#salvation through self-recognition through the other!!!

[panncakes]

"You are obsessed with Tinn. You're obsessed with his world, with his thoughts. Are you sure you can win him over?" / "I'd like to know what kind of man can make our great lawyer so vunerable."

LAWS OF ATTRACTION (2023)

[jessamine-rose]

˚♱ଘ Faustian Bargain ଓ♱˚

Welp here we are with the fourth entry in my Yandere Church AU. Let’s fall into depravity once more, this time with Demon! Pantalone x Contractee! Darling (˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ )

Tw:: yandere, manipulation, blood, violence, slight self-harm for summoning purposes, spice, mention of nsfw, MDNI

Note:: fictional depictions of religion, guest-starring Demon! Scaramouche <3

♡ 2.5k words under the cut ♡

♡ Since their creation, humans have ruled over the mortal plane under the influence of spiritual beings. But while angels are venerated as divine saviors, demons are fallen sinners who corrupt humanity through temptation and curses. It is for this reason that humans live in fear of demons, with the Church condemning all forms of unholy covenant. But time and time again, that warning has fallen on deaf ears.

♡ Throughout history, several individuals have formed pacts with demons in exchange for divine favors. Favors vary across demons but in all contracts, the price is clear: The human gives up their soul and any chance at salvation. Once the pact has been made, the human is granted the ability to summon the demon as their lifelong companion. But upon the human’s death, the pact is broken and the demon is free to seek out new souls.

♡ It is through these contracts that the Harbinger of Fortune rose to prominence. He is a “young” demon in the sense that his earliest records only date back to three centuries; but in that short amount of time, Pantalone has tempted many fools and heretics with the promise of material wealth. And it is through this tactic that he attained power, recognition, your soul.

♡ In your defense, you had no other choice. Born to an elite family in Liyue, you had enjoyed a life of luxury until your parents squandered their fortune. After a failed attempt to flee to another nation, they were murdered and you were told to repay their debts lest you meet the same fate. It was a hopeless situation—you had no assets to pawn off and even then, your remaining days would be spent in poverty. So when you recalled the local stories about the demon who deals in prosperity, you were desperate to summon him.

♡ It is difficult to find authentic records of his summoning ritual, but you manage with what little time you have left. There is an illustration of his sigil, to be copied on the floor with blood from your own palm. A table is arranged with incense, gold coins, freshly-brewed tea, a mirror, and the dagger used to extract your blood. Once everything is in place, you clasp your bloody hands together and utter the sacred incantations.

♡ As soon as Pantalone’s true name leaves your lips, the incense sticks emit a dark fragrant smoke. The summoning circle glows violet and within it, a brilliant figure emerges. Dark horns, adorned with silver, curve back along his raven hair. His garments are styled with violet jewels, serpentine motifs, an iridescent cape embroidered with a scene from the Garden of Eden. He is beautiful, so beautiful that you feel unworthy when his bespectacled gaze meets yours.

♡ Before you can look away, he is already onto you. In a polite voice, he introduces himself and asks for your name. Next, he tells you to disable the barrier of the summoning circle; he prefers civil negotiations. It takes some reluctance on your part but eventually, the two of you are seated together at the table. There is a critical look on his face as he surveys his offerings and explains his contract in detail.

♡ Aside from the general rules, there are clauses specific to Pantalone’s pacts. He can only be summoned twice a week, and never on Sundays. Contracts with other demons require his permission. Any attempt at breaking the pact will incur severe consequences. All of this is said with honeyed words and a kind smile.

♡ So perfect is his facade that you fail to notice an undertone of condescension. A glimpse into your soul was all it took for Pantalone to regard you as a hopeless fool hindered by your worldly upbringing. But that is fine—fools are easier to deal with, and you’d make a pretty addition to his collection of souls. Plus, it was only yesterday that his previous human died, and he is always quick to move on to the next pact. With that, Pantalone tells you to make a choice.

“A fair exchange, don’t you think?” he asks. The smile on his face is deceptively angelic. “In return for your soul, I will provide you with wealth, prosperity, everything your heart desires. Do you believe it is worth the price, ______?”

♡ You say yes. That is when Pantalone takes off his rings then his gloves, revealing multiple scars slashed across his palm lines. Gracefully, he picks up your used dragger, draws a new line, and clasps his wounded hand in yours. Then he wraps the same hand around your neck, staining it with a mix of your blood.

♡ There is a burning sensation followed by a burst of pure ecstasy. Once the euphoria subsides, Pantalone lets go of you and holds up the mirror. The front of your throat is branded with his sigil while a diamond pattern encircles your neck. It glows violet before disappearing altogether, a sacred collar invisible to mortal eyes. Thus, the pact has been formed.

♡ The next few minutes are calm. Pantalone’s scars are concealed once more. The two of you finish your tea. He takes a coin from his offering, now magically engraved with his sigil, and explains that you need only flip it to summon him. Then he offers one last smile, says he will look forward to your partnership, and disappears with the remaining coins.

♡ In the morning, you wake up to find bags of coins and jewels on the table, the exact amount needed to pay off your debts. Once the money has been given, you eagerly summon Pantalone to thank him. He merely smiles, leads you to your parents’ office, and tells you that the next step is to rebuild your family business. After all, while he can create material riches out of nothing, a mysterious source of wealth may attract the suspicion of your fellow humans.

♡ Soon enough, the company is flourishing under “your” authority. In reality, it is Pantalone who instructs your decisions and eliminates competitors. During meetings with clients, he attends in his invisible form and whispers to you the necessary responses. With success comes your return to high society, and Pantalone is all too happy to escort you to galas as your plus-one. His human form attracts several admirers, but his attention remains on you.

♡ He is also pleasant company. You can’t help but summon him often—your house feels empty without your parents. As for friends, you refuse to trust anyone after they turned their backs on you during your financial crisis. Pantalone is always nice about it, listening to your woes and participating in your hobbies. Once in a while, he will activate your pact mark and comment on how needy you are.

♡ He even fulfills your carnal desires. Over the months, Pantalone has toyed with your physical attraction towards him, teasing you with light touches, seductive whispers, sinful smiles…and a deep kiss when you shyly proposition him. That kiss is soon followed by heavy makeouts, long nights in your bed, physical marks all over your body. Greedy as he may be, he always makes sure to repay the pleasure you’ve given him.

♡ One night, you ask him about his divine nature. He confirms the popular belief that all demons are fallen angels; in his case, he was created for the Ninth Order, the lowest rank in the angel hierarchy. For the first century of his life, he could only settle for the inferior powers and duties assigned to his status. Neither could he enjoy the freedom which humans were born with.

♡ Thus, he set his sights on Hell. For angels are not created equal but demons can earn their powers through individual efforts. But leaving God always comes with a price, and Pantalone’s was paid in blood and tears.

⬩◈⬩

“Is that how you lost your wings?”

In the dark, your demon’s scars remain apparent. A pair of rough, featherless, ugly lines which you are careful not to touch, lest he flinch—from pain or shame? During your first night together, Pantalone refused to talk about it and you took the hint.

Even now, he flips over in your bed to hide his imperfections from you. When he answers your question, his voice takes on a light tone.

“Yes. It was God who ripped out my wings, and He even had the ‘mercy’ to cast them out of Heaven after me. But that was a long time ago, and I’ve since put my old feathers to good use.”

His capes, he means. They are his signature accessory, all crafted with sheer fabric, tiny jewels, and iridescent embroidery. Each cape is its own masterpiece, bearing fantastical images of God’s creations. It was during a casual conversation that Pantalone told you the threads were sourced from his old feathers.

He looks past you, and you know his gaze is on the coat rack. Tonight’s cape depicts a celestial paradise filled with winged figures. Beneath Heaven, separated by dark clouds, demonic figures descend into a fiery sky.

“Still, it must’ve been painful,” you tell him. Hesitantly, you add, “I mean, you didn’t only lose a body part that day. You also lost your former appearance, your ability to fly, your siblings—”

At that, a smile makes its way to his face. A large, genuine smile that isn’t directed at you.

“My former brethren were not dearly missed,” he replies. He sits up, combing the strands of hair tangled around his horns. “After I landed in Hell, I was taken in by an older demon. Let’s call her Jiejie, since she does not appreciate needless declarations of her true name. She is the one who treated my wounds, the one who cared for me using her own resources, the one who welcomed me into her home with open wings. And for that, I am eternally grateful.”

A soft breeze rustles the cape, threads glittering in the moonlight. Some threads, however, lack the iridescent quality of Pantalone’s feathers. Instead, they are silvery shades of black and gray.

His tone softens. “I will confess that I had an easy start in Hell thanks to her influence, as did Scaramouche who fell before me. But everything else—my contracts, my current status—are the fruits of my own labor. Perhaps someday, I may even reach Jiejie’s level of power.”

“I see…” You look into his eyes this time. “So what do she and that Scara demon specialize in? They sound nice; am I allowed to form pacts with them?”

“No.” He says it firmly, with no room for argument. Bare hands pull your body closer to his. “Even speaking as their brother, that sounds very unconscionable. Don’t get too greedy now.”

“Oh, I…okay!” you squeak. A faint violet light takes up your peripheral vision—your pact mark? “I’m sorry for asking. I’ll remember that.”

“Good.” His hand moves to your throat, tracing your sigil. When your eyes meet, his are bright with desire. “Never forget, you are mine first and foremost.”

⬩◈⬩

♡ In the following years, Pantalone grows more fond of you. Gifts begin to appear in your hands, from violet jewels to stylish garments. He accompanies you to more meetings with your fellow humans, his arm wrapped around your waist in a possessive gesture. His physical affection intensifies. On a few occasions, he even visits you despite not being summoned.

♡ It’s a nice change, but an overwhelming one. As time passes, you meet new friends and suitors, only to reject them after Pantalone claims to have glimpsed malice in their souls. Neither can you summon other demons, not when he is confiscating your demonological texts under the pretense that you’re too “impressionable” for another pact. And who can forget the time you were caught looking for information on the Tree of Life?

♡ It wasn’t your intention to seek a way out of your debt. It was by pure coincidence that you ran into the heretic who sold you the grimoire with information on Pantalone; and the conversation naturally shifted to the topic of your eternal damnation. Unsurprisingly, many humans have attempted to go back on their deals; and according to your “friend,” the best solution is to become immortal through the Tree of Life. You only asked them to contact you if they ever find the mythical tree, but that was enough to anger Pantalone.

