#why do they always walk in lockstep i do not understand its like they have an invisible rope connecting them

[daddario]

Sam and Dean lacking personal space in every episode - 5/327

[officialtgss]

Good morning my friends. It’s a beautiful day in this beautiful world we are blessed to call home. And it is with immense gratitude that I share this week’s article post!

One of the most common questions I get from young men is:

"What do women want?”

Most men today are utterly clueless as to the answer. And if that’s you, it’s not your fault.

Our media gives us a picture of romance and dating that’s wholly out of step with reality. Not to mention many of us, when we were young, were told ‘just be yourself! Just be you and she’ll like you!’

And then we grew up and realized none of it was true.

The partner you select has huge implications for the health, happiness, and prosperity of your family. You’d never start a business without choosing the right partner. Why should your family be any different?

Save Your Sons wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t arm our young men with the information they need to be confident in selecting their partners. In order to do that, we have to:

1. Teach what type of man you need to become to be attractive to women

2. Teach what to look for when selecting a long-term partner or spouse

3. Teach what you can do to maintain a healthy relationship with your spouse over a lifetime (hint: be the man that attracted her in the first place)

The truth is women are actually very logical about how they select their partners. And you can become the type of man who will increase his selection of women by following a simple framework.

I share the framework that worked for me and many others in the July edition of Save Your Sons University @SchoolOfStevie. You’ll get a step by step process for becoming the type of man women are most attracted to. I recorded the accompanying audio lecture for July’s course over Father’s Day weekend (God bless my family for sitting through it 😂).

It’s about an hour long, and full of practical information that will give you everything you need to increase your dating options. Go ahead and sign up if you haven’t already!

As for this week’s essay, let’s take a look at what not to do.

If your goal is to be attractive to women, and to find a partner who will walk with you through your life, the first thing you should do is stop chasing women.

Yes there is a time and place for approaching women. Yes you need to be confident and sociable when speaking with women. Yes you need practice in these areas (and lots of it).

But the most important thing you should do before you worry about any of that, is to pour your energy into yourself.

Because right now odds are good you’re using just a fraction of your full potential. And access to the life you want (your choice of women included), can only be unlocked by increasing the amount of your potential you’re using.

Your options will be limited until you increase your value. No matter what you desire, (wealth, status, women, houses, etc.) the greater you make yourself, the more options you’ll have.

Because in its simplest form, what women want is value. And they aren’t unique in that way either. ALL people are attracted to value. Success itself is attracted to value. Our value (what we are capable of contributing to the world), is what makes us valuable (how the world views and treats us). And you can only increase your value by working on yourself.

The best way to do that?

Start by working backwards.

Start by understanding who you need to become. Create a vision of your ideal self. Create a vision of what your life will look like when you’ve become your ideal self. And then identify the benchmarks and objectives along the way that will get you there.

When it comes to attracting women, there are a few easy to measure benchmarks you can track to gauge your progress. They all require relentless honestly and self awareness. Only when you know where you stand can you know where to go.

Over the years I’ve condensed these benchmarks into an easy to follow 5 part framework. In July’s course, we’ll go through each part of the framework in detail. We’ll explore what each part means, and what you can do in your daily life to pass your benchmarks.

To get July’s course (which includes the framework and explanations and examples of what you need to do to be successful), click the green button below. You’ll also get June’s course immediately when you sign up (“How you look matters”).

Take me to Save Our Sons University

I’ll say it again, because it bears repeating: your choice in partner will have MASSIVE implications on your future. The right woman, walking in lockstep with you as you guide and nurture your family, is one of the greatest blessings in this life.

And in order to find a high caliber partner, you need to be a high caliber man. The better you make yourself, the better your options. In all areas of life.

Thank you for reading, and as always,

God bless you, until next time,

SoS

[dailyaudiobible]

07/26/2020 DAB Transcript

2 Chronicles 17:1-18:34, Romans 9:25-10:13, Psalms 20:1-9, Proverbs 20:2-3

Today is the 26th day of July welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I’m Brian it is wonderful to be here with you today as we greet the new week together and just kinda lookout. There’s is Monday coming, there’s Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. These are days that we will live into, but they are in our future. They are out in front of us. We are standing here looking into this new week and if we become aware of it, we can realize we are at a precipice. The choices and decisions that we make are gonna fill those days and write the story of this week. And, so, we are here and in advance we can make some decisions about the path that we’re gonna take as we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And, so, welcome to a brand-new week and let's see what comes our way and invite the Scriptures to give us…to give us the wisdom that we’re gonna need as we go into this week. So, we’ll read from the New Living Translation this week and continue our journey in the Old Testament through the book of second Chronicles. Today, second Chronicles chapters 17 and 18.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word and we thank You for this…this vista where we’re looking out into the new week and our calendars have things on them and we have plans, but we submit those things to You. We want to walk through this week in lockstep with You every moment. We want to live this week to its fullest in Your graces and in Your smile. We want to be in Your presence and be Your delight as You are our delight. And we are so grateful. We are so grateful for what we…what we read in the book of Romans, that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. May we just…may we just fall back into that like we’re falling back into a warm pillow and being surrounded by Your love knowing that we can confidently go into this week we have nothing to prove. It's proven. There's nothing we can earn. It's given. You have come for us and have invited us to collaborate with You to be the light of the world, to shine the light of what it looks like to be made a new creation upon this earth. And, so, may we live into that with all of our hearts this week. It's all available, it's ours to choose. And, so, Holy Spirit come because we want to choose it, but we forget. We are so enveloped in this culture that we start behaving like it constantly, when You invited us out from that - in it but not of it - so that we can be the voice the pulls everyone else forward. Come Holy Spirit into this week we pray. In the name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is home base, it is the website, it’s where you find out what’s going on around the community. So…so, check that out. Check out the different sections there in the website or you can check them out in the app too by pushing that little drawer icon in the upper left-hand corner. Check out the Shop where there are resources available for the journey. Check out the community section for different links to…to connect.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com as well. Thank you. Thank you as we navigate the summertime. Thank you for your partnership. I’ve said it a thousand times, if we were not in this together, we wouldn't be here. And that is the nature of this beautiful unique community that we share. It wouldn’t work if we weren’t here together. If we were not in this together taking this journey like a voyage across a year and through the Bible, if we weren’t in this together it wouldn’t work. And, so, thank you. Thank you for your partnership. There’s a link on the homepage. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner, or the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

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

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

Community Prayer and Praise:

Good morning Daily Audio Bible I’m calling in from Maryland. I’m calling for a young man who called in a few weeks ago. I didn’t catch his name, but he asked for prayer for his family but towards the end he was very adamant and very specific and very strong that he needed prayer for himself. He said he was 13 years old and for whatever reason whenever I hear children call in it always strikes my heart. So, I’d like to know…let him know that someone heard him and does pray for him. Even though I don’t know your name, you know who you are, God knows who you are. So, I’d like to that you know I do pray for you every morning and I wish you well. Thank you.

