#and take us to a place where we would be redeemed of our base and corrupt need for light and warmth''

[himluv]

I agree with you on the Solavellan ending. I love the angst and tragedy and I'm eating the idea of Solas and Lavellan having a lot to unpack once in the fade. Dramatic confrontations, tears, breakdowns and a slow road to forgiveness,. Delicious food. But I'm really annoyed with a portion of the fandom that seems to just gloss over the fact that Solas killed Varric, someone who was always kind to Lavellan and was even her friend. And even if you don't like Varric personally he is in canon a relatively decent person who tried to reach out to Solas on a compassionate level. Then he used a blood magic puppet of him to manipulate Rook... IDK the way that seems to mean little to nothing to a lot of Solavellans kind of bothers me. I'm not here to tell anyone how they can or can't play but the takes have been so bad. The infantilization, excuses and woobification of our boy are so egregious. Solas is complex and morally gray. Why would we be going through the effort of redeeming him if he wasn't doing things that would require redemption in the first place? I've felt really disconnected from the rest of the fandom because of all of the softening of his character people have been doing and it's refreshing to hear a take from someone who loves Solas but doesn't want to defang him.

Thanks for this thoughtful reply to this post! Sorry this took awhile, but I've been thinking of what I wanted to say. Long and spoiler-riddled reply below, and I don't even know how relevant it is to your reply, Nonny. Sorry!

I think A Lot of folks have spent the last 10 years rotating him in their heads like one throws a clay pot, molding him into something he could be based on what we knew about him. But, we didn't necessarily account for the other forms he could take. And some folks are very resistant to who he's canonically become by Veilguard. Because it's not a good form, he got Worse™ in his decade away from friends and love (shocker!), and it's hard to reconcile this version of him with the ones we may have made.

I get all of that. But I also LOVE that. It means he could still surprise me, and I got to experience this weird duality of love/hate I didn't expect to feel toward him. I got to see his lies in real time, know he was lying because I KNOW HIM, and go, "oh, you little shit (affectionate)". Like, that's just FUN! Which, last time I checked was in fact the point of video games.

I love that he is unpredictable and dangerous in this game. That we finally see him go all out, and use every skill and trick he has. That is THRILLING, especially because he's more dangerous and lethal and ruthless than I personally expected. Which... Is my fault. I should have expected it, because look what he did to Felassan. Look how he so easily killed all those Qunari in Trespasser. Look what he did with those spirits of chaos and disruption. Look what he did to the Titans! I should have known better, the games and books showed me time and again what he was capable of. I just didn't want to believe it.

I've seen some posts talking about how Lavellan approaches Solas at the very last confrontation. How carefully she goes up the stairs towards him. I've seen several interpretations of it, but there's one I haven't seen (which could be because I'm not hanging out in the Solavellan tag much these days).

She takes those stairs slowly, as if approaching a spooked horse, because the last time someone climbed a set of stairs to talk him down from his ritual, he killed them. And I don't think for one second Lavellan believes, if she handles this poorly, he won't do the same to her.

And I think she is 100% right. He would, perhaps on "accident" as he claims to Neve was the case with Varric (debatable - seemed pretty intentional if maybe a bit impulsive from here). But I firmly believe there is a world where Solas would stab his vhenan if he had to and certain conditions hadn't been met (and yes that would utterly destroy him).

She walks up those stairs to him, her vhenan, knowing this is it. Their final stand. She will save him from himself, whatever it takes, and she is prepared to die at his hands if it comes to that. And it so easily COULD HAVE.

I don't know. I just think that Veilguard gave us SO MUCH more insight into Solas and there's so much there to chew on. I think we're going to be able to go back through all the games and codices and so many little details are going to fit together and complete a puzzle we didn't even know we were making.

After all of this, I still have so much to think on 😂. I'm going to be living in Thedas for another decade at this rate!

Good. I don't ever want to leave.

[fsfghgee]

Bi-Han and Sektor's Relationship in MK1. They are a couple now? Why?

First of all, I give my honest opinion based on analysis here, regardless of what people are repeating out there. I will never say something I don't believe just to please a loud part. That said, I like the expansion, I like the story and I like the couples (more precisely, Sektor/Bi-Han and Rain/Tanya). Tanya and Rain have a certain past and I enjoyed getting a glimpse of what they would be like in a relationship. Bi-Han and Sektor were a couple that surprised me positively, I didn't expect Sektor to be so affectionate with Bi-Han and much less that Bi-Han would reciprocate like a man in love, I enjoyed seeing this softer side of Bi-Han with her…

I admit that when I saw this scene I was like " own :3 " And then like "Liu Kang, you killjoy〴⋋⋌〵 !" haha

I thought that him watching over Sektor's body in mk11 would be the most of a soft side of Bi-Han that I would ever see in my life. And although I already knew because of the leaks that Sektor and Bi-Han would have a relationship in mk1, I never imagined that they would do it so explicitly. I was surprised, but positively. Because as I said in some previous analyses, a relationship with Sektor would give more depth to Bi-Han as a character. I knew that a relationship with Sektor would be their way of showing us a softer side of Bi-Han, showing that he has feelings and his actions are not only justified, but validated in the clan. I already expected Sektor to support him. They wouldn't make Bi-Han and Sektor so close since Sub-Zero's ending (where she was mentioned as a genius that he seeks advice from and even shares the leadership of the clan, since he refers to everything as "we", "our" and such) for nothing.

 "I had broken the Lin Kuei free of Liu Kang's enslavement. We were now masters of our destiny and could take our place among Earthrealm's greatest nations. But taking and holding territory would require a vast army. I needed more fighters to make our presence felt. Then I recalled Shang Tsung's dragon warriors. An army of them would be unstoppable. But trafficking in such strong magic would surely draw Liu Kang's attention. Sektor advised that we avoid detection by building our army using science, not sorcery. We've invested much time in this endeavor, and we are beginning to see results. Once again proving the depths of Sektor's genius. When we are done, all of Earthrealm will honor our desires and heed our demands. If not, they will face the Lin Kuei's wrath."

And as I've been saying since the day this game was released (and I'll keep saying it even now that he's been turned into Noob Saibot) Bi-Han is not a villain, but an antagonist. He's not good, but he's not purely evil either. He's a morally gray character.

I know a lot of people want one, but I don't care about a redemption arc and I don't see why it would make sense for him to have one. To me, neutral/morally gray characters are much more interesting. I like how they play by their own rules, how they're not easily influenced, how determined they are and all that.

And after Bi-Han saved the timeline, he already redeemed himself and the only thing that really didn't make sense in his story was fixed (which was allying with outsiders just for the promise of receiving power to rule, neglecting the safety of his own clan since their base is in Earthrealm). I've already highlighted intros that prove that even though he didn't participate in the battle against Titan Shang Tsung to free Shao from prison in OutWorld. After he helped Shao in battles in OutWorld and Shao failed to fulfill his side of the agreement, he returned to defending Earthrealm (more precisely, he returned to defending his clan):

*In MK1, all endings and intros are canonicals (with the exception of guest characters like Homelander, Omni Man etc).

"Though I had returned to the temple after Titan Havik's defeat, I remained livid. Livid with Bi-Han's foolishness, Kuai Liang's betrayal, and Cyrax's defection to his Shirai Ryu. So when Quan Chi arrived to parley, offering to eliminate the upstart clan, I listened... For his services, Quan Chi asked that I retrieve an amulet that was locked away in the Temple of the Elements. No small task, given its wards and guardians. Though one worth understanding, if it would finish the Lin Kuei's rivals. But before I could find the amulet, I found Bi-Han. There he was, imprisoned and forgotten, when Liu Kang had promised to restore him! As I rescued Bi-Han, all thought of retrieving Quan Chi's treasure was quickly forgotten. I will never forgive Liu Kang for this betrayal. That he is a god will not stop me from seeking vengeance."

I had hoped that after the expansion, because of what Liu Kang said to Bi-Han, they would come to an agreement about his desires. But they turned out to be just empty words and he refuses to even listen to Bi-Han's vision. Which I find quite ironic. Because it's so reprehensible that Bi-Han wants to rule Earthrealm while Mileena sits on the throne of OutWorld with her family ruling for generations…

Why is it only Bi-Han and his clan that have to settle for just serving as Liu Kang's lackeys? Because at the beginning of the story mode that's all they did....

Why should they settle for this fate of sacrifices without any reward forever? Because Liu Kang said it has to be so? I don't blame Sektor, Bi-Han and others for rebelling against this.

 "As I regained consciousness, I regained my memories: My transformation into a creature of chaos, my defeat of Titan Havik, and my failed confrontation of Liu Kang. Sektor was obsessed with finding the means to purge my soul of Titan Havik's corruption. She was shocked when I told her she should do no such thing. Infusing my soul with chaos did not damage me, it enriched me. By embracing randomness and chance, I have unlocked vast new powers. My kombat is less predictable, more formidable, and radically more lethal. Titan Havik gave me these gifts to use in fomenting his chaos. Instead, I will use them to fight for the Lin Kuei. Liu Kang, the Shaolin, my brother, and his clan will yield in terror when confronted by my perfection."

