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ahopkins1965 · 3 months ago

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What is the Difference between Grace Vs Mercy?

This is a comparison and contrast essay that is based on the definition of two words. The first word is grace and the second is mercy. The definition of the word grace is good will or favor. When it comes to grace, the Lord always shows us good will and favor when it comes to all of us. Whereas, the definition of the word mercy is refraining from harming others. It also means showing kind or compassionate treatment. It also means the power to forgive.

When it comes to the Lord God; He always shows everyone compassion and understanding towards us. I remember when I was a high school student, I became truant and missed over half of the 1981-82 school year.

The reason why I became truant was because I was involved in street gangs and I also smoked marijuana. During that time, I had to appear in court for not attending school. The Juvenile Court Judge stated to me in my face that anytime a person does not go to school, they are considered as crazy!

Moreover, I want to inform everyone that I managed to change my ways by attending Job Corps in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Juvenile Court Judge gave me a second chance. I will admit that I was a B+ to C average student in school. I exceeded my expectations by graduating from the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio in 1993 and 1995 respectively. It was not very easy, however, I did very well. I want everyone to know that in spite of my pass mistakes, God had never left me nor forsaken me.

Definition of God's Grace – How do theologians define it? "What is grace? In the New Testament grace means God’s love in action towards men who merited the opposite of love. Grace means God moving heaven and earth to save sinners who could not lift a finger to save themselves. Grace means God sending His only Son to descend into hell on the cross so that we guilty ones might be reconciled to God and received into heaven. ‘(God) hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him’"

He was there every step of the way. I will admit to making a lot of mistakes in high school from 1979 to 1983. Therefore, I graduated from high school at the age of 20 years old. I was one of the oldest high school students to receive a high school diploma at the Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Dayton, Ohio. My graduation class had over 300 students.

In Addition, I want to inform everyone that I am a 53 year old man who have a lot of common sense. I am a person who has learned from all of my mistakes. I want to be honest with everyone that God has shown me both grace and mercy during my 53 years of existence.

I also want to give credit to Judge McCullough for giving me a second chance at life. I want to thank her for being lenient but firm on me. I have admitted guilt for the crimes that I have committed in the past. I want to also thank countless of others for seeing the potential in me. I want to thank everyone in the Charlotte, NC and Toledo, OH for helping me to shine when I need to.

Further, I want to thank everyone at the University of Toledo for allowing me to enroll in college; in spite of my bad grades in high school. I also want to thank everyone at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte for allowing me to work at the J Murray Atkins Library for 8 straight years. I want to thank everyone that God have placed in my life because they have seen great potential in me. It is God that is doing for me more than I am doing for myself.

Finally, I want to say that grace and mercy goes hand in hand with me personally. I thank Jesus Christ for being the Lord in my life right now. I will admit that I have been baptized 9 times within the past 20 years. I had dedicated my life to Jesus Christ on February 15, 2015. I am very happy to be born again. I owe it to my personal Savior Jesus Christ and many others for helping me along in my journey to success. I want to say that Grace and Mercy is very serious when it comes to God. I always take my life serious when it comes to God’s grace and mercy.

In Conclusion, I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for forgiving me for all of my sins. I want to thank my mother, grandmothers, aunts, and uncles for being involved in my life as a role model. I also want to thank all of my family members for bearing with me for all of these years. I had put all of my family members through a whole lot of mess. I also want to thank myself for learning how to forgive myself for all of my personal wrongs in my life. Grace is the good will and favor that God has shown me in my life. The mercy is the total forgiveness of all of my sins. I am happy to be a member of the Lambs Book of Life. Thank you for reading my essay.

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the-suns-also-rise · 4 years ago

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Symbolic imagery: The Crowning of Thorns

This is a companion post to the one I made about the Crucifixion between Two Thieves.

Nikki, a convict, is bound by her wrists to beams in the form of a cross. Her eyes focus on one of her hands, revealing a bolt that suggests a nail driven through her wrists. The scene then transitions to Clarke struggling in the M-Cap chair.

Unlike Octavia, who was shown from the side or from above during M-Cap, Clarke’s head is shown from underneath - and the similarity to a minimalist crown of thorns is unmistakeable. The head restraint rings her head like a halo. The bolts extend outwards like rays, but also inwards, piercing her skin. Even Bellamy is cast in Pontius Pilate’s role in his final exchange with Clarke (“It didn’t have to be this way/Yes it did”). The blood and tears running down her face complete this symbolic allusion to Christ’s Crowning of Thorns during the torture leading up to his crucifixion.

Here are a few examples for comparison (Giovanni Anontio Bazzi, Ecce Homo; Carlo Dolci, Christ as the Man of Sorrows; Perugino, Christ Crowned with Thorns):

Seeing this imagery brought this phrase of Clarke’s from the end of Season 2 to mind:

This remark has always bothered me, but I’m realizing now that it’s because it maps all too closely to 1 Peter 2:24: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.”

Furthermore, going all the way back to S1x01, Abby even introduced Clarke’s nature to us by saying, “Now Clarke, I know your instinct will be to save everyone before yourself, just like your father.”

I’ve seen many posts praising Clarke for her selflessness and self-sacrificial nature, and other posts decrying her for having a savior complex or even suicidal tendencies. I think we’ve all caught on to the same basic premise: that some part of Clarke - like JC himself - instinctively believes that she was born to die to save her people.

And the crown of thorns imagery confirms it at last.

#the 100 #the100edit #clarke griffin #clarkegriffinedit #the100daily #the100gifs #my100gifs #season 7 #s7x12 #allusions #symbolism

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yokelish · 4 years ago

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Mut(e)iny.

✏ Fandom: Bungou Stray Dogs ✏ Characters: Kunikida Doppo ✏ Word count: 1,517 ✏ Warnings: Ansgstober in November.

I can’t even tell him. But even if I could, what would I tell him? There are no words to justify my longing. Nor would my words cloud his mind even for moment or shake the core of his being. I do not hold such power. He is simply unreachable, unfathomable, and, ultimately, unbending. Nothing like people who believe in things that are too beautiful to be preserved, like an undying faith in something big, and bright, and flawless. Nothing like a man who holds an unbreakable ideal in his heart. Nothing like mute rejection.

Fortunately or not, I was oblivious at first. And, perhaps, that was one of the reasons how he came to know. Not to say that I was blindly crossing this boundary. No, I simply saw something beyond this boundary. I thought it made us closer that I could see something too, something of my own somewhere in the distance. I wish I never saw.

No, it started ordinarily so. Two people crossing paths in life, following the same road, essentially coming to walk along side each other. Nothing special between two people for the things they keep in sight are a priority than the shoulder walking next to you. And it should have stayed that way. My eyes should have been looking at the things ahead of me, watching the road, never looking away for too long. If only I was as determined to keep my head straight and my eyes unblinking, I would have avoided much heartache. I wouldn’t be victim to such mutiny.

We brushed shoulders for a moment. Two people walking a road together, accidental contact that lingered a second too long. And what he thinks was a polite smile — a pacifying gesture — was something dazzling to me. I should have never looked at his face; I should have rebuked his smile, rejected any appeasement. But I stared wide-eyed, amazed by the unexpected. And from here on out, I only wanted to look at him more. And I did.

Sweet downfall. It was a slow fall, gentle as a petal dancing in the wind, and just as enchanting. The ground beneath my feet swiftly disappeared making me an easy pretty to the inevitable. It swallowed me whole. The way down was gentle, but it had nothing to do with his gentleness. No, that was because it was such an unhurried act, slowly coming together like a puzzle. He, on the other hand, he is quite the opposite. Wilful, inflexible, kind but harsh, stoic yet overreactive. Unlike some, it wasn’t the lack of emotional display that made him appealing or mysterious. It was his stubborn gaze forward. Always looking ahead as if he was seeing something, something no one else could see. It made it easier for me to look at him without being noticed. Of course, he wasn’t as naïve as to ignore his immediate surroundings, but If he was looking ahead, I was looking at him. Thus, our eyes never met. He didn’t know — wasn’t even aware of it happening — as I was watching more and more. And I was slowly moving towards my undoing since I forgot to watch the road ahead of me. It was, still, a sweet fall, I admit.

There was more to him than he was willing to show. For his candor, he had his share of secrets. For example, refusing to show the pressure affecting him. Inflexible, dangerously so. Branches that refuse to follow the wind break sooner and louder. For this, I called him an oak with kindness a heart could offer. I didn’t think he’d understand. He called me a willow. It was me who didn’t understand.

His goodness was apparent, too apparent. His righteousness, uncompromising as it was, exposed his weaknesses to all naked eyes. It pained me to see his pain. For all his correctness, he still possessed an overflowing self-consciousness. He was far too aware of himself. Weaknesses and flaws hurt him more than they hurt me. After all, I was only an eyewitness.

Yes, my fall was gentle, I admit. It’s the landing that’s always harsh and painful.

With the wisdom of time and broken heart, I can sat that is also a reason why he can’t look at me anymore. All he can see in me is his flaws observed, recorded, and reflected.

I once, in jest, compared him to his notebook: easy to read. With neat handwriting and dedication to order, it was true. My words were a compliment, at least that’s how I meant them. He seemed flustered for a second, taking in the unexpected words, processing. It was one of the things I treasures about his nature. He was observant, cautious with words, attentive when called upon. With a light-hearted laugh, he accepted my words without rebuke. And then offered some of his own. I may have to be puzzled by such comparison for the rest of my life. In his words, I was a memoir no one could read.

That’s when our eyes met. All I know that my heart was bursting, filled with warmth towards the person in front of me. All I know is that I was mesmerized by those eyes looking into mine. I have little doubt he never saw that, never noticed those signs. It wouldn’t be in his nature. He must have noticed by then or just in that moment, no matter. Because it didn’t last. His nature dictated to look forward more than at other people. Considering everything, he probably is the only one who can see it and believe in what he is seeing ahead. That was is ahead is attainable, that something is real and can be sustained. But I was lost after the moment was over. His words didn’t not sink into my heart nor did they reveal their meaning. They were left on my mind like an ugly imprint, a record unpleasantly repeating.

A memoir no one could read. I wondered how he meant it. Could it be something beautiful in his mind? But it meant I was a story no one could tell. While he had taste for unattainable, I doubt that’s how he saw things. Was he merely suspicious of my words to offer such a quizzical answer? Then he must not trust me at all. Could it be envy of a man who didn’t want to be read? Envy sprouts many sins.

The only answer I arrived at that he couldn’t read me. Whether it was good or bad, I could only guess. And my own nature took me towards adverse path.

The more I danced around him trying to prove my trustworthiness, the less, I think, he wanted to trust me. And when I stopped, he mutely judged my changing nature. He never said a word out loud, I knew that much about him just by observation. There was no winning, it wasn’t’ a race or a game. He was not a puzzle for me to put together. There would be no accomplishment. I should have known from the start.

This not ideal, he says. And he means “this is no more than”. But all I hear is “this is less than”. If people were puzzles to him, he rejected those incomplete or with a piece missing. And he rejected them fully, at face value. Because it is not ideal, he says. And he means “no more than”, but all I heard is “less than”. I feel less than.

Late in the night, I tell something I shouldn’t have uttered in his presence. A question that’s been heavy on my mind, unpleasantly repeating. I asked how it felt to be walking a road so uncertain that it may lead to a dead end. He answered, of course. He answered as sensibly as a man chasing an impossible thing could. It angered me so. I wanted to revolt. For all the things I left unsaid, for all the thoughts inside my head, for every time I wanted to meet his eyes and he was only looking ahead. I wanted to avenge, I wanted to replicate the mutiny I have been going through. To inflict the pain of my thoughts onto someone else, make someone else understand what it’s like to be me in this impossible situation. I wanted to push him, send him falling, and down on the ground with a thud.

But it was his ideal, no one else’s. He never pushed beyond his boundary; I did. He never hinted at the more that could have been. He is free to decide what people suit him and whatnot. I know it, so I lose my voice. Again, I’m mute.