Good morning DAB family my name is Maureen __ I’m calling from Nigeria. I really want to thank you Brian for everything you’re doing for us. God is seriously using you to do wonderful work in the life of his children. I want to thank you also for keeping this platform always very updated. I want to thank God in a special way for the life of my husband. He has been a very wonderful man. God has been working wonders through him to reach our families, to reach our loved ones, to reach our friends. And I pray that God will continue to provide for him, that all the sacrifice he’s making for the sake and good of others will be replenished a 100-fold. I ask God to continue to sustain him in good health and mind and body and to worship in spirit and in truth all the days of our life. I pray also for every other family in the DAB and ask God to bless all these people – guidance, strength and hope who worship him. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Thank you everyone. Thank you so much. Bye.

Hello DAB family this is Brother Ox this is July 23rd and I wanted to give my many thanks to Brian. I’ve been saved since I was about 15 years old and have been in church all of my life but recently have been confronted with the fact that there is probably a lot…there’s a lot of the New Testament I haven’t like read through beginning to end cover to cover, don’t meditate on these…on this wisdom. And as many times as I’ve tried beating my head over Romans, it was not clicking. I wasn’t being able to meditate and receive that. So…so this romp through even just the first eight chapters of Romans has been incredibly profound and I can’t thank him enough for it. I found myself in a place where with all of these things going on in the world that I see what I stand against, I have a very weak grasp on…on what I stand for and why…I understand what I stand for but not how to express why and I need to go back to the Scriptures, the New Testament particularly, to understand that. So, I thank everyone…I thank the DAB family to bringing me to this point. Prayers go out to Gigi from the loss of her father. We’re are all in prayer for you sister and I can’t…we extend our compassion out to you in this and pray that God gives you the strength to you, you and your family to step forward. And Treasured Possession, your…your words today about…about our brothers and sisters who are found with autism and whatnot, they are incredibly inspiring. I thank you so much for those. God bless you all. This is Brother Ox signing out.

Good morning Daily Audio Bible family this is __ calling from South Sudan. I am very grateful for all of you, everyone that is part of this community, you have touched my life through your prayers and encouragement and I also thank God for the Hardin family - Brian, Jill, China, Ben and the younger one I believe is Elijah. Thank you for this great ministry that God has committed into your hand. Your faithfulness to continue these many years. I…I would like to share with you that today is my wedding anniversary, 23rd of July. My wife and I met each other at the University of Texas. In a prayer meeting I pulled up a chair and sat behind a girl and after that prayer meeting the girl turned around and looked at me and caused me to stop breathing. So, I told her that because I stopped breathing, she…she would have to become my wife to keep me breathing again. And 32 years later God has been faithful to us. 32 years, five children who have been successful. So, we thank God and we bless him in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hi family this is Sally North Dakota. So, I haven’t called in for quite a while, so I wanted to call in and check in with everybody. Want you to know that I love you. I appreciate Brian and Jill so much and China. I love our family that we have here. Want to give out a shout out to Annette in Oklahoma City. Happy birthday, 10 years, wow that’s totally awesome. I’m on my second year listening and I feel like I’ve been a part of the family forever. So, it’s really great. Annette, I love what you shared about never being alone and…and the things that you’ve learned from the DAB. I too have learned a lot about myself and…and I’m thankful that we all continue to grow together and pray for each other. And I want you to know Annette that I love you. You’re very special to me. And I also wanted to lift up Prodigal and his new queen and Claire’s grandma that’s in a…that’s ion a coma. So, heavenly Father we just lift this family up to You. We thank You for giving her life and the life that she’s had. And Lord, we pray for Your perfect will to be done in this family as You draw them close to You and to each other. We thank You for Your comfort and the love that You give us during this time. And, so, Prodigal, it’s always good to hear from you. And everybody else, I love you so much and I’ll continue to call in from time to time. Okay. Bye for now.

[the-last-ghost]

