#assembly of faithful

[justana0kguy]

2024 MAY 06 Monday

"Sing to the LORD a new song of praise in the assembly of the faithful.

Let Israel be glad in their maker, let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.

Let them praise His name in the festive dance, let them sing praise to Him with timbrel and harp.

For the LORD loves His people, and He adorns the lowly with victory."

~ Psalms 149:1-4

[juanabaloo]

(Your choice for Faith's mindset for when she meets this alternate Buffy. Are they fighting? Kissing? Very much up to you.)

Happy Faith Lehane Day! (technically October 13th, when 3x03 first aired) To celebrate let's review all the AU Buffys that would be fun for Faith to meet. (I mean really, what better way to celebrate than by centering Buffy, which is what Faith would do.)

(Apologies if you wanted Rat Buffy or Something Blue "forced to love Spike" or Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered "forced to love Xander" or Him "forced to love RJ" Buffys in the poll. and shout out to "fake scientist at the Initiative" Buffy, who didn't make the cut.)

And yes if you have Fuffy fic recs for these different AUs drop a link in the replies!

(Faith Lehane poll series) <- bc this poll is very related to Faith

Image credits: IMDB: 1, 2, 4, 9, 10, 11 IG everyoutfitbuffywore: 3, 5, 6, 8 screenshot of andremichaux gifset: 7

[hawkpartys]

i want to preface this by saying i am generally against the idea of driving anything to extinction especially if its just because its "weird" or "scary" but i HAVE been wondering about something for a while: what are the ethics of eradicating parasites of humans? Like, specifically the ones adapted to human hosts such as a few of the tapeworm species out there. fuck it while im here i also know screwworm flies arent definitive parasites of humans in particular but do you have any opinions of the efforts to eradicate those either?

These are the kind of questions that teams of PhDs spend years of their lives and thousands of dollars of grant money answering. I don't have any formal education in this specific niche nor do I have the time or inclination to spend a week reading research papers. It would be irresponsible for me to answer this like an authority.

I would suggest either finding research papers or asking a blogger who knows more about parasites. @bogleech often has solid resources.

[shiningthelightministries]

Bible Study - Are You Sure You're Ready For Jesus To Return?

[lulu2992]

All my life I've dealt with people like you. People who underestimate sweet, innocent Faith. You see what you want to see: A playful butterfly... A delicate flower... A child with childish thoughts... It's easy to disregard a child. Tracey made the same mistake as you. And while you all ignored me, I walked right through every one of you.

A representation of Faith’s multifacetedness, a quality that, as she explains it herself, can be a powerful weapon if you know how to wield it.

[liuisi]

Is ir okay to not feel it as a christian if youre still doing it? If i read the word and do what it says, but i never feel. the feelings. Is it normal? I feel so lost. Ive prayed so much.

hi!! i'm going to assume this question is coming from this post of mine. if its not sorry but i hope my answer still stands!

my point in that post is that it's not all about feeling the feelings. honestly, i would say that usually, Feeling Strong Emotion/being overtaken by emotion over it is something that is not necessarily common. of course, it depends on the person. some people are just Strong Feelers but that's not everyone! (i am not one of these people, for example).

if you don't Always Feel The Supernatural Presence Of God and you don't feel emotional every time you think about the Lord, or whatever standard you want to set, that's not an indicator of your faith. (or if you're truly saved.)

what's important is knowing. and believing. do you truly Know And Believe that the Lord Jesus, the Son of God, died on the cross for your sins? do you Know and Believe that the God of the Bible is real? that He created the world and everything in it? that He sent His only begotten Son to die out of love for us?

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

that's what's important!!!! not if you cry during worship or if a sermon touches you. not Feeling A Supernatural Presence. if you know God is with you always, then you don't need to feel it for proof. you know it. you have faith.

modern-day christian culture has turned christianity into solely something you Feel. big displays of emotions during worship, people talking about visions and speaking in tongues and being filled by the Holy Spirit, etc. (this attitude has also led to the culture of "if i don't feel that the Lord is telling me that this is wrong, or if i feel that the Lord is telling me that this is okay, then it is.) but you can't rely on your feelings.

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9

you want to hear God speak? you open your Bible. it's Literally God's word. everything you need to Know about God and how you should live your life is in there.

basically: anon, lack of Strong Emotion over living the faith does not mean that you're doing something wrong. however! i want to cover all my bases, just to be sure. you mention "reading the word and doing what it says". you might already know this, but being a christian isn't just about acts or works. the entire point of the gospel is that we cannot be saved through what we do, only through faith. it goes back to what i was saying about faith earlier on. if you find yourself treating this life like a checklist, like a "i'll do this, and this, and this, and then God will help me/love me", then that might be something to meditate about.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

[ineffablymischievousscamp]

Michael Sheen - Master Storyteller

In today's digital world, celebrity interviews are in abundance - especially when you consider newer mediums like podcasts that have skyrocketed in popularity over the past decade. You can find panels from conventions, access talk shows from other countries, read magazine articles from across the pond. There are so many one-dimensional, disconnected, or just plain boring celebrity guests in this oversaturated market. Michael Sheen is NEVER one of those guests.

Storytelling is an underappreciated skill. In this realm, it becomes obvious that Michael has harnessed this skill exceptionally well. As a master storyteller and world-builder, he captivates with the effortless ease of a raconteur, transforming an ordinary interview question into immersive journeys that leave you utterly enraptured.

You can't help but be drawn in by his passion. It's not just in the words he chooses or the exact experience he is relaying, but the ebb and flow of his narrative voice - a voice that exudes warmth and conviction, vulnerability and authenticity, humor and hope.

