#THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION according to john

[extristitiavenit]

it was afternoon, john had woken up with his hair matted to his face from sweat. there was a wave of confusion that washed over him while he attempted to gather himself and assess his surroundings, a mounted deer, mounted bison.. it was Jacob’s cabin. a heavy exhale left his lungs when he’d realized he still had a very long drive ahead of him, the night prior he had spent the entire night doped up on a concoction of bliss that was the equivalent of snorting a line and having shrooms for dinner, of course he was smart and didn’t do it while he was alone. he was out monitoring the night wildlife with Jacob and it made sense now why he had woke up in a very uncomfortable position on the couch; Jacob had to have thrown him there when he crashed.

the first thing in his mind was water, the second was getting the fuck out of there to escape the judgement of his oldest brother. he was by far more forgiving than Joseph ever could be, but it didn’t stop that need to avoid disappointing him. that was the closest thing to a father figure he had, the one that ultimately didn’t judge him but held disappointment as his main weapon against john. bringing an arm out to catch himself since he was very awkwardly placed on the couch, he managed to find his bearings and stand straight enough to grab a few of his things. keys, shirt, boots and jacket. four simple items you’d think would be easy to find in a small living area of a cabin, but three out of four of those were missing. but he heard the rattling of the door upstairs, which meant he had to go! so he quickly grabbed his keys and barefooted it out the door. run johnny boy, run!

he had managed to run barefoot through the gravel and down the hill where his car was parked, clear from the disappointing glare of jacob who was able to catch the pale tattooed back of his little brother disappear behind the tree line. if he would’ve faced his problems head on he would’ve realized jacob had just washed most of his clothes with his own, but rubber had been burnt. with the mountains getting a little smaller in his rear view mirror and the sun starting to glare into the windshield, he reached for his sunglasses that he had thankfully put away before getting completely obliterated the night before and quickly put them on before flipping the visor up and haphazardly flooring it though the windy roads of the mountain region. he just wanted to get back to his ranch where his favorite things were. his bed, his dogs, his drugs and his bathtub which he really needed.

it hadn’t been too long since he had been driving, but he was entering his beloved land and he knew that even when it came to the wildlife he was decent at predicting the roads, so of course he was going to reach down for the little mixed bottle of heavenly bliss just to give him a bit of a boost and finish its contents. he wasn’t keen on littering outside his car, so he tossed it behind him and brought his attention back to the road where he had to instantly lock his brakes and screech across the road since he’d almost slammed into the county’s newest deputy sheriff. God fucking damn it.

he had no clue who it was, his mouth was drying out slightly and his teeth were numbing so of course he wasn’t going to be thinking straight. it took him only a few seconds after almost skidding his car into hers before he quickly got out of his car and slammed the door, dramatically turning to look over at the culprit that snuck up on him. “ why in the fuck are you parked in the middle of the goddamn road? ” far from the middle, but he can’t be held responsible for the fact that he’s an idiot. It dawned on him very quickly as to the situation, the smoke, the car lid, the very aggravated deputy. which only made him gesture towards his car slightly, giving her an instant smile. “ and by that I mean can I offer you a ride so you’re not stranding in the middle of said goddamn road. ” he was trying his very best to backtrack his attitude towards her. but he might be on to something.

—- G o s p e l —

[ @extristitiavenit ]

Hope County was truly a beautiful place; the cascading mountains and rolling hills of fertile farmland seemed to stretch for miles and miles, disappearing into lines of thick spring pines that dotted the horizon. It seemed like it was such an idyllic place; Marion often found herself reminiscing about her childhood home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana whilst on her lunch breaks due to the overwhelming amount of very beautiful but very foreign scenery… A swampy transplant into an arid tundra, a fish out of water. Being sent all over the country was hard enough as it was, but never being able to stay in one place long enough to grow some roots was harder. It was always something- a new job, a boyfriend, loss of income— something- something- something… Deputy Fuller had hoped that a change of scenery into the God fearing farmlands would strike down whatever wandering roots that would grab soil. Maybe this could actually be the place she settled down and called it good. Maybe it was the place where she would live and die quietly after she finished with whatever dumb prospect this job was.

The station was quiet, though as usual there was a gentle chatter over the radio between squad cars and her co-workers idle conversations flowing through the air in a gentle hum while the air conditioning unit whirs quietly overhead. As nice as it was to have such down time, it did put a slight alarm through her. Could it be quiet here for longer than a day? Probably not- there was always something happening over the radio, with those Peggies meandering around the valley and mountains- the ‘Eden’s Gate’ project, or whatever.. She really didn’t care. It didn’t affect her life, (well- it did- it did so much she ended up in Hope County, Montana to fill in a position that was, in fact, permanently vacant); and the ways it did affect her were easily written off with a nice blunt and a cold drink at her small cabin after work. Quitting time was always on her mind- her hazy green hues darting over to the white bubble clock that hung over the dirty front door. 5:15 p.m.- another 15 minutes until she could clock out and head home… Outside, a caravan of white vehicles with that stupid cross painted on the sides of them head down the main thoroughfare- honking and blasting their music loud enough to be heard all the way inside the station offices- “Keep your rifle by our side!” The tune hangs high in the air like a flag, and soon the cacophony of tires and engines and guitars fade into the distance until there was nothing left but the gentle clicking of the clock and the hum of the air conditioner. Marion rolled her eyes, stretched her arms up above her head and let off a loud yawn; hands unceremoniously rubbing her face and pushing back her mess of black curly hair. What a boring day. Nothing but paperwork and emails, two phone calls from the F.A.N.G center and one from the Chief to keep an eye out for a package that may or may not show up. Again. What a thrilling job; (Junior) Deputy Sheriff and she may as well have been a fucking secretary.

Another shift, another day completed; clocking out with an actual time punch was always one of the best parts of the job, one of those ‘little things’ her therapist back in Los Angeles told her when she was in her early years of being on the force.. What a lifetime ago, freshly 18 and just wanting to do the right thing— a road to hell paved with the best of intentions.. The old machine reams the paper with a clunk and Marion is out the door with her bag and glasses in hand, headed out to the old Ford truck in the parking lot.. The sun was setting by now, the sky being painted in brilliant chunks of reds and oranges and pinks.. A nice view for the drive home too, tires whirring down the evenly paved road down into Holland Valley. Farm land, for miles and miles. At least, she thought, it didn’t stink like some parts of the country she had stayed in.. These people out here took good care of their livestock and it showed. When the engine of the trucks begun to rattle and almost scream with uncertainty, it made her flicker back to reality and ease off the road and onto the shoulder; smoke flooding from the hood of the car as the lever under her seat was pressed with trepidation and concern for how she was now going to get home.

Standing over the fried engine, lit cigarette between her lips and flashlight in her southpaw, she felt like a real tool standing out there in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere, nothing but trees and fields and cars that scooted by almost hurriedly as the night settled into the valley. Marion didn’t blame them- things tended to get sketchy at best when night came.

“Aaaah fuckin’… Ya’ piece of shit, perfect fuckin’ timing to die out on me huh. You juss’ loooooove causing me issues.” The bayou woman scoffed and slammed the hood down after settling on a diagnosis: Fried radiator and snapped belt, transmission broken. Absolute destruction. Leaning now with her back to the warmed metal of the hood, she idly flicks through her phone— no signal— no reach. There was nothing out here, and she wasn’t exactly able to take a radio from the station. That was priorly a write up. So with a scoff and a groan and a few more expletives, Marion cleared the cab of her belongings and shoved them unceremoniously into her leather backpack, turned off the lights and slammed the truck door closed with a thud. There was nothing now but the eerie silence and the air current moving through the trees- if she didn’t like the dark at home, she surely hated it when outside. There was a certain fear that comes with walking alone at night, but hopefully, hopefully, the 13 mile walk in almost pitch darkness wouldn’t be that bad.

[foulfirerebel]

Red Dead Redemption 2 things I find funny and interesting (Spoiler warning)

You can, and will, kill the KKK in this game. You get positive Honor for doing so. It also feels good to do.

There was this really annoying, eugenics spouting fellow in Saint Denis, right? At first, had Arthur diss him and he ran off. Had Arthur punch him and no one did anything to stop me or even call the sheriff. So, he shows up a third time? Shot him in the head. Aside from a few gasps at the gunfire? No police. That is intentional.

The fishing. Say whatever the heck you will about the hunting, but if you follow me on Twitch you know I've spent hours on the fishing. I just find it relaxing, especially when the sun rises or sets in game.

Running away from a gun fight because a huge, fuck off Grizzly Bear decided to barge in. Had that happen a couple times.

There's a giant Arthur and later John can talk to. Never got that to trigger.

Aliens exist. You can see their UFOs over you in two different places.

I've been kicked by my horse for forgetting what button is the mount up button before. It's funny.

Never start a fight in Van Horn, especially not in the saloon. You will end up fighting the entire town. Source: me on more than one occasion.

There's a giant snake carcass by Pleasance. Its presence is never explained or remarked upon, and there's likewise a giant snake mound. Despite this, there is no giant snake to hunt. This angers me, given you can hunt this massive alligator that tries to eat Arthur in one story mission.

Darkness is fucking scary in this game, especially when you can't see two feet in front of you when it rains/storms at night. Especially if a cougar, a pack of wolves, the Night Folk, or the Murfree Brood come after you.

Ambushes are a thing. I lost my first horse to one after they brought a gatling gun to one and couldn't recover fast enough.

The moose are massive in the game.

The treasure hunts are really annoying without a guide.

FUCK. MICAH. BELL. He shoulda died twice over and I'm glad he got shot a whole bunch in the epilogue. Fucking traitorous POS.

The Epilogue is a lot better than Red Dead 1's by virtue of giving you more to do, and also provides more of a better ending to the Van Der Linde gang.

The Mysterious Stranger appears again in the game. He has a house in the swamp. Visit it as John or late game as Arthur.

Always donate to the blind man on the side of the road.

As John, in the area where Red Dead 1 takes place, there was a house that just exploded randomly. Looking it up, it appears to be because of the boiler.

The serial killer quest.

Seriously, the serial killer quest is one of the examples of the most horrifying quests in a game like this since you see the victims are decapitated or worse. Getting to put him down was satisfying.

I played Arthur as an honest man according to my friend. Helped people where I could, spared folk instead of killing them outright, paid my dues, etc. That felt a heck of a lot better than trying to be evil.

I prefer 2 over 1 overall, but one complaint I do agree with is the idea that it's too simulator based in some areas. I prefer the duels of 1, the hunting and skinning of 1 (takes too long in 2), liar's dice in 1, and the inventory having of 1 over 2. That said, 2 is better at everything else: story, characters, character development, interaction with the world feels better, the fishing, etc.

2 made me cry harder than 1 did, especially when Arthur contracts TB.