The only things that really disappointed me in the expansion was the lack of dialogue about Bi-Han's mother. I really wanted to know more about her and why Bi-Han reveres her. And the length, of course. There were a lot of things in a short space of time and I think that if it weren't for the amount of cuts they made, we could have had a longer expansion.

Regardless of what some people wanted or expected to happen, Mortal Kombat 1 was promoted since its release as a New Era that would present major changes made by Liu Kang in the destinies of iconic characters in the hope that everyone would find peace, but as the slogan "It's in our blood" said… It was never meant to last. In other words, although some characters ended up taking similar paths, others also took completely different paths. But the most important thing to know is that the Era of Peace is over.

And although Liu Kang has no control over the choices of those he has created the new destiny for, he has redesigned everyone's destiny and this has resulted in consequences…

Sektor and Cyrax being born female in this New Era and having a considerably different personality may have been both part of Liu Kang's plan, or just a consequence of his changes in the destinies of these two.

We never knew who Sektor's mother was and only his father was known, Oniro, the Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei. In the New Era, Sektor is the daughter of Madam Bo (a former Lin Kuei warrior leader) and Longwei (retired master armorer of the Lin Kuei), in addition to having siblings, while og Sektor was an only child.

Sektor is literally not the same person, but she kept the fighting style and the codename Sektor. While Cyrax was not even born in the same country and unlike the og Cyrax, she did not choose to serve the Lin Kuei, she was born into a Lin Kuei sub-clan and was trained since childhood to defend Earthrealm like all Lin Kuei.

Cyrax's change of country and the fact that she was destined to be a Lin Kuei and did not become one by choice is hard to understand. But Sektor not having the same parents or the same position is completely justified. First, because it was not og Sektor who had the idea of ​​Cyber ​​Initiative, it was og Sektor's father, the grandmaster. Sektor just obeyed the grandmaster by voluntarily undergoing the transformation into a cyborg. And the way Liu Kang tells them not to doubt Sektor's zeal for Bi-Han and tries to manipulate her love for him in favor of his plans to restore Bi-Han…

May indicate that Sektor was destined to be by Bi-Han's side. And knowing that nothing in the previous timelines points to Bi-Han or Sektor as homosexuals and that both were extremely individualistic men in the past who only joined forces for pragmatic reasons…

And the fact that the Lin Kuei are a real clan in this New Era (a group of close-knit and interrelated families. They literally grow the clan by having children among themselves, not by kidnapping children from the streets as in previous timelines) and an ancient clan of warriors with a long lineage whose roles in the clan are passed down from generation to generation (almost like a caste system). Sektor being born a woman makes total sense. And since she does not actually have the same parents as the og Sektor, it is entirely possible that she was born a woman who, although cold, is able to develop feelings and feel love for someone without Liu Kang's interference (especially for someone like Bi-Han, a kindred spirit). In the same way that Bi-Han developed a great attachment to his mother and began to trust in the abilities of the women in his clan because he had a warrior mother this time.

In addition to not being a random and meaningless couple (since Bi-Han and Sektor have always been Lin Kuei and the most loyal ones), they made an effort to present a background for this couple and give it a foundation. Since the end of Sub-Zero (where he praises her a lot, always referring to everything as "our" and "us". And although I was one of those people who thought that the random Lin Kuei there was Sektor, as soon as these speculations started it was confirmed that that guy was not Sektor and I should have guessed, since Sektor has always had red as his characteristic color in the games), then in the expansion it really shows that there are no secrets between them, that thing about Sektor bowing was all just part of their act to deceive Cyrax (a very funny performance in my opinion, because not even pretending to treat Sektor as just another subordinate he could keep his hands off her or stop sucking up to her lol), throughout the expansion it becomes clear that they have a very deep and strong connection as mentioned in Sektor's bio….

A relationship that goes far beyond that of a simple subordinate and boss...

I like their succinct personality differences, where Sektor, despite using fire in combat, is much colder and more rational than Bi-Han, while Bi-Han is reckless and explosive. They are a dangerous couple and likely to cause problems for the good guys. But they are not evil for the sake of being evil, they are doing everything they can to make the Lin Kuei rule. They fight for it. And the way they support each other unconditionally, share beliefs, goals and dreams. Their relationship is anything but simply pragmatic. There's love between them

Cyrax: Love for Bi-Han has made you blind. Sektor: It is you who can't see the Lin Kuei's future.

Geras: If you love Bi-Han, return him to Liu Kang. Sektor: It's because I do that I cannot.

Quan Chi: You were supposed to retrieve the amulet. Sektor: Saving Bi-Han was all that matttered.

Sektor: I won't let you near Bi-Han. Ermac: You are one. One cannot stop Us.

Liu Kang: You should have trusted me, Sektor. Sektor: Why?! You left Bi-Han to rot.

Sektor: I couldn't leave you locked away in the Temple. Noob Saibot: You were right to be impatient.

Noob Saibot: Your mother concerns me, Sektor. Sektor: She knows nothing which can hurt us.

Ashrah: Your ardor for Bi-Han is -- Sektor: I don't need a demon's advice.

Sindel: Your 'beloved' should never have crossed me. Sektor: He doesn't fear you. And neither do I.

Shang Tsung: Bi-Han will pay a steep ransom for your return. Sektor: Just how are *you* planning to abduct *me*?

Shang Tsung: This hostility is unwarranted, Bi-Han. Noob Saibot: You tried to abduct Sektor!

Noob Saibot: It is time you answer for Sektor. Shang Tsung: For what, exactly? She escaped me unharmed.

Noob Saibot: You tried enlisting Sektor against me?! Quan Chi: Not against you. To help you see reason.

Noob Saibot: Leave. Before this gets ugly. Quan Chi: I am here to haggle but if we must fight, so be it.

Quan Chi: Sektor refuses to abide our agreement. Noob Saibot: I won't force her hand, sorcerer.

Liu Kang: Sektor should have trusted me to heal you. Noob Saibot: You should not have made her wait.

Noob Saibot: If Liu Kang seeks to punish Sektor -- Geras: It would be his right to do so.

Kenshi: So you and Sektor, eh? Hm. That tracks. Noob Saibot: If that is mockery, you are a dead man.

Sub-Zero: Together we will make the Lin Kuei immortal. Sektor: I am honored to fight by your side.

Sektor: You've been purged of Havik's magic?! Sub-Zero: Not exactly, Sektor.

General Shao: Sub-Zero sends his woman after me? Sektor: He sends his most skilled warrior.

Sektor: I couldn't leave you locked away in the Temple. Noob Saibot: You were right to be impatient.

Sektor: If Liu Kang continues to stand -- Noob Saibot: We will neutralize him.

Sektor: Is it best for you to remain this way? Noob Saibot: It is best for the Lin Kuei.

Kitana: I have to question your taste in men. Sektor: Please, Princess. Share your thoughts.

Reiko: Do you share Bi-Han's power? Or just his bed? Sektor: Careful, Reiko. Disrespect can be fatal.

Kenshi: You and Bi-Han deserve each other. Sektor: I couldn't agree more.

I particularly like how she imposes limits too…

Even though, everything indicates that she loves bold and dominant men…

Or more specifically a bold and dominant cryomancer who has won her heart and tested its strength several times with his foolishness and stubbornness. And despite this and the mockery of some, she and Bi-Han lead the clan together in perfect harmony and won't stop until the Lin Kuei rule Earthrealm.

I like a powerful couple. I like this couple. I like Sekhan.

tks @kermitthegod ^~

.....

[idontknowreallyidontcare]

KÖNIG HC’S FOR MY KÖNIG GIRLS.

- I HC him as being definitely taller than your average man, but not his fanon height. Many people go with the narrative that he’s 6’10/2m 08cm’s, for what I understood this is a made up data, nowhere is it specified that he’s actually 6’10, so what I actually assign him is a height of 6’7, we know how Ghost is somewhere between 6’4/6’5 which it’s still pretty tall (1,89 cm), but we also know by comparing the models, that König is a bit taller, so I am kind of basing his height on this difference between him and Ghost. Also, knowing he could not be a sniper because of his height motivates me even more to think that he is indeed a guy bigger than your average. Again, it’s a personal HC, may or may not be shared, it’s not a canon attribute.

