#and id keep both doing part time for a wile

[theonlythingimfuckingisstupid]

applying for another job wish me luck

[keelywolfe]

FIC: Welcome To Backwater ch.3 (spicyhoney)

Summary: Stretch is getting out and meeting new people, if only things weren’t a little...ominous. 

Content:  Spicyhoney, Midwest Gothic

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Read Chapter Three on AO3

or

Read it here!

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The thing was, Stretch had never really lived on his own. For most of his life, he’d lived with his brother. Taking care of Blue when he was a kiddo, then sort of swapping roles for a while as they got older. By the time they were on the surface, they had a pretty good give and take going when it came to cohabitation. Living with his bro was never the problem.

It was moving back in with him after everything went down that was the hard part. His sympathy felt more like stifling pity, the relentless cheer Stretch normally adored was grating, and as much as Stretch loved his brother, (and he did, his brother was the coolest and fuck anyone who didn’t see that), he just…he couldn’t. Not right now.

That all came to a head and landed him on the midnight bus to anywhere and living here essentially alone was turning into a balancing act between being necessarily solitary and lonely enough to start befriending the local spooks, and now look at him.

Standing in Red’s living room and armed with a lamp shaped like a flamingo, probably about to be murdered for the hundred bucks in the front register and Red’s shitty microwave, and his first stupid thought was, holy shit, he’s gorgeous.

Not that it wasn’t a valid thought, but it didn’t do much to better the situation. A skeleton Monster (another one? really?) that was almost as tall as he was, but instead of Stretch’s scrawny bod and knobby knees poking out of his cargo shorts, this guy looked like he’d just stepped out of GQ’s leather edition, available only with a valid ID. From those slender hips with all the right curves all the way up to the delicate intricacies of his cervical vertebra, he was like a book written in braille, begging for a touch. Those cheekbones alone were sharp enough to do more damage than any damn lamp, fuck, he should have to carry a weapons license for those things, they were sure as hell giving Stretch a good stab in the libido.

Mystery guy only stood there in Red living room, cool and calm in spite of the fact he was wearing a sleek leather jacket and knee-high damn motorcycle boots, (fuck, those legs), on a sweltering day. Didn’t even bother to pull his hands out of his jeans pockets, like he was hanging around patiently for a fucking takeout order instead of starring in a home invasion.

The guy raised a browbone, and fuck, how did even the scar running through his socket seem sexy? “Well?” Mystery Man said, “Nothing else to say?”

That broke the spell. Well, kinda, holy shit, take two. That voice, it was almost rich enough to pour into a cup, but damn, if Sugar Tongue here dusted Red, what was Stretch gonna tell the cops? That he was too busy getting seduced by those dark molasses wiles to do anything about it?

Stretch brandished the lamp again and blustered out, “i asked you first!”

The guy sighed heavily and for half an idiot second, Stretch felt bad for disappointing him. “If we’re going to continue down this path of childish competition, then I was here first. Would you care to offer a rebuttal? Or is that word too complicated for you, I’d make an attempt to bring it down to your level, but I don’t have the time to journey back out of the realm of stupidity today.”

That was enough to snap him out of this guy’s erotic stupidity spell. Great, he was a murderer and a dick, Stretch should’ve known. No one with hips like that could be on the side of good. He raised the lamp again threateningly, flamingo-beak facing front, “the only butt around here is gonna be yours when i kick it!”

The guy only rolled his eye lights, deep crimson, huh, how about that. “Ah, how refreshing it is to have a chance to engage in such cunning debate,” he drawled. “But as enchanting as this has been, let me interrupt the vigilante plotline you seem to be starting. I’m only here to drop off a package for my brother.”

“brother?” Stretch parroted dumbly. Oh. Ohhhhh, for fuck’s sake he was an idiot. Red eye lights, skeleton monster, all he was missing was a fucking name tag that said, ‘Red’s Tall Brother, Please Do Not Ambush.’

Well, that was one way to make a first impression.

Stretch sheepishly lowered the lamp, rubbing at the back of his neck awkwardly. “oh. uh, sorry about that, i’m a little on edge.”

“On edge, are you,” the guy repeated. One corner of his mouth pulled upward in a sardonic little smile, another sign of the unfairness of life that it only made him look even more appealing, if that were possible. Sex on legs and that voice? Some guys cheated to role for charisma twice was all Stretch was saying. “Ah, aren’t life’s little ironies precious.”

Before Stretch could figure out what the heck that meant, he heard the familiar thump and bump of Red hurrying down the hallway. The door was flung open hard enough to bounce against the opposite wall and Red paused in the doorway, taking in the scene. His brother standing there is all his sexy glory, completely unconcerned and weaponless, and Stretch still sweaty and disheveled from trekking through the heat outside, standing there with a lamp in his hands trying to look like he hadn’t been ready to bonk the guy on the noggin like the first chapter of an Agatha Christie novel.

Red was snickering before Stretch could even scramble for any sort of excuse, “whatcha gonna do with the lamp, armstrong, knock his lights out?”

“i was improvising,” Stretch mumbled. He plunked the hideous thing back on the table, fumbling to plug it back in. "you didn't tell me you had a brother."

"no?” Red set both hands on the top of his cane to lean against it and innocent was not a voice he wore well, nope. “musta slipped my mind."

"Your mind is ever slippery, brother," said brother put forth in a clipped tone, "Somehow, you managed to forget to mention this…person…to me as well."

"and 'cause i did you got to have an excitin' first meeting,” Red said, abandoning innocence for pure mischief. He gave them both a broad wink, “ain't that right?"

About the only thing Stretch and this guy had in common was the mutual dirty looks they gave back to that.

“only if you get your thrills from a criminal sort of meet and greet,” Stretch said.

"Yes," the brother said irritably, "Very exciting. And now that we’ve all confirmed who I am, would you care to explain who this is?”

Red’s grin widened, his gold tooth winking in the mellow sunlight streaming in through the tatty curtains. “my new clerk.”

“Your—” That irritation melted into horror as the guy’s spine went ruler-straight as if someone jammed a yardstick up his ass before he blustered out, “have you lost your tiny little mind?”

Stretch couldn’t help feeling a little insulted. It was a little grocery store, not the Ritz, they didn’t need all their cheese on the crackers to manage selling ‘em, thanks.

Red didn’t seem bothered by his brother’s disbelief, he only shrugged, “nah. don’t think so, anyway.” Then with a touch of acid, “not like you’re around long enough to find out.”

His brother ignored that. Seemed like he was still stuck on Red’s audacity in hiring a clerk. “You have,” he said wonderingly, “You’ve completely lost your mind this time. And you’re keeping him right here in the house?”

“room upstairs, but yeah.” Red sucked on his teeth loudly, grinning his wide, feral grin. “got a problem with that, little brother?”

Conversation briefly ceased as they both seemed to be trying to communicate in glares and Stretch didn’t know enough of the language to interpret, but he didn’t think it was going well. Especially not when the tall drink of brother abruptly turned to him and said, “Go get your things.”

Stretch only gaped at him, too surprised to even protest, of all the fucking arrogance—!

“Go get your things,” he repeated, a touch louder and flavored with a dash of impatience, “and I’ll take you to the bus depot right now.”

“you’re serious,” Stretch said in disbelief. He shook his head with a short laugh, “heh, sorry, champ, not going anywhere on your say-so. besides, i just got here, if i leave now, I’ll never get voted prom queen.”

The other guy’s face didn’t so much as twitch and intensity in that crimson gaze made Stretch want to look away. He resisted, meeting that glare defiantly, even as he said, quietly, “If you stay long enough, leaving won’t be an option.”

Stretch only snorted, seriously, what was with this guy? “and you’re calling your brother a nut?”

He didn’t bother to answer that one, only swung around and pointed an accusing finger in Red’s direction. “This is on you, brother.”

Red only gave him that easy, sharky grin back. “always was.”

Stretch thought that was the end of it. The guy nodded shortly and started towards the door, brushing past Stretch to get to it and that was where he paused. He turned towards Stretch, those red eye lights moving over him searchingly. The end table with its returned lamp was at Stretch’s back, there was nowhere to go as Red’s brother loomed into his personal space, leaning in uncomfortably close, only inches away from Stretch’s collarbone as he sniffed delicately.

“Hm,” he said thoughtfully.

Stretch resisted the urge to give his armpits a testing sniff. “what?”

But he only drew away and gave Red another unreadable look. Red nodded once.

What. The. Fuck?

“Fine,” the guy sighed out. His hands curled into brief fists, sharpened fingertips pressed into his palms. “It’s your problem, brother, you deal with it.”

“don’t i always?”

“Perhaps with the least amount of property damage possible, if you don’t mind.” He gave Stretch another dismissive half-glance. “Now if you’ll excuse me, brother."

He turned and started to walk off and yeesh, even the way he walked caught the eye, damn, hate to see you leave, love to watch those hips go.

Down boy, Stretch told his libido. There was enough weird shit going on and he really didn’t need to take another hike down that path. Besides, with hot stuff constantly looking at him like something to be scraped off the bottom of his shoe, it wasn’t exactly opening the door for romance. He’d had his fill of assholes, a lifetime’s worth, and just case it might be a question, Stretch proved he was still an enormous idiot by calling to that leather-clad back, “didn’t catch your name.”

The guy didn’t even pause. “Then next time you should be a better hunter.”

With that he was out the apartment door. Stretch and Red stood there and listened to the cow bell jangling loudly, the door slamming, and then the roar of an engine speeding away.

Only then did Red speak again, with laconic ease, “if you’re done staring at my baby bro’s ass, y’can come eat with me.”

“i—" wasn’t, Stretch started to say, then shrugged. Busted. “don’t worry, i don’t think i’m his type.”

“don’t think too hard, gonna hurt yourself,” Red said, dry as a mouthful of sand. “what’s the problem, don’t think you got the right size font?”

“let’s not get into that, it’ll take too long,” Stretch tossed back. “and don’t take this the wrong way but your brother is a dick.”

“yeah,” Red said fondly, “ain’t he great? now, before you tried to light up my bro’s life, i was setting up for dinner. if you grab that bag, you can have some, too.”

Stretch followed where Red pointed with his cane to find an insulated bag sitting by the sofa, black because fuck knew Fonzie’s stunt double needed matching accessories. He lugged the bag along as he followed Red back down the hallway into the store, setting it on the counter while Red struggled into the chair. There were a couple of dusty bowls already sitting there next to the beers and Red gave them a cursory wipe with a rag of dubious cleanliness.

“my bro got his own place a while back,” Red unzipped the bag and pulled out a large ceramic casserole dish. “but he still drops off food for me coupla times a week. says that eating at ‘mama’s’ along with a double daily dose of mac and cheese ain’t healthy.”

Stretch watched, reluctantly intrigued. “he doesn’t stick around for dinner?”

“nah, my bro has kinda a special diet.” Red pulled the lid off and steam rose out, along with the gorgeous, rich smell of sinfully delicious food. Long greenish noodles drenched in some sort of glistening sauce with chunks of more green and purple veggies mixed in, and dusted with a heavy sprinkle of parmesan. Whatever it was, it wasn’t anything like what they brought to the table at Olive Garden.

Stretch inhaled deeply, his mouth already watering. “holy shit, he cooked this?”

“cooked it, hell,” Red spooned out portions, uncaring about the little drips that fell on the counter and pushing the first bowl over to Stretch. “he makes the pasta by hand. planted the veggies, too, like he’s fucking ol’ macdonald on his farm. he made that stew i gave ya the first night, too.”

Stretch barely heard him because he’d already taken his first bite and had he really thought Red’s brother looked sexy? He was wrong, totally wrong, because this was the sexy, this delectably orgasmic taste exploding across his tongue in a blend of garlic and vinaigrette, carried on perfectly al dente noodles mingling with the bright crunch of zucchini and beets. It was hard not to moan aloud as he chewed down that first bite and went back for another.

“is he single? i changed my mind, holy fuck, i’m gonna marry him and chain him to the stove,” Thoughtlessly said around a mouthful of deliciousness and Stretch winced as he realized what he said, “sorry, sorry, bad joke.”

Red only slurped up more noodles, teeth glistening with oil and the long strands flinging droplets of sauce as he sucked them in. “he’s single, but good luck putting a leash on him. go ahead, ask him out next time he stops by. i could use a good laugh, ‘cause, honey, you two hooking up would be a joke.”

Absurdly stung, Stretch shrugged and tried on a laugh, “hey, i’m a hell of a catch. gainfully employed and everything.”

“oh, yeah, you’re the seafood special, all right.” Red’s sharp teeth sheared easily through the noodles as he took another bite. “rebound fucks never work out, kid.”

“how did you—" Stretch stopped with a groan as Red raised both brow bones mockingly. He slumped back over his bowl, twirling up noodles on his fork. “yeah, yeah, handed that over with gift wrap.”

“yep, you did.” Red clapped Stretch on the shoulder with enough force to make him drop his fork. “the list of reasons people end up in the middle of nowhereville is pretty fucking short, kid, an’ you got that look. don’t worry ‘bout it, you got a place to stay here as long as you want.”

The unexpected kindness from Red of all people made him blink hard, but then, that wasn’t really giving him a fair shake, was it, not when he’d given Stretch a job to begin with and kept him semi-fed. “thanks.”

“don’t mention it, to anyone.” Red said dryly. He sucked down the last of the noodles and pushed the bowl away with a sigh. “gonna ruin my rep. make you a deal, air conditioning’s better down here. if you wanna watch tv in my place, y’can go ahead, if,” he stressed, “if ya call your brother. bet he’s out of his mind worried by now.”

“how—” Stretch shut his mouth hard enough for his teeth to click together. Red only looked serenely back, the chair creaking as he leaned back and laced his hands together over his middle. He looked away, not wanting to see what else might shine knowingly in those crimson eye lights. “i’ll text him.”

“good enough,” Red said agreeably. He pulled a can of beer off the plastic ring and popped it open, gulping some down and belching with mellow contentment. “where the fuck did you go earlier, i been waiting on these beers.”

Stretch’s bowl was empty and he ran a finger along the inside of it, licking away the smear of leftover sauce. “to see a movie.”

Red’s mouth opened in a silent ‘ah’. “didja say hi to doris?”

That was not what Stretch expected. “i…yes. you’ve seen her?” Stupid to think Red hadn’t, he’d been here for a long time, hard to believe he’d never stepped into the theater and any Monster with half a gram of sense would’ve noticed her.

“sure, loads of times,” Red said, confirming it. “sweet gal. don’t be offended if she don’t remember you right away, she’s gotta little problem with short term memory.” He pointed a finger at his temple and let his thumb drop like the hammer on a gun. “keep stoppin’ in and eventually you’ll stick. takes her a mo’ when i stop by, but she gets there.”

“good to know.” And it was. Any faint, stupid hurt that he wasn’t the first Monster in Doris’s unlife was a little eased by that tidbit. He probably would’ve been more upset if he went to see her again tomorrow and had to go through the intros again without it.

“okay, g’wan, get outta here,” Red shoved a beer in Stretch’s direction and waved him off. “just remember, wheel of fortune is on at 7.”

Stretch took the dirty bowls with him along with the serving dish, giving them a quick wash and setting them into Red’s already overflowing dish drainer. He spent the rest of the afternoon on the saggy sofa in the living room, watching reruns of ‘MASH’ and ‘Little House On the Prairie’ until Red closed shop for the Wheel.

That night Stretch had a strange dream. Vast trees towering over him and unstable ground beneath his feet. He stood in a puddle of ragged moonlight and when red eyes loomed out of the darkness, he met their stare and didn’t run. Not even when he saw the huge, dark shape that contained them, jagged white teeth in a gaping maw that gnashed and slavered, ready to consume him. The shape leapt at him and he couldn’t move, trapped by that gaze. He woke with a gasp before it landed, waking with a scream tangled up on his throat, clammy sheets sticking to his sweaty bones.

He lay for a moment on the thin mattress, catching his breath. His window was covered, had been since his second night here and he’d found an old blanket in his closet, tacked it up to keep out the blistering heat of the noontime sun. Now it kept out the midnight darkness and he didn’t even glance at it as he rolled to his feet and headed into the bathroom to splash cold water on his sweaty face.

He set both damp hands on the sides of the sink and looked at his dripping reflection. The only shadows in this room were the ones beneath his sockets. His skull was pale, his eye lights pinpricks of diffused white.

“liar,” he whispered to his reflection and watched as it whispered it silently back.

But that was one shipment of guilt he could offload right now.

Stretch shuffled back out and scooped his phone off the nightstand. He ignored the messages, the voicemails, and only tapped out a message of his own, hitting send before he could think of an excuse not to.

i’m okay, little brother, i’m safe. i’ll call soon.

It wasn’t a lie. Soon was relative, just like brothers.