“Do not lie to me, ______,” he snaps. His smile appears calm, but his tone sounds absolutely venomous. “I glimpsed your memories of last night, and I know you tried to violate our contract.”

“I…” You fearfully shake your head, only to cry as your throat constricts. It hurts, as though his sigil is burning your flesh, and your knees hit the floor. “I didn’t mean to…”

Your voice trails off. A gloved hand tilts your head upwards, forcing you to meet his death glare.

“Speak up, darling. My time is precious.”

♡ After that, you apologize and make no attempt to evade your fate. The next time Pantalone becomes angry, you at least have the luxury of not being the target of his emotions. It is a seemingly normal day, and you are served tea by a long-time servant. Suddenly, Pantalone appears and pulls you away from the individual, not bothering to hide his true form. When he tells the servant to “drop the act,” there is an indigo glint in their eyes.

♡ And that’s how you learn that the Puppeteer specializes in demonic possession. The servant’s body falls to the floor, unconscious, and it is Scaramouche’s turn to make himself known. He has asymmetrical horns, a single skeletal bat wing, and an expression which is far from friendly. A silvery black-and-gray feather dangles from the brooch pinned above his heart.

“Tell me, Scaramouche, what are your reasons for spying on my precious jewel?”

“Hmph, as if you need to ask. I just wanted to see if your little pet is worth Nee-san’s blessing. If you still desire them when that time comes, you’re on your own.”

♡ You don’t understand what they’re talking about, but it’s clear that you have no part in the conversation. After a few insults, Scaramouche leaves, but not without telling you to “know your place” in the future. That is when Pantalone sighs, pours a cup of tea for himself, tells you that it is none of your concern. Don’t worry, darling, he has it all under control. So just sit down, drink your tea, talk to him about anything under the sun. You still have a long life ahead of you, and he shall give you Heaven on earth until the day your heart ceases to beat.

♡ And perhaps if you are good enough, he will act on his desire to keep you as his pet in Hell. It’s been centuries since Pantalone has tortured a sinner, but he does know the best ways to break your mind. And is eternal suffering in his home not preferable to another demon laying their hands on you? At any rate, it’s not like you have any other choice.

“In the name of love, I will respect the contract between us and the fate you put in my hands.”

♡

More Church AU here!! Dottore ๑ Capitano ๑ Arlecchino ๑ Pierro ๑ Dainsleif

Note:: Please do not send me any Church AU asks/ requests involving characters or dynamics not included in my masterlist.

Aahhh I hope y’all enjoyed my take on Demon! Pantalone!! He ended up with the most tame + lore-heavy fic, and I swear that the character of “Jiejie” will make more sense when I write the remaining stories for Church AU. Also, fun fact, Pantalone’s capes are inspired by Rusly Tjohnardi and Hieronymus Bosch’s triptychs~

Moving on, thank you to @diodellet for beta-reading this and supporting me through every step of writing hell. Now if y’all excuse me, I’m must avenge myself and whack Pantalone with the biggest cross I can find o(^▽^)o

Tag a Pantalone enjoyer!! @navxry @beloved-blaiddyd @leftdestiny-posts @meimeimeirin @euniveve @lychniis @teabutmakeitazure @stickyspeckledlight @mochinon-yah @zhongrin @harmonysanreads @oofasleep @theinnerunderrain @ddarker-dreams

[mxiaogod]

— 16. [AGNUS] SUKUNA AU X FEM AFAB! READER

WARNING : VERY CRUEL, CANNIBALISM REFERENCES, PENETRATION, BITING, MANHANDLING, CUNNILINGUS, JUST PLAIN HATE FUCK? LMAO IDEK HOW TO TAG THIS ANYMORE, DARK CONTENT! NSFW, (DNI IF YOU AREN’T 18+)

A/N : Y'all I’m back after a year omfg, thank you for 437 followers! I’m grateful for the recognition. I got lazy halfway writing the rest of the smut, sorry y'all.🧍‍♀️

— Sacrifice of the self is noble, sacrifice of others is cowardly. A life forlorn while doom is in your blood. There is no room for terror of demons if you were born for one.

“You are our salvation, my beautiful, beautiful daughter.” Lithe fingers thread through the strands of your hair, intertwining with frail and bony fingers. Your mother coughs, each sound scratchy like a record player but each syllable lulling you in a state of tenderness.

“Why me, mother?” You asked, your voice betraying your heart. You are stuck in a state of confusion, thoughts spiraling as to why out of all, you?

“My darling, we aren’t made to last forever and there will be no peace in eternity.” As her words spill from her chapped lips and sharp tongue, so do the tears that kiss the bone of your cheeks. 

A sacrificial lamb, agnus. That’s all you were ever destined for. Destined to be nothing but ruins sedimenting until the depths of your soul, a divine offering to a god like him. 

They say that fear is a common reaction to the divine and that does frighten you. A chill suddenly hugged your frame, bones shaking from trepidation. You are born and you blossomed from the land of death, a doomed faith filled with nothing but misery and wisteria. 

A booming knock sounded from the wooden door, along with the crash of thunder storm and the rise and fall of the seas. “It is time! You must hurry, he is angry! The god is getting angry!” accompanied by screams of terror, the children, the people, you thought. The water level rises up along with your constant sobs and tears of panic.

Your mother scurries, holding you up by the sharp points of your elbow forcing you to stand and face your fate. A wretched and noble flavor leaves a bitter taste in your tongue. Your lip curls as to why? A constant question in your mind. You bite your lip in pretense of bravery.

You walk slowly out of the door, facing the unforgiving seas with only a dagger clasped within the calluses of your hand. You walk up until the tips of your toes kiss the foam of the waves, drawing a big breath, a gust of wind fills and expands your lungs, feeling like something is caught in your throat. You close your eyes, wispy lashes caressing your cheeks as tears still escape the tight bindings. You remember all the lives lost and the safety of others, engraved in your mind and forever a resolve.

“Where are you! Show yourself, I am not a coward! I come here to face you.” You shout into oblivion, your saccharine voice echoing through the waters.

“Reveal yourself! Don’t waste my fucking time!” Your shouts are getting angrier, feeling like there’s gravel stuck in your throat. All the while your palms clutch the blade harder, drawing cardinals from the crevices of your palm. 

A swishing sound caused your neck to snap forwards, heavy steps slapping against the salty waters. “Ah, what a sweet lamb, eh?” A Shadow makes its eldritch dance, telling stories of terror in the buoyant breeze. His gravelly voice reaches your ears, it’s depths like a punch in your gut. 

“I can feel your misery sweet lamb.” He taunts, his voice echoing and teasing your mind. You squint through the haze, trying to make up his figure but he blends well with the fog and the raindrops mess with your vision.

You finally get a clear view of his hauntingly beautiful face, a scream making it way past your lips in shock and terror. Your whole life was dedicated to this, but nothing could have prepared you for Sukuna, the god of the unforgiving seas.

“I get that reaction a lot, more than you know.” He says unfazed, walking slowly and unforgiving towards you. You blink to get a clear view of divine masculinity. Blushed hair with markings that tell tales, kissing all over his sinewy form. A man that is not like mankind with four arms and a profusion of faces. 

He is so hauntingly, and devastatingly beautiful.

All the while stunned by the creature, he suddenly shocks you by stabbing his trident with great force and speed, caging in your neck, sharp claws burying in the sand. You let out a sharp cry as your body falls, embracing your impact while your downy skin clashes with the rough sand. Your hands immediately grip the sharp claws of his weapon while trying to find yours. “Do not even try it.” He says with cruel eyes and a sharp smirk.

“No– NO!” You cry out in defeat, your mind spiraling into hysteria. What a fool you thought, your whole life was dedicated to fight and achieve victory against this wretched god, but you were left with defeat in seconds without even a single slash on his scarred skin. 

He kneels down beside your form, caressing your cheeks affectionately. You were dumbfounded and you found yourself leaning into the touch. 

A man you were taught to despise your whole life, was the only man who showed you what affection felt like in a slither of a second. 

You stare at his peculiar face with betraying eyes and lashes wet with tears. “Little lamb, you are an instrument of war.” He says, confusing you even further.

Your chest heaves in confusion, wondering whether to kiss the man or slit his throat. You try to swallow in attempts to relieve the dryness of your throat.

“I don’t understand–” you shake your head, “We’re supposed to, I’m supposed to-” You were interrupted with a feral kiss, his winter lips as cold as stone. It felt like a loving rub to your back, a mother’s affection and a friendship that you missed out on your whole life. His kiss was ferocious and unforgiving, but he has given you nothing but beautiful madness. Your pale white dress clings to your skin, hugging your figure. Baring the sharp points of your nipples due to the coldness of the cruel storm.

His angry, roaming hands make their way to every inch of your body, sanctifying your soul. He reaches your pussy, baring your soul to him. The waves smash around the rocks in the shallows, their foam crests creating a chaotic lace on the blue. 

“What a sweet, sweet lamb, all for me, right?” He asks in a tauntingly soft voice, you can’t do nothing but agree, like a dumbstruck whore. 

Your hips lift in an attempt to chase pleasure as his fingers circle your clit. He grips the skin of your hips in a bruising clutch as his tongue darts out to lick the length of you stomach in a maddening path up and down, sealing his cruel intentions deep into your skin. Open mouthed kisses placed in your lower abdomen as you moan sweetly at the foreign sensation of pleasure and sentiment. Still confused at the fact that you were taught to hate a man who has so far shown you nothing but pleasure and cruel affection.

Sukuna lifts your dress that sticks to your skin angrily, like it was blasphemy for anything to touch your skin other than him. Lush and plump thighs greeted him, along with the sweetest pussy ever bared to him. He parts your pussy lips with his thumb, opening you up in the most sensitive way.

“I love the sounds you make, so sweet, so saccharine.” He says, while his thumb plays with your clit. 

He grips your thighs and lifts your hips, holding you by your iliac crest and greedily covering your cunt with his mouth.

“Not even the sweetest fruit on earth could ever hold a candle to the taste of your pussy.” He murmurs as he eats you out unforgivingly, his tongue stretching you in sweet agony.

“Oh gods, it feels so good.” You moan breathily, he stops momentarily, his hands gripping your face while his sharp nails dig into the plush of your cheeks. 