But our eyes meet once again. He is choosing to look at me, he might just be trying to read what no one else can. Perhaps, an oak would bend to the wind as willow does. And so, I ask him what made him so sure that his ideal would stay by his side when attained.

He never did give an answer, remaining mute.

#yokelishtorturesenglish #bsd scenarios #bsd fanfic #bsd imagines #kunikida doppo x reader #writing dump is coming #yay? nay

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paintedpoems · 4 years ago

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Black Water Arc: War of The Water Tyrants.

“Wind’s ontology refuses to take separateness as an inherent feature of the world. […] And this is, in part, wind’s value—it has an existential precondition that appears only in the context of contact. Wind is touching, mutual, moving.”

— Cymene Howe, Ecologics

It seems overly contradictory to start a piece about water tyrants with a quote about the wind, doesn’t it? In actuality, readers of the novel would find this comparison immensely appropriate. This is because although black water arc is about the head-to-head battle between Shi Wudu and Hexuan; the center point, the cause and the final effect of this whole arc is Shi Qingxuan.

“Existential Precondition” or fate. It is ironic that wind is described as such because that is essentially Shi Qingxuan’s inherent problem and “Refuses to take separateness” was Shi Qingxuan’s ultimate solution.

Short Summary:

The infant Shi Qingxuan has a curse placed upon them. The curse prophesied a life full of unfathomable hardships for Shi Qingxuan and that is now their fate. Their brother, Shi Wudu, who is extremely protective of his sibling, is bent on saving Shi Qingxuan from this curse. Shi Wudu being naturally gifted eventually ascends as a god, he uses his position in the heavenly realm to then help his younger brother ascend to godhood as well. It is eventually revealed that Shi Wudu secretly changed his sibling’s cursed fate with another person of similar name and better fortune.

The person in question is Hexuan. Hexuan was fated to live a prosperous life and ascend as a god but instead lives with tragedy latched onto him. He goes through poverty, false accusations, abuse and all of his loved ones die under heartbreaking circumstances. Hexuan eventually dies and returns as a vengeful ghost bent on punishing the one that had wronged him. Hexuan wants justice and since the gods refuse to pass judgement, he decides to come to a verdict on his own. In short, that is what black water arc is about: Judgement. In a grey situation, where exactly do we place the blame?

On Morality:

Shi wudu verses Hexuan, ‘The war of the water tyrants’ dilemma, is one of the most mind-blowingly well thought out cases of grey morality in literature. It is no secret that the reductiveness of morals into “good” and “evil” categories is one of mxtx's main themes often explored heavily in her previous works. The author rejects the absolute extremes in character viewpoints, both in her protagonists and antagonists and applies the concept in varying thoughts including race and politics.

The difference in this arc however, is the projection of the audience’s principles into each character. That is, between Hexuan and Shi wudu, she never specifies who the antagonist is. It is left to the readers to explore, reflect and come to an understanding on what exactly it is like to venture into the grey zone. Neither of the two were selfishly driven, none of their initial intentions stemmed from hatred. It was familial love that drove them to hurt one another, familial love that blindsided them. In their quest to protect and to avenge their family, innocent family members lost their lives or were hurt; on both their parts. This is where the definitions of victims and perpetrators get skewed. It is so skewed in fact, that the only valid testimony left is the reader's sentiments for the characters and their own self-principles.

From Shi wudu’s “Everything I have today, I fought for myself... I will change fate that I do not possess. My fate is up to me and not the heavens” is the will to fight predestination. Verses, Hexuan’s “What right did he have to suck another’s blood, trample another’s bones to reach the skies, and still maintain a peace of mind. Enjoying all such luxuries without any sense of burden?” the victim of the change in predestination. Two strong, commendable principles, founded by righteousness but blinded by arrogance and hatred. Later, to maintain a peace of mind, Hexuan tramples on Shi Qingxuan and in the process of fighting for oneself, Shi Wudu ultimately changes Shi Qingxuan’s fate for the worse.

We even witness the Shi Wudu’s blindness take a terrible turn at the very end when he attempts to strangle his own sibling that he fought to protect all this time. His belief that Shi Qingxuan will not be safe without him, his lack of trust in his own brother, is part of his arrogance.

In return, we see Hexuan’s blind hatred falter for a moment when he keeps giving Shi Qingxuan chances for safety. At the finish line, we see both the water tyrant’s own morals and goals swap. This change in attitude towards Shi Qingxuan’s future is another outstanding ploy by mxtx because expectation of a good outcome is the core of morality. In the end, the readers simply wish for a good ending for Shi Qingxuan and when Shi Wudu decides he is going to die together with his sibling, it confuses the audience. There is a shock factor added, you perceive Shi Wudu as the protector and he pulls the safety rug from under your feet. Instant shock and confusion violating the purity of the absolute good, so the reader’s immediate reaction is to look for safety in the not-absolute evil i.e. Hexuan. However, when Hexuan does not provide that complete comfort at the end, only slightly appeasing everyone, it stings. Reinforcing that cognitive blend of mixed morality into reader’s beliefs, further skewing the curve.

It is this kind of writing that creates a split in the fandom, not in a bad way, but more in terms of sparking a conversation about where people’s individual morality lies. Each character has their past, their reasons, their flaws and goodness and it gives the audience something to root for. In addition, the rooting is not a hundred percent good versus bad, because each character’s choices are equally flawed. The fandom selects a side but with one foot still lingering on the other territory. Siding with Hexuan but understanding the reasoning behind Shi Wudu’s actions or siding with Shi Wudu but sympathizing with Hexuan’s pain and loss. The uneven split is how you know the characterization was not mediocre.

In regards to characterizations, Shi wudu and Hexuan are too similar. Their personalities, personas, auras; the proud, stubborn, intelligent water tyrants. We speak of these likenesses because Shi Qingxuan lives through this battle and will never be able to unsee the similarities. Hexuan remains, a walking reminder of Shi Wudu. This feels deliberately done as the final stab to the readers, so that Shi Qingxuan and Hexuan’s relationship remains unmendable.

Pure Point of Views, Shi Qingxuan and Xielian:

Wind is invisible, its apprehension comes from its exposure to objects or in this case other people. Shi Qingxuan is air, pure, lively and touching, forming a comforting contact with everyone they meet. The kind of character that brings about a reader’s protective instinct, in a sense, if anything were to happen to them it will infuriate and break the audience. A classic plot device to draw emotions from the readers. Why must this innocent child suffer for the sins of their brother? But, mxtx urges us to rethink this by wondering the same for Hexuan’s family. They were innocent too, why did they have to die on this path? Why is Shi Qingxuan’s innocence valid and not theirs? The audience feels for Shi Qingxuan because we have become familiarised with them. Shi Qingxuan has now made that connection with the readers, the wind has touched their hearts versus only receiving glimpses of what was Hexuan’s previous family. The effect is lacking that familial impact, that bond. Classic writing schemes, beautiful.

At the end of the clashing of the waves, the person left with the permanent scars was the blameless Shi Qingxuan. Their life was molded and directed into this final point without their control, as if caught in a sea storm. The one that paid for this feud was ultimately Shi Qingxuan, the person neither of the other two wanted to hurt.

Another classic writing device I want to finally explore and praise is the use of the narrator to throw the audience off the culprit’s scent. The mystery of Black Water Arc was quite simple actually, mxtx layed out all the clues and hints for the audience out in the open. Like Xielian himself states later, the simplest answer was always visible, he was just overthinking things. And if Xielian, the semi-narrator, overthinks then the audience will overthink. Xielian, an intelligent and the fundamentally good person, exudes a trusting aura. The audience cannot help but trust his judgement and perception of things, it is a credibility built from our experience with his mystery solving abilities in the previous arcs.

The reason why the black water reveal was so impactful and shocking was because of Xielian. The semi narrator continuously made excuses for MingYi, his subconscious trusted him, even if he had his suspicions. He didn’t enforce them strongly enough, leaving the audience to believe Xielian was merely exploring a wrong option for the sake of eliminating possible culprits. The audience was not viewing MingYi as a culprit, rather they were waiting for Xielian to come to the inevitable conclusion of his innocence. An item to quickly cross off the checklist so that they could finally pursue the “real” culprit.

MingYi couldn’t use the Earth Master Shovel? Xielian makes the excuse for him before the audience can even dive deeper on that thought. HuaCheng draws suspicion back to MingYi and Xielian immediately doubts his most trusted confidant’s assumptions. Xielian trusts MingYi, so we trust MingYi against our better judgement. When the narrator has left no room for mistrust, how can the audience hold their stance?

The proficient push and pull charade played out by Hexuan and Huacheng is another impactful factor that took part in diverting Xielian’s mistrust. The nefarious roles they played policing and suspecting each other, from Hexuan’s “don’t you have spies in the heavens?” to Huacheng’s lie detecting dice game. The solid plan of the two suspicious individuals doing the dirty work for Xielian, did not allow Xielian to mold his thoughts in his own way. He was led astray whilst the other two worked together to draw trust onto each other. So, the audience did not have room for doubt either.

In addition to all of that, the most fundamental foundation to Xielian’s trust for MingYi was that fact that he was the one who saved him from Huacheng in the first place. Simply because of the ghost city arc, we already place Huacheng and Hexuan on opposing sides rather than assuming they were accomplices. Furthermore, because of Xielian’s trust in Huacheng’s intellect and his belief of Huacheng’s prejudice against MingYi; he would constantly monitor Huacheng’s reaction to his own deductions. Unfortunately, Huacheng was a terrible basis point and by the time Xielian realizes it, it is too late. An ingenious tactic.

The author led us off track in such a brilliant manner, I had to sing praises at the end of this piece. The way our mind perceives people or situations, is the essence of our moral compass. The mind is subjective, so subjectivity in judgement is ever present, ever grey.

Notes:

This unforgettable and excruciatingly tragic arc is an important turning point in the book and we are all aware that it does not need a special summary. However, I wanted to start with a bit of a reintroduction, just to stay true to the essay tradition. Is this an essay? A think-piece? An analysis? I would not dare shame any of those academic classifications by claiming to be writing as such.

I hope this was enjoyable to read.

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#tgcf #heaven official's blessing #mxtx #writings #analysis #ahhhh i promised I wouldn’t do anymore long post!!! sorry for your dashboard fill ;___;#*bow in apology*

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howcanibebetter2 · 5 years ago

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I am quite absent minded these days since its a lockdown. I’ve just been reminded of my old self when I was switching on my computer. I used to have an alarm set at 3:15 am in my old laptop to wake me up to study.

I was super unhappy to study that I have to do it at hours where I was not conscious enough to know what I was doing hahahaha. I’m glad those days are over.

This has nothing to do with what I am going to write about, but its good to look back and see the changes that I have made after becoming a Christian. To be able to sleep well is a form of self care which should be a greatly encouraged lifestyle in this day and age in my opinion.

I wanted to use today’s entry to speak about my state as a person without knowing the Bible.

Isaiah 59: 8-9

The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks along them will know peace.

So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.

I believe I have dwelt in so much sin in my lifetime, but I choose to brush it off as accidents or situations that are tolerable and cannot be changed. This scripture just shows how much I do not know how real peace with God looks like, how righteousness looks like. For myself, I am happy that I get to say if something is bad because I know the difference between knowing the truth and living in a lie. There is a guide if the bible is around. The more I know about the bible, the more I could be near to justice. To me, I always wanted justice for my education, because I see myself memorising rather than thinking critically in my overpriced boarding schools. I also saw how critical my family views me because I hold onto the belief that schools and exams are meaningless in comparison to work experience. (feel free to disagree on meaningless exams).

The lockdown brings to light that one doesn’t need to do a big fat exam to finish college or go to university so my belief is not terribly wrong, its just not the full truth depending on circumstances.

Why was I evil or why do I do evil deeds?

Isaiah 59:13 holds my answer

rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on our God, inciting revolt and oppression, uttering lies our hearts have conceived.

