#the gospel is bigger than that and so much better

[theragamuffininitiative]

Tfw you get recommended a particular pastor-teacher by a peer and you have gotten just wise enough at this point to go look the person up before just ingesting their teaching, and the top two things they have recently said are "Christian Nationalism is a good thing and a God-ordained pursuit" and "Israel should by no means pause or cease fire" and you're just like. Aha. Ok then. Glad I checked first. 😅

[darcytaylor]

Nicola’s message is a reality check that everyone should listen to. We can - and need to - do better. (Harper Bazaar Woman of the Year Awards)

For a while now, I’ve been saying here on my blog: speculation is not fact. We don’t - and never will - know the ins and outs of anyone’s private life, especially when it comes to someone like Nicola Coughlan. Yet so many people see her holding hands with someone and jump to conclusions, acting like they’re gospel truth. Can we please take a moment to think about why holding hands with a guy is somehow “evidence” of a relationship, but when she holds hands with female friends, no one bats an eye? (and no this is not where I want you to go into detail about all of your reasonings why she is dating someone, the point is WE DON'T KNOW - because we don't actually know her! And if someone says otherwise, they are lying!)

Even if Nicola is in a relationship, let’s remember that we don’t actually know anything about it, which is exactly how it should be. And for those hinting about pregnancy, even if they’re trying to be subtle with terms like “delicate position” - it’s beyond invasive, and it’s honestly FUCKED UP! People know exactly what you're suggesting, and Nicola called that behaviour out directly in her speech. If you’re focusing on her body rather than her work, you’re part of the problem. (You can read my pinned post where I go into more detail why speculating on pregnancy is fucked)

If Nicola doesn't like the way the media is portraying her, it's unlikely she would appreciate fans doing the same thing. Sometimes, people try to justify their actions by separating the media from fan behaviour, but the impact on her is the same. We need to remember that our assumptions, even if you think they are innocent, can be damaging.

What fans talk about often drives what the media focuses on, because they’re chasing clicks. If people weren’t feeding into it, the media wouldn’t have as much to go off.

What the fans talk about and what the media produces, go hand-in-hand, and ignoring that is a big part of the problem. Trying to justify it doesn’t change the fact that it can still affect Nicola - especially if she’s made it clear she’s uncomfortable and hates these narratives.

Nicola’s speech was a call out to reconsider how people engage with her personal life. I know I’ve been working on doing better, and I think everyone else in this fandom could stand to do the same. Instead of spinning theories about her relationships or appearance, maybe we could all step back, respect her boundaries, and celebrate her for what she wants to be recognized for: her achievements and her talent. Let's try not to make her whole personality about a guy.

Nicola took a stand on the insane focus on things like her relationship status, age, or dress size - topics that constantly overshadow her career and accomplishments. You can tell it's exhausting for her to be boxed into these labels, and she deserves better.

One of the best parts of her speech last night, for me, was when she praised her longtime inspiration, Victoria Beckham, who was right there in the audience. Nicola talked about how much Victoria meant to her growing up, especially for how she handled herself through nonstop scrutiny. Both women have had to deal with some of the same pressures -where fans and the media feel entitled to critique and dissect every aspect of their lives.

Nicola made it clear she’s tired of being defined by these things. People are more interested in latching onto rumours about her relationship status (even though we have zero confirmation of who she’s dating) or making guesses about her body, including potential pregnancy, all because of how she looks on any given day. This rush to define her identity based on whether she’s seen with someone or holding hands? It’s reductive and invasive.

Honestly, Nicola’s message is a reality check that everyone should listen to. We can - and need to - do better.

To the bigger creators: you especially have to do better because I can see some of you fuelling everything that Nicola hates. (I actually don’t think it’s the people who ship Luke and Nicola because that is part of her job, that is part of Bridgerton and her work, it’s a testament to how good of a job both her and Luke did, Nicola understands that). But the people who are shipping her with people outside of her work? DO BETTER!

And yes, I am also putting myself in the category of doing better. I think it’s imperative to look at past behaviours and strive to do better and be better.

EDIT: THIS PICTURE IS GORGEOUS! The flowers, the lighting, the vibe. It's perfect!

[jerzwriter]

The amount of issues that could be avoided if people had the decency and maturity to speak to each other like civilized human beings instead of resorting to the more commonly used methods here, like anon hate, vagueing, and passive-aggressive posts that are clearly targeting a person or group.

In the three years I have been on this hellsite, I have witnessed how these "methods" turn minor issues into outright, unnecessary wars.

Here is some information for those who are unaware:

Anon hate is douchey and wrong. If you send it, you're a douche and wrong. Period. If you can't understand that, please stop reading because you are already beyond help.

Unless someone has notifications set for you, there is an excellent chance that your intended target will not even see your vague/passive-aggressive rants.

Then, when said vague/passive-aggressive rant goes unanswered and ignored, the person or mob behind it festers, simmers, and becomes more outraged.

Bruh. They probably never even saw it, and if they did, they may not known it was directed at them. Now, the problem is 10 times bigger and, best of all, the original problem was never even addressed, much less solved!

Here's another tip:

Don't always assume the worst about someone!

Especially when you never bothered to communicate with them. You're making blind assumptions when you have little or no facts. Trust me, unless you're a mind reader, you don't know. You're not that smart, babes. Trust me. I'm not, either. TALK like grownups. It's much easier than all the bullshit that arises because of the above.

Now, you may be saying, "Hey, yeah, but aren't you vagueing/targeting right now, too?"

I'm sure some will take it that way. Since they likely won't reach out to me directly, they'll take their skewed logic as gospel and insist that they know my motivation. They'll also insist it's regarding "this" fandom event or whatever our drama du jour is.

Well, absolutely no one knows my motivation except me. So I'll make it clear. This is not geared toward any specific event, past or present, but an amalgamation of everything I've seen and experienced in the past three years. My motivation is two-fold. 1) I'm letting off steam, but, more importantly, 2) it is my sincere hope that people will see this, think about how they act and interact with others, and try to be better people.

I'm sure the fandom mind readers will dismiss what I just said and assign motivation to me. Have at it. I don't care.

No one knows my motivation except me, and no one knows my desired end goal, either. My desired end goal Is that everyone, myself included, will reflect more on how they behave and treat other people. I assure you, doing this will save others, the fandom, and, more importantly, it will save yourself a whole hell of a lot of unnecessary distress.

It's not that hard. Be better.

[ssahotstuff]

Day 10– Size Kink

Aaron Hotchner x reader

Contains: (side note I am an entire foot shorter than this man) Size kink; oral, fem receiving, unprotected sex

Word count: 2.3k

There were certain things about your boyfriend that just appealed to all of your senses in the most delicious way. One of them was his tall, broad body that seemed to stretch for miles, his long, lean limbs; you were a sucker for how he seemed to skyscrape over you, and how he could wrap your body up easily when you cuddled with him. His entire body would swallow yours up when he was on top of you, making you look microscopic in comparison. At first it was intimidating until you came to the conclusion that Aaron was a gigantic teddy bear. He was loving and sincere and had the ability to turn any bad day around with nothing but the sweet sound of his deep, dreamy voice.

Of course, Aaron loved that your hand disappeared inside of his, and how he had to lean down to kiss you, he was just as crazy about how small you were compared to him; he liked that he had to reach the top shelf for you, and that you needed him to get your favorite snack, which was always in the highest cupboard. Part of you thought he did that on purpose just so you'd need to come find him when you wanted something or risk hurting yourself climbing the counters. He enjoyed doing this things for you, in fact, he insisted on it.

The night had started out like any other when Aaron was away—you'd have dinner and crawl into bed, waiting for him to call when he got back to the hotel. You hadn't heard from him yet, which could mean anything. You secretly hoped he'd be home soon, because another night of sleeping alone didn't sound appealing to you. You'd just started flipping through channels when you heard the front door open and you quite literally raced down the hall to greet him.

"There's my sweet girl," his arms opened for you instantly, his bag already at his feet. One of the biggest perks of having a man so much bigger than you was that Aaron enjoyed carrying you everywhere. He was already hoisting you up and taking you in the direction of the bedroom, your arms snaked around his neck, your lips on every visible inch of his skin.