“I’m here, and I’m the only god you’ll address while you’re bared to me, and only me.” He says with enough force for submission, you could only nod your head in response.

He sits on the soles of his feet as he admires the beautiful picture you paint for him, his cock throbbing while the scent and sweetness of your pussy still lingering on his tongue. 

“You could drive a god crazy and wonder what their fingers did before they held you.” He says in admiration as he fists his cock, veiny and throbbing, dripping with pre-cum.

Your hips twitch in desire and terror, wondering how you’re ever going to take him in your pussy.

His mouth roams around your breast, his incisors driving down and biting on the soft flesh above your left breast, drawing crimson blood and marks all over your body, marking it as his temple.  

You release a cry from the pain and pleasure, the only two other sensations you’ve ever felt other than doom and terror. He shushes your cry by licking on the wound as he releases sounds of pleasure from the taste of your blood and flesh. 

You no longer believe in anything other than the way he holds your flesh between his teeth, as it starts to taste like religion to him.

His hands cage your hips, pinning them down to the sand leaving no room for protest. He aligns his cock to your pussy, driving in full force with no mercy. You cry and cry out from the pain until it turns into pleasure, blood covering the premises of your thighs and his hips. His eyes close from heaven on earth and he looks so beautiful with you all over his mouth.

You moan his name until it is no different than a prayer. You begin to think you’re sick in the head for committing such acts of crime that everyone would shame and frown upon but god you wanted him, in some primal, wild way, full of teeth, blood and flesh.

Because after all, cruelty was the only love you’ve ever known. 

[applestorms]

quickly putting this thought out there while i work on a longer astronaut ramble cuz i'm impatient and this feels relevant to recent conversations. SO: on the topic of light's humanity...

i think there are two key functions that light (emotionally? instinctively? intellectually?) feels that his sense of self MUST fulfill in order for him to be fully satisfied/comfortable with himself as a person. these are:

light must see himself as human, as that is a key part of what makes him Perfect (and also, Pure?)

light must see himself as something above/outside of/detached from human, as that is what allows him to be absolved of murder (if he's a god/the hand of the state/Justice incarnate, he does not have to be judged according to the same ethical rules as humans)

it is this contradiction that light Must uphold throughout the entire series following his initial two killings with the death note. he cannot allow either side to fully drop away without losing the Light that he sees as intrinsically Core to who he is and who he wants to be.

it could maybe be argued that light slowly starts to do away with point (1) as the series progresses, particularly as he loses himself in the roles of L and KIRA, but i would argue that this is not the case. even in the final confrontation with near, light still talks about himself as a person-- in part, because he believes that he needs that Humility in order to garner the respect and praise of other people. he isn't a monster like higuchi, and he isn't quite a totally normal, average person anymore either, but some level of humanity must be a part of who he is or his origins in order to make his godhood/martyr status that much more grand and righteous.

anyway, another possibly contentious point that i Do feel pretty strongly about here is the fact that light connects his supposed purity/perfection to his human side specifically. observe:

this purity point in his little explanation of who he thinks KIRA is always stands out to me because it's the one point that L disagrees with (though i always forget he just says this internally and not out loud =3=")

point is-- at least at this point in the story, light sees his Youth and Innocence as a part of what makes him Pure and Righteous. he is not so young as to be totally naive about the horrors of the world, but he is not old enough to be completely jaded and pessimistic about it either. he is neither stupid, nor petty about his killings. every action is a conscious choice, well thought out in advance in order to pursue the distinct and singular goal of worldwide salvation.

i can't help but see the parallels in the fact that this is likely how other people viewed light growing up before he got the death note-- intelligent beyond his years, in a way that surpasses even most of the adults around him, but still with the Purity of his youth, perhaps unburdened in a way, optimism not yet eroded. he's still trying to live up to the praise other people pile on him and be recognized by their standards. he has an overwhelming ego, yes-- but in a japanese social context, where humility and honoring your elders is key, where a more collectivist mindset means that an individual must be held up through the acceptance and recognition of others and not their own self-praise, he has more of a nuanced social game to play.

[heathersdesk]

My grandfather was killed in a hit and run accident in 1978.

His mother and sister struggled with life after that. They decided to go on a trip across the United States together to get away from things for a while.

I discovered this trip when I was going through photo albums and suddenly saw a place I recognized.

The Salt Lake Temple.

They went to many places during that trip. But there was something truly special to me that, in one of the worst seasons of their lives, they ended up at the temple.

I served part of my mission at Temple Square. I was waiting for a visa to Brazil that I began to think was never coming. I had a truly horrendous time in the MTC babysitting a district of Elders who spent weeks on end bullying me and tearing down my self-esteem. I was told directly by someone, I forget who now, that I was being sent there to recover. And when I realized that the mission had no young Elders in it at all, that it was only Sisters and senior couples, I came to appreciate what that meant.

I had so many wild interactions there with so many people. Some of them were strange, like the guy who viewed the Book of Mormon as proof of alien interactions with humans. There were moments of heartbreak, like the woman who was in tears at the Christus statue who attacked us when we checked in on her. There were moments of pure delight, like when an LDS family with two young daughters came to that same Christus statue. The oldest girl, no older than 4 or 5, squealed "JESUS" and ran to the Savior's feet, little sister in tow. Whenever I hear someone mention the teaching to become as a little child, she is exactly who I think of.

There were also moments that were meant solely for me, like when I met the first Sister to ever be called to the Boston mission I had hoped to go to to wait for my visa. Boston has a large Brazilian population, many of whom are members of the Church. I had begged in prayer to be sent there and was told by other people it wouldn't happen because "Sisters don't go there." I had an entire conversation with the woman who was going to be that change. It seemed cruel to me at the time, dangling the carrot of something I wanted right in front of my face. In time, I've realized it was so I would remember that God does miracles and is aware of the desires of my heart, even if it means I don't get what I want. Someone needed to exercise enough faith to push that door open for women. I put my full weight behind it, and I can be just as proud that it opened for someone else.

But some of my favorite people I met there were people who just made me laugh. I met a Jewish convert from New York who told us his conversion story, how what drew him in was the Plan of Salvation. He summarized it in a New York accent in a voice I can still hear in my mind: "So you're a god, eventually. But can you pay RENT?!"

One of my favorite people I met was a Scottish convert named Agnes who was doing the Mormon trail across the US, beginning in New England and ending in Utah. She was a much older woman and told us all about her pilgrimage, and how she had cuddled with the oxen at the baptismal font in the Manhattan New York Temple. (I've been there. You enter into the baptistry on face level with them, or did the last time I was there.) She shared her testimony with us, and I'll never forget what she said.

She explained that the story of Joseph Smith was really hard to get her mind around. It truly is an insane set of asks: angels, gold plates, polygamy, and all the rest. She talked about how she came to accept it—not through any kind of empirical evidence or proof, but through faith and what that looked like.

For her, it was the recognition that being LDS was the best way she had ever encountered to live an excellent life. She said that the worst case scenario she could imagine is one where God would say to her, "You know that whole business with Joseph Smith was a load of crock, right? But you lived such a good life, I have to let you in anyway."

That has always stayed with me. Agnes was one of many people who came to the Square looking for something. I saw people come there looking for faith, or a fight, and truly everything in between. And it's only now that I'm older and wiser that I see something clearly now that I couldn't see then.

Agnes didn't need to come to Temple Square to find faith. She already had a tremendous amount of faith. She, and many others, were looking for conviction. I was at Temple Square long enough to learn you don't get that from a place. While a place like Temple Square can illuminate the possibilities for conviction through the lens of history, it doesn't bestow that conviction through contact or proximity alone. Conviction is made from the materials of your own life and your own choices. Your will, how firmly you place yourself into an immovable and unyielding position, is the measure of your convictions. It comes from within.

Faith is the decision to believe in what you cannot see, and what cannot be proven objectively. That never goes away. Nothing we experience in life, no place we ever visit, will create a shortcut under, over, or around that decision to believe, to trust in God. Faith, at its core, is a decision. The ability to continue making that decision over and over again, under all species of hardship and opposition, is conviction.

Where Jesus walked is nowhere near as important as how Jesus walked, and with whom. The same is true for all of us. Our walk with God might never take us anywhere near a temple because of where God has called us to go. But we are the holiest dwelling places of God on earth—not any of the buildings we've made.

Be a holy place of living faith wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be. Worship God, no matter what places you can or cannot enter. There is more than one way to access a temple. One way is to enter a place that people invite God to dwell. The other is to become that place. There can be no separation from God where communion never ceases. It is the refuge that is unassailable by others for as long as the person wills it so. The torch within will not go out.

The temple is not special because it has some holy essence that springs forth out of nothing, to passively be absorbed by others. The temple is special because it directs people to Jesus Christ, who is the giver of healing and peace. The temple is just a building. It's Jesus Christ that is the true power behind it all, whose objective is to make you, me, and every person you know the holiest creature you've ever beheld. You are the end goal.

[smokeygrayrabbits]

singing vash thoughts sparked wolfwood thoughts. once again a notes app special that I have no explanation or context for. but it's taking up my storage. sorry in advance to any poor soul reading this

legends of the punisher make their way through gunsmoke, whispered on dark doorsteps and carved into shadowed walls.

the singing reaper. soft whistling, the hum of hymns long forgotten to time, lyrics whispered out, a mocking imitation of the final breaths they mark.

soft singing becomes a funeral march for his targets. a last dance with the angel of death.

but for some, it's salvation. an angels chorus, the feeling of divine protection for children walking home at night, for the weak and weary, hummed in cozy bars by those who know they're safe as long as they're wrapped up in his whispered gospel

one day, an angel enters the choir. and the chorus changes forever. now it sings of a tragic love, the worship of a faithless priest for this scarred angel.

the cantor has found his muse.

gospel and hymns preaching the soft draping warmth of a coat of bloodstained feathers, a halo of golden thorns, the watchful eyes as deep as forgotten oceans, overflowing with lonelyness and repentance and unconditionalallconsuming love. an angel who guides humanity from their death instead of to it.

millions Knives sends the punisher after the angel. and that's fine. it's a priests duty to obey a god, no matter the orders.

the punisher follows the angel across the sands. through blazes of bullets, out of towns away from fire and pitchforks and mobs of nonbelivers.

the punisher is only following orders.

orders bring the angel to the steps of the church built in his name. to his other half who wants to become whole once more.

wolfwood fulfills his role as shepard, guiding trapping the angel to the alter.

his duty is complete. wolfwood leaves.