He sank back down on his damp sheets and didn’t bother to turn out the lights.

tbc

[cryptvokeeper]

boy howdy time to use that one(1) exoticism class I really loved to analyze good omens through that lens!

ok so if you've made it past the read more I would like to offer up this post’s tags as sort of a base starting point. if you're too lazy to read ill sort of sum up the concept;   aziraphale and crowley like people the way zookeepers love animals. They dont have a deep love for humanity as PEOPLE. Not with an enlightenment era, ‘people are the best’, humanist philosophy. not the way Adam does, which I think is a great way to look at it!

buuuuut...not entirely the same way I would look at it for the sake of this analysis. I’d like to argue that conceptually, Crowley and Aziraphale aren't zookeepers; they're tourists.

why? well for one zookeepers is giving them WAY too much credit. Like theyre ‘the keepers of humanity’. Yeah no. if they were good at their jobs maybe id see the point, after all their job description are, once again referencing OP’s tags;  to make sure the animals under their care are well-nourished and have lots of Engagement     #in their Habitats (very deliberately and carefully designed for Enrichment) . But both of the ineffable idiots are notorious slackers. I wouldn't quite call shutting down phone lines or keeping customers from buying books enrichment. 

but ok, they may not be like zookeepers, but what makes me say theyre tourists? well first off, lets look at who is writing the book; Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. we’ve got two white guys from the uk. and I promise you, I promise promise promise that the tldr of this isn't ‘theyre white so theyre problematic’. im not here to do that. however it bears keeping in mind that this is the perspective of the writers which will inevitably impact the way they write their story and characters. and it does! Aziraphale and Crowley are super fucking British. and yes, you can claim that theyre supernatural beings with no real earthly nationality, but be honest with yourself. They live in London, have for a good chunk of their time on earth. if you go by the tv show at least since the 1800′s, possibly and likely longer. and so that britishness its a huge part of the book’s humor, tone, vibe, everything. but beyond that, its a part of how these characters view the world. or rather, the way these two view the world is reflective of the fascination with the exotic that was nurtured in many European nations thanks to imperialism. Think about the dynamic of power between the ineffable duo and humanity. they are ethereal, occult, all powerful beings. they could make or break countless human lives with their miracles and wiles. “But they dont hurt anyone!” you say. and sure, you are correct in that. The humans around them are ignorant to what they are, but we as the audience are not. we know the imbalance of power in the relationship, and are frequently reminded of it. They may only dine at the ritz and walk in the park, but its all too easily read like Flaubert in Egypt. Crowley and Aziraphale essentially treat the world at large the way traveling europeans treated their colonies Middle East, Asia, and Africa. As one big vacation catering exclusively to them.

recall Crowley and Aziraphale’s drunken antics post the antichrist being dropped off at the hospital. you know, the whole ‘the antichrist has been on earth for 24 hours and we’ve been drinking for six of them’ bit. how does Crowley argue for Aziraphale to help him stop the apocalypse? does he draw on humanist idea, such as the inherent value of human life? not at all. in fact, he sooner argues that dolphins and gorillas don't deserve to die before humans. instead he appeals to aziraphales love of human things. of books and wine and food. not humans themselves, but the things that they offer him. nothing quite as colonialist than looking at a group of people and seeing their culture in terms of commodity. he also argues against heaven, against celestial harmonies and eternity watching the sound of music. this becomes a sort of pseudo primitivism, one which is expanded upon in the tv show. heaven and hell are mean and heartless and dont care about people, not like the noble savages of England. 

I like to think that by the end of the story they sort of understand why their viewpoints are flawed, or at least they've been challenged to think about them more deeply. again, see OPS tags;   #it's why aziraphale and crowley are so absolutely gobsmacked by [Adam] #neither of them anticipated (any more than Heaven or Hell) that humanity would choose its own side; its own path its own grace and sin. they start to understand a bit. better that humans aren't just there for their own entertainment. 

I could go more into ethnocentrism and such, but ima leave it here. again, this is NOT a criticism of good omens or its creators in ANY way. this isnt saying that its problematic or cancelled or WHATEVER, I just genuinely enjoy analyzing things, its how I process the things Im passionate about. and I encourage other people to do critical analysis with what they love too. Not to be critical, but to critically analyze. think about why the thing you love does what it does, and then think about how it does it. and talk about it without accusing the work of anything.

[davidcarner]

Sarah vs The Life Unexpected: Growing Pains Ch 2, Are You Sure?

A/N: If you don't follow me on twitter, my daughter dressed up as Brenda, Grace's personification of evil and way of torturing me. What does she want you might ask? What do you think, MOLLY! We return to the Mollyverse with the question we've been wondering since Christmas…It is a baby brother, right?….I give you Ch 2, Are You Sure?

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck, or Molly, but I need Brenda to go away.

"Chuck," he heard the voice say. He opened his eyes and looked up at the lights. "Chuck," it was the voice of an angel, his angel…Sarah. He smiled, and then he thought about the video he had just watched. He jumped to his feet, ran out the door, skidded to a stop on one foot, entered the men's room, and got to the toilet just before his stomach emptied. "Oh, boy," Sarah muttered.

The rest of the class looked at her in pity. She shrugged, and grinned sheepishly. They had just watched the birthing video. Chuck had been nervous about the birthing class, but Sarah was so excited, he had kept his mouth shut. This was one of those times he really missed Ellie. She could of prepared him, or at least talked to Sarah about it. He was going to get through the class. He had decided that, and then the video began. He wasn't sure why the mother had to be naked. He had always heard about the beauty of birth, but there was nothing beautiful on that screen. In fact, he was wondering why any of these women had not only had sex if there was a chance to do what he was watching, but some of them did it with nothing but this purpose!

Chuck felt the room get hot, spin, and a couple of times he wished he hadn't had that burrito for lunch. He got himself under control just in time to look up and see the baby crowning. That was the last thing he remembered. He splashed cool water on his face while standing at the sink. He looked down at the sink and the water running.

"I don't know if I can do this," he said softly to himself.

"Well, luckily you don't have to do that part," he heard her say. He spun around and there was Sarah, standing in the men's room. He thought she'd be mad, upset, embarrassed, or something, but all she was, was concerned. "Unlike that video," she said gesturing behind her. "There is usually some type of partition between the top half and bottom half, and I think it's best if you work the top half, or out in the waiting area."

"I can't do that," Chuck said. Sarah smiled at him.

"Sweetie, I love you, but when I'm giving birth I really don't have time to wake you up from off the floor. I'd have to let you lay there," she said.

"If you never want to have sex again, I understand," Chuck blurted out. "I mean…" he turned a little pale, turned to the sink, and felt her hand at his back and on his shoulder. "I'm useless."

"Kinda needed you to get to this point," she said with a grin.

"Ha!" he replied. Sarah gave him a side hug.

"As long as you're there for everything after," she said, giving him a smile. He stepped away, and looked at her, mock affronted.

"Woman, please, you know I am, and will be," he replied.

"I know, Chuck, I know," she said, and gave him a kiss, but quickly pulled away.

"Mouthwash," he muttered. She dug in her purse and found some gum.

"Come on, let's go home," she said.

}o{

"So why was she naked?" Carina asked the next day at lunch. Sarah shrugged.

"I'm really not sure," Sarah admitted. "The narrator said, but Chuck was turning funny colors and making gurgling noises." Carina laughed.

"You know, if you went into labor, and couldn't get to the hospital the nerd would probably deliver the baby just fine," Carina said, shaking her head. Sarah was nodding.

"Right?" she answered. "But put him in a spot where his mind can think and really process what is going on…" Sarah shuddered, and Carina belly laughed. "I love him, but sometimes…"

"Stick with the first part of that sentence," Carina said. "So today's the big day, huh?"

"Yep," Sarah said, blowing out a breath.

"Have you considered what you are going to do if it's not a boy?" Carina asked.

"Flee the country," Sarah said. "I have fake passports and IDs ready for both Chuck and myself."

"Sarah, you wouldn't leave that girl, either of them," Carina said, grinning.

"But she scares me sometimes," Sarah admitted. Carina leaned in.

"She scares me all the time," Carina answered.

}o{

Chuck and Sarah sit in the driveway of their home, neither making a sound or moving a muscle.

"Baby's healthy," Chuck said after some time.

"Yes," Sarah said, nodding. "Looks like it will be a normal delivery, nothing complicated."

"Which is awesome," Chuck said with no enthusiasm.

"Absolutely," Sarah answered. They sat there for minute.

"Could we get a second opinion? Chuck asked.

"Chuck, we got three while we were there," Sarah said.

"Different hospital?" Chuck asked. "Different country?"

"Chuck," Sarah began.

"Sarah, they said it was a girl!" Chuck said, his eyes wide. "I have to go in there and tell her I failed!"

"You failed?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah, my sperm didn't do something right," Chuck replied. Sarah closed her eyes. "What?

"I don't know that it's anyone's fault," Sarah said, shaking her head.

"What if we move and don't tell them?" Chuck asked.

"You could leave Molly and Clara?" she asked, him a look of, "are you stupid?" on her face, knowing the same thought had crossed her mind.

"You know I couldn't, and neither could you, it's just…Sarah, she scares me," Chuck admitted.

"Chuck, she scares all of us," Sarah said, taking his hand. "I'll protect you," she said with a wink.

"You know I like it when you get all protectory," Chuck said, grinning. Sarah leaned across the seat.

"Yeah?" she asked. Chuck nodded. "Then you tell Molly, and I'll protect you, all night."

"Nope, no, unh-uh, net, nein, no freakin way!" he said, looking scared to death.

"All night?" she asked, pouting. Chuck shook his head.

"You can pull out every trick in the book they taught you, you can use every feminine wile you have, and there is no way it works. We do this together," Chuck said. "I don't put my foot down on much, but this, this I do." Sarah nodded.

"You're right," she said, and opened the door.

"Hey, any chance later-" he began.

"Nien," she said, looking at him batting his eyes.

"I'm not sure that was necessary," Chuck grumbled.

}o{

They had gone in, made dinner, and were sitting at the table, nervous as can be.

"How's my brother doing?" Molly asked. Chuck dropped his fork onto his plate mid-scoop, and Sarah stopped chewing. She looked at him.

"A week," she offered. Chuck shook his head. She closed her eyes, reached over, and took his hand.

"Molly, sweetie, the doctor saw the baby today," Sarah began.

"How is he?" Molly asked, her face excited.

"He's a she," Chuck said. He watched her face. She turned and looked at him.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Pumpkin, he had everyone check it to make sure," Chuck explained. "The baby is a girl." Molly nodded.

"You know after the baby is born, and we've had some time to get adjusted, we were planning on having another one," Sarah said. Chuck looked at her.

"We are?" he asked.

"Well, you didn't seem to mind the idea," Sarah replied.

"How about we see how you handle this one," Chuck said, going a little white. Sarah grinned as she fought not to roll her eyes.

"Chuck, I'll be fine," she said. Molly was watching them and shook her head.

"Maybe he's right," Molly muttered. Chuck and Sarah shared a look and Emma jumped up.

"I'm taking Clara for her bath, and get her ready for bed," Emma said grinning. "I suspect we might be about to get some more Jerry wisdom, and it's been awhile so I'm sure it's a doozy."

"Take me with you," Chuck said. Sarah and Emma burst out laughing. Emma left and Sarah and Chuck waited. "What did Jerry say?"

"He said his brother told him, his mom and dad had to practice a lot before they got a baby brother," Molly said. Chuck just blinked. He couldn't speak. Sarah looked at Chuck, fighting to keep from bursting out laughing.

"Sweetie," Sarah began, wondering if she shouldn't just leave this alone but finding she couldn't help herself. "Doesn't Jerry only have his older brother?"

"Yes, and it took a lot of tries for him to come along, so they had to practice a lot," she said. She stared at them. "Well?"

"You are not telling us to go practice right now," Chuck said.

"Daddy, you always tell me if you want something you have to work for it," Molly said, standing. Sarah clapped her hand over Chuck's mouth.

"Molly, in many situations that's true but in this one, there is no way to know whether the baby will be a boy or a girl," Sarah said, giving Chuck a warning look as she removed her hand. Chuck was close to bursting from the laughter he was holding in. "There are a lot of old wives tales and myths, but nothing scientific."

"So, you just have to keep trying?" Molly asked. Chuck put his hand over his own mouth.

"Yes, sweetie, we have to keep trying, if we want a boy," Sarah said. "Your father is right though, we do need to see how things go. I plan on having another, but something could happen." Molly stared at Chuck, and Chuck wondered.

"Pumpkin, can I ask you a crazy question?" he asked. She nodded. "Are you worried if we have a little girl, that is ours, we're going to love her more than you?" Molly didn't say anything. Sarah's smile and laughter were gone. Such an idea had never occurred to her.

"I mean she would be yours," Molly said softly.

"Molly Bartowski," Chuck said, giving her the stink eye. She couldn't help herself, she giggled. "You better know that your mother and I consider you to be ours. We couldn't love you more than if you were our blood child. What did I tell you so many months ago?"

"That we were lucky because someone chose to love us?" she asked.

"That's right," Sarah said. "And I don't want to ever hear another crazy word that we don't love you. You practically harassed this poor guy until he married me."

"Thank you, by the way," Chuck mocked whispered. She gently elbowed him in the ribs, grinning.

"Plus you harassed me until I asked him out, causing me to embarrass myself," Sarah continued.

"You didn't cry in a beautiful women's home you just met because it used to belong to your dead sister," Chuck countered. Sarah turned to him.

"I really owe her one don't I?" Sarah asked.

"More like I do," Chuck replied. They both turned to her. "So we love you, you got us together, and you will always be our daughter, got it?" She nodded. "Good, now go see if Emma needs any help, and we'll be up in a minute." She got down, came over and kissed Sarah first and then Chuck and then headed upstairs. Chuck turned to Sarah.

"So were you going to ask me if we could work harder, or promise her you would, or what, because it was right there and I know you couldn't resist it," she said, grinning.

"The only thing I could resist less than that is you," Chuck said with his own grin.

"Wow! We are trying hard tonight," she said, emphasizing the night. "Mr. Bartowski."

"And?" Chuck asked. She moved in close.

"Chuck, you know it works," she said and gave him a big kiss.

"I will always love our children," Chuck said.

"But you owe Molly big time," Sarah said with a coy grin on her face.

"You ain't kiddin'," Chuck said, getting up and clearing the table.

}o{

"Wake up!" Molly said, landing in the middle of the bed. Chuck shot straight up.

"Wha? Where? Is there a fire?" He asked.

"No, we have to go shopping and get the best deals!" Molly said.

"What are you talking about?" Sarah asked, rubbing her eyes. "What time is it?"

"We have to go when it's black on Friday to get the best deals for baby things, and it's Friday, and it's really dark outside," Molly said. Chuck looked at the clock.

"It is 3:14," Chuck said.

"Baby, that's for the day after Thanksgiving," Sarah explained. "We'll go this weekend."

"Oh," Molly said. "Guess I better get back to bed. You-" Sarah cut her off.

"Molly, before you say another word," Sarah began in a mom voice. Chuck bet she used that voice in the CIA to control assets and they did exactly what she said, every single time to the letter of the law. "Do you remember when Chuck told you to stop about the baby brother?" She nodded. "You need to stop about the practicing." She nodded and left. When Chuck heard her door close, he couldn't help himself.

"She could be right you know," he said. He was whacked by a pillow. "I could be concussed."

"You'll get over it," she said, snuggling into him. After a minute she raised up to look at him. "Well?"

"Well, what?" Chuck asked, confused.

"Aren't you going to lock the door?" Sarah asked, grinning.

"I thought you wanted her to quit saying that stuff?" Chuck asked, still confused but getting up.

"Oh, I do," Sarah admitted. "But, you know," she said, bouncing one shoulder. "What if she's right?"

"So you just want me for practice?" Chuck asked, trying to appear affronted.

"Do you really care that much?" she asked, grinning. Chuck shook his head with his own grin. "Then get over here!" And he did.

}o{

Saturday Afternoon

They had shopped all day for baby things. They were all tired, and Chuck wanted to lift their spirits. He pulled into an animal shelter, and Sarah gave him a look.

"This is why I don't let you drive," she said, winking.

"I thought maybe we could go visit some animals and cheer us up," he said. "The shopping kind of put us all in foul moods."

"Good idea, Daddy," Molly said. They got everyone out of the car and Sarah sided up to Chuck.

"Is this a good idea?" she asked.

"Why wouldn't it be?" Chuck asked. Sarah gave him a look and shook her head. They went through the shelter and Chuck stopped in his tracks looking at one of the puppies.

"Chuckkk," Sarah said, worried.

"Sorry, he looks just like Peaches," Chuck said. "He was my dog, back when my whole family lived together." Sarah looked at him. Molly went over to the puppy in the cage. One of the volunteers came over.

"Does she want to play with him?" the volunteer asked. Sarah looked at Chuck, who was lost in his thoughts, a sad look on his face.

"Yes," Sarah said. The volunteer got the puppy out and within minutes, Sarah was rolling her eyes. Molly and the puppy had bonded, and Chuck just watched them, joy on his face. Sarah sat Clara down and she walked over and began to play with Molly and the puppy. The puppy was good with the two little girls. "Can you watch them a minute, I need to take care of something?" Sarah asked.

"Sure," Chuck said. "You okay?"

"Never better, Chuck," she said. She walked out of the room, and the four never really noticed how long she was gone. When she returned, Chuck sighed.

"Girls, we need to go," Chuck said.

"Bye, puppy," Molly said.

"I believe the puppy's name is Peaches," Sarah said. Chuck's head whipped around.

"Are you sure?" he asked, shocked.

"Well, I'm told the owner gets to name the puppy," Sarah said. Chuck's jaw dropped.

"Peaches," Molly said. Peaches licked Molly's face. Chuck pulled Sarah into a hug.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Chuck," Sarah said smiling. "That puppy is a member of the family, and if I made them put him back, they'd be heartbroken."

"Right," Chuck said grinning.

"And, you'd pout for days," Sarah said.

"Weeks," Chuck replied. Sarah kissed him. "Come on, Peaches, we're going home." Peaches barked in agreement.