Jesus was not my Lord and I do not wish to defend the unconditional love that Jesus speaks off. I write others off as stupid and inconsiderate when they make small mistakes and unwilling to help others because I need to focus on myself at all times. My heart lies to me. It tells me that other people are not as good as I am, that I can pave a new way of discovering success in life and I could set the standards to everyone’s lifestyle. When in actual fact, I do not know what am I doing in university and where do I want to go after I graduate.

My opinions sway with each coming year as I saw Economics to be of bigger monetary gain in the future compared to pharmacy or sway when the government says they will remove my visa if I don’t earn a particular threshold. Life is a mess.

Now, I am set to graduate and work in a pharmacy in Wales. Coronavirus came and left the government no choice but to extend working visas for pharmacist for another year. I did not do anything, its just from God. I couldn’t predict Brexit would happen in 2016 and coronavirus in 2020. I just lived my life and worked.

So, a scripture to share about not knowing the future is that God is sovereign and I cannot control my future.

Isaiah 55 :8-9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

I could only surrender to God and submit to Him. This takes a lot of humility since I believe that God exists but never knew the bible. Humility for me looks like putting the bible into practice and submitting to parts of the bible I dislike and this pleases God.

Isaiah 66:2

Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord.

“These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.

Hope it helps you to build your relationship with God.

Go after it even if you fall! If it helped you, hope you be interested to dm me for a bible study :)

#christianity #humility #humble #growth #bible #biblestudy #justice #peace #meaning #future #surrender

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wisdomrays · 5 years ago

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WE SHOULD THINK WELL OF OTHERS: Part 2

Avoid raising suspicion!

In addition, in the same way that it is essential to hold a good opinion of others, it is also a very important principle to refrain from behavior that might raise suspicion. Some people fail to avoid acts and conditions that might possibly lead to ugly thoughts about themselves arising in the minds of other people. They might sometimes present behavior that can be open to criticism in terms of their personal lives, businesses, or social relations. Thereby, these people trigger negative feelings and ugly considerations in some people who are prone to suspicion or ill-opinion. However, everybody should review their own condition and refrain from raising suspicion, while constantly maintaining a good opinion of others.

It is not possible to approve of situations which might lead to suspicion, particularly today; at the present time what is prevalent is a collective spiritual identity rather than spiritual individuality. The attitudes and behaviors of every Muslim can be ascribed to this spiritual identity and it can be generalized to all believers. Therefore, one of the prayers I consider to be very important is “My God, do not humiliate our brothers and sisters because of my attitudes and behaviors, do not let them be embarrassed because of my personal mistakes.” Nowadays, an unmannerly act by a single individual might cause all believers to lose credit. A person with inconsistent behavior can lead to negative aspects being attributed to all Muslims. In this respect, it is even more important to act in accordance with the warning of the Prophet and we should avoid those places that might leave us under suspicion. In the same way that we need to avoid such “slippery ground”, places that might leave us under the suspicion of potential sins, and to avoid situations that might trigger feelings that could lead to such sins, we should also keep away from the dangerous territory that might distance us from our essential values through the attraction of a single word, through eavesdropping, or spying on others. Likewise, we should avoid heedless behaviors that might raise suspicions about us and we should not let negative thoughts emerge. The following example will guide us in this issue:

One day, when God’s Messenger was at his habitual retreat in the mosque for the last ten days of Ramadan, his wife Safiyya visited him and asked for permission to go home after having stayed for a while. God’s Messenger, who was a paragon of kindness, came out to see off his respectable wife. At the moment, one or two Companions who were passing by, saw them and walked away. The Prophet Muhammad, the Prince of both worlds, stopped them immediately and said “Look, this is my wife Safiyya,” raising the veil of our mother Safiyya. Upon this, the Companions responded in humility, “God forbid! O Messenger of God, how can one ever expect an evil deed from you?” The Prophet replied as follows: “The devil continues to circulate through the blood vessels of people.”

As the devil does not leave us alone; he can whisper various suspicions and evil thoughts into our ears. He might lead even the most decent people to ill thoughts in various unexpected ways. So, one should try to maintain good opinions and avoid situations that might lead to ill opinion as much as possible.

The good opinion of God Almighty

On the other hand, while believers should always maintain good opinions about others, it is unthinkable for them to express discontentment that denotes an ill opinion of the Creator’s deeds. Above everything and everybody, a believer must hold a good opinion of God Almighty. As expressed in a hadith qudsi by the Prophet, God’s treatment of a servant depends on that person’s opinion of God. This reveals how important it is to cherish a good opinion of God, and how great a means to salvation this is.

As an example of how good opinions about the All-Merciful Lord are turned into a decree of forgiveness in the other world, the Prophet narrated the following event: a certain servant is called to account. Alongside his good deeds there are many sins. When both are weighed, it turns out that the scale of good deeds is lighter and the man deserves punishment. The condemned man is seized and is dragged toward punishment in a wretched condition. He keeps turning and looking back, as if he was expecting something. God orders the angels to ask him why he keeps looking back (this “looking back” should not be taken literally, it is unthinkable for God Almighty to be confined to a place or direction). The poor man says, “O God, my good opinion of You is not like this. Yes, I have brought along sins while others came with good deeds; but I have never lost my faith or trust in Your Mercy. It has been my hopeful expectation that You will treat me with Your Mercy and forgive me also.” These considerations and the man’s good opinion of God Almighty opened a door to his salvation. Consequently, the man gladly heard the divine order to be taken to Paradise. In a similar way, after Abu Sahl had passed away to the realm of eternity, certain people saw him in their dreams, and he told them that he was enjoying indescribable blessings. They asked him, “O master, how have you been able to attain this exalted rank?” Abu Sahl answered “Thanks to the good opinion I cherished about my God.”

As a matter of fact, a believer should always maintain a good opinion about God Almighty in every phase of their life, and they should constantly live with this hope. They should say, “I may be a sinner, and I am hung by a thread to Him. Therefore I might slip and fall at any moment. However, He forgives the sins of His servants, and is All-Compassionate, particularly toward His believing servants (Ghafur and Rahim). I have firm belief that His Immense Forgiveness will include me as well,” and cherish the hope of being forgiven. Nevertheless, this good opinion and hope for forgiveness should not lead one to commit more sins. A sincere believer is supposed to avoid sins like they avoid poisonous creatures. Even if they were to commit a sin, they should immediately take refuge in repentance, and ask forgiveness with the hope of being pardoned. A very delicate balance is concerned in this issue; a fine balance exists between refraining from sins and not giving in to hopelessness after a temporary lapse, since hopelessness is a greater danger in comparison to a sin. Saying “There is no more hope for me” and totally giving up, indulging in the swamp of sins, and finally being seized by pessimism, finally committing suicide is a greater transgression than the sins which lead to such a state. No matter in what condition a person finds themselves in, given that we are servants of the All-Merciful God who reveals His attributes of Mercy and Compassion in the Qur’an, Who even addresses the people who waste their lives as “My” servants, then why should we be hopeless? Actually, one should be able to say “it is unbecoming to commit sins before the great Compassion of my Creator. Then how can I dare to commit transgressions again!” Therefore, one should not give in or become hopeless. Particularly in old age and at the moment of death one should even more enthusiastically take refuge in hope and be filled with beautiful considerations while returning to God. Similarly, God’s Messenger warned us against dying without a good opinion of God Almighty.

Moreover, we should not restrict our understanding of the hadith about our opinion of God and His treatment of us; we need to evaluate this hadith from a broader perspective. It really is an expression of good opinion to say “I have an All-Merciful Lord who makes me happy with His various blessings, guides me to righteousness, Who forgives my lapses, and pardons my sins.” However, there is the belief that everything that happens in our lives has been arranged for our own good (e.g. an illness is seemingly bad, but it can be a means of blessings for our afterlife if we abandon being patient and thankful) and that everything in life is tailor-made just for us. Our good opinion about our Lord depends on the existence of this belief. If God Almighty wills, He exiles us, puts us to another test, puts another person to prison… but no matter what He does, it is always for our benefit. Each case is meant to direct us, to guide us to a certain destination and help us to reach eternal bliss. From the worship for which we are responsible - such as the daily prayers, fasting, Hajj, and alms of zakat-to the apparent troubles and misfortunes, everything we become and everything we are subjected to is planned for our advantage. Having sincere faith in this truth is the peak of our good opinion of God Almighty.

To conclude, good intentions, positive thinking, and perceiving the beautiful are signs of a person’s purity of heart and the immensity of their conscience. If a person starts to judge others, no one will be left behind. If we do not hold on to good opinions from the beginning, we cannot help but judge everybody and everything. Therefore, when an individual is performing self-criticism-given that they do not give in to hopelessness-they should be harsh. But when other people are concerned they should hold on to good opinions. We must remember that it is better to be mistaken in a good opinion than being proven right with a negative opinion.

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mybeautifulchristianjourney · 6 years ago

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Institutes of the Christian Religion

Table of Contents

Title Page

Prefatory Material

Introduction

The Printers to the Readers.

The Original Translator’s Preface.

Table I. Of Passages from the Holy Scriptures

Table II. Of Hebrew Words Explained.

Table III. Of Greek Words Explained.

Index to Authors Quoted

Prefatory Address

The Epistle to the Reader

Subject of the Present Work

Epistle to the Reader.

Method and Arrangement, or Subject of the Whole Work.

General Index of Chapters.

BOOK FIRST. OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE CREATOR

ARGUMENT.

CHAPTER 1. - THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND OF OURSELVES MUTUALLY CONNECTED. —NATURE OF THE CONNECTION.

CHAPTER 2. - WHAT IT IS TO KNOW GOD,—TENDENCY OF THIS KNOWLEDGE.

CHAPTER 3. - THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD NATURALLY IMPLANTED IN THE HUMAN MIND.

CHAPTER 4. - THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD STIFLED OR CORRUPTED, IGNORANTLY OR MALICIOUSLY.

CHAPTER 5. - THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD CONSPICUOUS IN THE CREATION, AND CONTINUAL GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD.

CHAPTER 6. - THE NEED OF SCRIPTURE, AS A GUIDE AND TEACHER, IN COMING TO GOD AS A CREATOR

CHAPTER 7. - THE TESTIMONY OF THE SPIRIT NECESSARY TO GIVE FULL AUTHORITY TO SCRIPTURE. THE IMPIETY OF PRETENDING THAT THE CREDIBILITY OF SCRIPTURE DEPENDS ON THE JUDGMENT OF THE CHURCH.

CHAPTER 8. - THE CREDIBILITY OF SCRIPTURE SUFFICIENTLY PROVED IN SO FAR AS NATURAL REASON ADMITS.

CHAPTER 9. - ALL THE PRINCIPLES OF PIETY SUBVERTED BY FANATICS, WHO SUBSTITUTE REVELATIONS FOR SCRIPTURE.

CHAPTER 10. - IN SCRIPTURE, THE TRUE GOD OPPOSED, EXCLUSIVELY, TO ALL THE GODS OF THE HEATHEN.

CHAPTER 11. - IMPIETY OF ATTRIBUTING A VISIBLE FORM TO GOD.—THE SETTING UP OF IDOLS A DEFECTION FROM THE TRUE GOD.

CHAPTER 12. - GOD DISTINGUISHED FROM IDOLS, THAT HE MAY BE THE EXCLUSIVE OBJECT OF WORSHIP.

CHAPTER 13. - THE UNITY OF THE DIVINE ESSENCE IN THREE PERSONS TAUGHT, IN SCRIPTURE, FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.

CHAPTER 14. - IN THE CREATION OF THE WORLD, AND ALL THINGS IN IT, THE TRUE GOD DISTINGUISHED BY CERTAIN MARKS FROM FICTITIOUS GODS.

CHAPTER 15. - STATE IN WHICH MAN WAS CREATED. THE FACULTIES OF THE SOUL—THE IMAGE OF GOD—FREE WILL—ORIGINAL RIGHTEOUSNESS

CHAPTER 16. - THE WORLD, CREATED BY GOD, STILL CHERISHED AND PROTECTED BY HIM. EACH AND ALL OF ITS PARTS GOVERNED BY HIS PROVIDENCE.