Well everyone, I am pleased to announce that Part 5 is officially done! I took longer than I expected and is sitting just under 3k words so I hope everyone enjoys it! Please feel free to share it away if you feel inclined to do so! As always, thank you all for the support (I just hit over 300 followers!!! Thank you all!) and rememeber, you ever have and questions, comments, concerns, or requests, feel free to message me! My chats are always open! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------             “Terra has fallen. Those three words have haunted my people for thousands of years. What followed though… what we did… now those are the real nightmares.” Hearing him speak sent shivers down my spine. There’s no possible way this Terran could have been there… Then I realized what was said. “What… what could be worse than witnessing the destruction of your home-world? Surely there can be nothing more tragic than that…?” Hesitation and fear slowly creeping into my voice. I cannot begin to fathom the pain and sorrow his people must have felt, but to say there is something worse? Impossible. “As you have said Captain, my species is one of determination and sentiment. You have seen the wonders that we made for those we called friends but nothing of the horrors we have left in our wake for those we called enemies…” As Vilantis spoke, I looked around at his crew and noticed them looking down or away in mournful shame; Vilantis caught my eye and in his, I was able to confirm my suspicions. “But that is a conversation that must be heard by your Council.” The pain was still there, hidden just below the surface and I knew better that to press my luck. Before I could speak again, I heard my comms unit squawk as my Lieutenant announced, “Capitan, we have several unknown vessels detected by our radar. You’re needed on the bridge, Sir.” I hastily replied my affirmation and ordered my crew to their stations. “Terran Vilantis, have you any idea who could be following us? Who were you running from?” I knew the foe must be dangerous for them to have caused so much damage to the Terran vessel I saw a few hours ago; with that in mind, I had my crew come to battle readiness with a mayday message prepared. “Well Capitan, that would depend on what the signal returns are like.” The sorrow I had seen only moments before was now gone and in its place, a steely determination now masked his face. “Capitan, perhaps I could accompany you to the bridge? This may be your ship, but it is still my war after all…” It took me only a moment to know that we would need all of the help we possibly could. “Of course Terran; you may follow me.” Before we left the crew bay, Vilantis spoke to his remaining crew and as I watched, I saw their expressions change much like his own had. What terrified me though, was in some of the faces I looked upon, it’s almost as if I saw…excitement? Clearly that could not be right… As Vilantis finished what could only have been whispered orders to his crew, I saw them return to their gear and slowly open their crates, bags, and other containers. The last thing I saw as we left the bay was of the Terrans pulling out clearly well worn, heavily battered armor, projectile weapons of an exotic design, and what appeared to be bladed weaponry as well. I knew that this was not the time for questions and ushered Vilantis to the bridge. We walked in silence for a time; all the while I was thinking through scenarios, tactics, supply numbers, and more. Vilantis broke the silence by saying, “Do you have boarding crews Capitan?” The question puzzled me, of course we do, I thought to myself. “Yes we do Terran. My ship contains four craft, each with an assigned team of twelve. Why do you ask?” Knowing the answer but unwilling to believe that he would order his crew to fight yet again after narrowly escaping just hours before, I listened to his reason. “If these are readings of our foe, my crew would like the honor of the spearhead when they come into range.” The spearhead? His crew would like the “honor?” They must be in shock… I usually have my teams pick lots for the order; none of them want to be first aboard, it’s nearly always suicide. I tell Vilantis as much and he only laughs and says, “You have yet to see my people fight. Remember, we have been waging war for thousands of years, long before your Federation came along and many thousands of years since. Besides, if it’s a chance to strike back at those who destroyed our ship, it truly will be an honor.” The ferocity of his comment swayed me, for I was terrified to go against him. I informed my boarding teams of the new order they will board in. Each boarding pod can hold sixteen troops and now the first to depart would consist of just the six Terrans, per Vilantis’s request, with the original team now spread out to the other boarding teams. That odd request now sorted, we continued on towards the bridge; this time, the Terran and I spoke of strategy and tactics. He swiftly ran me through some common techniques that his enemy used and I was able to relay this to our ordinance bays to prepare some firing sequences that might come in useful. It wasn’t long before we made it to the bridge and I was willing to overlook the lack of protocol as my crew stopped what they were doing to look at the mysterious Terran. I ordered them back to work and requesting a status brief and my hearts were filled with dread; for the radars showed twenty-three unknown ships closing in behind us. This ship is not a war frigate, it is a scouting vessel, we lack the ordinance needed for a prolonged engagement one like this would require… wait… the Terran is… smiling? “Terran Vilantis, what amuses you? We are outnumbered twenty-three to one and do not have the ordinance to engage them all.” The Terran could only laugh and seemed to be crying as well, how strange. “Terran I must ask again, what is so-” He cut me off with a wave of his hand and said, “That signal… the return your crew is getting… that’s the signal beacon of the Shattered Moon! Tell your crew to stand down and to exit the jump now Capitan; the Broken Sage won’t give another warning.” As before, I knew better than to question an order such as that and did as he asked. “Wait, Terran, there are over twenty ships identified by our scans; who else is with this ‘Broken Sage’ of yours?” Could this be a Terran fleet come to aid of Vilantis’s lost crew? I hope they don’t mistake us for the enemy… “No one is with him, Capitan, the Admiral sails alone. As for the multiple returns… well, you’ll understand that when we exit the jump.” The news that this was just one vessel eased my conscious a little but how could it be sending a return equal to twenty-three ships… My only explanation would have to be some form of signal jamming; not unheard of but I have seldom seen it used. We slowed down and exited out of our jump path into the barren emptiness of open space. My crew was on edge, for even telling them that it was a Terran vessel did little to calm them. I was holding up much better but I was still terrified. Terran Gunner Vilantis and his remaining crew stood by my welcoming staff and I as we awaited the arrival of their ship. When it entered the system, it was as if a star had collapsed and in its place was now an magnificent, timeless being of metal armor, spiked with weapon ports, and surrounded by a pale green glow. The view was astonishing, something I will never forget for the rest of my days; even knowing that it was armed and prepared for battle could to nothing to diminish the awe with which it left me in. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” I heard Vilantis whisper to me as we all watched on in wonder. “Thirty-eight kilometers from bow to stern, twenty-two across at her widest, twenty-six high on average, twenty-eight at the bridge, and carrying enough troops and ordinance to level a planet on her own. Truly a force to be reckoned with.” I could hardly believe it… The new vessel dwarfed my ship much like fully grown Sarlot would dwarf a baby Ran’klet. I realized that my ship was pitifully outmatched and that we were now at the mercy of this “Broken Sage” of theirs. The Terrans around me though, looked proud and strong, the armor the had been wearing before, now polished to a shine. Even with the cracks, dents, and burn marks, they shone like stars themselves. I took it all in and committed it to memory and wished I had a way to capture this moment but I knew that no pict could ever do this the justice it deserved. The Terran ship, Shattered Moon, slowly made its approach; Vilantis had been on the comms since the moment a signal link was established and helped identify us as non-hostile. He as able to help establish this meeting and I was told that their Admiral would be meeting us in person; if the ship was anything to go by, I could hardly prepare myself for the actual meeting. As our two ships docked and pressurized, I couldn’t help but be drawn back to the concept that we were making history here. The airlock opened and the Terran boarding party came through and what a sight they were! Encased in armor the colors of gold and silver, green and dark as the oceans of home, blues as radiant as the forge fires from the smiths of the Esmiridia sector, and visors black as the cosmos themselves. They each carried what was obviously another bladed weapon strapped to one side and an elegant, yet small projectile weapon on the other. In their left hands they carried a banner pole resplendent with symbols and markings, each colored in the same pattern as the one who carried it. The six Terrans moved in lockstep and in such precision I would have sworn they were animatronics of some sort as they filed in, separated, and turned to make their own corridor leading from the entrance. “Those are the Faeyanti Mortue…” The awe with which Vilantis spoke was palpable and I knew these were warriors worthy of great respect. “They are the six Capitan’s of the Admirals forces. To see them here… This is an honor…” In the light of the entryway, I could see a lone figure standing there and even from where I stood, I could tell it was unarmored. In unison, the Terrans, Vilantis and his crew included, dropped to one knee and averted their gaze down and to the right. The figure slowly moved forward and as it did, I heard it speak, “Arise my brothers and sisters… How many times must I say that you need not kneel before me. It is I who should kneel to you.” His voice, for he was clearly male, was soft, almost inaudible and yet… It reached even the most distant corners of the room and was filled with ancient wisdom and authority. The figure continued to move forward and as he passed his crew, they slowly came to their feet, yet Vilantis and his crew remained down. The man strode towards me and he seemed completely at odds with the Captains behind him, for he wore no obvious armor or weapons and stood about one meter shorter than the armored Terrans. His gray robes hung loosely from his hunched frame and was held together by a simple belt of leather with a burnished silver buckle. It was his eyes however, that gave him away as something… more. For in them, it was as if I could see the life of the cosmos themselves, all the years of an age long past, and the weariness that goes with it. “You must be Vilantis.” The Sage spoke, his words soft and slow, was like snow settling over ice, but in the stunned silence, it was impossible to miss. “You need not kneel for me; you have done a great service for our people by simply surviving. Please, stand and be recognized my friend.” The Sage  had yet to even acknowledge my presence and I feared that interrupting him would be a grave insult, so I chose to stay quiet and watch. “I failed you, Sir. We all did… We lost the ship… The rest of the crew… They were my responsibility, sir… And Elona…” As Vilantis spoke, I saw liquid running from his eyes and was able to recognize this as a sign of  immense sorrow and that he couldn’t hold it in anymore. The Sage knelt down before Vilantis and place his hand upon his shoulder. As he did so, I saw that the hand as made of a smooth, resplendent and radiant, silvery metal and I wondered just how far the obvious implant went and what was the cause… “The Admiral did her duty, my child. The ship was failing and we could not let it be taken. She will be missed but her name will live forever.” He spoke with such conviction that it seemed as if he was daring the cosmos to go against his words; truly this man was worthy of respect. Vilantis continued to weep as did his crew but they stood and faced the Sage with pride. “You seven are the only survivors of your fleet. All else has been lost and our enemy has disappeared on us again. I am sorry to say that I arrived to late to avenge them but rest assured, they will pay for this.” These Terrans terrified me and my crew was obviously unnerved by their words. The Sage then turned his gaze onto me and I felt a chill run through my spine when we locked eyes. Then he surprised me with what appeared to be a formal bow with an obvious intention of resect, though I could see it was causing the man to feel significant pain to do so. “You are the one to thank for giving refuge to my people?” He asked me as he slowly rose back up. “Greetings Terran Admiral Sage,” I say as I return the bow, best not to cause offence to one such as him. “I am Capitan Xulth’romash Krii’utz. Your people are most welcome aboard my ship and have been highly respectful. Although, it is my crew that saved them, I cannot take the credit for that.” The Sage looked at me strangely, almost as if there was a book between us and he was trying to understand the meaning of it. “Then your crew is to be thanked on behalf of Terra, her people, and myself. Capitan, would you like to dine with my crew and I? There is much that must be discussed.” The offer stunned me; to dine with a Terran? Such a thing hasn’t happened in ages! I was about to say yes when I remembered that we were on a mayday jump to the nearest station and they would be expecting us; I told him as much. “That is a respectable excuse, Capitan. I have need to speak with your Council and I believe they will want to speak with you as well. Allow me to escort you home.” He spoke as if I had no choice in the matter but the mans eyes sang differently, for they made it a question and I realized that for all of their impossible age, it must have been just as long since they were inside the Federations boarders. “Admiral, it would be an honor to be the one to escort you back into the USF. This will be a historic moment!” I allowed my excitement to get the better of me but the Sage merely grinned and asked his Captains to prepare the ship for transit and if Vilantis would like to return the Shattered Moon. “I am sorry Admiral,” Vilantis replied, “I have a story to finish telling my friend here and would hate to leave in the middle of it. I would like your permission to stay aboard so I can continue my discussion with the Capitan.” The Sage was quiet for a time as he pondered the request, then he said, “Gunner, that is be a wonderful idea. Would you mind if I joined you? I always have enjoyed a good story. That is, if it is okay with you as well, Capitan. It is your ship after all.” I stood in more shock than before. Did this man truly wish to stay aboard my vessel? Not only that, he was asking my permission to do so! This man, who could easily snuff us all out with a nod, who commanded warriors of untold prowess, and was as old as time itself, was asking my permission… “I…It would be my honor to host you aboard my vessel, sir Terran.” I cannot help but to let the stunned awe creep into my words. “Great! Captains, You have your orders. Bring the ship alongside this one and prepare for a jump into USF territory. Keep the weapons stowed but be prepared for anything. It has been a long time since we were back here, who knows just how the Council will react.” As our two ships separated, our crews got to work, and Vilantis and the Sage got settled, I had my comms officer relay a message to the station: “Resupply Station 119-X03, this is Capitan Xulth’romash Krii’utz of the reconnaissance vessel, Ithreal Sanru. I am requesting a Priority 1 jump to Sector Command on Harn’we. The Terrans have returned and I am escorting them to the Commander. I say again, the Terrans have returned.”