Speaking of which, Arthur contracting TB is just one big sad fest all the way through.

The strangers you meet in 2 feel like they have more impact on me than in 1. The doc trying to show the electric chair, the serial killer, the blind man, the injured veteran, the veteran you help and get a good horse from, the nuns you can help in Saint Denis, etc.

Heck, just being able to see stories to completion: the widow who you can visit repeatedly, the scientist obsessed with creating life (who succeeds, you can find the robot), the runaway couple from the Braithwaite storyline, might be others I've forgotten.

Just...all the characters involved from Arthur to Sadie to Abagail to John to Charles, everyone gets something to do and that's awesome to me.

Heck, just the idea that this is about a family having a major break up and falling apart.

The music.

Seriously, the music. Either the vocal tracks or the instrumentals. Could listen to it for hours.

If anyone would like to add on to this, please do. I've probably only scratched the surface despite having beat it.

[theprayerfulword]

June 5

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away…! 18 All this is from God, Who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

1 Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Isaiah 54:10 “For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, and My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” says the LORD Who has compassion on you.

May you see with the eyes of God to understand the purposes behind actions and discern the motivations of choices, lest what seems a simple option to the natural mind bring the chastisement of God against a prideful and arrogant heart. 2 Samuel 24

May the offerings you give to the Lord come from deep in your heart and carry meaning and value, rather than being casual and uncaring in your thoughts and words, for what God has given you is His dearest and best-loved. 2 Samuel 24

May you be willing to give that which you have received from the Lord to those He brings you to, who hunger for and desire after the deep and eternal things of God, the healing of the soul and the confirming of His word by the healing of the body, that all may see and know the truth of the glory of God. Acts 3

May you humbly acknowledge the Source of the blessings which are poured out by the Spirit, reverently pointing others to Jesus, keeping none of the glory and desiring none of the praise, but joining with all to honor the Father for His love toward us. Acts 3

May you daily live in the joy of forgiveness and times of refreshing which come from repentance and the wiping away of your sins, knowing you are in right standing and full fellowship with the Father, communing with the Son, as you are led by the Spirit in the work of the kingdom. Acts 3

My child, will you follow Me? You joyfully answered this question before when I asked it of you, and you left the place you were and the things you were doing when I first approached you. The road we have walked has taken you to unexpected places holding unsuspected surprises, bringing, in their turn, unanticipated sorrows and unimaginable joys. You have grown fit and strong in faith, and you have gained new perspective and greater wisdom in My Word and Spirit. The road turns upward here, My dear one, and the path grows more rugged. More will be required of you. Much of what you have been allowed to carry along the way this far will have to be left by the wayside. Your heart will know greater gain, but your flesh will know greater loss. I extend the same invitation now, offering a higher plane, if you are willing. Will you follow Me?

May you lift up your eyes to the One Whose throne is in heaven as the eyes of a slave looks to the hand of his master till He shows you His mercy for you have endured much contempt and ridicule from the proud and arrogant. Psalm 123

May you be known for the intelligent understanding and prudent discernment which the Lord gives you with pleasant and gracious words that promote instruction and increase learning, as the wise-hearted are known for. Proverbs 16:21

May the Lord give you good sense, prudent insight, knowledgeable discretion and wise understanding which will be a wellspring of life to you and a life-giving fountain to those God wants to bless. Proverbs 16:22

May the Spirit of God renew your mind and the Word of God regenerate your heart to give you wise and prudent speech, filled with grace, which is persuasive and instructive to those who will hear what God has given you. Proverbs 16:23

[badzkyrie]

The True Path to Salvation: Why Religion Alone Cannot Save Us

Many people turn to religion seeking salvation, hoping that by following a set of rules or rituals, they can earn their place in heaven. But what does the Bible, the word of God, say about this? According to Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." This passage clearly states that salvation comes through faith in God's grace, not through our own works or religious practices. Our salvation is not something we can earn; it’s a gift from God, given freely to those who put their trust in Jesus Christ. This doesn’t mean that church practices are irrelevant, but rather that they are not the means by which we are saved. Jesus has already secured our salvation by dying on the cross because of His love for us and His knowledge that we cannot save ourselves. As John 3:16 says, "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." This verse highlights the incredible love and grace of God, who offers salvation to all who believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. Salvation is not earned through human efforts or good deeds or merits; it’s a gift from God, made possible through His grace and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. No amount of religious striving can earn us eternal life—it's only through faith in Jesus that we can have true salvation. Our salvation is entirely dependent on God's grace, not on our own efforts or merits. It’s a humbling reminder that we cannot save ourselves. In John 14:6, Jesus declares, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Here, Jesus makes it clear that He is the only way to God the Father. Salvation is found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, not through religious systems or rituals. Religious systems are man-made and no man can dictate the way to reach God; it is God who reached out to us by sending His only begotten Son to save us. Consider also Matthew 7:21-23, where Jesus says, "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." This passage emphasizes the importance of aligning our lives with God's will and putting only our faith in Him, rather than just going through religious motions. The message is clear: religion alone cannot save us. It is only through God's grace, as revealed in Jesus Christ, that we can have true salvation and eternal life. We should place our faith not in our own religious efforts, but in the unmerited favor of God, who offers us forgiveness and redemption through His Son Jesus Christ. If you are still in doubt and unsure about where you will go after you die, it is not too late. Accept the love of God, humble yourself, acknowledge that you are a sinner who needs a Savior, and put your faith in Jesus Christ alone. He died for you to give you eternal life. You don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Accept Jesus as your Lord and personal Savior. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Now is the time, now is the day of salvation. As 2 Corinthians 6:2 says, "For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." How to be saved? Read: ABC of Salvation or Romans Road to Salvation Read the full article

[childofchrist1983]

If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. - Ephesians 4:21:32 KJV

We don’t always allow ourselves to get a complete and accurate picture of who Jesus Christ truly is. Jesus said that He is the the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). In Him, we have salvation and in Him, all truth is revealed. But our own preferences, desires, and fears sometimes lead us to a faulty picture of Jesus. So let’s seek to know Him as He really is, and be centered on Him and His Truth. Jesus has revealed Himself to us through many ways, and especially in His Holy Word. Yet, we still try to make Him what we want Him to be, instead of seeing Him for who He really is. May He guide us in His Truth and His ways, so that we may know and proclaim Him faithfully, and we may live according to His Truth and His will for our lives.

Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for rescuing us from our destructive ways, and setting our feet on His path. Thank Him for lighting and guiding our steps and tending to the road ahead of us. May He help us to seek Him daily as we make this journey, so that we may not stray from Him and wander into ruin and destruction. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for easing our burdens and granting us the rest found in His mercy and forgiveness. May He teach us to walk in His gentleness and grace. Thank Him for providing us the strength to serve Him and for carrying the weight that should have been ours, all in His gracious name. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for faithfully staying with us in all times and places. We have not always sought Him and His guidance, yet He has continuously shown us the way back to Him. May He guide everything that we say and do, and show us the way no matter where He may lead us.

May He empower us by His Holy Word and Spirit to live in the light of His Truth, love grace. May our healing and transformation glorify His name and Kingdom of Heaven and reveal who He truly is to others. May He help us to keep close to Him, so that we may endure until He fully sets us free and brings us to our true home in His Kingdom of Heaven. Thank Him for His Holy Word and Spirit. Thank Him for revealing the Truth of Him and His holiness. May He help us to hold close to Him just as He holds close to us, so that we may live in humble and faithful obedience. If we stray from Him and His path, may He use His Holy Word and Spirit to bring us close to Him once again. May He help us daily to trust fully in Him and His love, provision and care. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for making us anew! May He complete His renewing work in us, ridding us of the sinful words, thoughts and actions that aren’t from Him, so that we may reflect only His love and light and presence in us to this dark and fallen world and the lost souls within it.

God is our Heavenly Father, our Creator and our guide. And Jesus Christ is our LORD and Savior and King. As Christians, we trust Him wholeheartedly and we submit our heart and our lives into His skilled hands. May He shape us according to His design and plan for us, so that we may stand strong in the firing furnace and emerge revealing His craftsmanship as He prepares us serve Him on Earth and in His Kingdom of Heaven according to His Holy Word and will. May He give us the peace and endurance we need each day, and may He use this time to help us grow in His wisdom and strength and to grow in our walk and relationship with Him. May He make us more into the person that He not only created us to us to be, but called us to be from the very beginning.

Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for securing a place for all true Christian believers as followers of Christ and spiritually reborn children of God in His eternal Kingdom. Each day, the sun rises and its light and warmth, and the Holy Bible gives us a glimpse of the promised eternity to come. May we continue to walk in the love and light of Christ with our heads held high and our eyes on the finish line. May we lead others to His Gospel Truth and to His light as well throughout this journey with Him. Let us all humble ourselves before God daily, asking Him to forgive us and to strength and teach us to view life through the lens of God and His promises. May He guard our hearts against Satan and the temptations of this world and our flesh. May He give us the peace to find full satisfaction in God and His peace and promises, so that we may live our lives daily in ways that honor and pleases Him. As we seek Him daily, may He reveal Himself to us through the words He has provided and use it to conform the desires of our heart to Him and His love and compassion and grace.

As true and spiritually reborn Christians, we love, trust and believe in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ. We choose to keep Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ first in our hearts and lives and all other worldly desires behind us. He extends salvation to everyone, and we want to show the world the freedom, hope and peace they can have in accepting and following Him. We must ask Him to help us grow spiritually in our relationship with Him and strengthen us and the bonds of love that He has given us, so that our unity may glorify and testify to His power and goodness. Thank Him for calling us to faith and imparting us with salvation and righteousness. May He empower us to live in His will and righteousness, so that we may testify to His soul-saving power as our faith carries us past all doubt, fear, and failure. May He grant us the grace to forgive others who have wronged us, and the humility to seek forgiveness where we have caused strife. May we follow and serve God daily with love, trust, awe and wonder. May Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ strengthen our faith, lift our spirits, protect our hearts, and show us opportunities to help bring others to Him and His Gospel Truth daily. May we do this duty boldly, humbly and faithfully. Seek, follow and trust in the LORD God Almighty always! To God be all the honor and praise and glory!

We must come to Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ with sincere hearts to ask forgiveness and follow Him and His Holy Word and Spirit always. We praise Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for the mercy He bestows upon us and we are grateful for His grace and mercy and infinite blessings. By surrendering our hearts and our lives to His will, we see all the blessings He has bestowed upon us. God our refuge and our salvation and our constant provider. We lift our voices to Him in praise for His steadfast love, mercy and understanding. May Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ open our minds and hearts more and more to perceive and embrace Him and His truths. May He help us to find time to pray and read and study the Holy Bible daily and to find power in prayer, praying according to His Holy Word and will. May He help us to come to Him in true repentance and with faith in Him and His grace and merciful nature. May He give us the grace, courage and strength we need to walk with Him and do His will daily. May He teach us to watch our words when we pray to Him and to speak reverently and rightly. May we continually ask God to transform our hearts and make us faithful and humble as we walk with Him daily. We must come to Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ with honest, humble and repentant hearts. We must seek Him and His will and choose to follow Him all the days of our lives. May He help transform our hearts, help us to seek and live for Him above all else and to grow spiritually and build our faith and relationship with Him with each passing day. May He forgive our sinful nature and help us always make Him and our relationship with Him top priority.