CHAPTER 17. - USE TO BE MADE OF THE DOCTRINE OF PROVIDENCE.

CHAPTER 18. - THE INSTRUMENTALITY OF THE WICKED EMPLOYED BY GOD, WHILE HE CONTINUES FREE FROM EVERY TAINT

BOOK SECOND. OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE REDEEMER, IN CHRIST, AS FIRST MANIFESTED TO THE FATHERS, UNDER THE LAW, AND THEREAFTER TO US UNDER THE GOSPEL.

ARGUMENT.

CHAPTER 1. - THROUGH THE FALL AND REVOLT OF ADAM, THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE MADE ACCURSED AND DEGENERATE. OF ORIGINAL SIN.

CHAPTER 2. - MAN NOW DEPRIVED OF FREEDOM OF WILL, AND MISERABLY ENSLAVED.

CHAPTER 3. - EVERY THING PROCEEDING FROM THE CORRUPT NATURE OF MAN DAMNABLE.

CHAPTER 4. - HOW GOD WORKS IN THE HEARTS OF MEN.

CHAPTER 5. - THE ARGUMENTS USUALLY ALLEGED IN SUPPORT OF FREE WILL REFUTED.

CHAPTER 6. - REDEMPTION FOR MAN LOST TO BE SOUGHT IN CHRIST.

CHAPTER 7. - THE LAW GIVEN, NOT TO RETAIN A PEOPLE FOR ITSELF, BUT TO KEEP ALIVE THE HOPE OF SALVATION IN CHRIST UNTIL HIS ADVENT.

CHAPTER 8. - EXPOSITION OF THE MORAL LAW.

CHAPTER 9. - CHRIST, THOUGH KNOWN TO THE JEWS UNDER THE LAW, YET ONLY MANIFESTED UNDER THE GOSPEL.

CHAPTER 10. - THE RESEMBLANCE BETWEEN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW.

CHAPTER 11. - THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO TESTAMENTS.

CHAPTER 12. - CHRIST, TO PERFORM THE OFFICE OF MEDIATOR, BEHOVED TO BECOME MAN.

CHAPTER 13. - CHRIST CLOTHED WITH THE TRUE SUBSTANCE OF HUMAN NATURE.

CHAPTER 14. - HOW TWO NATURES CONSTITUTE THE PERSON OF THE MEDIATOR.

CHAPTER 15. - THREE THINGS BRIEFLY TO BE REGARDED IN CHRIST—VIZ. HIS OFFICES OF PROPHET, KING, AND PRIEST.

CHAPTER 16. - HOW CHRIST PERFORMED THE OFFICE OF REDEEMER IN PROCURING OUR SALVATION. THE DEATH, RESURRECTION, AND ASCENSION OF CHRIST.

CHAPTER 17. - CHRIST RIGHTLY AND PROPERLY SAID TO HAVE MERITED GRACE AND SALVATION FOR US.

BOOK THIRD. THE MODE OF OBTAINING THE GRACE OF CHRIST. THE BENEFITS IT CONFERS, AND THE EFFECTS RESULTING FROM IT.

ARGUMENT.

CHAPTER 1. - THE BENEFITS OF CHRIST MADE AVAILABLE TO US BY THE SECRET OPERATION OF THE SPIRIT.

CHAPTER 2. - OF FAITH. THE DEFINITION OF IT. ITS PECULIAR PROPERTIES.

CHAPTER 3. - REGENERATION BY FAITH. OF REPENTANCE.

CHAPTER 4. - PENITENCE, AS EXPLAINED IN THE SOPHISTICAL JARGON OF THE SCHOOLMEN, WIDELY DIFFERENT FROM THE PURITY REQUIRED BY THE GOSPEL. OF CONFESSION AND SATISFACTION.

CHAPTER 5. - OF THE MODES OF SUPPLEMENTING SATISFACTION—VIZ. INDULGENCES AND PURGATORY.

CHAPTER 6. - THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN MAN. SCRIPTURAL ARGUMENTS EXHORTING TO IT.

CHAPTER 7. - A SUMMARY OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. OF SELF-DENIAL.

CHAPTER 8. - OF BEARING THE CROSS—ONE BRANCH OF SELF-DENIAL.

CHAPTER 9. - OF MEDITATING ON THE FUTURE LIFE.

CHAPTER 10. - HOW TO USE THE PRESENT LIFE, AND THE COMFORTS OF IT.

CHAPTER 11. - OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH. BOTH THE NAME AND THE REALITY DEFINED.

CHAPTER 12. - NECESSITY OF CONTEMPLATING THE JUDGMENT-SEAT OF GOD, IN ORDER TO BE SERIOUSLY CONVINCED OF THE DOCTRINE OF GRATUITOUS JUSTIFICATION.

CHAPTER 13. - TWO THINGS TO BE OBSERVED IN GRATUITOUS JUSTIFICATION.

CHAPTER 14. - THE BEGINNING OF JUSTIFICATION. IN WHAT SENSE PROGRESSIVE.

CHAPTER 15. - THE BOASTED MERIT OF WORKS SUBVERSIVE BOTH OF THE GLORY OF GOD, IN BESTOWING RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND OF THE CERTAINTY OF SALVATION.

CHAPTER 16. - REFUTATION OF THE CALUMNIES BY WHICH IT IS ATTEMPTED TO THROW ODIUM ON THIS DOCTRINE.

CHAPTER 17. - THE PROMISES OF THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL RECONCILED.

CHAPTER 18. - THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF WORKS IMPROPERLY INFERRED FROM REWARDS.

CHAPTER 19. - OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY.

CHAPTER 20. - OF PRAYER—A PERPETUAL EXERCISE OF FAITH. THE DAILY BENEFITS DERIVED FROM IT.

CHAPTER 21. - OF THE ETERNAL ELECTION, BY WHICH GOD HAS PREDESTINATED SOME TO SALVATION, AND OTHERS TO DESTRUCTION.

CHAPTER 22. - THIS DOCTRINE CONFIRMED BY PROOFS FROM SCRIPTURE.

CHAPTER 23. - REFUTATION OF THE CALUMNIES BY WHICH THIS DOCTRINE IS ALWAYS UNJUSTLY ASSAILED.

CHAPTER 24. - ELECTION CONFIRMED BY THE CALLING OF GOD. THE REPROBATE BRING UPON THEMSELVES THE RIGHTEOUS DESTRUCTION TO WHICH THEY ARE DOOMED.

CHAPTER 25. - OF THE LAST RESURRECTION.

BOOK FOURTH. OF THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH

ARGUMENT.

CHAPTER 1. - OF THE TRUE CHURCH. DUTY OF CULTIVATING UNITY WITH HER, AS THE MOTHER OF ALL THE GODLY.

CHAPTER 2. - COMPARISON BETWEEN THE FALSE CHURCH AND THE TRUE.

CHAPTER 3. - OF THE TEACHERS AND MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH. THEIR ELECTION AND OFFICE.

CHAPTER 4. - OF THE STATE OF THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH, AND THE MODE OF GOVERNMENT IN USE BEFORE THE PAPACY.

CHAPTER 5. - THE ANCIENT FORM OF GOVERNMENT UTTERLY CORRUPTED BY THE TYRANNY OF THE PAPACY.

CHAPTER 6. - OF THE PRIMACY OF THE ROMISH SEE.

CHAPTER 7. - OF THE BEGINNING AND RISE OF THE ROMISH PAPACY, TILL IT ATTAINED A HEIGHT BY WHICH THE LIBERTY OF THE CHURCH WAS DESTROYED, AND ALL TRUE RULE OVERTHROWN.

CHAPTER 8. - OF THE POWER OF THE CHURCH IN ARTICLES OF FAITH. THE UNBRIDLED LICENCE OF THE PAPAL CHURCH IN DESTROYING PURITY OF DOCTRINE.

CHAPTER 9. - OF COUNCILS AND THEIR AUTHORITY

CHAPTER 10. - OF THE POWER OF MAKING LAWS. THE CRUELTY OF THE POPE AND HIS ADHERENTS, IN THIS RESPECT, IN TYRANNICALLY OPPRESSING AND DESTROYING SOULS.

CHAPTER 11. - OF THE JURISDICTION OF THE CHURCH, AND THE ABUSES OF IT, AS EXEMPLIFIED IN THE PAPACY.

CHAPTER 12. - OF THE DISCIPLINE OF THE CHURCH, AND ITS PRINCIPAL USE IN CENSURES AND EXCOMMUNICATION.

CHAPTER 13. - OF VOWS. THE MISERABLE ENTANGLEMENTS CAUSED BY VOWING RASHLY.

CHAPTER 14. - OF THE SACRAMENTS.

CHAPTER 15. - OF BAPTISM.

CHAPTER 16. - PÆDOBAPTISM. ITS ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTITUTION OF CHRIST, AND THE NATURE OF THE SIGN.

CHAPTER 17. - OF THE LORD’S SUPPER, AND THE BENEFITS CONFERRED BY IT

CHAPTER 18 - OF THE POPISH MASS. HOW IT NOT ONLY PROFANES, BUT ANNIHILATES THE LORD’S SUPPER.

CHAPTER 19. - OF THE FIVE SACRAMENTS, FALSELY SO CALLED. THEIR SPURIOUSNESS PROVED, AND THEIR TRUE CHARACTER EXPLAINED.

CHAPTER 20. - OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT.

ONE HUNDRED APHORISMS,

BOOK 1

BOOK 2

BOOK 3

BOOK 4

Indexes

Index of Scripture References

Index of Pages of the Print Edition

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tailahjanbash · 6 years ago

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Politics and Jesus?

I’m tired.

I’m tired of the Facebook wars, being forced to pick sides, and biased media.

I’m tired of seeing confederate flags and people talking about minorities like we are an infestation. I’m tired of propaganda and people slapping Jesus or rhetoric on top of their politics in order to justify one side and demonize the other.

I was reading Jeremiah this morning and stumbled across a scripture that I couldn’t quite shake.

“I will be merciful only if you stop your evil thoughts and deeds and start treating each other with justice; only if you stop oppressing the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widows and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever. But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.” Jeremiah 7:5-7

I couldn’t help but reflect on the political climate of our nation—especially with the midterms having been so recent.

I’ll be transparent with you—my political views have been clashing with my spiritual beliefs as of late, and it’s been driving me insane.

I concluded that God’s heart was more just than my own. So, I sought The Lord for guidance. The more I did this; the more recognizable faults from both sides became. Instead of resorting to my parents, friends, or celebrities for correct stances, I brought each topic and controversy before the Lord and examined it next to scripture.

I want my beliefs to align with Jesus’—not an imperfect man-made party’s. At the end of the day, don’t politics and social justice boil down to human rights and the way we deal with people?

I do not want to handle human beings through a systematic, polarized structure created by imperfect humans when I have the opportunity to treat people the way Jesus did.

God brought some freshman year biology back to my mind as I began to unpack Jeremiah. I remembered learning about certain sicknesses that would cause the immune system (the system in our body that fights germs and keeps us healthy) to attack itself. This snippet, for the sake of understanding the analogy, is from WomensHealth.gov:

‘Our bodies have an immune system, which is a complex network of special cells and organs that defends the body from germs and other foreign invaders. At the core of the immune system is the ability to tell the difference between self and non-self: what’s you and what’s foreign. A flaw can make the body unable to tell the difference between self and non-self. When this happens, the body makes autoantibodies that attack normal cells by mistake. At the same time, special cells called regulatory T cells fail to do their job of keeping the immune system in line. The result is a misguided attack on your own body. This causes the damage we know as autoimmune disease.’

Our government along with the media, have polarized parties and pitted Democrats and Republicans against each other so much so, that just like those cells, we no longer recognize each other and attack our own body.

The white blood cells believe they are defending the body and protecting it by attacking the other cells, and vice versa. We see this reflected through our divided rhetoric—“Democrats want to take guns away so we can be controlled by the government!” and “Republicans care more about owning guns than the lives of children!”