[commanderpacis]

Okay, look. I may or may not have spent like several hours yesterday piecing together some of the Forsaken lore that got put on Ishtar Collective recently, finding the closest approximate order that ten entries in particular were in, and formatted it in my notes to essentially create a short story.

Honestly though, I’m actually a little proud of how it came out and fairly confident I figured out the order. If I wasn’t already excited for Forsaken and beyond, I am now.

Spoilers beyond the break.

Also, hello Destiny fandom, welcome to my mess of a first post!

A Renegade's Observations of a Drifter

I. Uneasy Feeling

I've followed him for a short while now. Tracked his path since he turned up on mine.

He's not like them, but not far off—hard to trust, hard to know. He's seen more than most can imagine and done things most wouldn't dare. But he's always kept his distance —stayed far from the Light.

Why head City-side now? Why risk antagonizing those best equipped to cut his journey short? Can't quite say. I get the sense he's on the run, but from what? From who? There are Shadows in his past. Do they linger? Do they hunt?

Or is his desperation driven by other... concerns?

All I've seen, all I've uncovered—of him, of his long, winding road—says he's made enemies at just about every turn. Over centuries, that list grew real long. He's been comfortable on the dodge out beyond the Reef—ever-moving, ever-exploring, never concerned with the dangers riding his wake.

So, again... Why now? Why here? What's his play? More important...

What's his game?

II. Justified Means

The Drifter wasn't always my target.

In fact, he only came to my attention when he started running with them I'd call prey.

Before that he'd existed only as rumor—the strange Lightbearer who journeyed beyond the system's edge, the lone wanderer who was only a “Guardian” by reductive modern definitions. He had a Ghost. He was touched by the Light. His motivations, though, were his own—some might say selfish, and I'd have to agree. In regard to the concepts of duty and devotion and using one's gifts for the betterment of humanity? Not his play. The City be damned. The Traveler be damned. The Light be damned.

Which makes his run to the Tower and his newfound benevolence all the more... curious.

I lost track of him when the Traveler fell silent. Could be that severed connection drew him back. If so, I doubt it's something he'd admit. Yet here he is—unwelcome, but with a gift for persuasion. I can't say it doesn't make me uneasy.

There was—so we're clear—a time I'd call him a threat. There was a time I'd look to end him as punishment for the paths he'd tread. But things aren't quite so simple these days. Ghaul taught us that. And while I still plan to punish those who have transgressed, I can also see the value in certain... risks.

This Gambit—the Drifter's strange little game—may just be one such.

It requires care and a keen eye to ensure the means don't consume the ends, but I got a feeling our new 'friend' might be a necessary catalyst. And, if not...

He sure makes for a fine cut of bait.

III. Step into the Shade

I want to be clear: I do not trust him.

You get the sense he's working to mend that, sure, but the end game will reveal the truth of his intentions.

This con is a long one, friend, but if any are built to see it done—and see it done right—the Drifter is our man. So, we see it play out—his Gambit and ours. It may not be ideal. In fact, I'd say far from. It's just that...