Like an artist crafting an epic, he makes it so that you feel like an active participant in the tale - present in the narrative being woven - instead of just a listener. Each story feels like a memory being created in the moment with you, rather than just a mere recounting of events.

I absolutely love when he takes a seemingly simplistic interview question that one would assume would result in a stale, depthless answer, and somehow delivers a story so engaging that you are now on an unexpected adventure alongside him. It doesn't matter the topic - he is just that magical and skilled. Michael must be a dream for interviewers. In a lot of ways, the man practically interviews himself. His tangents are so entertaining, refreshing, and enriching - delivering delicious opportunities to dive deeper into his narratives should the interviewer find themselves brave enough.

Outside of his masterful storytelling, Michael truly just seems like a wonderful human to have a conversation with. He is insanely charming, marvelously chaotic, unabashedly honest, perpetually curious, intensely thought-provoking, and deeply caring.

Do yourself a favor and listen to some Michael Sheen content this week. You might laugh until you hurt. You might sob uncontrollably. You might find yourself impassioned over a new topic. You might leave with a fresh perspective. You might find your faith in humanity restored. You will not regret it.

In closing, we all know that age-old ice breaker question - If you could have a dinner party with any 5 famous people (dead or alive), who would they be and why? Well if it isn't obvious yet, one of my answers would unequivocally be Michael Sheen. He'd be riveting in his own right, but can you imagine the stories he'd draw out of the other guests too?

Bonus Content:

For all of those that made it to the end of my TedTalk... enjoy this instant serotonin boost brought to you by Sheenie's Smile!

And yes, at my dinner party I'd 100% tell him "You've had such a profound effect on my life!"

[heyyesimtrash-whatofit]

Sometimes being in the show of your dreams means finally biting the bullet and making the Audrey 2 puppet you’ve wanted but haven’t had the motivation to make for years

[mariocki]

All Passion Spent: Episode 2 (1.2, BBC, 1986)

"You really must not speak as though my life has been a tragedy. I had everything that most women would envy; I had position, comfort, children, and a husband I loved. Truly loved, Mr. Fitzgeorge. I had nothing to complain of."

"Except that you were defrauded of the one thing that mattered, face it, Lady Slane: your children, your husband, your splendour... were nothing but obstacles that kept you from yourself. Perhaps you were too young to know any better, but when you chose that life, you know, you sinned against the light."

"You're right, of course."

"Course I'm right, old Fitz may be a comic figure, but he retains some sense of values."

"Don't scold me any more, Mr. Fitzgeorge. I assure you that if I did wrong, I paid for it. But you must not blame my husband."

"Oh, I don't. According to his lights, he gave you everything you could desire. He merely killed you, that's all. Men do kill women, and most women enjoy being killed - so I am told."

[juanabaloo]

the original Girl Dad: The Mayor

↑ helping her move into her dorm

↑ having a nice picnic

Not pictured: - playing PlayStation games with her - Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner at their favorite Chinese restaurant - teaching her how to drive manual and parallel park - a second S4 video where he tearfully tells her a long list of recommendations for restaurants and life advice (ala Christian Troy in Nip Tuck to his tiny baby son) - watching a Bruins - Kings hockey game in LA for her bday

[faithsactivism]

HEY YALL!!!!!!

I’m causing some ✨chaos✨ behind the scenes rn with @queeryouthassemble so I’ll keep you posted on when you can get involved :)) should be within the next few days

Follow @youthdissent for more updates too!!!

[hauntedfalcon]

delicious. finally some good fucking fantasy theology talk from characters who have reasons to feel ways about stuff

[justana0kguy]

2023 MAY 15 Monday

"Sing to the LORD a new song of praise in the assembly of the faithful.

Let Israel be glad in their maker, let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.

For the LORD loves his people, and he adorns the lowly with victory."

~ Psalms 149:1-2,6a

[donnadarling]

I wrote a poem about this a few years ago! His story was so beautiful and baffling, I could not resist.

The Janitor Prophet (by Donna Darling)

The gods appeared to him and suddenly he could see eternity in a coke bottle, the fabric of time and space in a cereal box. The Holy Spirit overshadowed him and he spun gold from drinking straws. The angels watched over him, guided his hands as he shaped crowns no head would ever wear, wrote words no one would ever read. Decades poured into unseen beauty, his invisible Patron providing the sacred materiel: Band aids and foil and reckless devotion, a cathedral in a rented garage.

Was it love or madness? Is there a difference? There was God in the garbage, Mary in the smog filled skies, he saw them with his own eyes. And so he continued his lonely vigil, alone yet not alone.

“Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations’ Millennium General Assembly”

Built by janitor James Hampton over a period of 14 years.

It is constructed out of “various old materials like aluminum and gold foil, old furniture, various pieces of cardboard, old light bulbs, shards of mirror and old desk blotters. He had pinned it together with tacks, glue, pins and tape.”

[craigtowens]

How Do We Wait Expectantly?

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.  https://craigtowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/how-do-we-wait-expectantly.mp3 Last week I asked, “How long do we keep praying?” Answer: Until God answers or until He lifts our burden. In the meantime, the Bible encourages us to… Keep asking with full confidence that…

[mostlyfrommemory]

Some Thoughts on Truth

While I was working my way through college I noticed a phenomenon that happened with alarming frequency. Things that I had been taught in high school as fact were now being challenged and subjected to heavy source criticism. Post-truth: relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief. It…