A/N: For the record I never passed out during the birthing video we had to watch…the rest of the running…that may be based on a very true story….Take care…Until next time

DC

[thehalfworld]

Fanfic MST: Forbiden Fruit: The Tempation of Edward Cullen, a Twilight fanfic [part 3]

I have to warn you all that this chapter has a rape scene in it. It’s completely ridiculous, and I really don’t know if that makes it better or worse. Proceed with caution.

Recap: Edward gave into tempation and tried putting the moves on Tiaa. She went along with it at first, but then pushed him away because they were in public and Edward already has a girlfriend. Edward seems to think Tiaa is a vampire, even though she doesn’t appear to be and his thinking she is doesn’t really make sense. 

Chapter 1 Previous chapter

AN - hi guys hope u like this one im quite proud of it! 

That’s a bit worrying.

thanx for the suport from my frends love u girls!glad u like it! oh an VINCENT ur so dumb of course tiaa didnt go to math in only her bra shes not a total ditz! 

Hey, you never said she put her shirt back on! Actually, you also described Edward ripping it off her, and we know it’s made out of fishnet, so… I kinda doubt she still has a shirt left to put back on.

one more time...DONT READ IF U DNT LIKE IT!

I can’t imagine not liking this story. I’m being serious. It’s a masterwork. It’s right up there with “My Immortal” in my eyes.

NO frickin flames what is the POINT of flamin ppl there is NO POINT so f off!

I think the point is to annoy the author. Which appears to be working.

Capter 3 – uncle larry

Wow! Really looking forward to the capter!

I sa t alone watching tv at dave and maries house. I couldnt stop thinking about my encounter with Ewdard Cullen earlier that day. He was so beuatifull and sexoy with such amazing hair and eyes I could hardly believe he had notice someone like me! 

Just me or is she a tad fixated on his hair?

Also… Tiaa isn’t the sort of girl who blends in, and she knows it. She’s aware that she’s pretty and she’s used to getting attention — both positive and negative — because of her looks. She’s also loud (she yelled at Edward when he bumped into her), and she dresses in a manner that… well, let’s just say most small-town high school students don’t dress like Tiaa. This girl isn’t ordinary and she’s well aware of it. Why the false modesty?

But I was angry at how he had made me feel, how I'd burnt like crimson hot flame wean he touched me and how he'd not listened to me when id' told him to fring off, and how he dared to touch me at all when he had a GF anyways, even if she was a mean girl with an ugly heart and not that hawt. 

Not only has she not met Bella yet, she hasn’t heard anyone talk about Bella either, so I don’t know how she came to the “she’s a mean girl with an ugly heart” conclusion.

But nomatter how much I try to hate him, I simply couldn't. Suddenly the phone range

"hello "

"hey, is that altantiana?"

"yah who is this?" I aksed.

"its Mike nooton from your class! 

She hasn’t met Mike yet either, unless that happened in the deleted scenes or something. I guess, if he called her house phone, that he could have got Dave and Marie’s number out of the school directory… but this seems a little weird if they’ve literally never met.

I was wondering if your wanted to go to La Plush with me too morrow night maybe? 

To clarify, he is talking about a beach. He means La Push. Stuffed animals are probably not involved.

Theres a party on the beech with whole crowd of us going and I thought you seemed relay nice so I thought maybe youd want to me my date please? -

I can maybe buy that a high school boy is desperate enough to ask a random pretty girl to a party with him in the hopes that maybe it’ll kindle some sort of romance, but this is a really bad way to go about it. Asking out a girl you’ve never met is… not the best plan. Why not just frame it as inviting her along because she’s a new student and it would be a good opportunity for her to hang out and make friends? You don’t have to be explicit about your crush before you’ve even had a conversation with her.

Also I think Mike is already dating Bella’s friend Jessica, but fuck her, I guess.

"arent you the guy who hangs out with all the pathetic chearleaders and stuff?" I asked

"you mean bella and jessica's gang? 

I’m gonna wait a bit to talk about how weird it is that Bella is hanging with a “gang” of cheerleaders, but like… why does Tiaa know Mike hangs out with them? Again, this is their first conversation, and (as far as we know) the first time she’s even heard of him.

Sometimes I guess but theyr'e way shallow and not as hot as you. 

He’s maybe undermining his own point there.

And they can be mean sometimes.-"

So… like anyone, then?

"then why do hang out white them then you shallow CREEP!and why are you askin me out when you harely no me mike! Cos u think im' hot? Why cant you see your just as shallow if you want to date someone just cost of what they look like - I'm not THAT pretty anyways! 

Oh, Tiaa, you and I were on the same page until you pulled the fake modesty card. Besides, isn’t this a bit of an overreaction? He asked you to hang out with him at the beach, it’s not like he’s proposing marriage or anything.

And even if i was, I'm SO screwed up in the bran you cant even imagine! u would no want to date me if you new how screwed up I was!"

What exactly does she mean by “screwed up in the brain bran”? Like, are we talking legitimate mental illness, or is this just teenage angsting? And, in either case, what exactly is her problem that makes her undateable? This is about the vaguest possible rejection, and I don’t know if she’s implying something is actually wrong with her or that she’s just Not Like Other Girls.

"I would, tia, beleive me I would! Your so beautiful you cant even imagine. Your so pretty people lose there minds when your around and forget there names and forget to brethe! 

That’s your only reason? She’s pretty? Weren’t you saying something about cheerleaders being shallow a minute or two ago?

How can't you have noticed that? 

Decent point, actually. If your character is dropping jaws and turning heads with her beauty, either she’s aware she’s beautiful or there’s a reason she doesn’t realize. Like… maybe Tiaa thinks the people staring at her are doing so because of how she dresses, not because they think she’s pretty. Tiaa has actually seemed pretty aware of her effect on others throughout, though, so unless she’s just playing modest around Mike for some reason this scene doesn’t make any sense.

And I don't CARE how screwed up you are! It only maked you more interesting! 

He’s not even gonna ask for clarification on that?

Your cool and different and you are honest about stuff! you are right to be angry with me. I'm sorry for benign shallow and dumb just give me a chance to show you how much I care, please? "

The argument he’s making would probably be way more convincing if this wasn’t, you know, their first conversation ever.

"well...ok maybe ill go along if I dont have anything else to do" i said, not believing a word he said about how pretty i was.

Oh, come on.

"thank you altantiana thank you so much!" he sounded so happy I couldnt help but smile as I put the phone down but my smile faded as I return to my thoughts. Mike Nooton was kinda cute and seemed like an ok guy but he was nothing next to Ewdard Cullen. 

Yeah, I guess when compared to the weird dude who tried to fuck you in a locker room and threw a shirt at your head Mike really isn’t worth a second thought.

Even though I was anger with edward than I have ever been with anyone in my life and part of me wanted to chop his head off with a sore, a part of my soul would all ways remain in that coridoor where we had kissed so hard and passionably. 

My mistake, they were in a hallway, not a locker room. Not sure if that’s better or worse, but, depending on how busy that hallway normally is, it’s probably worse.

I creamed myself. 

Didn’t need to know that.

My heart had soared that day like never before, and i new that no one else would ever make me feel like that again, then I thought how he was a cheater and a bastard and my face burnt with shame. I couldn't beleive I had behaved like such a hore. 

I mean… she didn’t, really. She went along with his advances up to a point, and it doesn’t really show good judgement on her part, but he was the one acting like a “hore” in this situation. Putting the moves on a random girl in a public space when you’ve already got a girlfriend? Keep it classy, dude.

I was scared of the affect he had on me.

Effect. “Affect” is a verb. Nice sentence otherwise.

(Okay, if you’re a grammar pedant, “affect” isn’t always a verb… it can also be a noun, when we’re talking in a psychology context, which Tiaa isn’t.)

"bye tiaa! We'll be back on Thursday ok?" mari put her head rind the door suddenly

"Ok then, have fun" I wispered clammily..dave and marie where visiting relatives for a few day.

Convenient. Two less characters for the author to have to deal with.

Wait, no, oh my god, I just remembered what happens in this chapter.

"you look so pretty" she says, smiling -your the prettiest gril i've ever seen!”

I… okay, that’s some natural dialogue.

"omg whatever" I reply. I hated it wen people say that. 

Come on, girl, it’s just a compliment! Not like she’s hitting on you! At least I hope not.

I pulled my blond hair over my face. I was wearin a short hot pink dress cut low with black lace frills at the bottom and black lace stocking.

I kind of like that Tiaa is a goth girl who likes bright pink. There are plenty of real-life goth girls like that, but you pretty much never see them in fanfiction.

"daves brother larry will be looking after you wile where gone you'll be ok when where gone wont you tiaa? I hate to leaven you alone like this!"

You know “leaven” is what you do to bread to make it rise, right?

"i don't need a freakin babysiter u no!" i was so embarasing, I could look after myself!

Freudian slip? I mean, she is pretty embarrassing.

Marie smiles and leaves the house.

Marie doesn’t give a fuck, it seems.

"greeting a;latnaniana my names uncle larry" said uncle larry, he came in threw the door he was fat and bald with tiny black eyes and a red face

You know he’s a bad guy because he’s ugly. That’s how it works!

"Hey - i said

"your the orphan arent you" he says "is it true you kiled your mother when she gave birth to you?”

Nice to meet you too, Uncle Larry.

"Wat!" I cry, my eyes filling with tears

"your an evil bich arent u? Go outsite and wash my car" he shouts angerly

I’ve just thought of a fun game. There are five more chapters left. Let’s all place bets on which chapter Uncle Larry will get horribly murdered in.

I stood up and left to wash his car. I got soap and a bucket, afraid of what he would do if I refuzed. I went outside and started to wash hush car it was a red porche. He came outside and wached me and I new he was waching me! 

I know the implication is he’s watching her in a pervy way, but if I was making someone wash my car and I didn’t particularly like them I’d keep an eye on them too.

After a minite he came over and hit me hard across the face

"wft!" i shouted

What Fuck The?

He poored the bucket of water all over me and hit me again,. I was wet and crying and he started to rip my dress and bra of me and rip my clothes. He touched my naked breats and I try to push him off me I screamed at him to stop but he did'nt. He bent me over the bonet of his car and spanked me on the ass for half an hour then he pulled my panties down and started to rape me!

I really don’t want to be laughing at a rape scene, because rape is one of those things that’s just inherently unfunny, but… this is testing me. I mean, an entire half hour of spanking? The dramatic announcement that he began raping her after he forcibly stripped her naked and spanked her for thirty minutes, as if this is a surprise? The fact that all of this is happening in plain view of any neighbors Dave and Marie might have? Good lord. I truly do not know how to react.

I also have to wonder why Tiaa makes little attempt to fight back here. It’s pretty reasonable to freeze up when you’re violently attacked, but Tiaa has proven that she’s both capable and willing to fight off anyone she perceives as a threat (kung fu babie!) previously in the story. Is Uncle Larry too physically powerful for her to win against? We don’t really know how big he is compared to her, and Tiaa has been described as strong and fast previously. Both of them are unarmed, and, if there are neighbors, the noise should alert someone to what’s going on (Tiaa has been shouting/screaming throughout). Why is he getting away with all this? Oh, right, plot reasons.

"stop raping me!" I cry but he didnt stop! 

Shocker.

The pain was terrible even tough his manhood was small. 

Didn’t need to know about his dick, thanks!

I cryed and cryed but he didnt stop for hours and when he finally stopped he left me on the floor and spat in my face and left me there. 

Wait… hours? This guy has impressive stamina.

I pulled on my clothes and cryed madly and ran off into the seething darkness of the midnight street. I ran and ran un till I came to some woods and then I fell down in the woods and cryed.

“Seething darkness of the midnight street” is a pretty good phrase, actually. I mean, super cheesy and doesn’t really mean anything, but if this was lyrics some alt-rock band wrote I’d accept it.

Suddenly a blast of white light exploded in head and my mark on my hand burned like a flame. I closed my eyes and saw the face of a tall white man looking over me with no expression, his eyes were burning red and his face glimmered cold and bright as the moon,. 

It was… VLODEMONT AND DA DETH DEALERS!

I fell back from the brightness of his body, his hair was dark as night,.

It was… VOLSEMORT IN A WIG AND DA DEATH DEELRS!

"atlantiana?" he whisperd in a voice softer than clouds -my daughter?-

Well, we all saw that one coming a mile off.

"omg" I whisperd as my mind went blank and the world went dark.

I hope she whispered the acronym instead of saying “oh my god.” Her dad will be totally confused! Old people don’t know how acronyms work!

Next chapter

[josthecommision]

Super detailed questions about your OC: Jozre and Alinthiel

(I had to get rid of some questions because they were either not applicable to the universe the characters are in or don't really seem important or simply I couldn't answer very well)

1. What’s their full name? Why was that chosen? Does it mean anything? Its embarrassing and personal question haha. Jozre Alcazier is a corruption or Jose Hebrew meaning “God increases” and Alcazar in Moorish means “palace” or “fortress”. Alinthiel is really just a name that sounds good and elfish but also got inspired by the anime MAGI with the main character Aladin.

2. Do they have any titles? How did they get them?

Jozre: “I don't really have a title, not yet I guess”

Alinthiel: “I am currently the Alchemy instructor of the Winterhold university mostly because they lacked one.....oh and one of the Thalmor’s most wanted. Long story.”

3. Did they have a good childhood? What are fond memories they have of it? What’s a bad memory?

Jozre: “I like to think I had a good childhood overall. Growing up in an environment with different intermingled cultures has its perks and I enjoyed every bit of it. Still, I regret having been a terrible kid with my brothers and I had a few bullies in my life but I just shrugged most bulling off for the most part”

Alinthiel: I had a very nice childhood in the imperial city but the haunting truth that we were fugitives speaking against the Aldmeri Dominion always seemed to hover above us. Then the great war reached us in the city and...well you know how war can be with teenagers”

4. What is their relationship with their parents? What’s a good and bad memory with them? Did they know both parents?

Jozre: I love my parents and mostly have good memories of us having good times but they would once in a wile have very heated arguments. Kind of made me feel helpless and scared we wouldn't be a family any more. Guess there is nothing good with out the bad”

Alinthiel: “despite the stress from obvious reasons, I had good memories with my parents like the time my mom would teach magic. The Imperial city was a nice place to live in before the war despite the whole Oblivion crisis thing. Life was sometimes quiet and boring though because we did not leave our house too much in fear of Thalmor spies spotting us.”

5. Do they have any siblings? What’s their names? What is their relationship with them? Has their relationship changed since they were kids to adults?

Jozre: “four actually: Dahvi, Rafa, Oscar. We are in really good terms now but I was a little brat to everyone when I was little. Its kind of a sore and shameful subject for me and try to make up for it all every time I get.

Alinthiel: “No not I don't but sure wished I had a little sister or brother”

6. What were they like at school? Did they enjoy it? Did they finish? What level of higher education did they reach? What subjects did they enjoy? Which did they hate?

Jozre: “I have always had mixed feelings about school. I enjoy what I learned in high school because its useful now but it all could have came with out the bullies. Wile I could shrug out most, there was one time when the line was crossed and they abused my romantic feelings. Once I found out a girl I liked had vanished after being attacked by the bully, I kind of killed him and that ended with me becoming a criminal to the imperials. I loved Alchemy and my teacher was the best man I have known but hated biology because of a terrible teacher I had”

Alinthiel: “ohhh I loved school although I was technically home schooled. Mom said she did not want me in the college of whispers and the synods because “they are selfish and self serving fungus sippers” and the Telvanii have a very rigid and ignorantly black and white belief about magic and themselves. My mom was once studied with the Psijjics so she knew what she was doing and also attended classes in the college of Winterhold. Being mostly secluded to our house, I was always happy about learning. My favorite subject was Mysticism but I hated home education: I cant clean and end up burning everything I cook!”

7. Did they have lots of friends as a child? Did they keep any of their childhood friends into adulthood?

Jozre: “not many, no. The few friends I had were great though but we moved a lot so the friendships don't last long. I do like to think they think of me once in a wile and that one day we will get together again like old times.

Alinthiel: oh yes tons! I made friends in the Imperial city among the children and young adults when I lived there and even befriended a Moth priest. I would get to see them when I could leave our house but would sneak out at times to hang out more. Sure hope they made it ok after the war....”

8. Did they have pets as a child? Do they have pets as an adult? Do they like animals?

Jozre: “I adopted an old and blind dog when I was young. I still remember how sad and damp the poor old dog was when I first found him, it was raining harsh outside and I just could not let him die alone. Poor Leo was the sweetest and kindest old blind pooch you would ever meet and it brings me to tears how one day, he just died of old age. I like to think I made his last days happy ones though I cant shake the feeling I failed him too. I never stop thinking about him.”

Alinthiel: “We had the whole thing of being nice but not taking in animals. we were never animal people but my mom thought me this animal empathy spell she learned from the wood elves and its amazing! not as potent as the wood elfs themselves though.”

9. Do animals like them? Do they get on well with animals?

Jozre: “Not any more then any other I guess”

Alinthiel: “guess magic don't count huh? well, no I guess not particularly. we got an understanding but that's about it”

10. Do they like children? Do children like them? Do they have or want any children? What would they be like as a parent? Or as a godparent/babysitter/ect?

Jozre: “I don't have any cubs of my own. I think I would leave the idea of having children to my love because personally, I am fine with or without. I would like to believe that I would be the father to help my cubs along with life and guide them so that they don't make the same mistakes I did. Be loving but fair and bestow as many good values as I can with out spoiling them”

Alinthiel: “err, id have to find the “right guy” or girl, I don't judge” but I can be picky and I am always busy with my work.”