I don't see another way forward. The Light is fragile but quick. The Dark, dense and slow. If we want to control the balance, tip it in our favor... if we want to confront those shadows who would see it shift further toward the night... we must play in the gray in-between. We must draw them out.

Many have fallen to this path. It's not one I tread lightly, but I've found the only way to best a shadow is meet it in the shade.

The Vanguard won't allow it—they're noble, but they're flawed. Frightened. Most Guardians wouldn't dare it—too many legends of heroes lost to such unpleasant pursuits.

But things have changed...

The Oryx slayers and their like have danced within Ascendant Realms. The nightmare legends of bonewalkers and nether worlds have been cast into the Light. Old fears are now trampled beneath enduring triumph. Now, if ever, is the time to step proud into the unknown and bathe it in our Light.

And if doing so draws the attention of enemies old and new... if we tempt damnation... so be it. We will stand ever vigilant and burn them all away.

Or maybe the Drifter pulls a double-cross and our end is met. No way of knowing. No way to tell.

I say we let it ride. Trust ourselves. Trust our instincts—our Light.

IV. Artifacts and Old Friends

By chance, he and I crossed paths in a... neutral setting. Didn't give me his name, just called himself a drifter. Told him if that's how it was, he could call me “Pal.” He laughed at that, got comfortable. Got all kinds of open about where he'd been, what he was haulin'. Even dropped a tip on where an old friend of mine was hiding. I still wonder if he knows who I really am.

He told me he left the system as soon as he was risen. Not immediately, sure. Had to get his bearings, find a ship—get it fit, get it flying. But soon as, he was good as gone. “Drawn to the outer,” he says. I can appreciate.

He says he's seen the deep side of Jupiter. Been to the Core Mines of Saturn. Name drops old myths no one's heard—the Luvial Crux, the Shift Chasms Below Elios, the Fourth Tomb of Nezarec. Goes on about the Idols of Lower Sul, the Treasure of Exodus Prime, the Solar Engine of Dead Star-Six.

I think he's making most of it up, but he's got relics and etchings. He's got materials not of this system—odd metals, obsidian flames, thought engines, edible null cakes and a stuffed something that looks like a rabbit bio-fused with a cephalopod. He keeps all this stuff to himself—his “gets,” he calls 'em.

If they're for show, they put on a great one. But to what end? The clutter of oddities he's got ship-side ain't nothin' compared to what he's haulin'—that big, black mass of nothing you ain't ever seen before.

He calls it an “artifact,” but it's more than that. Just don't know what, exactly. He said he got far out as he's ever been. Said it was from a place cold enough to snuff out your Light. I ask him, was it Vex? Hive? Cagey as all, he said no, it was just “other,” and it was powerful... maybe.

That was his qualifier: “maybe.”

Why the hell bring it to the inner system then? “Maybes” are trouble. But he's got an answer for everything. He says...

“Brother... maybes are where the real treasure hides.”

He could tell I wasn't satisfied, but I knew he wasn't lying. The chunk was “other” for sure, and Ghost said its readings were off the charts, but abstract—unlike anything anyone had encountered.

Can't say that made me comfortable, but then the Drifter, with his easy manner and eager charm, asked if I'd ever met a man in black named Callum.

He was clearly changin' the subject, but he was lucky enough—or smart enough—to pick one I had interest in, and I could respect that.

V. Shadow on a Wall

I knew Callum by another name—a hated name.

The Drifter had run with Callum's crew for some time. I get the sense he would've been one and the same as them—lockstep down sorrow's road—if they'd met sooner.

Hell, maybe they WERE lockstep. Maybe his Gambit was theirs.

Maybe the bait set when the Drifter first came to the Tower was for me and mine. Maybe all we were playing at was our own end. But all that's not worth the effort to dwell on. A path's been set. Best to walk it. If the turn 'round that final bend leads to death, all we can do is return the favor.

Drifter told me Callum had a spot—a hold he used all his own. Said his crew been runnin' separate jobs to keep me off their trail. Said they knew one-to-one they'd have a hard time walking away, but rolling together only increased their footprint, made 'em easier to trail.

Made sense. With the six of 'em—Callum's crew, I mean—spread out, each runnin' their own search for whatever it is they're searching for, gave me crossed signals. I'd hear conflicting stories of their deeds from one end of the system to the next, and I had a hard time keepin' up.

But this info—Callum's safe space—it was a lead worth a look.

Two weeks into a living hell, I thought Drifter'd fed me a line, maybe tryin' to kill two birds, one stone. There were signs of a Shadow's presence, but they were cold—old. I waited anyway. Shot me some Taken to kill the time.

The wait paid off.

Callum entered. Could hear him before I saw him—he was arguin' with his Ghost. I waited on the hope they'd spill goods I could use to track the others. No such luck. Their words were heated. Callum had gone too far. His Ghost was angry. I don't blame her.

It caught me that she always used his proper name—Callum—and not his other. She still cared. Still hoped. Then she screamed.

I drew and stepped into the light.

Callum had his Ghost in his left hand. It was silent. With his right, he had stabbed her through the optics with a sickly dagger—a tool carved from the jagged spikes fired from a weapon I shall not name.

The Ghost was dead, and Callum just laughed. I think because he knew what came next.

He and I had words. Told me I'd never kill 'em all. Then he dropped the shell and went for his shooter.

I lit my fire and painted him on the wall without another word.

VI. Bright Side of a Bad Idea

At this point, the Drifter had me comfortable with the idea of him, but only just. Been a long time since trust came easy.

I still needed to understand. Needed to grasp what he was after or what was after him—survival depends on knowing what's coming best you can.

This is before I came to you—but only just. This is me smoothing out the rough angles before risking a proposition I know carries baggage.

Anyway. He and I went out, found a spot we could be alone, and he showed me. He showed me proof that all of his relics, artifacts, treasures, and junk weren't just for show —our shady friend actually went out and lassoed himself a little piece of hell.

While Guardians have been waging war with the Taken, while the City's newest legends have been trespassing on Ascendant ground and kicking in Taken skulls, the Drifter's been playing Warlock—which he ain't, if it wasn't clear. Not by common understanding, anyway. In drawing strength from curiosity and using knowledge to bend understanding to his will, this wily bastard has long since shed any pretensions of class or the limitations therein.

While you lot have been having your fun, drunk on loot, dancin' on the corpses of your enemies—he's been watching, learning, stealing, and planning.

Now, I make no promises that what he's done was ever intended for the greater good. Point of fact, I actively doubt it. But here we are.

He's kit-bashed Vex tech with Fallen components, married it to Hive magic, and scavenged Golden Age science with a sprinkling of who knows what, and he's...

Hold up. I know this sounds bad. Sounds like just the kind of trouble we squash, but...

He's secured a pocket of the Ascendant plane. Not a throne world, nothing that grand, but a big enough chunk to matter—and he's gone and caged an army. A Taken army. Leftovers from Oryx's reign? Something new? Something old? Something... Hers? Can't say. Don't know. But he has 'em there. He says it's to hold 'em, study 'em—but the best bet says his intentions aren't so clean.

