#eph speaks

[quixoticmirror]

I’m not going to link the original post because this isn’t shit I want to start rn, but the way this person phrased this was really eloquent and I wish I could plaster it on the wall. Phrasing is everything, and while there can be good intent, we need to consider nuance in communicating our messages

[quixoticmirror]

Elaborating on this in particular as someone who’s worked in medicine. First line treatments are what we understand based on clinical success and (cough cough insurance kickbacks), but it’s not always the correct option. Insurance wants the most bang for their buck and that means skimping on newer medications / more expensive ones even if they have better efficacy. I was lucky to receive some 40k+ treatment because I was so sick but now I can’t afford other medicines and will accept I’ll just crumble up and die

I’ve got my tumblr inbox turned off so I really have to commend the person who actually emailed me to let me know they don’t like the things I’ve posted about the UnitedHealth CEO being murdered on their commitment to their beliefs.

But seen as how you emailed me from a dud email that appears to be bouncing back replies and I really wanted to address something you said to me about violence begetting violence:

My migraine medication, the medication I was given for my debilitating neurological disease that has gotten so bad I spent most of this year actively suicidal, costs $1300 a month.

My insurance covered it. But only because my doctors office went to fucking war for me because I’m a high anaphylaxis risk for the drugs the insurance wanted me to try.

Because that’s the thing.

My doctors knew, based on my documented medical history, I likely wouldn’t be a good fit for the “first line” of preventative migraine drugs, but because of insurance, I had to be given drugs that were contradictory to my other life threatening conditions, because otherwise insurance wouldn’t cover anything else.

I failed them. Spectacularly and with an anaphylactic reaction to one of them. And I was still warned insurance would fight me because I hadn’t tried the remaining drug they wanted me to try.

A drug which I would have to take in an ER waiting room because my mast cell disease is unpredictable but insurance wouldn’t cover in-patient treatment to let me try it safely under medical supervision.

Is that not violence?

Were all the times I was denied coverage for vital and necessary procedures that could have prevented my disabilities from worsening not violence?

Maybe not in the sense you mean. But I assure you it felt very much like violence to me.

Do I condone murder? No, obviously. But I’m also sick and tired of people pretending that what is happening to the American people every day isn’t eugenics through class warfare.

Violence begets violence.

It sure fucking does.

Maybe these insurance companies should have thought of that first.

[valorandgold]

"I am having a readiness for summer in Askr! I can only be hoping it is being like summer is being back in Brigid. I would be liking to be enjoying a hot day upon the beaches in a way being similar to if I was being home again."

THEY FINALLY GIVE PETRA AN ALT AND A SUMMER ALT AT THAT I HAVE WAITED FOR SO LONG LOOK HOW DAMN GOOD MY GIRL LOOKS

[fangedmetadevil]

what color is the letter F to yuo?

HM. Gonna have to go with the color red friendo. This shade specifically:

[hiding-under-the-willow]

eating chees eburger in your asks

Hey man you're getting crumbs everywhere :/

[quixoticmirror]

what's your opinion on ai?

Hi, so it depends. The general consensus is that I’m in disagreement with it unless in exceptional cases (I’ve heard of CAI/similar programs pulling people from the bridge of suicide through anecdotes) or AI being used to help dyslexic coders for correcting coding syntax. I feel like I shouldn’t talk down on people and will respect it if people find AI actually helps them.

Ultimately though, the current state of AI is quite illegal (it scrapes material from unwilling individuals), but AI will continue to propagate, so it needs to be regulated. I am not going to discuss the environmental ramifications of AI though, because a lot of technology is inherently terrible for the environment (look @ cobalt mining / chips mining). I also don’t believe AI will fully replace humans because it’s stupid as shit right now.

I hate AI art, and I actually hold this stance after working with a PHD artist (she did animation PHD) and even she supported basic AI art because it helped save her time. I felt her opinion of it is more valid than mine, but I still don’t like AI art and prefer it not be used.

Is this helpful (?) or do I need to elaborate /gen Q. I think this explains my stance well. Thank you for asking! 💗🥹it’s 100% ok to disagree with me as well .

[wearily-confused]

Papa: bijli bula de

Me: bulai toh thi phir aapne jhut bolkar bhaga di

Papa: achha toh ab toh sach bol rha hun, bula de

Me: *petting the refrigerator* aaja light aaja

.....

And IT CAME 😂🐥😂

[mirensiart]

Mixing two Fandoms but which link do you think would get along the best with Innes?