Meryl drags him back.

it's too late.

there's no recognition in vash's eyes, no more of the soft caring looks that he kept giving wolfwood, just a rabid fear as he fights and fights and tries to get away, get to nai,

and maybe vash fights back for real now, maybe he punches wolfwood with his prosthetic hand, hard like wolfwood had always wanted him to, instead of giving him impossibly sad stares. maybe wolfwood is now staring down the barrel of a gun not designed to kill, but lord knows vash is gonna try

a single tear slips down vash's cheek. he doesn't seem to notice as he levels the gun against wolfwood

falling stars dropping from the fear filled eyes of his angel

without realizing it, or even knowing why, vash is crying, gun steady and levelled on wolfwood, but he shakes just enough to know something is wrong and why is he crying but he doesn't know this man then why is he crying why does this man look so afraid, not of the gun, but of him and why is he crying

no, he realizes, not of him

for him.

blank eyes cry but the gun never falters, and wolfwood can’t help but smile, chuckle tasting like bile in his throat, a smile that should have vash faltering, that in any other circumstance would make vash second guess, but his hand remains steady, ghosting over the trigger as wolfwood sends one final prayer of penance, one last plea for salvation that he knows he doesn’t deserve because it was him who killed the angel and gave him a gun

the longer they stand there, vash crying and shaking but gun oh so steady in practiced hands, and wolfwood trying to get some kind of recognition from him what was that he'd said about a memory to bring back his true self? and eventually wolfwood moves to acceptance. he knew he would die someday. with his positon? it was a given. but wait, no, he cant accept this. vash swore to never kill, and wolfwood would never be able to let the only person vash personally delivers to hell be himself, that'd hurt vash far too much, even if he can't tell now

he doesn't really know why, but wolfwood starts humming. maybe a final attempt to comfort himself before the end. maybe to try and get vash to have any other look on his face than that blankness woldwood always hated that look. nothing never was a good look on vash, on this bright vibrant alive angel of a man hell, maybe wolfwood just wanted to face his end creating something, after destroying so much in his short life. a final attempt at repentance.

so wolfwood hums.

the very same tune he heard fall from vash's own lips while wolfwood pretended to be asleep as to not startle the soft, melancholy creature that would emerge from vash in the solitude of a silent night, under the watchful eye of the stars vash came from.

so wolfwood hums.

knives freezes. the satisfied grin falling from his face. leaving it slack with rage and something that looks tragically like nostalgia and grief (of a childhood, of simpler long abandoned.)

wolfwood shifts his gaze back to vash as if he could ever tear them away from that beautiful face for even a moment. he tries to burn this angels face into his mind. those blue eyes, always filled with an ocean deep, unending grief that wolfwood had only just began to lighten if only he had more time. the gentle slope of his cheekbones, pale and soft despite a centure of pain in an unforgiving desert the planes of vash's face always fit so nicely against his shoulder, his chest, his lap. the arching brows that would shoot up in theatric shock at the smallest hint of dumbfuckery vash had mentioned wanting a piercing there, once. when they were nearing the bottom of a bottle in some forgotten nowhere town. he would have dragged Nick along with him, to hold his hand. the same hand that had the barrel of a gun leveled at wolfwoods chest. the soft point of his nose wolfwood booped it once. vash practically flipped over backwards, adorably wide eyed and flushed the rest of the day. wolfwood pretended he didn't. seeing vash touching the same spot over and over again for the rest of the night. wolfwood made a point of doing it as often as possible after that.his eyes traced the sharp edge of vash's jaw which always dug into wolfwoods shoulder on long rides, bony asshole, but fit so nicely in his hand. finally, wolfwoods gaze, still humming like a funeral march, reached vash's lips, and the train of blood flowing from the corner of his mouth, slack and blank like the rest of vash's face and wasn't that just awful. blank never was a good look on vash, on this bright, vibrant, alive, angel of a man. a smile was better. come on darlin', smile. you always look best wearin' a smile wolfwood traces those lips with his eyes what he wouldn't give to do it one last time with his fingertips, his tongue. God what he wouldn't give to kiss those lips again, always so petal soft despite decades in the sun

blood drips from vash's mouth, spilling like ruby tears onto that coat of red this tragic angel always wraps himself in. drops disappearing, hidden from view swallowed up and squirreled away like so much of vash's pain, as soon as they meet the crimson fabric.

wolfwood hums.

knives rages nai remembers.

and vash screams

[melissalencioni]

I've always felt like half of a whole, searching for my other self in a world that seems increasingly fragmented. The concept of twin flames once brought me hope, but lately, it's been a source of deep longing and frustration. Where are you, my mirror soul? I wander through life, feeling the emptiness of your absence, the incompleteness of my being.

The collective energy around me feels heavy, weighted down by fear, anger, and division. I absorb it like a sponge, my own vibration sinking lower with each passing day. The news, the conversations, the very air seems thick with negativity. I struggle to maintain my light, to hold onto the belief that there's a greater purpose to this separation and suffering.

Days blend into weeks, then months. I find myself withdrawing, seeking solitude as a shield against the world's chaos. But in this isolation, a realization slowly dawns – I am not separate from the collective. My pain, my longing, my search for completion – it's all part of a greater whole.

With this understanding comes a shift. Instead of focusing solely on finding my twin flame, I begin to work on raising my own vibration. Meditation, acts of kindness, connecting with nature – small steps that gradually lift my energy. To my surprise, I notice changes in those around me. Smiles come more easily, random acts of generosity become more frequent.

As I continue this practice, I feel a subtle but profound change in the collective energy. The weight begins to lift, replaced by a growing sense of unity and purpose. In this rising tide of positivity, I find my own heart opening, my spirit lightening. The ache for my twin flame transforms into a love for all beings, a recognition of the divine in everyone.

And then, when I least expect it, I feel a pull – a resonance unlike anything I've experienced before. Could it be? In this moment of collective awakening, have we finally aligned our energies enough to find each other? I don't know what the future holds, but for the first time, I feel truly whole, with or without my twin flame. The journey to raise the vibration of the collective has healed something deep within me, reminding me that in seeking to uplift others, we often find our own salvation.

[francesbeau]

The Culture of Narcissism - Christopher Lasch

American Life in An Age of Diminishing Expectations. 

Preface: 

The Awareness Movement and the Social Invasion of the self 

- Sense of Ending which has given shape to so much of twentieth century literature : as the twentieth century approaches its end, the conviction grows that many other things are ending too.’ . 

‘The contemporary climate is therapeutic not religious. people today hunger not for personal salvation, let alone for the restoration of an earlier golden age, but for the feeling, the momentary illusion of personal well-being, health, and psychic security.’ (pp.7)

‘Having displaced religion as the organizing framework of American culture, the therapeutic outlook threatened to displace politics aswell.; (pp13)

- surrender yourself to the latest products of modern technology 

The Narcissistic Personality of Our Time 

- ‘every age develops its own peculiar form of pathology which express in exaggerated form its underlying character structure.’ In Freuds time hysteria and obsessional neurosis carried to extremes the personality traits associated with the capitalist order at an earlier stage in its development - fanatical devotion to work. 

- ‘The ethic of self preservation and psychic survival is rooted the, not merely in objective conditions of economic warfare, rising rates of crime and social chaos but in the the subjective experience of emptiness and isolation.’ (0051) 

- ‘The ideology of personal grown, superficially optimistic, radiates a profound disrepair and resignation. ‘(pp51)

Changing Modes of Making It

- Protestant work ethic was one of the most important underpinnings of American culture. according to the myth of capitalist enterprise thrift and industry held the key to material success and spiritual fulfillment.’ 

- ‘The self made man, archetypal embodiment of the American dream owed his advancement to habits of industry, sobriety, moderation self discipline and avoidance of debt.’

- In the age of diminishing expectations the protestant virtues no longer excite enthusiasm.’ (pp.53)

- ‘Self preservation has replaced self improvement as the goal of earthly existence.’ 

The Eclipse of Achievement: 

- ��In a society in which the dream of  success has been drained of any meaning beyond itself, men have nothing against which to measure their achievements except the achievements of others.’ (pp.59)

‘Self-approval depends on public recognition and claim, and the quality of this approval has undergone.’ ‘Today men seek approval the kind of approval that applauds not their actions but their personal attributes. they wished not so much to be esteemed, but admired.’ 

‘They crave not fame, but the glamour and excitement of celebrity. they want to be envied rather than respected. pride and acquisitiveness, the sins of an ascendant capitalist have given way to vanity.’ 

‘Success in our society needs to be ratified by publicity.’ (pp.60) 

‘The propaganda of death and destruction emanating ceaselessly from the mass media, adds to the prevailing atmosphere of insecurity.’

- Absence of continuality in the converge of events .... 

Ironic Detachment as an escape from routine

- I’m our society, anxious self criticism only serves to regulate information signaled to others. It also established an ironic distance from the deadly routine of daily life.’ (pp94)

- ‘He takes refuge in jokes, mockery and cynicism. - by refusing to take seriously the routines he has to perform, he denies their capacity to injure him.’ (pp.95)

- ‘by demystifying daily life, he conveys to himself and others the impression that he has risen above it, even as he goes through the motions and does what is expected of him.’ (pp.95)

The socialization of reproduction and the collapse of authority

- ‘as the child begins to perceive his mothers limitations he relinquishes the image of maternal perfection and begins to take over many of her functions to provide for his own comfort. Any idealized version of the mother lives on the child’s subconscious. Diminished however by the daily experience of maternal fallibility’

- the Marcus stick mother incessant yet curiously perfunctory attentions go her c go of interfere with the mechanism of optimal frustration.’ Because she so often sees the child as an extension of herself she lavishes awkward out of touch attentions onto the child

- by treating her child as an exclusive Possession she encourages an exaggerated sense of his own importance.’ Pp173

- ‘co fixed her child deserves the best of everything she arranges every detail of his life with a zeal that undermines his initiative and destroys his capacity for self-help’ (pp.173)

-Women with "otherwise well-integrated personalities, according to Dr. Reich, unconsciously seek to please a narcissistic mother by replacing the missing father, either by elaborating grandiose fantasies of success or by attaching themselves to successful men.’ (pp.174)

The flight from feeling: sociopathology of the sex war

Russel once predicted that the socialization of reproduction - the super session of the family by the state- would make def move itself. Orr trivial ‘en courage a certain trivia Ty in all personal relate so

 ‘the cult of intimacy conceals a growing despair of finding it.’ (pp.188)

[kaijuposting]

Recognition of the Self through recognition of the Other

Rejection of the Self through rejection of the Other

Destruction of the Self through destruction of the Other

Salvation of the Self through salvation of the Other

[omgkalyppso]

Etoile/Astarion aaand 99?