Purity of intent aside, this is what he wanted to show me. This is why he's here—his Gambit. He wants to help humanity—help us poor fools who call ourselves Guardians— learn how to control not only the Taken... but the powers that bind them.

Sounds like a bad idea, I agree.

Bigger picture? Sometimes bad ideas are the best option. Hell...

Sometimes they're the only.

VII. The Price of a Double-Sided Coin

Here's the play. Ours, I mean...

You have places. Cleared zones. Not necessarily the safest spots, but not wholly untamed. I say we... you... allow the Drifter to run his game. And let's you and me watch.

We watch the action. We watch him. We watch who plays and who doesn't. On top of that, we watch their aggression—who's diving too deep, too fast, who's less keen to grow their knowledge, their strength. And who's simply lookin' to unleash themselves.

The true promise of this Gambit is what you and I can learn. About our enemies. Maybe even about ourselves. That has to be first and foremost. After that, we assess Gambit's value and its risks. If the danger escalates, we shut it down. If any Guardians go too far, we shut it down—and them, if need be.

My gut says we won't have to. My gut says, against everything I was raised to believe, this is our next step forward.

And here's the rub: You know this, but only fair that I reiterate. As secret as this whole mess is, and as vigilant as we'll need to be... word must spread. It must. And when it does, I need you to corral Zavala and any others who won't understand.

'Cuz the other side of that jade coin is the trap being set—this long con—the final bend after a long haul. If Drifter plays his part—and I believe he will—then those who test the edges of the Light will hear tell and come a'callin'. The Shadows brought to Light.

But the ruse must be complete. Every Guardian must play their part. If you can buy in—if you can see the value in what's to come—then we roll. If not...

You can stop this here and now. I'll put a bullet in him, be done with it.

Just say the word.

VIII. Checking the Chamber

Your 'Jacks sure can clear a table. Combat area's clean. We're prepped and ready—set for the first run on Nessus.

The Drifter'll pick up your Guardians en route. Have your 'Jacks primed to engage if—when—it all goes wrong. Not saying I have doubts, but if it hasn't been clear... I have doubts.

I'll be nearby, as discussed. Anything goes off-rails, we'll close in and shut it down.

After, if it runs smooth—and we're not all dead—he says he'll set up shop in the Tower. Seems risky, yeah, but that's his lot to handle. Truth is I'd much rather have him Tower-side where he can be watched and “collected” if it comes to that. The alternative—him runnin' free-and-clear through the system—isn't an option. He's too much of a liability on his own. Luckily, he seems... open to havin' you nearby.

Still get the sense this whole shindig is something he's cookin' up to face down some big, bad news—some problem he's making ours. But that's his nature.

IX. A Matter of Trust

Well. That didn't go as planned, but your Guardians rallied and saw it through, and the Drifter did his best to fill them in on the sudden... change-state he dropped on 'em.

I was seconds from rushin' in and toasting him, but he handled the situation and set the teams up to finish the match. To be honest... I thought it would all go much worse. What concerns me is... he'd never mentioned the word “Primeval” before. Not once. And that's a problem for obvious reasons.

Tearing soldiers of the Deep from another realm is crossin' a bridge too far as is. But those beasts? Those weren't normal Taken possessed and set to rage. They were born of that shadow realm and they were... angry. Worse. They were hungry for the Light. You could feel it. Even a ways off. Their aura and their rage weighed on me—cast a shadow I could feel in my core.

That he kept them from us is unsettling.

He says it was a necessary deception. I put my gun to his head and asked if there were any others he'd mind sharin'. He just laughed, as he does, twiddlin' that coin of his, and smiled that winners' smile. Told me to take a load off. I almost shot him then and there.

He said we'd never have agreed to let him run his competition if we'd known the full extent of the danger. He's not wrong... probably. But it's hard to move forward knowing the thing we've known all along is true...

The Drifter can't be trusted.

Yet what choice do we have? Again, the risks are justified by the promise of the ends.

I leave it all in your capable hands. I'll be watching. My presence only muddies the waters, so I'll be watchin' from afar. If we're lucky... this Gambit will draw the interest of the rest of his old crew, and the Shadows will make themselves known. 'Til then, I'll return to the hunt, see if I can cut 'em off at the pass, wherever it may be.

Oh. Before I forget—and at the risk of repeatin' myself—keep my real name off your lips. He don't know my face, but he sure as hell knows my name. This all goes sideways otherwise.

X. The Long Con

Can you do it, Drifter? Can you make the Man with the Golden Gun the villain in the eyes of those who would tempt the Dark? It's the final piece. Can you make them fear him?

‘Cuz if you can...

Any Guardian who truly embraces the nature of your Gambit will find themselves a real connection to the mantle of that dead legend. They will take bear that vile title. They will wear his vile colors. They will challenge and even remake the infamy of his vile deeds.

Through these temptations, they will grow strong, but the hatred must be true—driven by the power they find in your wicked game, sealed in the fear you'll seed in the name of the Man with the Golden Gun. I wish there was another way, but your old brothers and sisters in shadow are too far gone. You've seen it. You know as well as me—better than me—the path they walk offers only ruin.

They must be stopped.

So, spread your unholy word, brother. Give new life to old myths. And when that hateful name Dredgen spreads throughout the system... his real disciples will have no choice but to confront their sins.

And you and me? We'll be the ones hearing their confessions.

Oh, one more thing. Let me know who has the gall to change their names. I might want to... give 'em a word or two.

—A Renegade's Final Words to a Drifter Before Resuming the Hunt

[foodieworldmelbourne]

Why Bianca Spender is skipping Australian fashion week

I dont think I can capture everything I want to in a traditional show format, she explains. My runways are never straight.

Cut from the same cloth ... Bianca Spender (right) with her mother, designer Carla Zampatti. Last year, Spender staged one of the standout shows at Fashion Week, featuring a diagonal series of catwalks that snaked through the crowd. The critics loved it but photographers hated not being able to capture the perfect front-on shot. Over a shared meal of grilled whiting fillets, a dish of fregola with seafood that is like a more chewy risotto, and salads, we discuss the front, back and sides view of fashion, as more people explore fashion through two-dimensional images, often on their smartphones. Spender believes social media, specifically Instagram, has had a huge change on the way people can market ideas. I feel lucky because my clothes are better in movement. When online shopping first came out and everyone was straight front, back, sides, I was like, You dont have any idea how that skirt floats or feels, and I was really struggling with working out how to translate my ideas. Movement is at the core of how Spender designs and produces her clothes, joking that skirts must pass the Martin Place test, named after the notorious wind tunnel in the Sydney CBD. Since becoming a mother to two sons, now aged seven and 10, those tests have expanded to include the carrying the baby test to determine dress lengths (Spender doesnt own a pair of jeans).