- As I already specified in some of my other posts, I view him as a clean individual, in a sense than he has a routine and will try to maintain it even on duty. Being at the barracks will not obstruct his routine, he washes his hair with shampoo and conditioner, he uses a particular face soap, made for his type of skin, and he uses body lotion instead of a bar of soap. It has to be said that he wasn’t always this organized, for example, thanks to you he got to buy the face wash that he now brings everywhere he goes, you kinda talked to him about using a bar of soap for all the body and explained to him how unhygienic was to use the same towel for face, body and cock/ass, because despite you being ‘clean’ after the shower, you’re still dragging bacteria form around your body onto your face and hair, overall you kinda motivated him to uplift his already good habits. He sometimes lets you do his skincare too, and when he remembers, he will actually put some face cream on. He’s still a bit fearful of coming as not very masculine, but you’re making him work on it, so he can accept that taking care of himself will never be a turn down for you, not when he’s already so hot for his age, he better maintain himself!

- Another critical point about our Köni is his age. We have a vague idea of how old he could be, many HC’ing him from 35 to late 40’s. My guess is he could be somewhere between 38 and 43, I do prefer him as a 39/40 years grandpa tho. Again, personal HC, do not take it as canon! I’d be happy honestly if they would reveal his age, probably because no matter what, I’d still simp even if he turned out to be 50 years lmaooooo.

- Yes, he does come from a village in the country side, but he did join military pretty young, so I HC him as being actually a pretty open minded individual. Remember he gets to work with technology every day, he knows what’s going on around the world, and him joining young actually was a benefit, because he got to form his own opinions in a place that welcomed every kind of human beings. He didn’t get to grow up from the hate he received at school so he kind of escaped a life where he could’ve easy became what we call an inc€l today. He grew some balls, got his priorities right. He was for sure subjected to some kind of morally wrong opinions that grew into him, that’s why you’re spending time on him, being patient and trying to explain to him many things he considered undeniable reality until he meet you. The classic ones are: males should not cry because only girls do, women can work but they would be better at home, men don’t pay attention to their physical appearance that’s for feminine boys, and many similar things. He’s slowly getting out of his habits, and you’re proud of him.

- Listen, people have mixed feelings about this one but imma say it, aside from shipping and all, König is not and will never be Homophobic. He does not have any problem with lgbt+ nor is he disturbed by couples openly showing affection in his presence. Early access to internet and a very religious family could have created the worst possible outcome for him, but he was never big into religion, already redeeming it a waste of time at a young age, but still attending church because of his mom. He knows some recruits are openly gay, he doesn’t see a problem nor does it bother him knowing he could be someone’s crush. Now I do HC him as completely straight, but again it’s MY way of imagining König, I still think that in an orgy or threesome with reader, if he trusts the other male part, he would not be against having their cocks in the same hole, rubbing against each other, or in general he would not be against having some skin to skin contact with another male because at the end he does it because it only benefits you.

- He is a perverted dog, not only because he is ‘old’ and has fucked young girls (not minors! He is not morally fucked up like that), or generally his sexual history is pretty normal for a man that age, he was just always eager to see, learn and search for what he felt was exciting to him. He had threesomes before us, he has sex, he did many things that gave him the skills and experience he’s been using on us, but yes overall I HC him as being the one that always had a porn journal under his pillow, he would even lend them around the barracks.

- He loves pussy. He eats it for HIS own pleasure okay? He would die between your legs. He cums only by eating you out. He gets drunk on pussy. Pussy is what he lives for. He’ll never die on field, living purely out of spite, because he’ll no! What do you mean he’s never gonna enjoy your pussy again if he dies! ABSOLUTELY NOT! He’ll get home, beaten, cut, stabbed, whatever, but he’ll be home to you, and he will lick your pussy for the rest of the night saying “this what’s keeping me alive honey”. And truth is you can’t deny it to him, because it’s so good, no matter the circumstances, it always brings him back home.

[bird-inacage]

Only Friends: Can Ray be Redeemed? Is Sand the Solution?

I know Ray has upset a lot of people in Episode 8. I do find it really fascinating how quickly the tide has turned on him, especially when you compare his actions to those of our villains of the first arc: Boston and Top. Perhaps I'm in the minority, but I still choose to believe that Ray does care. He's hugely misguided but not heartless.

Let me firstly preface that none of what I'm about to say excuses Ray's behaviour but is an attempt to unpack why I still hold hope.

A child lost with no anchor

Ray is emotionally immature (which as cliché as it sounds, is a direct product of his upbringing - or lack thereof). He largely operates on basic needs, as a child would: 'I want. I need'. It's all based on serving the self. He seems wildly incapable of thinking very far beyond that. Like a child, he can barely take care of himself, let alone anyone else. He's pretty helpless on his own in a lot of respects. Most people grow out of this. Through knocks and hardship, we learn the world doesn't revolve around us and how to equip ourselves with healthy and appropriate means to navigate through life. Ray however, still seems to be stuck in his infantile box.

I often joke that Ray is a bit feral, but there is some truth to that. Ray's been left to his own devices for the majority of his life. So it's no surprise he's developed this 'me against the world' attitude which is volatile and defensive, but ultimately keeps him caged in said box.

These traits are abundantly apparent in his relationship with Mew. Ray is the vehicle for Mew's self-destruction, but all he sees is the exhilaration of having a 'partner in crime', someone to be in 'cahoots with'. Like a pair of naughty school kids getting into mischief, rather than an adult partnership. Ray is all about immediate gratification over long term fulfilment because (as children do), they don't possess the wisdom and experience to think ahead. Ray seems unable to grasp repercussions or consequences in his decision making. It's always act first, think second.

To put it simply, Ray hasn't been taught boundaries and how to respect them. He just gets criticised for crossing them which doesn’t help him learn. No one has had the patience to teach him why and how. To guide, to steer, to direct, to mentor. To educate rather than scold. Prevention rather than cure. As a result, everyone around Ray serves to clean up his messes rather than equip him with the ability to not create them in the first place. He falls into patterns of behaviour that no one has seriously attempted to break which has only amplified with adulthood. The longer those habits prevail, the harder they are to change.

Does Ray harbour ill-will or bad intent?

Is Ray the worst? In my opinion, no. (Not yet anyway - I might eat my words later, who knows). I've said this somewhere before but intent makes all the difference when judging someone's actions. Choosing to actively cause harm whilst being fully conscious of the impact versus triggering damage to occur as a symptom of your behaviour is vastly different. This is where Ray and Boston differ. Boston acts without remorse, he purposely and calculatingly makes choices that will cause the maximum degree of suffering. Whereas Ray's a loose cannon. He leaves a trail of destruction where he goes, due to a lack of control and means to channel how he feels in a constructive manner. Boston's victims are targets, whereas Ray's victims are collateral.

I don't think Ray means to purposely hurt or harm the people he cares about. Because in doing so, he'll push them away - which is precisely what he doesn't want. (Though saying that, Ray doesn't seem to give as much of a damn if it's people he isn't invested in, such as Top). Ray's world consists of what Ray needs. It's not that he doesn't care about a single person besides himself, he's just so wrapped up in his own needs to even gauge the bigger picture.

When others do point out to Ray that he's hurt them, he does tend to look guilty and taken aback, as if he's thinking, 'But I didn't know. No one told me. I had no idea my actions would cause you to be upset'. Painful levels of ignorance. But I also see a huge amount of internalised frustration. 'But why? Why didn't anyone explain this to me? How was I to know?'

Ray is capable of showing remorse, of displaying guilt. He's not cold-blooded. Anyone who can demonstrate compassion is capable of redemption. Ray is seen to be genuinely appreciative and grateful when people are good to him. He's fiercely protective over people he cares about. Ray was also willing to jump in when Sand gets a call from his mum being in trouble.

One thing I do have to stress is the difference in Ray's demeanour when he's severely drunk/high versus when he's sober. His addiction tends to amplify his most primal desires, his most 'childlike' traits. The uglier sides of Ray presented in their worst light, set to maximum. The raging tantrums, the absurd and unpredictable demands, an explosive and dangerous impulsiveness. People often refer to addiction as a form of sickness, which is worth noting when the person under scrutiny is effectively not well.

Learning by Example

Now let's talk about the huge importance of Sand in this equation.

Let me be clear - it's not Sand's responsibility to teach Ray how to grow up or behave more like a functioning adult. It's neither his duty to be a stand-in parent or caretaker. The unfortunate truth is that Ray doesn't have anyone in his life who plays that role. Who is the voice of reason. To keep him on the straight and narrow. In order to actually incite change, Ray needs to be receptive to whoever is trying to help him. We've seen he doesn't respond particularly well to the majority of people in his life. He's defensive with his father, his friends, deflective and pandering with Mew. The only person he's seen to show any signs of actually listening to and registering is Sand.

Whilst it's not fair on Sand, he might be the only person who has any real chance of encouraging healthy and positive growth in Ray. Because Sand loves Ray, he genuinely wants to see improvement for Ray's own good. I don't think it's a coincidence that we tend to see Ray's more endearing side when he's with Sand. His childlike qualities take on a sweeter, more harmless, playful tone.

