is the resistance to placing demands or expectations on the people involved in a relationship.”

Here are the bits that matter to me:

Full autonomy= I want to be in charge of myself and what I want as well as filling my own needs. After all, anarchy does not mean ‘no rules’ but rather ‘NO RULERS!’

No expectations= In line with the previous piece, I don’t want to have or have placed on me expectations that are often unreasonable or unreachable. If there are no expectations, things happen based on what someone has to OFFER-their hand is extended full of what they can share-instead of what I THINK SHOULD HAPPEN-my hand open and empty begging for something I expect them to give me.

No hierarchy=No one is more important than anyone else.

This is how I love. I always have. I have deep intimate friendships as much as I have romantic ones. I want to have my heart touch their heart. I don’t have large groups of people in my life.

I have a handful of people that mean everything to me.

Evolution=Step by step the relationship creates its own life that evolves with time and investment into something incredibly beautiful. And because every step must be looked at and communicated about before the next step, and there are no prescriptive stairs to climb, the relationship is a journey instead of a destination.

If you’re asking the question about polyamory because it stuck to you from the Wikipedia definition, the answer is yes, of course polyamory--the love of multiple people--would be part of this. If you love all your people, all your partners regardless of a label, you are potentially going to have more than one person you have sex with as well as more than one person you don’t. It’s called ethical non-monogamy and it is brilliant.

It is such an incredible thing to be freed of the idea that one person has to be everything to me. It provides perspective.

I have many needs, but I can present any portion of those as something I want from a person based on what they have to offer.

It’s the best kind of authentic gift giving.

Also, I don’t go hungry as often as I used to.

I was starved for love and attention.

And while it is true, that many people stuck in amatonormativity—the widespread assumption that everyone is better off in an exclusive, romantic, long-term coupled relationship—cannot break free of this societal norm, there are many people searching for the answer to the wrongness they feel in such relationships.

These people are enlightened and on their way to self-actualization and are

WHO I WANT IN MY LIFE!

We feed each other, loving as we want and as we can.

You may be thinking, “She’s just having a knee jerk reaction to leaving the church and her divorce, pushing herself to the other side of the spectrum. It’s a stage that will eventually end.”

I believe you are wrong.

I have been practicing RA for over two years now and do not see an end.

I have had many partners, some who have passed through my life.

The inevitable transience of this lifestyle is a hard thing, because sometimes what someone can give me doesn’t last a long time. But even in the heartbreak of their leaving there is peace knowing that what I had with that individual was more honest, more real than most of my marriage.

And

some stay.

Our evolution is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my entire life.

I am learning what love is in an organic way as it becomes what both partners want it to be.

It is glorious and beautiful (to steal a phrase God says from the temple representation of the creation of the earth).

I find it fitting,

I’m CREATING love!

Now you might be asking, “What about jealousy?”

And you are right, there is jealousy. But jealousy wears many faces and when you stop trying to control others jealousy’s biggest face disappears. And what you discover is what your own jealousy is based on at its roots. Mine is about self-worth. I am not sure I’m worthy or worth as much as another. After some reassurance from my partner—that I’ve asked for because it is my job to advocate for myself—I find instead of jealousy I feel kinship with those people that love my people.

We have good taste after all!

And with every successful step my inner bell’s reverberation is renewed and deepened.

It is this ‘ringing true’ within oneself that I believe to be the best guide for my life--and in my opinion--for yours as well.

Shakespeare wrote, “This above all, to thine own self be true.”

What rings true for you?

You can’t hear it, but rather you must feel it.

It is inside yourself and not an exterior envisioned cold rod of iron, but rather a living bell that’s sound enters your every cell on every plane.

When something resonates

do not ignore it

especially just because someone outside tells you God wants differently.

Understand that I do not put aside basic human morality.

Some people find pleasure in the pain of others.

I am not talking about just doing everything that feels good to everyone no matter the cost.

I am talking about listening to your own heart—once you free it from what others say it should feel.

Here is what I know:

I have lived by a thousand rules.

And now I live by only two.

They answer two questions:

Will it hurt someone?

Is it good for me?

If the answers are respectively ‘no’ then ‘yes’ I do it.

True, there are more implications within those two questions and answers, but they are my personal compass that works only for me, pointing me in a thousand directions instead on only a single iron one.

The diversity of this journey has brought me to such beauty and joy.

The newest being the discovery of my own bisexuality.

RA has also broken the heteronormative shackles my Mormon prescripted marriage bound me with. I finally understand the love I had for a girl long ago during high school and the intimacy I find in the touch and company of other women.