"Missed you baby boy," you could practically feel him blushing, a side affect of the cute pet names you insisted on giving him. Baby boy was his favorite; he'd always get all giggly and shy when you called him that. It was adorable; your strong, stern man reduced to mush at a silly name.

"I missed you, gorgeous. I was hoping you'd still be awake," he sat you down long enough to undress; he worked on his pants while you deftly unbuttoned the tiny cream colored buttons on his white shirt, his arms practically bulging out of the sleeves. You tugged it off of him, leaving him in nothing but his t-shirt and boxers. Once he was comfortable, he climbed on the bed with you, sitting across from you so you could tell him about your day. You did this every night he was home; you'd always be in the bed, rehashing the events of the day for him, telling him what he'd missed while he'd been away. He'd listen intently and ask questions when he felt the need. You knew he heard every word you said, clinging to every syllable like it was the gospel truth.

"I was waiting for you to call, but you showing up is even better," you told him, reaching for his hand. He must've slept on the jet, because he looked good—he always looked good, but he was refreshed, like he'd taken a good nap and now he was wide awake.

"I managed to get some sleep on the jet, but if you're tired we can lay down," he told you, but you shook your head. You'd skip out on a million nights of sleep to spend time with him; it came so rare that you had to take advantage any chance you got.

"I'm fine. All I'm worried about is seeing you," it was the truth, frankly you couldn't be bothered by anything else now that he was home; he was your primary focus. He loved how you devoted all of your free time to him, and he did the same. When he was with you, you had his undivided attention no matter what.

"I'm here now, sweetheart. Tell me what you've been doing while I've been gone," and just like that, you were laying across from one another, propped up on your elbow telling him about your day at work, how an intern had befriended you because you knew everyone's coffee order by heart, and how you missed the train home and had to take a cab, which he detested the idea of you on public transportation, but your car was in the shop waiting to be fixed, so while he was away, you had no other choice. He was all ears as you told him about your upcoming promotion and the raise that came along with it, along with an office that had a stellar view. You could see the training academy from the fifteenth story where you'd be working. You could feel how proud he was of you in the way he looked at you—he was starstruck, in love with your every move.

His fingers danced along your side, skimming your curves as you spoke, with Aaron moving a tiny bit closer any chance he got until you were smushed up against him, chest to chest. You let out a light giggle as his nose brushed yours, connecting your lips with his at the first chance you got. He didn't care if you were mid-sentence, so long as he got to kiss you.

"I'm so glad I have a few days to spend with you. I know you're busy too, but I was hoping we could slow down for the next few days, spend some time together. I feel like I haven't held you in so long," right on cue, he pulled you into his arms, lifting you up so you could mount his lap, your knees on either side of him.

"Sounds like a plan to me. I'm so glad you're home, Aaron. I always miss you when you're away, but especially this time," the closer you grew, the harder it was to sit around and watch him leave. You'd never ask him to quit, and you didn't want to; sometimes you just ached to be near him, and you felt like you didn't see him nearly enough for your liking. Granted, you cherished every moment you spent with him, but you wished sometimes they could be more frequent.

"I know, sweetheart. It's never easy being away from you. From this moment until I have to leave, I'm all yours. Nothing else will even cross my mind," he said, pulling you down for a kiss, his tongue seeking immediate shelter in your mouth, lapping hungrily against your own. It didn't take much to turn him into a handsy fiend, a few tender kisses and he began to roam, first to your hips, then up your shirt, pausing momentarily when he realized you didn't have on a bra. He groaned into your mouth as he cupped your breasts, rolling your nipples between his fingers until they were stiff. He punched them lightly, tweaking them as you wiggled against him. You lifted your shirt over your head, and Aaron sat straight up, bringing your nipples to his mouth one by one, sucking until they were puffy under his tongue, flicking them teasingly. You let your head roll back, bringing his mouth closer so he could smother your chest with affection, sucking and nipping at your skin deliciously.

"Let's move you somewhere more comfortable, sweet girl," you climbed off of him as he instructed you to lie at the head of the bed against the pillows, and he even situated them for you so you'd be halfway propped up, carefully laying you down on your back before he got cozy between your legs. Your pajama shorts were quickly tugged off of your body, Aaron glancing up at you when he realized you weren't wearing panties either.

"One less thing to take off," you chirped, causing a grin to break out on his face as he lowered himself between your thighs.

"Going to let me take care of you, princess? Be a good girl and just relax. Spread your legs for me, gorgeous," his eyes darkened dramatically as you let your legs fall open, his fingers darting out to glide through your arousal. His thumb brushed your clit for a fraction of a second, making you buck your hips, which made Aaron chuckle at your impatience, peering up at you through his soot colored lashes.

"Patient, sweetheart. I want to take my time with you," he circled your clit agonizingly slow, staying true to his word; he was taking his precious time, coating his digits with your arousal before using a single finger to tease your entrance, all while toying with your incredibly sensitive clit.

"Feels so good, baby boy," you choked, his cheeks going red as he slipped a finger inside of you, letting you clench around him as he pushed deeper into you until he was curling against your g-spot, leaning forward to press a delicate kiss to your clit. You were coming unglued, the feeling indescribable as he started to suck on your bundle of nerves while adding another finger to the mix, slowly pumping in and out of you.

"I'd do anything for you, princess. You know that right? I love you with everything in me," you smiled down at him, gripping the sheets before your orgasm washed over you. Aaron continued lapping at your center, overstimulating you quickly as you came again.

"I love you, Aaron. More than anything in the world," you promised him through clenched teeth, your back arching as the waves of euphoria never seemed to end, just getting more intense as you grew more tender. He flattened his tongue against you, dragging it upwards slowly until he met your clit, flicking ever so gently; he knew it wouldn't take much to send you hurdling over the edge, so he was trying to be as careful as possible so he didn't make it unpleasant for you. You felt over the moon with adoration for him, treasuring the more intimate side of him as things got heated. You loved seeing him like this, driven to give you what you needed, lost in the moment with his head buried between your thighs.

"Can you give me one more before I fuck you, princess? I'll bet you can," he encouraged as his lips wrapped around your clit, his tongue moving relentlessly against you as tears pricked the corners of your eyes; it felt unreal, unlike anything you ever experienced. You didn't even have a chance to register your orgasm, it hit you like a speeding train, making you gasp for air as your head hit the pillows. Aaron looked completely smitten as he climbed on top of you, hovering over your body so he could line up with your center. Aaron loved to look at you during sex; he liked eye contact, watching you spiral out of orbit when you came, he didn't want to miss a second of the show. He kept most of his weight on his forearm, propped up so he could see you, his mouth colliding with yours as he slid into you.

"Goddamn, sweetheart. I love the way you look right now, like you don't have a care in the world," he sighed as he started to move; this was different than usual—normally he was full speed ahead, this was soft and sensitive. It was so satisfying that you could hardly stand it; you'd missed him terribly and now that he was here, you wanted to latch onto him and never let him leave again.

"All I care about right now is you," you told him, his lips meeting yours briefly as he made love to you for the first time. It was the only way you could describe it; he was pouring every ounce of himself over to you, making you feel whole for the first time in forever. His hand brushed over your hair as he gazed down at you, grazing your lips with his thumb before cupping your face affectionately, making sure you were looking right at him.

"You're so beautiful, sweetheart. I love your perfect lips, those gorgeous eyes. You were made just for me, isn't that right?"

You reached up to weave your hands in his hair, pulling him down to meet your mouth, kissing him fervently; you couldn't get enough of him, from his words that were like music to your ears to the way his hips were rolling into you, you were down bad for him and he knew it.

"Just for you, baby boy. I'm all yours," you assured him, whimpering as you came hard, his lips kissing your cheek, jaw, anywhere he could put his mouth; it was then he started to speed up, his thrusts becoming more sloppy and uncontrolled as he got close. He pulled your bottom lip between his teeth, sucking lightly as he finished, sputtering deep into you with a breathy moan. He trapped you with his body, sliding out of you and laying partially on top of you, his arm and leg tossed lazily over your body.

"I want you to know I love you more everyday. I can't imagine a world without you in it," he whispered in your ear before he kissed your cheek, nuzzling into your neck.