As true and born-again Christians, we choose to walk in His righteous path and lead a life that is pleasing to Him. We desire Him and His will above anything else. We desire to walk in accordance with the love and light He has shown to us through His Holy Word and Spirit. We long for a deeper relationship with Him and a deeper fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ as well. When we fall into temptation and sin, we must turn to Him for forgiveness, strength and guidance. When believers learn to walk in accordance with God's Holy Word and Spirit, they have deeper fellowship with both God and one another. And the sin that could threaten to destroy that fellowship, if confessed (1 John 1:9), is covered in the blood of Jesus Christ and no longer a barrier between us and God. May we ask Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ to forgive us for any sins we have sinned this day or in days past. May we be faithful to Him and His Holy Word always. May He help us to walk more consistently in the light and to not neglect long to confess and forsake any sins that hinder our walk with Him. May He lead us in the direction He wants us to go so that we may seek and serve Him faithfully. God is holy and almighty and deserving of all praise honor and glory. We rejoice in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ, knowing He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8). May our hearts always be filled with thanksgiving and rejoicing. May He help us to praise Him freely and honestly like all believers who came before us. May we live a life that showcases our love and trust in Him and His Holy Word and Spirit as He uses us draw others to Him and His soul-saving Gospel Truth daily. May He continue guide, correct and protect us, so that we continue to grow in Him and not weaken and stray. May we all remain faithful to Him and to this duty and purpose He has called us to. Seek and put your faith and trust in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ and let Him do the rest. May He humble our hearts and help us focus on following and serving Him daily and helping others with joy and happiness. We lift our voices in praise to Him for His love, mercy, peace, faithfulness and grace - For EVERYTHING!

It is vital that we remain rooted in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit and that we live and walk as a beacon of His light and love and share and spread the Gospel Truth daily, so that the lost souls in this world can come to know Him and be saved. The more we focus on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ, growing spiritually by building our relationship with Him, leaning on Him and His Holy Word and Spirit, the better off we will be. Thanks to this and our faith in Him, we know that everything will be alright. And we will forever be grateful to Him. As true and born-again Christians, we believe in Him and His Holy Word and we strive daily to walk in His Holy Spirit. We know though our mortal bodies should die, He will raise us up and into new and glorious bodies (The Rapture). We who are truly His and alive at His second coming will never die, and our bodies will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and so shall we ever be with Him in His Kingdom of Heaven forevermore (1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This is one of many promises given to us by God Himself. Thank God for His strength and guidance when we are faced with sin and temptation. Thank Him for His mercy and grace. Through Bible study and prayer, God reveals His wisdom and guides us to see opportunities to grow closer to Him and grow spiritually. He gives us direction to live our lives daily according to His will.

Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven (John 3:5, 14:6), the ONLY way to salvation (Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9) and He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25-26). Jesus Christ the LORD of lords, the KING of kings, the GOD of gods (Deuteronomy 10:17, 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:16) - He is the Living, Almighty and Everlasting God (Isaiah 9:6, Revelation 1:8, John 3:16, John 3:36, Jeremiah 10:10). There is no other God besides Him (Isaiah 45:5). We MUST humble ourselves before Him, turning our backs on false teachers, false gods and idols and our sinful ways. We MUST repent and turn back to God and recognize who He is and love Him in return for His great love for us. We MUST make God top priority everyday! May we be motivated to spread God's Holy Word and Gospel Truth to all the Earth, knowing that it is the only hope of all those lost in their sins. Let us not hold out a false hope for men to be saved without the Gospel, but instead, strive to do our part to get the Gospel out to a lost and dying world.

Leaning on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit strengthens us and our knowledge and wisdom about God and His Gospel Truth, exposing these imposters. May God help us to seek and lean on Him daily to gain the strength, wisdom and spiritual discernment needed to expose Satan and his imposters who seek to destroy us and God's ultimate Truth. Everyday, we must remember to share Jesus Christ's Gospel Truth with the world and to thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for the grace that He poured out for us on the cross at Calvary. He has freed us from the burdens of sin and from the eternal damnation of Hell. In all we say and do, may all praise, honor and glory always be given to Him and His Kingdom of Heaven.

With renewed minds, hearts and wills, let us serve Him humbly and faithfully out of pure love and grateful rejoicing. May He remind us of His presence and to remain at peace, fully knowing that all will be well because He is always with us. Let us seek Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ today and everyday with all our heart and being, looking for His love, light and will for our lives with each step we take. Let us seek to please Him with our thoughts, words, and deeds and seek to advance His Kingdom of Heaven and His glory with our lives. Let us seek Him from a pure and humble heart, and when we so seek, we believe Him and His promise that we will find. May He help us all to be more sensitive to the teaching ministry of His Holy Word and Spirit, relying on Him and allowing Him to speak to us and guide us every step of our Christian journey.

God gave us the Holy Bible - His living and Holy Word - to let us know of Him and His abiding love and care as well as guide and prepare us for all our lives. May He help us encourage one another as we continue our walk with Him and our duty to Him daily. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for being present for all our new beginnings and all our lives. May He redirect any anxiety we feel as He provides countless opportunities for growth and change. May we humble ourselves before God always, asking Him to forgive our sins and make our hearts and lives anew through His Holy Word and Spirit. May He help us make Him and His Holy Word top priority, so we can grow spiritually and grow in our relationship with Him as we apply it to our daily lives. Thank God that we can focus on Him and everything about Him, for that is what keeps us sane and at peace. May our words and actions always be a reflection of Him and His Holy Word and Spirit and will.

May He help us to always walk in His grace and Holy Spirit, not by our own measure. May He give us the humble humility to know that our freedom and eternal salvation is found only in Him, so that His grace may sustain us, and we may never lose sight of His love and light and mercy. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for calling us to Him and to serve Him. May He equip us to do all that He has called us to do so that as He works through us, He may use us to produce fruit, to reach others, and to encourage all brothers and sisters in Christ. May He work all of these things in us and through us for His Kingdom and His glory. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all His creation, for His miraculous ways and for everything He does and has done for us! Keep the faith and keep moving forward in your walk with Jesus! He loves us and He knows what is best for us. Seek, follow and trust in Him - ALWAYS!

Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Word and for sending His Holy Spirit so that we might have His grace, not only to awaken us and transform our hearts in our spiritual rebirth and guarantee our eternity with Him, but to also call upon Him whenever we are in need. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all the reminders of His love and mercy and faithfulness within His Holy Word. He is bigger than any challenge or circumstance in our lives. Knowing this within our minds and our hearts, nothing can deter our faith in Him and His Truth. May we all accept Him and His eternal gift of salvation and ask that He would transform our hearts and lives according to His will and ways. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Spirit who saves, seals and leads us. May we always thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His almighty power and saving grace. For He is our strength, and He alone is able to save us, forgive our sins and gift us eternal salvation and entry into His Kingdom of Heaven.

May we make sure that we give our hearts and lives to God and take time to seek and praise Him and share His Truth with the world daily. May the LORD our God and Father in Heaven help us to stay diligent and obedient and help us to guard our hearts in Him and His Holy Word daily. May He help us to remain faithful and full of excitement to do our duty to Him and for His glorious return and our reunion in Heaven as well as all that awaits us there. May we never forget to thank the LORD our God and our Creator and Father in Heaven for all this and everything He does and has done for us! May we never forget who He is, nor forget who we are in Christ and that God is always with us! What a mighty God we serve! What a Savior this is! What a wonderful LORD, God, Savior and King we have in Jesus Christ! What a loving Father we have found in Almighty God! What a wonderful God we serve! His will be done!

Thanks and glory be to God! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Hallelujah and Amen!

[dfroza]

Rings of children circled round and sang, “Hosanna to the Son of David.”

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 21st chapter of the book of Matthew:

Jesus, the disciples, and the great crowds were heading toward Jerusalem when they came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus stopped and beckoned to two of the disciples.

Jesus: Go to the village over there. There you’ll find a donkey tied to a post and a foal beside it. Untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone tries to stop you, then tell him, “The Master needs these,” and he will send the donkey and foal immediately.

He sent the disciples on ahead so His entry into Jerusalem could fulfill what the prophet Zechariah had long since foretold:

Tell this to Zion’s daughter,

“Look—your King is approaching,

seated humbly on a donkey,

a young foal, a beast of burden.”

So the disciples went off and followed Jesus’ instructions. They brought the donkey and foal to Jesus, they spread their cloaks on the animals, and Jesus sat down on them. The great crowd followed suit, laying their cloaks on the road. Others cut leafy branches from the trees and scattered those before Jesus. And the crowds went before Jesus, walked alongside Him, and processed behind—all singing.

Crowd: Hosanna, praises to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Eternal One! Hosanna in the highest!

And that is how Jesus came into Jerusalem. The people noticed this strange parade. They wondered who this could be, this humble bearded man on a donkey who incited such songs.

Crowd: This is Jesus, the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.

Jesus came to the temple. He drove out all those who were buying and selling. He upended the moneychangers’ tables and the dove-sellers’ benches.

Jesus: It is written, “My house will be a house of prayer for all people,” but you have turned this house of prayer into a den of robbers.

Then the blind and the lame came to the temple, and Jesus healed them. Rings of children circled round and sang, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” But the priests and scribes didn’t understand. When they saw the upturned tables, the walking paralytics, and the singing children, they were shocked, indignant, and angry, and they did not understand.

Priests and Scribes: Do you hear what these children are saying?

Jesus: Yes. Haven’t you read your own psalter? “From the mouths and souls of infants and toddlers, the most innocent, You have decreed praises for Yourself.”

At that, Jesus left Jerusalem. He went to Bethany, where He spent the night.

The next morning, Jesus went back to the city. It was early and He was wanting breakfast, so He stopped at a lone fig tree by the road. The fig tree, disappointingly, had no figs, only leaves.

Jesus: May you never bear fruit again!

Immediately the tree shriveled up. The disciples were amazed.

Disciples: How did that fig tree wither so quickly?

Jesus: I tell you this: if you have faith and do not doubt, then you will be able to wither a fig tree with one glance. You will be able to tell mountains to throw themselves into the ocean, and they will obey.

Jesus: If you believe, whatever you ask for in prayer will be granted.

Jesus returned to the temple and began to teach. The chief priests and elders came to Him and wanted to know who had given Him permission to disturb the temple precincts and to teach His crazy notions in this most sacred of spots.

