#does anybody still read the bible these days?

[plungermusic]

12.1 “No man or woman can serve two masters.”

12.2 “For either they will hate the one and love the other, or they will cleave to the one and abandon the other.”

12.3 “Therefore, ye cannot serve both blues and americana”

12.4 At which Peter uttereth, “Lord, this cannot be so, for countless are they who walk both the blues path and the path of americana. Are they to be condemned merely for their versatility?”

12.5 Unto which He respondeth, “He (or yea, she, for this is not unknown) who traveleth both paths may indeed journey far, and journey well, but cannot truly scale the peaks of either.”

12.6 “For the ways of one are not the ways of the other, and mastery cometh only to those who dedicate themselves.”

12.7 “Much as it paineth me to disagree,” saith Peter, “yet verily there are those who have indeed ascended to the very heights of both those peaks.”

12.8 “Nay not only these but also scaled the summits of the rocky pinnacles.”

12.9 “Which have been deemed classic.”

12.10 “Sayeth who?” interupteth He.

12.11 “Sayeth them who bestow the accolades upon the righteous at the turn of every year.” 

12.12 (“Yea, and when I say every year it doth seem to be EVERY year despite the numberless multitudes from which they might select their exalted champions.”

12.13 “But then what knoweth I?”)

12.14 At which He waxed exceeding wrathful and turned over the tables of the merch sellers, saying:

12.15 “Look thou not on the baubles and gewgaws that shower from the hands of the ignorant, for they are bought with the gold of the ungodly.”

12.16 “Nor put your trust in the exalted praise of the world, for it is but the empty clanging adulation of brazen vessels that lack substance, and yea any semblance of musical savvy.”

12.17 And Peter looketh at Him and saith “Hath anyone ever told thee, thou canst verily be a total downer on occasion?”

12.18 “Ofttimes I swear I knoweth thee not…”

[lindamccartneysstrap]

hell0o. i dont know anything about the beatles but i just watched two of us on a whim and have become insane. fic recs please or just any content, news articles interviews idek. help me tumblr use paulmccartneyprostateorgasm

Sorry I haven't been ignoring this I've just been Thinking. The thing is that I've been into the beatles off and on since I was in middle school so it's hard for me to remember like. Beatles 101. But welcome to hell. Two of us is a cwazy intro to mclennon lol.

Ok so I guess the thing is really depends on how serious you wanna be with your idk beatles scholarship? Like at an absolute bare minimum I would skim some wikipedia articles so you know the major people/places/events/eras. There are a zillion beatles bios and docs most of them bad some of them vital. Unfortunately it haven't gone through any of those since I was a teenager so I can't really tell you which is which anymore. I'm sure plenty of other beatles blogs could provide resources if you want them.

Definitely watch get back and let it be. The movies the beatles were in as well but less essential I guess. Advanced Level McCartney Studies but watch give my regards to broad street it's a fascinating reflection of pauls psyche.

I'd look at blogs like @amoralto @thecoleopterawithana @undying-love for references. Probably more upper level stuff but all of pauls interviews are on the paul mccartney project website and I once went through and read all the interviews from the 80s. Full disclosure, the thing about mclennon that compels me the most is the tragedy of it all, so that's where I tend to fixate. But it was a fascinating experience because you can really see paul work through his regrets/grief/resentment/bitterness/pain about john in real time

A word of caution when reading interviews: both of these guys are incredibly untruthful at times. John, after the breakup in particular, could be very hot and cold, especially about paul so don't take everything he says at face value. Paul also lies a lot no matter what anybody tries to tell you he just gets away with it more because he's still alive and people feel bad calling him a liar

Songs. Their songs are very very important. I sometimes see people act like it's stupid to believe things based on the songs. To a point I get it art doesn't have to be literal yadda yadda. But you also gotta consider these guys communicated a Lot to each other through music from the time they were teenagers. Anyway I'd suggest listening to the songs for a more thorough understanding but just reading lyrics I guess is fine. I personally still like going through people's mclennon playlists and analyzing Why people think they're mclennon. Look at the lyrics, go to beatles bible and/or the paul mccartney project and learn about the context, etc.

Okay anyway on to fanfic. If this is your main concern just ignore all the above advice who cares. Also I'm a horrible resource because I always forget what I read. Um @forthlin @menlove @pauls1967moustache have good fics sorry I can never remember any of your ao3 names. Merseydreams (I think it is) has good fics. @crepesuzette2023 does a lot of fic recs I think. One thing that's always fun about beatles fics is when u think something is completely made up and you look it up and it's literally real like wtf. I'm also a bad reference because I'm heavily biased towards early days fics and post breakup fics.

Ok hope this helps even a little bit. Remember the most important rule is to have fun. People take this shit so seriously but it's literally the beatles. But please do fact check that always drives me nuts.

[polyamzeal]

Polywise Review

When I first learned of non-monogamous, I seeked out as many resources as possible to learn if I really was it. Some of the most important resources were a few books. The communities I found made it seemed like you were not even allowed to have a license to be polyamorous unless you first read certain books. At that time, the holy bible of polyamory was More Than Two and before it was The Ethical Sluts. These were the books everybody recommended as a must-read if anybody wanted to learn more about polyamory, no matter what aspect of polyamory they wanted to learn more about. These books were hyped up like they would cover everything. Those books have fallen out of favor now a days and are hardly ever recommended and when they are people are quick to jump in to talk about their controversies as a reason why nobody should read them for them anything. So a new book had come along to become the new holy bible of polyamory. That book was Polysecure by Jessica Fern. How do I feel about Polysecure? I think it is a good book that is over-rated and over-recommended. Unlike the previous bibles, I do not see Polysecure as a polyamory 101 book. It does not get into the very basics of polyamory at all. It is much more of a polyamory 102 book, a book to read once you are ready dig deeper and study the more advanced topics. I think it is great we have 102 books! I am glad that every polyamory book out there is not just an introduction to polyamory. I often mention that "Love's Not Colorblind" by Kevin Patterson is a fantastic polyamory 102 book! Polysecure feels more focused on attachment theory than polyamory honestly to me. It is really interesting stuff to read but I never really felt like it applied much to my relationship, I rarely felt insecure in my relationships. I had other problems that needed working on in different ways.

So all that to say that Jessica Fern had a second book come out. And despite having some issues with the community worshipping the first book, I was ready to give the author another chance. It sounded like this book was going to be more of what the community makes Polysecure out to be. And yeah, I am happy to say it is accurate. Now I still don't think this is quite a polyamory 101 book. If you want an introduction to polyamory that covers all the basics there are other books I would recommend like "The Smart Girl's Guide To Polyamory" by Dedecker Winston or "Ready For Polyamory" by Laura Boyle. But Polywise is more of a 101 book than Polysecure is. Maybe Polysecure is really a 103 book with Polywise being 102.

Whhat do I have to say about the contents of Polywise? Honestly not much despite everything I prefaced it with. The book is good and i liked quite a bit! But like the last book, it is meaty intellectual topics that make your brain think. Which makes it a bit hard to summarize and untangle in a simple review without going page by page. I do like how much focus is put on how many little tiny things change when going from monogamy to non-monogamy that you wouldn't think of or plan for. Also the whole book has an angle of not just monogamy to non-monogamy but also one form of non-monogamy to a different form of non-monogamy. It is very thought-provoking. From my favorite chapter was on codependency & differentiation. It was amazing to have words for these phenomenons I had personally observed serveral times but didn't know what to call it. I feel like that chapter in particular will be really useful to a lot of people. Finally there was a lot of unpacking old habits that were once useful but are now harmful. It really shines a spotlight on the shift to non-monogamy being a really big change that I don't think a lot of newbies often understand.

I highly recommend Polywise: A Deeper Dive Into Navigating Open Relationships by Jessica Fern & David Cooley. I think it is a better book than Polysecure. My caveat is I don't know if it should be the very first book you read about Polyamory.

[cowgurrrl]

i need you to make a rockstar!joel fic based on this bc i know he’s irritating actress!reader all the time 😭😭😭 https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSNc9dtJR/

Omg YESSSS (side note: i love Dave Grohl so this fits so well (ps this is gonna be me filling the doc with random thoughts pls enjoy))

He doesn’t even realize he’s doing it. You’re not sure if that makes it better or worse. You love him, you do. You married him. You gave him three children. You wake up every day and choose to do life with him. You love him so fucking much. But, you swear to God, you’re gonna punch him in the face if he doesn’t stop finding new ways to annoy you.

He’s a musician and has the musician habit of tapping and drumming on things whilst working out a melody or whatever else is swirling around in his head. The tapping you’ve gotten used to. The vocalizing of random thoughts, you have not. You’ll be trying to read a script or something when he comes into the room and just starts making random noises or quoting movie scenes under his breath. One time, you burst out laughing and woke the girls up from a nap when you heard him whisper, “Lieutenant Dan, you ain’t got no legs,” out of nowhere. If you say anything remotely similar to a song lyric, he starts singing the song, guitar solos and all. It makes the kids laugh and the older girls have been known to secretly giggle when you give Joel a look for annoying you. Still, he hasn’t stopped and has no plans of trying.

His new favorite thing to do is to narrate everything he does in a Kardashian voice. Getting orange juice for Sam in the morning: “Oh my God, this juice is literally gonna be so good for you.” Taking Daisy for a walk: “You are literally so fit. Bible.” Leaving a room: “Okay, I have to go I have a thing.” You have no idea where he picked it up or why but it’s driving you up a wall. Finally, while you’re getting ready for bed, he mutters something in a Kardashian voice under his breath and you whip around.

“What are you doing?!” You ask and he raises his eyebrows at you.

“Washin’ my face?”

“No, not that! What is this new bit or whatever you’ve picked up?”

“What do you even mean?” He asks in the Kardashian voice and it takes everything in you to not grab his shirt and shake him. “I’m literally not even doing anything. Bible.”

“You’re making me crazy.”

“Why?” The long vowels and the high-pitched voice is annoying but it’s the twinkle in his eyes that makes you break and laugh. “You’re literally being so dramatic. I’m not even doing anything.”

“Stop! Where did you even get this from?”

“Get whaaat?”

“Joel!”

“Who’s Joel?”

“I’m gonna call your mom.”

“I’m literally a freaking adult. You can’t call my moooomm.”