"So keep me," you replied, letting him cuddle you until you both fell asleep, holding onto one another.

Master tags: @wheelsupkels @periodtcevans @hausofwhores @criminallyobsessedcm m @tojithesourcerkiller @fireworksinthesky @pedrohoe04 @rousethemouse @thegettingbyp2 @mojo366

[funishment-time]

I understand if you need some time to process after that ending, but ... well, I only realize now that your strong understanding of and fondness for the V3 chars despite never playing V3 before now was because of encountering them through DRS! Has playing V3 changed how you view any of them? If so, how?

- goshdangronpa

everyone's going to eat my ass for this one but i like the v3 cast better in Summer Camp when they're Literal SHSLs and a little more connected to a bigger world. i'm sorry! i'm sorry!

BUT

v3 being a microcosm and a vacuum just did not work for me. if you take Moogs' Explanation Of Things as gospel, it feels like you have

a load of characters with no real backstory,

in a world we don't know anything about,

and it ends up Meaning Nothing to me. like, Kodaka. my guy. if you intended Moogs' explanation as The Real Thing That's Going On - not that we know that's the case, but let's pretend - why should i care about these barely-developed OCs that you threw into the Hunger Games Event Generator. they're just symbols you moved around on a board. PNGs in your Toyhou.se. the ending removes both the big and the small implications of any of the killing, because everything is fake, there's no shared history, and we don't even know what the Outside World is like.

"but iris," you might say, "the deaths are still real probably, and death is always sad. murder doubly so."

sure, but like, because we don't know what any of these characters are actually like...i can't feel bad for Kaede dying because Kaede didn't actually die, some chimera did who only existed for like a week. the body that contained her chose to be there and i guess had no family who cared. Shuichi is crying over a shadow on the wall. a bottle of air. they're just ghosts you can project onto, and, so...it's just a lot of emptiness. i dunno.

whereas v3 being a class in the Nice AU, that makes it work a little better for me.

all this to say i stick to the minor things that Summer Camp gives the v3 cast, like:

Kokichi is scaled back to be just an annoying kid, more akin to his JP characterization,

Kork's stopped killing for the time being at HPA so as not to bring suspicion on himself,

Byakuya knows about President Kirumi and is funding her side business,

Tsumugi is pretty much completely normal - there's not a single hint that she's up to something in UTDP/Summer Camp except a short convo with Monokuma you can interpret 1000 ways,

etc etc

to answer your question, then, v3 didn't change my mind on too many of the characters - only showed me what they were all about. and yet much of it felt so Empty to me. because i played Summer Camp first, more to me is said in Summer Camp about a lot of v3 characters than in most of v3.

[frmartinshomiliesandreflections]

11th November >> Fr. Martin's Reflections/Homilies on Today's Mass Readings for Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time (Inc. Luke 17:1-6): ‘Increase our faith’.

Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel (Except USA) Luke 17:1-6 If your brother does wrong, reprove him.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Obstacles are sure to come, but alas for the one who provides them! It would be better for him to be thrown into the Sea with a millstone put round his neck than that he should lead astray a single one of these little ones. Watch yourselves! If your brother does something wrong, reprove him and, if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, “I am sorry,” you must forgive him.’ The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’ The Lord replied, ‘Were your faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’

Gospel (USA) Luke 17:1-6 If your brother wrongs you seven times in one day, and returns to you seven times saying, “I am sorry,” you should forgive him.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him.” And the Apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

Reflections (14)

(i) Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

The mustard seed was considered to be one of the smallest of the seeds. Yet, in the gospel reading, Jesus acknowledges the value of faith which is as little as a mustard seed. The Lord can work powerfully through such little faith, as is suggested by the image of uprooting a mulberry tree and planting it in the sea. We can sometimes feel that our faith is very weak. We wonder have we lost our faith altogether. Yet, when we reflect on ourselves we will often discover that there is some faith within us, no matter how small. That is all the Lord needs to engage with us and work in and through our lives. We may have enough faith to pray the prayer of the disciples, ‘Increase my faith’, or to pray the prayer of the father of a very ill boy in the gospels, ‘I believe, help my unbelief’. Even if we haven’t enough faith in us to pray that prayer, the desire to believe is enough for the Lord. He can work with our desire. Our little faith can be strengthened by the faith of others. Whenever we live out our faith in the Lord, we make it easier for others to believe. However, as Jesus states at the beginning of the gospel reading, people can sometimes cause our faith to weaken; they become an obstacle to our faith, causing us to stumble, such as by living in ways that give scandal. Jesus has some harsh words to say about such people. We are all called to support one another in the life of faith, so that our sometimes little faith can grow and become stronger.

And/Or

(ii) Monday, Thirty Second week in Ordinary Time

The disciples in today’s gospel reading seem to be concerned about how much faith they had. They turned to Jesus and asked for more faith, ‘Increase our faith’. However, Jesus did not respond to their request as they might have expected. He did not say to them, ‘Yes, your faith is weak, I will give you more’. Instead he stressed to them the power of a faith that is no bigger than that of a mustard seed, the smallest of all the seeds. In other words, when it comes to faith, the issue is not one of quantity. Jesus suggests that even the tiniest level of faith is enough for God. God can touch our lives through even the tiniest of openings that we make. The prayer of the disciples in today’s gospel reading is one we find easy to identify with. We can sometimes feel vaguely dissatisfied about our faith, and wonder about the state of our relationship with God. We might even describe ourselves as hanging on by a thread. The thread may be all that the Lord needs to continue relating to us. At the end of the day, faith as small as a mustard seed is all that God needs.

And/Or

(iii) Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

Sometimes if we are strongly challenged by someone, it can leave us feeling a little bit deflated. We might think to ourselves, ‘yes, I hear the challenge but I am not at all sure I can rise to it’. We sense that the bar has been raised too high for us and we are tempted not to bother even trying to clear it. Somewhat similar seems to be going on in the exchange between Jesus and his disciples in this morning’s gospel reading. Jesus had issued some very demanding teaching to his disciples and to his all. He calls on us never to do anything that would lead a person of faith astray, anything that would undermine another person’s faith. He goes on to call on us to show unconditional forgiveness to those who do something wrong to us, even if the offend us seven times in one day. In response to these words, the apostles say to Jesus, perhaps with a heavy heart, ‘Increase our faith’. They sense that their faith isn’t up to this challenging teaching. In response to their almost despairing prayer, Jesus gives them and us great encouragement. He assures us that even the tiniest bit of faith, faith the size of a mustard seed, can do wonders, the impossible. Rather than focusing on the poverty of our faith, we need to acknowledge whatever little faith we have, and be confident that the Lord can work powerfully through that little faith. If we are seeking the Lord at all, that is enough. He will empower us to take the path he is calling us to take.

And/Or

(iv) Monday, Thirty Second week in Ordinary Time

In the course of the gospels we find many prayers of petition that people make to Jesus. When the disciples were in the middle of the storm at sea, they prayed aloud to him, ‘Lord, save us’. In this morning’s gospel reading we find another prayer of the disciples, ‘Lord, increase our faith’. It is a prayer we all probably find easy to make our own. It reminds me of another prayer of someone in the gospels, ‘Lord, I believe, help my unbelief’. The prayer of the disciples, ‘Lord, increase our faith’, comes immediately after Jesus’ challenging call to forgive those who offend us and who go on to ask our forgiveness, even if they offend us seven times. Before Jesus’ challenging message, the disciples felt their need of more faith, ‘Increase our faith’. In reply, Jesus declares that even faith the size of a mustard seed can do extraordinary things. The Lord can work powerfully through our little faith. Even if we feel our faith is weak at times, we can thank God for our little faith, because the Lord can do great things with it. We can never underestimate how the Lord can work in and through our little faith, if we let him.