I am reveling in exploring where that intimacy can go and my bell rings as I find and partake of the fruit of the Tree of Life--growing in more places than one.

Turns out it is your inner bell that leads you to that Tree and its pleasurable fruit, not some cold, harsh rod of iron.

And through this journey I have found that my bell leads me to not just that Tree,

but an entire Grove.

A world of joy and life my idea of a loving God could get behind.

An expanse open for you and I to experience all that we can.

Once more I urge you to just let go.

Find the fruit once forbidden and eat.

And then, eat more.

Be greedy my friends.

I deserve it

And so do you.

-Angela

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dorotazabawa-blog · 6 years ago

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When you’ve gone to all the trouble of trawling through Christmas card templates to find the right Christmas cards to make your family and friends feel special, you want to make sure that what you write in them is perfect for the occasion. This can feel like a lot of pressure! For stress free Christmas cards from your first Christmas card ideas right through to writing your message and popping them in the mail, Paperlust has you covered. Read on for our guide to writing Christmas greeting cards that your friends will want to keep for years to come. We’ve included tonnes of advice and sample Christmas card text to make things simple.

Two Parts to Christmas Card Greetings

Christmas greetings for cards often come in two parts: what is printed on the card and what you write in it. The printed part might be on the front of the card, or the front might just feature a picture while the message is printed inside the card. A traditional merry Christmas card (like what you’ll find in Christmas card packs from the shops) will often have an illustrated front with something like ‘Season’s Greetings’ or ‘Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year’ printed inside.

If you create your own card using a custom template like our Paperlust designs, or opt for DIY Christmas cards or free printable Christmas cards, you can get more in depth, printing text that’s intended for all your guests. This might cover everything from

If the card is blank inside, your xmas card messages will be entirely handwritten.

Things to Write in Christmas Cards

While we are most commonly asked about how to make Christmas cards personal, it’s inevitable that you’ll have to rely on some generic sentiments in your Christmas cards as well. This gives you a starting point to build from.

Some of the most common Christmas messages for cards include:

Merry Christmas

Happy Christmas

Season’s greetings

Holiday greetings

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas and a happy new year

Peace and joy

Christmas wishes

We wish you a merry Christmas

Yuletide greetings

Feliz Navidad

Christmas greetings

Greetings of the season

Joyeux Noel

These are the perfect starting point when writing Christmas wishes for cards, and because they are short they frequently feature on the front or in large text inside. Whatever Christmas cards ideas you’ve got, and whether you’re opting for homemade Christmas cards, Christmas e cards or professionally designed Christmas cards, these are the little snippets of text that are key to making Christmas cards feel…well, Christmassy!

General Christmas Messages

Whether printed or handwritten, most people will have general xmas messages for their cards – things they want to communicate to everybody they write a card to. It can be challenging to know how to make a Christmas card read appropriately for your whole audience, so it can be best to have a template merry Christmas greeting card written out that you can simply tweak or add to as you go, depending who you are writing to.

For example: Merry Christmas to my family and friends! May this holiday season be full of joy and peace, and may your celebrations be blessed.

If you use your Christmas cards as an opportunity to share what happened during the year, you might add a message about your family too.

For example: 2018 has been a big year for the Jameson family! Dave started a new job with Eastern Health in March, and has been really enjoying the work. He continued playing footy and was proud to be awarded best and fairest. Jess has been kept busy enjoying the new challenges of being a mum to two. She has been getting involved in the school community and still enjoys playing netball each week. Lucy started grade prep in February and has been thriving. She is turning into a great reader and loves our regular trips to the library. Lucy loves being a big sister and never leaves Max’s side when she’s at home. Max is now a happy 7 month old. He recently started on solid food and mashed banana is his favourite.

We hope 2018 has been as kind to you as it has been to us, and we wish all our friends and family a wonderful 2019.

If you’re confident that your generic message is going to suit all your guests, consider printing it on your holiday cards and adding small handwritten Christmas card notes for your closest family and friends. This is a great way to add a personal touch without having to make your own homemade Christmas cards from scratch. Easy Christmas cards (that still have the charm of handmade xmas cards) are the dream at such a busy time of year! And thanks to Paperlust, simple Christmas cards don’t have to mean printing them on computer paper or emailing e xmas card at the last minute: you can create Christmas cards that are perfectly suited to you without all the fuss that normally accompanies anything personalised.