Injustice is always someone else’s fault.

Both want to fix the issue. Both want to help and protect the people. So where is the disconnect?

Can I voice an unpopular opinion? I travel very often, so just hear me out when I say: I think American culture is extremely prideful in comparison to other nations. I don’t understand extreme patriotism, because my identity and allegiance are not rooted in a piece of land or a flag. I love my home and where I am from, but I know that this is all temporary. Our permanent residence is in heaven and our identity should always be rooted in Jesus.

This issue of pride has blinded us to believe that we couldn’t possibly be the problem. But when the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to the analogy of the auto immune disease, I realized that by placing the foundation of my beliefs upon a political party then sprinkling Jesus on top… I was contributing to the problem.

Pride causes us to be blind to our own faults and internal pain. We point the finger so we feel a false sense of righteousness like the Pharisees. However, in reality, the body is internally attacking and weakening itself in the name of “justice”.

Isn’t it funny how we proudly wave the banner of justice within a man-made political party?

Imma say it louder for the people in the back:

The values expressed are completely made by humans! Imperfect, sinful, selfish, people! And you’re telling me your side has it all figured out? And the other side is close-minded? Oh, the irony.

We forget the author of justice.

The only righteous judge.

The only perfect one.

Justice and truth will never be found apart from God. If you sprinkle Jesus on top of your politics like I did, you might have some truth in there, but then man’s selfish ambition will inevitably rear its ugly head.

Kris Vallotton, a pastor at Bethel Redding, shared this recently regarding Political Spirits:

1) The political spirit always needs an enemy! This spirit is more concerned with winning an election than with solving a problem.

2) The political spirit demonizes anyone who doesn’t agree with them. In other words, we don’t just see them as wrong on an issue, we view them as evil.

3) The political spirit imprisons our minds and reduces us to partisan opinions. This spirit separates people into two categories; winners and losers. In this environment, straw polls replace practical wisdom and success is measured in media bits rather than real solutions.

4) True governance is displaced by political polarization in which, people are expected to support a party rather than legitimate answers. This political spirit replaces national patriotism with loyalty to a party. This attitude creates a culture where we don’t have permission to think for ourselves but it’s “decision by affiliation.”

These characteristics can be found throughout scripture in the old and new testament. We see ungodly rulers like Ahab, Jezebel, and Herod operating in this spirit, blatantly defying the will of God and wreaking havoc upon God’s people.

Now that we have removed the blinders, taken a step back, and identified the problem, let’s move on to the solution.

One way can help this weak and sickly immune system recover, is by having conversations. I think the best way to fall into polarized thinking is to stereotype and generalize people.

Talk to someone that doesn’t have the same skin color as you. Ask your Hispanic friends if they feel safe. Talk to some white boys, see where they’re coming from. Your LGBTQ friends, your Muslim friends and family members. Ask your Black peers about oppression in 2018. Do you see a pattern here? Learning, understanding, and empathy on an individual level.

Jesus was and will always be personal and intentional with us. How can we demonstrate His love if we lump people into categories?

You may not have the platform of a celebrity or a politician, but I believe what you have is better.

You have the ability to individually touch lives, just like Jesus.

You have the ability to love the people who are difficult to love; who disagree with and offend you.

By loving these people, not only are you mending a divide, you are showing them who Jesus is. This creates ripples of life and hope, which impacts people 1,000,000 x more than some biased news report or tweet.

Even if you don’t speak one word about politics or God, you have the ability to let the gospel of love shine and reflect so brightly within you that it leads the lost into His loving arms.

This radical love can only be achieved when the Holy Spirit makes His home in our hearts. It is not a love that is found here on earth; it is a supernatural love that only abides in The Father. I pray that it rests in our hearts today, and we begin to see people the way Jesus does.

**You can read more blog posts, devotionals, and resources by visiting my official site: http://www.thechosengirl.info/

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dfroza · 3 years ago

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grace is a treasure the heart must seek to find.

and the heart must be open to receive it.

A set of lines from Today’s reading that points to this:

“By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.”

The Letter of Romans, Chapter 5:1-2 (The Message)

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 5th chapter of the Letter of Romans:

Our faith in Jesus transfers God’s righteousness to us and he now declares us flawless in his eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, has done for us. Our faith guarantees us permanent access into this marvelous kindness that has given us a perfect relationship with God. What incredible joy bursts forth within us as we keep on celebrating our hope of experiencing God’s glory!

But that’s not all! Even in times of trouble we have a joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures will develop in us patient endurance. And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope. And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us!

For when the time was right, the Anointed One came and died to demonstrate his love for sinners who were entirely helpless, weak, and powerless to save themselves.

Now, would anyone dare to die for the sake of a wicked person? We can all understand if someone was willing to die for a truly noble person. But Christ proved God’s passionate love for us by dying in our place while we were still lost and ungodly!

And there is still much more to say of his unfailing love for us! For through the blood of Jesus we have heard the powerful declaration, “You are now righteous in my sight.” And because of the sacrifice of Jesus, you will never experience the wrath of God. So if while we were still enemies, God fully reconciled us to himself through the death of his Son, then something greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, and because we share in his resurrection life, how much more we will be rescued from sin’s dominion!

And even more than that, we overflow with triumphant joy in our new relationship of living reconciled to God—all because of Jesus Christ!

When Adam sinned, the entire world was affected. Sin entered human experience, and death was the result. And so death followed this sin, casting its shadow over all humanity, because all have sinned. Sin was in the world before Moses gave the written law, but it was not charged against them where no law existed. Yet death reigned as king from Adam to Moses even though they hadn’t broken a command the way Adam had. The first man, Adam, was a picture of the Messiah, who was to come.

Now, there is no comparison between Adam’s transgression and the gracious gift that we experience. For the magnitude of the gift far outweighs the crime. It’s true that many died because of one man’s transgression, but how much greater will God’s grace and his gracious gift of acceptance overflow to many because of what one man, Jesus, the Messiah, did for us!

And this free-flowing gift imparts to us much more than what was given to us through the one who sinned. For because of one transgression, we are all facing a death sentence with a verdict of “Guilty!” But this gracious gift leaves us free from our many failures and brings us into the perfect righteousness of God—acquitted with the words “Not guilty!”

Death once held us in its grip, and by the blunder of one man, death reigned as king over humanity. But now, how much more are we held in the grip of grace and continue reigning as kings in life, enjoying our regal freedom through the gift of perfect righteousness in the one and only Jesus, the Messiah!

In other words, just as condemnation came upon all people through one transgression, so through one righteous act of Jesus’ sacrifice, the perfect righteousness that makes us right with God and leads us to a victorious life is now available to all. One man’s disobedience opened the door for all humanity to become sinners. So also one man’s obedience opened the door for many to be made perfectly right with God and acceptable to him. So then, the law was introduced into God’s plan to bring the reality of human sinfulness out of hiding. And yet, wherever sin increased, there was more than enough of God’s grace to triumph all the more! And just as sin reigned through death, so also this sin-conquering grace will reign as king through righteousness, imparting eternal life through Jesus, our Lord and Messiah!

The Letter of Romans, Chapter 5 (The Passion Translation)

Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is the 24th chapter of the book (scroll) of Isaiah that speaks of a coming Judgment to fully cleanse earth’s wickedness, similar to what was written by John in the book of Revelation:

See here, the Eternal One will empty the earth.

He will lay it waste, contort the mountains and plains,

And scatter its inhabitants all over the place.

Things will be topsy-turvy, hierarchies upended. No one will be safe,

not laypeople or priests, not servants or masters,

not maids or mistresses, not buyers or sellers,

not lenders or borrowers, not debtors or creditors.

The earth will be emptied, all emptied, despoiled, utterly despoiled.

The Eternal said that it should be so.

So the earth mourns, droops wearily down;

the world languishes and droops; the high and mighty languish in grief.

The earth is polluted by those who live on it;

they pay no attention to God’s teaching.

They violate His directives and break the everlasting covenant.

Consequently, a nasty curse consumes the earth,

and those who inhabit it are to blame for it.

They’ll be burned up,

leaving very few people to survive.

Luscious wine grapes shrivel to nothing.

The vines rot, and everyone who had taken

joy from their nectar sighs in deep depression.

No more music, no more songs, no more dancing to tambourines,

laughing with revelers, or playing the harps.

People don’t drink wine and sing with pleasure anymore;

the stronger stuff is mostly bitter to those who drink it.

The chaotic city is in shambles,

and every house is boarded up so no one can go in.

People rebel in the streets, demanding wine.

All joy turns to gloom; happiness has been banished from the land.

In the city nothing is left but desolation,

and the gate is battered and ruined.

This is how it will be on the earth for the nations—

only a few survivors will be left—

as when an olive tree is shaken and a few olives hold on

or when the grape harvest is in and a few grapes remain for gleaning.

But people will take joy again.

They will shout out and sing

of the Eternal One’s majesty across the ocean.

Join in the song and praise the Eternal from the east.

Praise the Eternal, the God of Israel, all along the coast of the sea.

Listen and you can hear the merry voices from the corners of the earth

singing, “Honor to the Righteous One.” But as for me,

I say, “I am wasting away, wasting away.

Woe is me!

I can see treachery, treachery, and it wears me down.

Traitors deal in treachery.”

Terror, pit, and trap face you,

you people of the earth.

And whoever runs from the sound of terror will only fall into a pit;

when he climbs out of the pit, he’ll run and be caught in a trap.

The sky above will open up

and the ground below will quake—nothing will be safe.

The earth is broken and shattered and splits apart.

It shakes and quakes violently.

Like a drunk, the earth staggers and reels;

it shudders and shakes, like a shack in the wind.

For its rebellion weighs so heavily on it, that it will fall

and have no chance for repair.

On that day, even the heavenly powers and earthly rulers

will feel the Eternal’s punishing wrath.

They’ll be gathered up like prisoners, thrown in a dungeon,

and suffer the punishment of God after many days.

A shadow of shame will settle over the full moon and bright sun,

and their brilliance will begin to fade;

for the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies,

Will rule from His chosen place on earth—Mount Zion in Jerusalem,

and His glory will shine out with brilliance for the elders to see.

The Book (Scroll) of Isaiah, Chapter 24 (The Voice)

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for friday, july 2 of 2021 with a paired chapter from each Testament of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons about the Spirit being the very treasure of the heart:

Yeshua told his followers that the Kingdom of God (i.e., mamlekhet Adonai: ממלכת יהוה) is “within you" (Luke 17:21). This teaches us that the reign of the Spirit is not to be found "out there" nor is the kingdom to be regarded as a political structure of this world, but is realized in spiritual relationship - namely, the communion between the LORD God with your heart and your heart with the LORD God... This is the deeper meaning of the Shema: “God is Spirit (Πνεῦμα ὁ θεός), and those who worship him can do so only in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).

When we learn to believe clearly, Yeshua says we can experience the divine Presence within our hearts and among ourselves. As we turn to God, may we recognize that who we are is more vital than our outer appearance and contingent circumstances. Life in the kingdom means having a new identity, being a new creation (בְּרִיָּה חֲדָשָׁה), and that changes everything (2 Cor. 5:16-17). The “circumcised of heart” worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Yeshua the Messiah, having no confidence in the flesh (Phil. 3:3). [Hebrew for Christians]

7.2.21 • Facebook

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

July 2, 2021

No Complaints

“And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.” (Numbers 11:1)

The Lord is not pleased when we complain about our circumstances, no matter how grievous they may seem to us. Our example is Christ, always. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

The children of Israel complained once too much. Forgetting all of God’s blessings in miraculously freeing them from slavery and providing all their needs, they repeatedly complained about their lot, one thing after another. “But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted....Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer” (1 Corinthians 10:5-6, 10).