And/Or

(v) Monday, Thirty Second week in Ordinary Time

We find many prayers on the lips of the characters in the gospels. We often find it easy to identify with those prayers. In this morning’s gospel reading, the disciples turn to Jesus and pray, ‘Increase our faith’. That is a prayer we can easily identify with. Even people of faith know that they can grow in their faith. Those who have a relationship with the Lord know that they can deepen that relationship. In that sense, in terms of our faith we are always on a journey. We are always being called to keep growing into the person of Christ. Even at the end of our earthly lives we won’t have fully grown into the person of Christ. That is why the prayer, ‘Increase our faith’ is appropriate at every stage of our life journey. The response of Jesus to the prayer of the disciples, however, reminds us that even a little faith is a wonderful thing. Even faith the size of a mustard seed creates an opening for the Lord to work powerfully within us and through us. So we must never devalue the faith that we have, even if it seems very small to us. The Lord certainly does not devalue it but, rather, he treasures such little faith and asks us to do the same.

And/Or

(vi) Monday, Thirty second Week in Ordinary Time

The gospel has three parts to it. In the first part Jesus warns against the danger of leading others astray. We are to watch ourselves for the sake of others. We have a responsibility for each other, and, in particular, for each other’s relationship with the Lord. We have the awesome possibility of helping to open up others to the Lord or placing an obstacle to their relationship with the Lord. The second part of the gospel reading calls on us to be ready to forgive those who do wrong us if they ask for forgiveness, and to be ready to do that not just once but seven times. It is in response to both of those quiet different but equally demanding teachings of Jesus that in the third part of the gospel reading the disciples turn to him and say, ‘Increase our faith’. They sense that the call of the gospel is beyond them and so they ask for an increase in faith. We can all feel at times that the call of the gospel is more than we can rise to. We may be very aware of ways that we block others from meeting the Lord and ways that we fail to forgive when forgiveness is asked for. Yet, Jesus declares that God can work powerfully through faith as small as a mustard seed. We are not to underestimate the faith in the Lord we do have and the ways that the Lord is working powerfully through that faith. We need to acknowledge the faith we have, especially at those times when we are tempted to think that our faith is terribly impoverished.

And/Or

(vii) Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

People make many requests of Jesus in the gospels. We can find ourselves easily identifying with many of the requests. These prayers of petition can easily become our prayers of petition. In this morning’s gospel reading we have one such request or prayer of petition addressed to Jesus. The disciples turn to him and say, ‘Increase our faith’. It is certainly a prayer we can make our own. As people of faith we greatly value the gift of faith that we have but we are also aware that our faith is not as strong or as deep or as courageous as it could be. We celebrate our relationship with the Lord, as we are doing every time we come to Mass, but we know that there is always scope for us to grow more fully in our relationship with the Lord. In his response to the request of the disciples, Jesus draws attention to the tremendous potential of the faith that they already have, ‘were your faith the size of a mustard seed...’. Yes, we can always pray, ‘Lord, increase our faith’, but we must not underestimate the faith we already have and the powerful way the Lord can work through our faith if we exploit its potential to the full. We need to appreciate where we already are in our relationship with the Lord, as well as seeking to grow in that relationship.

And/Or

(viii) Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

At the beginning of today’s gospel reading, Jesus warns against putting an obstacle in the way of someone else’s faith, leading someone astray, away from the Lord. The opposite to that is being a support to someone else’s faith, being present to others in ways that help them grow in their relationship with the Lord. We can do that in various ways. Those who become faith friends or prayer friends to the children who are to make their first holy communion support their relationship with the Lord. When the children become aware of people praying for them, it helps them to appreciate all the more their friendship with the Lord and his friendship with them. At the beginning of his gospel, Luke presents Mary and Elizabeth as faith friends or prayer friends. The meeting between them, following on Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, helped each of them to deepen their relationship with the Lord. Elizabeth was graced by Mary’s coming and Mary in turn was inspired to pray her Magnificat by Elizabeth’s welcome of her. We may feel that our own faith is not strong enough to be a support to the faith of others. Like the disciples in the gospel reading we may find ourselves praying, ‘Lord, increase our faith’. Yet, in response to that prayer, Jesus assures his disciples and all of us that even a little faith can work wonders, even a small mustard-seed size of faith can do marvellous things for the faith of others.

And/Or

(ix) Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

Many of us may be able to reflect over our lives and identify those who helped to nurture our faith. Our parents may come to mind, as well as teachers or what could be termed faith friends. We give thanks for all those people who helped to bring us closer to the Lord. At the beginning of today’s gospel reading, Jesus draws attention to the negative effect that people can also have on the faith of others. He issues a strong warning to those who lead members of the community of faith astray by placing an obstacle in the way of their faith. The Greek word that is translated ‘obstacle’ gives us the English word ‘scandal’. We have had to live with scandals of various kinds within the church in recent times. Such scandals have been a feature of the church’s history since the earliest days of the church, taking different forms at different times. No one can deny that the more recent scandals have undermined and weakened the faith of many. It is possible for any one of us to lead others astray, to undermine their faith in the Lord. This realization may be behind the request of the disciples to Jesus towards the end of the gospel reading, ‘Increase our faith’. It is a prayer we can all make our own. If we are to nurture the faith of others, rather become an obstacle to their faith, we need the Lord to keep increasing our own faith. Yet, Jesus’ response to the prayer of the disciples suggests that we should never underestimate the power of even our little faith, faith the size of a mustard seed. If we keep seeking the Lord, even out of our little faith, then he will work powerfully through that little faith to build up the faith of others.

And/Or

(x) Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

In the gospel reading Jesus is very critical of those who lead others in the community astray or cause them to stumble, in another translation. He was aware that his followers could become an obstacle to others coming to faith. On several occasions in the gospels, the disciples are portrayed as trying to block people, including children, from coming in contact with Jesus. Those in positions of leadership in the church have a special responsibility that they don’t become obstacles to people coming to faith in Jesus or to believers growing in their faith in Jesus. We have all become very aware in recent years of the great harm that can be done to the church, the believing community, by the giving of scandal. Our English word ‘scandal’ comes from the Greek word that stands behind the word ‘obstacle’ in today’s gospel reading. When Jesus says in today’s gospel reading, ‘Watch yourselves’, we are being that the way to nurturing the faith of others is to first nurture our own faith, whereas if we fail to nurture our faith or if we fail to live in accordance with our faith, the faith of others is undermined. We all have an influence for good or otherwise on each other’s relationship with the Lord. We can be an obstacle on the faith journey of others or we can help to bring each other to the Lord. If we are to lead each other to the Lord, we need to keep making our own the prayer of the disciples in today’s gospel reading, ‘Increase our faith’.

And/Or

(xi) Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

There is a certain realism about the opening words of Jesus in today’s gospel reading, ‘Obstacles are sure to come’. He is very aware that the world in which we live will present many an obstacle to living as his disciples. There will be temptations and pressures which will draw us in a different direction to the one that the Lord might want us to take. Given that obstacles to faith will come from the world in which we live, Jesus insists that such obstacles should not come from within the community of faith. Disciples are capable of leading other disciples astray. Believers can give scandal which makes the journey of faith more difficult for other believers. As members of Christ’s body, our calling is to support one another as we try to live our faith in the Lord in today’s world. Something of Paul’s support for Titus comes through in today’s first reading. Paul refers to Titus as ‘true child of mine in the faith, that we share’. The rest of the gospel reading outlines two ways that we can support one another on the journey of faith. One way is by our willingness to forgive one another when we wrong each other, ‘if he wrongs you… and says, “I am sorry”, you must forgive him’. The other way we can support one another is by living the faith we have to the full, even if, at times, our faith seems very weak and small to us. Yes, we can all pray, as the apostles do in the gospel reading, ‘Increase our faith’, but in response to our prayer, the Lord will remind us as he reminded them that even our little faith, a faith the size of a mustard seed, if lived generously, creates a space for the Lord to work powerfully through us.

And/Or

(xii) Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

The first part of today’s gospel reading has to do with how we relate to each other, and the final part with how we relate to God. In the first part, Jesus initially warns against becoming an obstacle to others on their journey of faith. We are not to undermine the faith of others by giving scandal. We are very interdependent when it comes to our faith journey. We either build each other up in faith or we do the opposite. Saint Paul often called on the members of the early church to build each other up in faith. We have some responsibility not just for the material well-being of others, but also for their spiritual well-being. Inevitably, we will not always live in ways that build up the faith of others. Jesus is a realist and in the gospel reading he recognizes that we will often wrong each other. When that happens we must stand ready to forgive others the wrong they have done us if they express sorrow and ask pardon. Sometimes we are the ones who will asking pardon of someone; at other times we will be asked to forgive someone who asks pardon of us. Jesus outlines a way of relating to others here that is ultimately rooted in our relationship with the Lord, in our faith. Here is a way of life that flows from our faith, and that is why we need to make our own the prayer of the apostles in the gospel reading, ‘Increase our faith’. Yet, the reply of Jesus to his prayer, reminds us that we should never underestimate the faith we have. The Lord can work powerfully through faith that is only the size of a mustard seed. Even our little faith can be the wellspring of that loving way of relating to each that Jesus outlines in the gospel reading.