Chief Priests and Elders: Who gave You the authority to do these things?

Jesus: I will answer your question if first you answer one of Mine: You saw John ritually cleansing people through baptism for the redemption of their sins. Did John’s cleansing come from heaven, or was he simply washing people of his own whim?

The elders knew that this question was tricky; there was no simple answer. If they acknowledged that John’s ritual cleansing was from heaven, Jesus would ask why they had not accepted John’s authority. But if they said he had dipped people simply by his own accord, they would outrage the people who believed John was a prophet.

Chief Priests and Elders: We don’t know.

Jesus: Then neither will I tell you about the authority under which I am working. But I will tell you a story, and you can tell Me what you make of it: There was a man who had two sons. He said to his first son,

Father: Go and work in the vineyard today.

First Son: No, I will not.

But later the first son changed his mind and went. Then the father went to his second son.

Father: Go and work in the vineyard today.

Second Son: Of course, Father.

But then he did not go. So which of the sons did what the father wanted?

Chief Priests and Elders (answering at once): The first.

Jesus: I tell you this: the tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the kingdom of God ahead of you. John came to show you the straight path, the path to righteousness. You did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. Even as you saw the prostitutes and the tax collectors forgiven and washed clean, finding their footing on the straight path to righteousness, still you did not change your ways and believe.

Here is another story: A landowner planted a vineyard, put a wall around it, fitted it with a winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard and left town. When harvesttime came, the landowner sent his servants to collect rent—in the form of grapes—from his tenants. The tenants attacked these rent-collecting servants. They killed one, stoned another, and beat a third. The dismayed landowner sent another band of servants to try to collect his due, a larger group of servants this time, but the tenants did the same thing—capturing, beating, killing. Finally the landowner sent his son to the tenants, thinking, “They will at least respect my son.” But the tenants knew the son was the best way to get to the landowner, so when they saw the son approaching they said,

Tenants: This is the landowner’s heir apparent! Let’s kill him and take his inheritance.

And so they did; they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

What do you think the landowner will do when he comes and sees those tenants?

Chief Priests and Elders: He will eviscerate them, to be sure! Then he will rent the vineyard to other tenants who will pay him at harvesttime.

Jesus: I wonder if any of you has ever opened your own psalter:

The stone that the builders rejected

has become the very stone that holds together the entire foundation.

This is the work of the Eternal One,

and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Therefore, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to people who will tend its sweet fruit and who will give the Creator His due. [He who falls on the stone will be broken to pieces, and he on whom the stone falls will be crushed.]

And so the chief priests and the Pharisees, the teachers and the elders, knew that when Jesus told these stories He was speaking about them. Not believing, they looked for a way to arrest Him—a stealthy way, though. They were afraid to make too bold a move against Him because all the people believed He was a prophet.

The Book of Matthew, Chapter 21 (The Voice)

A set of notes from The Voice translation:

After a great parade, Jesus and His disciples walk into the temple area, and what He sees enrages Him. He sees moneychangers, buying and selling. He sees men sitting on benches, hawking doves to those who have come from the countryside to make a sacrifice. He sees that the salesmen and teachers have turned a sanctuary of worship into a place of spiritual prostitution. This is the place where Jesus came as a boy to sit with the great teachers. It is the place where His Father receives the offerings of His people. It is more than Jesus can take.

Can anyone be surprised at this other side to Jesus? He has turned out to be not just a kindly teacher; instead, He is the Anointed One, not to be taken lightly. In the midst of this scene filled with joy and chaos, there are extremes. Some are beginning to understand who this man from Galilee is—the Anointed—but the rulers are having great difficulty with the disruption to their orderly world.

•

Jesus has just confronted the spiritual leaders of the land with hard reality. They have two choices: they can believe Him and repent, or they can disbelieve Him and call His stories rabble-rousing and craziness. In their minds, the cost of believing is just too high. Everything they have—their positions and standings in the community, their worldviews, their own images of themselves—is at stake. But they can’t openly condemn this popular teacher of the people.

Today’s paired reading from the First Testament is the 1st chapter of the book of Micah:

These are the words of the Eternal One and the visions about the two capital cities of Israel and Judah, Samaria and Jerusalem, that were given to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah over Judah.

Listen, all of you people!

Pay attention, earth and all upon it!

The Eternal Lord gives evidence against you;

the Lord speaks from His holy temple.

Look at this: the Eternal is leaving His home in heaven,

and He is coming down to walk over the high places of the earth.

The mountains will melt beneath His feet;

the valleys will burst open,

Like wax next to a raging fire,

as water pours from the heights.

Eternal One: All of this is happening because of the crimes of Jacob,

the wrongdoings of the people of Israel.

And what is the crime of Jacob? Isn’t it Samaria?

And what is the high place of Judah? Isn’t it Jerusalem?

And so I will turn Samaria into a pile of ruins in an open field.

To make her properly into a place to plant a vineyard,

I will roll her stones into the valley

and bare her foundations for all to see.

I will shatter her images and burn her immoral riches with fire,

and all her idols I will break down.

They came from the earning of prostitutes, servants of other gods,

and they will be used again to pay the wages of another prostitute.

Because of this, I will howl and wail;

this is why I will go barefoot and naked,

Why I will scream like the jackals

and screech like the ostriches as if in mourning.

Eternal One: For her wounds cannot be cured because Samaria’s transgression has reached Judah.

It now has reached the gate of My people, even in Jerusalem.

Do not tell this in Gath. Do not weep even a little.

In Beth-le-aphrah, wallow in the dust as you mourn.

Travel on, you who live in Shaphir, no longer beautiful but naked and ashamed.

You who live in Zaanan, do not come out when the enemy approaches.

Beth-ezel is weeping, “He is tearing you away from His foundations,”

and she won’t be there to support her neighbors.

Those who live in Maroth wait anxiously for good news;

the Eternal sends disaster down to the gates of Jerusalem.

Harness your horses to the chariots, you who live in the stronghold called Lachish;

in you are the seeds of the sin of My daughter Zion;

in you are the crimes of Israel.

That is why you will pay a dowry to Moresheth-gath

when Israel departs for exile.

The houses of Achzib will deceive and disappoint the kings of Israel.

I will send a conqueror again to all of you living in Mareshah,

and the glory of Israel, her treasures and leaders, will come to Adullam for refuge as David once did.

Cut off your hair and shave your heads. Prepare yourselves for slavery

on account of the children whom you pampered and privileged.

Make yourself as bald as an eagle,

for they have been removed from you into exile.

The Book of Micah, Chapter 1 (The Voice)

A note from The Voice translation:

The Northern Kingdom of Israel, sometimes called Samaria after its capital city, was conquered by the Assyrian Empire in 722 b.c. The Southern Kingdom of Judah, where Micah lives and speaks, has been spared that fate, but at a high price: the people have lost the power to govern themselves, pay huge tributes to the Assyrians, and allow the corruption of their religious practices because of the Assyrians’ influence. All Israelites suffer under these conditions, but Micah’s attention is drawn especially to the poor and dispossessed; somehow, as often happens in wartime, rich people manage to get richer while the poor are exploited, and Micah is outraged at the way the rulers of Judah have taken advantage of those who had little—and now have less.

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for Saturday, january 27 of 2024 with a paired chapter from each Testament (the First & the New) of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons about the spiritual significance of the Exodus:

The Greater Exodus of Yeshua....

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After Peter had rightly confessed that Yeshua was the “Messiah of God” (מְשִׁיחַ הָאֱלֹהִים), Yeshua explained that his role as the “Son of Man” would require suffering many things, including being rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes of Israel, and that he would be killed, but raised the third day (Luke 9:18-22). He then asked his followers to soberly count the cost of discipleship: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:23-26). Yeshua then foretold that that were some standing there who would not “taste death” until they had seen the Kingdom of God...

Some eight days later Yeshua called Peter, James, and John to ascend with him upon a mountain to pray. As Yeshua was praying, he was "transfigured" and his face and clothes becoming dazzlingly bright and radiant with Shekhinah glory (תהילת שכינה). The disciples then saw Moses and Elijah in their glorified state talking with Yeshua - a scene right out of the heavenly places! But notice that that the topic of conversation during this amazing meeting was Yeshua's "departure," that is, his death and resurrection -- literally, his "Exodus": τὴν ἔξοδον αὐτοῦ -- which he would accomplish at Jerusalem (Luke 9:31). This is the great connecting point between the revelation of Torah at Sinai (Moses and the prophets) and the revelation of Torah at Zion (Yeshua as Messiah ben Yosef, the Suffering Servant). At Mount Sinai the great vision was given of the Altar upon which a lamb was offered every day and night (קָרְבָּן תָּמִיד) in commemoration of the Passover (Exodus) from Egypt; at Mount Zion the great vision was the cross of Messiah, upon which the blood of the true Lamb of God would be offered as "Messiah our Passover" (1 Cor. 5:7) that delivers us from slavery to sin and spiritual death.

Recall that Yeshua said: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not a Yod (י), nor a "thorn" of a Yod (i.e., kotzo shel yod: קוֹצוֹ שֶׁל יוֹד), shall in any way pass from the Law until all is accomplished" (Matt. 5:17-18). Both the Torah of Moses (תורת משה) and the words of the Hebrew prophets (דברי הנביאים) foretold of the coming of Messiah who would purge Israel from her sins and establish the glory of God before the nations. Amen: Yeshua is the central meaning of all true Torah....

The Exodus from Egypt is the central miracle of the Torah because it prophetically tells the story of the redemption of God’s people throughout the dispensations. Israel’s deliverance from bondage to Pharaoh serves as an allegory of both the salvation promised to Adam and Eve after losing their freedom to Satan as well as the fulfillment of the promises to the Jewish people of the coming Savior of Israel (מושיע ישראל) who would establish God’s kingdom on the earth. Yeshua is both the Savior of the world (מושיע העולם) as well as Israel’s true King and Deliverer. The true Exodus, however, is the one accomplished by the sacrifice of Yeshua as the great Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The death, burial, and resurrection of Yeshua (יְצִיאַת יֵשׁוּעַ) is the central miracle of the Scriptures, fulfilling the original promise given to Adam and Eve of the coming deliverer who would remedy the curse of death and restore the glory of Eden.

The great story of God's redemption is revealed on two levels in Scripture - one that concerns the restoration of Eden (the universal level), and the other that concerns the restoration of Israel (the particular level). Therefore Yeshua is both rightly called the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29) and “the Messiah our Passover Lamb who has been sacrificed for us” (1 Cor. 5:7). Likewise he is both called the “Seed of the woman,” and “the Son of David”; he is called the “Second Adam,” and the “King of the Jews,” and so on.