I'M LOSING MY MIND OVER THIS ASK ANON OOOUGH I actually did draw a lot of sketches to go with it but my yapping got so long I decided to upload those pics in a separate post tomorrow, so I can yap here freely lol

super long yapping incoming by the way lmao

Ok so, for my loz oomfs who aren't versed into fire emblem, innes is a semi plot relevant character from the game fire emblem: sacred stones for the gba

Innes is an overconfident, proud, blunt, brash, smart, perfectionist, super tsundere crown prince, he's known to be the best archer and tactician in the entire continent, and yet, no matter what he does, he is always compared and is always somehow second best to Ephraim, the prince from the neighboring kingdom

Which is why the headcanon that Innes' brash and egotistical/overconfident attitude is actually to mask his huge inferiority complex towards Ephraim makes sense to me lol also Innes has a one-sided rivalry with Ephraim, he is obsessed to show him he's the best prince, much to Eph's annoyance lol

This is him, i want y'all to look at how pretty he is, I would die for him, but i'd also put him in a blender and then analyze him under a microscope

ANYWAY now that the intro to my bestie (innes) is done, the Link I believe he'd get along with best is probably Wars lol

I was thinking that maybe he could get along with Legend but Innes would probably hate Legend, like Leg is too similar personality wise but lacks Innes' extreme overconfidence and bluntness and also, Innes would probably see himself too much in Legend and like, I don't think he'd be gentle, like "oh you are mean to mask ur emotional insecurities too?? I will be EXTRA MEAN back instead of bonding over it" kinda way lmao classic innes, which would make everything worse lmao anyway keep those two away

Now, for Wars, I can see it, but like, hear me out first

Innes means well, he is actually pretty soft under his thousand layers of pride and bluntness, but he has zero charisma, and thus interacting with the more soft/nice Links would result in disaster, in Innes' game the only people he has supports with are the ones who talk back to him and are mean to him back, I've always liked the idea that softness and niceness puts him off a lil bit, he feels more comfortable with people who can respond to his banter lol

Now, Innes actually really likes and respects a character named Gerik, who's the best mercenary in the continent and who's under Innes' command but speaks to him freely

Innes respects him and actually admires Gerik and seeks out advice to him, another one of innes' subordinates is Vanessa, and Innes also likes her cause despite Vanessa being under his command, she also speaks freely to him

I can see something like that happening with wars, like wars is an army captain, a tactician, a perfectionist and also uses his overconfidence and pride as a way to mask his trauma and imposter syndrome, like they're pretty similar with the big difference that wars has like extreme charisma while innes doesn't lmao also wars isn't blunt or brash, but he can banter and reply back

Which is why I feel they'd get along best, Innes is a prince, but his entire inferiority complex is cause a fellow prince, his equal, is better than him

Wars is an army captain and not royalty, even if Wars were to be better at stuff than Innes, I don't think Innes would like, see him as a threat to his abilities since Wars isn't royalty and thus isn't an equal to him lmao

Wars would know how to handle Innes since he knows his way around nobles and royalty, Innes would probably really like Wars' perfectionism and attention to detail and also his leadership skills

I can see them exchanging tactics and comparing strategies, they'd both probably geek out over it lol

I can see Innes being his blunt brash mean self towards wars a couple of times and wars not replying back cause like, Innes is a prince and Wars is just a captain, but I like to think wars probably replies back someday and throws some banter Innes' way and oh that's settles.it, he is now Innes' fave lmao

I feel like Innes could absolutely banter with legend too, but they'd be hurtful to each other, I can see innes having playful banter with wars though, like wars would know how to deal with blunt royalty he can play innes like a fiddle lmao

Also, I can see innes going into a long rant about his younger sister, tana, and wars relating and ranting about linkle back and yeah, wars is innes' fave alright lmao

Anyway, yeah... sorry for this super mega hyper long reply I am....very unwell for innes lmao

[quixoticmirror]

It’s so frustrating too, that we can’t just buy shit upfront at this point. It’s exhausting and predatory. I’ve managed to only spend 4.99 a month on my silly little mobile game but the fact it’s so / easy / to purchase things (takes me less than 10 seconds w/ a seamless UI and no way to tell how much you’ve spent (no monetary book keeping in game) is a recipe for disaster. Yells.