And/Or

(xiii) Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

You may have had the experience of stumbling over a slightly raised footpath or flagstone and, perhaps, even falling down. I know I have. We are walking along and, suddenly, our feet hits an unexpected obstacle and we end up on the ground or almost on the ground. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus speaks about people who can be obstacles to the faith journey of others. They undermine and weaken the faith of others, causing them to stumble on their journey towards the Lord, leading them astray from the Lord. Jesus is extremely critical of such people, declaring it would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone around their neck. It is an image, not to be taken literally, but by means of it Jesus makes his point forcibly. Jesus looks to us to lead each other to him, rather than lead each other away from him. We can help to deepen each other’s faith or we can be instrumental in weakening one another’s faith. In the realm of faith, our impact on each other is rarely neutral. The more we grow in faith, the more we will be a support to the faith life of others. That is why the prayer of the disciples in today’s gospel reading is an appropriate one for us all, ‘Increase our faith’. The response of Jesus to this prayer suggests that we should never underestimate the faith we have. Even if it is only the size of a mustard seed, that is enough of an opening for the Lord to work powerfully through us. The very prayer, ‘Increase our faith’, is itself an expression of deep faith, the kind of faith that will be a support to others as they strive to respond to the Lord’s call in their lives.

And/Or

(xiv) Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

The prayer of the disciples in today’s gospel reading is probably one we could all make our own, ‘Increase our faith’. Jesus had just issued a very challenging call to his disciples, not to do anything that would lead a member of the church astray and to keep forgiving without reservation those who do them wrong repeatedly and who ask pardon repeatedly. On hearing this, the disciples may have felt that their faith was not strong enough to live up to these ideals. We can all feel from time to time that the call of the gospel is beyond us. It is too demanding for our fragile faith. We pray to the Lord out of our need, asking him to increase our faith so that we can rise to the call of the gospel. Yet, in the gospel reading, Jesus wanted the disciples to recognize the potential of the faith they already had. He was suggesting that God can work powerfully through faith as small as a mustard seed. God only needs the tiniest of openings to enter our lives and work through us. We may think that our faith is weak, but as Saint Paul says in one of his letters, God’s power is often made perfect in weakness. The humble acknowledgement that our faith is not as deep or as strong as it could be gives the Lord space to work in and through us in ways that can surprise us. The gospel reading invites us to value the faith that we have, even though it may seem weak and fragile to us at times. All the Lord asks is that we keep seeking him, out of whatever faith we have, and if we do that he will see to it that our faith grows and deepens.

Fr. Martin Hogan.

[luna-rainbow]

have you read the winter soldier fanfic "this, you protect" by owlet? it (and its sequel, which im still in the middle of reading) is basically the definitive Canon to me bc it treats bucky's (and steve's) storyline about 10000 times better than the mcu does and is overall like one of my favorite pieces of literature ever lol.

No I haven't! But I think I have heard good things about it. Thanks for the rec!

I remember someone says that fanfics tend to take off in fandoms where there's a lot of holes to fill in, and a lot of frustration/regret towards canon. Hence Stucky and Supernatural and Merlin.

It does sometimes make me wonder if they did a proper Cap 3 that resolved Steve's and Bucky's grief and anger over Hydra, and properly tied off their arcs, what that fandom would have looked like. Like sometimes a ship can be big but it might not have as much output because people are happy with the way things ended up. On the other hand, it might be an even bigger ship than it is now because I suspect a lot of people left the fandom because they're so upset at Endgame. The remaining English fandom is good at ignoring canon, but I know sometimes Asian fandoms can get very hung up about canon being gospel, and I think a lot of them felt betrayed by canon and never came back.

[momentsbeforemass]

The most precious thing

What is the most precious thing that you have?

So precious, that it’s holy, that is it in fact sacred?

Time. Your time and attention.

You and I only have so much of it. But sometimes it doesn’t feel like that.

Depending on what’s going on in our lives, it can feel like time is crawling. Like we have an infinite amount of time, in the worst sort of way.

(As in the boomer joke about marrying a nagging spouse and moving to [place you think is dull and boring], you won’t live forever but it will feel like it.)

But no matter how it feels in the moment, there are two big reasons that our time is precious.

One, the things we spend time on impact us in more ways than we know.

Whether we spend that time doing something, learning about something, or just thinking about something, it will change us.

Take a minor problem, like a toilet that won’t stop running. We’ll find a YouTube video and learn about it. We’ll figure out how our toilet is different from the one in the video. We’ll go get the parts. Then we’ll actually fix the toilet. And discover that it was easier than we thought it would be.

How does that change us?

Whenever we successfully do something (especially something we’ve never done before), we get a deserved confidence boost. We feel good about it because we did it.

That justified confidence will bleed over into other things.

Maybe there’s something else that needs a little work where we live. We’re going to feel more confident about taking on that project, after we successfully fix the toilet.

The more time we spend thinking about little repair projects like that and doing them, the better we’ll get at doing them. And the more confident we’ll feel about our ability to take them on. Maybe even bigger ones.

It becomes a self-reenforcing upward spiral.

It’s a dynamic that applies to anything we do or think about.

But that dynamic also works in the opposite direction as well.

The more time we spend thinking about how much something sucks – whether it’s true or not – the more everything about it will seem awful to us – again, whether it’s true or not. And the worse we’re going to feel about it.

It becomes a self-reenforcing downward spiral.

Whether it’s upward or downward, it’s all because we invested our time and attention in it.

I bring this up, because this is the principle behind what Jesus is telling us in today’s Gospel,

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

And it plays out in the second way that our time is holy, that our time is sacred.

When we invest our time and attention in someone, we are giving them something that we can never replace. Once we give it to them, we can’t take that time back. Much less give it to someone else.

If the person we’re giving our time and attention to walks all over our gift of the most precious thing that we have? That is an extremely effective way of creating a self-reenforcing downward spiral.

And that’s why Jesus’ warning is clear – if they’re walking all over your gift of the most precious thing that you have, treat them like the dogs and swine that they are.

For Jesus’ 1st century hearers, dogs and swine were unclean animals, to be avoided without exception. If someone left the door open and dogs or swine got in the house, they didn’t make pets out of them. They ran them out with a broom and slammed the door shut behind them.

That’s what Jesus is telling us to do with anyone who walks all over the gift of our time and attention. Don’t keep them around. Run them out and slam the door shut behind them.

That sounds like there’s an easy answer to keeping the dogs and swine out – don’t give your time and attention to anyone.

Except that you and I can’t not give our time and attention to anyone. By virtue of just being alive, we’re going to give our time and attention to someone. We don’t have an off switch.

That means that we need to choose wisely.

That means we need to start with the only safe option.

With the One who treasures our time and attention.

With the One who repays our time and attention a thousand times over.

With the One who loves us more than we know.

Today’s Readings

[pokidot]

MANDELA — CHARACTERS (2)

VENTI — Even with his extensive litter of awards from multiple sources of generational, yet bridled talent, Venti hated being active. Nothing irked him more than being a member of society. There’s time he wanted to shave his head and become a nomad, or maybe even a bard in medieval times playing at his tiny little harp, or playing a harmonica in prison. It’s not because he didn’t have ambition, he just didn’t want to be bothered. So, in retrospect, he shocked himself a little when something so ridiculous interested him so much that he wanted to tag along. It was like he had hearts in his eyes the minute he saw that ugly looking creature on the first slide of your presentation. Who knew your chaos would be his stimulus?