Christmas Card Words

When writing your merry xmas cards, there are a number of words you can use throughout to give that warm Christmas feel. Consider dotting your greetings for Christmas with words like:

Cheer

Merry

Warm

Blessed

Festive

Happy

Joy

Peace

Goodwill

Wishes

Greetings

Holidays

Yuletide

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, consider throwing in words like:

Frosty

Winter / wintry

Snow / snowmen

Icy

There are also endless Christmassy things you can refer to, including:

Gifts

Santa

Stockings

Angels

Christmas tree

Holly

Elves

Reindeer and sleigh

Candy canes

Fruitcake or mince pies

Nativity

Carols / carolers

Mistletoe

Eggnog

Tradition

Personal Christmas Messages

A personal Christmas message is the easiest way to make a Christmas card truly meaningful, especially if it is handwritten. This is important for all Christmas cards, but especially Christmas cards for your girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, husband, kids, parents, or best friend. Your Christmas or happy holidays cards should be as emotional (or not) as is normal for you and in your relationship.

For example, a personal message could say something like:

Merry Christmas Dad! I’m so excited for the chance to celebrate with you again after all these years. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a wonderful new year full of all the things you love. Can’t wait to see you soon. Love, Jemma.

But personal Christmas wishes for cards could also mean something like:

Dear Amy – Wishing you a very merry Christmas, filled with family and friends, joy and peace. You are the love of my life and I am so grateful for each and every day I get to spend with you. All I want for Christmas is you, truly. Love forever, Mick.

Flipped around the other way, these two messages might seem strange and out of place. The trick is to know your audience and write from the heart!

Religious Christmas card verses

For many, Christmas is about far more than just presents and food: it’s an important time of year on the religious calendar as well. This is often celebrated with a traditional Christmas card. Christian Christmas cards often feature Bible verses.

Popular Christmas verses for greeting cards include (all xmas card verses written here from the NIV):

Isaiah 9:6 – “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”

Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

Luke 2:10-11 – “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

John 1:14 – “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The lyrics to some of the more religious Christmas carols also make great Christmas verses for cards.

“Silent night! Holy night! Son of God, love’s pure light”

“Joy to the world! The Lord is come: let Earth receive her King!”

“This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing”

“Hail, hail the Word made flesh, the Babe, the Son of Mary.”

“A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn”

“Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels, O come let us adore Him”

“Peace on Earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled”

“Noel, noel, noel, noel, born is the King of Israel”

“So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven.”

“O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray, cast out our sin and enter in, be born to us today.”

Whether you choose biblical xmas verses for cards, carol lyrics or other Christmas cards verses, or a simple Christian Christmas greeting, Paperlust is the ideal place to order religious Christmas cards Australia wide and beyond – you have full control over the text and can make it say whatever you want. Our job is to make sure it all looks perfect and get it to you fast.

Christmas quotes for cards

Christians aren’t the only ones that like to include quotes on their Christmas greetings cards, and there are tonnes of non-religious quotes from songs, poems and stories that you can choose from. These quotes are perfect if you’re looking for Christmas card greeting ideas and don’t have anything you particularly want to say. They make a great starting point for the rest of your xmas card greetings, and can either be printed on your cards if you’re going to create your own cards and have them printed or are opting for Christmas cards homemade, or can be written on blank Christmas cards.

Popular quotes for your Christmas and New Year cards include:

“Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” – Clement Clarke Moore

“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.” – Andy Rooney

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” – ‘Elf’

“We are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder

“I heard the bells on Christmas Day, their old, familiar carols play, and wild and sweet, the words repeat, of peace on Earth, goodwill to men!” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” – Dr. Seuss

And from songs and carols, consider:

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”

“We wish you a merry Christmas”

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas”

“Jingle Bells, jingle Bells, jingle all the way”

“Santa Claus is coming to town”

“Rocking around the Christmas tree, have a happy holiday, everyone dancing merrily in a new old fashioned way.”

“Walking in a Winter Wonderland”

“O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches”

“Come on it’s lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you”

Funny xmas cards

One of the most common things we are asked about is xmas cards ideas for those who like their Christmas cards funny. Making xmas cards funny can be tricky: you want it to seem natural, not forced. If you’re just going for cheap Christmas cards, you might feel more inclined to experiment, but if you’re going to spend money on premium or luxury Christmas cards it can feel like a big risk! But it doesn’t have to. The key is to know your audience and make sure you create a Christmas card that everyone on your Christmas card list will be able to appreciate, from your best friend to your grandma.