“Our children are gonna start sounding like this un ironically if you don’t stop,” you threaten as he crowds your space, pushing you against the sink with a smirk on his face. “You’re gonna sleep in the couch if you don’t stop.”

“If you hate it so much, why are you literally smiling?”

“Because you’re ridiculous!”

“You literally married me.”

“I don’t know why.”

“Ouch!” Joel says, suddenly dropping the Kardashian voice, and you laugh. You put your hands on his chest and quickly and profusely apologize but he makes a mock pained face away from you. “That is literally,” he pauses to make an awful crying face. “The meanest fucking thing you ever could’ve said.”

“Joel-”

“No, because like why would you even say that? You, like, think you know somebody and then they just betray you and it’s like you literally can’t even trust anybody these days.” He’s breaking himself with his own bit and you both burst into silly laughter.

“You desperately need an ADHD diagnosis.” You say.

“I’ll get one as soon as you get one.” He counters and you squint at him.

“Touché, Miller, Touché.”

[cgsf]

Men's Hockey (RPF) fanfiction recs:

Connor McDavid/Leon Draisaitl

"he's no jacob from the bible (but damn he made me pray)" 🔒 (M) by softnoirr | 8,567 | He fell in love with his best friend. He fell out of love with the thing they did together. He broke like a puppet crumbling under its strings.

"freight train running" 🔒 (E) by adeleblaircassiedanser | 1,607 | Right now he cares roughly zero about anything except Leon’s warm hands on him, the way he smells and tastes like he showered and used Listerine and shaved just to be waiting here, waiting for Connor. “Sit down,” Leon says. “I want to blow you. You look so fucking money.”

"The Great Escape" 🔒 (E) by marmolita | 6,809 | Sometimes you just need to drive across Canada with your girlfriend, your girlfriend's girlfriend, your girlfriend's girlfriend's boyfriend, and a couple of dogs.

"circle the drain" 🔒 (T) by blaahaj | 3,431 | “Listen.” Connor leans right up to the mic. “If there’s any kind of—anybody, studying time travel out there, I’m stuck in a time loop, okay? I’m stuck and I don’t know what else to do, take me off to a lab or whatever but I’m so fucking sick of—” “What the fuck,” Leon says, too loud.

"in the spaces no one looks" 🔒 (M) by anonymous | 18,873 | When the lights come back on after the Pride Tape presentation and the boys start to stir, Connor looks at Ebs, sitting on the floor in front of him, and he says, without thinking, "Is this about me?" Everyone within earshot freezes.

"All In" 🔒 (E) by marmolita | 29,414 | The website is simple and straightforward. The header reads Black Forest BDSM and there's a tasteful banner showing a set of leather handcuffs laying on elegant sheets. There's a photo on the side of a solidly built man in leather pants and a tight fitting shirt, cropped so that his mouth is visible but the rest of his face isn't.

"tonight we're gonna drown the sound out" 🔒 (E) by winglavender | 1,970 | Some days Leon still can't believe he gets to have this: Connor, his hair fluffed up from Leon's fingers, all his teeth showing, easy and relaxed in a way he isn't anywhere else.

"older, younger, both" 🔒 (E) by notthequiettype | 1,875 | "You look really young this year." "I look the same," Connor says.

"living by the hour" 🔒 (M) by notthequiettype | 1,233 | "Good birthday?" Leon hums, and starts opening up Connor's slacks.

"the weakness of wanting anything" 🔒 (E) by notthequiettype | 6,323 | "I can't believe you didn't tell me you had an exit strategy," Leon says, and taps the lit button to keep the doors from closing. "I didn't," Connor says, and steps in. "I just got tired."

"this year" 🔒 (NR) by notthequiettype | 409 | Connor had been saying, this year this year this year for so long now, a prayer that had lost specificity a long time ago.

"green in your love" 🔒 (E) by notthequiettype | 6,151 | How it could have, should have, and did.

"green as weeds" 🔒 (E) by notthequiettype | 6,671 | Connor knows he shouldn't go, that even if Leon's been nice enough to him, gone out of his way include Connor in team stuff more enthusiastically than Connor was used to, it was still different than going to his house, going to a party, going to a party at his house.

"love me mercilessly" 🔒 (E) by notthequiettype | 2,309 | It's not usually like this.

"the consensual reality of ordinary life" 🔒 (E) by notthequiettype | 3,779 | Two years ago, the bland domesticity of a routine would've sent Leon into a spiral.

"show me how to be your boy" 🔒 (E) by notthequiettype | 3,535 | "I'm good," Connor says, when the hot surge of it settles into an ache for more. "You're always good," Leon says, smirking against Connor's mouth.

"universal properties" 🔒 (NR) by stridents | 7,950 | The video has 400k views already. Or at least, this version on Twitter does, which seems to be a repost of an already-deleted account. The caption is just two eyes emojis, a shocked face, and Connor’s fucking Twitter handle.

"a brief, unauthorized guide to tending an exit wound" 🔒 (NR) by stridents | 10,121 | In the ten months between March 2021 and January 2022, Connor McDavid gets swept in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, initiates a breakup, and is hit very hard on the head.

"legs and limbs" 🔒 (T) by stridents | 757 | “You’re unglaublich.” Connor says it soft and haltingly, because it’s new and unfamiliar and Leon’s. His mouth is refusing to cooperate, tongue sitting too close to his new teeth. “Very good.” Almost true. And besides – Leon loves him.

"The Sexual Adventures of McDavid (or How Connor Learns To Relax)" 🔒 (M) by carissima | 6,546 | Leon’s heart is racing as he steps into the shower and flicks the water on. It’s hot and the pressure is too high, his skin prickling as the water flows down his body. He ducks his head under the spray and tries to get his breathing under control. Connor just checked him out, he’s sure of it.

"(a kiss) to encourage" 🔒 (T) by carissima | 1,023 | “I don’t mind running,” Leon says, stepping off the machine and grabbing a bottle of water that he downs in one long drink. “You just need some motivation.” Connor groans and gets to his feet. “Nope. Nothing could motivate me to run.” Leon pats his shoulder. “We’ll think of something.”

"push and pull" 🔒 (T) by carissima | 5,415 | “Say you want it then,” Leon says, skating backwards and keeping his gaze locked on Connor. “Say you want the fucking trophy, Connor.” “I want the trophy,” Connor yells. It echoes weirdly in the empty space around them but he doesn’t care. “Are you happy now?” “Not yet but we’re getting there,” Leon says.

"dragging myself back home" 🔒 (T) by blaahaj | 4,021 | Connor doesn’t go to Cologne on a whim. He’s been thinking about it for a long time—since Leon announced his retirement from the NHL more than a year ago. Connor meant to go watch him play, told him so even, the handful of times they’d talked to each other. But the NHL season was what it was, and even when they were teammates Connor never followed Leon home for the offseason.

"four years, no calls" 🔒 (M) by blaahaj | 4,241 | Connor takes a swig of his beer and waits until Leon’s a safe distance away. This won’t be pleasant, but some things need to be said. “He’s not gonna fuck you, just so you know,” Connor tells Tyson, gently as he can.

"got the ceiling with the stars" 🔒 (E) by eversincewefellapart | 5,655 | “That’s so dope. You got a sugar daddy, huh?” Connor’s face goes hot extremely fast. “I — what? No?” Kailer finally looks up. “The rich older guy you’re dating drops thousands of dollars on gifts for you and takes you on vacations?” he says, and Connor hesitates before nodding. “Congratulations! You got a sugar daddy.”

"the most remarkable thing about you" 🔒 (T) by winglavender | 6,719 | "I was never going to get in the middle of what you and Connor have anyway. You know what I mean," Darnell waves a hand. "The dynamic duo, the two top scorers, the All Star legends, carrying the whole team on your very impressive shoulders. And that crush Connor had on you for years." Darnell shakes his head. "I just can't compete with that kind of bond." Leon is sitting down, but he feels like his skates just slipped out from under him. "What?"

"memory that beats like a drum" 🔒 (M) by notthequiettype | 1,581 | "You lead, I'll follow." Leon says it like it's easy. "Yeah," Connor asks, his voice kind of reedy from yelling on the ice. "That simple?" This doesn't feel simple, suddenly. It feels huge and complicated and maybe almost scary if Connor wasn't too tired to feel anything resembling fear. He wants it anyway. "Anywhere."

"the years of love's past" 🔒 (NR) by notthequiettype | 2,169 | Connor sent a gift. It was what you did when you were an adult and an invitation was extended to you, even if it was one you wouldn't accept. Couldn't.

"Can't Change The World (But Maybe I'll Change Your Mind)" 🔒 (M) by puckinghell | 11,006 | Leon knows he should maybe try to contact Connor, but he doesn’t really know what to say. The thing is, if it was anyone else, he’d text. He’d tell them it’d be okay – even though he has no clue – and to get through it and that he’s there for them. He’d then expect to not hear from them again. But it’s Connor, and everything is different, with Connor.

"the perfect blend" 🔒 (T) by carissima | 5,714 | “This your first time here then?” Darnell asks, reaching below the counter to pull out a loyalty card that he dangles in front of Holy Fucking Hottie. “Ten visits gets you a free coffee.” “I guess it depends whether the coffee’s any good then,” Holy Fucking Hottie says, his gaze flickering over to where Connor is sliding the lid on his espresso.

"if we make it through december (we'll be fine)" 🔒 (M) by softnoirr | 15,610 | “Are you uh,” Connor takes a breath, “Are you doing anything for Christmas?” Leon pauses, his hands stilling on the laces of his skates, but he doesn’t look up. Connor’s starting to develop a paranoia that he’s going to forget what Leon’s eyes actually look like.

"tonight the sky's alive" 🔒 (E) by anonymous | 2,371 | Leon grabbing his hand while they were out shopping in the city had been a new thing. Weird but nice, which basically described all of Connor’s friends. He guessed that was a consequence of focusing on hockey for so long.

"kiss me with your mouth open" 🔒 (E) by winglavender | 12,920 | "Why, are you offering?" Leon's still smiling, ready to make a joke of it again. Connor swallows. "What if I was?"

"take me back to places i feel loved in" 🔒 (T) by fishfoods | 1,637 | They'd had a conversation after that last doctor visit, a mess of words and comfort, hands held too tight. Connor could see it in Leon's eyes then. He wasn't going to ask. Connor should've known. He'd never, ever, ever ask. Someone else would've. Not Leon. Connor has one year left. One year. He's going to play, and then he's going to come back, and they'll figure things out from then.