XIAO — It wasn’t his idea to start the Chess Club at the university— it was Venti’s. Even with that in mind, Xiao still was credited. His name was plastered everywhere on those fliers to join the chess club, and he hated it. Heizou’s dedicated advertising got them nowhere, and in result, all of the attendants pretty much got away with not doing anything during chess club. It was cool for a while, Xiao finally got to catch up on his studies. And then it started to become every day…where he would sit there with the rest of his friends and do nothing. It was driving him insane; he usually liked being alone, why would he want to spend time every single day with his friends? He’s not even the self appointed leader, they just made him that because he was the most responsible. Inertly, he was relieved that you gave them something to do, because he was on the cusp of going M.I.A.

AETHER — He was many things, but one thing he’ll never be is a pussy. He was so adamant at one point that he and his sister were from a bloodline of ghosts? Like, they were never human at all, they’ve just been ghosts their entire lives. As if they were meant to be soulless, and bloodless beings. He got that thought after one day leaving a organization for charity (it ended up being a cult. Apparently, they kept trying to convince him that “the spirits are watching him and he needed to be enlightened”. His friends told him that he’s crazy, and he thought it was bullshit too, up until he took a DNA test and it turned out he was 99% of everything. Now, he lives in paranoia that everything he says is a test from his ancestors, and is going through this extensive identity crisis. You were no gospel, but even you thought he needed therapy.

HEIZOU — You were scared of him, and he was the reason why you thought there wasn’t a single normal person in Kuni’s friend group (you were elated). For some reason, after Heizou found the IP address to one of the biggest bandits in Inazuma at the time and beat him to a pulp, he started thinking bigger but he didn’t start thinking better. He’s currently looking for a notorious drug cartel leader who’s never been caught before, and he is stopping at nothing to find something that will get him closer to the truth. His goal is to wipe out the Top Ten Most Wanted Criminals list, and as a university student? That is a bigger dream than you’ve ever thought of in your entire life.

KAZUHA — It was the university’s idea to appoint people to take care of the souvenir shop they had, and every single time, Kazuha was always the one who ended up taking responsibility. Nobody comes to the souvenir shop except people who are just traveling, so he ends up doing absolutely nothing there except cleaning and restocking. Except there’s nothing to restock. Because nobody goes in there, but for some reason, students and professors alike more than often come in to get an astrology reading from the woman at the back of the store, Mona. She even gives them coupons, are you kidding me? He didn’t even care about the souvenir shop that much until she started shimmying in stealing his nonexistent business? And ever since then, he’s been silently competing for her business, and Mona doesn’t even know it. If this ghost hunting club didn’t come into his life, he was pretty sure he would’ve went insane sooner.

HU TAO — The girl who keeps following you around the university? You’ve noticed she’s always where you are ever since your presentation, but you’re not sure what she wants.

prev | masterlist

NOTES || i've come to realize that the reason why i go in depth with these characters is because i have no character of my own 😒 (spongebob disappointed noise)

TAGLIST: @wisteriarain @akagism2 @murderisokayforme @aeongiies @d4y-dr3am3r @truck-kuns-gf @3lysiaa @ayoitsmarie33 @crucnhice @natsuscrustyscarf @dreamsofminnie @zuchilovescats @goj0h @cicibao @xirthia @kylexzz @dollpoetwriting @dreamingkace

[ask-serendipity-sky]

Just a few thoughts after reading some last asks you got Sky. Personally I never agreed with the theory that Jikook were laying low this past year for MS. I just think they were busy and with chapter 2 we just did not see much of them and that’s it. No need for theories. What Jikook bloggers say on their blog isn’t gospel truth. People are free to make their own mind. So many people seem yo follow blindly what the popular bloggers say and go along with their theories. Because they want to be reassured and have an answer for everything I guess? I think we should just accept we just can’t, have an answer for everything. All those years I haven’t changed my mind about Jikook, I still think they’re in a long term committed relationship but I have accepted that not everything about them makes sense, there’s some mystery and small contradictions we just can’t resolve now and it’s okay. I prefer to look at the bigger picture rather than to focus on details or try to explain everything away. And not agreeing with many Jikookers theories doesn’t mean Jikook aren’t real, it just means they’re shippers at the end of the day so they have to entertain a specific narrative. And we could all be wrong and misread Jikook’s bond for love when it’s not, who knows. But I find it a bit ironic that now than it’s clearer than ever that Jikook are extremely close (applying for the companion ship program for MS? seriously Tkkers and Jikook antis can pack their bags now!) some people have to resolve to "but Jikookers were saying this" — nah, many might have been saying this but many of us are just lurkers here and we have our own mind and thinking. Still doesn’t change the reality about Jikook. I

That being said I think now would be more than time for the fandom at large to finally recognize how close Jikook are and stop with the usual narrative and the ignorance. I have a feeling Jikook are going to be even more obvious after MS (not saying they’ll come out let’s be realistic), it’d be better to admit and celebrate their bond if they don’t want to look like the biggest fool later on…

Hi anon,

Yes, that's completely true.

People that don't believe in jikook will always make fun of the theories not realizing that they have their own theories. And a theory, in this case, is trying to make sense of situations.

Obviously, some theories are out there and completely lose the plot of what it means to be acknowledging 2 real humans and their relationship. It would be nice to have more bloggers who are rational and bring a different perspective to jikook tumblr.

I agree with you and think that jikook will be loud after ms. It will be nice to know that they can be freer. Not for us but for them. Hopefully people can acknowledge that.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[zephiris]

All fancy smancy generative ai models know how to do is parrot what they’ve been exposed to.

A parrot can shout words that kind of make sense given context but a parrot doesn’t really understand the gravity of what it’s saying. All the parrot knows is that when it says something in response to certain phrases it usually gets rewarded with attention/food.

What a parrot says is sometimes kinda sorta correct/sometimes fits the conversation of humans around it eerily well but the parrot doesn’t always perfectly read the room and might curse around a child for instance if it usually curses around its adult owners without facing any punishment. Since the parrot doesn’t understand the complexities of how we don’t curse around young people due to societal norms, the parrot might mess that up/handle the situation of being around a child incorrectly.

Similarly AI lacks understanding of what it’s saying/creating. All it knows is that when it arranged pixels or words in a certain way after being given some input it usually gets rewarded/gets to survive and so continues to get the sequence of words/pixels following a prompt correct enough to imitate people convincingly (or that poorly performing version of itself gets replaced with another version of itself which is more convincing).

I argue that a key aspect of consciousness is understanding the gravity and context of what you are saying — having a reason that you’re saying or doing what you are doing more than “I get rewarded when I say/do this.” Yes AI can parrot an explanation of its thought process (eli5 prompting etc) but it’s just mimicking how people explain their thought process. It’s surface level remixing of human expression without understanding the deeper context of what it’s doing.

I do have some untested ideas as to why its understanding is only surface level but this is pure hypothesis on my part. In essence I believe humans are really good at extrapolating across scales of knowledge. We can understand some topics in great depth while understanding others similarly on a surface level and go anywhere in between those extremes. I hypothesize we are good at that because our brains have fractal structure to them that allows us to have different levels of understanding and look at some stuff at a very microscopic level while still considering the bigger picture and while fitting that microscopic knowledge into our larger zoomed out understanding.

I know that neural networks aren’t fractal (self-similar across various scales) and can’t be by design of how they learn/how data is passed through them. I hypothesize that makes them only understand the scale at which they were trained. For LLM’s/GAN’s of today that usually means a high level overview of a lot of various fields without really knowing the finer grain intricacies all that well (see how LLM’s make up believable sounding but completely fabricated quotes for long writing or how GAN’s mess up hands and text once you zoom in a little bit.

There is definitely more research I want to do into understanding AI and more generally how networks which approximate fractals relate to intellegence/other stuff like quantum physics, sociology, astrophysics, psychology, neuroscience, how math breaks sometimes etc.

That fractal stuff aside, this mental model of generative AI being glorified parrots has helped me understand how AI can seem correct on first glance/zoomed out yet completely fumble on the details. My hope is that this can help others understand AI’s limits better and therefore avoid putting too much trust into to where AI starts to have the opportunity to mess up serious stuff.

Think of the parrot cursing around children without understanding what it’s doing or why it’s wrong to say those words around that particular audience.