God may not deal with a complaining Christian as severely as He did with His chosen people, Israel, but we can be sure He is displeased when we, who have received the blessing of eternal salvation by His gracious gift through Christ, forget His benefits and complain about His testing. “Do all things without mumurings and disputings,” He has commanded (Philippians 2:14)—that is, without complaining and arguing about our treatment.

We can be confident that He is allowing these difficulties for some good purpose in preparing us for our service for Him in eternity. We should not forget what happened to the complainers in ancient Israel. “Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition” (1 Corinthians 10:11). HMM

A tweet by illumiNations:

@IlluminationsBT: Today, we're highlighting a Bible portion in a popular language that is spoken by about 34% of Latin America, almost exclusively in Brazil.

Do you know what language this is? Comment below with your guesses.

7.1.21 • 12:00pm • Twitter

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drmonte75-blog · 4 years ago

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An Ordinary Commentary by Ordinary Men

Living to Glorify God Brings Satisfaction to the Soul

#Christianity #Church #Bible #Commentary

ordinarycommentary.blogspot.com

The Sermon on the Mount: Jesus Teaching the Beatitudes

Matthew 5:3-12

Nine times the word “blessed” is used in eleven verses which makes it a foundational component in this lesson on the Beatitudes from Christ. Matthew Henry—Verse 3: “Do we ask then who are happy? It is answered, 1. The poor in spirit are happy, v. 3. There is a poor spiritedness that is so far from making men blessed, that it is a sin and a snare—cowardice and base fear, and a willing subjection to the lusts of men. But this poverty of spirit is a gracious disposition of soul, by which we are emptied of self, in order to our being filled with Jesus Christ. To be poor in spirit, is, 1. To be contentedly poor, willing to be empty of worldly wealth, if God orders that to be our lot; to bring our mind to our condition, when it is a low condition. Many are poor in the world, but high in spirit, poor and proud, murnmring and complaining, and blaming their lot, but we must accommodate ourselves to our poverty, must know how to be abased, Phil. 4.12. Acknowledging the wisdom of God in appointing us to poverty, we must be easy in it, patiently bear the inconveniences of it, be thankful for what we have, and make the best of that which is. It is to sit loose to all worldly wealth, and not set our hearts upon it, but cheerfully to bear losses and disappointments, which may befall us in the most prosperous state. It is not, in pride or pretence, to make ourselves poor, by throwing away what God has given us, especially as those in the church of Rome, who vow poverty, and yet engross the wealth of nations; but, if we be rich in the world, we must be poor in spirit, that is, we must condescend to the poor, and sympathize with them, as being touched with the feeling of their infirmities; we must expect and prepare for poverty; must not inordinately fear or shun it, but must bid it welcome, especially when it comes upon us for keeping a good conscience, Heb. 10.34. Job was poor in spirit, when he blessed God in taking away, as well as giving. 2. It is to be humble and lowly in our own eyes. To be poor in spirit, is to think meanly of ourselves, of what we are, and have, and do; the poor are often taken in the Old Testament for the humble and self-denying, as opposed to those that are at ease, and the proud; it is to be as little children in our opinion of ourselves, weak, foolish, and insignificant, ch. 18.4.—19.14. Laodicea was poor in spirituals, wretchedly and miserably poor, and yet rich in spirit, so well increased with goods, as to have need of nothing, Rev. 3.1. On the other hand, Paul was rich in spirituals, excelling most in gifts and graces, and yet poor in spirit, the least of the apostles, less than the least of all saints, and nothing in his own account. It is to look with a holy contempt upon ourselves, to value others, and undervalue ourselves in comparison of them. It is to be willing to make ourselves cheap, and mean, and little, to do good; to become all things to all men. It is to acknowledge that God is great, and we are mean; that he is holy, and we are sinful; that he is all, and we are nothing, less than nothing, worse than nothing; and to humble ourselves before him, and under his mighty hand. 3. It is to come off from all confidence in our own righteousness and strength, that we may depend only upon the merit of Christ for our justification, and the Spirit and grace of Christ for our sanctification. That broken and contrite spirit with which the publican cried for mercy to a poor sinner, is this poverty of spirit. We must call ourselves poor, because always in want of God’s grace, always begging at God’s door, always hanging on in his house. Now, (1.) This poverty in spirit is put first among the christian graces. The philosophers did not reckon humility among their moral virtues, but Christ puts it first. Self-denial is the first lesson to be learned in his school, and poverty of spirit entitled to the first beatiuide. The foundation of all other graces is laid in humility. Those who would build high, must begin low; and it is an excellent preparative for the entrance of gospel-grace into the soul; it fits the soil to receive the seed. Those who are weary and heavy laden, are the poor in spirit, and they shall find rest with Christ. (2.) They are blessed. Now they are so, in this world. God looks graciously upon them. They are his little ones, and have their angels. To them he gives more grace; they live the most comfortable lives, and are easy to themselves and all about them, and nothing comes amiss to them; while high spirits are always uneasy. (3.) Theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of grace is composed of such; they only are fit to be members of Christ's church, which is called the congregation of the poor; (Ps. 74.19.) the kingdom of glory is prepared for them. Those who thus humble themselves, and comply with God when he humbles them, shall be thus exalted. The great, high spirits go away with the glory of the kingdoms of the earth; but the humble, mild, and yielding souls obtain the glory of the kingdom of heaven. We are ready to think concerning those who are rich, and do good with their riches, that, no doubt, theirs is the kingdom of heaven; for they can thus lay up in store a good security for the time to come: but what shall the poor do, who have not wherewithal to do good? Why, the same happiness is promised to those who are contentedly poor, as to those who are usefully rich. If I am not able to spend cheerfully for his sake, if I can but want cheerfully for his sake, even that shall be recompensed. And do not we serve a good Master then?” 5 Adam Clarke—Verse 4: “Verse 4. Blessed are they that mourn. That is, those who, feeling their spiritual poverty, mourn after God, lamenting the iniquity that separated them from the fountain of blessedness. Every one flies from sorrow, and seeks after joy, and yet true joy must necessarily be the fruit of sorrow. The whole need not (do not feel the need of) the physician, but they that are sick do; i. e. they who are sensible of their disease. Only such persons as are deeply convinced of the sinfulness of sin, feel the plague of their own heart and turn with disgust from all worldly consolations, because of their insufficiency to render them happy, have God’s promise of solid comfort..” 6 Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Verse 5: “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. They are lowly-minded, and are ready to give up their portion in the earth; therefore it shall come back to them. They neither boast, nor contend, nor exult over others, yet are they heirs of all the good which God has created on the face of the earth. In their meekness they are like their King, and they shall reign with him. The promised land is for the tribes of the meek: before them the Canaanites shall be driven out. He has the best of this world who thinks least of it, and least of himself.” 7 Charles Frederick Schaeffer—Verse 6: “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. A. Hunger and thirst after. The bodily sensations of hunger and thirst, as images of strong desires of the soul, frequently occur in the Scriptures; Ps. 42:2; Isai. 41:17; 49:10; 55:1;65:13; Amos 8:11; John 6:35. The Saviour satisfies the soul with the bread and water of life (John 4:10, 14;6:35).—B. Righteousness. Paul distinguishes in Phil. 3:9 two kinds of righteousness: first, human righteousness, or that external rectitude which the Jews sought after by the strict observance of the laws of Moses=the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, mentioned below, ver. 20, and 23:23-28; Luke 18:9; secondly, that ‘righteousness which is of God by faith,’ and which, in Rom. 1:17; 3:21, 22, is called the ‘righteousness of God’=that which alone avails before Him, and He alone bestows. It is that state of the believer to which he attains through the imputation of the merits of Christ (Rom. 4:5-8; 8:1-4; 1 John 2:2; Gal. 4:4, 5; Hebr. 10:4-14; Isai., ch. 53). For an illustration, see Phil. 3:8-14. The believer will be ‘delivered from the body of this death’ (Rom. 7:24) in a future state, and be clothed with perfect righteousness (2 Pet. 3:13. See above 1:19, B.; 3:15, B.).—C, They .... filled=the wants or desires of their hearts shall be fully satisfied by Him whose Spirit produced such hunger and thirst. The believer is justified and delivered from guilt and punishment by his Saviour (Rom. 3:24; 5:9); his conscience finds peace through the atonement of Christ (Rom. 5:1); his painful sense of guilt (his hunger and thirst) is relieved (Col. 1:19-22), and he gives a reason of the hope that is in him (1 Pet. 3:15) by gratefully repeating the words of Paul: ‘There is therefore now no condemnation, etc.’ (Rom. 8:1).” 8 John Albert Broadus—Verse 7: “Merciful. The original word includes also the idea of compassion, as in Heb. 2:17; Prov. 14:21, and implies a desire to remove the evils which excite compassion. It thus denotes not only mercy to the guilty, but pity for the suffering, and help to the needy. See Luke 3:11; Matt. 25:3740; James 2:13. To be merciful is not the ground of receiving mercy from God, but an occasion and condition thereof. (18:33f.) Comp. the relation between forgiving and being forgiven, as explained on 6:12. The Jerusalem Talmud gives as a saying of Gamaliel, ‘Whensoever thou hast mercy, God will have mercy upon thee; if thou hast not mercy, neither will God have mercy upon thee.” 9 Edwin Wilbur Rice—Verse 8: “Blessed . . . the pure in heart. Closely like this is Ps. 51:10. The leaders in Jewish religion laid great stress on outward cleanness and purification; Jesus puts the great emphasis on inward purity. This does not refer chiefly to chastity as Romish interpreters imply. It calls for purity from all forms of sin in the thought. It requires sincerity, truthfulness, chastity, love of God; in fact all that included in a ‘new heart.’ The pure possess the spiritual eye that will see God.” 10 Harvey Goodwin—Verse 9: “Blessed are the peacemakers—that is, not merely, blessed are they who are of a humble quiet peaceable disposition, though no doubt such persons are in a very high degree blessed, but blessed are they who cause peace and goodwill to prevail amongst men, who are able and who strive by their example, or their kind efforts, or (if it fall within the sphere of their duty) by their exhortations, to forward that kingdom which is emphatically a kingdom of peace. There are few blessings which our Lord could have pronounced, more suitable to the condition of His first disciples than this; it is suitable no doubt at all times, and declares in a wonderful manner, and in very few words, what ought to be the principle and character of the lives of all, who wish to follow Him in spirit and in truth; but to the first disciples there would seem to be a still more striking fitness, because the virtue upon which the Lord pronounced His blessing was then so new in the world, and yet it was the very virtue by which the world was to be subdued and His kingdom established. If My kingdom were of this world, said our Saviour before Pontius Pilate, then would My servants fight, and S. Peter, when he saw his Master about to be taken prisoner, bethought himself at once of his sword, and Christ took the occasion even then of giving a lesson concerning the principles of His kingdom, by commanding the sword to be put in the sheath, and healing the wound which S. Peter had made. Nor is the peculiar blessing allotted to the peace makers to be omitted from our notice. They shall be called the children of God; they are most worthy of the name of children of God, who practise in their own spheres, and according to their means and ability, that conduct, which may find its example in Him, who maketh men to be of one mind in an house, who maketh wars to cease in all the world, who loves unity and looks with pleasure upon those who live in peace and godly love. In heathen times men had a different estimate of things: the men most like gods in their eyes were they who were the bravest in war; valour with them was virtue; the most proud and cruel and over bearing were the most heroic. Christ set us a new pattern, and taught us by His own most precious example, that he was the bravest who could forgive injuries, he the most worthy of being exalted who could most completely humble himself.” 11 Daniel Harvey Hill—Verses 10-11: “‘Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you, falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” ‘They are to expect persecution, reviling, all manner of evil speaking. Under all these trials, they are to be concerned about two things only. First: That their lives should be so blameless as to render the accusations of their enemies groundless and false. Second: That a higher spirit than that of mere submission is to be cultivated—‘Rejoice and be exceeding glad.’ Acquiescence in the will of God is a high attainment; but rejoicing, tinder the afflictive dispensations of his hand, is a grace. Philosophy has reached to the one, the other is the work of the Spirit. The gospel demands more than cold stoicism. None can mistake its teachings. ‘Giving thanks always, for all things, unto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ ‘In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.’ Persecuted, afflicted, and cast down child of God! talk not of submission. Uncomplaining Job did not dishonour his Maker, and ‘charge God foolishly.’ But the Lord utters his voice from amidst the thick darkness which envelopes his throne, ‘Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me.’ Suffering parent! hanging over the couch of a dying child, watching the colour fade from his cheek, the light grow dim in his eye; feeling the pulse grow more and more thread-like, until your tremulous finger can no longer distinguish it. Sufferer! do you then pray to be able to say, ‘The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord’? Rather pour out your heart in thankfulness to God that Jesus has conquered death, hell, and the grave. Rather praise him that your child has been taken from the evil to come. Duty would have awaited him here, praise will be his occupation there. The child has been called to the higher employment. Thank God for it. Two things deserve our special attention in the three verses, beginning with the 10th and ending with the 12th. First: The disciples of Christ are to expect persecution under false charges and accusations. The devil and his followers have never yet had the audacity and impudence to persecute virtue as such. They first blacken the character of the victim, and then harass, annoy, and persecute him to death. Jesus was crucified under the charge of blasphemy. Stephen was stoned to death under the same accusation. Paul and Silas were scourged and cast into prison at Philippi, for troubling the city and teaching strange customs. Socrates, the wisest and purest of the philosophers of antiquity, was poisoned for introducing new gods, and corrupting the youth. Daniel was cast into the den of lions, not for worshipping the true God, but for disobeying the king's decree. The Hebrew youth were thrown into the fiery furnace for the same reason. God has stamped so much of his own image upon our fallen race, that history records no instance of men being so depraved, as to persecute the righteous for their virtues, but always for alleged vices. The apostle truly declared, that ‘all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.’ But the godly have always been persecuted as cheats, impostors, and hypocrites. Second: We notice that Jesus did not deceive his disciples. He did not disguise from them that they were to expect stripes, imprisonment, cruel mockings, reviling, and death. The strongest possible argument can be drawn from this candour of the Son of God, as to the divine character of his mission. When men wish to allure others into an enterprise, they do not speak of its difficulties, dangers, hardships, and trials. Recruiting sergeants, with their drums and fifes, try to allure by ‘the pride, pomp, and circumstance of war;’ they never allude to the hot, weary marches, the dreary night-watches, the mangled limbs, and crushed carcasses of the battle-field. False religions have been ever profuse in promises of temporal well-being and eternal glory, won without holiness of heart and life. Mahomet promised riches, honours, sensual indulgences and a passport to heaven, to all who followed the crescent, irrespective of their sins and pollutions. The Mormon Prophet promised wealth, ease, luxury, and licentious indulgence, to all who would acknowledge him as their spiritual guide and temporal leader. Jesus Christ promised nothing to his disciples but trials and afflictions. Poverty, contempt, a life of shame, and a death of ignominy, were to be their lot and portion. How then are we to account for the amazing success of his mission? Upon what principle can we explain the rapid spread of the gospel? In thirty years after the death of Christ, the persecution began under Nero. The historian Tacitus speaks of ‘the great multitude’ of Christians then at Rome. In forty years more, Pliny, the Roman governor of Pontus and Bithynia, wrote his celebrated letter to Trajan, the emperor. In it he complains that ‘the contagion of this superstition had seized not only the cities, but the less towns also, and the open country, so that the temples were almost forsaken, and a long intermission of the sacred solemnities had taken place.’ About one hundred years after the death of our Lord, Clemens Alexandrinus wrote that ‘Christianity is spread throughout the world, in every nation, and village, and city.’ What reason can we give for the wonderful triumph of the gospel in so short a time? It is no sufficient explanation to say that men will submit to any bodily torture and mental anguish to save the soul. True, the Hindoo will pierce his skin with hooks, and tear his flesh with pincers, yea, he will even allow his body to be crushed and mangled beneath the bloody wheels of the car of his idol. True, the loving mother has often given ‘the fruit of her body for the sin of her soul.’ The seven times heated image of Moloch has consumed ten thousands of tender babes. The turbid Ganges has often been choked with the voluntary offerings of pagan mothers. But there has always been some notoriety, some eclat, some gratification of vanity, attending the sacrifice. The disciples of Jesus were, taught, on the contrary, to expect slander instead of applause, contempt instead of glory. Again, the heathen, who immolates himself or his offspring, not only gains thereby the admiration of his countrymen, but expects to win heaven without holiness of heart. Men will endure torture, ignominy, and death, to propitiate offended Deity; they will do anything, suffer anything, to gain eternal life, except love God and keep his commandments. But Jesus requires his disciples not only to die for the truth, but also to live for the truth. Every child of God must not only hold himself ready to wear, if necessary, the martyr's crown, but he must also lead a consistent, holy, and useful life.” 12 Adam Clarke—Verse 12: “Rejoice. In the testimony of a good conscience; for, without this, suffering has nothing but misery in it. Be exceeding glad. Leap for joy. There are several cases on record, where this was literally done by the martyrs, in Queen Mary’s days. Great is your reward in heaven. In the Talmudical tract Pirkey Aboth, are these words: ‘Rabbi Tarpon said, The day is short: the work is great: the labourers are slow: the reward is great: and the father of the family is urgent.’ The followers of Christ are encouraged to suffer joyfully on two considerations. 1. They are thereby conformed to the prophets who went before. 2. Their reward in heaven is a great one. God gives the grace to suffer, and then crowns that grace with glory; hence it is plain, the reward is not of debt, but of grace: Rom. vi. 23.” 13 Endnotes 5 Matthew Henry, An Exposition of the Old and New Testament, Volume 5 (Philadelphia: Edward Barrington & George D. Haswell, 1825), 47-48. 6 Adam Clarke, The New Testament of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew to the Acts), Volume 1 (New York: Lane & Scott, 1850), 65-66. 7 Charles H. Spurgeon, The Gospel of the Kingdom: A Popular Exposition of the Gospel According to Matthew (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1893), 21-22. 8 Charles F. Schaeffer, Annotations on the Gospel According to St. Matthew, Part 1, Matthew I-XV (New York: Charles Scribners Sons, 1896), 95. 9 John A. Broadus, An American Commentary On the New Testament. Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew (Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, 1886), 91. 10 Edwin W. Rice, Commentary on the Gospel According to Matthew (Philadelphia: The American Sunday-School Union, 1897), 65. 11 Harvey Goodwin, A Commentary on the Gospel of S. Matthew (Cambridge: Deighton, Bell & Company, 1857), 66-67. 12 D. H. Hill, A Consideration of the Sermon on the Mount (Philadelphia: William S. & Alfred Martein, 1858), 17-22. 13 Adam Clarke, The New Testament of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Volume 1, Matthew to the Acts (New York: Lane & Scott, 1850), 68.

