#Redemption ≠ humility

[zuko-always-lies]

On all those "Azula needs to be humbled before any redemption is even considered" takes

Stop it. Get some help😊

[bitin-and-barkin]

Keeping him in line

Warnings: Gunfucking, facefucking, shoe humping, sub Dutch, he's like super pathetic honestly, humiliation (Dutch Receiving), degradation, gender neutral reader, dom reader, the reader is SO fucking mean, Dutch deserves it tho, masochism, pain kink, anal, smut, all consensual dw, I like to think this could've stopped the downfall of the gang

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Thinking about being an "old friend" of Dutch.

Used to go out robbing with him back in the day, until some crap went down. He thought you died, and you thought the same for him. But after the blackwater incident, a long overdue meeting happens when you both try to rob the same train.

Thinking about him "Inviting" (practically begging) you to join him, even though you both know you're doing damn well on your own.

Thinking about once you graciously agree, he's consulting you for every little thing, saying something along the lines of "let me consult the missus/mister" before he plans any jobs, finally taking SOMEONE'S advice other than his own. Treating you like Hosea, like himself. A higher up, a leader, despite you having never set foot in this gang in over 10, 15, years.

Thinking about him insisting that you don't have to do any of the "dirty work" if you don't feel like it. Barking orders at others to "take care of it" while dragging you back to his tent for no reason at all, other than to just smoke and drink and chat about everything and nothing.

Thinking about others being weirded out and slightly jealous of all the praise and approval you get from him, with even Molly questioning if he's sweet on you. Everyone is thinking it, that maybe he had something going on with you in the past. But, even when he was with Annabelle? He had never treated her this kindly.

Thinking about him catching glances at your fingers while you handle your gun, the way you draw it and shoot in the blink of an eye. Watching your hands move as you play poker at camp, making everybody else at the table go broke.

Thinking about him watching the way your chest heaves in and out after a gunfight. Watching the way your silver tongue talks them into money and out of trouble, even better than he or Hosea can.

Thinking about him stating he needs to "take a break" with Molly due to him "needing some time alone" while she watches him talk to you the same way he used to chat with her, but with actual longing in his eyes.

Thinking about you talking to him, almost down to him, with a certain smug look on your face as he looks at you with a certain devotion on his. You calling out the flaws in his ideas and plans, doubting him, doing things that would get anybody else labeled as a traitor. But not you. Anybody but you. As when you do it? All he can do is sit there and take it.

Thinking about you pushing him down by the chest where he sits anytime he does something or says something that you don't like. Knocking his drink out of his hand in front of everybody when he gets too out of line.

Thinking about punishing him for his behavior at night, taking long drags of his cigar and putting it out on his arm as you grip his hair and shove his face into his bed as you fuck him into the sheets.

Thinking about you leaving bruises on his neck after you choke him too hard for being too mean to one of his boys or after one of his infamous plans fuck up once again.

Thinking about making him rut up against your boot as you face fuck him, saying he isn't deserving of even touching you, and if he wants release he has to work for it himself. Stating that your shoes better be shining when he's done down there as he rubs his dick against your spurs, desperate for friction.

Thinking of you fucking him with his own gun after he begs you for more, with you degrading him for getting a hard on. Asking him what the Pinkertons, what his gang, would think if they learned that Dutch Van Der Linde himself is no more than a common whore. One barely good enough to fuck. Saying that maybe you should turn him in, that way you can use the money to buy a whore that actually does what they're told.

Thinking about him crying into your lap as he begs for release, and all you do is laugh at him and shove him off, leaving him alone and aching after you climax and he doesn't. Knowing that he needs this punishment to keep him in place.

Thinking about him palming himself for the rest of the night and choking himself with a tie you got him a long time ago, fucking himself stupid with your gun which you left in his tent. But it's not enough. Such a greedy boy. It's never enough for him.

That's why you have to keep him in line. It keeps him sane.

[crownedwithstars]

The Noldor's fight against Morgoth is doomed to fail for many reasons, but I think one of the very important ones is their overwhelming pride and sense of entitlement. I mean, when they come to Beleriand, their hands are dripping with the blood of their kin and there is certainly a sense of condescension against "the Dark Elves in their caves", but they still expect the locals to be convenient and accommodating and to happily join their fight. There seems to be very little if anything in the way of diplomacy and making alliances with the Sindar, be it to bring gifts to the long lost kin, to pay weregild for the slain Teleri, to appease and make friends with the people to whose lands they've just brought their war against literal Satan. They're so eager to rule their own kingdoms as if these were owed to them, never mind the fact that somebody else has already lived on these lands for a millennia. Very on brand behaviour for princes of paradise to ignore that others too may have pride to match theirs. It's such a stark contrast for how the relationships between the chiefs of Gondor and Rohan are portrayed in The Unfinished Tales and LOTR - there is mutual respect and love between Cirion and Eorl and Aragorn and Éomer, even though one culture may be technologically more advanced than the other. I wonder if this was intentional, and it seems likely because so often victories are won in the legendarium when people put aside their differences and approach one another with humility.

[the-blueprint]

essence

Your impact is immeasurable. For 24 cycles, America’s Next Top Model broke barriers, challenged beauty standards, and fought for diversity in an industry that often refused to make space for us. From the moment you stepped into the industry to the creation of ANTM, you’ve given us iconic moments that reshaped the modeling industry in ways words can’t fully capture. When you look up LEGEND in the dictionary, your name is right there—bold, undeniable, and forever iconic. Thank you for showing us that beauty has no mold. And congratulations on receiving the first-ever Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luminary Award. Well deserved, Tyra! 🫶🏾💐

[the-ever-evolving-queendom]

I feel his speech is still relevant to this day. Now more than ever I think the world needs to hear what he has to say.