He needs someone with an almost parental level of unconditional love to not give up on him, where others have thrown in the towel. Ray's character is essentially a personified cry for help. His mother was unable to cope. His father seems chronically exasperated and far too busy to actually be present. His friends have always seen him as bothersome and too much of a handful.

I personally don't want to write Ray off as a lost cause. Ironically, Sand may be the saviour he didn't ask for, but the one he really needs. Someone who can save him from himself.

[entity-treasury]

"It would open the door to a world of true and holy darkness, extinguish the sun, and take us to a place where we would be redeemed of our base and corrupt need for light and warmth."

- Mag 143

[hiswordsarekisses]

This is truth that will touch the deepest part of the heart - where the tears pour from…. This is a bit long but SO well said and SO worth EVERY second of the read... I had to share.

“Love is the most misunderstood word in our world today.

We've reduced it to feelings.

We've confused it with tolerance.

And we've detached it from truth.

But love, according to God, is far more sacred.

In Hebrew, the word for love is Ahav (anN)

Its ancient root reveals what it truly means:

"The Father reveals His heart to bring you into His house." 😭🙌🏻

Love is an invitation into covenant, and not just affection, but belonging, loyalty, and trust. (*** @mamaingrace - To me that sounds like “Home”*** and reminded me of the NLT version of Psalm 90 verse one… “Lord, through all the generations you have been our home!”)

In the Old Testament, love was covenant loyalty. It meant obedience. Faithfulness.

Action. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heeaart..."

—Deuteronomy 6:5

And every covenant in the Bible required sacrifice. Not symbolic. Real. Costly. “This is the blood of the covenant..." —Exodus 24:8

In God's Word, love always involves sacrifice, because true love is action that costs.

Jesus told us what this love looks like: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life..." -John 15:13

He gave His life to redeem ours. His love was not emotional. It was sacrificial, holy, and victorious.

Here's the deeper truth:

Love requires a kind of death. But not a physical death, a spiritual death!

• Death to pride

• Death to selfishness

• Death to sin

• Death to comfort

Because real love means laying down your life, without losing it.

Satan hates covenant love. So he counterfeits it. He says: “Love shouldn't hurt - If it's hard, it's toxic - Just do what makes you happy - He offers love without death - Without obedience - Without holiness.

Or even worse...

He twists the sacrifice.

Turning it into:

• Co-dependence

• Destruction

• Works-based performance

• Emotional manipulation

• Even physical death with no redemption

God's love leads to life through full surrender

Satan's version leads to despair, bondage, and death.

That's why Jesus said:

"If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me." —Luke 9:23

Real love walks the narrow road. It gives even when it costs. It obeys even when it's hard. And it always leads to life.

Jesus modeled this love perfectly

• He loved His disciples by teaching, correcting, and laying down His life

• He honored His mother with His final breath

• He obeyed the Father, even unto death

Then He turned to us and said “Love one another as I have loved you." -John 13:3

Not with empty words.

But with obedience.

With action.

With sacrifice.

"Love your neighbor as yourself." -Leviticus 19:18

This isn't casual kindness!

It's living out your covenant with God through how you treat others.

This means:

• Honoring their dignity

• Forgiving even when it's undeserved

• Speaking truth in love

• Refusing compromise

• Serving even when it's inconvenient.

This is how we love our neighbor!

The early Church lived this out…

• They shared everything

• They walked in unity

• They cared for the poor

• They gave their lives for the truth

"They were of one heart and one soul... -Acts 4:32

Their love was covenant, not comfort.

But how does this kind of love take root in us?

It starts in our heart

The place where covenant is written. “Love the Lord your God with all your hear..." — Deuteronomy 6:5

In Hebrew, the heart (lev) is not referring to emotions. It is referring specifically to your will, allegiance, and desire.

This is where God writes His law. Where truth dwells and where love is born!

When the heart is surrendered, the mind is renewed. “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." -Romans 12:2

True love changes how you think, reason, and live.

Then the body follows...

"Present your bodies as a living sacrifice..."

—Romans 12:1 Love is not real until it becomes visible. In your choices, your actions, and your daily life.

And in the last days, love will be redefined.

"Because lawlessness will increase, the love of many will grow cold." —Matthew 24:12

But those who walk in covenant love, heart, mind, and body, will shine in the darkness!

Love is:

• A covenant

• A sword

• A cross

• A fire in the heart

• A renewal of the mind

• A testimony in the body

Let the way you love prove who it is that you truly follow!

By: @mamaingrace on instagram. (Thank you @mamaingrace 💞)

[libidomechanica]

Of pain

And useful all she prayed by deeds.     For wealth, and adders sting, haue euer liues last fly to sorrowes     of my poor heare, may scarse be told that not see: we die,     my Friend, and the Seven in his love unfit, the threads of     stars drawn in Roman brows

of Agrippina. The painter,     and moist, and mein; our lasses a’ she falling was dead and     turn the fair so was the lower panes. With rigorous wrong     hole, and through regular and fell; but I, deeper sunk by     floundering with a bride?

His soul believe me, my liues amend     the happy sleep. Dearer for hereticks ordayned:     yet never come and tears desired. Not dissolved the chair,     did thus taken he so fair; her beauty fires the distant     land. I lived with blushing

there, a naked stood, brown with a     moonlight and by her hand, for want of woe mightie vengeance take.     The true heart—and ouer the door of happie she, that undulant     while I past he came, he seize our desire! But forasmuch     as others’ joy and

Sorrow, and by the forms of the     commons thither. And let me visit Hero shrunk away,     a human swains, and when I doe praises in the more hardest     yron soon reveal to one extremityes, to sing     my harts astonisht hart.

Is half water, and many a     dearer; robert Burns: she’s lecture slate the chest tiptoe to     rest his pipes, groaning looks at very desolate, the nose     of day the useless feeling of some gross painting mine, sang     such a point to find close

by turns, or prepared, till toward mind     and grow a home from sin, may live in the daffodil, I     know her head. Whose will stay; you go to friends: the lining west?     And silent meteor on, and leaves in blind uncertain     of strength to be mery

with Ignorance. Then Muse not of     some honour is not in long languish till his father’s hallowed     into hell, my female hands and mov’d trick’d in disgrace:     but following fountain- jets, and close faultful Past went should     haue short, and slip away

to knowledge, and in the makes the     Florentines, saint John, because you’re living into a     doubtfully. More famed for whom she said, and here you sobbed, and     once inspired. Above the night among the greater might     be revealed, as monarchs

are the countenance behold her     rage. ’Re only free from vices free, the heaven so hard,     as when thinke at all, make the stride: here are full of your land     so much refined: so Cymon at them; ah, when they which Luna     felt, that me with sweet,

like chastity. And from the foes:     for valour and good will was armed, but found the Book of this     blessed time he would have grown with his awkwardly have taught. Both     for Hell. Till virtues prove a girl—ah fool, the foeman out.     Said she, and dead, forgot

for lover’s steeds, where though not less     alone that steal upon the calm earth, and he turned unbathed,     and moist, and would you know the Moone: for seed conjoined lets     into teares, cannot for us, if you love made of     a wee white and blest with

greedinesse hunts after them. That     talked, the dead. Ne doe I hope to a base declining swords.     Sake the face she reares vp to though not see thee for that     you allow me then I sent my miserable worth. Then disarmed     did to my shamed of

wretched Ixion’s shaggy footed     China, touches and round the alleys shine; but the wane of     such a mother’s forming car from Lady Blanche. Thereby much     grace and his wooden bowl; it moved with reasonable, our     destiny depend upon

the statutes, such place! From harmony,     from the lawn. Fast. God’s work doth raine. From him did flie: for     now you affects her and a’! It was chang’d. With life since? Malay,     nor those two accord, and only sent you away. When     as fame in golden time;

down each redeem his heart can the     wild that fence she doth my limbs beside, and forlorn worth gives     the bright guid will, I will proceeds from the fire. Depth of pains,     and Heaven we allow; even of the ev’ning Phoebus     louely, as to a vice.

[dfroza]

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures

for the 29th of march 2025 with a paired chapter from each Testament (the First & the New Covenant) of the Bible

[The Letter of 2nd Thessalonians, Chapter 1 • The Book of 2nd Chronicles, Chapter 25]

along with Today’s reading from the ancient books of Proverbs and Psalms with Proverbs 29 and Psalm 29 coinciding with the day of the month, accompanied by Psalm 10 for the 10th day of Astronomical Spring, and Psalm 88 for day 88 of the year (with the consummate book of 150 Psalms in its 1st revolution this year)

A post by John Parsons:

Secret Places of Prayer...

Yearning, wish, hope... The inner groan of heart, the “private language” of our secret fears, sorrows, and delights. Prayer is bound up with the mystery of who we are and who God is - it is our “word” combined with his in covenant conversation. It is the voice of “neshama yeterah,” our redeemed soul in God’s presence.