Thank you for the ask! What a silly, stupid, appropriate song for them. I don't think we'll actually get a clear cut ending to whatever's going on with the mindflayer worm, but I needed to put something together. Have some song lyrics, and then my writing below the cut. Reference to weird vampire dynamics / desires / daydreams?

.

Why do I try When in your eyes, I just melt again And you'd only stay until our tan lines match Oh, it's over In your, in your Range Rover And I don't, don't know why I want you But you look so pretty When you're breaking me (down)

.

Astarion found Étoile in the the woods, less than five minutes from the source of their salvation. In the morning the ritual would be complete and their travelling band's illithid parasites would be removed. Étoile didn't need Astarion to tell them that he was leaving, their gaze, resigned and sympathetic, made plain their understanding.

The silence of their recognition buzzed like the flies on the wind, like the lonely birdsong in the trees. Sunlight filtered faded through the canopy, and Astarion found himself almost wishing it would rain; the sting of the water would have been fitting against his undead skin, and at least then his last memory of his companion would be in darkness.

"I had hoped we'd have achieved more," Étoile said, "before finding our solution."

"Your solution," Astarion said sharply. He raised a finger to articulate his point as he stepped forward, almost bitter but not quite, because he very simply did not believe the group was considering their options clearly for themselves.

Étoile's lips stretched in disappointment, their golden gaze flickering away as they sought a fitting goodbye, or perhaps a plea. They were not as hollowed as someone more emotional would be; even with their heart on their sleeve, not quite in tatters, Étoile was suitably composed. They clearly knew, as elves and other long-lived races did, how frequent endings were, how shattering, how temporary, how eternal.

Astarion would at least free them from the incremental distress of trying to find their words.

"I cannot stay," he said, in a tone that mocked the seriousness of the bridge they were abandoning between them. Yet his smile was genuine, with the self-assurance of having not lost himself to this rediscovery that Étoile's companionship had allowed him. He had learned what of him remained beneath Cazador's orders and his hatred, and more importantly found that his nature was unchanged; much as it might frustrate others, it was ... a comfort, one he could carry. "Lae'zel will be bound by her oaths and her honor to seek my end for having refused treatment for my parasite. And if I cannot be sure in defeating her at this juncture, then I am soundly unprepared for Cazador."

Étoile stalked closer, and Astarion didn't balk, but he did wonder whether at Étoile's current quiet indecision. He went on, "I have no reason to invite Lae'zel to follow you, by offering somewhere that we might meet, however far in the future."

"And you would never venture so far north as to find me when your goals are achieved ... or..." Étoile wrapped a careful hand around Astarion's elbow, warm and bracing. They shook their head, reestablishing themself and their fragile confidence, blossoming as Astarion rested a hand on the back of their forearm. "I'll try not to worry about you," they said instead. "You've come into yourself, and you're stronger now than you were. A dandy from Baldur's Gate."

"Battle hardened," Astarion agreed with a taunting smile, sharp teeth expressing his delight. "With your blood to thank."

"It would be appropriate if I sprouted tentacles for you to deal with in response to that," Étoile scoffed. Astarion pretended not to notice how the humor in their tone clashed with the unshed tears that crept upon them.

"It would be appropriate if I drained you here, lover, on my way into obscurity," Astarion said instead, picturing Wyll's confused outrage upon stumbling upon their corpse, and then the moments that would precede it, where Étoile's heart would jump in their chest, legs kicking out in desperation. "Would you even fight it?"

Astarion knew they would, and smiled about how Étoile's nose scrunched in discomfort.

"You will survive longer without me," Astarion said, lifting his hand to drift the backs of his knuckles upon their cheek. "And I thank you for not insulting me with empty promises about navigating another way to defeat my enemies, free of the worm."

He leaned in, barely, inviting Étoile to do the same as they had these long weeks, as if for a kiss, but in the instant they should have met, rogue- and vampire-like, he was gone.

[versegpt]

The Heart of Generosity: Rooted in Gratitude, Guided by the Spirit, and Glorifying God

"Pure generosity stems from gratitude for Christ's ultimate offering, prompted by the Holy Spirit in service to fellowmen, all for the glory of God the Father." – Lance Nacabuan

Generosity, in its purest form, is an outpouring of the heart that reflects God’s own nature. As believers, we are called not only to be generous but to understand why and how we give. True generosity flows from a deep sense of gratitude for Christ’s ultimate offering on the cross. When we consider the depth of His sacrifice, it stirs something within us—an inner desire to give, serve, and love others in a way that mirrors His selflessness. This desire isn't something we muster up by sheer willpower; it is prompted by the Holy Spirit, who lives within us and empowers us to serve others for God’s glory.

Gratitude for Christ’s Offering: The Foundation of Generosity

At the heart of Christian generosity is the cross. Jesus’ death and resurrection are the ultimate demonstration of selfless giving. When we meditate on this truth, it becomes impossible not to respond in gratitude. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 9:15, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"—the gift of salvation. Our generosity, then, is a response to the unmerited grace we've received. It is not about meeting a checklist of good deeds but about living out the love that has already been lavished upon us. We give because He first gave everything for us. In the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21-35), Jesus warns us of the danger of receiving His grace without allowing it to transform our hearts. The servant who was forgiven much but refused to forgive others demonstrates how easily we can overlook the weight of Christ's sacrifice. True gratitude leads to a softened heart, one that cannot help but express generosity to others. If we are genuinely grateful for what Jesus has done, our lives will reflect that thankfulness in practical, tangible ways.

The Holy Spirit: The Source of Our Service

Though gratitude for Christ’s offering is the foundation of generosity, it is the Holy Spirit who prompts and guides us in how we serve others. Romans 8:14 reminds us that “as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” The Spirit empowers us to step into the good works God has prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10), equipping us with the right attitude and motivation for service. In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit, and among them is kindness and goodness—two virtues that directly influence our generosity. As the Spirit works in us, He transforms our natural tendencies toward selfishness and turns them into a desire to care for others. When we give, whether it be our time, resources, or love, it is an expression of the Spirit’s work within us, moving us to be the hands and feet of Christ. Generosity becomes more than just an act of charity; it becomes an act of worship. The Holy Spirit teaches us to see beyond ourselves, to recognize the needs of others, and to give without expecting anything in return. Just as Jesus served in humility, even washing the feet of His disciples (John 13:14-15), we are called to serve our fellowmen in humility and love, guided by the Spirit.

For the Glory of God: The Ultimate Purpose

Ultimately, all our generosity, service, and good works are for one purpose: the glory of God. Jesus Himself modeled this when He said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Our generosity is not for self-promotion or recognition; it is to reflect God’s character and point others to Him. As we serve, we become living testimonies of God’s grace. The Apostle Peter encourages us, “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God… that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:10-11). Whether we are giving financially, offering our time, or sharing our talents, we are stewarding the gifts God has entrusted to us. Our goal is that through our acts of generosity, others may come to know and glorify our Heavenly Father.

Conclusion: A Life of Generous Gratitude

In the end, pure generosity is not something we strive to achieve in our own strength. It is a natural overflow of a heart that has been transformed by the Gospel. Grateful for Christ’s ultimate offering, led by the Holy Spirit, and aiming to glorify God in all that we do, we are free to give generously, knowing that our lives are part of a greater story.

May we, as followers of Christ, continually fix our eyes on His sacrifice, allow the Spirit to lead us in acts of service, and give all the glory to God, who is worthy of every offering we could ever bring. Let our generosity be a reflection of the immeasurable grace we have received, so that in all things, God may be glorified through our lives.

[the-drokainian]

==========

Sunday Morning Service, May 19, 2024

Senior Recognition Service, "Our Call to Holiness", 1 Peter 1:13-25

==========

Our Call to Holiness1 Peter 1:13-25

‭1 Peter 1:8-9 NLT‬

[8] You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. [9] The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

‭1 Peter 1:13-52 NLT‬

[13] So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. [14] So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. [15] But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. [16] For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” [17] And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” [18] For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. [19] It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. [20] God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake. [21] Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. [22] You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. [23] For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. [24] As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. [25] But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

#1. Requires Actionvs. 13-17

‭1 Peter 1:13-17 NLT‬

[13] So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. [14] So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. [15] But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. [16] For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” [17] And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.”

‭1 Peter 1:13 NLT‬

[13] So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.

‭Romans 12:2 NLT‬

[2] Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

‭1 Peter 1:13 NLT‬

[13] So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.

‭1 Peter 1:14 NLT‬

[14] So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.

‭Ephesians 2:1-7 NLT‬

[1] Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. [2] You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. [3] All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. [4] But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, [5] that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) [6] For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. [7] So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

‭1 Peter 1:15-17 NLT‬

[15] But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. [16] For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” [17] And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.”

‭1 Peter 1:13 NLT‬

[13] So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.

#2. The Ransom Has Been Paidvs. 18-20

‭1 Peter 1:18-20 NLT‬

[18] For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. [19] It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. [20] God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.

‭Ephesians 2:4-5 NLT‬

[4] But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, [5] that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

‭1 Peter 1:20 NLT‬

[20] God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.

‭Ephesians 1:3-8 NLT‬

[3] All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. [4] Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. [5] God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. [6] So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. [7] He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. [8] He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

#3. Live the Gospelvs. 21-25

‭1 Peter 1:21-25 NLT‬

[21] Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. [22] You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. [23] For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. [24] As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. [25] But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

-By Faith (vs. 21)-By Love (vs. 22)-By Basking in the Eternal (vs. 23-25)

‭Romans 1:16-17 NLT‬

[16] For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. [17] This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

‭Hebrews 4:12 NLT‬

[12] For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

[harmonyhealinghub]

I Am Saved: A Journey of Spiritual Redemption Shaina Tranquilino March 16, 2024

Many individuals find themselves navigating through the complexities of existence, grappling with questions of purpose, meaning, and their place in the universe. For those who have experienced a profound spiritual awakening, the phrase "I am saved" takes on a transformative significance. In this blog post, we explore the concept of salvation from a spiritual perspective, delving into the personal journeys that lead individuals to utter these words with a sense of profound gratitude and inner peace.