11. Do they have any special diet requirements? Are they a vegetarian? Vegan? Have any allergies?

Jozre: “whole milk will out right kill me....or at least it would feel like my insides are being turned open. I need to drink a special lactose free milk or rely on cheese for my calcium.”

Alinthiel: “I cant eat sugary or caffeinated foods as far as I know, you REALY don't want to see me on a high. That is why I confine my self to my study when ever I am in one”

12. What is their favourite food?

Jozre: “oh man do I love food that is spicy and sweet food! I love Rimmani chocolate masala. I am a lover of good food so my preferences are too long to count. I will say that I love fruit and nuts as well”

Alinthiel: “I don't really have a preference but do enjoy eating strange and exotic or alien foods. Those argonian spiced snake was amazing and the way they used the poison was a nice zing! don't eat when mouth sores tough....because you know.....the whole dyeing thing”

13. What is their least favourite food?

Jozre: “anything that is too greasy and bitter food. I hate bitter food and drink and that Dunmer/ dark elf shit is nasty, how do they swallow that slop they call drink?”

Alinthiel: “I don't really have a dislike for something but I do not like putting time into food like those boiled crabs you have to open and scrape out the meat. I am always busy and doing something so I need something that I can grab and eat with out any hassle. now if you serve it already out of the shell, I will not complain”

14. Are they good at cooking? Do they enjoy it? What do others think of their cooking?

Jozre: “I love cooking because I know I can make something I like. I am no gourmet chef and your bound to be disappointed if you want some pretty piece of art but I like to think I make delicious food. I never go hungry”

Alinthiel: “burn food, remember?”

15. Do they collect anything? What do they do with it? Where do they keep it?

Jozre: “I like to collect spices and alchemical herbs when ever I can get my hands on them. I also like to collect swords and armor I find, can clean and carry with me for later use. no, I am not a hoarder”

Alinthiel: “books of ancient lore and magic~ I love books!”

16. What’s their favourite genre of: books, music, tv shows, films, video games and anything else?

Jozre: “love, adventure and...well, Instruction texts of Daibella.”

Alinthiel: “magical lore and elder scrolls if I ever get my hands on one...they do count right?”

17. What’s their least favourite genres?

Jozre and Alinthiel: “Dunmer propaganda,��specially Dres and Telvanii.”

18. Do they like musicals? Music in general? What do they do when they’re favourite song comes?

Jozre: “never been to a musical before but I like music with flair and passion. When ever I hear the guitar, drums and or trumpets, I swing my tail and ignore I dance like a dork!”

Alinthiel: “the classical with the harms and the hymns~ oh how beautiful they can be~.......you should try them! I also like weird and atmospheric are surprisingly good”

19. Do they have a temper? Are they patient? What are they like when they do lose their temper?

Jozre: “I once had a really bad and quick temper when I was younger and would get very violent when pushed too far. Ever since I met Mi’Jirra and she became part of my life, it takes so much more to get me angry and knowing she is there for me and I for her gives me the confidence and strength to be a stronger person. I will, how ever, not tolerate any harm coming to Mi’Jirra and her family”

Alinthiel: “racism and ignorance just make me boil! that is why I have no patience for the Thalmor, stormcloaks and most dark elves. other than that, I am probably too mellow and sleepy to care. Just don't mess with my research”

20. Do they have a good memory? Short term or long term? Are they good with names? Or faces?

Jozre: “I usually have a good memory and can remember things most don't, specialy if its of interest to me but I am terrible with names most of the time. I am good with faces though and can recognize some one visually better then by name”

Alinthiel: “hah, my mind is like a steel trap and can remember every but of text and lore and memory I have ever gotten my neurons on. Probably explains the headaches and mild insomnia”

21. What is their sleeping pattern like? Do they snore? What do they like to sleep on? A soft or hard mattress?

Jozre: “I sleep the whole 7-8 hours one needs and am usually very adaptable to my needs. I snore very lightly but may snore loud if I am not flat on my bed. I usually can sleep wherever and am not picky but I do prefer a slightly soft bed that conforms to me as best as possible. I am  ashamed to say that once in a wile, I sleep walk and may act out what I am dreaming or just walk around and mumble nonsense”

Alinthiel: “I actually love sleeping just as much as I like studding so I get a snooze when ever I allow myself. I have been told that I snore but I am sure that is not true” it totally is true.

22. What do they find funny? Do they have a good sense of humour? Are they funny themselves?

Jozre: “I find witty and ironic things funny as well as life stories retold as a joke. I like to think I have a good and broad sense of humor. I on the other hand am a bit of a hit and miss when it comes to telling comedy though people have told me that I am funnier when I am not actively trying to be funny but do or say something amusing”

Alinthiel: “most people don't find it funny but I find most pun comedy to be hilarious like the one about telling jokes...periodically!” *begins to snort and wheeze*

23. How do they act when they’re happy? Do they sing? Dance? Hum? Or do they hide their emotions?

Jozre: “I usually don't notice but people tell me I always have this warm smile to me and wag my tail when I am in a good mood. I also tend to whistle tunes and act a little giddy once in a wile. I also tend to sing songs I like even though I cant sing even to save my life”

Alinthiel: “When I am happy, I like to dance and waltz around as well as act like a total nerd about the topic of magic at the current situation”

24. What makes them sad? Do they cry regularly? Do they cry openly or hide it? What are they like they are sad?

Jozre: “betrayal and disloyalty really hurt me the most as well as failing those I love more than anything else in the world. I get this sense of worthlessness that really bums me out and makes me ask ‘why’. I have never cried openly, too proud for that. Unfortunately, sadness would soon lead to rage and a desperate need to enact justice. Fortunately, I have become much less susceptible to this once I met Mi’Jirra and my other friends because of the strength they give me. Now I just let things flow down the river”

Alinthiel: “remembering what the Thalmor did to me and my people’s reputation really gets me down though everything unfair in this world bothers me. How unfair and unjust the pro Thalmor altmer, the dark elves, some of the nords and their gods treat others really gets my blood boiling. That is why I am so determined to finish my research into finally shattering all barriers between races and world to eliminate beliefs of superiority and make everyone happy. The thought that I may never achieve this also bothers me greatly but I cant stop now”

25. What is their biggest fear? What in general scares them? How do they act when they’re scared?

Jozre: “Molag Bal and his penchant to corrupt and flay the souls of others absolutely horrifies me to the core. I also find spiders and zombies to be scary but the thing that scares me the most? Loosing Mi’Jirra and not being able to be with her forever in this world and the next. I know its probably selfish and pathetic but I cant go on as I am now with out her and that is why I dedicate my self to protecting her and supporting her in any way” Jozre acts serious but with a visible hint of desperation and fight or flight instinct ready to explode.

Alinthiel: “I am afraid of being trapped in this world after death, to linger on aimlessly bound to the earth bones as a spirit or being reincarnated into this world again wile nords go to sovenguard and so on. Its not fair. I want everyone to have the freedom of bliss after death.”

26. What do they do when they find out someone else’s fear? Do they tease them? Or get very over protective?

Jozre: “Depends. I become over protective of my loved ones and promise to guard their secrets with out telling a soul. With my enemies is another story entirely because one’s fear is a powerful weapon. I know its dark to use your enemies fears against them but I like to have the ability to control confrontations and with them before they heat up.

Alinthiel: “I believe in a fair fight so I don't use fears of others unless I really have to”

27. Do they exercise? Regularly? Or only when forced? What do they act like pre-work out and post-work out?

Jozre: “I practice my sword and shield once in a wile and do a lot of lifting work at the docs when ever they need muscle. Most of the time however, I....practice yoga and my Daibellan arts in private if you get my meaning” Jozre those a kind of belly dancing were he exercises the hip, core, thigh and pelvic muscles as well as building control of his motion among other work outs.

Alinthiel: “I mostly dance actually. I also do Yoga”

28. Do they drink? What are they like drunk? What are they like hungover? How do they act when other people are drunk or hungover? Kind or teasing?

Jozre: “I used to drink a lot for a year but stopped outright after I met Mi’Jirra and her family so I could seem like a better person. It was also bad for my health so there is that though I do drink during special occasions but just enough to be social. When I did drink my fill, I was a giggle box and would laugh at almost any joke, I also had a bit of a tipsy gate but only fell down once. There was that one time...I kind of ran down the road naked and scared everyone saying I was a were bunny. I don't judge anyone for drinking as long as they keep it civil and friendly. I do tease my friends when their smashed though but make sure I am there to help”

Alinthiel: “oh man do I ever! I love drinking and know how to drink most under the table hahaha! I use magic to keep my self composed enough to not get into too much trouble but when I am drunk, I am a singer and kind of tend to ramble on about philosophical nonsense”

29. What do they dress like? What sorta shops do they buy clothes from? Do they wear the fashion that they like? What do they wear to sleep? Do they wear makeup? What’s their hair like?

Jozre: “I like to dress comfortable and practical with simple v neck tunics and loose shorts that end at bellow the knees. I like to sleep on my loincloth actually which I only say, makes me feel free but grips well on the hips. Its when I expect any danger when I wear my armor at all times, even if its just a gambeson. I like to comb my hair back after cleaning it carefully though it always looks wolfish because of how silky it is”

Alinthiel: “I like to dress to look as intelligent as I am and for that, I prefer robes and tunics with cultural designs. I been rocking the winterhold instructor style and I love it actually though the nord wool is too itchy to wear on skin so I wear an altmeri silk dress beneath. I like to always be prepared so I like to carry my tools with me like potions, flasks, my note tome and enchanted jewelry of my own design with practical and empowering functions. I like to sleep on the softest and silkiest shirts and dresses for a good sleep so I made sure to bring my own. Nords are not known for their soft textiles. I love my hair mostly because it keeps me work in the wintery north and its a nice pillow so I make sure to comb it straight and side ways on my crown for some glamor. even a bookworms got to look good right?”

30. What underwear do they wear? Boxers or briefs? Lacey? Comfy granny panties?

Jozre: I like to wear slightly loose fitting loincloths that make me feel free and are easy to remove. I hate it when cloth articles squeeze and grip my unmentionables”

Alinthiel: I like to wear a set of tights under another, I like them conforming to me, you know?

31. What is their body type? How tall are they? Do they like their body?

Jozre: “I am of a bulky broad shoulder and muscular complexion with a wide torso and hips and I am 6′7 give or take because of my natural Cathey-Rhat stature. I think I like my body, I feel happy with my self and know that so do my loved ones”

Alinthiel: “I am a little short for a high elf at around 6 feet tall and am a bit on the thin side with long limbs though I have no muscle at all. I don't really mind my body, never rally gave it a though to be honest. Not proud or ashamed, I just am.”

32. What’s their guilty pleasure? What is their totally unguilty pleasure?

Jozre: “My most guilty pleasure has to be sex. I am sorry but when I am with my one and only in bed after hours of passion and love, I rarely am happier of my life then at that moment. What's worse is that I am so invested in making my love as happy and as pleased as she would ever be that I practice how to move and read how to best pleasure a woman to the point of it being what I am best at. I am better in bed than in the battle field for crying out loud!”

“my unguilty pleasure? good food by far and it shows when ever at the table. When I eat something that is perfectly cooked and spiced like my favorite food, I take my time savoring every bite and tend to be the last to finish haha”

Alinthiel: “my guilty pleasure has to be sleeping, I cant help it! besides almost always being tired to a degree, I just find sleep in a nice warm bed to be too calming to resist”

“my unguilty pleasure has to be a nice pint or 5 of hard cider ale! oh man do I love getting drunk and tasting that sweet nectar go down so smoothly, its art to make good cider ale or Vodka. I think I know a furry friend of mine that also likes cider ale.”

33. What are they good at? What hobbies do they like? Can they sing?

Jozre: “besides, well, my skill in bed, I am actually really good at fighting and specially at tank support roles. I have built the dexterity and endurance to be able to take a lot of punishment and dish it back just as hard. wile I am good at fighting, I am even better at protecting others with pin point block and saves wile providing support. My favorite Hobby would have to be traveling and enjoying diverse cultures around the world. I love to learn of the other cultures and to taste their foods and drinks is one of the most fulfilling things in my life.

Alinthiel: “I am very good at magic and love to practice it when ever I am not asleep, busy on my responsibilities or drinking a nord under the table. Thanks to being a high elf, I had ample time to hone my self so I can actually sing very well or well enough”

34. Do they like to read? Are they a fast or slow reader? Do they like poetry? Fictional or non fiction?

Jozre: “I like to read yea, not my favorite past time but don't hate it. I am a middle ground reader you know? not too fast but not slow. I like poetry and nice literature, there are a good few classics out there to learn from”

Alinthiel: “Do I like to read? hahaha you forgot I am a mage? come on man, course I do like to read, yea! I am a fast reader, I have to be so that I can learn all I can about the topic I study. Poetry and fiction are hind of meh for me but what I hate is that pompous self indulgent of the dark elves. You think the Thalmor are the only bad birds around? Go visit the Telvanii and Dres and you will learn how much of a bunch of munchkins they are”

35. What do they admire in others? What talents do they wish they had?

Jozre: “I have always admired my family but most of all, I admire Mi’Jirra for her amazing skill in magic and willingness to live life at its fullest and protect herself from anyone. I guess I admire peoples determination and ability to live and love” “another thing that I admire Mi’Jirra is her amazing skill in magic which is recognized even by savants like Alinthiel as a person of immense potential. I on the other hand can barely use enough magic to cast the simplest spells naturally. Not being gifted is after a set back of being a Cathey-Rhat: we bigger cats just don't have the natural ability others have”

Alinthiel: “I admire heroism, honesty and fairness. Some one that will not do things selfishly or trick others for self serving motives. Sadly, I have never read of any hero in all of tamrielic history as pure of heart and soul as I would prefer.”

36. Do they like energy drinks? Coffee? Sugary food? Or can they naturally stay awake and alert?

Jozre: “Not really, I don't like coffee. Now sweets like Moon sugar, pies and breads is another story!”

Alinthiel: “why would anyone like an energy potion? Their too bitter for normal consumption and it may give you a heart attack if too much is drunk. I prefer to suck on a coffee bean instead of drinking it”

37. What’s their sexuality? What do they find attractive? Physically and mentally? What do they like/need in a relationship?

Jozre: “I am straight. I kind of have a thing for shorter girls, I don't know why. Though I really cant find anyone but my current girlfriend as truly attractive. Mentally, I prefer a girl that is loyal and willing to deeply love me just as I would love her. I don't really care about personal quirks really because I am generally a very flexible guy and am willing to conform to a girl I love with in reason.”

Alinthiel: “I haven really given any thought on it. I mean I have never been with anyone. I guess my “knight in shining armor” would be someone that would appreciate me and the work I do to better the lives of others and protect the weak and downtrodden from oppressors. Probably some one that would support my cause. As for what sex I prefer, I guess I am what they call bisexual but never interested me to think of it. I guess who ever comes first and wins me over”

38. What are their goals? What would they sacrifice anything for? What is their secret ambition?

Jozre: “I have always wanted to be a hero bus more importantly, a hero to a beautiful maiden like in the stories. I guess you could say that my dreams have evolved ever sines I met Mi’Jirra in the streets of Whiterun. My life’s goals now are really to live my life to the fullest alongside Mi’Jirra and to protect her from all harm as best as I can. When it comes down to it, all I want is to live and love and would sacrifice anything to be with Mi’Jirra and see her happy as long as she was ok with it”

Alinthiel: “My life’s ambition is to defeat the Thalmor and end the savage cycle of violence and hate that plagues our land. I don't know how and I don't know if I would ever be able to fully achieve this even if I find the right emperor’s candidate to sit in the ruby throne and rule with fairness and wisdom. My greatest ambition, how ever, is to defy and defeat the gods and their arbitrary ways of afterlife. Even if I have to fight and some how bring Talos or even Lorkan low to heel so that the wishing souls not of nord background can enter Sovenguard, than so be it. If there is a way I can find the power to match a god and force them to no longer forbid the worthy from such paradises because of some absurd racial dogma with out seeking the help of the dark Daedra or other unimaginable evils, then so be it. The Elder Scrolls may be my only hope.”

39. Are they religious? What do they think of religion? What do they think of religious people? What do they think of non religious people?

Jozre: “I guess I am religious. My family has always praised the gods Mara, Kinarthy and the lunar twins as I do thought with the addition of Daibella. Having said that, religion can get very nasty when headed by the wrong people. For some examples you only need to look at the following: Stormcloaks, The Stendarr inquisition, just about every dark elf religion to name a few.”

Alinthiel: “I know religion and gods exist but for now, I owe my allegiance to no credo and god. I will only follow a god that will aid me in my quest”

40. What is their favourite season? Type of weather? Are they good in the cold or the heat? What weather do they complain in the most?

Jozre: “I don't really have a favored season but winters in Skyrim are murder! I hate how cold it is and it makes travel in the northern parts and on mountain paths down right dangerously impossible to pass. I mean seriously, it can get so cold in the mountains that you need hours of prep just to give yourself a chance of not freezing to death or catching frost bite. The weather I enjoy the most is sunny days in Skyrim and summer/late spring cloudy days. Having said all that, I am as adaptable as one can get but prefer to not brave a harsh weather I don't have to brave.”

Alinthiel: “I don't really mind any weather so long as it is not an obstacle to my visits to ruins and excavation sites. Even then, I have lived in Winterhold for so long that I have learned how to stay worm enough to get from A to B as efficiently as possible”

41. How do other people see them? Is it similar to how they see themselves?

Jozre: “how people see me? The only ones I care how they view me are Mi’Jirra and my loved ones. Truthfully, I get all kinds of reactions from others: accept, hero, mercenary, pest, thief, plebe just to name a few. The why I only care about viewing my self as is the protector and provider of my loved ones.”