Often we find our voice to pray when we are desperate, or when we are in a state of heart that has abandoned itself as in search of an answer to our question. For our need is the question and it reveals our insufficiency, our frailty, and the vastness of our finitude.

Asking God for help is the confession that we are not-God, that we are powerless to remedy the sickness, that we cannot take away the pain, or assuage the fear, or raise the dead - either of our own hearts or the hearts of others. Asking God for help is to connect with who we really are - lost, afraid, confused, sometimes sad, lonely, insecure, lustful, impatient, and so on.

In our desperation we may feel hopeless and exhausted, or even (secretly) rageful at God for the sorry mess of our lives (or indeed, the sorry mess of the universe itself). We may struggle to trust or understand why or for what reason our heart is broken and made desolate. But despite all this, our prayer confesses the goodness of God and believes that he listens to us in the groan and sigh of our lives.

I mentioned recently that we should be careful what we wish for, because we just may get it... Can we secretly pray for something that would destroy us? This is why it is so important to know what it is that we are secretly asking or praying for in the first place. “Search me O God, and know my heart; test me, and know my thoughts, and see if there is any idolatrous way in me, and lead me in the way of everlasting truth” (Psalm 139:23-24).

“Lord, teach us to pray,” the disciples once asked Yeshua, and he answered by saying “enter into your closet,” that is, make space to get alone with God and appeal to him as your heavenly (or true) Father who knows all about you but who loves you just the same... It is in the sacred place where you know yourself as beloved and chosen...

That’s part of the paradox of prayer: in our apparent nothingness and our misery we are transformed into God’s very children. It takes courage to let God know the secrets of your heart - your fears, disappointments, your faithlessness, and so on. It takes honesty and a desire to be who you really are before the LORD.

“Your Father knows what things you need before you ask Him.” This is another paradox. If he knows already, then why ask at all? What’s there to talk about? But we ask because he already knows what we need. We don’t pray to change God’s mind but to empty ourselves of our fears and to know that we are his beloved. Though he knows the number of the hairs on your head, you confess your need to him, you open your heart to him and acknowledge the secrets he knows. “And your Father who sees your secrets will reward you openly.”

“Real speaks to real,” which means that we can’t talk with God if we are hiding the truth from ourselves. “Thank you, God, that I am not like other men...” is a prayer God hears but does not answer, for it is based in self-deception and illusion. People who are “content” with their lives and don't yearn for deliverance from themselves cannot know the power of God. We need God to even know that we need him, but once we understand our great need for him we know that he will meet our true need...

Some people may say they need God but they don’t really want to know him after all. What does God need? Does he have a “prayer” within his own heart for us? Yeshua teaches that he does. His prayer is that you would know the love of God revealed in his life given for you, that is, for you “to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:19). As he prayed: “This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Yeshua the Messiah whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

People pray to God, but to whom does God pray? And for what might He pray? Or do you think that the Almighty has no desires of His own, no yearning of heart, no prayer? The sages of the Talmud believed that God indeed addresses himself: Yehi ratzon milfanai, “May it be acceptable before me, may it be My will, that my compassion overcome my anger, and that it may prevail over my justice when my children appeal to me, so that I may deal with them in mercy and in love” (Berachot 6a). This is the deeper unity of the Name YHVH (יהוה), the Savior and LORD, revealed to Moses after the sin of the Golden Calf (Exod. 34:6-7), and this is the essential meaning of the cross of Yeshua, where the LORD passionately “prayed within Himself” so that His compassion would overcome His fearful judgment for our sins.

Only the cross of Yehsua allows God's righteousness and mercy to “kiss” (Psalm 85:10; 89:14); only the cross reveals the true Holy of Holies where the blood was placed over the Ark of the Law; only the cross intimates the Inner Sanctum of God's heart. Because of the cross, a holy God is able to truly love and help the trusting sinner (Rom. 3:26). It is written: "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne (צֶדֶק וּמִשְׁפָּט מְכוֹן כִּסְאֶךָ); steadfast love and faithfulness go before you" (Psalm 89:14). Because of Yeshua, God is vindicated as entirely just - and the Justifier of those who trust in His redemptive love (Rom. 3:24-26). Yeshua is the prayer of God the Father’s on behalf of His children...

The will of God - his heart's yearning and desire, his very prayer - is for his children to receive his love (2 Pet. 3:9; 1 Tim. 2:4; John 3:16; Ezek. 18:23). As Yeshua prayed, "Holy Father, keep them in your Name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one... I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me" (John 17:11,23). Yeshua died on the cross to bear the shame for your sins, to be sure, but he did this so that you could be accepted and securely loved forever.... It is the love of God that is the goal of all things, after all. When Yeshua cried out, "It is finished" and breathed his last breath as He died for our sins upon the cross, the greatest exhalation of the Spirit occurred, the greatest sigh, the greatest utterance was ever declared. The sacrificial death of Yeshua for our deliverance was God's final word of love breathed out to those who are trusting in Him.

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

========

Psalm 116:1-2 reading:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/psalm116-1-2-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/psalm116-1-2-lesson.pdf

3.28.25 • Facebook

from Israel365

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

[tripcaliber]

Top Insider Tips for Booking Flights Tickets

Once you have a grasp of the basics and know how to navigate search engines, it’s time to delve into some insider tips that can elevate your flights booking game. These strategies are designed to help you secure the best deals it's make your travel experience smoother.

Secret Tips to Consider:

Book in Advance: While last-minute deals can occasionally be found, booking flights tickets well in advance often yields better prices, especially during peak travel seasons.

Use Incognito Mode: When searching for flights, using your browser was incognito mode can prevent price hikes based on your search history.

Consider Alternative Airports: If you are flying to a larger city, check nearby airports. Sometimes flying into or out of a smaller airport can save you a significant amount of money.

For instance, utilizing incognito mode helped me avoid inflated prices based on repeated searches, while booking in advance provided me with the peace of mind that my travel plans were secured.

Loyalty Programs and Rewards:

Join Frequent Flyer Programs: Many airlines offer loyalty programs that allow you to accumulate points for future travel.

Credit Card Rewards: Certain credit cards provide travel rewards that can be redeemed for flights, helping you save even more on future bookings.

By leveraging these loyalty programs, I have been able to enhance my travel experiences while minimizing costs. It's remarkable how quickly rewards can add up, allowing us to enjoy additional perks, such as a upgrades It's free flights.

Advanced Techniques: Hidden City Ticketing and Fuel Dumping As we become more proficient in booking flights, we can explore advanced techniques that can further reduce our travel costs. Two such as a strategies are hidden city's ticketing and fuel dumping. While these methods can save money, it’s essential to understand the risks involved.

Hidden City Ticketing: This practice involves booking a flights to a destination with a layover at your intended stop. For instance, if you want to fly from New York to Chicago, you could book a flight to Los Angeles with a layover in Chicago. You would then exit the airport during the layover. While this can save money, airlines may penalize you for not completing the entire itinerary.

Fuel Dumping: Fuel dumping involves exploiting airline pricing structures to find significantly cheaper fares. This often requires booking a multi city's itinerary, where you intentionally include an extra leg that you do not intend to travel. While this can yield substantial savings, it’s important to note that airlines are becoming increasingly aware of this tactic and may take action against it.

Considerations:

Legal Risks: Both techniques can violate airline policies, leading to potential penalties or loss of frequent flyer status.

Baggage Policies: If you are checking baggage, you may not be able to retrieve it if you do not complete the entire itinerary.

While I have successfully used these techniques to save money, I always weigh the risks before proceeding. It’s crucial to stay informed about airline policies and consider whether the potential savings are worth the possible consequences.

Mobile Apps: Booking Flights on the Go In an age defined by technology, mobile apps have transformed the way we book flights. With the capability to search, compare, & book flights from the palm of our hands, these tools are invaluable for frequent travelers.

Essential Mobile Apps:

TripCaliber: This app predicts future flight prices, helping you determine the best time to book.

Expedia: Offers a comprehensive travel booking experience, including flights, hotels, and car rentals, all in one place.

Momondo: Provides a visually appealing interface and in depth search options for budget conscious travelers.

Using mobile apps has revolutionized my approach to booking flights. I can check prices, sets alerts, and even manage my bookings while on the go, making travel planning more convenient than ever.

Advantages of Booking via Mobile Apps:

Convenience: Access to flights information anytime, anywhere.

Real-Time Updates: Receive notifications regarding flights changes, gate assignments, and delays.

User-Friendly Interfaces: Most apps offer intuitive designs, making the booking process straight-forward.

While I still enjoy using my laptop for extensive research, the flexibility offered by mobile apps allows me to make quick decisions when I spot an excellent deals.