God’s redeeming love was present from the very beginning (Psalm 90:3). He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. The midrash states that Adam was created from the “dust of the Temple.” After Adam’s transgression, the Tree of Life was “removed from reach” and guarded by cherubim until the blood that spoke a “better thing than the blood of Abel” was offered for the redemption of mankind (Heb. 12:24). This “better thing” was prefigured in many ways in Scripture: through the martyrdom of Abel, through the Akedah of Isaac, through the blood of the lamb that delivered Israel from the angel of death, through the blood sprinkled upon the kapporet (“mercy seat”) of the Ark of the Covenant, through the sacrifice of the Red Heifer, and most especially through the sacrificial death of Yeshua upon the Cross at Moriah.... Those who trust in the sacrifice and victorious resurrection of the Messiah are given access to eat of the Tree of Life in the Paradise of God (Rev. 2:7; 22:14).

Yeshua “lifted up” is the antidote to the venom delivered through the serpent’s bite (John 3:14-15). "For as in Adam all die, so also in Messiah shall all be made alive" (1 Cor. 15:22). The “new seed” of life given to us in Yeshua makes us into a “new creation” (בְּרִיאָה חֲדָשָׁה) that fully restores the disfigured image of God within us: "Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall bear the image of the man of heaven" (1 Cor. 15:49).

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

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Isaiah 53:5 reading:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/isa53-5.mp3

Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/isa53-5-lesson.pdf

1.26.24 • Facebook

from yesterday’s email by Israel365:

עׇזִּ֤י וְזִמְרָת֙ יָ֔הּ וַֽיְהִי־לִ֖י לִֽישׁוּעָ֑ה זֶ֤ה אֵלִי֙ וְאַנְוֵ֔הוּ אֱלֹהֵ֥י אָבִ֖י וַאֲרֹמְמֶֽנְהוּ׃

Hashem is my strength and might; He is become my deliverance. This is my God and I will enshrine Him; The God of my father, and I will exalt Him.

OZ-zi v'-zim-RAT ya, va-YA-hee-LEE li-y'-shu-AH, ZEH e-LEE v'-an-VE-hu, e-lo-HAY a-VEE va-a-rom-MEN-hu.

Exodus 15:2

In the Torah portion of Beshalach (Exodus 13:17-17:16) we read about the miraculous Splitting of the Sea. Emerging triumphantly from the Red Sea, the Israelites sang the ‘Song of Moses’, a heartfelt ode of gratitude. This song encapsulates their profound reverence and thankfulness to God for saving them from certain death. Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, explains that we learn from this song, specifically the line, “this is my God, and I will glorify Him” (Exodus 15:2), how to express gratitude to God for being saved.

But this line also begs the question: How does one truly glorify God? What is the meaning of this phrase?

Rabbi Mirvis first quotes the Talmud, which suggests that we glorify God by beautifying the commandments that we perform. Each commandment is not merely a duty to be discharged. Instead, it’s an opportunity to showcase our appreciation for God and His divine commandments. This perspective urges us not to perform commandments perfunctorily or to just get them over with, but to fulfill them in a beautiful and glorified manner. Doing so brings honor and glory to God.

Many of the medieval commentators offer another layer of interpretation. They suggest that the Hebrew word for “I will glorify Him,” v’anveihu, comes from the Hebrew word naveh which means “a home,” connecting the concept of glorification of God to the idea of building a home for God. This interpretation stems from the aspiration, expressed from the dawn of the Jewish nation’s existence, to create a sacred space for God, a divine abode on earth. The best way to glorify God is to build Him a Temple, something the Israelites aspired to do already as they were leaving Egypt.

However, Rabbi Mirvis prefers the interpretation of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, who takes a more intimate and personal approach to the connection between v’anveihu and building a home. He explains that glorifying God is not limited to building an external home for God, i.e. a Temple, rather glorifying God means making oneself into a home for God. It God means reflecting His presence through one’s very being, both through the levels of spirituality that we attain as well as the acts of loving-kindness that we perform.

This idea is beautifully exemplified in the life of Abraham. When he interacted with the Hittites to secure a burial place for Sarah, they recognized in him a “prince of God.” In Abraham, they saw a person who personified God’s presence through his conduct; a paragon of holiness, spirituality, and loving-kindness.

Thus, Rabbi Mirvis articulates a profound and multifaceted approach to thanking God for the gift of survival. It’s not just about performing rituals and commandments; it’s about elevating them, cherishing them, and allowing them to infuse our lives with beauty and meaning. It’s about creating spaces – both physical and spiritual – where God’s presence can dwell. Most importantly, it’s about embodying divine attributes and being a living testament to God’s presence in the world through our actions, our kindness, and our unwavering commitment to reflect the divine in all that we do. In doing so, we become, like Abraham, veritable princes and princesses of God, carrying His presence in our hearts and minds, and radiating it out into the world.

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

January 27, 2024

He Hath Chosen Us

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” (Ephesians 1:4)

Although we cannot really understand how God could choose us (same Greek word as “elected”) before the creation of the world, we can rejoice in the fact and praise Him for “his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Timothy 1:9). The preceding verse (Ephesians 1:3) testifies we have received “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ,” all “according to the good pleasure of his will” (v. 5), “according to the riches of his grace” (v. 7), and “according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself” (v. 9). It must thus all be “to the praise of the glory of his grace” (v. 6).

It is clear from this passage that God’s choice of us was not simply a matter of His foreseeing our choice of Him but was a choice solely by His own will and grace. “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit” (John 15:16). This in no wise lessens our own responsibility to trust in Christ and to believe “the gospel of your salvation” (Ephesians 1:12-13), even though in our finite minds we cannot understand how to correlate these two concepts. Both are true because both are taught in His Word, and both are occasions for rejoicing because they reflect both His love and His omnipotence.

God told Jeremiah, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3). Before the world began, God knew each of us and loved us, and prepared to die to save us from our sins and then to draw us to Himself. “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it” (Psalm 139:6). We can only thank and praise Him, and then seek earnestly to live fully for Him all our days. HMM

[rainsmediaradio]

MFM Daily Devotional 3rd January 2024 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – A Faithful Worshipper

MFM Daily Devotional - A Faithful Worshipper

The Topic of Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional for 3rd January 2024 Is ”A Faithful Worshipper”  

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 7, Genesis 8, Genesis 9, Matthew 7, Matthew 8, Matthew 9 FIRE SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:36-40 (KJV) 36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. 39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. 40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. MEMORY VERSE: “And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.” – 2 Samuel 6:14 (KJV) MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES: To gather with God’s people in united adoration of the Father is as necessary to the Christian life as prayer. PRAISE AND WORSHIP: Take praise and worship songs as led by the Holy Spirit. PROPHETIC WORD FOR TODAY Today, I Usher You Into the Highly Blessed and Glorious Life of A Faithful Worshipper, in The Name of Jesus.

MFM DAILY DEVOTIONAL 3RD JANUARY 2024

Dearly beloved, your greatest goal this year should be to become a faithful worshipper – one who worships the Lord genuinely from his or her heart and in conformity with the Scripture. The following are the hallmarks of a faithful worshipper: He or she (1) worships the Lord in spirit and in truth – John 4:24 (2) has a sincere, honest, loyal and fully committed heart – Psalm 119:128 (3) has unshakable faith – Romans 5:9 (4) has a purified heart – 1 John 3:21, Romans 8:1 (5) is consecrated, that is, his or her body is set apart for God – 1 Corinthians 6:12. Our Fire Scripture for today reveals so much about a faithful worshipper called Prophetess Anna. She was eighty-four years old and had been widowed after just seven years of marriage. The Bible affirms that she never left the temple but worshipped there day and night, serving God with fastings and prayers. She did not allow her old age and being plunged into early widowhood to hinder or deter her from worshipping God wholeheartedly and consistently. Faithful worshippers of God do not look at natural circumstances. They worship Him at all times and in all circumstances. Prophetess Anna’s commitment to a life of true worship of Jehovah did not go in vain. She was given the miracle of open eyes and she saw that the child being presented in the temple was Christ. David is another example of a faithful worshipper. When he heard the news of how God had blessed Obed-Edom’s household because the ark of the Lord’s presence was there, his initial fear was allayed and turned to jubilation. He decided to bring the ark to Jerusalem. The parade from Obed-Edom’s house to the City of David was devoted to the adoration and worship of Jehovah. David stopped after six steps and offered worship with sacrifices and shouts of praise, music and dancing. This royal worship is worthy of our emulation. King David discarded his royal apparel and wore an ephod to enable him worship His highly faithful God unhindered. The Bible says that David danced with all his might (2 Samuel 6:14). He and all God’s people worshipped God on the road. Beloved, I encourage you to make it a habit to immerse yourself in the worship of your faithful God and Maker.

MFM DAILY PRAYER POINTS 3RD JANUARY 2024

MORNING - ⁠Father, make me a true and faithful worshipper, in the name of Jesus. - My Father, give me a pure, sincere, honest, loyal and fully committed heart to worship You to the end, in the name of Jesus. - I dedicate my life to worship and service of God, in the name of Jesus. EVENING - This year, nothing shall hinder or stop me from worshipping my God, in the name of Jesus. - Mountains and negative circumstances assigned to distract me from worshipping God with all my life, die, in the name of Jesus. - Father, let worshipping You and bringing glory to You be my priority this year, in the name of Jesus. - Father, make me an all-seasons faithful worshipper, in the name of Jesus. Read the full article

[carrutherst]

Lights, Camera, ACTION

According to Rolling Stone Magazine, these are the top 5 greatest action movies of all time:  Enter the Dragon (1973) The Raid: Redemption (2011) John Wick (2014) Die Hard (1988) Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) Their list was 50, but those are their elite.  Perhaps you’ve heard of Collider.com, a popular movie entertainment site. It sees the top 5 a little differently: Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon…

[wolint]

FRESH MANNA

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO START AGAIN

Job 17:10-11

Life may necessitate us to start again and it’s never too late to start over. One of life’s certainties is that everyone would experience failure in life at something at some point. Life is never an unbroken series of victories. Setbacks, losses, and sometimes defeat will happen and may overwhelm us.

Defeat may be thrust upon us by circumstance and by others or we may defeat ourselves by our thoughts and actions. When such happens, some of us just give up, some others will keep at it until they succeed, and others will start over again.

Luke 7:11-15 is the account of the widow of Nain on her way to bury her only son, she was crying, obviously distraught over losing a second member of her immediate family but on the way, Jesus saw and had compassion on the mother.

The woman must have thought, is he kidding? Does He know what I've been through? But then, Jesus touched the open coffin and raised the dead son. Imagine what the widow thought when she saw her son raised from the dead. Probably the same thing that went through Mary and Martha's heads when they witnessed their brother, Lazarus, emerge from his tomb in John 11:38-44.

Obviously, with God, it's never too late!

It wasn't too late for the thief on the cross in Luke 23:43 either, was it?

It's never too late to start with God!