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dfroza · 5 years ago

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the marital bond is God-Created

God-Authored, in the way male & female are joined Together as “One” body

which in the beginning was absolutely a pure relationship. although in this world in its current broken-hearted state people sometimes find it difficult to get along.

and then there’s the waiting to cross paths with someone who is patient & kind. even Adam had to wait on God to form a woman while he was put in a deep-sleep dream. and i can personally relate to this by writing in A pure Winter’s dream, all in the hope of crossing paths with someone by writing, from the instrumental womb... (to first connect in the heart of our thought-lives as a book)

Today’s reading in the Scriptures of chapter #2 from the ancient book of Genesis:

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, along with everything in them. On the seventh day God was finished with his work which he had made, so he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. God blessed the seventh day and separated it as holy; because on that day God rested from all his work which he had created, so that it itself could produce.

Here is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created. On the day when Adonai, God, made earth and heaven, there was as yet no wild bush on the earth, and no wild plant had as yet sprung up; for Adonai, God, had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no one to cultivate the ground. Rather, a mist went up from the earth which watered the entire surface of the ground.

Then Adonai, God, formed a person from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, so that he became a living being. Adonai, God, planted a garden toward the east, in ‘Eden, and there he put the person whom he had formed. Out of the ground Adonai, God, caused to grow every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

A river went out of ‘Eden to water the garden, and from there it divided into four streams. The name of the first is Pishon; it winds throughout the land of Havilah, where there is gold. The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx stone are also found there. The name of the second river is Gichon; it winds throughout the land of Kush. The name of the third river is Tigris; it is the one that flows toward the east of Ashur. The fourth river is the Euphrates.

Adonai, God, took the person and put him in the garden of ‘Eden to cultivate and care for it. Adonai, God, gave the person this order: “You may freely eat from every tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You are not to eat from it, because on the day that you eat from it, it will become certain that you will die.”

Adonai, God, said, “It isn’t good that the person should be alone. I will make for him a companion suitable for helping him.” So from the ground Adonai, God, formed every wild animal and every bird that flies in the air, and he brought them to the person to see what he would call them. Whatever the person would call each living creature, that was to be its name. So the person gave names to all the livestock, to the birds in the air and to every wild animal. But for Adam there was not found a companion suitable for helping him.

Then God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the person; and while he was sleeping, he took one of his ribs and closed up the place from which he took it with flesh. The rib which Adonai, God, had taken from the person, he made a woman-person; and he brought her to the man-person. The man-person said, “At last! This is bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh. She is to be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man” This is why a man is to leave his father and mother and stick with his wife, and they are to be one flesh.

They were both naked, the man and his wife, and they were not ashamed.

The Book of Genesis, Chapter 2 (Complete Jewish Bible)

A chapter that concludes with 2:25 as a mirroring of the date 2.25 in 2010 when typing a poem given the title ‘book’ as read in this post from my thought-life, in the silent music of instrumental poetry:

and the opening lines of Genesis from The Voice Translation:

So now you see how the Creator swept into being the spangled heavens, the earth, and all their hosts in six days. On the seventh day—with the canvas of the cosmos completed—God paused from His labor and rested. Thus God blessed day seven and made it special—an open time for pause and restoration, a sacred zone of Sabbath-keeping, because God rested from all the work He had done in creation that day.

The Book of Genesis, Chapter 2:1-3 (The Voice)

to be accompanied by a beautiful portion of Scripture in Today’s paired chapter with Genesis 2 in Paul’s ancient Letter of Romans with chapter #5

[Our New Life]

For when the time was right, the Anointed One came and died to demonstrate his love for sinners who were entirely helpless, weak, and powerless to save themselves.

Now, who of us would dare to die for the sake of a wicked person? We can all understand if someone was willing to die for a truly noble person. But Christ proved God’s passionate love for us by dying in our place while we were still lost and ungodly!

And even more than that, we overflow with triumphant joy in our new relationship of living in harmony with God—all because of Jesus Christ!

[The Gift of Grace Greater Than Sin]

The Letter of Romans, Chapter 5 (The Passion Translation)

and a few lines of the same chapter from The Message translation about opening up to Love (to Light)

[Developing Patience]

By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.

There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

The Letter of Romans, Chapter 5:1-5 (The Message)

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datblog16 · 5 years ago

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DTR

The term "Define the Relationship" or "DTR" is a point in a relationship between either two friends or between two spouses who love each other and look to re-evaluate and establish a common purpose behind their relationship. They will ask questions like "where are we going in this relationship or friendship?" or "what are our goals?" "where do you think we should be?"

Ultimately, the intent behind this is for security and identity in the relationship. To establish clear communication about where things stand so the two will guard each other’s hearts and care for one another well. More important than realizing this between two humans, I think this is so much more important between a believer and God.

If we are not sure where we stand or what we are called to do in our relationship with God, then we can get off balance and become despairing, depressed, and afraid. Room for uncertainty, doubt, and fear creeps in. Therefore, it’s good to go to God’s word and remind ourselves of all that God is for us — a DTR with the Divine — so that we have our feet planted on the solid ground that is the word of God, so that we go through life unshaken, especially in a world where everything and everyone else is shaky and uncertain.

Thus, we can sing like the songwriter wrote, “My hope is built on nothing less, Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.”