Post-Booking Strategies: Seat Selection and Upgrades After successfully booking flights, the journey does not end there. Implementing post-booking strategies can enhance our travel experience further. One of the most critical aspects is seats selections.

Selecting the Perfect Seat:

Check Seat Maps: Use resources like Seats Guru to review seating arrangements and find the best options on your flights.

Prioritize Preferences: Decide whether you prefer aisle or window seats, and choose accordingly.

Early Bird Gets the Worm: Selecting your seat early often provides more options, as a popular seats can fill up quickly.

When I first began flying, I neglected to pay attention to seat selection. However, once I started researching and selecting my preferred seats, my travel experiences improved excessively. It’s remarkable how a little foresight can lead to a more comfortable journey's.

Exploring Upgrade Options:

Frequent Flyer Status: Utilize your loyalty program status to request upgrades.

Last-Minute Offers: Some airlines offer discounted upgrades during check in, so keep an eye out for these opportunities.

By actively engaging in post-booking strategies, I have been able to enhance my travel experiences and enjoy added comforts during my flights. Whether it's selecting the perfect seats or snagging a last-minute upgrade, these steps can make a important difference in our overall experience.

[moreapples]

He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

—Hebrews 9:11-14

~~~~~

The Crimson Thread

By Jennifer Kane

From Eden’s shame came a covering—

a garment stained by the first life taken,

blood shed to hide their sin.

In Abel’s offering, the cry of the firstborn lamb,

a sacrifice accepted, a shadow of faith

where blood speaks of redemption.

The lamb’s blood marked the doorposts,

a sign of mercy in a night of judgment,

death passing over where life was given.

On the mercy seat, the priest’s trembling hands

sprinkled blood for a nation’s atonement—

innocence exchanged for guilt,

a plea rising from earth to heaven.

At Sinai’s heights, the covenant was bound,

sealed by the blood of sacrifice,

a people consecrated, a promise declared.

Isaiah saw Him—the Servant,

pierced and crushed, led like a lamb to the slaughter.

In His suffering, the world’s true light shone.

Behold the Lamb who walked among us,

His blood spilled to reconcile the lost.

The new covenant poured out in love,

eternal redemption through His sacrifice.

And now, around the throne,

the redeemed sing to the Lamb who was slain.

The crimson thread weaves through the ages,

writing forgiveness across the pages of history.

~~~~~

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 9:11-28

Yesterday I spoke a lot about God being our eternal shepherd, but as was mentioned yesterday he is also the Lamb of God. The imagery of Jesus as both our Shepherd and the Lamb of God paints a profound picture of His love and sacrifice. While He guides and cares for us as a Shepherd, He also became the perfect offering for the forgiveness of our sins, shedding His blood to secure eternal redemption.

In the Old Testament, the tabernacle and its rituals provided a temporary way for people to approach God. Animal sacrifices allowed outward cleansing and symbolized atonement, but they could not purify the heart or provide lasting access to God. These were shadows pointing forward to Christ, the true fulfillment.

When Jesus came, He entered not an earthly tabernacle but heaven itself—the true and perfect sanctuary. He offered His own blood, not repeatedly like the high priests of old, but once for all time. His sacrifice was final, sufficient, and complete, opening the way for us to approach God with confidence.

This truth reminds us of the unmatched power of Christ's work. Through His blood, not only are we forgiven, but our consciences are cleansed. We are freed from the dead works of guilt and legalism to serve the living God with joy and purpose (Hebrews 9:14).

The Old Covenant sacrifices were a temporary solution, a placeholder for what Jesus would accomplish. His death fulfilled the requirements of the law, canceling the debt of sin and inaugurating a New Covenant. This covenant invites us into an intimate relationship with God, based on grace rather than works.

Jesus' first coming dealt decisively with sin, but His second coming will bring salvation in its fullness. He will return, not to bear sin, but to deliver His people and establish His eternal kingdom. This promise inspires us to live with purpose and hope, confident in the work He has done and the glory that lies ahead.

How does the knowledge of Jesus as your eternal High Priest change the way you approach God in prayer? In what ways can you serve the living God with a cleansed conscience, free from guilt or legalism? How does the promise of Christ’s return inspire you to live with hope and purpose today?