Never doubt that God sees your pain! His love for us compels Him to act. It may not come in our timetable, but because He sees our pain, He will move at the right time and make all things beautiful in His time.

We sometimes need painful experiences to make us change our ways according to Proverbs 20:30. So, stop your regret, and start again.

Regret doesn’t change anything! it only keeps us looking at the past. Regret is like looking in the rear-view mirror while driving down a twisting road. It’s a sure way to crack up – if we’re always focused on the past, we don't see the opportunities ahead of us to help us start over again.

Everything starts from a dream to a concept and execution. Don't give up on those dreams or concepts yet!

Whatever that dream or idea is, you can start over again.

Is it about your spiritual walk? Start again!

Being debt-free? Start again!

Redemption of time and relationships? Start again!

You feel you’re too old, too late and too everything to succeed, so, you choose to give up rather than start over but Provers 4:7 says you’ll get the understanding that would help in starting again because God hasn’t given up on you.

Abraham started over several times in different places until he settled in Canaan in Genesis 11-12.

Moses started again in Midian in Exodus 2:11-15.

When God puts a dream in our hearts, He’ll show us the steps to take to make that dream a reality.

How about Job? He lost everything, but grace allowed him to start over again.

If we ask God to give us new dreams, visions, directions, strength, wisdom, and grace to start over again, He will. It’s never too late to start over, don't stop yourself from starting over again.

PRAYER: Lord God, thank you for the assurance that nothing is ever too late with you, help me not to give up but to start again with help in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Shalom

Women of light international prayer ministries.

[traumacatholic]

Our Lady of Fátima (Portuguese: Nossa Senhora de Fátima, formally known as Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Fátima, is a Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary based on the Marian apparitions reported in 1917 by three shepherd children at the Cova da Iria, in Fátima, Portugal. The three children were Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto.

On May 13, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, looking to the Blessed Mother for peace and comfort in times of uncertainty. According to tradition, on May 13, 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children, Lúcia dos Santos, Francisco Marto, and Jacinta Marto, near Fatima, Portugal. The children saw her five more times in the months that followed, and she asked them to pray the Rosary daily and give devotion to her Immaculate Heart. During the last sighting, she told the children her name was The Lady of the Rosary and gave them a message of prayer, peace, and penance known as the “Secret.” The “Secret” was given in three parts in the years that followed.

Our Lady of Fatima has since become a beloved Marian devotion of protection and hope for those suffering, offering comfort through times of uncertainty. As Pope John Paul II noted:

It is the suffering who feel attracted by the perspective of “relief” which the Divine Physician is able to offer those who turn to Him with trust. And in Fatima this relief is found: sometimes it is physical relief, when, in his providence, God grants healing from illness; more often it is spiritual relief, when the soul, pervaded by the inner light of grace, finds the strength to accept the painful weight of infirmity, transforming it, through communion with Christ, the suffering servant, into an instrument of redemption and salvation for oneself and one’s brothers and sisters. The direction to move in, on this hard road, is pointed out to us by the motherly voice of Mary, who, in the history and life of the Church, has always continued to repeat—and in a special way in our time—the words “Do whatever He tells you.”

My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You! I ask pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You

O most Holy Trinity, I adore You! My God, my God, I love You in the most Blessed Sacrament!

Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly, and I offer You the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifference with which He Himself is offended. And, through the infinite merits of His most Sacred Heart, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of You the conversion of poor sinners

O Jesus, it is for love of You, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

O my Jesus, forgive us, save us from the fire of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are most in need.

[collectorscorner]

CC Blogger - New Arrivals @ Collectors Corner : Wednesday 4/14/21

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Complete list of items shipping to the stores, some items may be limited in availability. If you see anything you want to purchase on the list and are not a subscription member at Collectors Corner, just contact us and let us know if you want an item held at the stores. email - collectorscornermd@comcast.net

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[lawrenceop]

HOMILY for 4th Sunday after Easter (Dominican rite)

James 1:17-21; John 16:5-14

In today’s Gospel the Lord says to his disciples, why have none of you asked me, quo vadis, where are you going? Perhaps they are overcome by sorrow, or they just did not dare to ask him. But as we heard in last Sunday’s Gospel, our sorrow in this life now is only temporary and passing, for “in a little while”, our Christian hope is that we shall, by grace, see Christ again, enjoying the beatific vision in heaven. So, as the Lord said just a few verses before, he goes “to prepare a place for you” (Jn 14:2), in his Father’s house, that is to say, in heaven. And so last Sunday we considered the three-fold joy of the Saints in heaven, a joy which is to be ours if we remain united to Christ.

However, lest we think that heaven is the universal destination of all human beings; or the well-deserved home of all Christians irrespective of how they’ve lived their baptismal calling; or that heaven is simply that “better place” which awaits all people after death, it is probably vital to realise that although the disciples do not ask the Lord where he is going, the Lord Jesus does ask this of his disciples. Quo vadis? This is the question that Our Lord put to St Peter when he appeared to him after his Ascension into heaven, and the prince of the apostles was on the road out of Rome, trying to avoid his martyrdom in that city. He is trying to flee from his Christian vocation; running for his life. So the Lord comes to him and says to him “Where are you going?” For it is possible to, then, to walk away from our heavenly homeland; to choose a path that takes us further from Christ; to try to avoid the Cross and so to end up in another place, the worst place where all who reject the graces of God are, ie, in hell.

Hence the apostle, ashamed and returning to his better self, returned also to Rome and so went to a martyr’s death like Christ’s. St Peter thus entered into heavenly glory with his Christ, entering into his Master’s joy. For as Our Lord said: “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (Jn 12:25)

So the question that is put to us today, and which we must ask ourselves whenever we examine our consciences is, quo vado? Where am I going? And yes, this is posed in the first person because we are often very interested in where others are going, but the Scriptures remind us to be mindful of our own walk with Christ. So the Lord says to St Peter at the end of St John’s Gospel: “What is that to you? Follow me!” (Jn 21:22) Hence St Paul said: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”. (Phil 2:12)

The focus of this church, as I mentioned last Sunday, makes it very clear where we should be going; where we are called by reason of our Christian vocation. We have before us a vision of heaven, and this is made especially evident when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for Adoration on the Throne, and then the Dominican friars in their white habits are singing the psalms during Vespers, as it happens before this Mass. For the whole apse of this church is designed to show us what, according to the vision of St John, heaven will look like: the Lamb of God seated on the Throne; the white robed army of his followers singing the glory of God as incense goes up; a whole company of heaven looking on, thus the colourful stained glass windows showing the Saints and Angels in heaven. And then, the many pinnacles and niches and gables around the Altar evoking the many rooms in the Father’s house, and the golden walls that remind us that the heavenly Jerusalem is seen to be like pure gold. So, we have before us a vision of heaven, of our destination, and of the joys that await us in union with Mary, our exalted Queen and Mother. So, my brothers and sisters in Christ: Where are you going? To heaven, we hope!

Hence the Lord, having revealed to us the joys of heaven last week, and having told us that we shall have to endure sorrows in this life for a little while, meaning, for our lifetime, he now reveals to us the very necessary help God gives us so that we can live this life well, as faithful Christians, as steadfast pilgrims who are heading always forward towards our heavenly destination. So Jesus says: “If I go, I will send him [the Holy Spirit] to you. And when he comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement… When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth”. (Jn 16:7-8, 13)

Yes, Lord, give us now your Spirit of truth! For with purifying truth, the Holy Spirit will convince us of sin – not the sin of others, which we are quick to see and point out, but the sin that is hidden, the sins that we are too ashamed to admit to ourselves, the sins that we do not want to see but need to bring before God’s mercy if we’re to be saved. These hidden sins the Holy Spirit will bring to light so that we can be healed of them, so that we can have true repentance.

Then, having rejected our sins, the Holy Spirit will come with clarifying truth to convince us of righteousness, that is to say, he will teach us to desire virtue, and to seek the wisdom of God’s ways over the wisdom of the world. As we are observing the Year of St Joseph and yesterday was his feast day, let us look to his example to show us the wisdom of God’s ways. Pope Francis, for example, points out that “as we read the infancy narratives, we may often wonder why God did not act in a more direct and clear way. Yet God acts through events and people. Joseph was the man chosen by God to guide the beginnings of the history of redemption. He was the true “miracle” by which God saves the child and his mother. God acted by trusting in Joseph’s creative courage… A superficial reading of these stories can often give the impression that the world is at the mercy of the strong and mighty, but the “good news” of the Gospel consists in showing that, for all the arrogance and violence of worldly powers, God always finds a way to carry out his saving plan. So too, our lives may at times seem to be at the mercy of the powerful, but the Gospel shows us what counts. God always finds a way to save us, provided we show the same creative courage as the carpenter of Nazareth, who was able to turn a problem into a possibility by trusting always in divine providence.” (Patris Corde, 5)

And thirdly, having given us the Holy Spirit and his gifts and virtues to lead us, we shall be led by the Spirit of truth to judgement. To be convinced of God’s judgement is to know that we shall be called to account for what we have done with our human freedom, and to account for how we have benefited from the gifts and graces that God has given us. Thus each day we are being asked by the Holy Spirit: Quo vado, where are you going? Am I growing in charity, for as St John of the Cross says: “In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone.” Therefore St Paul reminds us: “Why do you pass judgement on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgement seat of God… So each of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Rom 14:10, 12)

Many medieval churches used to have an image of divine judgement painted above the Altar to constantly remind us of this post-mortem necessity. But the question we’re asked is: Where are you going? To which the answer is not merely that we go to be judged on love alone, but rather, we go Him who is Love. The vision of heaven, therefore, which is the vision of our communion with God who is Love alone, is surely the end for which we long, and for which we hope, and by which our actions are motivated. For only Love can motivate us to love. Nevertheless it is noteworthy that in the Sistine Chapel with its monumental painting of the Last Judgement, the mouth of hell is painted directly behind the Cross on the Altar. For it is the Cross of Christ, his holy Sacrifice, his saving Love and Mercy, that has barred Man’s entry into hell.

Hence, when St Peter tried to avoid the Cross of his martyrdom and was running away, the Lord appeared to him to gently turn him around. For we too must go to the Cross; we too must be led by the Spirit of truth to follow our Crucified Lord. For in this way we remain faithful to our Christian vocation. So Jesus said: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it.” (Lk 9:23-24) Indeed, the Cross bars our entry to hell, for through it we shall be raised up with the Lord into the joys of heaven. May Our Lady, Queen of Heaven, pray for us!

[bunnymcbunnister]

SPN Season 15 Spoiler Sheet Update 10/19

I put the general spoilers at the end because it was bogging the whole thing down, so if you are looking for those, keep scrolling. 