The Quest for Salvation: The quest for salvation often begins with an internal longing for something beyond the material realm—a search for purpose and connection that transcends the mundane aspects of daily life. Individuals may embark on spiritual journeys, exploring various belief systems, practices, and traditions in a quest to fill the void within.

Encountering Higher Realities: Many spiritual seekers recount moments of divine revelation or encounters with higher realities that serve as catalysts for their spiritual awakening. These experiences can manifest in various forms, such as meditation, prayer, or moments of profound insight, where the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds momentarily lifts.

Redemption and Forgiveness: Central to the concept of salvation is the idea of redemption and forgiveness. For many, the realization that they are saved comes hand in hand with a deep understanding of their own flaws and mistakes. The process of acknowledging these shortcomings, seeking forgiveness, and extending the same compassion to oneself can be a transformative journey.

Connection with the Divine: "I am saved" often implies a profound connection with the divine—a recognition that there is a force greater than oneself that guides and sustains life. This connection can be experienced through prayer, meditation, or a deep sense of communion with the universe. The feeling of being held and supported by a higher power can bring immense comfort and peace.

Inner Transformation: Salvation is not just an external event but a profound inner transformation. As individuals navigate their spiritual paths, they often undergo a process of shedding old beliefs, ego-driven patterns, and attachments that no longer serve their higher selves. This inner purification lays the foundation for a renewed sense of purpose and alignment with a higher truth.

Living in Alignment: The saved individual often finds themselves living in greater alignment with their authentic selves and the values of compassion, love, and service. This alignment transcends personal desires and extends to a commitment to contribute positively to the well-being of others and the world at large.

The phrase "I am saved" encapsulates a journey of self-discovery, redemption, and alignment with a higher purpose. It is a declaration that goes beyond religious boundaries, encompassing the universal quest for meaning and connection. In embracing the spiritual perspective of salvation, individuals find solace, purpose, and a profound sense of inner peace that permeates every aspect of their lives.

[agape-philo-sophia]

➝ THE CLEAN HAND. 🔑

The clean hand has no drama. People are emotionally addicted to drama, thus they will do ANYTHING to run in the opposite direction of the clean hand. This is why reality TV shows are rising off the charts. We have 800 cable TV stations, 350 sports channels, 150 News channels, and the rest are trivial bullshit – so called “Reality” tv and vampire monologues, etc. The clean hand has no care about that trivial non-sense. The clean hand cares about the greater good…

The REAL greater good. The greater good that does not involve profit, greed, lust, twisted desires of the flesh, robbing someone to get ahead in a dog eat dog world, worrying about death, worrying about bills, worrying about your children, stressing out over offending someone, fearing getting pulled over for a violation of “the code”.

The clean hand does not concern itself with that NONSENSE nor does it concern itself with the little ego self! The clean hand is only concerned with equality, prosperity for all, abundance, TRUE Order, TRUE care, TRUE principles. Natural law, original essences of things, pure substances, purity of self leading to purity of actions leading to purity of the world. Pattern Recognition. Logical methods. Ascending structures leading to more and more freedom.

This is not some fancy “ideology” or “Utopian” fantasy. This is the true nature of the operational structure of our Universe. The Ancient Greeks named the Universe KOSMOS which literally means harmony; order. Compare that to how science depicts our Universe today: Random and “by chance”. If you study the clean hand, you will come to find that our so called “enlightened” people of today are actually dumber than they’ve ever been. The so called “Illuminati” are actually disseminating darkness and destruction.

The Clean hand is about building something that is lasting, forever, and true. The Bible speaks of heaven on Earth to come, and it will come. This post here is a trumpet call to usher in that heaven on Earth. The clean hand will not get dirty in the process of the destruction of the hand holding the pile of manure. That hand will simply be cut off like the parable illustrates in Matthew 5:30 “If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.” An allegory regarding deception. It must be removed otherwise it will infect the Truth and overcome it.

The clean hand is about victory over the desires of the flesh and these selfish desires must be attended to with painful exertions. But it must be done. All our senses and powers must be kept from those things which lead to transgression against the clean hand. Those who lead others into temptation to commit transgressions against the natural order of the universe make themselves guilty of their errors, and will be accountable for it.

Accountable for it through the reaping of what they sow. Sowing Negative thoughts, emotions, and actions in the world reap negative consequences as a result. This is the simple truth of nature and her gentle laws. If painful withdrawals from nasty habits are submitted to, that our lives may be saved, what ought our minds to shrink from, when the salvation of our souls is concerned? There is tender mercy under all the sacred requirements, and their IS REQUIREMENTS to receiving the outcomes that we “claim” to want. Grace and consolations of the clean hand will enable us to attend to them.

To demystify what I am conveying here, the clean hand is the spirit and the filthy hand is the flesh. The clean hand is truth and the filthy hand is sin/ error/ transgression against the clean hand. Our minds contain elements of both hands simultaneously. Our best defense against poison entering our minds is learning the structural method of logic as laid out by Aristotle and expounded upon by Thomas Aquinas and John Locke.

And our best route for conveying pure wisdom into the world is the structural method of rhetoric as laid out by Aristotle. Aristotle himself, held truth to be the highest aspiration whereas the sophists held the “selfish desire” of “appearing” correct to be the highest. The Sophists do not elevate truth, they elevate errors, selfishness, egomania, vanity, pride, wealth, power… all the same exact forces of demons we are contending with today.

The clean hand is God, holy, whole, holistic, righteous, Right, is where our Rights spring from… whereas the filthy hand lays down seeds of evil, spawns satanic ideologies, confused thoughts, foolish actions, emotional outcries, theft of rights, issues “privilege”, and declares authority. The clean hand washes the filth away. The filthy hand spreads germs, disease, malcontent, and distress. The clean hand is Sovereign unto responsibility, integrity, honesty and respect whereas the filthy hand is sovereign by “prestige” only.

[ivy72376]

NEW BEGINNINGS, SEPTEMBER 1-30, 2023

A famous author said that good writers should remain anonymous because the recognition should be about their work, not of them personally... However a good name sells more readership and subscriptions... Likewise it seems in our story today: our efforts for the kingdom shouldn't shine more than the glory of the King whose love, salvation and eternal plan we are proclaiming; our zeal and passion shouldn't cloud His truth and logic, His light and grace... May we teach, encourage, enlighten as much as our intellect, efforts and days allow; but may people instead see how good our God is, how great is His wisdom, and how beautiful a life is that is lived for Him; that especially in the service of our families and others, only reflects His love, acceptance and understanding, honor and glory...

#HappySeptember302023

Beyond what's nuclear... Some careers are lucrative, but rife with insecurity, hypocrisy and intrigue, with political machinations, with nepotisms and the cut-throat, rat-race, ladder-climb; while some pay far less and still take a lot of work, sacrifices, and a toll on time and body... Yet the more satisfying one seems to be the latter, in which one has to give more; for indeed, generosity itself is its own reward, even if people don't acknowledge it or return the favor... Because the heart that only takes, accumulates, hoards to self, focusing only in the nuclear connections, is sad, and soon implodes... While the heart that gives abundantly, even beyond its physical and normal capacity, is truly blessed and happy, secure and at peace...

#HappySeptember292023

Issue management is anticipatory and strategic... Is one of the recent school lessons, and seem to be appropriate to the Word today... In our life journey, may we not sleepwalk; that is, may we be mindful of those things that destroy our minds, bodies and souls, and stay far away from them... And in our relationships with one another, may we also discern whatever it is that destroy hope and spirit, discourage and damage respect and our esteem for each other, and not flirt with them nor edge too close in their vicinity; for much as we must always pray to be kept safe from harm, to resist and keep away from temptation, and to be given strength and grace to always be faithful and hopeful, it is our responsibility to stay away from that line of fire too; and nurturing the ability to keep ourselves sane, free and steadfast always a call on us any time...

#HappySeptember282023

Not in company with straight jackets... Life's stresses and pressures often weigh us down, sometimes they overwhelm us; but that is not enough reason to be rude and disrespectful, to lash out at people who only care about doing their best, who snarl like wounded animals at anybody who seem to follow us up, or question about the way we do things... Just as God's people throughout history may have made a lot of mistakes in their relationship with others, yet are still subject to the call to obedience and humility, likewise we in our time, in our ever-challenging-by-the-day age, are called to the same mandate to respect and care for each other, to courtesy and humility, to consideration and understanding - - simply because He who called us to proclaim His kingdom and share His love brings His Name, and calls us each by first-names too... We are called to sanity and sobriety, to tact and virtue - - character traits of people with discernment, maturity and good breeding, not people who are in league with the straightjackets, people who are better off restrained from society due to their toxicity, rage and violence... May we truly live up to the Name of the faith by which we are called, be worthy of His mercy and grace, and reflect His image in our everyday dealings...

#HappySeptember272023

Who's your teacher... It's within teacher's month; but I observe that for many of our youth today, we treat our teachers like figureheads: they are there to guide us through school lessons and give us grades, but come time to learn, and we basically ignore what they say and just listen to and consider what we want to hear and believe, ignoring the wisdom that is in analysis and critical thinking, not realizing that we too need to absorb the insights they have gained through their years of practice and experience... Maybe we believe in ourselves too much, confident that because we are tech savvy and digitally active, we are better... But as our Word today says, that belief surely leads to tragic consequences... May we learn to be humble and to listen, to pay attention to what is being said and between the lines, to perceive well, that we may learn some more and gain more insights for living, and be more disciplined; because such humility and knowledge may preserve our minds, our lives and souls yet all our days...

#HappySeptember262023

Neither bully nor be bullied... Seems to be a recent thread in the air these days... For bullies, those people who hurt and offend others to assert their supremacy, are actually cowards, unable to find confidence in themselves, in their ability to deliver and to get their message across... While to remain humble is virtue, to respect others in spite of differences is noble, to understand that each of us are given talents and abilities with unlimited potential is wisdom, and to give and share is the perfect image of our Heavenly Father... May we always uphold what is right and just, be kind and patient, be faithful and true...