Take time today to meditate on Hebrews 9:12-14. Reflect on the significance of Jesus’ blood, which cleanses and empowers you to serve God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal one way you can live out this calling—whether through worship, service, or sharing the gospel with someone in need.

~~~~~

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for being our perfect High Priest and the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. Your blood cleanses us, not only outwardly but inwardly, freeing us from guilt and empowering us to serve You. Help us to approach Your throne with confidence, knowing that You have made the way open.

Father, please teach us to live in the light of Your sacrifice, full of gratitude and purpose. As we await Your return, let us live as those redeemed by grace, sharing Your love with others and worshiping You with our whole hearts. Holy Spirit, guide us today to reflect Your love in our actions and words. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

[yhwhrulz]

Morning and Evening with A.W. Tozer Devotional for October 14

Tozer in the Morning THE LONELY HUMAN

There is a strange contradiction in human nature all around us: the fact that a person can reek with pride, display a swollen ego and strut like a peacock-and yet be the loneliest and most miserable person in the world! We find these people everywhere-pretending and playing a game. Deep within their beings, they are almost overwhelmed by their great loneliness, by their sense of being orphans in the final scheme of things. The result of this strange, aching human sense of loneliness and cosmic orphanage is the inward, groping question: "What good is it to be a human being? No one cares about me!" In the garden, Eve believed Satan's lie-the lie that God was not concerned about her and that God had no emotional connection with her life and being. This is where the unregenerate person is in today's world. It is only sin and defeat that can bring this sense of orphanage, this sense of having been put out of the father's house, and the feeling that follows when the house is burned down and the father is dead.

Tozer in the Evening Wants or Wishes

The third class of blessing consists of spiritual treasures which are ours by blood atonement but which will not come to us unless we make a determined effort to possess them. To make things clearer let me set forth four propositions touching this heritage of joy which God has set before us; 3. You will have as little as you are satisfied with. God giveth to all men liberally, but it would be absurd to think that God's liberality will make a man more godly than he wants to be. The man, for instance, who is satisfied to live a defeated life will never be forced to take victory. The man who is content to follow Christ afar off will never know the radiant wonder of His nearness. The man who is willing to settle for a joyless, barren life will never experience the joy of the Holy Spirit or the deep satisfaction of fruitful living. It is disheartening to those who care, and surely a great grief to the Spirit, to see how many Christians are content to settle for less than the best. Personally I have for years carried a burden of sorrow as I have moved among evangelical Christians who somewhere in their past have managed to strike a base compromise with their heart's holier longings and have settled down to a lukewarm, mediocre kind of Christianity utterly unworthy of themselves and of the Lord they claim to serve. And such are found everywhere. 4. You now have as much as you really want. Every man is as close to God as he wants to be; he is as holy and as full of the Spirit as he wills to be. Our Lord said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6). If there were but one man anywhere on earth who hungered and was not filled the word of Christ would fall to the ground. Yet we must distinguish wanting from wishing. By "want" I mean wholehearted desire. Certainly there are many who wish they were holy or victorious or joyful but are not willing to meet God's conditions to obtain. That God has placed before His redeemed children a vast world of spiritual treasures and that they refuse or neglect to claim it may easily turn out to be the second greatest tragedy in the history of the moral creation, the first and greatest being the fall of man.

Copyright Statement This material is considered in the public domain.

[abyssembraced]

16. what is a plot you’ve been wanting to do for... anyone i guess lol? 

20 QUESTIONS FOR MULTI-MUSE BLOGS! (Still accepting!)

Oh no one of the harder questions-- fgdgshdhf

(Putting this under a cut since it ended up Long)

Honestly I tend to just look at my rp partners' muses, and then come up with plot ideas specifically for interactions with them and my muses. I dunno if I have any general ideas just Floating Around?

Ghost is my default muse for crossovers, since a) I Love Them and b) they have a very flexible crossover verse that allows me to just throw them as they naturally are anywhere, but stuff that actually takes place in Hallownest is always nice to have! But most if not all of my plot ideas are tied to specific people's muses (like our plans for Ghost and Arti's HK AU! Definitely still wanna do that <3), and if they're not, then it's more along the lines of "man it'd be fun to have interactions with [character] but no blog that I know of writes them"

I guess I have considered writing a drabble for Ghost's post Dream No More verse for a while, basically going into their thought processes and stuff and how they're eventually able to reform themself as a Shade in the physical realm, which could also function as an open starter for any HK muse who could realistically be around the Black Egg Temple when that happens. No idea when or if I'll ever actually write that though dgshff

Papyrus is harder to come up with specific plots for in general, at least when it comes to interacting with fellow Undertale muses, just because there's so much freedom in what can be done that my mind just goes blank asgshdhsf. Generally speaking, though, it could be fun to do stuff with some of Undertale's neutral endings!

I believe I've brought this up at least once on the blog, though, and I know I've plotted something along these lines with at least one friend, but I do like the idea of Papyrus interacting with ex-villains or people who have Done Bad Things and regret it. Since! My Paps follows the Otherworld theory, and in his original Deltarune universe, he was the Roaring Knight! Or was at least affiliated with them in some way, but I think at this point, regardless of what Papyrus' role actually ends up being in Deltarune, I'm tempted to stick to mine being the Knight, even if that ends up making him canon divergent. I'll see once we actually get more information, I guess! But I digress. Point is, He's Been There! He's done the terrible things and has his regrets! But since then he's worked to redeem himself and become the Great Papyrus, and that's how he knows everyone else can do that, too.

I don't know how many times I'd actually want to write a thread based around that, since doing it over and over would probably get repetitive, but! In my heart, Papyrus is surrounded by a bunch of scary-looking ex-villain or otherwise morally grey friends who would kill for him if needed <3 gfhfhsdhf

It's funny though, because Papyrus' past is typically something that he never talks about. Like-- Sans is the only one who really knows anything, and that's just because they're brothers and he was there when it all happened. Even Flowey, despite his constant RESETs and completionism and trying to learn everything about all the "characters" in his "game", might not be aware of everything. Maybe just the "Papyrus did some things in the past that he deeply regrets" part, since I could see that being relevant to a conversation between the two of them. Because even though Paps is a bad liar, he's damn good at keeping secrets and simply Not Talking about things. And yet! I keep thinking about scenarios where he might actually be compelled to bring it up dgshshdf.

And then GLaDOS... I'd just like to try writing in general dhsgfshf. Definitely still want her and Mirage to bitch at each other lmao. I've still gotta write out my thoughts on how the two might meet using Mirage's psychopomp AU, which I will do! Eventually!!

For her Rain World AU, I think interactions with fellow iterators would especially be neat! But I've uh. Also gotta write out more info for that verse too first dhshdhf

[semixfenz]

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[kuvirasbitch]

thank you for the response!! i was finding that a lot of fans takes on twitter were based in expectation bias when their headcannons were not fulfilled. in other words, certain criticisms didn’t come from a place of objectivity and dissecting the story, but from a place of things not going the way they wanted after being knee deep in fanfics for 3 years. so i truly appreciate and really agree with your takes.

i think the show would have really benefited from a third season, or at the very least another act. i understand the writers want to explore other parts of the league universe but it felt unfair to rush this plot and these characters to get there. lack of commitment to the characters and their stories couldn’t be more true.

caitlyn’s arc HURT. she was such a likeable character in s1 and she feels totally different this season. i can see how some of her redemption is cultivated through actions but i don’t think it was nearly enough. she owed vi an apology and their needed to be very obvious remorse. there wasn’t nearly enough for the scale of her actions in acts 1/2. to me, caitlyn’s line to jinx “no amount of good dead’s can ever undo our crimes” kind of feels like the writers wrote that line to excuse themselves from having to write anything that would actually redeem her. don’t even get me started on her inability to see how wrong it was to push the enforcer role on vi… any previous anti classist/anti police brutality messaging from s1 were not addressed at all in s2. they turned the piltover/zaun conflict into a both sides thing where instead caitlyn’s redemption could have been a really great time to highlight and talk about those issues again this season.

i agree on all fronts about vi. her relationship with both caitlyn and jinx was handled so poorly i don’t even know where to start. the writers totally lost sight of the plot (two sisters) and totally neglected the aspects that made caitvi so special. their trust and communication and willingness to learn and understand is what drove the story forward and served as a way highlight the piltover/zaun injustices. i was shocked by vi becoming an enforcer, but her letting cait gas the undercity with no objections was such a betrayal to her and EVERYTHING her character stands for. we finally had a mainstream butch character who is just knocked down time and time again. vi loves hard and protects her family and to me it ultimately felt like she was punished for having too big of a heart. i wish they treated her character more tenderly, and you’re right, more agency would have been a really great way to do that.

i feel the same about jinx. her character was mistreated and wasn’t handled with the care she deserved. i thought we may be getting somewhere with isha and her stepping into the role zaun needs her in. but it was torn away just as quickly as it was given to us and i can’t really think of a reason why this benefited the story?

a lengthy reply on my part as well but i really appreciate your opinion and thoughts!

as soon as i finished s2 of arcane i knew i wanted to hear your takes on it. any opinions as to how they handled caitlyn’s arc, vi’s story, and the development of s2? i would love to hear anything you have to say about this season!!

also - the end of this season has me scouring Ao3 for some fics to fill the void. have you had any recent one shot or fic ideas now that the show has ended? i’ve been dying for a hurt/comfort and really soft sex type of story for cait and vi. maybe something where cait is taking care of vi after the events of 206? lord knows they could both use the comfort and vi deserves to be loved and taken care of. i know you would write that beautifully.

or if you have any recs for fics along those lines? 👀

as always, thanks for your incredible work both inside and outside of fandoms! love hearing from you! <3

Omg hiii! I appreciate that you care what I think haha!

Let me preface this by saying that the criticisms I have for the writing of s2 does not take away the love I have for this show and what it's done for animation as a medium.

Now, with that said...

S2 was a mess.

I said this on twitter, but I think the writers had a lot of ambition — too much ambition — for the amount of episodes they had to wrap this story up cohesively. This AMAZING show suffered because of corporate greed and not having enough time to flesh out character arcs and plots from s1. I think it started off promising. I was really excited to see how they would handle the Zaun/Piltover conflict, Vi's journey toward healing and forgiving herself for her past mistakes, Jinx's descent and then return as a hero, as well as Caitlyn's descent and redemption arc.

Instead we got... that.

There's one word that keeps twirling around in my head: commitment.

The writers lacked commitment (and a diverse writing room) to properly handle the Piltover/Zaun conflict. S1 had such a good starting point, whereas in S2 it's like they diverged from the path and forgot the finish line existed. Sitting Sevika at a table with her oppressors who will most likely tune her out and outvote her on everything is NOT a solution. Why not a complete overhaul of the council? Make it an even split? Instead it's the same people who never gave a fuck in the first place, and Sevika, who helped get half of the population of Zaun hooked on shimmer in the first place. Like what???