DISCLAIMER: This is gathered info from various sources. This is not confirmed information. Stuff in this WILL be wrong. Don’t take this too seriously. This is for fun. Also, if you use this info for another publication, please let me know as a courtesy. Don’t be a dick. It's all out there, but it hurts to see my same phrasing on other publications after all the work I’ve done to consolidate it…  

Episode 15x16

Title: Drag Me Away (From You)

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: FLASHBACK TO A YOUNG SAM AND DEAN – Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) are asked to investigate the murder of a childhood friend, calling them back to a motel from their past and perplexing the brothers with a case they thought was solved a long time ago. Amyn Kaderali directed the episode written by Meghan Fitzmartin (#1516). Original airdate 10/22/2020.

Written by: Megan Fitzmartin

Director: Amyn Kaderali

Filming Dates: 2/6-2/17

Airdate: October 22nd

Photos:https://www.thetvaddict.com/2020/10/16/supernatural-photos-s15e16-drag-me-away-from-you/

Promo: https://youtu.be/ayOy8gEr4wo

Sneak Peak:

Castiel ? I’m starting to think no? Jack ? not sure either. 

Guest stars: IMDB credits Lisa Berry (Billie/Death) as well as Young Sam, Young Dean and both grown and young Caitlyn

Other Spoilers/info:

Alex got a cast of his face around the filming of this- so this ep or the one after

They filmed at Rooster’s Sunrise Hotel for 3 days/nights

From TVLine- “It worked not only as a case right now, but also as something that informed the journey Sam and Dean have taken, where they started as kids, how they kind of came together and then how that has [led up] to the point that they are, emotionally, when the episode airs. So it ended up being a really good reflection of our guys now, telling a story about our guys then, which, to me, are always the best versions of those types of flashback stories.”

From EW-  "We see the case that kind of brought them together as hunters," Dabb says of the episode, "the first case young Sam and young Dean worked together to a conclusion."

Episode 15x17

Title: Unity

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: ONE WAY OR ANOTHER – Dean (Jensen Ackles) hits the road with Jack (Alexander Calvert) who needs to complete a final ritual in the quest to beat Chuck (guest star Rob Benedict). A difference of opinion leaves Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Castiel (Misha Collins) behind looking for answers to questions of their own. Catriona McKenzie directed the episode written by Meredith Glynn (#1517). Original airdate 10/29/2020.

Written by: Meredith Gylnn

Director: Catrion McKenzie

Filming Dates: 2/19-2/28

Airdate: Oct 29th

Photos: 

Promo:

Sneak Peak:

Castiel ? yes Jack ? yes

Guest stars: Rob benedict and Emily Sparrow IMDB credits Robert Wisdom (Uriel)

Other Spoilers/info:

Chuck and Amara trailers were seen on set when filming in a garden

Jensen was in NOLA Friday, possible Monday

“Uriel” was around for filming (Post COVID update: Misha seemed to indicate that this was because the actor was nearby filming? Not sure if this is to cover up the spoiler or the truth)

Alex and Jensen filmed in the impala

Episode 15x18

Title: Despair (it was The Truth at some point I think)

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: RICHARD SPEIGHT, JR. DIRECTS – With the plan in full motion, Sam (Jared Padalecki), Dean (Jensen Ackles), Castiel (Misha Collins) and Jack (Alexander Calvert) fight for the good of the common goal. Richard Speight, Jr. directed the episode written by Robert Berens (#1518). Original airdate 11/5/2020. 

Written by: BOBO

Director: Speight

Filming Dates: 3/2--3/11

Airdate: Nov 5th

Photos: 

Promo:

Sneak Peak:

Castiel ? yes Jack ? yes

Guest stars:  IMDB credits Billie

Other Spoilers/info:

Misha and Alex filmed near the impala. J2 showed up later that night. This was the source of the “last time they all filmed on set” photo

A really emotional scene was filmed with Misha and Jensen. Jared was definitely not there, but Alex was on the flight they took with Rich, so its possible he was too. This was revealed at a con in which the four of them were on a plane that had an in-flight problem.

Filming watchers saw a bro hug

Tape Ball posted a shot of field that looks like where dean came back from hell

Misha indicated this was his “favorite episode” in a recent interview

From EW- Ackles, having recently done ADR on episode 18, says he had forgotten how "monumental" the hour is.

Episode 15x19

Title: Inherit the Earth

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: 

Written by: bucklelimg

Director: John Showalter

Filming Dates:: 3/12-3/23/cancelled for COVID and then 8/18-8/27

Airdate: Nov 12th

Photos: 

Promo:

Sneak Peak:

Castiel ? unknown Jack ? yes

Guest stars: Jake Abel (Micheal), Mark Pelligrino (Lucifer) 

Other Spoilers/info:

Production shut down as a precaution for coronavirus on 3/13, two days into filming. It is scheduled to start again on Aug 18th. 

Jensen indicated there might be some re-writes for this ep to account for COVID protocols.

When they started filming, they indicated they were on day two. So maybe they could only use some of the scenes they shot? Then they added an extra day all called it day 9. COVID protocols makes things take longer 

AlCal was definitely on set. 

Jake Abel was definitely on set, and he posted an instagram story with his trailer and Lucifer’s (Mark Pelligrino)

Some filming was done at a gas station called Showalter’s (name of the director) with Jared, Jensen, and Alex

Jake “Spoiler King” Abel filmed a video showing chairs for Jared, Jensen, and Alex as well as Rob Benedict (Chuck/God). They were filming near a lake with a mountain view (that looked similar to where Cas died in season 13)

Rob Benedict posted it was his last day in Vancouver, indicating we won't see Chuck past this episode? Or very very briefly in 20? Jake Abel posted a similar message, also baiting fans about Misha’s whereabouts 

Scene “28” took several days and seemed to go across both 19 and 20? So they might have done some combo filming?

 Episode 15x20

Title: Carry On

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: 

Written by: Dabb

Director: Bob Singer

Filming Dates: 8/28- 9/10  

Airdate: November 19th

Photos: 

Promo:

Sneak Peak:

Castiel ? maaaaybe? Jack ? maaaaybe?

Guest stars: Jim Beaver

Other Spoilers/info:

Jensen indicated filming would take two weeks, longer than usual (looks like a 9 day shoot, with a day off for Labor Day)

According to Superwiki, 9/3 was the last day on the bunker set, the final days are on location. 

Scene “28” took several days and seemed to go across both 19 and 20? So they might have done some combo filming?

Filming locations seemed to include a barn (pic with a stunt guy showed wooden walls and straw) and a lake (not the mountain lake from 19), and a forest. Filming signs spotted at Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve. 

Jim Beaver confirmed his appearance on Twitter

There was a pic of J2 with baby on a bridge. Baby had her original plates. They seem to be wearing the same clothes they were in the pilot. There may be grey (??) In their hair, but that could be lighting

Misha posted some creation videos, saying he had been on an impromptu camping trip. He was back in his house. They were posted on the last day of filming and he had pretty decent scruff. He also mentioned that it was the last day of filming and he wasn't up there. 

The show officially wrapped at 6:25 on 9/10

Jared said “the last time Sam and Dean see each other is the last time Jared and Jensen film together” but seem to imply that was not the final scene? It was a confusing answer to a question about filming the final scene. 

IMDB credits a vampire?

 General Info (oldest to newest). This is a blend of pre-COVID and post COVID, so some might change. 

Misha will be in 15 out of 20 episodes this season (he’s missed 4 so far. Unclear about 16, 19, and 20). 

JaxCon/Vegas Con spoilers: 

Misha said the ending was “happier than he expected” but also had some sadness. He later used “sad and redemptive”

Dean says the line “stop killing my people” (to god?)

Jensen said he doesn’t see how the story could continue past this season, but Jared said its more of “a see you later” (in more recent interviews, Dabb seems to shut that down completely)

Al Cal posted a pic of a “thrown away” call sheet that seems to indicate Micheal, Lucifer, and a character named “Betty” interacting in the bunker. Unclear as to the validity, could be from 19 based on casting 

Charlie (original flavor) will return

Filming resumed on Aug 18th. Per Canadian policy, they must quarantine for two weeks. Those quarantining seemed to include:

Fairly Clear: Jared, Jensen, Jake Abel (Micheal), Rob Benedict (Chuck/God) Mark Pelligrino (Lucifer), Al Cal (didn't need to quarantine, but he is definitely on set), Jim Beaver (Bobby)

Unclear/Rumored: Misha (he is being deliberately cagey), Osric Chau (Kevin- but likely for another project, he was a week ahead of everyone else)

Reasons Unlikely: Sam Smith (chemo treatment), Kim Rhodes (working at a camp during quarantine), Ruth Connell (posted from Malibu the entire time)

No idea: Shoshannah Stern 

Jensen said sp 19 is more of a season finale, while 20 is a series finale. Repeated in interviews/livestreams. 

Jensen indicated that the ending did change per COVID protocols. Later interviews confirmed this, but it seemed to indicate the changes were in regards to how many people filmed at once (crowd scenes, recurring characters returning)

Misha is being very, very cagey about where he was. Some live streams seem to indicate he is not at home, but he has yet to confirm- his presence in 19/20 is hard to track. In an interview with Metaverse, he was in bed in a hotel looking space and you could see mountains in the background. He was not on set for the first week of filming, so he could be a week behind. 

Misha has thrown around the words “final”  and “what he <Misha> would have wanted” per Cas’ ending. “Sad/Proud” and “poignant” were also used. His latest line is “sad but satisfying”

The finale will air Nov 19th in conjunction with an hour long special. 

Dabb confirmed to TV line the episode 19/20 explanation Jensen’s mentioned- For the most part, we wrap up a big chunk of our mythology in Episode 19,Episode 20 is more character-based and is more concerned with Sam, Dean and this family they’ve built around them than it is with figuring out the Case of the Week.

When talking about the lightheartedness of returning on ep 14, Dabb said deeply depressing and upsetting episodes are coming (USAToday). He also said we would see “new sides” of Jack, Cas, and Billie. A revisit of Chuck and Amara’s “sibling issues” as well is on tap. Jared said sacrifices are coming. 

From TV Line-  re the battle with Chuck. Allies will return, but was repeated several times in the article that is comes down to Sam and Dean. Jack will struggle with getting his soul back but will be helped by Cas. 

It was confirmed there will be no appearances by mamma and papa Winchester, possible due to COVID. (TVLine). 

According to ET there will be lots of “Easter Eggs” in the finale from early episodes. TV Line furthered that by Jared confirming Sam and Dean “in the way they began”

One singular interview asked about Cas and Jack (SyFy) and we got this “Cas has had a very long evolution on this show, but an evolution to an emotionally healthy place, which is generally speaking not something we do a ton. It means someone is at least emotionally healthy on this show.” Jack will be dealing with having a soul and the mistakes he made, particularly Mary. 