"i know you're something else" (E) by littlelocaldreamer | 4,274 | Connor’s never had a friend like Leon before.

"door number two" 🔒 (M) by blaahaj | 5,919 | “You this nice to all Hallsy’s hookups?” Leon asked. Connor shook his head. “You’re the only one I’ve met.” God, he really was new.

"came to win" 🔒 (M) by revanchist | 400 | Because he’s drunk, and because he’s not thinking with his head, and because it’s always harder at the scene of the crime to pretend the crime didn’t happen in the first place, he says, “Sometimes you’re so good I want to slap you.”

"be the one to set me free" 🔒 (E) by notthequiettype | 31,327 | Connor tips his chin up and Leon's mouth is on his in the same breath, something slow and new and careful, exploratory, cautious, Connor's hunger for it simmering low and then roaring to life, hot and heavy in his belly. It's different than kissing Amanda, or Leslie, or any of the girls before or in-between, like it's touching something new. It feels like an itch being scratched that he didn't know was there at all.

"I'm not a sailor, I'm a captain" 🔒 (E) by LizzieMack | 1,940 | so connor mcdavid has a hot tub

"for control, grip" (E) by brinicles | 3,330 | Everything Leon does is foreign and fantastical. He comes back every fall and feels like something from another dimension all over again, something new, novel, a whole different hemisphere of frost boiled down into his blood, a frame that Connor can study endlessly: can watch and scrutinize and never really figure out, never get a handle on. This isn't that, though. This is just Leon being a little shit.

".500" (T) by brinicles | 4,647 | "Fuck," he mutters. "Hey," Connor says from the doorway. He stumbles again. "Fuck," he says again. (Mar 9 2020, EDM vs VGK: You can keep the game alive, but the season dies fast as the year goes on.)

"Better Than I Ever Even Knew" (E) by Lewsy | 13,185 | Connor gets it, has made his peace with the fact that most people find him painfully boring, but he’s managed to keep Leon around, so maybe it’s not that bad.

"and just for this moment (as long as you're mine)" 🔒 (E) by adoringsolitude | 5,815 | He digs his nails into his forearm in a desperate attempt to ground himself as he strains to catalog every sensation, knowing with absolute certainty that even if he manages to ask someone else for this someday, it won’t be as good as this.

"we’re only alive if we bruise" (M) by snowinthestars | 1,916 | Leon and Connor don’t really have personal space with each other.

"no dawn, no day" (T) by jalebibaby | 1,784 | Later, when his heart rate shoots up, and his lungs are on fire, trying to keep up with him pushing so hard to get back on the ice, he counts to twenty-nine.

"even when i lose i’m winning" (NR) by allthatsings | 1,109 | Connor helps an injured Leon get ready for bed during Round 3 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"impulsivity" 🔒 (NR) by notthethequiettype | 791 | connor goes to germany

"the way things have a double life" 🔒 (M) by notthequiettype | 3,777 | connor decides to try playing it fast and loose. leon isn't handling it well.

"Two Minutes for Hooking" 🔒 (E) by Helenish | 5,271 | It used to bother him, being looked at, picked apart, but he’s used to it now. Part of the job.

"what we've made" 🔒 (E) by notthequiettype | 6,683 | "Come to the house." "Aren't you sick of me?" "Not as sick as I'll be of the quiet."

"miracle summer" 🔒 (T) by Helenish | 2,748 | “I thought,” Connor says once, tucked in next him, drowsy. “When I first saw you coming off the Ferry, I thought you were summer people.”

"cherry bomb" 🔒 (E) by notthequiettype | 2,469 | "Cherries are a little on the nose." Connor hums again, the end tilted into a question. "Fruit," Leon says, and lets his fingers graze higher, the soft skin of Connor's inner thigh.

"sure as the sea" (E) by littlelocaldreamer | 3,698 | They don’t do this. But Connor looks so happy, so carefree like he never is, and before he can stop himself Leon asks the girl, “When are we leaving?”

"if i'm not what you hoped" 🔒 (E) by winglavender | 10,425 | "Heard the Leafs lost tonight." "Yeah." Mitch pulls an exaggerated face. "Leading the whole game and then Connor's guy ties it up with a disgusting pass, absolutely filthy, and then scored the overtime winner." "That's rough. You want another one?" The bartender tips her head at Connor's half-empty glass; he shakes his head. "Who's your guy?" "Draisaitl, obviously." Mitch taps the rainbow-patterned 29 on Connor's arm for emphasis. "He's not my guy," Connor says.

"orbit" 🔒 (E) by withfeathers | 2,000 | Leon was one draft spot away from being on the other side of the ice. Not that he thinks about it much.

"when you find out" 🔒 (E) by nymhciv | 10,779 | It takes Connor a moment, blinking, to realise what Yamo is showing him. He sends work out pictures in the team group chat sometimes, they all do, a check in system that had been well established when Connor joined the team. Connor thinks that’s what Yamo is showing him, at first, wonders if he’s about to get shit for his form. Then the Connor on screen moves, sinks further into his lunge, brings his heel up towards his ass. They don’t send video in the team chat, but the team chat isn’t the only place Connor shares his work out routines. And Connor does post video on OnlyFans.

"love casts a shadow" 🔒 (NR) by notthequiettype | 645 | Leon thinks, after seven years, he should be used to it.

"cover to cover and unbound" 🔒 (M) by lighthousetowers | 24,659 | “That’s not the ending, is it?” Connor asks. “Uh,” Leon finds the spot where he stopped reading, “yes, it pretty much is. Last sentence: ‘Not made for each other, they are making each other.’ The end, I guess.” It takes a couple beats for Connor to speak. “Is it? The end? They’re still there. They’re still making each other.”

"say it, say it again" 🔒 (E) by lagerlout | 4,157 | “Where are we going?” Connor asks, lips brushing against Leon’s ear as they hit a speed bump. “Don’t know,” Leon says, eyes on Connor’s mouth as he brings a water bottle to his lips, “Don’t care.”

"but close ain't close enough" 🔒 (E) by lagerlout | 6,363 | “How come I have to be the girl?” Leon asks. Connor’s too disorientated from the heat and the blood rushing south, liquid fire in his veins with Leon’s breath ghosting over his shoulder so he blurts out, “Cause you’re the pretty one.”

"keep the bullet" 🔒 (E) by cuprun | 19,132 | “It’s not about the sex part. Like, that’s fun and it helps, but it’s more about, like,” Lauren pauses, really thinking about it, “giving up control. Letting someone else be in charge. Letting them figure out what he needs and give it to him without him having to ask.” She raises one shoulder in a delicate shrug. “He could probably explain it better.” Leon doesn’t get flustered, as a general rule, but he might now, at the idea of having this conversation with Connor himself. “And he’d want to do that with me?” “He trusts you,” Lauren says simply.

"Choke" 🔒 (E) by Helenish | 8,635 | “Maybe I don’t want my dick sucked,” Connor said reflexively, as Leon racked the barbell with a clatter, heaved a breath, a half laugh, and said, “Speak for yourself.”

"accessory to the rockstar" 🔒 (E) by unsay | 5,318 | It’s not a competition. Leon has seen nature documentaries, he knows about that; he and Lauren evolved to fill different ecological needs.

"the lightning on your breath" 🔒 (E) by notthequiettype | 18,073 | Connor says his name, this low, soft, "Leo," that's going to haunt Leon for the rest of his life, a moment pinned, and he leans in and presses their mouths together, slow enough that he gets to watch Connor's eyes drop shut, his fluttering lashes, to know that Connor knows exactly what's happening, not moving or backing away, laughing or shoving at Leon, just kissing back, opening his mouth against Leon's, and it's better than what happened when they were young when Leon was too cowardly to learn the shape of Connor's mouth against his, better than most of what Leon's had since.

"just the touch of your hand" 🔒 (E) by lagerlout | 3,463 | Connor's limbs slacken under Leon’s grip, brain short-circuiting, all systems fried except for a white-hot buzz of yes.

"better put that business to bed" 🔒 (E) by lagerlout | 2,870 | “Get it, Leo,” Connor rasps and fuck. Fuck, his voice. It’s almost completely gone, a throaty rumble two octaves lower than usual and Leon’s dick goes from mildly interested to rock-hard in three seconds flat.

"two strangers in the red light" 🔒 (E) by notthequiettype | 14,937 | Connor looks up, derailed only momentarily by how good-looking the guy is, slacks and a button-down open at the top like his pictures, and a nice wool coat. Connor clears his throat. "Is it better if I tell you I didn't request it, at least?" "And ruin the fantasy that I just found out that Connor McDavid's an absolute freak? No way."

"polite fiction" 🔒 (E) by blaahaj | 3,651 | If Connor thinks it’s worth asking about, he thinks he can make it good, and he’s probably right.

"the best thing that hasn't happened yet" 🔒 (E) by notthequiettype | 36,209 | "It's Connor, right," Leon asks, as he approaches. "It is, yeah. Nice to meet you, Mr. Draisaitl."

"leech" 🔒 (E) by blaahaj | 2,220 | Connor had been holding his breath since May, since Vegas. He didn’t say anything. Let his chest hurt.

"one pitch" 🔒 (NR) by notthequiettype | 533 | Connor's always liked the sound of the crowd, but tonight it feels like being smothered.

"i'm gonna tell you right now, they're all i'm thinkin' about" 🔒 (E) by lagerlout | 7,012 | Connor understands it now, why Lauren takes her time to pick her little outfits, to make sure she looks her best and preens when he compliments her. He wants to be adored too.

"bones in the foundation" 🔒 (M) by cuprun | 8,623 | connor & leon show off their magic disappearing act. it would be great if they did it on purpose. sometimes the haunted house is just your own house.

"Home by Now" 🔒 (T) by ClaraxBarton | 2,769 | There are brats, and then there are brats. Leon had grown up safe and secure in the knowledge that he was good. It hadn’t really been a question - if Leon would be a sub or a dom or a switch or adynamic. Draisaitl boys were always subs, always had been - always, his grandmother had once smirked, would be. So. Leon was a sub, but Leon was good.