Everytime I make a post like “don’t spend money on gacha” I get a bunch of angry replies to tell me “actually it’s POSSIBLE to gamble responsibly” and “mh how AM i a bad person for deciding to spend MY own money that I earned MYSELF?”

and man… I really wish that people understood that when I say “Don’t spend money on gacha, it might kickstart a gambling addiction” or “if you regularly spend money on gacha you might already have one” I don’t mean it as a moral judgement. Addiction isn’t something that solely affects “bad” or “stupid” people. Addiction isn’t some punishment that is deserved. If you suffer from any kind of addiction, you deserve help. But the first step of getting that help is acknowledging there is a problem in the first place.

also: while this applies to all addictions, gacha addictions especially suck because people keep trivializing it. There are so many memes and so much enabling like “lol just spent all my savings on gacha :p” “3000$ for my waifu, a pretty cheap price!” “lol it’s too late for me I already spend so much on it but you guys stay safe!” “Don’t spend on gacha? No, spend MORE on gacha!” which I believe only adds fuel to the virulent hostility against any post that goes “hey, this isn’t normal, please be careful.”

So yeah all this talk to say: the best way to not get a gambling addiction is to not start gambling at all, so don’t spend money on gacha. If you do spend money on gacha, be careful and watch out that “I’m just spending ten bucks and nothing else” doesn’t morph into “I just spent 140 bucks and got nothing out of it, might as well add ten more at this point.” If you have a gacha addiction and are aware of it, I wish you safety and recovery.

[rosie-kairi]

Hey sup bestie I had a Sad Thought™ thinking about Roxas and I need to share it to the masses.

So you know how in Days/KH II he starts getting super pissed off wanting to know why everyone is lying to him? Why no one is willing to give him any answers? So he goes off on his own and finds Diz and Namine and they tell him the truth and he kinda freaks out?

Well what if before he has to fight Xion, attempts to summon Kingdom Hearts, and get shoved into a digital simulation someone else came to see him? Someone else who treats him like an actual person with respect and feelings?

Roxas is in Twilight Town when he hears someone call his name and he turns around and sees a boy around his age. Curly silver hair, wide blue eyes, red scarf blowing in the wind and an all too friendly smile. Roxas at first sees him as a potential enemy but the boy keeps a cool facade and promises Roxas he's not here to hurt him just to talk and introduces himself as Ephemer.

Roxas relaxes a little and decides to hear this kid out since what else has he got to lose. Eph starts by acknowledging the awful situation Roxas is in and expresses how sorry he is that this has happened, he also validates Roxas' personhood and agrees that Roxas does have the right to exist but he also says that Sora deserves to wake up and live as well. At first this makes Roxas angry thinking Ephemer is trying to manipulate him into giving up his life for some kid he never met.

So Ephemer takes him to a park where they stand to the side and watch a bunch of little kids run around playing with their parents either sitting to the side watching or playing with them. Ephemer asks Roxas what he knows about family's and receives a confused stare back. Family? Isn't that just friends? Ephemer laughs and says while Roxas isn't entirely wrong there is a difference and explains how a family is traditionally the parent's one is born to. This still confuses Roxas so Ephemer starts again.

He explains how Roxas wasn't born like other humans, not only did he come from the heart of a young boy he also came out more or less fully grown as a teen. That all humans start out as little babies born to a mom and dad whose job is to be their caretaker, their teacher, and protect them until the baby grows into an adult and the cycle repeats itself. Roxas at first thinks the organization is his family since technically they do that but Eph says no at best the organization are his legal guardians, parents aren't just who one is born to but also taken care of by someone who deeply loves you.

Maybe at this point they see a kid fall and get hurt, he starts crying and immediately a set of adults come rushing over to help. The Dad picks his son up and cradles him in his arms soothing the boy and wiping away his tears while the Mom cleans the scrap and puts a bandaid on. The parents shower their son with kisses and a reassurance that he's okay now and a warning to be more careful. The boy bounces back quick and scurries off to play with his parents watching him with love and concern.

Ephemer goes on to explain that Sora was born to a set of parents as well, and that for a parent to lose their child is the worst thing that could ever happen to them, speaking from experience from when he was alive and had children of his own. Ephemer tries to paint the picture that Sora isn't inherently more important because he came first, or because so many hearts are connected to his, but that he's still ultimately a little boy with parents anxiously awaiting their son to come back home. And if he never wakes up he'll never see them again.

Roxas slowly starts to understand, he technically doesn't have parents, doesn't have a home, never had a childhood even though he has the equivalent lived experience of a toddler. But he never realized how little he knew about humans and their relationships. Suddenly he felt conflicted, he still didn't want to disappear but after seeing a set of parents take care of their child he couldn't help but wonder did Sora get hurt like that? Or sick? Did his parents take care of his wounds? Soothed his nightmares? If those parents were to lose their son forever could Roxas really be okay with his life?