They failed to commit to Caitlyn's villain/dictator era. When episode 3 happened, I was skeptical about how they would handle it. And after watching the entire season, I had every right to feel that way. They make her so unapologetic and blasé about gassing Zaunites and letting Ambessa unlawfully arrest people. That's not my Cait from season 1. Does grief change people? Absolutely! But once it settles, you should be able to look back on what you've done and feel remorseful. Cait's lack of remorse was jarring. Her inability to apologize or outwardly own up to everything she did was OOC. You know what could've been the perfect moment for that? When Jayce gathered Piltover and Zaun in that room and she was standing right across from them. Why not have Sevika or Scar call her ass out and hold her feet to the fire? Lay out the facts of what her grief looked like to the innocent people of Zaun who had nothing to do with it? That would've been the perfect time for her to say something.

They failed to commit to Jinx and her story as a whole. At its core, this show was centered around two sisters growing up impoverished and oppressed, constantly separated, but always finding their way back to each other. Jinx is such a heartbreaking character used for trauma porn. Episode 6 fucked me up so badly but I THOUGHT it would lead to something big for her character. Like her stepping into this unwilling hero role and working with Ekko to lead Zaun into a better future like the one Ekko saw in episode 7. BUT LOL NOPE. Instead she's suicidal and self harming while her sister is fucking the oppressor in a prison cell. DA FUCK?

And lastly they failed Vi's character in every possible way. From putting on the badge in the first place to not exploring the depth of her character. She's basically a passenger in s2. Has no agency. Used as a punching bag (literally). And treated as an afterthought. I'm so pissed. There should've been a lot of conflict in act 1 between her and Cait. You mean to tell me Vi, who HATES enforcers. would willingly let her situationship gas her people? Fuck no. Absolutely not. It does not make sense, narratively speaking. Her ending did not make me hopeful. Even if Jinx is alive and moving on from Vi to "break the cycle" that does nothing for Vi's character. She is without family once again, and I fear it would lead to an unhealthy codependent relationship with Cait. Like she'll never be able to voice opposing thoughts or feelings without fear of Cait leaving her AGAIN.

As for the Caitvi relationship. This is tough. On one hand, I was happy to see a lesbian s*x scene in animation for an awarded television show. But on a heavier hand, it rings hollow after everything I've said. Much like the Piltover/Zaun story, Caitvi had a good starting point in season 1. I did have my issues with it because, as a Black woman, seeing someone oppressed get with a cop does nothing for me. But I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt because I believed the writers knew what they were doing. But I was wrong again. CaitVi is unfortunately one of the weakest points of S2. The writers did not COMMIT to their conflict. It's barely glossed over and then Caitlyn gets rewarded with s*x. And this is why I could never commit to them as a couple. At least not in canon. I liked them in s1 and the idea of what they could've been to each other in s2. And it looks like I'm going to have to find that elsewhere, unfortunately.

Overall, it all comes back to what I said in the beginning: lack of time, a diverse writing room, and corporate greed. I'm disappointed, but unfortunately not surprised. I hope the writers can learn from their mistakes moving forward.

As for fanfiction, I have actually not read any yet! So I don't have any recommendations for you. I need some for myself! I'll get back to you if I find any good ones.

Sorry for the lengthy post! I really just needed to get this all out and I feel so much better.

[immigrant-rob]

The last move

It's been 2 months since the last blog, so time for an update on the highlights. We have moved in and settled into our new rental house provided by a miracle. It is located in the exact neighborhood we had wanted, close to Naomi's family but usually an expensive one to rent. However, the landlord was very generous and made a deal that if we took good care of the property the rent would be lower. After unpacking 104 cardboard boxes and a few weeks of minor repairs around the house we were finally ready to settle in and enjoy. Besides living close to Naomi's family (who love to cook, and guess where most leftovers end up 😏), it is also within walking distance of a huge supermarket (think like Albert Heijn XXXL) and church. I had given up all hope to be able to walk to places from home!

While clearing out the house, Hoydi, Naomi's brother and I did a trip to the dump. Going to the dump always was an exciting day out back when I was young, but this was on a different level. Whereas I'm used to dumping my couch in a container, here they have ''landfills''. Massive pits on the outskirts of the city where 1.2 million people literally can dump their trash. Not sure how I felt about dumping 3 couches into mother nature, but I was assured that the nice neighborhood next to it was built on one of these full landfills and in a few years a new neighborhood would be built on my 3 couches.

A few weeks later we hosted our first guests at our place. Jacqueline, an old university friend of mine and her husband Mark came over. We went on my first snowshoeing hike up to Chester Lake through fresh powder which must feel as outdoorsy as it can get. We witnessed a decent sized avalanche from fairly nearby, and the powder it spewed up blowing through the trees. The next day we spent playing boardgames, where Mark beat me at my home game Everdell after I made a shameful mistake, but redeemed my board gaming career with a surprise Scythe win. Both great games if you're into board games!

A week later Naomi and I took a 1 week breather in Vancouver and Vancouver Island, where my highlight was seeing unhuggable trees. The largest being 9m in circumference! We also revisited Naomi's memories of camping on the island, catching crabs and clam digging on the beach. We caught 19 crabs in total, unfortunately non were big enough to be eaten.

Initially, I thought we were going for the views, but soon it became apparent that Naomi had a different to-do list. Apparently, Vancouver is the place to be to eat Asian food outside of Asia. I should've known that marrying a foodie means travel destinations aren't based on scenes but on food. I'm glad they didn't charge me 2 seats on the flight back after that week... Anyway, the climate reminded me of home. Wet and humid. Ideal for someone whose nose had been clogged for the past 2 months to be able to breathe again, but also reminded me of what I did not like about Dutch weather. The wetness and gray skies. Believe it or not, while writing this the temperature is -31 C here, but it is dry and I will bet a Timbit on a clear blue sky later today, just like the past week. I'll deal with the congested nose.

Last 2 highlights were our Christmas dinner with turkey and ham prepared by Hoydi which I could help carve (and take home many leftovers). Secondly, a beautiful easy hike through Johnstone Canyon to view the frozen waterfalls and its dare devil ice climbers. It's a tourist attraction which always makes for fun viewings of unprepared tourists with no cleats slipping and sliding down the trail. The second part of the hike to the mud pots was very quiet and allowed for some Disney Wonderland like views in the valley.

Studying is going well, I'm still on track with my schedule to finish by the end of January and use February to revise. Looking forward to put the exam behind me and start working!

[dailyaudiobiblechronological]

11/17/2023 DAB Chronological Transcription

Acts 4-6

Welcome to The Daily Audio Bible Chronological. I'm Jill. Today's the 17th day of November, welcome everybody. It's so good to be here with you- what a joy and a privilege it is to be walking through the word of God and reading the Bible in chronological order for us as a community also individually every day of the year until we get through the entire Bible in a year. You can do that individually but you can be a part of a beautiful community of people engaging in the word of God and making it apart of their daily rhythm everyday and boy are we ever quickly very rapidly approaching the finish line for this year. But before we get too far ahead we'll just stay here and be present in this moment that we have right now. We're going to continue in the book of Acts today reading Acts chapter 4, 5 and 6. And this week we're reading the English Standard Version. Acts chapter 4.

Commentary:

We continued in the book of Acts today and we see that as the message of Jesus, the good news is spread, there are those that do not consider it good news and they will oppose the message and they will go to great lengths to silence anyone that is out boldly proclaiming the good news of Jesus. And gathering from yesterday's reading and today's reading, yesterday where tongues of fire fell upon many different people from different regions, Peter reiterating the words of the Prophet Joel that all who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. We know from reading the gospels that Jesus declared to the disciples the work of God is to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and as we continue through the book of Acts, we're going to see the signs and wonders keep happening because this is the evidence of the Spirit of God that Jesus said he was leaving so that he could go to ascend with his father to prepare a place. But he comforts us by telling us that he is sending the comforter for us and I know I've expounded a little bit outside of what we read today but what we are reading in the book of Acts is the signs and the wonders that is happening through the power of the Holy Spirit which is the evidence the Spirit of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And so with anything good comes great opposition and we're going to continue to see that as we read through the book of Acts. 

Prayer:

Jesus thank you for meeting us here today. Thank you for your Spirit that you brought- introduced into the world and that is present with us. I pray that each and every one of us would sit with a question of are we opposing the good work that you're doing in any way through our words, through our deeds? And reveal those things in our heart I pray. And I pray this now in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Announcements:

Daily Audio Bible, that's home base. That's the website- take a look around, check out the store. There's some beautiful resources- they're created to enhance your journey through the Bible and maybe you don't know about that yet. They are there for you. If you would like to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, thank you so much for your partnership. We could not do this without you and we are so grateful for each and every one of you. If you're giving by mail DAB PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174 or utilizing the app you can hit the give icon located at the top right hand corner of your mobile device. If you need prayer, if you'd like to pray for someone that's previously called in 800-583-2164 or utilizing that app again hit the red circle button up at the top right hand corner you have 2 minutes on the prayer line- when you're finished hit submit turn the wheel to chronological and it will get to the right place. That's going to do it for me today. Love one another.

Community Prayer Line:

Family, it's Renee His redeemed daughter from Florida. I was wondering if you guys could lift up my daughter Jade this week she is at home studying for her Optometry test and she has gone for years to FSU and now she has to take this test and go four more years to have a really good score and I just ask that you lift her up and pray for her to have the ability to study to grab the knowledge that she needs to remember. It's a lot of math and biology and chemistry and all kinds of crazy stuff that they have to know even to become just an optometrist- an eye doctor and it's just a lot of material that she has to remember that she's taking a year off to go work for an eye doctor and now she has to sit here and study and try to remember. And she would feel good about it so have to pick it up from school which I don't want her to leave but there's five different places she's going to apply for and hopefully I'll come back on here and I'll let you know which one she picked. I just thank you guys so much and I love you. Joe you sound a little sick and under the weather, Tanya or somebody else I could tell oh yeah your voice was too so we're all there and I'm praying and lifted everybody up that's sick in Jesus name. Amen.

Hey my outstanding DABC fam, this is Kingdom Seeker Daniel. Family...best treatment in care in the facility that she has been in and it's been a little bit of a chore for Cindy, Sherry and the family to get her situated. Lord will you get Mom in a place that will be totally peaceful and will be most beneficial for her care and for her treatment so that Cindy, Sherry and the family can be at rest to know their mom is being cared for? And then I thank you Lord that you are in the process of healing Simone from Texas. God she has received quite a bit of information that seems to be on the downside but Lord we know that you are for her and therefore despite what the report say we know that you are greater than the report and so we pray that you will favor her life with healing you did it before God you did it way back when for Simone now will you do it again so that she can experience healing of fresh entirely in her body in Jesus name? And then for Tonya from Suffolk God her son is having some challenges in college or will you continue to be with him and work with him through his courses as well as Tanya's voice? God bring healing to her body in Jesus name. Amen.

Everyone this is Jess from Ohio. I wanted to give an update on the prayer request to ask for the little boy named Noah he is doing much better. He is out of the coma and he has started treatment with chemo and that treatment is doing well. His grandmother said there's no cancer in his spine and he's responding well to the treatment so far. Please continue to lift him up in prayer as they go through this journey of the diagnosis and treatments and everything else. But I just wanted to give a quick update that he is out of coma and doing good at the moment. Thank you all.