Quotes from songs, books or movies are perfect for funny xmas card messages, or you can put a funny spin on a Christmas theme. Some fun choices include:

“All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth”

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear” – ‘Elf’

“It’s all fun and games until Santa checks the naughty list”

“Don’t get your tinsel in a tangle”

“Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people only once a year.” – Victor Borge

“Prosec-ho-ho-ho!“

“Merry Christmas ya filthy animal” – ‘Home Alone 2’

Another great way to create funny or quirky Christmas cards is to include an in-joke that only your friends will get. Just make sure everyone receiving a card will understand the joke! If you want to include your own in-joke on a card, Paperlust is ideal for funny Christmas cards in Australia or overseas, because our Christmas card creator tool gives you full control over the text. When you create Christmas cards online you can make sure the wording is perfect, then our design team will make sure it looks great and our customer service team will get it shipped express to you, so can be confident that you’ll have your cards for Christmas.

Aussie Christmas Greetings

If you’re in Australia and post Christmas cards to friends and family overseas, you might want to add some Aussie greetings for something a little unique. For the full effect, choose Australian themed Christmas cards as well! Both Aussie Christmas cards and Aussie Christmas wishes typically hinge on reminding people you’re celebrating in the summertime on the beach or in the bush.

You don’t need to write ‘G’day from Down Under’ just because you want to send Christmas wishes from Australia (although you can if you like!). Consider writing something like:

Merry Christmas from sunny Australia! I’ll be celebrating the silly season this year with a beer at the beach, a long way from our usual traditions! Hope you all have a great holiday – can’t wait to catch up when I’m home. Love, Lucy.

Kids Christmas Cards

Coming up with cool Christmas cards ideas for kids can be daunting, especially if your kids have strong ideas about what constitutes ‘awesome Christmas cards’ and you’re not sure you agree!

At Paperlust we have a range of Christmas cards templates for kids, and they’re fully customisable. That means whether you’re looking for Christmas cards for kids, family or baby’s first Christmas Australia wide or beyond, you’ll be able to get something that’s perfect for the occasion. We make it easy to make Christmas cards online that come out looking professional and luxurious. One of our most popular options for kids are our photo Christmas cards. Instead of working out how to make Christmas cards at home with kids without making a mess (somehow!), why not use a photo of your kids or a photo of a piece of art your child created during the year?

But once you’ve got the perfect childrens Christmas cards, what then? How do you write cute Christmas greetings or personal Christmas messages for children’s cards? There are two approaches to getting amazing Christmas cards from your kids: either let them do their thing and hope it comes out cute, or take a more hands-on approach.

If you’re letting them do their thing, either have them dictate what to put in a Christmas card and write it out for them, or let them write their own, depending on their age and capability. If you want to offer more guidance, you might want to write out some greetings for Christmas cards that they can copy out (or write out a xmas card template in pencil and let them trace over it).

Simple Christmas card ideas for greetings might include something like:

Dear Uncle Jim and Aunty Bec, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Love from Isla.

This is simple and easy to copy, but coming from your child will be super meaningful for the recipients.

Business Christmas Greetings

Writing a happy Christmas card isn’t always a personal thing – sometimes you’re writing Christmas card greetings for business purposes instead. Writing Christmas greetings for clients, colleagues or other professional contacts can often be even more difficult than writing a personal note, since you don’t have the same sort of emotions or shared experiences to draw on for inspiration.

Corporate cards often come in the form of Christmas thank you cards in addition to simple well-wishing, thanking clients for their business or staff members for their service through the year. A corporate Christmas card is also a form of advertising, reminding people of your company and attempting to inspire good will for the coming year.

Christmas greeting messages for businesses should be kept simple and to-the-point. It’s also a good idea to avoid religious messaging on Christmas greetings to clients (although whether you extend this to avoiding ‘Christmas’ altogether and simply wishing ‘Happy Holidays’ or ‘Season’s Greetings’ is up to you).

If you’re looking for corporate Christmas card ideas, browse our collection today, and take a look at our complete guide to Christmas greetings for business while you’re there.

Sample Christmas card messages for business may read:

Dear Mr Jones, Wishing you and your family a very happy holidays and a joyful New Year. We thank you for your support in 2018, and we look forward to another great year to come. Kind regards, (business name).

Dear Frank and Jessica, Merry Christmas! We hope you enjoy this time of celebration and rest. We have truly appreciated your business in 2018, and wish you every success and joy in the New Year. Best, (business name)

Keep it simple and match the language to your business persona, and you can’t go wrong.

Paperlust is your home for Christmas stationery, from Christmas party invitations and Christmas cards right through to Xmas tags. Whatever Christmas card size, shape or design, and whether you’re looking to buy bulk Christmas cards or just a few for your nearest and dearest, we can help. Browse our curated collection of Christmas card design templates today.

The post Christmas Greetings: What to write in a Christmas card appeared first on Paperlust.

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