Ephemer could see the internal struggle and emphasized it's ultimately Roxas' choice what to do and though he didn't say it out loud he did have an ulterior motive. He could feel Ventus' heart housed inside Roxas. After years of mourning and centuries of unrest Ephemer finally found Ven and he knows it's selfish he knows it's not right pushing an innocent boy into this position but he can't leave Ven like this. Ven's heart is still badly damaged and the only way it can heal is to go back and take refuge with Sora again. Ephemer can't help but see the echoes of his long lost friend and brother hidden away and wants Ven to get his second chance that was cruelly taken away. Even if Ephemer can't be there like he wants to he still feels a responsibility to his fellow union leader to protect him in anyway he can.

Looking at Roxas Ephemer can't help but wonder is this what Ven currently looks like? Is he really that grown now? He's finally the same age everyone was when they were to lead the dandelions. It's bittersweet Ephemer is so proud of Ven but also wracked with guilt for not properly keeping him safe and now he's in danger and he's helpless to save him.

When Roxas does ultimately go back to Sora Ephemer is there with him, even if he can't feel or sense him he reassures Roxas that he's not alone and it won't hurt it'll be as easy as falling asleep. He feels so bad about sacrificing Roxas like this but deep down he knows there isn't anything he wouldn't do for the sweet little boy who once faced down Darkness ready to sacrifice himself so his friends could go on. It may be too late for Ephemer and maybe Roxas but it's definitely not too late for Sora or Ven.

imagine meeting someone who will genuinely treat you like the person you know you deserve to be, but you're still not the person they wish you were. You are not a means to an end, but you still are in some way.

anyway. sobbing and crying and throwing up at this thank you

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

When we think about the incarnation—about advent, about Christmas, about Jesus being born in a manger—we sometimes talk about the Son of God leaving one place to go to another. “Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown, when Thou camest to earth for me” is how E. S. Elliott put it in her 1864 hymn. In fact, it is often some form of “leaving behind the glories of heaven” that preachers and poets and parents stress as an indication of how much Christ loves us. If the incarnate Son of God was born of Mary in the earthly city of Bethlehem, then surely he must have left behind whatever heavenly dwelling he called home up to that point.

Despite the popular appeal of such notions of God’s Son leaving heaven to come to earth at Christmas, we would do well not to think or speak of the incarnation in these terms. We can speak of Christ descending to earth (John 3:13; Eph. 4:10). We can, as the Nicene Creed puts it, say that the Son of God “came down” (cf. John 6:50–51). We will certainly want to make much of Christ’s humiliation whereby he...

[thetwilightroadtonightfall]

Do you have any headcanons for if Ephemer actually was an empath? Like: how would that affect his relationships with the other Union leaders? Or maybe it could be a reason he connected so easily with Ava?

(re: this post)

Honestly, I wouldn’t be super surprised if it turns out to be canon, because it seems like every relationship he forms in canon ends up being profound in some way, with him leaving an impression on people. So if he really is a kh empath, maybe that would explain those traits. y’know. Aside from him just being a really nice person

but anyway! Headcanon time!

I don’t think he’d actually know he’s an empath. He doesn’t use the ability at will. Each interaction he has is meaningful mainly because they happen naturally

I suspect Ava might know though. Or at the very least, she’d pick up on him being good at understanding people as something special

The main way he connects with people is by sharing something about himself, then inviting the other person to do the same. You can actually see this with Player, where he tells them a secret literally seconds after they meet. Then when Player tells him about an experience they had, he takes genuine interest and decides to help them look into it

Sharing so much often leaves him vulnerable though. With people knowing more about him, he gets made fun of a lot, which isn’t actually fun at all if you’re not close to the people doing the teasing

He asks a lot of questions because he’s curious by nature, but also because he wants to dig deeper into why people feel the way they do. This can either deepen his bond with someone, or make the other person clam up. Not everyone likes being questioned

He gets overwhelmed when there’s a lot of tension in a room. It weighs down on him more than it does for others

He subconsciously tends to take on the feelings of the people around him. Ven brings out a peppier side of him. While Skuld and Lauriam tend to make him more mellow and down to earth

He has the most trouble getting a read on Brain, because he’s so guarded and speaks in riddles. Eph often feels like he’s being too overbearing with him (he’s not), and for a while, he actually thinks that Brain doesn’t like him at all. In reality, they just have different personalities. Brain has a deep respect for him, and once he realizes Eph’s concern, he starts poking fun at him and sharing stuff with him more as his way of showing that he does care

[quixoticmirror]

June 12th approaches, the entire family is suffering with so much sickness and pain that it’s inhumane. Please share if possible ..!!!