Here are 5 ways we can define our relationship with our God.

1. We are His creation. He is our Creator.

Genesis 1:27 - “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

God is our Creator. We are his creatures. He is the potter. We are the clay. Therefore, we must remind ourselves that we are in His hands. He is the one who gets the final call on the purpose for our existence. We exist in his image, for His glory, and every moment of every day should be lived with our Creator’s purpose in mind. It is good to know that He is God, and that we are not, and to be reminded that our joy and peace will be found in a constant pursuit after Him, and not in anything else.

2. We are sinners. He is our Savior.

Titus 2:13-14 - “while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

God was at work to save us from our sins. He sent his Son. It is only by His grace and mercy that we are saved. The demonstration of God’s love isn’t displayed so much in that Jesus died, but it is seen in whom Jesus died for – undeserving sinners and rebels against Him.

Romans 5:8 - “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

AW Tozer writes a statement in his book, “But sin has made us timid and self-conscious, as well it might. Years of rebellion against God have bred in us a fear that cannot be overcome in a day. The captured rebel does not enter willingly the presence of the king he has so long fought unsuccessfully to overthrow. But if he is truly penitent he may come, trusting only in the loving-kindness of his Lord, and the past will not be held against him.”

Ephesians 2:4–5 - "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."

We give God no reason to love us, yet in the greatness of His love, He loves us with that great love anyway. Therefore, we must stop trying to make ourselves lovable to God, and simply receive His great love while recognizing that we are unworthy of it. When we were dead: This is when God started loving us. He did not wait until we were lovable. He loved us even when we were dead in our sins, providing nothing lovable to Him.

1 John 4:9–10 - "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

3. We are his children. He is our Father.

Romans 8:15-17 - "The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."

By faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus we become children of God. No one can snatch us out of our Father’s hand. The Holy Spirit lives inside of us to remind us who we are. We are the children of God. The Bible says that if our earthly fathers know how to give good gifts, how much more will our heavenly Father give us good gifts? This Father will never leave us or forsake us. He’s never absent or far away. He will be faithful to discipline us for our good, to make us more like his Son. We have been adopted. We no longer have anything ultimately to fear because we belong to God.

4. We are his sheep. He is our Shepherd.

John 10:11 - "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

Jesus is a Shepherd for us. He lays down his life for us. We know his voice and can trust that, even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we don’t need to fear any evil. He walks through the dark, scary places with us and promises to provide for us and protect us no matter what comes.

5. We are weak. He is strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9 - "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."

The good news of the gospel is not that we are strong, but that God’s grace is sufficient and that his power shines through our weakness. Time and time again God uses the weak to shame the strong and to display his glory. It is freeing to remember that we are only jars of clay. As long as we are in this earthly body and living in this world, we will face trouble and suffering, but God has given us a promise that we can anchor in, a hope that we can hold on to, as long as His power is at work in us.

2 Corinthians 4:7-18 - "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies....So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

These are just five things that define our relationship we have with God through faith in Jesus. We are created, redeemed, adopted, cared for, and strengthened. God is our Creator, our Savior, our Father, our Shepherd, and our Strength, Anchor in your relationship with God today and be encouraged that God is near and your relationship is secure. For in this world you will have trouble, but take heart, He has overcome the world.

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kingsofchaos · 7 years ago

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Even in a world of heroes Los Santos is too corrupt for any true good to prosper. The Supers who come to fight the good fight soon fall, retreating from an unwinnable battle, being brutally murdered and made public warning or, worse, plunging fast and hard into the ever growing ranks of villainy that rule the city. And really, is there anything more dangerous than a villain with a cause? A baddie with all the self-entitled righteousness of a former hero, the taste for glory, for public deference, for power. It’s not like there are rules, no handbook for the Powered to follow, checkboxes for being good vs being evil, no set destiny determining that one must be one or the other but things always seem to play out in the same way. Humans aren't half as complex as they'd like to believe, all follow the same broad paths sooner or later; the ones who hide themselves away, the ones who take what they want, and the ones who think to stand up and protect their idea of justice. When the Powered came into the public eye there was fear, jealously, there were calls to register, to lock up the powerful, demands to go to any extreme to ensure the protection of the Non-powered. Not all Powers are equal, for every terrifyingly notable gift there are dozens of negligible abilities, little more than party tricks or cosmetic changes, but most Non-powered didn’t care to see the difference. The lack of rhyme or reason scared them, the fact that unknown powers may have manifested in anyone from a childhood friend to a nephew, a nun to a super-max criminal, newfound supremacy with no regard for class or wealth. Many of the Powered were talented beyond belief, some stronger than anyone could deem reasonable, but the Non-powered would always have numbers and the ever reliable quality of hating anyone who was different. Overall it was handled poorly, even in areas not screaming for imprisonment or execution, places where Powers were seen as gifts, amazing and awe-inspiring, society simply lacked adequate infrastructure to support so many new abilities. Prison cells were no longer adequately applicable to all people, some were now immune to necessary medicines, the limits of human weight and strength had gone out the window and airspace no longer belonged solely to machines. Worse though was the fact that there was nothing in place to protect the Powered from the hateful masses, nothing to help identify and channel the newly Powered into appropriate support and education programs, nothing to mitigate the growing tensions and unease. And, yes, nothing at all which could combat the inevitable pushback, fight off the onslaught of Powered coming for law-enforcement and society alike, not just actual criminals but also mismanaged children and the inescapable furious retribution from regular Powered when it all goes wrong. It was a dark time, Powered persecuted without cause or mercy and Non-Powered constantly looking over their shoulders lest they be the target of rebel vengeance, a world-wide uproar which eventually gave rise to the Supers. Because there were of course Powered who believed in justice, who wanted to help, who stood up to stand up against their own kind when things got dire and led the charge to bring peace and understanding between Powered and Non. So things eventually settle, an uneasy truce, but there will always be those who use their Powers for their own benefits, society be damned, just as there will always be the do-gooders using their Powers to police how others behave. It of course takes the general public no time at all to start referring to them as Heroes and Villains, the comparison too close to ignore despite the general lack of spandex, but there was never going to be such a clean division. Clearly those who think it’s simply black or white have never had to define the Powered who were scouted for shady corporations or government wet work, never had to draw the line between political or military ‘heroes’ and vigilante ‘villains’. Clearly those people had never been to Los Santos, where the heroes could be just as bad, could be far, far worse, than the villains had any hope of being. It’s all well and good for the villains in Los Santos, at least a while - better to have the heroes get on board than have them chasing you down and ruining your every plan - but it’s getting a bit crowded to be honest. It's hard to stretch your wings as a bad guy when there's no one left to push back against, when on every job you trip over half a dozen bozos running their own gigs. When the levels of depravity some of these assholes stoop to start giving all the regular villains a bad name. So, something has to be done, and if the good guys can't hack it, the bad guys are going to have to. Or at least that’s how Ramsey sells it when he’s dragging a pack of semi-reluctant crooks together, cherry picking powers and personalities to build what will be an undeniably formidable crew so long as he can get them all onside. Considering Geoff’s gift of telepathy and thought implantation, limited though it may be, getting everyone to sign up and play nice with one another isn’t quite as difficult as one would expect. Some of his choices are crooks he’s already worked with, Powers tried and tested, those who Geoff trusts more than anyone else on earth. Most notably of these are his ever faithful right hand, Jack, who manipulates wind and weather, and the ineffable Lindsay with her flaming wings. Then there’s Matt Bragg’s technological genius, Trevor’s ability to defy notice and walk unseen, Steffie’s unearthly level of multi-tasking and information analysis, and the host of loyal Powered friends they bring to the table. Even the ringers who Geoff’s not actually trialled have been vigorously investigated, carefully selected from the hundreds of possible Powered criminals in Los Santos. He’d built up some rapport with the foreigner, Free, who’s been running with two other Powered, a little crew he won’t leave behind, not that Geoff actually wants him to. He was after Gavin’s power, inherent luck and the manipulation of probabilities an indispensable quality in his endeavour, but he’d be a fool not to snatch up Gavin’s friends while he’s at it. Jones with his control of heat, of fire and ice, and Dooley’s ability to change his own density at will makes the pair near indomitable in a fight, an unquestionably powerful duo to have in your corner. And last, but by no means least, was the terrible Vagabond, the corrupted healer who takes people apart from the inside out, a living nightmare even in Los Santos. Ryan was by far the hardest to win over to the cause, but once he’s in Geoff knows they’re golden. It’s quite a line-up but even with that security there is no scattergun approach, Geoff’s done his homework, has villains and ex-heroes categorised by the danger their powers pose and the difficulty in taking them down. The first few jobs are so quick and ruthless the targets have no time to see them coming, to prepare proper defences, no chance to combat the array of abilities they’re faced with. From there word gets out, but while they lose the element of surprise they’re still in the unique position of being united; it’s so rare for those who are Powered to truly combine forces, rarer still in a group of more than two or three, and without any backstabbing or infighting Ramsey’s collection have found themselves to be near unstoppable. Between them they have the best plans, horrifyingly efficient fighters, have infiltration, manipulation and extermination completely covered. Hell they even have a preternaturally skilful wheelman to get them all the hell out of dodge when things take a turn. Perhaps best of all, though, is the fact that to some degree they have the support of the city; law enforcement, struggling Supers and civilians alike, who’ve noticed this new group shaking up the powers that be in the underbelly of the city. Who might not all be actively helping but certainly aren’t hindering, stepping back and giving Geoff and his people free reign to finally fix up the wicked city. So for a moment they are beacons, a spot of light pushing back the darkness in Los Santos, persevering where others have been crushed, relentless in their quest to take out the worst elements of the city. It is, of course, difficult to be swayed from the right path when you were never on it in the first place, can’t fall from grace when you never had any to start with. Ramsey’s gang seem invulnerable to the filth and corruption of Los Santos simply because the darkness was in them all along, their goals have never been anything close to altruistic. Some still believe, see only what they have intentionally been shown, think Ramsey’s crew vigilantes, perhaps too harsh, too violent, but only out of necessity, the strong hand of justice the depraved city of sin has been crying out for. They think the attacks will cease once the city has been cleansed, cheer on their counterfeit champions right up until the moment they finally realise that they’ve been played, that Ramsey and his gang of reprobates will never be the good guys. Because no matter what the idealists would like to believe, no matter what other crooks might sneer and spit, no one who’s paying attention could truly think Ramsey’s crew had gone light side, not by a long shot. They take down other villains, yes, but not in ways the so called good would approve of, not peacefully, not humanely, not even remotely quick, clean or painless. They take down other villains, sure, but for their own benefit, for their own power and greed, their own amusement. They take down other villains but they don’t spare the cops. They take down other villain’s but they aren’t saving civilians, aren’t restoring peace, they don’t return stolen goods or misappropriated funds, don’t seek to inspire children or bring safety back to the streets. When all the Powered formidable enough to have half a chance of beating them have been overthrown, Ramsey and his crew are right there to see their plan through. They’ve not been cleaning up Los Santos so much as they’ve been claiming it, taking full control over the city that has been thought for so long to be utterly untameable, all the while ensuring there will be no one left to challenge them. An empire built on fallen bodies, tacitly approved by the masses, a violent take over sold under the guise of justice. And in that they have found a whole new way to be devious, a fresh take on villainy, giving hope to those who'd thought themselves hopeless only to dash it all away again. Those false heroes, those reprehensible Fakes.

Main Crew Powers | Support Crew Powers

#FAHC #would you like some au with your au #not only is this an unapologetically #super cliché superpower au #but I straight up stole their powers from my old post #This wasn’t meant to be related #just a moment of nonsense #based on them being called Fakes #because they were fake heroes #but i'm lazy #had nothing for their powers #and someone found the old one today #so thanks buddy #Random longwinded chunk of useless banal history #chucked right in for reasons unknown #no one should be surprised at this point #Loaded Guns and Sharp Teeth #Damnant Quod Non Intelligunt #Legal and Illegal Have Nothing To Do With Right or Wrong

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