Alinthiel: “To my students, I am the teacher, the potions master, the creepy skinny scare crow, and the introvert. My enemies call me the rebel, the mud slinger, the heretic, the thalmor murderer among a few. Personally, I like to think of my self as the innovator, the scholar, and the seeker of a greater ruler hoping to give the good of heart a better future”

42. Do they make a good first impression? Does their first impression reflect them accurately? How do they introduce themselves?

Jozre: “I like to think I make a good first impression which actually depends on the occasion. If I am looking for work then I will show how willing and capable I am with professionalism. When its a less formal meeting, I just go with how I am: a friendly and welcoming person to friendly and reasonable people. I prefer to be as honest as I can if I don't have to lie and my first impression also has to do with the occasion ranging between professional and willing to work and laid back and welcoming”

Alinthiel: “I am just my self when ever really. That those not mean I am not polite and respectful, only that I may not look awake half the time”

43. How do they act in a formal occasion? What do they think of black tie wear? Do they enjoy fancy parties and love to chit chat or loathe the whole event?

Jozre: “I can be proper and respectful when I have to, I just don't do it often. my family is of tradesman nobility so I have been in a couple formal occasions were we vassal for a lord or lady. I am respectful and as poise as I can be and learned to be political when I have to, not that I like all the fru fru nonsense. I chit chat and attend when I have to and like to just pull the formal wear off were ever and drink a cold one” 

Alinthiel: “oh I love formal occasions and parties of high class and poise and culture. Not been to many but I like the slight moment were I get to feel like a high elf in peace time. Occasionally, such events are great ways of spying and gathering new allies so there is the plus to it all”

44. Do they enjoy any parties? If so what kind? Do they organise the party or just turn up? How do they act? What if they didn’t want to go but were dragged along by a friend?

Jozre: “Who wouldn't like a party? hanging out with family and friends with good food and great company? sign me up! as long as the party is fun for me and my people, I don't really care what kind of party it is though I may need a few ales to get into the spirit. Even if I don't want to go, I always manage to convince my self that its worth it because your friends there so I roll with the punches”

Alinthiel: “I don't generally like big parties but if there is booze there then I guess I am game though wandering hands should expect third degree burns. I like to organize parties when ever some one asks for one but are not of people’s likening half the time because they may be too formal or gimmicky for others. When invited or forced to a party I don't want to be in, I generally and eventually see my self out. I don't see why some one would stay in a party they don't like if there is nothing practical to gain from it”

45. What is their most valued object? Are they sentimental? Is there something they have to take everywhere with them?

Jozre: “when I get engaged or married, its absolutely my ring, its almost a lucky charm and reminder of great things I have obtained”

Alinthiel: “my most valued possession would have to be my mother’s Tome of notes. Wile it is the only thing I have left to remember my family by, It is also a crucial component in my research and ultimate goals.”

46. If they could only take one bag of stuff somewhere with them: what would they pack? What do they consider their essentials?

Jozre and Alinthiel are not silly enough to exclude the essentials: sleeping bag, out door tent, out door cooking set, flint, rope, water, dried meat and long lasting breads, nuts and honey. Several potions  and poisons for different uses from deterring unwanted animals to keeping themselves warm. The basic needs in traveling the wilderness of Nirn.

[sarahdraimanflowerpouch]

Making Changes :: Rose of Sharon moves from Retail to Studio Model

Making Changes, especially big ones, are always so hard for business owners and I think it helps to read what others are doing to change their business models to make it work better in their own lives. Here we are sharing the story of Althea Wiles, owner of Rose of Sharon in Arkansas, who recently moved from a Retail Shop to a Private Studio Model for her flower business. Thank you, Althea, for sharing your story with our flirty fleurs readers. -Alicia

This April marks my 21st anniversary as a business owner. My business is now old enough to drink! That’s a long time. A really long time–especially for a small business. As you can imagine, I’ve gone through several major changes during that time. I used to say that I hate change. But that’s not really true. What I dislike is the time in between. The time where you know you bought 5 boxes of that particular vase but you can only find 1. The time where you’re shuffling the same box 10 times because you don’t quite have a spot for it. The change itself can be invigorating. So why (and how) did I make this move this year? Was it a step backwards? HOW did I fit 1500 sf of stuff into half the space? What was I thinking?

  Getting to the point where a change was GOING to happen Three years into in my retail space, I got very close to quitting, to giving up and moving on to something new. It was a year of personal trials and major life changes. If you have been there, then you know it’s incredibly hard to focus on making something pretty during those times – much less any of the many, many, many other tasks that fall to us as the owner. Did the business suffer? Yes, of course it did. That year was actually a pretty good one on the books. But the pipeline suffered. I didn’t have the time or energy to keep all the plates in the air. So I didn’t. I did what had to be done, and moved on to the next thing. For a solid year. By the end of that year, I wanted to quit, move, live in a cave and not talk to anyone ever again. Next came the soul searching, spending hours imagining what I’d do instead. Would I go back to school? Would I work for someone else? Would I sell or just close up shop? In the end, I decided that I really, truly and STILL love this job and this industry. But I wasn’t in love with how I had things set up. I resented having to have store hours just in case someone dropped in to buy something. It was always for something inexpensive and generally for something I didn’t have. I hated having to have staff on hand because of those set hours. I felt responsible for my employees. I’d made a promise to them. They and their families depend on the income they make from me. They may be part time, but those hours matter to their bottom line. So I felt like I had to provide the hours (even if it hurt the business). Keeping inventory on hand just in case I needed it (both fresh and hard goods), bugged me. It went against my budgeting brain. I much prefer an event that is paid in advance. So why was I doing business like this? Finally, I realized that the 1500 wonderful square feet of storefront had turned into 1500 square feet of storage. That’s a lot of stuff. And I only really utilized the full space for designing 3 or 4 times a year.

  Doing What I Really Love vs. What I “Should” Do As a florist, I love making people smile, fixing a problem, making something beautiful, making something beautiful within budget, planning & executing the details and delivering an event on time, curating nature, designing with strong mechanics.

All these things didn’t need a retail base.

Once I decided that I wanted to stay in the industry, I decided to spend some time working on the business side of things. Most of what I do has been self-taught. I decided to enroll in a mastermind group and learn more about how to separate myself from my business. During that course, we did the usual goal setting and accountability. I picked up some good tips. I learned some new skills. But most importantly, I realized and came to believe that a storefront did not make me a ‘real’ florist. It didn’t legitimize me. My time at the design bench, my 20+ years of working as a designer and a business owner, my reviews from past clients made me legit, and that was all I needed. “Real isn’t how you are made,” said the Skin Horse. “It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real. It was my Velveteen Rabbit moment. I am a real florist and a real business owner. And now it was clear. I could do what I loved from a place I loved. I could still design & sell weddings from a home studio.

  Making the numbers work for a move

So now I knew that moving felt right. But did it make sense from a business perspective? I ran the numbers. ● Retail (i.e. non-pre-planned, single designs…birthday, get well soon, etc) was about 20% of my income. And walk-in was only 30% of that (basically 7% of my gross income). The profit margin on those orders was significantly less than the profit margin on my weddings and events. Taking away the ability to walk-in and place an order might make me lose 7% of my income and it was the 7% that was the most headache and the least profitable. I ran more numbers. ● I looked at my overhead and realized I could reduce my expenses by a significant chunk….about 9%. MORE than what I potentially could loose. ● Not to mention payroll. With a home studio, I didn’t have to pay employees unless we had a paying gig. I much prefer doing that.

● Video meetings are now pretty much an accepted business practice. I’d slowly been moving towards this and now by simply stating ‘all initial consultations will be by phone or video’ it happens. No push-back from clients at all. So yes, the numbers made sense. So far, so good.

  But could I actually work from home as a floral designer?

Well, I’ve done it before, but would it still work? I started thinking about the flow of my house. What would change, what I could keep. What I minded letting go of. I have the space. I could easily arrange it so the business and home life were mostly separated. I needed to build an out-building to hold coolers. Finally, when I started talking about the idea with the people in my mastermind group and with a select few customers, I got overwhelmingly good responses. I had one response that wasn’t positive & that was only luke-warm. (I might have lost a wedding from it…I’m not sure. It was during my very last-in person consultation. I probably should have done it by video.) The move felt right. The numbers sounded good. The move was on!

Making the move happen

THE MOVING PIECES Planning the details. Lists, schedules, and more lists! So many details to remember. But I’ve been handling details for events for 20 years. By treating the move it like any other event made it pretty comfortable. I won’t say easy because….all the details! My decision to move was in July. Moving day was scheduled for Thanksgiving week because we had no events that week. By early November, we were moving things one van-load at a time. The week before Thanksgiving, I had 6 events scheduled for Black Friday through the following Monday. THAT was not exactly fun. This was the only time where I felt like I might have made a bad decision. But we got through it. And then we started getting things in their place. And everything felt good again. It’s been a few weeks now. I absolutely LOVE working from home. I love being able to leave when I want. I’ve only had to turn away 2 orders but I’m developing relationships with other florists who do love the everyday orders. I love having employees only here when I need them. I love being able to do laundry or take a nap if I need to. And I love the new set-up. I smile when I walk to work now. I don’t resent long hours any more.

  Change happens, learn to expect it

Will it change again? Probably. It seems to change every few years for me. That’s ok–I have the tools to make a new decision. Will this be successful? I don’t know. But if it’s not, I can always go back to school…or something. And in the meantime, for the first time in three years, I’m EXCITED about the work again! Happy new year! Happy new season! Oh YEAH… How did I fit 1500 sf of stuff into 850 sf? I haven’t. Not yet. I rented a storage unit and I’m slowly getting rid of inventory. I did a yard sale. I’m a master of “Tetris-ing” a room. Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day will feature whatever we have in stock. By this time next year, I plan on having pared it down to what we need and use, with a decent flow for working and no storage unit. I’ll buy just when I need something and I’ll focus on selling what I have and being creative. One of the most important jobs we have as a business owners is to be able to make key decisions for the benefit of the business. For me, eliminating retail and focusing on the work I most enjoy gave me back my passion for the work I’ve been doing for so long. It took focused effort to not only make the move happen, but also to commit to the move in the first place. Your decisions will likely be different than mine, but the process of making those decisions will probably be similar. My best advice? Lean into what you most enjoy, and find ways to make the business more profitable by keeping the focus on what you love. Do the research, ask for help, and remember that no one thing (a location, a certification, etc.) gives you credibility in the industry. Doing your best work for your best clients is really all that matters in the end.

  Contact Information: Althea Wiles https://www.roseofsharon-eventflorist.com Arkansas

via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8134970 http://bit.ly/2RhsmEF

[johnchiarello]

Sunday sermon

Sunday sermon [video made 9-2-18]

Deuteronomy 4:5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it- 4:6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

 Sunday sermon videos-

https://youtu.be/PFAx7qexpqU

https://www.facebook.com/john.chiarello.5/videos/10204747090715338/

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DsP04qa-f35cFRDwscFf1YxEvIzroUoI/view?usp=sharing

 ON VIDEO [Links to all my sites at the bottom of this post]

.Filmed with a good view of the C.C. bay

.A few stories from the streets

.Do the word

.Outreach- homeless- looking glass

.This is your wisdom

.Pure religion

.What was the tradition of the elders?

.Why were the religious leaders obsessed with washing and water?

.Because they always had a sense of being unclean- the law did not cleanse their conscience

.The Catholic- Protestant debate

.The parables in 1st century context

.And a few more stories at the end

Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

 NEW [Other videos below]

This Sunday I taught from the verses for the Mass [9-2-18] I found it interesting how the readings fit with what happened earlier in the day.

Later today [9-9-18] I will try and post the video I make today to Facebook and Youtube- links to all my sites are at the bottom of each post- my main site is here- www.corpuschristioutreachministries.blogspot.com

My main youtube site is here- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ4GsqTEVWRm0HxQTLsifvg?view_as=subscriber

My facebook page is here- https://www.facebook.com/john.chiarello.5?ref=bookmarks

I try to review the verses on Friday night- and then re-read them on Saturday.

So when I talk on Sunday I have at least looked at them a few times.

Earlier on Friday I had a chance meeting with Gabriel- I made a video on it that same day

https://youtu.be/LCgHH_DQD_E [1st one]

https://youtu.be/9vqwMHJf2Fs [Gabriel talks on this video]

Gabriel was around 5 years old when I last saw him- in Kingsville.

I started a church in 1987- and used to work with the guys on the streets of Kingsville- just about all of them struggled with drug addiction.

One of the first Friends I met was Elias Alvarado- I met him when I did bible studies at the Kleberg county jail- he of course was in jail- and I would go up on Sundays and teach.

Eventually Elias got out- became a member of the church I started- and we worked together in ministry.

He used to bring his family to our meetings- and he had about 5 boys at the time [2 more later on].

Yes- a big family.

Gabriel was his youngest at the time [I think?]- and I remember him running around the church- doing things that kids do.

Eventfully his father died- he had a brain aneurysm one night- and it just so happened that I was working at the Fire House that night- and was one of the emergency crews that responded.

Sadly- Elias died young.

Yet- he became a pastor of another church in Kingsville- was working with the same group of guys I worked with- the group he himself used to be a part of-

And he was serving the Lord when he died.

Ok- the other day when I was hanging out on the streets- Gabriel came up to me- now 33 years old mind you- and he asked about my motorcycle.

You know- just a compliment on the bike.

As he looked at me- he asked me my name- I told him ‘John’.

He looked puzzled- and asked for my last name.

When I told him- he identified himself as the son of Elias.

It was a chance encounter- but it was from the Lord.

I talked about it on both the videos I made that day- and later that night when I reviewed the verses for the Mass-

They actually were the same verses Gabriel quoted to me earlier in the day.

On today's video [Sunday sermon- 9-2-18] I also talked about the notes I had written years before- that were in my bible as I opened up to Deuteronomy 4 to review- the notes are a story in itself.

You will have to watch the video to see the rest.

 So instead of me writing a ‘new’ teaching here- I think I will just leave it at that.

Be open to Divine encounters- be wiling to go with the ‘flow’ if you will-

It is in these experiences- being led by the Spirit- that we identify as the children of God-

Romans 8:14

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

 Yes of course- there are times for regular ‘static’ teaching of the scriptures- which I normally do in these sections of the post.

But there are times where you see God at work- he confirms his word thru people.

And in this case-

It was the son of a brother- who I haven't seen in about 25 years.

A few hints;

.I wrote some notes in my bible years ago- and when I turned to Deuteronomy 4- these notes had to do with what was happening this day

.The next reading from the Mass- was the actual passage that Gabriel quoted to me earlier in the day- as well as the same notes I had written years ago- how can this be?

Ok- those are just a few hints for those who watch the video-

John

NOTE- As most of you know- I post- a lot!

Yes- I have many web sites and video upload sites, and I do use them.

Why so many?

As of now- some of my sites are actually banned from facebook- when I try to share to facebook- someone complained that my posts were abusive- this still applies to all the ‘nice’ posts as well.

For about 3 weeks now every post- shared from these other sites are banned. These are the same posts mind you- that you see all the time.

I have also received ‘strikes’ from Youtube in the past.

Why? I have no idea.

And Vimeo actually deleted all of my videos- and I was on the paid plan!

I have recently been ‘un-banned’ from Vimeo and have been re posting my videos.

So- in the whole social media turmoil that has been going on- I simply decided to post and share the same content- my original content- to all of these sites.

If a site gets banned- or hacked- or anything else- then the work I put into the teaching will be available on all my other sites.

I figured I would just do this update for any new followers- I have made videos the last month or so talking about this- but I realize many people do not watch videos- but will read text.