The journey for medical cases from Gaza to receive treatment abroad has begun, and I am in desperate need of your help now more than ever. I beg you from the depths of my heart to extend a hand of charity and donate as soon as possible, before it's too late. Our travel date is 12-1-2025, but I do not have enough to cover the costs of travel and treatment for my children, my wife, and myself. We are living in difficult and tragic conditions, with no one to support us in this ordeal. Please, do not leave us in this harsh situation, as each passing moment only increases our suffering.

Your donation is my only hope to escape the life of humiliation I am living. I can't bear any more suffering. The winter doesn't stop, and the cold is unbearable, while the pain in my heart grows with each passing day. My children's illness shows no mercy, and they are in a constant battle for life. Right now, Sarah is in intensive care in critical condition, and Abdulrahman is also suffering. My little girl, Lynn, is the only one left by my side. I feel as though I am losing them one by one, and each moment that passes breaks me even more. I can't endure this pain alone. Please, help me, donate to save us before I lose my children completely.

@jezior0 @ezrazone @tamamita @determinate-negation

[psalmonesermons]

Battling our invisible enemies wearing the full armour of God

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood...

In various places in the Bible, we catch glimpses of the unseen spiritual realm. A good example of this is found in 2 Kings 6 when the King of Syria send soldiers to capture Elisha and his servant.

2 Kings 6:14-17

There is also a fascinating story over in Daniel 10 in which Daniel has been praying and fasting for three weeks or so.

Daniel 10:12-14

In this chapter we find angels battling through with the answer to a man`s prayer. In the New Testament a passage which gives us great insight into the spiritual realm is found in

Ephesians 6:10-18.

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

The bad news is that the heavenlies [1] are teeming with a huge host of organized malignant spirits who hate God and his people.

The good news is that Jesus Christ has completely defeated them with his victory on the cross, and by his resurrection and ascension.

Colossians 2:9-15

Verse 15; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

By His victory [2], Jesus has made it obvious that these evil spirits were powerless to prevent his resurrection, and because of this, this verse shows us that we should not fear death as he is able to resurrect each believer in turn. He has also given us a full suit of amour [3] to stand against the devil, which in essence is just living a deliberate holy lifestyle.

So, as we are in a battle with these wicked spirits (they are the ones who stir up persecution and write the scripts that set the standard for what goes in society), we must continue to struggle against them and their influence on individuals and groups.

But let us not forget that Jesus disarmed them by taking away their ability to put the fear of death into God`s people and hence we can stand against them and bring in God`s will into any particular situation.

Amen

Personal Prayer

Explanatory footnotes

[1] The church is engaged in a spiritual war, and its enemy is Satan and a host of unseen angelic and celestial enemies whose power vastly exceeds our own. With a few exceptions, our enemies remain invisible to our eyes, but they nevertheless are real, and so is their opposition. These celestial enemies come in various forms, as is suggested by the variety of terms used by Paul to identify them: “rulers” these are the 5-star generals, “powers,” “world forces of this darkness,” “spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places”.

In this war Satan employs a variety of strategies to oppose and to defeat the Christian. Paul does not speak of one single “scheme”, but of his many “schemes” (plural), likewise, there are different parts of God’s armour that we must put on to counteract each of them. Satan’s opposition against the church is not a frontal attack, but a subversive attack through intrigue, deception, and trickery, so we must remain prayerful and alert (Eph 6:18, 1 Peter 5:8).

[2] Victory with the devil under our feet

Psalm 110:1The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”

Victory over demons

Colossians 1:15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

Victory over sin and the ability to pull down strongholds

2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

[3] When we put on the armour, we are putting on Christ. Of course, the whole armour of God is describing a day-to-day lifestyle lived in the knowledge of all that God has provided to protect us. Please note we should always be praying. Sometimes we can extend the shield of our faith over others, what do you think?

It is important to remember that when we put on the “full armour of God” we are putting on Christ (Rom. 13:14) Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (Eph 4:23) to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Our protection against Satan’s attacks is assured only when we take up the full armour of God. Satan’s schemes are many, and he attacks us at any point where we are weak. Our armour must be complete. We cannot pick and choose what parts of the armour we prefer, but rather we must put all of it on. We must be completely equipped, or we will be vulnerable to his attacks.

Amen

Personal prayer

[valorandgold]

*flops over* I totally lost all my motivation for anything because I miss doing Ace Attorney RP stuff with Edgeworth and Junie *demotivated Eph noises*

[geminiagentgreen]

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should” (Eph. 6:19-20).