"lean on my mistakes" 🔒 (T) by blaahaj | 4,287 | “So why are you two normal?” Leon asked. Kailer rubbed his chin. “I can still feel it,” he said after a second. “It’s just that I’ve had a crush on you for like three years now so it’s not a big deal. You do look really good though, man,” and he patted Leon’s chest. “Thank you,” Leon said, and looked at Connor.

"to think I almost had it going" 🔒 (NR) by bluenorth | 1,109 | There’s a ringing in Connor’s ears. It’s a never-ending crescendo, it drowns out the red mass of people that gets more agitated as the final seconds of the game run out. It feels personal and what can anyone do when time and luck are not on your side? When nothing you do is ever enough? When the thing you want is within your grasp and someone takes it before you can?

"bend and break this fever dream" 🔒 (E) by notthequiettype | 7,019 | Connor McDavid Goes to Kink Class

"if i could make a wish" 🔒 (M) by lagerlout | 2,884 | “People can see us.” “It’s just the team,” Leon mumbles, lips brushing against his shoulder, “Any of them would want to take care of their captain.”

••••••

"did all of this sober" 🔒 (T) by blaahaj | 2,344 | “Yeah, I mean.” Connor’s hands are on his hips. He’s wearing the gross underarmor Leon always tried to get him to throw away, with padding over the collarbone. “Leo is…you know, we work very closely together off the ice. Worked. What happened is behind me and I just want to move on with the season.” Nobody has the balls to ask Connor about the other rumors going around. Leon figured they wouldn’t.

"Scoring Effects" 🔒 (E) by Helenish | 30,196 | One constant of NHL hockey is that teams that are losing, on average, dominate play. They have the puck more, they take more shots, they take more risks, they score more goals. These effects are broadly called "score effects.”

Ongoing list that will be updated.

[targaryenofrph]

Patterns by Kelsea Ballerini Sentence Starters

Change the pronouns and tense as needed for your verses.

I've got patterns

I'm coming apart at the seams

I like the feeling of the feeling that leaves me staring at the ceiling the morning after

Maybe I'm the one to blame for doing the same old same

It's so much deeper than under my skin

Is this a battle that I'll ever win?

When does it start, and when does it end?

Will I outgrow all these patterns?

Will I unknow all these patterns?

You just made the eggs and turned your head

I know you're not impressed with my lack of sticking to the Bible

Maybe we got into a few fights

So I know it took a little tough love to become the woman that you're proud of

My priorities were out of balance

You told me to go but wished I was home

I wouldn't wanna do it with anybody else

Everything that's heavy, I check it at the door, kind of feel like I don't need it anymore

I got some bones of old skeletons from the old house at the dead end

I got baggage, but I'm moving in

We both slept on a mattress with "I love you" people

So I know the weight and gravity of key chains with same keys

if you want that "Welcome" mat, then roll it out with me

Cause home is when you're with me

I like the feeling runnin' with the wind

That's why I went and did what I did

He and I both had our guns to sling, damn, that showdown was embarrassing

I'm still here brushing off a couple things

It doesn't scare or bother you

Never knew I'd have a round two

Take my heart, but take it slow, 'cause this ain't my first rodeo

Love's the wild, wild west, ain't gotta tell me that

Tell me that it's gonna be alright even though we never know if we're gonna make it out alive

When it comes to me and you, I can't not try

I get existential

I get overwhelmed

Got two hundred seventy-something things to reply to

You put on the boots I like for dinner on Friday night

You say they're uncomfortable but you wear 'em anyway

If I went insane and didn't know my name would you stay beside of me, reminding me?

If I gambled away my money, would you back away?

If my jokes weren't funny, would you laugh?

How much do you love me?

Do I sound needy and dramatic?

We said that it was over, what'd you send 'em for?

Two things can be true

I'll love and hate you

I'll be your best and your worst day

I'll be your blessing and curse

Sometimes I'll cut and ghost but sometimes I'll get too close

You're nothing and everything I got to lose

I wish it was that easy when it comes to me and you

No use in diggin' up bones from the grave

When it's over, it's over

I could take a deep dive in the details

I could hide, I could cry 'til I throw up

It's as simple as "We broke up"

I could call my friends and bitch about it

Tale as old as time, I don't gotta wrap my head around it

Another boy driving off mad in a black truck

I have a nasty habit, leaving before I get left

You'll think my light's on yellow when I'm keeping you on "Read"

Stonewall my emotions even when I wanna cry tears as wide as the ocean

One fight, too many 3 A.M.s, I guess we're broken up

You're like, "This is just a conversation, baby, what the fuck?"

Now I'm screaming, "Goodbye," out like it means "I love you"

I'm better on my own

It's all I've ever known

Wait! Don't go!

I'm codependent with my independence through and through

How stupid of me to think you wouldn't listen

so once again, my head and heart are at war

Can I take it back now? Can we make it last?

Feelings ain't the facts, just the patterns of my past

I'd follow you to the moon

You know I'm ride-or-die for you

But if you want a chase, I won't run

I ain't gonna beg for your love

I wanna go the distance, babe

I can't do it if I betray all the way before you work I've done

If you want "Sorry" on my knees, that can't be me

Is this just way too tough?

Are you not strong enough?

God, you're all I want but not like this

It's almost like I don't care if I even know how to swim

You could save me, maybe I could save myself

If lovin' you is an ocean, then I'm in deep

I grew up wishing I could close off the way my dad did

That man never felt a damn thing he didn't wanna feel

I've burned too many miles trying to ride out all the sadness

You can't outdrive pain, someday it's gonna take the wheel

Can't be alone but don't wanna get close to anybody

Don't wanna bare teeth but don't wanna look weak, it's a tough spot

But I'm afraid you'll walk away when the tears start running

I wanna be the one that you're callin' when you're drunk

When you're dropping every ball, I'll be there to pick 'em up

'Cause that's just what you do when you love someone

That's the choice you choose, when you love someone

No conditions, I'd follow you to the moon, no suit

I would, would you?

If somebody does you wrong, baby, hold my beer

Yeah, I'd still die for you then haunt you when I'm dead

I'll think about these nights when we lost count of all the "That's what friends are for"

I gave hell a piece of my mind

It gave me a hit to my pride

But I came out on the other side

This time, last year, the heartbreak was undeniable

Day by day, I became unrecognizable

Makin' my rounds, shootin' my shot

Standin' my ground, pissin' people off

People thinkin' that I've changed used to be my biggest fear

It's gonna be okay

You'll live to see the day when you're gonna say look at me now

Are you safe on the road you chose?

Did you make it home?

[elisundayapologist]

Some Watkins family related things

“One time the stout lady showed him a badly scrawled note from Ruth Watkins—Paul’s sister, whom he loved—saying that the family had had no word; also that they were having a hard time keeping alive, they were having to kill a goat now and then—and Mrs. Groarty said that was literally eating up their capital.”

Do you think Eli was the one doing the most goat killing? Paul said the rest of his family cannot do hard work like he can and in the play Eli says Ruth does most of the work minding the goats but I still want to picture him. I don’t think he would be squeamish but would he feel bad?

“She sat tending the flocks and herds, as boys and girls had done two thousand years ago in Palestine, which she read about in the only book to be found in the Watkins household. One week out of three she did this, ten or twelve hours a day, taking turns with her sisters.”

The Bible was the only book in the Watkins household.

“I’ve had three letters. Always it’s a new place, and he says he ain’t stayin’ there. Some day, he says, he’ll come to see me—jest me. He’s scairt o’ Pap.” “What would Pap do?” “Pap would whale him. He’s terrible set agin him. He says he’s a limb of Satan. Paul says he don’t believe what’s in the Book? Do you believe it?”

“Paul explained that he had turned up yesterday, having come to see Ruth. He had had things out with his father this time; being nineteen now, he thought he was old enough to be allowed to take care of himself. Bunny asked if his father had “whaled” him, and Paul smiled and said his father wasn’t in condition to whale anybody, he was getting worse with rheumatism. He was as bitter and implacable as ever, but told Paul to go his own way to hell, and his father would pray for him. Bunny noticed right away that Paul no longer referred to his father as “Pap,” and that he no longer murdered the English language like the rest of the Watkins family; he talked like an educated man, as indeed he was.”

Abel used to beat Paul as well as Ruth (I think the black sheep vs golden child dynamic between Paul and Eli in the family is very interesting)

“There was a pause, and Paul went on, grimly. “I know, of course; his money is at stake, and he won’t risk it; and you’ll do what he tells you.” “But Paul! I couldn’t oppose Dad! Would you expect that?” “When my father set up his will, and tried to keep me from thinking and learning the truth, I opposed him, didn’t I? And you encouraged me to do it—you thought that was all right.” “But Paul! If I were to oppose Dad in such a thing—why, I’d break his heart.” “Well, maybe I broke my father’s heart—I don’t know, and neither do you. The point is, your father’s doing wrong, and you know it; he’s helping to turn these ruffians loose on us, and deprive us of our rights as citizens, and even as human beings. You can’t deny that, and you have a duty that you owe to the truth.” There was a silence, while Bunny tried to face the appalling idea of opposing Dad, as Paul had opposed old Mr. Watkins. It had seemed so right in the one case, and seemed so impossible in the other!”

Paul thinks he maybe broke his father’s heart (also, Paul calling Bunny “soft” makes me wonder if he ever called Eli that in their childhood for not ever questioning the family’s religion and for being the “favorite”)

“Bunny tried haltingly once or twice to tell Paul about it; Paul being a sort of god, a firm and dependable moral force, to whom one might flee. Bunny remembered the scorn with which Paul had talked about “fornications,” and Bunny had not known quite what he meant—but Bunny knew now, alas, only too well.”

It’s interesting to me how, despite how much Paul tries to claim that he doesn’t care for religion (Later, when Bunny points out he “used to think like Eli talks” he will say that even though he had some religious anxiety at the beginning, he dropped all “superstition” when he became a Communist organizer) he still shows the influence of it in the way he talks about things.

There is an interesting parallel between Paul and Eli’s insistence of being sure of the “truth” in spiritual matters when you contrast it with their (implied) inner turmoil.

“Oh, Bunny,” pleaded Ruth, “We ought to write down what he says! He might stop—and never speak again!” Bunny understood—Ruth had been brought up to believe in revelations, in words of awful import spoken on special occasions, in strange languages or other unusual ways. The doctors might call it delirium, but how could they be sure? Things that were hidden from the wise were revealed to babes and sucklings. So Bunny got out his notebook and fountain-pen, and wrote down what Paul’s words sounded like, as near as he could guess.”