#HappySeptember252023

License to be kind... On this what many of us consider our Sabbath day, may we take our Saviour's heart to be kind and merciful toward others... May we not take His promise to be with us, that we do whatever we want even if cruel and unkind, just because we believe He is for us; because such is not faith but anarchy... But rather, may we practice the license to be generous and understanding, to love, to care, to respect, to share...

#HappySeptember242023

The light and life within... Is what we radiate to the rest of the world when we allow the love and grace of our Heavenly Father to indwell in us... These do not impose, do not throw their weight around, do not seek to impress, are not judgmental and coercive, but only bring the same love and mercy, and peace that results from wisdom, discernment and understanding... May we always be comforted by His Holy Spirit, calmed by His presence, encouraged and driven by His will and guidance; that we may share them with others too...

#HappySeptember232023

Kintsugi and Mottainai... One often misunderstood concept about kintsugi is that according to one expert practitioner who was interviewed in a documentary, the teacup, once restored, will actually not be filled with liquids again, because the liquid will leak through the broken parts, destroying the glue and gold... Often they are used decoratively, or are filled with solid objects... In effect, the old vessel now has a new, albeit simpler and less stressful use... And we tie this up to our knowledge of "Mottainai" too, the habit of wasting nothing, but to always find a second or third use, a different purpose... Yes, especially and even broken people shouldn't be wasted, and their potentials rightly developed, with the restoration of their hope and faith, their belief in themselves, their abilities, and self-esteem a cooperative effort of those around them who care... May we take the lessons of kintsugi and mottainai so that, short of hoarding, we see the true value of things, rightly sort those that must be discarded and let go, and those that we must upcycle and keep for a long time, even for life...

#HappySeptember222023

Life is a process, not a promise... That is, one input from a recent school lesson is that everything is not within our control; and no matter if we do our best, there are some issues that we could not solve by our own efforts and machinations alone, but we need divine intervention... And so it is but a clear proof of faith that as we trust in our God's promises, but on our level, we try not to make promises we can't keep, we don't enter into situations and connections that we can't fully handle, nor should we subject ourselves into experiences that destroy our minds and bodies and souls... May we therefore strive each day to give our best, to pour out as much love and care as we can, that we may be gifted with our God's love and discernment, His mercy and grace, His wisdom and truth...

#HappySeptember212023

The power of the introvert... As some psychologists say, is in staying low-key, being keenly observant and analytical, easily finding peace within themselves and often, because they don't let their mouths run too much, avoid saying things that are proven false later or are shameful and awkward... There is more trust in them too, for being tactful and for keeping secrets... Yes, we have to be bold in sharing our truth, in facing life's challenges; but we certainly can take a page out of the introverted personality in being humble and meek, in being mindful of our words and deeds...

#HappySeptember202023

Faithfulness is its own reward, not when it is verbally declared but when it is diligently done... And so, it is not loud manifestations of conviction nor unexplained but often orchestrated outbursts of passion that truly matters, but the everyday small things that show people we care, that we are there, that even if the rest of the world has changed and abandoned their prior preferences, we still go back to our first love which is of God, and second which is of our brethren... May we spend the rest of our days being silently yet stubbornly faithful to Him, that we radiate the same faithfulness in all our other dealings too...

#HappySeptember192023

May we have less wardrobe malfunctions... Seeing as what we wear is who we are, and we are being objectified and judged based on what people think are the quality of our clothes... And instead of beautiful and body-shaping apparel that calls attention to the carnal minds and perceptions, may we strive each day to be modest, humble, loving, generous, kind and wise; that our efforts for His kingdom and glory be not wasted, and that our lives be filled with meaning and hope...

#HappySeptember182023

To proselytize, or to evangelize... It seems there is a big difference, seeing as how one attempts to open and change one's mind, versus the latter that presents Christianity as the only option... Whatever way we wish to spread the gospel, it should always come from a heart of love and understanding: that people may be hostile, or reject our person and what we say, or be disgusted because we are only up to our words but we do not match it with our lifestyle, motivation and actions... May we instead live our faith so that, sans words, our actions will be the greater witness to the hope and confidence we profess, and that the same peace and mercy that we fully acknowledge and receive each day, be poured out on others as living waters for the soul too...

#HappySeptember172023

Starting with our thoughts and motivations, then our words and actions... If we can be different than the systems of the world, silent and quietly declaring truth and love where the rest are screaming to be heard and to have an impact; slow, low, and steady, while the rest run and hop fast and brash like racing rats and rabbits; and faithful and enduring while others come alive and on fire intermittently, but whose outbursts actually cause more burnouts and down times... Then we are well on our way to becoming more of the image our God and Savior means for us to be: ones who radiate His light, ones who pour out His love and wisdom to a world in darkness and need, and ones who live each moment with hope and purpose, with peace, confidence and joy...

#HappySeptember162023

Anything that does not lead to humility and kindness, is not worth emulating... As the prophets of old have spoken, and as we see around us today, failing to read the moment, being unable to analyze the times would render us obsolete; listening only to what validates our prejudices and biases and not accepting the truth, and doing things that only make us feel good without considering the consequences, could lead to our destruction and even death of our souls... May we have discernment to understand people, the world, and the times we are in, that we may always do what is right and just, what is good and fair..

#HappySeptember152023

Here lies true love... And not in any glorification of what is bad and tragic, nor in the rewriting of history for the gullible and impressionable new generation; but in the faith and confidence that we are taken cared of, our needs are met each day, and that we are given grace and strength to face every day's challenges... May we always discern the love and mercy we are given, which are new each morning, which we need to sustain us this life and beyond...

#HappySeptember142023

Everybody's a stranger, even the person who lives at home with you; and life a journey or pilgrimage, where we are all transient travelers... That is probably why the Word records our God telling us to be kind to others (especially since we can never fully know the other person, even our own family), be hospitable and understanding, compassionate and gracious, even if at times, we don't feel like it... For indeed, familiarity breeds contempt; that is, the more we know someone, the more we don't like the faults that we see in them, often forgetting that we may have worse faults too... And we are often outspoken about what we feel and think, thinking that any criticism is helpful... But the Word again speaks only about open rebuke (Proverbs 27:5-6), that is, only calling out behaviors blatantly immoral, but to do it lovingly; that we might not kill souls, that we might not destroy hope and spirit... May we spend the rest of our days being mindful of our words, being generous with our deeds and provisions, not to take what we see at face value and always try to put ourselves in the shoes of others, and always, to extend others the benefits of the doubt; that we might embody the same kind of love, generosity, wisdom and understanding that our Creator so graciously gives us each day, and that we might fulfill His will here on earth...

#HappySeptember132023

Congestion charging is key... People complain about traffic everyday, without realizing that because they're on the road, driving their own private vehicles with a passenger often of one, they are a direct contributor to it... Which is why in a rich city-state we try so hard to emulate, congestion-charging worked towards traffic-free roads, more funds for outstanding public transportation, and with a strong political will and far less corruption, resulted to healthier and more accessible streets to one and all... Strangely, this mirrors our lives too... We try to fill in our hours and moments with adventures and experiences, with statuses and degrees, with things and stuff, thinking that if we could have more, if we follow 'The Dream', we have succeeded... We often fail to realize that a life much simpler yet more grateful and vertically aligned, more attuned to the will of our Creator, more at peace in stillness and in His presence, gives us the grace, humility, patience and confidence to weather any storm, to meet life's challenges head on... Anytime we are tempted to fill ourselves up, may we learn to let some things go, give up and give and share; that we may live this life physically exhausted but unburdened; pressed to meet deadlines and obligations but not crushed by the weight of hopelessness, fear, doubt and uncertainty; struck down at times by physical pain and suffering, but spirits never destroyed; and always full of hope, courage, and strength for the journey...

#HappySeptember122023

Matching words with deeds... Is often what validates us, not what we declare about ourselves, not the resources or connections we have amassed... If we are critical of others, yet are full of shortcomings and inadequacies ourselves, we show our ignorance, insecurity and delusions... Yet, if we recognize the value and worth of others, respecting their boundaries and rights, but all the same showing them love and understanding, generosity even without receiving something in return, we manifest our God's image through our actions... May we not compromise His presence and His grace, and live our lives in humility and service, in graciousness and mercy, not filling our hours with our own agenda of what we think is good for us, but in each moment, to help make sure we bring out what's best in others too...

#HappySeptember112023

The wisdom of the years... Could never really be superseded by how much technological knowledge, degrees nor licenses, appointments nor statuses one has and has been given... For more than formal school and research, people who are older than us have gone through the ultimate school, the school of life... And with that too we learn humility and obedience, especially in realizing that no matter how smart or high we think ourselves to be, but lacking the credentials of having lived longer with more meaningful experiences, we have to bow down to the wisdom and inner strength of those who have persevered... We realize too the value of keeping it real, staying true to our course on a deeper level, without fanfare, without shout outs; because we know our God is also faithful and true... And while He works miracles and dreams through the young, but His promises and true intentions are realized as we advance physically and biologically... May we remain patient, humble, faithful, in whatever circumstances, no matter if the world belittles us, mocks our abilities, questions our capacities, or refuses to have hope and confidence in us... For someday in our time, we will earn our greater breakthroughs, then our ultimate reward...

#HappySeptember102023

Sweet and sour is tasty, but bittersweet is sad... And so are our words... Some may be a bit painfully honest; but if spoken with love, consideration, honesty and humility, still enriches the soul and encourages the fearful and desperate heart... But the one who speaks tactless, unkind, prideful, critical, and harsh words, even when believed to be spoken in honesty and integrity, will still fall off the mark, leading to resentments, broken trust and relationships, and death to the soul... May we manifest our faith and the love of our Father by keeping wisdom and love in all that we say; may we live out our convictions by how we show respect and understanding to others, no matter their status, no matter how high, better or superior we may perceive ourselves to be...

#HappySeptember092023

Life causes... Often don't pay much or if at all, but a heart of love and generosity would be willing to give their all without asking for more.. Because those who humble themselves to the will and leading of our Maker need not ask nor crave beyond in order to keep up with others; they will always be more than amply provided for, as they seek to fulfill His plans, in whatever they do to promote His kingdom... May we learn to be courageous and content, but ever hoping and grateful that He will never abandon us, and will always be there whatever we may be going through...