A trailer was released on 8/27. Scenes included (taken out as shown to save space

A moving speech from Sam to Dean

A teary conversation between Dean and Cas

Injured Dean being helped by Cas in the bunker

Ghost Dean? Little Sam cutting off a hand

Some intermixed scenes from past episodes

https://youtu.be/d5AzUa5zABI

A second trailer was released on 8/31. Scenes included:

A monologue from Billie about god coming to destroy the planet plus her banging on a bunker door (with her hand all gooey) and striking someone with her scythe

Jack continuing his speech about killing god but expanding that he has a ritual to do

Chuck in the bunker/Chuck saying he doesn't believe Sam and Dean can kill him

Young Sam and not ghost Young dean

Dean angrily driving the Impala then saying “its time”

More Dean tears

A surprise appearance from Bobby

Some of the same scenes as before

https://youtu.be/mBTwCWkOFKw

A third trailer was released on 9/24. It was a rehash of the other two, but a new new scenes included: ttps://youtu.be/7oVO9BdADnQ

A Shaving People, Punting Things trailer was released on 10/2. Scenes included:

Dean in a bar with a blond woman

Sam by the mountain lake with facial wounds

Team Free Will 2.0 in  a bunker corridor, Jack looking injured (?)

Sam, Dean, and Jack walking down a street/later in a church/in the Impala

Sad Dean in the dungeon/Sad Sam drinking and knocking over a book

Sad Jack and Cas leaning on the Impala

Scattered shot of Sad Sam and Dean (drinking in the bunker, learning against the Impala)

Sam/Donna hug

Dean entering a motel room

Amara looking blissful

Dean giving Sam an encouraging face pat

Billie choking Cas

Sam in Death’s library, hurting

Billie swinging a scythe

Many behind the scenes shots, including one of Felicia Day (Charlie)

https://youtu.be/yex3jbuf8Mo

[blogdemocratesjr]

Sunrise, Whiting Fishing at Margate by J.M.W. Turner

We know that Parsifal's mother, Herzeleide, bore him in great suffering and with dream-like visions of a quite peculiar character; we know that she wished to shield him from knightly exercises and the code of knightly virtue; that she arranged for the management of her property and withdrew into solitude. She wanted to bring up her child so that he would remain a stranger to the impulses that were certainly present in him; for he was not to be exposed to the dangers that had surrounded his father. But we know also that from an early age the child began to notice everything glorious in Nature; from his mother's teaching he really learnt nothing except that there was a ruling God, and he conceived a wish to serve this God. But he knew nothing of what this God was, and when one day he met some knights he took them for God and knelt before them. When he confessed to his mother that he had seen the knights and wanted to be a knight himself, she put on him a fool's garments and sent him forth. He met with many adventures, and later on — people may call this sentimental but it is of the deepest significance — the mother died of a broken heart because of her son's disappearance: he had not turned back to give her any farewell greeting but had gone forth to experience knightly adventures.

We know that after many wanderings, during which he learnt much about knightly ways and knightly honour, and distinguished himself, he came to the Castle of the Grail. On other occasions I have mentioned that the best literary account of Parsifal's arrival at the Castle is to be found in Chrestien de Troyes. There we are shown how, after often mistaking the way, Parsifal comes to a lonely place and finds two men: one is steering a little boat and the other is fishing from it. They direct him to the Fisher-King, and presently he encounters the Fisher-King in the Grail Castle. The Fisher-King is old and feeble and has to rest on a couch.

While conversing with Parsifal, the Fisher-King hands him a sword, a gift from his niece. Then there appears first in the room a page carrying a spear; the spear is bleeding and the blood runs down over the page's hand; and then a maiden with the Holy Grail, which is a kind of dish. But such glory streams forth from it that all the lights in the hall are outshone by the light of the Holy Grail, just as the stars are overpowered by the light of sun and moon. And then we learn how in the Holy Grail there is something with which the Fisher-King's aged father is nourished in a separate room. He has no need of the sumptuously appointed meal of which the Fisher-King and Parsifal partake. These two nourish themselves with earthly food. But each time a Dew course — as we should say nowadays — is served, the Holy Grail withdraws into the room of the Fisher-King's aged father, whose only nourishment comes from that which is within the Holy Grail.

Parsifal, to whom it had been intimated on his way from Gurnemanz that he ought not to ask too many questions, does not inquire why the lance bleeds or what the vessel of the Grail signifies — naturally he did not know their names. He then goes to bed for the night, in the same room (according to Chrestien de Troyes) where all this has happened. He was intending to ask questions in the morning, but when morning came he found the whole Castle empty — nobody was there. He called out for someone — nobody was there. He got dressed, and downstairs he found his horse ready. He thought the whole company had ridden out to hunt and wanted to ride after them in order to ask about the miracle of the Grail. But when he was crossing the drawbridge it rose up so quickly that his horse had to make a leap in order not to be thrown into the Castle moat. And he found no trace of the company he had encountered in the Castle on the previous day.

Then Chrestien de Troyes tells us how Parsifal rides on and in a lonely part of the wood comes upon a woman with her husband on her knees, and weeping for him. It is she, according to Chrestien de Troyes, who first indicates to him how he should have asked questions, so as to experience the effect of his questions on the great Mysteries that had been shown to him. We then hear that he went on, often wandering from the right road, until exactly on a Good Friday he came to a hermit, named Trevericent. The hermit tells him how he is being cursed because he has wasted the opportunity of bringing about something like a redemption for the Fisher-King by asking questions about the miracles in the castle. And then he is given many and various teachings.

Now when I tried to accompany Parsifal to the hermit, a saying was disclosed to me — a saying which in the words I have to use for it, in accordance with spiritual-scientific investigation, is nowhere recorded — but I am able to give you the full truth of it. It was spoken — and it made a deep impression on me — by the old hermit to Parsifal, after he had made him acquainted, as far as he could, with the Mystery of Golgotha, of which Parsifal knew little, although he had arrived there on a Good Friday. The old hermit then uttered this saying (I shall use words that are current among us today and are perfectly faithful to the sense of the utterance): “Think of what happened on the occasion of the Mystery of Golgotha! Raise your eyes to the Christ hanging on the Cross, at the moment when He said, ‘From this hour on, there is your mother’; and John left her not. But you” — said the old hermit to Parsifal — “you have left your mother, Herzeleide. It was on your account that she passed from this world.”

—Rudolf Steiner, Christ and the Spiritual World: The Search for the Holy Grail: Lecture V

[ymlballesteros]

Analysis On How Animation Has Progressed From ‘Toy Story’ to ‘Toy Story 4′

    In the history of motion pictures, ‘Toy Story’ is known to be the very first full-length computer-animated feature film. When Mr. John Lasseter, the director, saw ‘Tron’, he got the idea of what it was going to be in the future. During that time he was working at Disney as an animator, the moment he saw it he stated, “It wasn’t for what I was seeing, it was the potential I saw in computer animation”. And true to his words, when Pixar released the film Toy Story in 1995 the film paved the way and changed how the world of animation is perceived by people.  Many experimental projects were done to explore the possibilities in computer animation before they have achieved something that no one had seen in animation before.      The plot of  ‘Toy Story’ is different compared to the previous films, the story revolves around the buddy relationship of Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear and Sheriff Woody with human-type characters that comes to life whenever they are not in the presence of humans in which they encounter rivalry, challenges, teamwork, and redemption. Factors such as characters, story development, unique software tools, abilities of voice actors and animators, and the imaginations of artists and designers were crucial in making the film (Henne et al., 1996). On the other hand, the story in ‘Toy Story 4’ tells about the adventures of Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of the toy gang as they settle into their new lives with Bonnie. Woody and his friends got acquainted with new toys, and unexpected detours during the road trip with Bonnie happened.

Compare and Contrast

     Despite what Ed Catmull, the president of PIXAR, stated that they aimed to make the characters and objects come to life, ‘Toy Story 4’ achieved a higher level of detail and realistic features in the animals and human characters. The collaboration between the artists and animators with the advancement of computer technology helped in pushing the limits of what’s possible. The fourth installment of Toy Story even brought the toys in their most naturalistic forms and didn’t overlook even the tiniest details such as dust particles in certain scenes, subtle aging of the characters' outfits, and the illustration of the rain (Al-Heeti, 2019).

     Woody’s character in ‘Toy Story’ has 712 total animation variables (avars) with 212 avars in his face alone. According to Cheng et al., 2020, each character in ‘Toy Story 4’ has up to 1,000 avars built into their skeleton.

     The making of both films has required much effort from the people working on the production. Writing the story and script to illustrated storyboards, through modeling, animation, lighting, and rendering were done to create the film. It took 5 years for the ‘Toy Story 4′ to be released for viewing to achieve the best output compared to the ‘Toy Story’ which took 4 years in the making. Moreover, from ‘Toy Story’ having a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, "Toy Story 4"  expanded to 2.39:1. 

References:

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Christina Rossetti

(Dec. 5th 1830 - Dec. 29th 1894)

Brief Bio:

Christina Rossetti was born and raised in London.  She was the youngest of four children, and the niece of John Polidori.  Schooled at home and exposed to a multitude of contemporary works, their home was a revolving door of Italian artists and scholars.  In her late teens she sat for paintings, and turned down numerous suitors.  She published her first work in 1850, which led to a lifelong career as a critically acclaimed poet.  Her works contained themes of faith, sin, redemption, and female agency, with noticeable influence from other poets.  She continued to write throughout her life, and died of breast cancer in Bloomsbury.

Notable Works:

Goblin Market (1862)

In the Bleak Midwinter (1872)

Love Came Down at Christmas (1885)

The Grave:

Rossetti is buried in her family’s plot in Highgate Cemetery, London.  The cemetery is divided into two halves: East and West.  She is interred in the West Cemetery, which is only open to guided tours.  Admission is by timed ticket.  If asked, tour guides will gladly take you to see her.

Also buried here is her sister-in-law, Lizzie Siddal.  Lizzie was married to Christina’s eldest brother Dante.  She died of a laudanum overdose at age 30.  The grieving Dante had her buried with a volume of poetry he’d written for her.  Seven years later, at the behest of a friend, he had her exhumed so he could publish them.  Dante himself was not present at the exhumation, but according to one account, Lizzie’s red hair had continued to grow and fill the coffin.  Rossetti, haunted by his choice, chose never to be buried here.  It has been speculated that this story partially inspired Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula.

Highgate Cemetery

Swain’s Lane

London N6 6PJ

Surrounding Area:

Across the road is the East Cemetery, which is open to the general public, though they charge admission.  Here George Eliot and Karl Marx are laid to rest.  At the top of the Swain’s Lane is St. Michael’s Church, where Samuel Taylor Coleridge is buried.

Further Reading:

Christina Rossetti Project Gutenberg

Rossetti Family Correspondence

Lizzie Siddal story

Highgate Cemetery website

“And all winds go sighing For sweet things dying.”