Paul’s Russian words are compared to the belief in speaking in tongues of the Watkins family (you could say Paul’s death loosely parallels Eli’s in the movie), this is not the only line where Eli and Paul are paralleled, they’re obviously different, the gospel Paul preaches is genuine and true but it’s still interesting that they’re paralleled.

[love-for-burgundy-blog]

Here are my religion headcanons involving the pokemon bw characters!! Note: I do not know everything about all these religions so if I get something wrong, please let me know!!

I headcanon Iris to be spiritual but she isn't a fan of organized religion. Her bio mother is Muslim and her bio father is christian. She went to mousqe services a couple times but she never enjoyed it. She just doesn't like being told what to believe. I also headcanon that she DESPISES evangelicals.

Cilan to me is a prodestant christian. He was raised to be conservative but he still accepting of other beliefs and ideas even if they aren't what he believes. He still takes his religion very seriously though as he reads and recites bible verses every now and then. However, Cilan never talks about his religion with other people with the exception of family since he doesn't want to leave the impression that what he believes is superior to what others believe.

I like to think that Trip grew up Catholic however unlike Cilan, he wasn't taught to be as accepting of minorities which is why he was so arrogant to others. When Trip became a teenager, he finally decided to stop going to church and break free since he didn't like what he was being taught there. Now that he left that environment, he is friendlier and more accepting of others. I headcanon that Georgia helped him break free.

Bianca and her father are members of the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints (they are Mormons). I headcanon this since Bianca wears long skirts and speaks in a high pitched voice. (I'm not trying to stereotype anybody who practices this branch of Christianity, I'm just sharing why I headcanon this.) While her and her father are conservative, they are accepting of and very friendly to everyone including minorities. Bianca as well as her father take their religion seriously but not to the point where it's their whole personality. Like Cilan, Bianca and her father never talk about their religion to others.

Stephan I think is an atheist. While he is ethnically half-Jewish, his parents never made him go to church or read any religious text. He is very glad that his parents never forced a religion on him. However, while he isn't religious, he is incredibly accepting and supportive of his more religious friends.

Burgundy to me is Jewish (Reform). And she takes her religion seriously as well. She enjoys going to synagogue as she has all her life and she does Torah studies with her family once a week. Like many other Jewish children, she had a baby-naming ceremony when she was 8 days old, attended Hebrew school, and had a bat mitzvah when she turned 13. I actually headcanon that the preschool at her synagogue is where she first met Georgia. While she is very religious, she is still quite liberal and has many LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent friends. All in all, I can see Burgundy as an Ashkenazi Jewish girl.

Like Burgundy, Georgia is an Ashkenazi reform Jewish girl, but she doesn't take Judaism as seriously as Burgundy. Like Iris, she is spiritual but she isn't a fan of organized religion. In fact, she didn't enjoy synagogue so she quit going after her bat mitzvah at the age of 13. Georgia and Burgundy attended different synagogues but Georgia ended up going to the preschool at Burgundy's synagogue since Georgia's parents didn't like the preschool at the synagogue they attended.

So these are all my headcanons involving the Pokemon bw characters religions. If I said something wrong or if I upset anyone reading this post, please let me know <3 I shared these since I wanted people to know some of my hc's which might be helpful for reading certain fanfics of mine in the future ;) Please feel free to share your thoughts on these headcanons!!

[msclaritea]

"To Rachel Timonet, the video is harmless: Just her 17-year-old daughter, Kaylee Timonet, laughing and dancing with her friends to a DJ at a party after the Walker High School homecoming.

But three days later, Jason St. Pierre, the public school's principal, stripped her daughter's title as student government president and revoked his help obtaining college scholarships, saying the video was inappropriate, Rachel Timonet says. She says St. Pierre told her daughter she wasn’t “living in the Lord’s way."

The move has ignited outrage and disbelief in the Livingston school district. Parents have taken to social media to decry St. Pierre's actions, comparing them to the movie "Footloose." Some have made T-shirts that say "Let the girl dance," and have encouraged other students to post "twerking" videos in support. 

“I was very upset at how the situation was handled. I don’t think anybody should be speaking about faith in any form. They don’t know my beliefs, and it’s a public school,” Rachel Timonet said.

Delia Taylor, a spokesperson for the Livingston Parish School District, said the district plans to investigate the situation, but said she could not comment further. 

What happened

“We’ve been having after-parties for years after homecoming and after prom. It’s a place for kids to have fun and dance. I was physically there myself with other parents,” Rachel Timonet said.

The hired DJ took a 15-second video of Kaylee Timonet dancing with friends and later posted it on social media. Rachel Timonet said she and Kaylee saw the video before it was posted and didn’t think anything of it.

“She’s been a dancer since she was 2 years old. She does hip-hop, she dances for Disney, she dances in New York City, and she’s even danced at school [in performances] like that,” Rachel Timonet said.

St. Pierre had recommended Kaylee for two scholarships, but there was still paperwork to fill out, the mom says. So when Kaylee was called into the office on Tuesday, Oct. 3, she assumed that was why.

Instead, St. Pierre and Kelly Becnel, a teacher, told her they were removing her from student government and would no longer recommend her for scholarships, according to Rachel Timonet.

“They said they didn’t want her representing Walker High School. She was totally shocked,” Timonet said. “He told her she wasn’t living in the Lord’s way and questioned who her friends were and if they followed the Lord. She said she didn’t know how to answer that and they said it’s a yes or no question. Meanwhile, she’s sobbing.”

Rachel Timonet said St. Pierre printed out Bible verses and highlighted sections. Most devastating to Kaylee, he told her she was no longer eligible for student of the year.

“Her entire life she’s worked toward that,” Rachel Timonet said. “She said she really felt she didn’t think anything was wrong in the video, but at this point she said she really felt like a complete failure.”

When Kaylee came home Rachel was furious. She called St. Pierre.

“It’s just not right. It’s out of line. She was not on Walker High School property, not in any Walker High School gear, on her own free time, at a private event,” she said.

She said St. Pierre told her they share a difference of opinion, and because it’s his school he gets to decide what’s appropriate or not.

So she sent a follow-up email.

“The fact this went on after school hours should not have been addressed by you at all,” the letter reads. “You do have the right to remove anyone from your clubs, but to talk to them and have them crying for two hours is not ok.”

Community outrage

Other parents agreed. 

"I think both principles should be fired. They overstepped," one person wrote in a "What's Going On In Walker, LA" Facebook group post. "If I was her parent, I would hire a lawyer." 

"They said it was an after party and didn't happen at school," another comment said. "So NO. He had no rights even approaching this girl about the dance. And what happened to freedom in the USA." 

Others took issue with St. Pierre's alleged focus on Christian behavior. 

"It's supposed to be a PUBLIC school how are they gonna throw religion in this," wrote another commentator. 

"Just because a majority of the community is Christian doesn't mean that's acceptable. WHS is a public school!" said another. 

"I am a Christian. I love that most teachers use our beliefs as a reference for the kids to go through life. But when you use it to bully and dictate children, it's wrong," said Natalie Bird, who manages the Facebook page. 

Bird said she first started posting about the story to help show kids the power of social media to make a positive difference. 

"I found out about Kaylee through some other students and about how amazing she is. As parents we teach our children right and wrong and that growing up there are things you want to stand up for and believe in," Bird said. "I wanted to give Kaylee a fighting chance." 

Rachel Timonet said she felt like she or the school counselor should have been called to be part of the meeting. In her email, she listed other cases of students behaving badly, and wondered why Kaylee was singled out.

“If you don’t want a kid that has worked hard at your school both academically and in all types of involvement, yet you have kids that do drugs and are allowed to stay on, cheat on tests and represent the school, but my kid dancing as you call 'humping another girl' got her removed, I don’t want to be part of such a hypocritical organization in any way,” the email reads.

While Kaylee Timonet is no longer in student government and the deadline for the scholarship recommendation has passed, she is still Beta Club president.

That’s little consolation for her family.

“It’s way too much for a child simply dancing. There’s no person in this world that is 100% living by the Lord’s way 24 hours. She didn’t do anything wrong by dancing,” Rachel Timonet said.

Bird made a logo that says "Let the girl dance." It's been flying across social media, and a student started making T-shirts for people to wear to tonight's Walker High School football game. Another friend is making buttons to hand out. 

"I think it's amazing how the students decided to do this. That was all them," Bird said. "They just need someone to believe in them."

Email Rebecca Holland at rebecca.holland@theadvocate.com or follow her on Twitter, @_rebeccaholland.

Here's the bully and religious zealot of Walker High School in Livingston Parish, Louisiana. Jason St Pierre.

[shammah8]

"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

TEACH YOUR CHILDREN

An extraordinary life in Christ does not just depend on teachings, circumstances or comfort. In many countries in the world today there are severe restrictions and obstacles facing parents in instructing their children in the ways of the Lord. In communist countries like China and Vietnam it is officially against the law to share the Gospel with anybody under the age of eighteen years, including your own children.

In the Middle East, Christian schools are non-existent and Christian children are forced to attend Muslim schools and receive instruction from the Koran and Muslim teachers. Yet, it seems as if Christian families in restricted areas are more Godly and committed to the Lord than their counterparts in the west, where opportunities abound and Christians live in abundance.

The lessons that we learn from the persecuted Church are of far more value than seminars or devotionals can ever be — the lessons of true discipleship and wholesome living. Lessons that are neither theology nor speculation but teachings of life, reality and practice.

Gerhard Hamm was one of the thousands of faithful believers through whom God’s light continued to shine in the Soviet Union during the years when communism reigned there.

He grew up in the Ural Mountains where his parents farmed. But then communism arose and in 1929 the “bandits” came, as Gerhard later often called the Bolsheviks. Because his father was a Christian and of German descent, he was arrested and exiled to Siberia. The farm was confiscated.

Mother Hamm and her twenty children also moved to Siberia. For a few years, the family was together. Then Gerhard’s father was taken away from his family and never came back. None of the family knows where his grave is. All the churches were closed and atheistic propaganda was being disseminated all around.