So I hope this helps some- John

Matthew 23:27

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

 OTHER VIDEOS [These are the videos I upload nightly to my various sites- PAST POSTS below]

9-7-18 car wreck- news update-

https://www.facebook.com/john.chiarello.5/videos/10204763399323043/

https://youtu.be/QrKmE4QT3U4

9-7-18 Obama’s nazi comment- the NYT’s op-ed- another look- news- friends too

https://www.facebook.com/john.chiarello.5/videos/10204763721931108/

https://youtu.be/OZiFevX26a4

9-7-18 Open letter to Obama https://www.facebook.com/john.chiarello.5/videos/10204763984297667/

https://youtu.be/bUw1ftjboE4

Mark 6 https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMgX20GfWHhCXZ68lD

Real time teaching- Jeremiah 18-19 https://vimeo.com/288816079

  9-6-18 Friends n teaching https://youtu.be/NNvw1q-gjN8

https://www.facebook.com/john.chiarello.5/videos/10204759513225893/

9-6-18 BREAKING! Mueller prosecutor threatens to murder reporters in the Manafort trial-

https://youtu.be/tsSIWfcGYwA

9-5-18 some dare call it treason

https://youtu.be/l-2PWrjLR90

https://www.facebook.com/john.chiarello.5/videos/10204756805718207/

9-5-18 News and friends- https://youtu.be/oE0s9y-RC5M

https://www.facebook.com/john.chiarello.5/videos/10204755836893987/

9-4-18 Friends n fire- Rick n Knock Knock John [video cut short] https://youtu.be/G6-EZ_bVSUs

https://www.facebook.com/john.chiarello.5/videos/10204753288910289/

Open letter to Mayor Joe McComb- where is the money going from the hurricane Harvey relief fund?

https://youtu.be/sQaSuykUL3g

https://www.facebook.com/john.chiarello.5/videos/10204742131511361/?t=4

2nd Samuel 6-7 https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZVf1D7ZWLGUv9B1cjhY0nDPCJc0zp1xUink

Teaching at baseball field https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Evil5r9y51KwUDL6YoSON0rFb_1FsJP3

Back in NYC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exlgTu_ml_U&t=2s

2nd coming- rapture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2aI0JOsikU&t=2s

9-2-18 Grass fire by the Oso bay bridge- https://youtu.be/F2cxQnRGnkg

https://www.facebook.com/john.chiarello.5/videos/10204747024553684/

God, science n logic https://youtu.be/tMCfKC1Pe9A

Bus ride- 1 New York City- North Bergen https://youtu.be/LeBP8L7Mprs

Ephesians 3 https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZ1W9D7ZmhNG3Nw9YTfHd3PVSchw5VdEhGkX

Palm Sunday- from the Corpus Christi Cathedral https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMgXuXo1-t0CKgZOfB

Zeal of thine house https://youtu.be/X0-TKfhidMw

Walking over the GW bridge from N.J. to NYC https://youtu.be/47-4tVp2fDg

Snake on a pole https://trello.com/c/OuoN6YpN/163-12-20-14-snake-on-a-polemp4

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QkIXKcFDjpFHUStD7uWxLlkorr5NSGq7/view?usp=sharing

Samuel 31 https://www.facebook.com/john.chiarello.5/videos/10204750566602233/

9-4-18 Sons of Thunder- a teaching https://youtu.be/BG-ccT-_Nb8

https://www.facebook.com/john.chiarello.5/videos/10204752236643983/

Letter kills- Spirit gives life https://youtu.be/BKrobv8pVTg

NYC skyline https://youtu.be/6R9Gxyokh_s

The man of sin https://trello.com/c/me7iJYu8/165-12-20-14-the-man-of-sin-666mp4

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QRXlbYrKBSEE1SDgDL1qlxUpd84LqFSn/view?usp=sharing

8-5-18 Sunday sermon https://vimeo.com/288262966

Back from the dead https://youtu.be/oYS5aYN8ac8

Walking off the GW bridge into New York City https://youtu.be/S6gPQs7ulxo

We are the light too https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMgXyJWTOthjV_Bl3Q

Galatians 3 https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZS0UD7ZvA5qnNiVCw7OmVFlqaWW9YcBgrxk

Unicorn horns https://youtu.be/Ow4walfSLlY

Ride thru Lincoln tunnel https://youtu.be/GnOkOkQWpxU

The seed https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZtX3D7ZErgYN8OUz1uADkgucJ3DiyOpfkby

Justice https://drive.google.com/file/d/16BBkFDiP8fCX9DuYcXdpSmzapAsASgux/view?usp=sharing

9-6-18 news update- NYT op- ed- why was it written again? https://youtu.be/kctFZ0yzKuU

https://www.facebook.com/john.chiarello.5/videos/10204760183722655/

  2 Thessalonians 2:15 [Full Chapter]

Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

 PAST POSTS [These are links and parts of my past teachings that relate in some way to today’s post- Verses below]

https://ccoutreach87.com/james-2015/

https://ccoutreach87.com/mark-links/

https://ccoutreach87.com/acts-links/

https://ccoutreach87.com/protestant-reformation-luther/

https://ccoutreach87.com/further-talks-on-church-and-ministry/

https://ccoutreach87.com/john-complete-links-added/

https://ccoutreach87.com/hebrews-updated-2015/

MARK 7[Happy Easter to all] 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations https://youtu.be/zqFdLxeaDtI Mark 7 https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/4-11-17-mark-7.zip https://ccoutreach87.com/4-11-17-mark-7/ ON VIDEO- [I also taught the verses from past Sunday’s Mass- and CCCF] .Honor the heritage of your fathers .Was Jesus forsaken? .Yes .Bishop Mulvey got it right [Pastor Don too] .Wash your hands? .Oral tradition .Not just words .Corban .Primary focus on giving in the N.T. – meeting the needs of community .See the dogs .True apostolic teaching .Polycarp .Easter- resurrection- Good Friday .Some have made it about money [sow your best type thing- and get a harvest]. .It’s not about that- at all [New teaching below] 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Peter-

NEW- Before I get into Mark 7- I want to share an insight I had right before making the video. I was mediating on this verse Exodus 31:17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

As I was thinking about the season we are in [Easter]. I thought ‘how does God rest’. After all- he is God. Never runs out of energy- knows everything- you know- the classic attributes of God. During this time we celebrate the death- and resurrection of Jesus. In is humanity [not deity] he was able to die- to be the sin offering for man. After his death- he was raised. But that’s not all- he ascended into heaven and SAT DOWN on the right hand of God. Yes- he rested. The bible says- Acts 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

In a way- God rested after the creation of the heavens and the earth. Jesus was slain form ‘the foundation of the world’- Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Yes- the predestined act of death and resurrection and ascension- already took place- before all things were made. God is outside of time. So Jesus not only experienced the pain and agony- but after the assignment was completed- He rested- at the right hand of God- Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Amen.

NEW [Mark 7] In this chapter Jesus is questioned by the religious leaders- Mark 7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? Now- The Pharisees – with all good conscience- truly believed the Tradition of the Elders was part of authentic worship of God. They believed that God passed down ‘traditions’ given to Moses- that were not contained in the Old Testament. So- the question could have been answered by Jesus simply explaining the difference between the sacred scripture- and tradition. But look at his response- Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Why so mad? We read that they did lots of other things- beside this- Mark 7:13b and many such like things do ye. The 3 year ministry of Jesus- was not only doing all the miracles- but also perceiving how far the people were from God. And they simply had no idea that they were missing the mark. Jesus teaches his men that true purity is not an outward matter- but one of the heart- Mark 7:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. The sins of the flesh proceed from a corrupt heart- the religious leaders managed to purify the outside- but inside were ‘full of dead men’s bones’- Matthew 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Matthew 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

He told them that thru their tradition- they actually skirted the real Word of God- Mark 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. How? God commanded to meet the financial needs of their parents. The ‘tradition’ said- if you dedicate these things to God- the material and financial stuff- then you were ‘free’ from having to take care of your parents- Mark 7:10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: Mark 7:11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. Mark 7:12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Mark 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, So- thru their tradition- they disobeyed God’s word. On the video I got into this dynamic a bit more- and talked about how we in our day might be making the same mistake. Many believers give a portion of their income to the church- which is ok. But often times we feel that met our obligation- and if we see a person in need- well ‘we already gave at the office’ type thing. I have written about this dynamic before- and if I can find it I’ll paste it below. We end the chapter with another miraculous healing of a deaf and mute person. Jesus not only taught doctrine- but he demonstrated the compassion of God. He was able to see behind the façade that many had in his day. When we read of the sharp rebukes of Jesus- to seemingly ok questions- it’s because he saw the heart of man. In this chapter Jesus quotes Isaiah- Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. I used to think just the first part was the quote [verse 6]

But I went and read the verse from Isaiah- Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: He quoted the whole thing. Yes- the prophet of old- by the Spirit- saw the same condition. And when we read the ‘fury’ of an Isaiah- or John the Baptist- or even Jesus. It’s because the Spirit of God was revealing the hidden mystery of sin- John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: The people themselves had no idea how far off the mark they were. And it took this type of ‘radical preaching’ to show them the error of their way- so to speak. VERSES Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations Genesis 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

PAST POSTS- Below are my past teachings- bible books I quoted on today’s video- and things that relate to today’s post- MARK 7 MARK- https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/02/28/jersey-city-ride-mark-1/ https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/03/02/mark-2-north-bergen/ https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/03/04/mark-3-isaiah-61/ https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/03/14/mark-4/ https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/03/27/mark-5/ https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/04/05/mark-6/ https://ccoutreach87.com/1st-2nd-corinthians/ https://ccoutreach87.com/john-complete-links-added/ https://ccoutreach87.com/galatians-links/ https://ccoutreach87.com/romans-updated-2015/ https://ccoutreach87.com/james-2015/ I talked about New testament giving on today’s video- below are my little books I wrote years ago- they deal with this subject as well- https://ccoutreach87.com/the-great-building-of-god/ https://ccoutreach87.com/house-of-prayer-or-den-of-thieves/ https://ccoutreach87.com/further-talks-on-church-and-ministry/ I mentioned Polycarp on today’s video- below are my past teachings where I mentioned him [see- that’s why you see these sections on the teaching posts] Introduction; Yesterday I took my kids to the mall after church, I usually get lost in the book store. Even though I bought an entire shelf of books a few months back, I still can’t help from buying more books! So I picked up a few more and found a comfortable bench and started reading the History of Christianity. At the house I am almost thru with another ‘history of Christianity’ that covers the story of the church from Pentecost to the present day. I own a few complete volumes and have checked out many from the libraries over the years. I read from both the Protestant and Catholic [Orthodox] perspectives. I also read from the ‘out of the institutional church’ perspective. These are the histories of various groups of believers who never became Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant. I consider all these groups Christian and appreciate the tremendous wealth of knowledge that these communities provide. Now, as we go thru Acts, I want to stay as close as possible to both the doctrine and practices of the early church as seen in scripture. We are not the first [or last!] study that has attempted to do this. That is attempted to ‘get back to the original design’ as much as possible. Historically you have whole categories of believers who fit into this mindset. They are referred to as ‘Restorationist’ as opposed to Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox. The Church of Christ, The Disciples of Christ, the Anabaptists and others fall into this class. I believe you find true believers in all of these groups. As you read the history of Christianity as told by the other perspectives, you will find it interesting as to the way the institutional church describes these ‘out of church’ groups. Some are called heretics [Waldensians] others are simply seen as fringe groups. The strong institutional church has branded those who would reject her authority as schismatics and heretics on the grounds of their refusal to submit to the hierarchy of the institutional church. As we go thru Acts, I want us to read carefully and see the story as told by Luke. We will not find ‘another more true group’ in the sense that I want to start some new denomination. I also don’t want to simply find proof texts to justify doctrine. Many well meaning believers can find the verses they like the most and use them to combat the other points of view. We will see verses emphasizing the importance of water baptism, or various truths on the outworkings of the Spirit. We will see prophets functioning and read texts that clearly teach Gods sovereignty [as many as were ordained unto eternal life believed]. Instead of getting lost on these side trails, I want us to read with an open mind and allow our beliefs to be shaped by ‘the story’. I will spend time defending my own view of Local church. Not because I believe ‘my view’ is the only thing worth arguing about, but because I believe we see the intent of God for his people to be a living community of believers in this book. Right off the bat we will see giving taught in a radical way. The early church at Jerusalem will ‘continue in the Apostles doctrine and breaking of bread and prayers’. They then sell their goods and distribute to all who had need. Where in the world did they get this idea from? The Apostles doctrine obviously taught the plain teachings from Jesus on sharing what you have with others. So instead of seeing an early tithe concept, you see an early ‘give to those in need idea’ straight from the teachings of Jesus. We will see this early Jerusalem group meet daily, as opposed to seeing ‘Sunday worship’ as some sort of New Testament Sabbath. Of course this group will meet at the Temple [actually an out door courtyard called Solomon’s Porch] and from ‘house to house’. But the simple realty of Christ’s Spirit being poured out on them as a community of people will be the basic understanding of what ‘church’ is. You will find citizens of many surrounding areas going back to the their home towns after Pentecost. These believers shared the gospel with those in their regions and this is how the early church would spread. Some commentaries will show you how when Paul will eventually show up in Rome there already was an established church there. They obviously heard the gospel from these early Roman Jews who were at Jerusalem during Pentecost. So we will see ‘church planting’ from the paradigm of simple believers going to areas with the message of Christ. Those who would believe in these locations would be described as ‘the church at Corinth’ or ‘the church at Ephesus’ and so on. So we see ‘local church’ as communities of believers living in different localities. We will see the development of leadership along the lines of ‘appoint elders in every city’. Not a top heavy idea of ‘Bishop’ in the later sense of Catholic belief, but a simple ordaining [recognizing!] of those in the various cities who were stable enough in the basic truths of the gospel, that in Paul’s absence these elders were to be trusted as spiritual guides. Now, many of our brothers can trace the historic office of Bishop as a fairly early development in church history. Polycarp and others were considered direct disciples of the Apostles who would be seen as Bishops and even write of the importance of Bishops for the church ‘Where there is no Bishop there is no church’. This will cause many well meaning believers to eventually become Catholic/Orthodox as they read the church fathers and see the very early development of Catholic Christianity. In many of the church fathers writings you will also see an early belief in the Eucharist as being the actual Body and Blood of Jesus. To the consternation of many Protestants you even find Luther condemning fellow Protestants for not taking literally the words of Jesus ‘this IS my Body’. Now, I will not defend transubstantiation, but try to follow the trend lines in Acts as to the lack of this doctrine being a part of the early church. We will find Paul’s letter to the Corinthians addressing the Lords Supper, but for the most part we do not see a strong belief in the transmitting of divine grace to the soul thru the eating of Christ’s literal Body and Blood as they ‘broke bread’. We do see the sharing of the common meal and the ‘Eucharist’ as one meal called the ‘love feast’. Only later on in church history is there a division made between the full fellowship meal and the Eucharist. So to be frank about it, I will challenge both our Catholic and Orthodox brothers on some very fundamental beliefs. Well I hope this brief introduction sets the proper tone for the rest of this study, God bless you guys and I hope you get something out of it. John. [parts]

Mark 7:1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. Mark 7:2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. Mark 7:3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. Mark 7:4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. Mark 7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Mark 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. Mark 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. Mark 7:10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: Mark 7:11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. Mark 7:12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Mark 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Mark 7:14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: Mark 7:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. Mark 7:16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. Mark 7:17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. Mark 7:18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Mark 7:19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? Mark 7:20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. Mark 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Mark 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: Mark 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. Mark 7:24 And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid. Mark 7:25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: Mark 7:26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. Mark 7:27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. Mark 7:28 And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. Mark 7:29 And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. Mark 7:30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed. Mark 7:31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. Mark 7:32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. Mark 7:33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; Mark 7:34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. Mark 7:35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. Mark 7:36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; Mark 7:37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 1Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 1Corinthians 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 1Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 1Corinthians 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations Psalm 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my righthand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions. Matt. 22 2 Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

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Sunday sermon 7-8-18

Sunday sermon 8-12-18

Sunday sermon 7-22-18

JAMES 1

https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/5-28-15-james-intro-chapter-1.zip

Try and watch this video- I cover lots of stuff that place this letter in context for this study. [ Read acts 10,11,15, Galatians 1-2]

Intro-

This letter was written by James- the brother of Jesus.

He was one of the main church leaders at the church in Jerusalem- we read about him in Acts chapter 15.

This [Acts 15] was the first church council in the history of Christianity.

I already taught the book of Romans written by the apostle Paul.

And as we read the New Testament in context- we can see the reason why James penned this letter- and addressed it to Jewish believers.

Paul was the most influential missionary in the early church- he established most of the gentile churches we read about in the bible [Rome being the exception].

He also wrote most of the letters that make up our New Testament.

His main teaching was Justification by faith.

There was a division we read about in the bible- between some of the Jewish believers at Jerusalem- and the churches Paul was planting [the church council mentioned above- was convened over this issue].

This division was based on the teaching of Paul- and some Jewish believers in Jerusalem accused Paul of rejecting the Mosaic Law.

Paul defended himself in the letters of the New Testament [Romans/Galatians] and even talks about his visits to the leaders at the church in Jerusalem.

Now- in this context- it seems fitting for James- the main church leader of the Jewish brothers- to ‘set the record straight’.

And to write his own letter- showing the importance of GOOD WORKS- and even saying ‘see how a man is justified/saved by works- and not by faith alone’.

The higher critics of Christianity [who you have heard me talk about in recent videos] will teach that James and Paul ‘taught different theologies’.

 I do not agree with them.

But- our bibles are an early collection of the Real Time things that were taking place in the early church.

At the time these men were writing these letters- they were not writing them as a complete canon [book] – but were writing them as you or I would write a letter to another person.

In the wisdom of God- I think it is possible for these men to have seen different aspects of the manifold wisdom of God- and maybe they were not fully seeing the other writer’s point of view.

To me- this would not be a criticism of the canon of scripture- but it would show us that God used these men- thru their experiences- and yes- even disagreements- to write the letters that make up our bibles-

And in time- they would indeed become the official teaching of the church-

Embracing a broad range of Divine Revelation- that in the end- does NOT CONTRADICT itself- but instead makes a complete work- which we call the bible.

This letter is short- and packed with short verses of great wisdom.

It is the only New Testament letter that falls into the category of Wisdom Literature-

Meaning a particular genre’ of writing- like Proverbs in the Old Testament.

Because of this- I am going to post each chapter of the letter during this teaching- for those of you who have never read the bible all the way thru-

I want to challenge you to read these short chapters over the next few weeks.

I will comment and add historical stuff in this teaching- like I did in the other recent studies.

But most of all- read each chapter for yourself- ask God to give you wisdom- and apply the instruction of this letter to your life.

It is a very practical- straight forward teaching that comes to us from the brother of Jesus himself.

As I have been commenting on the other writings that did not make it into our bibles- like the Gnostic gospels-

One of the reasons these extra biblical writings have so much appeal-

Is because they claim to have other teachings- from/about Jesus- that are not in the bible.

For those of us who reject these other writings- as canon-

The letter of James kind of fills the void of ‘we want to know more about what Jesus taught’.

This would be the letter to read- because James grew up with Jesus- in the same home.

He was the oldest sibling of the Holy Family-

And he was not a follower of Jesus until after the resurrection of Christ.