Costume collaborators ... Spender with Sydney Dance Company's Rafael Bonachela.Credit:Louise Kennerley Spenders obsession with movement was put to the ultimate test recently, when she designed the costumes for the Sydney Dance Companys 50th-anniversary production of Cinco, under artistic director Rafael Bonachela. Some of the dance movements were so physical that three costumes ripped during rehearsals, and there were many repairs required. Each [costume] fitting, the scope of movement was amazing and even if I had mimicked it I couldnt mimic what would happen to the costume when it was on [the dancers], she says.

Fregola, calamari and mussels at Totti's.Credit:Wolter Peeters Spender said the project, even if it has forced her to sacrifice other work this year, was a dream come true for the one-time ballet student. Every family photo from the age of five to 11, I am in my ballet costume. I loved it so much I wouldnt take [my costume] off, she says. I call myself the tortoise. My mum loves running fast and loves winning. Bianca Spender Spender's gazelle-like physique and flowing strawberry blonde hair means she could easily pass as a professional dancer, although she admits age and the way she moves has taken its toll on her body. I only recently realised at the physio when he asked how I move everything is always very extended, I am not holding my core very much," she says while demonstrating how she would pick up a vase off a table, arm outstretched. "I love how everything looks when its long but then you dont protect your body.

Grilled whiting fillets at Totti's.Credit:Wolter Peeters Spender grew up in Sydney the middle of three children to fashion icon Carla Zampatti and John Spender (her parents separated in 2010). She recalls living in big, spacious houses where classical music was often playing and small talk was non-existent, the family preferring to tackle politics or business at the dinner table, sometimes to the bemusement of Spenders classmates. At school she would demonstrate her eccentric fashion taste on mufti days, but it wasnt until Spender reached adulthood that she truly understood her familys notoriety in Sydney's cultural scene.

Bianca Spender has formed a reputation at fashion week for her non-linear catwalks.Credit:AAP Only years after I left school and I [reflected on] certain conflicts with certain kids that Id never understood. People would say, Well your mum is Carla Zampatti, and I was just like, Oh.

The Zampatti-Spender family on the steps of their Sydney home in 1986. Clockwise from left: John Spender, Carla Zampatti, Alex Schuman, Allegra Spender, Bianca Spender. Credit:Ian Charles Cugley/SMH My mum is pretty normal, shes a postwar immigrant. What that means to me is you have to finish all your food, you live in a beautiful house but you understand the value of money. For a pre-teen Spender, that meant school holidays spent working at her mothers inner-city office, doing every job from tea lady to banking clerk. I am the most ridiculous jaywalker because I have been walking around the city since I was eight, Spender jokes. A firsthand apprenticeship in the Carla Zampatti offices, coupled with her familys work and social ethic, meant Spender had quite a feminist upbringing. I never felt the need to answer to a man, dress for a man, or been dependent on a man for anything. They dont have to approve of how I talk, what I wear, what I earn, what I spend my money on. Last year, Spender reached another milestone when she and Zampatti divided their businesses into separate entities, including a new head office in Rushcutters Bay for Spender. The pair are clearly close, often travelling together overseas or to fashion shows in Australia (both brands are carried at David Jones, for example). But when it comes to their work practices, Spender admits they are quite different. Loading I call myself the tortoise. My mum loves running fast and loves winning. She has racing car blood in her family (both Zampattis brothers were race-car drivers) but I am about the journey. Its not that I dont want the end result to look great. You can get a good result and have a terrible journey but that doesnt mean the same to me. I am [about] the long game. Which comes back to Spenders Fashion Week dilemma. She has a big vision of a project involving 10 women who have influenced her, dressing 10 other women, using her carefully archived collections. Its still morphing but she knows it wont be ready by mid-May, when fashion week takes place. I am probably being too ambitious in what I want to achieve out of it. But at least if I am pushing myself to strive for something. I wont do what I expect and Ill find that new form. (A week after our lunch, Spender phones to say she has decided to sit out of Fashion Week and will instead stage a solo, more intimate event in early May.) Recently, Spender has experimented with salon-style showings, where she revels in getting up close with the clothing and the customer. As someone whos more comfortable at a dinner party for 10 than a cocktail function for 300, Spenders aversion to big-production shows is understandable. At least if I am pushing myself to strive for something. I wont do what I expect - and Ill find that new form. Bianca Spender At a big party, my partners wings will get bigger. Whereas if you have me at a dinner party, I am passionate put me around lots of people and they are asking, Whats wrong with you? I am so not a show pony I find shows an incredible creative process but the way you only get eight to 10 minutes to present your world I remember once saying 12 [seconds] to [stylist] Mark Vassallo and he said, No, 12 is way too long. And I said, That dress took 12 weeks to get right and I cant have it on stage for eight seconds. I want to challenge that.

The bill at Totti's. One point on which Spender and her mother are in lockstep is on the retention of Australian fashion talent (Zampatti funds a scholarship for a UTS graduate to study overseas, with the intention of them returning home). Unlike some of her peers, Spender, who worked in France and Italy in fashion for four years after completing a commerce degree, has resisted aggressively chasing sales or the limelight overseas. We know we [Australia] are leaders in sport compared to our population ... in fashion theres still a, Whats everyone else doing? attitude. New Zealand has a very strong vision for its fashion with a small population but Australia is often very outward looking. We need to find a bit more confidence in ourselves and our own vision and our own style. Our need to be revered by overseas comes from our lack of supporting ourselves and our culture Whenever [a journalist] writes on a designer, its X is stocked on [e-tailer] Net-a-Porter. Do they need to be stocked there for you to love them? A lot of people go bankrupt trying to catch the overseas dollar. I am focused on building my Australianmarket. If my international market comes quicker, great, but I am not running after it. I dont need it to prove to myself that what I do is unique and has a strong vision. THE BILL, PLEASE Totti's 283 Bondi Road, Bondi 02 9114 7371 Open: Mon-Sat 11.30am-10pm, Sun 11.30am-9pm Melissa Singer is National Fashion Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Most Viewed in Lifestyle Loading https://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/why-bianca-spender-is-skipping-australian-fashion-week-20190410-p51csm.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_lifestyle

[dailyaudiobible]

12/09/2019 DAB Transcript

Joel 1:1-3:21, Revelation 1:1-20, Psalms 128:1-6, Proverbs 29:18

Today is the 9th day of December. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It's great to be here with you today as we continue our journey forward. And, yeah, we can practically count down the days, we can practically see the shore on the voyage that we've been on together. Today we’re going to be beginning new books in both the Old and the New Testaments and when we get to the New Testament, we have reached the final book. So, we’ll be spending the rest of our time in the New Testament in the book of Revelation. But as we get into the Old Testament we have come to the book of Joel.