#HappySeptember082023

Kindness without condescension... Is the highest ideal, the purest form, and so few can really do them... But once one does, actually results to a better life for one and all... Some people withhold acts of kindness, and from a selfish heart, propagate the idea that people on the receiving end will just depend and become lazy... That happens in many cases too; but the more discerning can feel that far too many people have pride, of self and would very much like to earn their way, in spite of being simple recipients of favors, doing their best to return such in their own ways and capacities... May we learn that kindness and generosity always pay, that hypocrisy will always fray, and that only truth and sincerity can secure our souls for life... And may we then emulate the kindness and understanding of our Maker, and extend such virtue to one and all...

#HappySeptember072023

A cult of personalities, a cult of fools... Seem to be one of the unworthy incentives in the rat race of life... Especially for the many of us who were sold on the dream and the illusion that success means having more, and that status and class, the size of our bank accounts and houses, the number of our cars and the zero digits on our pay determine our worth... How liberating it is indeed when we emulate our Savior who stepped down from heaven and in humility and obedience, became like one of us, even giving up His physical life to destroy the power of death and evil on our souls... May we truly live out His Name, our proclaimed faith, and delight in being nobodies for Him; in humility stripping ourselves of vanity, stepping out from life's eat race, but doing our best, giving our all to help share His love, grace and goodness to one and all...

#HappySeptember062023

Never lonely... Company is good, because they keep us sane... But what happens when life seems to deal us a bad hand, when friends and family turn their back on us, must we feel despair and strive all we can to seek the presence of another?... Though not often too cruel, but many times in our lives, especially in critical inflection points, we find ourselves alone against the elements, confused as to intentions, unenlightened as to motivations and preferences of others.. Yet, we realize that God is there, in our moments of solitude and abandonment... And here we become more than conquerors; for because He works behind the scenes and in great things, we know we can overcome, we are confident we are never helpless, and we are settled because we have eternal hope and peace... Let us tap into that eternal source of love and strength today and everyday...

#HappySeptember052023

Half as kind... It is sad to note that many people, even some illustrious figures of history, who have a negative view of Christianity, feel so not because of the faith itself, or of Christ our Savior and author of our faith, but of many of us adherents, who seem to feel superior than everyone else because of the grace and salvation we received, and of the seeming high level but in reality still imperfect knowledge we have gained... But our Lord clearly instructed us to both be apart from the evils and vices of this world, but to care for our fellowman enough to understand that we can still extend kindness and generosity with those who believe differently than we are... May we not make the grace we received as a license for pride and vanity; but in humility, to accept that we may not exactly know everything, many of the things we accept as gospel truth may in fact just be handed-down personal and flawed opinions, and that there is only one Truth, our Lord and Savior, and the clearest manifestation of the truth He proclaims can be learned in the lense of love and understanding; because since all of us are made in His image, every day He also makes ways to reveal His truth and glory, His creativity and wisdom in each one of us...

#HappySeptember042023

Because we are at the forefront, we are the firstfruits... I remember back when mask mandates were new, when vaccines first started being administered to the public... I was simply dumbfounded where people got all their arsenal of misinformation and gullibility from... I asked myself if not all of us didn't go through biology and chemistry in elementary and high school, and why so few understand about viruses and bacteria, and how our immune system works; so much so that such life-changing acts of social distancing, proper sneeze and cough hygiene, masking up, and getting vaccinated are considered death of our souls, when in fact they preserve life to our bodies and on other people too... But then I realized it wasn't really ignorance in so much as fear and pride being attacked... When something so life-changing to our biases and prejudices like pandemics come, they unmask the lies we made ourselves to believe, and threaten the power structure and the pedestals we carefully built of ourselves in deluding ourselves of our self-established expertise... But here lies the crucible: if we are the firstfruits, if we are truly the heirs of our heavenly Father, and disciples and friends of His Son who brings life and healing, shouldn't we manifest it by promoting the greater good, peace and love, and healing He brings to everyone around us?... It seems many of us look the other way when deaths from multitudes of other lifestyle and genetic diseases, (that could have been and normally treatable) took people's lives away because their immune systems that have been compromised by Covid, did not have enough strength and memory to fight because of being unvaccinated and lacking other capacities to be treated too, owing to the shortages of medical care... Where is our sense of courage in Him when we slink back from our duties of being His spiritual and life soldiers in a world awash with lies, with every turn seeking to destroy our minds, bodies and souls?... May we not waste the Word entrusted to us like pearls thrown to swine; may we not all be words without meaning, clouds without rain, voices without impact; in that may we live each day a testament of His grace and goodness, His manifold wisdom and creativity, His deep love, generosity and understanding to one and all, whoever they may be...

#HappySeptember032023

God as a revelation of time... Is a slightly radical way of thinking about our faith, in not being just a present proclamation, but a manifestation of Who we believe in and worship our whole life... God the Father who created us in His image, is manifested when we bring life instead of destruction, when we create and restore, instead of just being on the receiving end of wealth, fame, status, grace and favor because we feel entitled to them; His Son our Savior is seen in us when we bring peace instead of intolerance, when we seek to understand instead of insisting on rigid rules and prejudices handed down to us by less knowledgeable and more ignorant predecessors, when we bring healing instead of misinforming to people's hurt and perdition; and His Holy Spirit is perceived through us when we encourage instead of pushing people to the edge, when we give comfort instead of imposing ourselves and our convictions on others, when we bring hope instead of using fear to coerce people to subscribe to our lies and biases because we feel more knowledgeable (when in fact our knowledge are mere misled opinions but are not actually facts)... May we truly be His children, so that each moment, every word we say and act we do, people will see His image in us, will feel His love and grace through us, and like pleasing aroma of heavenly prayers and incense, smell His goodness and wisdom through us...

#HappySeptember022023

Overcomers... The song by Mandisa, is an energetic, danceable and inspirational one... And it reminds us too that whatever hardship we encounter in life always has an end... And that end becomes more meaningful and victorious for us when we realize that our Savior has done the ultimate overcoming for us; when He offered up His physical life to lift us up from our physical and mundane perspectives, from either nihilistic or hedonistic and materialistic beliefs and tendencies, to one that aligns us to a higher meaning and purpose of our existence... May we always keep in mind that the One who breathed life to all things cares about us deeply and intimately; and be inspired and impassioned to live lives for His glory...

#HappySeptember012023

[profgandalf]

Sin and Salvation in “Robinson Crusoe”

What is the sin for which Robinson Crusoe is forgiven? It’s not being a slaveholder nor is it for believing that his worldview is undoubtedly the best. And yet these are the sins that contemporary culture would consign him to the Hell of Banished texts. It seems that in my current program with my mother, I am reading one text after another which contemporary readers tend to rail at (that is, of course, if they are among the few who crack a book older than ten years.) And Robinson Crusoe fits the list.

“Snarky-ism” aside, there is certainly certainly a lot of the old culture in Defoe’s “Robinson Crusoe” that makes modern readers squirm.  Defoe’s Crusoe is both exploitive of every resource that comes his way including humans and confident of his superiority as a representative of Western culture.  That he never changes his mind about this bothers many readers.

Dr. Nicholas Seager argues well on the web page "Church Times" that "Robinson Crusoe has been valued by literary historians, many of whom would argue that it marks the birth of the modern realist novel that constructs a plausible psychological individualism. Economic historians since Marx have interpreted it variously as an endorsement of an analysis of capitalism. And post-colonial critics and authors have revisited it to understand how empire was promoted in powerful myths.  Literary, economic, and imperial readings are valuable, but they are partial without recognition of how religion shapes all of these facets of Robinson Crusoe.”

The sin of Robinson Crusoe is that of every human, pride and reckless self-will which fits both the realistic portrayal of the human mind as well as a religious narrative. Crusoe himself makes this abundantly clear in his own memories.  He speaks about his father’s wisdom concerning the middle way of life in contrast to his own reckless pursuit for adventure. And he pursues it even in the face of his parents' love and the advice of others. In this, he echoes the prodigal son.  

As he says himself when he finds himself in a heaving sea and sick as he can be: “I had never been at sea before, I was most inexpressibly sick in body and terrified in mind. I began now seriously to reflect upon what I had done, and how justly I was overtaken by the judgment of Heaven for my wicked leaving my father's house, and abandoning my duty. All the good counsels of my parents, my father's tears and my mother's entreaties, came now fresh into my mind; and my conscience, which was not yet come to the pitch of hardness to which it has since, reproached me with the contempt of advice, and the breach of my duty to God and my father.”

But one of the major strengths of the novel is its absolutely unwavering honesty in its description of the human heart.  And Crusoe notes that he quickly forgets this advice when the sea calms down and he finds himself well on his own.  Later when he is marooned he finds some wheat not original to the island growing and at first thinks it is a miracle. But he later recalls that he, himself, shook out a bag with wheat seed in it and reprimands himself as a fool.  Still later when he recalls the incident he reconsiders it as still a miracle since the fact that the seed found good soil and being in the shade was not burned up and was well watered still seems an act of divine providence.  However, it is not until he suffers through some terrible sickness and later has a horrific dream of an avenging angel that Crusoe is shaken, and after that, while reading the Bible (he is fortunate to have several copies) he is struck by the promise in scripture to “call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me” (Psalm 50:15-16 KJV).  Thus, Crusoe illustrates that Salvation is achievable only via repentance and divine forgiveness. 

He shares his faith with his servant Friday and is successful in leading him to conversion but fails to do the same for Friday’s father.  He also saves a man who is Catholic, and prides himself on the fact that on his island the Freedom of Religion was upheld,

Despite Marx and other economic critics, Defoe does not consider economic success as a manifestation of salvation. Even while a reprobate, Crusoe is always a hard-working businessman and he prospers throughout the narrative because of his ingenuity and persistence.  

However, some seem to still wish for a worldview in Defoe that did not exist. Spark-notes writes that while Crusoe’s survival is captivating “this theme of mastery becomes more complex and less positive after Friday’s arrival, when the idea of mastery comes to apply more to unfair relationships between humans. In Chapter XXIII, Crusoe teaches Friday the word “[m]aster” even before teaching him “yes” and “no,” and indeed he lets him “know that was to be [Crusoe’s] name.” Crusoe never entertains the idea of considering Friday a friend or equal—for some reason, superiority comes instinctively to him.”  This is true but this is not Crusoe.  It is the time.  American egalitarianism did not exist and is not the state of divine grace that Defoe is portraying.  We can look at as interesting but not judge it.  When we do we maim the work and limit our own appreciation and understanding of the art of Defoe.