As a young boy Gerhard lost his father, his security, his home and his freedom — all because of the name of Jesus. Hunger and cold were his daily lot, an obvious reason for a young teenager to resent God and His commands. But despite the difficulties, ridicule and persecution, Mother Hamm prayed every day with her children, and they read the Bible together.

When Gerhard Hamm died in 1999 at the age of 76, he left a legacy of faithful children behind. All of his children and their spouses were devoted Christians. His grandchildren have all committed their lives to the Lord. All of Gerhard’s nineteen brothers and sisters and their spouses and children followed the footsteps of Jesus and many are still involved in various ministries reaching all corners of the globe.

Response

Today I will take seriously the challenge of teaching, training and discipling my children or young people with whom I have close relationship.

Prayer

Lord, help me to live a life of self-sacrifice so young people will see You and want to follow.

© 2013 Open Doors International. Used by permission

[nightskylonging]

Tagged by @bastet55!

RULES: put 5 songs you actually listen to, then tag 10 people.

Warning - I'm gonna over explain the heck out of my choices here.

Christmas Truce by Sabaton. The structure of the chorus is something I really appreciate, and the music video for this song is insane. The WWI Christmas Truce is something that impacted me deeply when I learned about it as a kid, and still does.

Paris/Look Down from Les Miserables. I feel like this song set the stage for the revolution plotline in Les Mis very well, and I'm a sucker for crowd-based choruses. (Given my IRL intense dislike of large groups and group mentality, this is mildly ironic)

The Machination by Ninja Tracks. This is a trailer instrumental that was used for one of the Rogue One trailers back in the day. I still listen to it. Actually I listen to a lot of trailer music.

House of Memories by Panic! At the Disco. Something about this song just unlocks the writing side of my brain. I think there's three different versions of it on my writing playlist. I'm particularly fond of Christian Locke's electric guitar cover.

Gladiator by Jann. Another song from my writing playlist. I do like a commentary, and that is certainly present here. It's about show biz. It almost went to Eurovision for... Poland, I think?

Bonus - You Did Not Have A Home by Rich Mullins. I adore The Jesus Record as a whole, but the flow of this one in particular makes it so fun to listen to and sing. It also means that whenever I read the passage of the Bible this is based on, I get the song stuck in my head.

Tagging: Anybody who follows me, I suppose. I don't think I know ten people, but maybe @eirianerisdar would be interested?

[dailyaudiobiblechronological]

12/17/2023 DAB Chronological Transcription

Philippians 1-4

Welcome to Daily Audio Bible Chronological. Today's the 17th day of December. I'm Jill. So good to be here with you today as we have turned the page and the story of our lives and then the story of the word of God. Starting a brand new week this week, brand new translation and we're also starting a brand new book of the Bible. We are reading Philippians chapters 1 through 4. This week we're reading the New English translation. Let's jump in Philippians chapter 1.

Prayer:

Jesus we thank you for this time. Thank you for all of the things that we notice today that represent a brand new beginning, a new beginning with you because of you. You make us new again and again and again. We give you this week. Do what it is that you desire to do in us, through us, among us. And we will give you all of the things, all of the glory and all of the praise. I pray this now in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Announcements:

We'll turn the page together tomorrow. Until then love one another. 

Community Prayer Line:

Hi everyone this is just from Ohio. I wanted to give an update on our church building. I tried calling less than before but not sure if it went through so I wanted to call again. We were able to get a new building location- open the door for us to move into a new building. We believe this is temporary and there will be a long-term place for us, but we are grateful for this place in the meantime. And thank you for praying for me when I was sick. I'm feeling much better and doing well. I appreciate all the prayers and this community and hope you all have a blessed day.

Good morning DABC. This is His Redeemed Daughter from Florida. I wanted to come on and pray for Covered in his Blood, for her son Trayvon and the group that are going to training in Chicago. Father God, I do and I'm in agreement with her- put your angels all around them and protect them. Keep them safe, give them wisdom, protection, safety and help them to get along and to become best friends. Oh my God, let them give you the glory. And Lord give her peace and things to do and friends around her and encourage her to hope. I know she's going to miss him. I just know cuz I'm a mom, too. And I still miss my kids and they're older adults. So just be with her at this time. So good to hear you pray again, to know that you're fine and you're doing well. And thank you for your beautiful prayers. You just pray with such a good heart and we're just so glad to hear you on here. And my joy, my joy, my joy, my joy, that was such a sweet prayer and we do thank Jill and this whole ministry for everything that they do and that we are a part of this community. Thank you Jill. Thank you everyone who prays. Once again, His Redeemed Daughter, my daughter is going out of town just for a quick little jaunt. I pray that God will protect her on her travels and give her traveling mercies and my son making decisions and give him wisdom in Jesus name. We love you. 

This is for my cousin Kevin. He seems to be doing fairly well. The main thing that's coming up is that he's got an acting gig which is the first time he's going to be on stage. It's in a play. It's a faith-based play and he's really looking forward to doing it. He's nervous about it but he's excited and I'm really really hoping that he succeeds. There's four performances he's going to be doing. I know his throat can sometimes be a little strained and can sometimes become sore as a result of using his voice. Just be praying over him. The performances are like next weekend which by the time y'all hear this it'll probably be after this weekend. But yes, please be praying for him. I would really enjoy it if anybody and everybody could pray for my cousin. This is been a long time coming and I'm really excited to see what God does with this. Thank you so much.

[wutbju]

WutBJU found this little gem in the 1968 Vintage.

John Stormer was a featured speaker at Bob Jones University's Bible Conference in 1968. It's BIBLE CONFERENCE. And who does BJU invite?

A fear-monger that could be a model for Ron DeSantis' 2024 Presidential campaign.

The Greenville News reported on it. A transcription with commentary will follow.

"Forty eight hours ago a man was shot down by a sniper's bullet in Memphis, Tenn. Since then, at least 20 people have been killed in violence in 46 cities of the United States. As we meet here tonight (Saturday), troops have the White House and Capitol surrounded to keep mobs from burning it to the ground. We live in a troubled land; we live in a land which is in trouble."

Well, yeah.

Stormer's speech in Rodeheaver was on Saturday, April 6, 1968.

Anybody remember what happened on April 4, 1968? Martin Luther King was assassinated.

Does Stormer mention MLK ever? At all?

Of course not. He's just "a man." Can you even believe it? THE Martin Luther King, Jr. is nothing but "a man" in this Klandamentalist account.

These were the opening remarks Saturday night as John Stormer, author of "Note Dare Call It Treason," spoke to an audience of more than 4,000 at Bob Jones University. He said that within the last four years more than 150 people have been gunned down in the streets of America; thousands of others injured, more than a billion dollars worth of property burned or otherwise destroyed. "What is behind all the unrest and violence?" Stormer asked.

Oh what could it be? :/

He answered the question by saying that the President's Commission on Civil Disorders says that poverty, lack of economic opportunity, prejudice, and White racism are responsible. "Others, including, J. Edgar Hoover, grand juries in cities wrecked by violence, and police officials, have made it plain that Communists and other subversives have played upon the discontent, which stems from some of these conditions, to provoke the actual violence."

Here's a place to start reading about the Kerner Commission.

But the real problem in 1968 is, of course, a Red problem!

He quoted Hoover as saying that Communists and other subversives and extremists strive and labor ceaselessly to promote racial trouble and take advantage of racial discord in this country. Such elements were active in exploiting and aggravating the riots; for example, in Harlem, Watts, Cleveland and Chicago. Stormer said that all the rioters are not pro-Communist or anti-American. He quoted the Negro writer Louis Lomax, who after the Detroit riots, said that once the organized revolutionaries break open stores and get the violence started, then the human element begins to play into the hands of the revolutionaries.

And look at Stormer here. Does he sound any different than every white supremacist for the last three years?

Continuing, the conservative author said, "Men and women move in to satisfy their lusts for free cigarettes, free clothes, free booze, and anything else they can carry away. I have studied the cause for riots in the last several years, and I was puzzled for a long time, We have always had poverty in America; there has always been discrimination against any group as they have come to America."

Going back to the depression days, Stormer mentioned that during that time more than 15 million people were unemployed; the communists had a thousand members working actively to promote a revolution; and there were no riots. Why? "There are two principle differences between then and now," he noted. "In the 1930s it was a certainty that if trouble would break out and looting start, the government would move quickly and forcefully to put down any trouble. This is no longer the case."

Ah, yes! The good ol' days during the Great Depression!

There is a second element, as well. In the 1930s there was still a general acceptance among most of the population that there was at least a possibility that men would have to answer to God for his actions even if he weren't caught by the police. In the 1930s Christians, both black and white, and their churches were still faithful in proclaiming the message of God's judgment to come for all men. This puts a restraint on the natural wickedness of the heart of man.

Stormer told his audience that the function of the Christian was that which Jesus Christ referred do when he told his disciples, "Ye are the salt of the earth." "In the Lord's day," continued Stormer, "salt was used to preserve or to keep meat from getting rotten. If the Christian is serving his function in society, he tends to hold back corruption." In conclusion he said "Because Christians are not functioning as the salt of the earth and have lost their savor, Christians in all society are being trodden under the feet of men."

Have they ever changed?

[dailyaudiobible]

8/1/2023 DAB Transcript

2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21, Romans 15:1-22, Psalm 25:1-15, Proverbs 20:13-15

Today is the first day of August, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It is wonderful to throw open the gates and walk into this brand-new month together. Today is the 213th day of our journey, 213 days into this year, 152 days to go. So, we are well underway. And I'm excited, excited to step into a brand-new month together, take the next step forward together. And our next step will lead us back to where we left off and that happens to be Second Chronicles, today chapters 30 and 31.