@moonchildsthoughts longer version that I found. @voraciouskingdom @thelasthippie

[mai-komagata]

ok it isn't that i don't want to redeem sauron. in real life i hope if there is a god the apokatastasis is real. but like if we are making a ranked list of people who who should be redeemed in the rings of power show, i see scenes like halbrand stealing that sigil from that old man and leaving him to die or stabbing his orc children adar loves so much and worked so hard to make good again, or throwing mirdania over the railing, and im like, well, we can put sauron last on the list. he clearly doesn't want it. liking one powerful blonde woman gives you zero redemption points -- that doesnt even count as *trying*, that is just having eyes. its like you guys don't know how the ancient magic works at all.

[redeemedmillennial]

It’s gonna be the plumbers, reformed gang bangers, former atheists, and common folk entering Heaven—

maybe a few priests, pastors, and church dignitaries if they’re lucky.

Because grace doesn’t check credentials.

It checks hearts.

And sometimes the dirtiest hands have held the cross the tightest.

Matthew 21:31—“Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.”

[fishing-ball-z]

like DBZ is so loosely based off of JTTW that literally Vegeta fits as Sun Wukong better than Goku

[omegaphilosophia]

The Philosophy of Grace

The philosophy of grace reflects on the nature of unearned favor, benevolence, and the conditions under which forgiveness, generosity, or beauty can be freely given. Though often associated with theology, grace also has deep ethical, aesthetic, and existential dimensions in secular philosophy.

Core Dimensions of the Philosophy of Grace:

1. Theological Roots

In Christian philosophy, grace refers to God's unconditional love and mercy, given freely to humanity. Thinkers like St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas developed the idea that divine grace is not earned by merit, but bestowed through love. This highlights the paradox of justice and mercy—a gift that transcends desert.

2. Grace as Ethical Generosity

Philosophers have considered grace as moral excess—acts of kindness, forgiveness, or beauty that go beyond obligation. For example, Jacques Derrida and others see grace as a kind of gift that disrupts transactional thinking. It is ethically significant because it breaks the logic of reciprocity and highlights the possibility of true altruism.

3. Aesthetic Grace

In aesthetics, grace refers to a certain fluidity, harmony, or elegance—the effortless beauty of motion or design. For example, Edmund Burke distinguished between the sublime (powerful, awe-inspiring) and the graceful (delicate, pleasing). Grace in this context represents a kind of beauty that seems effortless and natural, inspiring admiration.

4. Grace and Forgiveness

Philosophically, grace and forgiveness are intertwined. Grace offers a model of forgiveness that does not demand repentance or reparation. This is controversial: some argue that such forgiveness might be unjust, while others say it is the highest form of love and freedom.

5. Existential and Humanistic Grace

In existentialist and post-secular thought, grace can be seen as a moment of transcendence in human life—when one chooses to act generously, to affirm life, or to let go of resentment. Simone Weil and Paul Tillich discussed grace as an experience of being accepted unconditionally, offering existential healing in a fragmented world.

6. Grace vs. Merit

Grace challenges the modern emphasis on achievement, control, and fairness. It introduces a language of vulnerability and gift-giving, where not everything must be earned or repaid. This leads to questions about social justice, inequality, and the space for compassion in competitive systems.

Summary:

The philosophy of grace spans ethics, theology, aesthetics, and human relations. It invites reflection on generosity beyond obligation, beauty beyond effort, and forgiveness beyond justice. Whether seen as divine or human, grace opens a space for unconditional acceptance, offering both hope and challenge in a world often ruled by merit and utility.

[pastorhogg]

Kings, Conflicts, and Comebacks

Thru the Bible in a Year Reading through 2 Chronicles 31–33 is like watching a drama unfold, filled with highs of spiritual revival and the lows of moral collapse. We encounter three kings—Hezekiah, Manasseh, and Amon—each leaving a legacy that reveals the spiritual temperature of their time and the responsiveness of God to both rebellion and repentance. Today’s passages challenge us to consider…

[ryanranney]

Wrath

What good are the screamers Who wail away at their personal right Shouting curses and threats to all Of their own perfect principle? Theirs is the dominion of frustration The kingdom of shattered trust This I know For I have screamed to boiling blood And found no ear who can comprehend it! What good are the punishers Who beat away at another’s bones Raging on against all blessed life Of their own…

[tpdmus]

Jerry Rigging?

The Bible is full of stories showing how pride often leads to a fall. When things seem to go well because of our own efforts, we must be cautious—setbacks are often lurking ahead. If I had given credit to the muffler can, rather than myself, my prideful tumble would have been easier to bear. It's a reminder that humility is key, and acknowledging God’s role in our success helps us avoid the pitfalls of overconfidence. It all starts with jerry rigging and ends in humiliation.

[mindfulldsliving]

The Rock of Our Redeemer: A Path to Spiritual Stability

In the Book of Helaman, we encounter a cycle that seems all too familiar even today—a dangerous loop of pride and humility. This cycle, often referred to as the "Pride Cycle," serves as a profound lesson on the human condition.

Building on the Rock of our Redeemer: Insights from Helaman 1-6 The Book of Helaman presents a turbulent period filled with political unrest, bands of robbers, and widespread rejection of prophets among the Nephites and Lamanites. Yet, it’s not just about the chaos—it’s about resilience. How did individuals like Nephi and Lehi remain spiritually strong as their world crumbled? The secret lies in…

[christianprophecytoday]

Words From Jesus (Mystic Jennifer) - "For that is the gravest danger to one's soul—is to see truth, know truth and deny truth." - July 2024

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[dawnlizjones]

No Tide Pens Back Then

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