In conclusion, I want us to awkwardly and endearingly laugh at the AIs which mimic the squaks of humans rather than take what it says as gospel or as truth.

[vaguely-functional-directions]

I have ranked the songs in Bonnie and Clyde (because of course I did). I am also not including all the short reprises. In reverse order (for dramatic effect):

17. Made in America- I don't actually dislike any of the songs on the soundtrack but something has to get the bottom spot. Not my favourite act 2 opening ever so it is ranked here

16. That’s What You Call a Dream- This one is nice too, but for slower songs I think when they either make me have emotions or is just a really pretty tune, and this one is just not my favourite out of all the other slower songs on the soundtrack. I do like the line about 'Buck is rocking in his chair' implying Blanche and Buck growing old together being Blanche's dream since that is such a contrast to Bonnie's like of 'I don't need to end up in a rocking chair' in her own song about the future.

15. Bonnie- This song is sweet and it is nice and I like their bickering at the beginning of it lmao. And it's so cute how touched bonnie is when she's like 'you wrote a song for me?'. When will someone do something like this for me?

14. God’s Arms Are Always Open- I feel similarly to this one as Made in America but I think the second half of the song with the higher energy gospel (?) vibes is fun as a bigger dance number and I like the intervening clips with clyde throughout lol

13. What Was Good Enough for You- I think this song is really important in showing where bonnie and clyde both started out, and what their futures would have been like if they hadn't set out to do more with their lives.

12. Raise a Little Hell- This one I liked a lot better after having the visual scene for it because while the song is intense, just having the added plot context made it better for me. It's like, you can really tell clyde's desperation and he's at his breaking point and literally just having the visuals for that was so so good.

11. When I Drive- Love the energy and 10/10 will listen to this the next time I drive

10. You’re Goin’ Back to Jail- Love the energy in this as well. ZERO space for deadbeat husbands around here and also it is very catchy and is just a fun song overall

9. Raise a Little Hell (reprise)- I definitely ranked the reprise above the original because of all the tension/high stakes/whatever at this point of the plot which I think made this one have a bigger impact on me. And again, after having the visuals to this song I definitely like it better than I did before with just listening. And also since Buck is in this one too, just something about having both brothers team up to raise some hell, and with Ted's part as well with the exact opposition to clyde and buck?? Very good. Thumbs up from me.

8. You Can Do Better Than Him- This one also makes me feel emotions just with like looking back from what bonnie used to be vs where she is now and like. And the reprise as well once it becomes so clear how inevitable everything is, with one final look at her past self and innocence. IDK, like the reprise is just so haunting to me. I can't explain it

7. This World Will Remember Me- THE MEN IN THIS TOWN LIVE AND DIE AND ARE FORGOTTEN AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO SCARE THEM I CAN'T WAIT TO GET AWAY

6. Too Late to Turn Back Now- *Such* a vibe. The complete 180 in this for bonnie, and it being the moment where she really is fully understanding how far into this and how irreversible this is now (hence. the name of the song). Also the song itself is just so so good too. Highly listenable.

5. How ‘Bout a Dance- I was tempted to rank this higher because it is a very beautiful song and makes me be like wistful at the thought of being so in love as it sounds in the song. It's just. You can literally hear Bonnie falling for clyde and falling in love and I love I so much. However it is ranked slightly lower because of the misinterpretation my poor innocent mind made the error of assuming this song was about them actually dancing

4. Picture Show- Super super solid opening number and it does such a good job at setting everything up with bonnie and clyde's personalities. And also just the context for everything in general. And also I saw a recorded version from many mny years ago where young bonnie came out on stage while the car with her older self and clyde were still dead inside was still onstage, and then she starts singing about her hopes and dreams while in front of her own dead body after realizing none of those dreams??? That did something to me.

3. Dyin’ Ain’t So Bad- I'D RATHER BREATHE IN LIFE THAN DUSTY AIR. This makes me so emotional and it's such a beautiful song and like. Just imaging being so in love as to feel this way that if you go together it won't be so bad because neither has to miss the other one. Like. Hello???? I'm not crying you're crying

Tie 1. You Love Who You Love- This song makes me experience Emotions. It is such a lovely song/duet and I just. Aaaaaaaaaaaa I love it so so so much. It's so beautiful ❤️❤️❤️ The line 'you love who you love, and you can't help how you're made. You don't have no say, your heart decides, it's that simple I'm afraid' especially stands out to me and is just. :')

Tie. 1. This World Will Remember Us- Just. Everything about it. The beginning with busting clyde out of prison to the end where they make their way to the car and everything is perfect in their lives for that moment. And just the music is so incredible and. I can't even describe it it's just. Perfection.

[williamaltman]

Can y'all tag anti Nickistat and/or just not tag Nickistat if you're just gonna bash the ship? And for Nicolas' character in general tbh. It's one thing when you're just pointing out things as a part of analyzing the character or even appreciating the messiness/complexities of it all VS when you clearly don't like them because of ship "wars" (can't think of a better term rn).

And I can't help but feel like it's stupid that everyone goes around saying they love Loustat for how messy and toxic it is, and Louis murdering him in the show is the epitome of romance (it kinda was, that's not my point) but then will go on talking about how Nickistat "just aren't good for each other" or whatever because... Nicolas was depressed, had a breakdown and killed himself?

Like yes you could see some cracks there even before Lestat was turned but who actually knows how things would have turned out without Marius... Nicki cared enough that he was taking care of a dying Gabrielle after Lestat had ghosted him for weeks. Not to mention how things could have turned out for Nicolas later if he hadn't killed himself as a vampire. Do you not remember how chronically depressed Louis was throughout the end of IWTV? I remember reading that and thinking "how the fuck is this man ever going to be happy again?". If Nickistat had cracks, IWTV Loustat was a whole broken mirror. And then they turned out fine. Cause they're immortals with centuries to go over their drama.

Anyway I went on a tangent here. I was gonna do a more aggressive post but I didn't want people attacking me. From what I understand the book fandom has managed to stay chill about this (I might be wrong), but I'm not looking forward to how messy things are gonna get when the show adapts TVL. It's years from now but I can already see the foundation for the discourse starting. I just don't get why some people feel threatened by a ship where the character who would mess with your OTP is already dead before they even met.

Actually I kinda get it in this case, because of the whole "Oh I fell in love when I saw him cause he was so much like Nicolas" thing. But AR literally wrote "but Louis had an even bigger hold on me" or so right after so that y'all wouldn't worry so much about it (it kinda stung tbh, but I accept it and have my own interpretation of it).

Not that her/Lestat's words necessarily needs to be gospel, everyone kinda picks and chooses what they "accept" from her interviews/comments and even Lestat's narration and end up having their own interpretations.

But the whole "who would Lestat choose between Nicki and Louis?" question is just always used as a way to get validation from other Loustat shippers who you already know are gonna give you the answer you want, rather than actually wanting to hear other perspectives and create interesting discussion. It's so pointless.

Anyway. Leave Nicki alone!!! That's all I'm actually trying to say IG.

[childofchrist1983]

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. - John 12:46-48 KJV

Can you imagine what the people must have thought? Today, people know about CPR and have defibrillators and all sorts of equipment to save someone who has a heart attack or suddenly stops breathing, and we take for granted that medical science can save people in so many situations.

In Jesus Christ's time on Earth, if you couldn't feel or hear someone breathe, they were dead. And, in fact, they usually did die because there was no way to save them. They must have been both happy and fearful that Jesus saved this child. Happy because she was alive and could rejoin her family; and afraid because they couldn't understand how one could bring anyone back to life. In Luke's version of this miracle, the ruler comes to Jesus because his daughter is sick and asks him to come so that she won't die and while they are on the way, servants come and say she has died, and he shouldn't bother Jesus any longer. Regardless of how it happened, the child lives.

But just like the son of the widow of Naim and Lazarus, and those whom medical science is able to bring back to life, they all died. So will we! But Jesus does bring them and us back to life – eternal life! Whether we are one who was able to be resuscitated or not, like the child in the miracle we will one day die and enter eternal life. Jesus healed those in the Gospels, and God has given the scientists of today the ability to heal as well as to prolong life but this is not our permanent home. Our home in Heaven will be so much better as there will be no more suffering or pain or death. We will live on eternally with all those who have gone before us. Like the widow of Naim and Martha and Mary, we too, need to believe! God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, so that we would believe in Him and be saved, no longer in fear of death. We know that this life is temporary, and that He has prepared a place in His eternal Kingdom of Heaven for each and every one of His children.