Commentary:

Okay, so, yesterday in the book of Romans, we we’re discussing unity, uniformity, harmony, and judging each other. And since each day we pick up where we left off, we’re continuing with that discussion today. But whereas yesterday, the examples were, you know what, which food can you, or can you not eat, which days should you, should you not fast, which days are holy and should be observed as such, which days are not. Today, he talks about people, Gentile people, because really, what we’re talking about here from yesterday and today and judging one another and dividing ourselves up into camps, is a discussion about who gets to be in. And when it comes to the early church, that was an issue. In Paul's time, the church era that we are in right now, was just beginning. We’re 2000 years into the future, right now we have like a plethora of choices for worship style, music style, teaching style as well as like doctrinal and theological camps, that we would call denominations. We have like a buffet of choices. In Paul's time all of this infrastructure hadn’t been established yet and it's a bit more of the wild frontier. One of the dominating questions being who gets to be in, who’s included. And in the letter to the Romans, Paul's laying out an argument that anybody who believes, even if they're not Jews, are included. So, we can look at that now and go, duh. But that's not how it was then, this is a major issue and not everybody was on board. It was a heated disagreement. For Jewish believers Jesus was the Messiah. This is not a new story, Jesus is the Savior of the Jews, a continuation of the story of God's chosen people. And so, yes, people can come into that camp, but they would need to convert to Judaism and lead a Hebrew lifestyle and live inside that culture and follow Jesus within that context, to be included, as a God-fearing Gentile. Which is not something that Paul wouldn't of understood, as a trained Pharisee he would've understood it very well. And we know he was extraordinarily committed to that way of thinking because he was trying to stamp out the name of Jesus from the earth. But after Paul met Jesus, he realized something way bigger was going on, and that Jesus was not only the Savior of the Jews but the Savior of the world. So, I quote from Paul. “Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises He made to their ancestors. He also came, so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for His mercies to them. So, today, like we’re not wrestling with this, this issue that was a massive issue because at this point in the world, the Christian faith is almost entirely Gentile. But the underlying issue of who gets to be included is still with us and it comes out in the ways that Paul was discussing in yesterday's reading in the ways that we judge each other. So, if we drill into all this, we find out what we’re being invited to consider is, can a person who believes and who loves Jesus, who believes but differs from me on my theology or does things and behaves in a way that I think is wrong or isn't representing Jesus or is sin, can that person still be a Christian? And what we realize from Paul is, we're not the judge of that, we will all stand before God individually. We need to keep our eyes on our own lives, making sure that we aren't contradicting our own convictions, rather than keeping our eyes on everyone else's lives trying to get them to adhere to our convictions. And so, to sum this all up into a posture that Paul gives us I quote, “Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement, grant you to live in harmony with one another. According to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, with one mind and one voice.

Prayer:

And so, Father that's what we ask for, that we would glorify You with one mind and one voice and all of our diversity, in all of our stories. The only thing that can unite us like this is the mind of Christ. And may we set our affection, our attention, our intention, and our hearts desire on You. Keeping our eyes on the love story that we get to tell together and refraining from being consumed by everyone else's story and all of our opinions and judgments about them. Come, Holy Spirit, and set us free, free to be who we are, who we were created to be, that we might glorify You in the earth. That all might know. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is home base, it's the website and it’s where you can find out what's happening around here, like I say most days. The app does all of that and a lot more and you can download it free from the App Store that's connected to your device. So, check that out. Check out the different sections like the Daily Audio Bible Shop. That’s where you can find like the special edition snapback hats, the blue, the Navy ones and white ones. Some of my favorite, that, that's my favorite one so far. But we we've been bringing out a different addition each quarter and so those are available. The new Daily Audio Bible Kids shirts are available in the Lifestyle Section. Check it out.

And if you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible. Thank you, humbly. There is a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. If you're using the app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner, or the mailing address is P.O. Box 1996 Springhill, Tennessee 37174.

And as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can hit the Hotline button in the app or you can dial 877-942-4253.

And that's it for today, I'm Brian, I love you and I'll be waiting for you here, tomorrow.

Prayer and Encouragements:

Good morning DABers. This is God’s Chosen from Georgia. We’re almost towards the end of the month of July. And we have just three days to enter into a new month. And today, I would like to say a short prayer of gratitude. Lord, help us to navigate through this July and support us safely towards the end of the month. God is always faithful. And He will never deny Himself, according to Second Timothy 2:13. As long as there is life within us, there will always be hope. We do not need to be confused. And we do not need to be afraid of the future. God is always there for us. He said, I will not leave you, nor forsake you, according to Hebrews 13:5. Our hope and our confidence is in Him. So, all we need to do is know that our faith in Him will not be in vein. This, our defense we need to know. Father, we come before You today to say thank You, for getting through this month of July with each and every one of us. No matter the challenges that we have dealt with, we have found You faithful. You have been there. We thank You Lord, God Almighty, as we look forward to starting a new month, in a couple of days. But we have come back to say thank You, thank You for Your amazing grace. Thank You for all the good things that are planted in our lives. Thank You Lord, God Almighty, for healing that has taken place. Thank You for provision. Thank You for all the needs that we pray for on this prayer community. May Your name be glorified. In Jesus name. Amen.

Good afternoon ya’ll, this is Intertwined in God’s Love. And I am just getting ready to pull into the jail, the jail. My home for the next 3 weekends. Very nervous, very sad. I know you are all here with me in spirit. And I appreciate your prayers. I know that when they shut the door on me, I know God’s gonna be there with me. I totally would covet your prayers. Love you all.

Hello, I’m gonna go by the user name Walk by Faith. I’ve been listening for three years. But this is my first time calling. And I have a prayer request. I would like to pray for my mom. Her name is Pamela. She has struggled with alcohol for a long time. And I’m not completely sure she still is, I’m not living with her and she’s very secretive. But she is just a mess. She has a lot of health problems and anxiety and depression. She’s, she’s extremely depressed. And wants to have a very good relationship with my sister and I, yet she treats us really bad. And we’ve tried to help her, we’ve tried to get her the help she needs and we’ve tried speaking truth to her. But she’s in denial. And no matter what we do or say, it’s always a fight and always negative and toxic. It just so hard to have a relationship with her. Because she treats me so poorly and it’s just really confusing emotions. Feeling love and anger and sadness all at the same time. And I would just love to see God save her. She does claim to be a Christian and love the Lord but with her choices, I don’t know how she could. But yeah, if you could just please pray that she would have open eyes and open ears. And that she would get healing and just see the truth and receive the truth. And for our relationships to be restored. Thank you.

Good morning DAB Family. This is Paula calling from Albuquerque. I do pray that you all are doing well and just continuing in the word and letting it speak to you. It is Saturday, July 29th. I am working today. But I’ve been home a lot. Listening to the word and really trying go in depth, in the word. The Holy Spirit has just really beat me up with Romans. And today, Romans 12, I think I called in about this but I ended a three and half year relationship with a guy that I thought was the one. And he had hid his feelings from me and so forth. And, yeah. So, in my humanness, it’s so easy to focus on what he did and didn’t do. And those around him, what they did and didn’t do. Man, Romans 12 really spoke to me today. So, I woke up this morning, prayed before I got out of bed and I asked the Lord to just speak to me in the word, as I do every day. But today, He really spoke to me. I love you all. And I know I’m not the only one going through this. So, as we walk through life, this is so hard to practice but it’s so necessary. I love you all. Have a wonderful weekend and keep loving each other and let Him do what He does best. The Holy Spirit can do it better.

[johnhardinsawyer]

Under a Rock

John Sawyer

Bedford Presbyterian Church

4 / 23 / 23 – Third Sunday of Easter

Luke 24:13-35

“Living Under a Rock”

(Holy Hospitality and Holy Heartburn)

I heard a fascinating news story this past week:

After spending almost a year-and-a-half in near-total isolation some 230 feet underground, Beatriz Flamini emerged from a cave in southern Spain. . . The climber and mountaineer had entered the cave in Granada on November 21, 2021, determined to spend 500 days alone — monitored from afar by a group of scientists — to explore the effects of isolation on the human body and mind.  Flamini was 48 years old when she went down, and 50 when she officially completed the challenge. . .[1]

She had no way to measure time [during the 500 day challenge, and] spent her time doing exercises to keep herself fit, painting and drawing, and knitting wooly hats.[2]  

She also read nearly 60 books during the challenge and – after a couple of months – lost track of time to such a degree that she thought she had only been underground for 160-170 days.

Flamini says she still feels like it's 2021. Indeed, major global events, from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine to the death of Queen Elizabeth II, happened while she was basically living under a rock.[3]

In English, if you hear that someone has been “living under a rock,” this means that they are oblivious to something that has happened in the outside world or unaware of things that most people know about.  Last week, we talked about “F.O.M.O” – the “Fear of Missing Out.”  Well, if someone has been “living under a rock,” they have missed out on something.  But maybe they don’t mind this.  Imagine not having to hear about some of the less-than-savory events of the past year and a half.  Maybe it’s no wonder that Flamini really didn’t want her time under a rock to end.  

In today’s scripture reading, we find two people, walking down the road, talking about some less-than-savory, confusing recent events – the death of their friend and teacher, Jesus, and the news they have just heard:  that Jesus is no longer dead.  While they are walking and talking, they encounter a stranger who is walking along in the same direction.  And this stranger (who, we are told, is a yet-to-be-recognized Jesus) asks them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?”  (Luke 24:17). The question stops them in their tracks and, according to the story, they stand still, looking sad.[4]

“Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” the disciple named Cleopas asks.  Just in case you’re wondering, this is the Bible-speak version of “Don’t you know?  Everyone has been talking about this.  This is the only thing on many people’s minds and lips today.  Have you been living under a rock?”  “Friend, if you only knew. . .” Jesus thinks.  

In this season of Easter, in which we are revisiting some of the stories of Jesus and his resurrection, I think that today’s story is one of my favorites.  Here we have two regular people – Cleopas and another unnamed disciple – who are not part of Jesus’ closest inner circle and don’t have more famous names like Peter, or John, or Mary Magdalene.  Just so you know, this is the only time that Cleopas’ name appears in the Bible.  I almost feel like Cleopas and his friend could be anybody – stand-ins for folks who are not well-known, some of the general populace followers of Jesus, maybe even people like us.  

I mean, I’m sure that they were known to Jesus and the other disciples in Jerusalem, but we don’t know much about them except that they are on their way to the village called Emmaus – about seven miles from Jerusalem – and they are clearly sad.

“Why are you sad?” the yet-to-be-recognized Jesus asks.  “What are you talking about?  What are these things that have taken place?”  He asks this, even though he knows very well what has taken place.

Cleopas and his friend begin to speak – the words spilling out – retelling the things that have happened all-too-recently:  

“The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. But now some women [of our group] have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn’t find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn’t see Jesus.”[5]

“These are the things that have taken place – the things that are concerning and confusing us so, the things that we know about because we haven’t been living under a rock.”