He was one of the witnesses Jesus appeared to after his resurrection [Paul told us this in Corinthians].

So- if anyone has any ‘secret insight’ into the other stuff Jesus taught- it would be James.

END NOTES-

ACTS 10,11,15.

GALATIANS 1,2.

James 1-

James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

James 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

James 1:9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:

James 1:10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

James 1:11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

James 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

James 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

James 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

END NOTES-

ACTS 10,11,15.

GALATIANS 1,2.

Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

Acts 10:2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

Acts 10:3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

Acts 10:4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

Acts 10:5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

Acts 10:6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

Acts 10:7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

Acts 10:8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

Acts 10:9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

Acts 10:10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

Acts 10:11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

Acts 10:12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

Acts 10:13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

Acts 10:14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

Acts 10:15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

Acts 10:16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Acts 10:17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,

Acts 10:18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

Acts 10:19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

Acts 10:20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

Acts 10:21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?

Acts 10:22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

Acts 10:23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

Acts 10:24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

Acts 10:25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

Acts 10:26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

Acts 10:27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

Acts 10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Acts 10:29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?

Acts 10:30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

Acts 10:31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

Acts 10:32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.

Acts 10:33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

Acts 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Acts 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

Acts 10:37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Acts 10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

Acts 10:40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

Acts 10:41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

Acts 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

Acts 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

Acts 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Acts 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Acts 11:1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

Acts 11:2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

Acts 11:3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.

Acts 11:4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,

Acts 11:5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:

Acts 11:6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

Acts 11:7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.

Acts 11:8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.

Acts 11:9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

Acts 11:10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.

Acts 11:11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.

Acts 11:12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house:

Acts 11:13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;

Acts 11:14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

Acts 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

Acts 11:16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

Acts 11:17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

Acts 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

Acts 15:3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

Acts 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

Acts 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

Acts 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

Acts 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

Acts 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

Acts 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Acts 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

Acts 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

Acts 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

Acts 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

Acts 15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

Acts 15:17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

Acts 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Acts 15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

Acts 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

Acts 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Acts 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

Acts 15:23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

Acts 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

Acts 15:25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

 Acts 15:26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 15:27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

Acts 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

Acts 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Acts 15:30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

Acts 15:31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

Galatians 1:2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

Galatians 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

Galatians 1:5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Galatians 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Galatians 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

Galatians 1:14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,

Galatians 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

Galatians 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

Galatians 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

Galatians 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.

Galatians 1:20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

Galatians 1:21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;

Galatians 1:22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

Galatians 1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

Galatians 1:24 And they glorified God in me.

Galatians 2:1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

Galatians 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

Galatians 2:3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:

Galatians 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

Galatians 2:5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

Galatians 2:6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

Galatians 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

Galatians 2:8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

Galatians 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

Galatians 2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

Galatians 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

Galatians 2:12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

Galatians 2:13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

Galatians 2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

Galatians 2:15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

Galatians 2:18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

Galatians 2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

JAMES 2-

https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/5-29-15-james-2.zip

ACTS 15- Amos 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:Amos 9:12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this. https://youtu.be/rteq0keHKsQ Acts 15 https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/6-22-17-acts-15.zip https://ccoutreach87.com/6-22-17-acts-15/ ON VIDEO- .Key chapter .The argument .The agreement .Tabernacle of David .Free in grace- but not a license to sin .Written and oral tradition .Paul and Barnabus have a falling out .1st church council .visions played a role in setting doctrine [Peter and thee sheet vision recounted] .Yet we test the spirits- they are not all of God

PAST POSTS [verses below] https://ccoutreach87.com/james-2015/ http://corpuschristioutreachministries.blogspot.com/p/protestant-reformation-luther-1766-lil_25.html My daughters non profit- https://www.facebook.com/jimwellscountypetsalive/ ACTS- https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/01/18/acts-1/ https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/01/26/acts-2/ https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/02/02/acts-3/ https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/02/09/acts-4/ https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/03/23/acts-5/ https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/03/31/acts-6/ https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/04/06/acts-7/ https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/04/14/acts-8/ https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/04/18/acts-9/ https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/05/07/acts-10/ https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/05/16/acts-11/ https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/05/22/acts-12/ https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/06/01/acts-13/ https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/06/14/acts-14/

(739)ACTS 15- Some brothers from Judea came down to Antioch and taught the believers that they had to be circumcised and keep the law in order to be saved. These are the Pharisees out of Jerusalem who became believers. They tried to put the gentile believers under the yoke of the law. Paul and Barnabas disagree strongly with this teaching. They decide to bring the question before the Apostles and Elders at Jerusalem. This is the first ‘church council’ in history. The ‘Jerusalem council’. At the meeting the dispute arises. Peter speaks up and recounts his experience at Cornelius house. How God showed Peter that he would justify people by faith, without having to become converts to Judaism. James chimes in and quotes a famous verse [famous now!] from the prophet Amos ‘in those days I will rebuild David’s tabernacle and all the gentiles upon whom my name is called will see me’. I want to stop here for a minute. On this blog I wrote a chapter on David’s tabernacle. It is in the booklet ‘The great building of God’ you might want to read it if you are not familiar with David’s tabernacle. I want to note that scholars disagree on what James means here. Some see ‘David’s tabernacle’ as the house or dynasty of David. Like Paul saying ‘house of God’ when speaking of ‘the family of God’. Others say this verse teaches the rebuilding of the Temple. The main reason James is quoting this verse is really not for the ‘rebuilding of David’s tabernacle’ section. It is for ‘all the gentiles who call upon my name’ part! James is agreeing with Peter and taking the side of grace when he says ‘look, even Amos said gentiles would call on Gods name’. Paul does this in Romans, he quotes the Old Testament prophets in context of the gentiles being accepted. So I wanted to just put some context to why James is bringing up this verse. But I also give credence to seeing ‘David’s tabernacle’ as speaking of the New Testament house of God [the Body of Christ] and Gods intent to ‘tabernacle in his people’. Acts does teach that Jesus has ascended and is seated on a throne that includes Israel as well as the whole universe! So in this context Christ can be seen as ‘building the tabernacle of David’ [spiritual temple of believers] that includes all ethnic groups. Yes, gentiles too can call upon his name! The Apostles and Elders and brothers all reach agreement and write a short letter and send Judas and Silas along with Paul’s group back to Antioch to read the final decree. They told the gentile believers they were not under the law and did not have to convert to Judaism to be saved. They did give four simple restrictions. Don’t eat meat with the blood in it, don’t eat food offered to idols or strangled animals. Don’t commit fornication. Basic requirements that later on will lose their emphasis as the church grows in grace [accept for fornication! God does require believers to walk in holiness]. Now this chapter is vital for every believer. The 16th century reformation restored the truth of people being saved freely by grace. Many Christians were lost in the legalistic requirements of religion. Many believers thought they could buy their way out of purgatory with money! Others thought they would be saved by keeping church law. This early church council gave freedom to the church in seeing herself accepted by grace. The church grew in her understanding of Gods grace. As God’s revelation of himself progressed thru out the early church, they saw him as being ‘inclusive’ not exclusive! The more they learned about God, the more they understood him justifying people freely. It is easy to lose the reality of God justifying man freely thru grace. No excuses for living in sin, but true acceptance and forgiveness because of Christ. This is truly the heart of the gospel. The first church council laid the foundation of Gods free grace. The gentiles at Antioch and the other towns were ecstatic over this decision. Truly the gentile churches are experiencing more freedom than the church at Jerusalem, after all they had the ‘Pharisees who believed’ at Jerusalem, and they weren’t willing to give up on their belief of the importance of the law and circumcision. They will haunt Paul thru out his life. After the letter is read, Paul and Barnabas continue to teach at Antioch and the 2 brothers who were out of Jerusalem are free to leave. Judas goes back, but Silas likes the freedom at Antioch and decides to stay. Paul says ‘lets go visit all the brothers in the cities where we preached’ Barnabas says ‘great, lets take John Mark!’ Paul doesn’t want him because he abandoned them on an earlier missionary journey. Paul takes Silas and John goes with Barnabas. The ‘visiting of all the brothers’ is also described as ‘visiting the churches’. Once again, the brothers [and sisters] in the cites are defined as ‘the churches’. They were called out groups of believers who were recognized not because they ‘attended church on Sunday’ but because they were followers of ‘the way’.

VERSES- 1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spiritswhether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. Acts 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. Acts 15:3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. Acts 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. Acts 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. Acts 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. Acts 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. Acts 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; Acts 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Acts 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. Acts 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Acts 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. Acts 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, Acts 15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: Acts 15:17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Acts 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Acts 15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: Acts 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. Acts 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. Acts 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren: Acts 15:23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Acts 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: Acts 15:25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, align=top> Acts 15:26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 15:27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. Acts 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; Acts 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. Acts 15:30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: Acts 15:31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. Acts 15:32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. Acts 15:33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. Acts 15:34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. Acts 15:35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. Acts 15:36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the LORD, and see how they do. Acts 15:37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. Acts 15:38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. Acts 15:39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; Acts 15:40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. Acts 15:41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

http://www.corpuschristioutreachministries.blogspot.com https://www.facebook.com/john.chiarello.5?ref=bookmarks https://ccoutreach87.wordpress.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ4GsqTEVWRm0HxQTLsifvg

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Note- Please do me a favor, those who read/like the posts- re-post them on other sites as well as the site you read them on- Thanks- John.#

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Acts 15

Acts 26

Ephesians 6

THE WELL- John 4 [and Brexit too] John 4:25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. John 4:26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. TODAY’S VIDEOS- https://youtu.be/qaD4EfJLH_g Media [Brexit] https://youtu.be/n2l2UuWbiVw The Well- John 4 https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/6-23-16-the-well.zip https://ccoutreach87.wordpress.com/2016/06/14/amos-5/

MY LINKS- https://ccoutreach87.wordpress.com/the-great-building-of-god/

ON VIDEO .Are people afraid to report possible Muslim suspicious activity? .Look at the boy with the ‘clock’ story. .Big money politics. .Polls? .My big sin confession- yes folks- this might be the bombshell you have been waiting for! [what is it John- can’t you just write it? No- you have to watch] .Was big money behind the Iran Nuke deal? .The Boeing plane contract- to Iran. .Iraq debacle. .Media slams Trump- because he only raised 1 million- and used 50 million of his own money. .Sanders raised most of his money from small donations. .Hillary raised 25 million- from corporations and Wall street [the only corrupt money candidate out of the 3] and one of her main campaign points is ‘we need to get wall street out of politics’- Maybe you should start by getting out too? .And the media praised her for it- huh? .5 fold ministry [apostles- prophets- teachers- etc.] .AA sponsors- watch till the end- this might be the day you have been waiting for? .AA or the Church? [verses below] On THE WELL video [2 more articles below] Jesus has a long dialogue with a woman from Samaria- he speaks to her all alone- and she’s also from a region that the ‘Jews’ don’t associate with. Yet- he breaks the rules- and asks her to draw him water from Jacob’s well. She say’s ‘our father Jacob drank from it- his kids- and his cattle too’! The well was a source- not just for Jacob’s kids- but for him too. Meaning- when God grants us a ‘well’ [a source of communication for the truths of God] we too partake of it- like King David in the bible- he went to the house of God when he was on the run from Saul- and ate of the showbread- and gave it to his men. Paul tells Timothy ‘preach the word- in doing this you will SAVE yourself- and those that hear thee’. And when Jesus broke bread with his men- he too ate. The principle is- ministers- Pastors- 5 fold- You’re not the source- but God is speaking thru you [hopefully] and the things ‘coming out of you’ are for your sustenance too- get it? Now- the woman has been waiting for the Messiah her whole life- she says ‘we know he is coming’ and she says ‘the way we will identify him- is he will TELL US EVERYTHING WE DID’. Hmm? Everything? Ok- as he talks to her- he tells her he has some living water [the Spirit] and if she asks him- she will get the water that never runs dry. So- she asks. Jesus says ‘go get your husband’ . Her answer ‘I don’t have one’ [true] Jesus says ‘your right- you have had 5- the guy you are with now is not your husband- so yeah- that’s true’. Ok- she’s caught- and says ‘I perceive you are a prophet’ Remember- she is waiting for Messiah- and when he comes- he will TELL HER all that she did- she herself already said this. The conversation goes on- and Jesus says ‘ I AM HE’. Now- she clicks- has an epiphany ‘wow- that’s right- you did tell me my past- you did expose my sin- and now I’m able to access the well’. She goes on and tells her town about Jesus- ‘Come see a man that told me everything I did’. Actually- he did not tell her everything she ever did- but he did tell her enough- that she knew he was the one. Sometimes in life- we are seeking the miracles- we want to see God do something- and when the opportunity comes around- we miss out. Why? Because of our pride- on a recent video [link above- Amos 5] I told a story about a friend who was into the prophetic ministry- following ‘on-line’ prophets and all. He had stories of when he ran our of gas- somebody gave him gas- and he ‘turned’ that simple encounter- into an angel must have given him the gas. Fine. He went on to tell other stories just as ‘miraculous’ as the angel and the gas can. Then I told him the story of when I prayed over a dead boy- and God raised him from the dead. And how the Kingsville record ran a front page story ‘child says he saw the Lord’. And the whole city was rocked- the testimony of God went forth- the paper even said ‘Chiarello was in the room praying’. Ok- if your looking for ‘the well-‘ conjuring up stories about gas cans and angels- this is a pretty good one- you don’t even have to go on-line to find it. Yet- my friend said ‘oh- that just a resuscitation’. Sometimes God brings you the signs you have been waiting for your whole life [like the woman at the well] And because of pride- we miss it. Be attentive to the prophetic things happening around you- Paul told Timothy ‘wage a good war by the prophecies that were given over you’. Yes- God still speaks today- the well is for you- and for those who hear you. Just be careful- because Jesus was passing thru Samaria on that special day- and the woman almost missed it.

On the video MEDIA- I talk about the American media coverage of the Brexit [Britain leaving the E.U.] The 30 minute news went like this- 1 Trump on a golf course- with Nazi golf balls [thrown by a protestor] 2 Then the reasons why [the media said] they left- ‘racists- bigots- hatred- right wing Christians who want to enslave the younger generation- anti Muslim ignorance’ [they claimed it was only the older bigots who voted to leave] 3 Then they showed a Trump sign that was vandalized- and it said ‘Trump- make America WHITE again’. 4 Then an interview with a Scottish business man who said ‘trump is a nut- we can’t let him have Nukes’! [world news mind you- gave this guy a worldwide platform] 4 A story about a boy who ‘came out’ as gay- in honor of the victims of the mass shooting in Orlando 5 Then him and his mother saying he risked his life by coming out as gay [huh?] 6 Then they showed a picture of a Christian church- and said because they live in the south- his life is now in danger from Christians who might try to murder him. 7 They never mentioned the fact that it was a radical Muslim who killed the actual victims he was ‘coming out’ for. [note- The image of golf balls with swastikas- the Trump poster that said ‘Trump- make America White again’- then the young gay man- who feared for his life because Christians in the south might murder him- then the image of a southern church- images are powerful- the media knows this- and the average person might think ‘I’m not that dumb to fall for it’- but it’s subliminal- and that’s how all advertising works- even if you don’t think you’re ‘falling for it’] At the end of the 30 minute news- they associated Trump- conservatives- and Christians as a great danger to society- and those who voted for the Brexit were motivated by ignorance and racism.