Everyday, we must remember to thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for the grace that He poured out for us on the cross at Calvary. He has freed us from the burdens of sin and guilt. May He help us to always walk in His grace and Holy Spirit, not by our own measure. May He give us the humble humility to know that our freedom and eternal salvation is found only in Him, so that His grace may sustain us, and we may never lose sight of His love and light and mercy. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for calling us to Him and to serve Him. May He equip us to do all that He has called us to do so that as He works through us, He may use us to produce fruit, to reach others, and to encourage all brothers and sisters in Christ. May He work all of these things in us and through us for His Kingdom and His glory. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all His creation, for His miraculous ways and for everything He does and has done for us! Keep the faith and keep moving forward in your walk with Jesus!

Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Word and for sending His Holy Spirit so that we might have His grace, not only to awaken us and transform our hearts in our spiritual rebirth and guarantee our eternity with Him, but to also call upon Him whenever we are in need. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all the reminders of His love and mercy and faithfulness within His Holy Word. He is bigger than any challenge or circumstance in our lives. Knowing this within our minds and our hearts, nothing can deter our faith in Him and His Truth. May we all accept Him and His eternal gift of salvation and ask that He would transform our hearts and lives according to His will and ways. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Spirit who saves, seals and leads us. May we always thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His almighty power and saving grace. For He is our strength, and He alone is able to save us, forgive our sins and gift us eternal salvation and entry into His Kingdom of Heaven.

May we make sure that we give our hearts and lives to God and take time to seek and praise Him and share His Truth with the world daily. May the LORD our God and Father in Heaven help us to stay diligent and obedient and help us to guard our hearts in Him and His Holy Word daily. May He help us to remain faithful and full of excitement to do our duty to Him and for His glorious return and our reunion in Heaven as well as all that awaits us there. May we never forget to thank the LORD our God and our Creator and Father in Heaven for all this and everything He does and has done for us! May we never forget who He is, nor forget who we are in Christ and that God is always with us! What a mighty God we serve! What a Savior this is! What a wonderful LORD, God, Savior and King we have in Jesus Christ! What a loving Father we have found in Almighty God! What a wonderful God we serve! His will be done!

Thanks and glory be to God! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Hallelujah and Amen!

[septembersghost]

currently working on a playlist that has most of the modern songs u mentioned e covering, and i was thinking about what i would want him to cover so for ur consideration:

i found - amber run (and i'll use you as a warning sign that if you talk enough sense, then you'll lose your mind— oh, and i found love where it wasn't supposed to be right in front of me, talk some sense to me— and i'll use you as a makeshift gauge of how much to give and how much to take)

tattooed tears (lord, i should know; i have felt lost for so long) and lonely eyes - the front bottoms (they tell me that you're lonely it's no surprise, when you walk around all day wearing those lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely eyes— "it's okay if you're unhappy" i would say before i leave her just take a look around there's no one here that's happy either i can literally hear him speaking this lyric lol (i think he would sing these like softer and melodic))

golden hour - kacey musgraves (keep me in your glow cause i'm having such a good time— you make the world look beautiful, ooh i thought i'd seen it all before but looking through your eyes it looks like paradise him singing this would sound like kacey singing cant help falling in love to me)

cecily smith - will connolly (this sounds slightly insane ik but idk i just think it fits)

big bad wolf - naethan apollo (this song is very poppy and slightly rap so in general this sounds crazy but in my head i can hear him singing it like he sang long tall sally or mean woman blues)

therese - maya hawke (i can hear him singing this with more of a ballad vibe idk, this song is just also really soft and one of my favorites so)

bigger than the whole sky and soon you'll get better - ts (i think about e everytime i listen to bttws so (you were bigger than the whole sky, you were more than just a short time— i'm never gonna meet, what could've been, would've been what should've been you) but i can hear him singing like a gospely version of both of these)

ghost of you - caro emerald (this song is appropriately sad so i can hear him singing a soft ballad version)

runaway - aurora (i saw a piece of heaven waitin' in patience for me— but no, take me home, take me home where I belong)

- same anon that asked u the question originally btw

anon darling, this is extremely cool!!!! i know a few of these, but not all of them, so i'm excited to give the rest a listen! BTTWS *AND* SYGB YOU WANT MY HEART TO BREAK?! 😭 no actually those are such beautiful choices, i would never have even thought of bttws and now i won't be able to think of anything else. sygb takes on a whole new significance for him as well (the holy orange bottles lyric...). i can absolutely hear him making those more gospel inspired. the front bottoms songs and golden hour are so perfect. i'm happy you mentioned softer melodic songs, there were some artists i didn't include because i wasn't sure if their music would make sense on the list, but you get it. plus imagining him doing more fun and bluesy ones, he had such a great time with those types of song. ("this sounds slightly insane," not in my world, not in the world i'm living in. we're insane together <3) i love these lyrics you chose too.

the very last song: "I kept runnin' for a soft place to fall /and I was runnin' far away/Would I run off the world someday?/But no, take me home/Take me home where I belong" makes me think of that line in the movie, he was runnin' from the day he was born...i'll be comin' home, wait for me...💙💙💙

[faeriefully]

Thank you for your reply. Honestly sometimes I’ve felt sad and like I am not saved or I’m not like other Christian’s and I get in my own head about it because I’ve had people in my old church who would be a bit like a clique and just not be nice about stuff but then sometimes I feel Gods love and I have repented of my old self and asked for his mercy and I feel him so powerfully and like he loves me so much but then I don’t know if it’s an attack or what but I go back to being super sad that I’m not like the ‘trad’ Christian or whatever one times 😅

There's a lot of legalistic people in the church unfortunately. This site is also rampant with traditionalists.

The gospel is for sinners.

There is no sin that God cannot redeem you from.

You are a sinner and will continue to sin until you are released from this body and given your glorified body at the end of time.

We, as Christians have been born again; we are new creations in Christ.

We do not follow our emotions. We trust the promises of God. Our God is faithful. He does not change. He does not forget. He does not fail.

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:8-9

Faith is believing and trusting fully in God, no matter your perception nor emotions. It's a sure knowledge of things not yet physically seen.

I love listening to this. (Transcript below cut, but I recommend listening.)

[Art Azurdia] What is authentic faith? The cultivation of an optimistic outlook on life with a kind of spirituality attached to it? A holy hoping for the best? Is this how you think of faith?

Authentic faith is the confident assurance in events not yet seen Faith is not a call to believe in things when common sense tells you not to

Faith is not a mindless stab in the dark It is not a crossing of the fingers and hoping for the best It is not a leap into apparent nothingness It's a word that speaks of reasoned, careful, deliberate, intentional thought Thought upon what? God and his promises

If you are absolutely gripped by the coming realities that have been promised to you by God, then how you live your life in the present will be radically different than if you did not possess that certainty This is what faith is, my friends! Positive certainty expressed in action Authentic faith is not merely believing in God. It is believing God Taking God at his word, living in obedience to his revelation whatever the cost because you know down deep in your bones that God will always do what he says, that his speaking is his doing

It is an abiding assurance in God and his promises that animates you to persevere in your obedience to Him Do you wish to be a more consistently obedient, steadily persevering Christian? A stronger Christian? A more courageous and outspoken Christian? Then you need to strengthen your faith!

Your faith instinctively strengthens in direct proportion to the expansion of the object of your faith! You expand your understanding of the object of your faith and faith itself will obediently follow The object of your faith--if indeed you are a Christian--is Jesus Christ and all of his promises Is your faith weak? It is owing to the fact that you don't know the object of your faith well enough

But when Jesus Christ becomes progressively bigger, or better yet, your understanding of who he is progressively conforms to reality, your faith will become increasingly stronger

But how does that happen? By immersing yourself in the faith-arousing Word of God Read of Jesus Christ!

The same powerful Word that long ago brought the universe to life is the same Word that can bring you to life and furnish you with a faith that is truly and authentically Christian