When John Calvin writes about this, he says that it is clear that Cleopas and his friend are filled with uncertainty – wondering what in heaven’s name is going on – but they still have “a reverence for [Christ’s] doctrine”[6] and they are not afraid to speak of Jesus in glowing terms – “a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people. . . we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel (to set Israel free).” (24:19, 21). As Calvin notes, after Jesus’ arrest and death, it might have very well been a dangerous thing to speak so openly to a stranger and say such nice things about Jesus, but either Cleopas and his friend are not afraid or – like some of us can be when we are filled with emotion – they just need to get all of these big feelings off their chests.

Anyway, Cleopas and his friend pour out their hopes and their hearts to this stranger and then, quite unexpectedly, the stranger turns the tables when he tells them:  “Oh, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe. . .”  (24:25)  Just so you know, in the original language, “slow of heart” could also be translated “dull of heart” or “too dull to believe,”[7]implying that Cleopas and his friend might not be – how shall we say – the brightest bulbs in the marquis.  As professor Rodger Nishioka once said, the stranger might as well have said, “You two are dumber than a box of dirt.  Bless your hearts.”[8]  Or, maybe, for the purposes of today’s sermon, the stranger might as well have said, “Hmmmm. . . seems like the two of you have been living under a rock.”

While Cleopas and his friend are picking their jaws up off the ground, the still-incognito Jesus elaborates:  

“So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can’t you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?” Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.[9]

The stranger’s words clearly have an effect on Cleopas and his friend.  You see, not only does the stranger clearly know his scripture, but his words seem to change the hearts of these disciples.  Instead of having dim or dull hearts, a light is lit[10] and begins to flicker there – a Holy light, a hopeful light.[11]  It is but a small flicker, at first, but it is enough so that as they get close to their destination in the village of Emmaus, the stranger starts to walk on, but they say, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.”  (24:29). Just so you know, in the original language, the disciples are really saying, “Abide with us,”[12] which seems like a far more meaningful invitation.

The stranger stays for dinner – abiding with them at the table.  And, while they are eating, he takes bread, and blesses it, and breaks it, and gives it to them.  “Then their eyes [are] opened, and they [recognize] him.”  (24:31). In the original language, their eyes “fully understand”[13] and they “know exactly and completely,”[14] that the stranger who approached them and greeted them at their most sorrowful, the stranger who has been walking and talking with them, teaching them, eating with them, and feeding them is, indeed, Jesus.

There is this one part of the story that I find particularly peculiar, when just as he is recognized, Jesus disappears – vanishing from their sight.  I never quite got this part of the story.  Why doesn’t Jesus at least stick around for dessert?  Thankfully, Calvin is helpful here, when he writes:  

So far, then, as it was necessary to assure them of his resurrection, he made himself visible to them; but by the sudden departure, he taught them that they must seek him elsewhere than in the [physical] world. . .[15]

This is how it can be for so many of us – encountering Jesus in glimpses and flashes of recognition, in ways that inspire us to keep seeking him even when we cannot see him face to face.  It can be frustrating – looking for Jesus in our lives, and in the world, and not always seeing him when and where and how we want him to be.  And yet, if we are people who hope in the resurrection, we are placing our hope in the One who subverted people’s expectations – surprising everyone with his inability to stay predictable, or even to stay dead.  

Today’s story reveals two indications or practices that might just lead toward a Holy encounter or two – if our minds and hearts are open, if we aren’t living under a rock.  The first is the gift of hospitality.  Jesus and his disciples are hospitable to one another on the road – open to one another even though they might seem like strangers.  Sometimes, I find so much joy and grace in a moment when I open myself up and talk to a complete stranger or when they open themselves up to me – whether we are trying to crack a joke or simply saying hello.  Hospitality, shown through kindness and empathy breaks down barriers and connects us to one another.  Cleopas and his friend want an even deeper connection, though.  Theirs is not a passing encounter, and so they offer hospitality to this stranger – to Jesus – inviting him to dinner.  As Jesus proves, there is so much grace that can be shared around a table.  It begs the question:  who is invited to sit at your own table, and who – by accident or on purpose – is not invited?  Jesus is always expanding the table of grace.  Are we?  

The second indication of ways by which we might seek Jesus is seen in how the Holy Spirit is at work when Cleopas and his friend say to one another, “Was your heart burning within you?  Because mine sure was!”[16]  In some Christian traditions, this strange warming of the heart is an essential part of experiencing a salvation moment.  In ours, however, this strange warming of the heart is not essential but it sure is a gift if and when it happens.  And if we are able to share it with another person – another person who witnesses it with us – it is a double gift.  It was Jesus who said, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them.”  (Matthew 18:20)  This is the Holy Spirit at work, making Christ’s presence known.  We don’t always need Holy heartburn to have faith and if we don’t always feel our hearts burning this doesn’t mean that Jesus isn’t near.  The life of faith should not be spent chasing a special feeling.  Instead, the real work of faith is putting our trust in something – in someone – even (maybe even, especially) when we don’t feel that special feeling.  It sure can be nice, though. . .

I know it must have been a challenge for Beatriz Flamini – living under a rock for so long.  But for Flamini, it must have been nice to know that even though she never saw another person, she was never really alone.  For her challenge in that cave,

. . . she was [remotely] monitored by a group of psychologists, researchers, speleologists — specialists in the study of caves — and physical trainers, who watched her every move and monitored her physical and mental well-being, though they never made contact.[17]

They were always there – watching over her – even if she never saw them.  

The same can be said of the risen Jesus – the One who did not stay under a rock for long, the One who is out in the world, being revealed in holy hospitality, and loving community, and generous empathy.  May Jesus be found in these places and may our eyes be open to see him in unexpected ways.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  

------------

[1] https://www.npr.org/2023/04/17/1170388759/500-days-cave-beatriz-flamini-spain.

[2] https://www.voanews.com/a/spanish-athlete-spends-500-days-in-cave-/7050521.html.

[3] NPR Article, ibid.  https://www.npr.org/2023/04/17/1170388759/500-days-cave-beatriz-flamini-spain.

[4] Luke 24:17.

[5] Eugene Peterson, The Message: Numbered Edition (Colorado Springs: NAV Press, 2002) 1452.  Luke 24:19-24.  

[6] John Calvin, Calvin’s Commentaries – Vol: XVII – Harmony of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2009) 356.

[7] Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979) 147.  

[8] Rodger Nishioka, A morning Keynote at Montreat Youth Conference around 2006 or 2007.  

[9] Eugene Peterson, 1452.  Luke 24:25-27.

[10] Walter Bauer, 396.

[11] See Luke 24:32.

[12] Walter Bauer, 503.

[13] Walter Bauer, 187.

[14] Walter Bauer, 291.

[15] John Calvin, 364.

[16] Luke 24:32 – Paraphrased, JHS.

[17] https://www.voanews.com/a/spanish-athlete-spends-500-days-in-cave-/7050521.html.

[stephenjaymorrisblog]

If You Were Never Born, Then You Will Never Die

(That is Why God Was Never Born.)

Stephen Jay Morris

4/3/2023

©Scientific Morality.

Question: Why can’t you remember your own birth? Because of course you can’t! The Basal Ganglia part of your brain was not yet developed. That is where memory is stored. You may have fuzzy memories about your 4th year of existence, but the Basal Ganglia was still under construction. I’m not metaphysical, by any means. But entertain this question: if you don’t remember your birth, could it be that you were never born? Or, maybe you always existed, got a bad case of amnesia, and then were reborn. As an agnostic, I believe in evidence. It must satisfy my senses in the way my vision, ears, sense of touch, sense of smell, taste, and other sensory functions are satisfied.

Buddhism could be correct about reincarnation. If so, how come you don’t remember your previous life, or lives? Perhaps, the Christians are right. If you kiss God’s ass, then you will live with him in eternity. However, that edict is erroneous and defies logic. If that game plan is in the bible, then why even exist? Doing God’s bidding when he can do it himself? If we are God’s slaves, then why even live. Life is rendered meaningless.

Satanists believe in egotism. You are here to serve you own selfish needs. Is life more than pleasure and material things? Yes, it is. There is more to life than happiness. If you haven’t worked that out by the age of 30, then you never will. Is life about altruism? Well, it sure beats the fuck out of Natural Law!

So, why do we have religion, anyway? Thanatophobia! Otherwise known as “the fear of death.”

Our ego is the underlying reason we don’t want to die. Another reason is the fear of pain. Since people are afraid of death, they will find a doctrine that says that they must follow certain, man-made rules, and then live with God forever and ever!

Rest assured that medical science is making strides in increasing human longevity. Life expectancy is getting longer and longer. In the 19th Century, life expectancy was 50 years old. I am 69 and I attribute my old age to science. But even so, each of us will eventually die. Maybe 200 years from now, science will develop a pill that guarantees eternal life?

I am happy with the way things are. I would hate to live forever, and I hope there is no after life. I always thought that, since I don’t remember what it was like before I was born, the same goes for after my death. I won’t know a thing. Why would anyone want to live forever anyway? Float around without hunger, no sexual concupiscence, no ego, science, no basketball? No way and no dice! Now, Islamic afterlife is more hedonistic, according to the Koran; it says that there is sex after death. Heck, a lot of women thought I was part of the living dead whenever we screwed!

What about good and evil? No such thing! It is strictly a religious construct. It means pro-God or anti-God. God has done a lot of evil things, like causing genocide by flooding the earth and killing the old, the very young, and pregnant women. What type of God is that? And this so-called, Arch Angel, Satan? What is he, a registered Republican? He hates poor people and the innocent. Read the gospel of Jesus. He loves the poor and the sick—more than Bernie Sanders does. The fact that those who accuse others of being evil, eagerly support a bastard like Donald Trump, makes me scratch my head!

These are existential questions of mine. Oh, I’m just as freaked out about death as anybody. That is the biggest issue in life. When I was 11 years old, I got the “cosmic slap,” and realized that all of this will one day end. Then I came to learn that my time spent on this earth can be better spent helping others. Well, now that I am a Senior Citizen, I want to enjoy life while I am still here.

This is the 21st Century and the kings of the earth continue their oppression, the “my God is better than your God” perpetuates useless religious wars, and greedy oil fiends relentlessly drive us into climate disaster. Well, I’ve had my fill of politics. I will continue to keep tabs, but that's all I’ll do. I’ve paid my dues, so fuck my critics!