Then I watched an interview with a Brit- a young Socialist [meaning- he was not a conservative] he said it would be very wrong to view those who voted to leave as racists- bigots- and ignorant. This liberal kid from Britain said there were many young progressives- and workers who voted to leave- who had very honest- non racist reasons. That’s what I said on the video- that the American media did a great disservice by spinning the whole thing as a racist- conservative- Trump- Nazi- anti freedom vote. And it took a young- liberal socialist- from Britain- to say the same thing. WHY SO MAD? An honest look at what happened in Britain would be a discussion that the Western world has been having for the past 10 years. The rise of radical Islam has caused many in the Western world to re-evaluate what it actually means to become a citizen of their countries. In Britain for many years it was just assumed that both Muslim immigrants and ‘home grown’ could live their lives and hold to their religious beliefs- and sort of be on their own. Then you had the rise of many isolated communities of whom a great number of the younger Muslims hold to extreme beliefs- even though they are citizens of Britain. This caused many brits to ask the question ‘should we have been more honest- forceful- in what it means to actually be a Brit’. They failed to ask the big questions- ‘if you want to be a part of us- and you are Muslim- that’s your belief- we get it- but if your actual belief includes the acceptance of executing gay people- and the hope of the establishing of Sharia law and courts- then those ideals will not be tolerated among true Brits’. The same questions we should ask all U.S. citizens- not a religious ‘test’- but an ideological one. Meaning- if you hold to the belief that Hitler was a great man-o k- I disagree with you- but if that belief includes you wanting to implement his anti-Semitic beliefs- and put them into practice [gassing Jews] than that’s more than simply a ‘religious belief’- you have crossed a line that is not acceptable if you want to become an American citizen. That’s an ideal that must be challenged. And Obamas belief that we need to distinguish between the radicals and the more moderate- I understand. But- he seems unable to admit that their is a huge percentage of ‘moderate’ Muslims who still hold to the honest belief that gay people should be executed under a ‘just’ system of Sharia law. That’s a problem- that’s not American. It’s not just a problem because it’s a ‘belief’ but it’s a problem that many who want to be part of a society [Britain- Europe- the U.S.] think it’s ok to have those beliefs- and to advocate and try to implement them- and it’s simply not acceptable- and if you want to be a part of a society- we will not reject you based on your belief about God- but we will make you say an oath- pledge to the new society you are coming to- which includes the acceptance of the values of that country- that’s what immigration means. That’s a ‘test’ of a radical unacceptable view- that’s should not be tolerated. Now- In Britain’s vote to leave the E.U. The European Union started after WW2- about 28 nations formed a union for strength and unity. Later on they had the Euro- about 20 nations joined in a common currency and formed the largest single trading block in the world. Ove the past 10 years Europe has faced many challenges- and the countries [Greece] that are on the verge of bankruptcy- began looking to the more stable ones as a sort of bailout neighbor [Germany being one of the more stable]. The Brits began asking if it was better for them to be under this 28 nation union [EU] and to have over regulation coming out of Brussels [the headquarters for the E.U]many sincere brits- not out of racism- but out of honest questions- decided it was better to leave the E.U. and not be under the ‘federal’ regulations of an outside body. Just like many Americans value their independence- and resent our own federal government having too many regulations. Ok- this was- is- an honest reason for the Brits to do their Brexit. But the media portrayed the vote as a bunch of ignorant- older- anti Muslim racists who bought into the ‘hatred’ of the Muslim world and voted out of ignorance. That’s not what happened- and this narrative is dangerous in my view. Why? I mentioned on the video [MEDIA] that they even talked to the businessman who Trump had dealings with over his golf course in Scotland. They gave this guy a platform to the world- to say Trump is unstable and will possibly hit the ‘Nuke’ button if he became president. But the real story over the past few years is many intelligent analysts have said the present course the Obama administration is on- is actually pushing Russia close to a hot war. Both liberals and conservative thinkers have said this. The threat of NATO- and Obamas willingness to sanction Russia- and to put more troops on the Russian/European border- is bringing the world to the brink of a real ‘Nuke Button’- not some golf course guy spewing off the top of his head about Trump.https://ccoutreach87.wordpress.com/russia-u-s-world-events/ Even Germany said it a few weeks ago- that NATO is war mongering- pushing Putin to the brink. A serious analysis should ask these questions- A real ‘news story’ should ask if It’s acceptable that about 50 percent of the Muslim world [not just radicals] think sharia law should be instituted- and if so- the execution of gays is a good thing. Now- that percentage is too high. You might have less than 1 percent of fundamentalist Christians who hold to an extreme view [maybe less] but the great majority of Christians absolutely reject the idea that gay people should actually be executed- because they are gay. Yet- a majority of Muslims world wide- believe this is ok. No- it’s not- and for Obama- or the media- to act like the problem is with the Christian- or the ‘ignorant- anti immigrant/Muslim bigots of Britain’ who voted to leave the E.U.- When they give you this narrative- they are doing a disservice. Britain left the EU- that was their democratic choice. Many brits have real problems with the Muslim communities in their country who still hold to these wrong views. These Brits should not be portrayed as ignorant right wing bigots- because the views they are rejecting by many Muslims in their country- are the radical- bigoted views- that all religions should reject. The threat of a real nuclear war has to do with decisions we are making right now- and our refusal to re-evaluate NATO [which Trump also got criticized for saying we need to do]. But the media preferred the analysis of some guy who did a business deal for a golf course in Scotland- and gave him world airtime to say how ‘Trump might hit the Nuke Button’- when in reality ‘the button’ might actually be hit- but it has nothing to do with Trump. VERSES- [news links below] John 4:1 When therefore the LORD knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, John 4:2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) John 4:3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. John 4:4 And he must needs go through Samaria. John 4:5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. John 4:6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. John 4:7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. John 4:8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) John 4:9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. John 4:11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? John 4:12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? John 4:13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. John 4:16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. John 4:17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: John 4:18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. John 4:19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. John 4:20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. John 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. John 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. John 4:26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. John 4:27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? John 4:28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, John 4:29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? John 4:30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. John 4:31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. John 4:32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. John 4:33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. John 4:36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. John 4:37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. John 4:38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. John 4:39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. John 4:40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. John 4:41 And many more believed because of his own word; John 4:42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. John 4:43 Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee. John 4:44 For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country. John 4:45 Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast. John 4:46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. John 4:47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. John 4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. John 4:49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. John 4:50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. John 4:51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. John 4:52 Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. John 4:53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. John 4:54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee. 1Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. NEWS LINKS- http://www.kristv.com/story/32298748/eu-leaders-say-britain-will-stay-member-for-now http://www.kristv.com/story/32304103/britains-departure-from-eu-impacts-americans http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/19/us/oakland-police-scandals/index.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3658258/White-House-crisis-talks-Britain-DEFIES-Obama-quit-European-Union-plunge-world-markets-shock.html http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/683224/END-OF-THE-EU-Germany-France-Austria-Hungary-Finland-Netherlands-Europe-Brexit

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Sunday sermon

Sunday sermon 7-8-18

Ephesians 5

  VERSES [These are the verses I either quoted or taught from on today’s post]

September 2, 2018

 « September 1  |  September 3 »

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 125

Reading 1

DT 4:1-2, 6-8

Moses said to the people: "Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.  In your observance of the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin upon you, you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it.  Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, 'This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.' For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him?  Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?"

Responsorial Psalm

PS 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5

R. (1a) The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. Whoever walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue. R. The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; by whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the LORD. R. The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. Who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things shall never be disturbed. R. The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Reading 2

JAS 1:17-18, 21B-22, 27

Dearest brothers and sisters: All good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.  He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Alleluia

JAS 1:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia. The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

MK 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.  —For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace  they do not eat without purifying themselves.  And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. — So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, "Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?"  He responded, "Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition." He summoned the crowd again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand.  Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile. "From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile."

 Deuteronomy 4:1 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.

Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Deuteronomy 4:3 Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you.

Deuteronomy 4:4 But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.

Deuteronomy 4:5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.

Deuteronomy 4:6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

Deuteronomy 4:7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?

Deuteronomy 4:8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;

Deuteronomy 4:10 Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.

Deuteronomy 4:11 And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness.

Deuteronomy 4:12 And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.

Deuteronomy 4:13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

Deuteronomy 4:14 And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it.

Deuteronomy 4:15 Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:

Deuteronomy 4:16 Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

Deuteronomy 4:17 The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,

Deuteronomy 4:18 The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:

Deuteronomy 4:19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.

Deuteronomy 4:20 But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.

Deuteronomy 4:21 Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance:

Deuteronomy 4:22 But I must die in this land, I must not go over Jordan: but ye shall go over, and possess that good land.

Deuteronomy 4:23 Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.

Deuteronomy 4:24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 4:25 When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger:

Deuteronomy 4:26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.

Deuteronomy 4:27 And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.

Deuteronomy 4:28 And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.

Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

Deuteronomy 4:30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;

Deuteronomy 4:31 (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

Deuteronomy 4:32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it?

Deuteronomy 4:33 Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?

Deuteronomy 4:34 Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?

Deuteronomy 4:35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.

Deuteronomy 4:36 Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire.

Deuteronomy 4:37 And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt;

Deuteronomy 4:38 To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day.

Deuteronomy 4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.

Deuteronomy 4:40 Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.

Deuteronomy 4:41 Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sunrising;

Deuteronomy 4:42 That the slayer might flee thither, which should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live:

Deuteronomy 4:43 Namely, Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites.

Deuteronomy 4:44 And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel:

Deuteronomy 4:45 These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which Moses spake unto the children of Israel, after they came forth out of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 4:46 On this side Jordan, in the valley over against Bethpeor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel smote, after they were come forth out of Egypt:

Deuteronomy 4:47 And they possessed his land, and the land of Og king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, which were on this side Jordan toward the sunrising;

Deuteronomy 4:48 From Aroer, which is by the bank of the river Arnon, even unto mount Sion, which is Hermon,

Deuteronomy 4:49 And all the plain on this side Jordan eastward, even unto the sea of the plain, under the springs of Pisgah.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

 Jude 1:3

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

 Matthew 11:19

The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

 Luke 7:34

The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

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The Dos and Donts of Early Recovery from Alcoholism

When you are in early recovery from addiction, there are definitely some dos and donts that make sense to take heed of.

Plenty of people have recovered before you, and their collective wisdom should count for something, right? Here is how to steer clear of some of the pitfalls and embrace some of the more obvious short cuts:

First of all, my number one suggestion is both a “do” and a “dont,” which we will put like this in the don’t column:

Don’t skip rehab.

I know it is tempting to figure out how to recover from your addiction without having to go to treatment, but this is a huge mistake–to try to maneuver your way around the idea of checking into a 28 day program. I know it is cliche, I know that you probably have feelings of shame or want to avoid the stigma that you believe it to have, but you cannot expect to do well with this level of handicap.

In other words, just make it easy on yourself and go check into treatment. This is the easy way out. There is no shame in surrender. If you need help then you need help, and there is no greater form of help than in checking into a treatment center for 28 days. This gives you access to every possible resource, to every meeting, to therapists, counselors, peers, and so on.

If you have struggled to find real recovery in the past, then the issue is often that you haven’t given yourself a break and allowed yourself to be directed to the right treatment services.

Don’t skip rehab just because of your ego, or because of the stigma associated with it. You deserve to recover.

Now the second don’t that I would suggest to you is that you should not switch substances in an attempt to overcome your addiction.

I actually tried to do this once in my own journey towards recovery, and it failed miserably. At the time I was struggling with alcoholism and I could tell that my drinking was leading me down a very dark path in life. I knew that I needed help with it, and I could no longer deny the problem existed. Given that, I decided to try to switch substances and self medicate with marijuana instead. This worked for a while, but ultimately it failed, because I got to a point in which I could not fully medicate my emotions using marijuana alone, and I knew that if I just bought a bottle that it would “fix everything.” In other words, my tolerance built up quickly regardless of which substance I was attempting to medicate with, and that ultimately led me back to my drug of choice.

So do not think that switching addictions is any kind of long term solution. It actually works in the very short term, but do not be fooled by this. It always returns to full chaos.

Now another dont suggestion that I have is something that I see quite frequently in early recovery from people, and that is when a person goes along through early recovery without getting any kind of sponsor, mentor, therapist, or counselor. I am often asking of people “did you find a sponsor yet?” and I am always shocked at how many people fail to follow through with this. I really see this as a “make or break” issue in early recovery–people who fail to get this kind of mentor almost always seem to relapse. That is just my subjective observation of course, but I keep seeing evidence reinforce the concept over and over again. If you want to succeed in early recovery then you need a sponsor, a therapist, a mentor of some kind. Don’t skip this vital part of early recovery and expect to do well.

Now a final warning in the don’t column is that you should not allow yourself to become complacent in your recovery. What I mean by that is you should never allow yourself to just coast through your recovery without working on some form of personal growth and self improvement. It is possible to get a few months or a few years sober and then to get so lazy in your recovery journey that you wind up relapsing as a result. Recovery is personal growth. Those who ignore this fact suffer the consequences of it.

Let’s switch over to the “do” column now. What should you do in order to succeed in early recovery?

First and foremost you should surrender completely. What I mean by that is this: Not only admitting that you have a problem, but admitting that you need professional help, and being willing to follow through and take advice from people. True surrender means that you accept the problem AND a solution. If you are not willing to do what is suggested then you are not in a state of true surrender. Total surrender is necessary in order to turn your life around. That means giving up total control of your life and your decisions for a while. I know that sounds awful, but it is really the path to freedom and happiness. If you let go completely and allow others to guide you in recovery then your life will get so much better that it will amaze you.

Now the second “do” suggestion would be the rehab thing again. But instead of just “not skipping treatment,” I want to suggest that you DO try to get the most intensive level of treatment possible. So instead of just doing counseling for an hour each week, go to IOP 3 times a week. Or instead of doing IOP, go to inpatient rehab for 28 days. Or instead of doing that 28 day program, go to long term treatment or recovery housing.

You get the idea. More treatment is generally going to give you better results, and if you do too little then it can be your downfall. This is especially true if you have tried in the past and failed–that is a clear indicator that you need a more intensive level of treatment. So become wiling to embrace more treatment.

Another suggestion that I would give is to commit fully to your recovery program. In the case of AA or NA, this would mean that you commit to doing 90 meetings in the first 90 days, getting a sponsor, and diving into their literature. The 90 meetings is especially helpful in terms of building a strong foundation in early recovery. Many people who have succeeded in the long run started out this way–by committing fully to a recovery program and following through with it.

Finally, I would suggest that you take as much advice as you can from people who are successful in recovery, and apply that advice in your own life. This is really the best way to work a recovery program–by testing out various ideas and seeing what actually works for you. It is through this iterative process that you can build up your strongest and best life in addiction recovery. Good luck!

The post The Dos and Donts of Early Recovery from Alcoholism appeared first on Spiritual River Addiction Help.

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The Dos and Donts of Early Recovery from Alcoholism

When you are in early recovery from addiction, there are definitely some dos and donts that make sense to take heed of.

Plenty of people have recovered before you, and their collective wisdom should count for something, right? Here is how to steer clear of some of the pitfalls and embrace some of the more obvious short cuts:

First of all, my number one suggestion is both a “do” and a “dont,” which we will put like this in the don’t column:

Don’t skip rehab.

I know it is tempting to figure out how to recover from your addiction without having to go to treatment, but this is a huge mistake–to try to maneuver your way around the idea of checking into a 28 day program. I know it is cliche, I know that you probably have feelings of shame or want to avoid the stigma that you believe it to have, but you cannot expect to do well with this level of handicap.

In other words, just make it easy on yourself and go check into treatment. This is the easy way out. There is no shame in surrender. If you need help then you need help, and there is no greater form of help than in checking into a treatment center for 28 days. This gives you access to every possible resource, to every meeting, to therapists, counselors, peers, and so on.

If you have struggled to find real recovery in the past, then the issue is often that you haven’t given yourself a break and allowed yourself to be directed to the right treatment services.

Don’t skip rehab just because of your ego, or because of the stigma associated with it. You deserve to recover.

Now the second don’t that I would suggest to you is that you should not switch substances in an attempt to overcome your addiction.

I actually tried to do this once in my own journey towards recovery, and it failed miserably. At the time I was struggling with alcoholism and I could tell that my drinking was leading me down a very dark path in life. I knew that I needed help with it, and I could no longer deny the problem existed. Given that, I decided to try to switch substances and self medicate with marijuana instead. This worked for a while, but ultimately it failed, because I got to a point in which I could not fully medicate my emotions using marijuana alone, and I knew that if I just bought a bottle that it would “fix everything.” In other words, my tolerance built up quickly regardless of which substance I was attempting to medicate with, and that ultimately led me back to my drug of choice.

So do not think that switching addictions is any kind of long term solution. It actually works in the very short term, but do not be fooled by this. It always returns to full chaos.

Now another dont suggestion that I have is something that I see quite frequently in early recovery from people, and that is when a person goes along through early recovery without getting any kind of sponsor, mentor, therapist, or counselor. I am often asking of people “did you find a sponsor yet?” and I am always shocked at how many people fail to follow through with this. I really see this as a “make or break” issue in early recovery–people who fail to get this kind of mentor almost always seem to relapse. That is just my subjective observation of course, but I keep seeing evidence reinforce the concept over and over again. If you want to succeed in early recovery then you need a sponsor, a therapist, a mentor of some kind. Don’t skip this vital part of early recovery and expect to do well.

Now a final warning in the don’t column is that you should not allow yourself to become complacent in your recovery. What I mean by that is you should never allow yourself to just coast through your recovery without working on some form of personal growth and self improvement. It is possible to get a few months or a few years sober and then to get so lazy in your recovery journey that you wind up relapsing as a result. Recovery is personal growth. Those who ignore this fact suffer the consequences of it.

Let’s switch over to the “do” column now. What should you do in order to succeed in early recovery?

First and foremost you should surrender completely. What I mean by that is this: Not only admitting that you have a problem, but admitting that you need professional help, and being willing to follow through and take advice from people. True surrender means that you accept the problem AND a solution. If you are not willing to do what is suggested then you are not in a state of true surrender. Total surrender is necessary in order to turn your life around. That means giving up total control of your life and your decisions for a while. I know that sounds awful, but it is really the path to freedom and happiness. If you let go completely and allow others to guide you in recovery then your life will get so much better that it will amaze you.

Now the second “do” suggestion would be the rehab thing again. But instead of just “not skipping treatment,” I want to suggest that you DO try to get the most intensive level of treatment possible. So instead of just doing counseling for an hour each week, go to IOP 3 times a week. Or instead of doing IOP, go to inpatient rehab for 28 days. Or instead of doing that 28 day program, go to long term treatment or recovery housing.

You get the idea. More treatment is generally going to give you better results, and if you do too little then it can be your downfall. This is especially true if you have tried in the past and failed–that is a clear indicator that you need a more intensive level of treatment. So become wiling to embrace more treatment.

Another suggestion that I would give is to commit fully to your recovery program. In the case of AA or NA, this would mean that you commit to doing 90 meetings in the first 90 days, getting a sponsor, and diving into their literature. The 90 meetings is especially helpful in terms of building a strong foundation in early recovery. Many people who have succeeded in the long run started out this way–by committing fully to a recovery program and following through with it.

Finally, I would suggest that you take as much advice as you can from people who are successful in recovery, and apply that advice in your own life. This is really the best way to work a recovery program–by testing out various ideas and seeing what actually works for you. It is through this iterative process that you can build up your strongest and best life in addiction recovery. Good luck!

The post The Dos and Donts of Early Recovery from Alcoholism appeared first on Spiritual River Addiction Help.

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