Introduction to the book of Joel:

Joel is another of the minor prophets and we’ll read the whole thing. We’ll read the entire book of Joel today. So, let's just consider what it is we’re going to read. Ironically, nobody really knows who Joel was. There are other people in the Bible with the name Joel, but scholars don’t believe that any…any of those people are the author of this book. But stylistically this is prophecy and Joel shares a similar language style with other prophets like Ezekiel or Jeremiah or other minor prophets like Amos, Micah and Zephaniah. Some scholars have argued that Joel could be the work more one prophet, then others considered the fact that the similarities between other prophetic books just to simply be a byproduct of…of the time like of the shared culture the shared tradition and the shared language. But Joel doesn't really give any historical clues inside the text either, which makes dating this book really hard. And, so, many scholars have come to many different conclusions over many different centuries. But like in just broad terms, Joel has been dated somewhere between 500 and 800 B.C. but dating the book…I mean scholars have agreed that dating the book isn't necessary to understand the books meaning and impact. Joel writes of a vast horde of locusts that invaded the land and destroyed it, ate all…everything green, destroyed all the vegetation, destroyed the crops and a great famine followed this plague of locusts. And Joel used this natural disaster as his backdrop to call the children of Israel back to repentance. And most scholars think that this locust invasion, this was an actual event not just like a metaphor or an allegory, it actually happened. And Joel used that event to speak…well…to speak the apocalyptic prophetic message of judgment that is found in this book. And as is the case with much of the Bible, Joel's words were intended to reveal a fork in the road. Like if…if you've noticed on our journey through this year, we keep being brought to forks in the road. Nearly every day we’re…we’re allowed to see a path that goes this way and a path that goes that way and where they're going to end up. And Joel, the path of repentance would lead them to blessing and restoration, and the path of rebellion would lead to what Joel calls the great and terrible day of the Lord. And, so, we begin. We’ll actually begin and end the book of Joel today. Joel has three chapters and we’ll read them all. And we’re reading from the Common English Bible this week.

Introduction to the book of Revelation:

Okay. This brings us to the final book of the New Testament, and for that matter the final book of the Bible. And Revelation has captured the fascination of readers in ways that no other book has. And the interpretations of this book are myriad, and it's been looked at through many lenses over thousands of years and some of them are pragmatic and some of them are fantastic. So, this book is self identifies the author as John, but it doesn't…it doesn’t say clearly which John we’re talking about. So, traditionally the accepted author is the apostle John, who wrote the gospel of John as well as first second and third John. This has been questioned though, since at least the third century and we are in the 21st-century, so a long time and that continues until today. But based on the evidence, the tradition that the apostle John was the author is very possibly true. And if that's the case then the apostle John later in his life was banished to the island of Patmos where Revelation says it was written. And this little island of Patmos it's believed was like a Roman penal colony, where…where like criminals and like political opponents and the prisoners, they would be exiled onto this island and just kinda left there to figure it out. And it's a real island, it still exists until today. It's in the Aegean Sea. So, between like Greece and Turkey not that far from Ephesus actually where…where it is believed that John spent his later life. So, Revelation is considered a work of apocalyptic literature, which is why there is so much intrigue and confusion around it because the genre is highly symbolic, and the reader must discern what is to be taken literally and what is to be looked at allegorically or as a symbol of something else. And since the subject matter is like the beginning of the world as we know it and an emerging new era for all of humanity, then obviously people want to figure out what to take symbolically and what to take literally which leads to widely diverse conclusions. And this has been the case for thousands of years. So, for example, some read the book of Revelation entirely from a first century perspective, right? Trying to route themselves specifically in the time that it was written and read it that way and would then conclude the events in Revelation as already taken place. Then others see the book outlining like a chain of events beginning in the first century and lasting until the end of the world. And then others believe that the symbolism that's in Revelation is…is…is timeless…is just outside of time, it’s describing things that are beyond what we can fully comprehend and is beyond time and is describing a cosmic struggle between good and evil. Any of these views can be legitimate. But getting lost in the details, like just being lost in the mystery and attempting to just take all of the pieces and force them to fit in some sort of way, that might not work. It's been the custom of every generation for all of these thousands of years, and nobody's been right, at least in trying to outline, you know, sort of a date and time for all of these events to take place. But one thing that we will…will not be able to avoid as we move through Revelation is a theme that has been emerging for months, endurance. In some ways it’s like we’ve been following this theme of endurance all the way to get to Revelation so that we can then begin to see how endurance is irreplaceable in the ultimate battle between darkness and light. Revelation ultimately tells us that those who endure, that those who stay faithful to the testimony of Jesus, in other words that their lives are speaking of Christ and endure until the end no matter what happens because of that, those will be eternally victorious or quoting it from Revelation, “they defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.” So, as we move into Revelation and move through all of its imagery, we need to focus our attention on this theme of endurance because it's critical. And we’ll discover that endurance isn't like hiding…hiding away, hiding yourself and just trying to wait something out. Endurance isn't a passive thing. It's not a defensive posture, right? Remaining true when the whole world is against you and you could lose your life, that is a powerful statement against deception. And its deception as we'll see, that has always been the greatest force set against mankind. We saw that from the very beginning of our journey in the book of Genesis and we will see it in the book of Revelation. We are to remain true. Our witness, the word of our testimony, the way we live our lives in the light and in the truth will expose the darkness and this will keep happening until the very end. And as we will see, as we get to the end of our time together for this year, the end that causes so much fear because of the book of Revelation is actually a new beginning. And, so, we begin. Revelation chapter 1.

Prayer:

Father we thank You for Your word. And as we continue to move into this month and get settled in this new week we just keep moving through new territory in the Scriptures and it's as if the Scriptures speed up as our year speeds up and this gives us a fantastic opportunity to quicken our pace to stay in lockstep with You and everything that we say and do. And, so, as we move into the book of Revelation, we invite Your Holy Spirit to lead us to the understanding that we need for this season in our lives. And as we continue to move through the minor prophets, and we learn a lot of history we invite You to speak to us. Come Holy Spirit we pray, we invite You into everything we do and say today, everything that we think today. Help us to see the path that we are walking through the eyes of the kingdom. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is the website and home base and where you find out what's going on around here.

And it's Christmas and that's what's going on around here. And we have a Christmas tradition here around the Global Campfire that…I was trying to remember the first year of this tradition and I'm thinking it was maybe the second or third…I think that I can safely say for the last decade during these two thousand tens we’ve had this tradition, and that is our annual Christmas party. And we’re a virtual community, right? So, we’re wrapped all over the world and that we so…so…I mean, wow! What an enjoyable thing if we could all get together in some stadium somewhere and have a Christmas party but the logistics of that…I don’t even…yeah…I just…we’re a virtual community and we have a virtual home. And, so, we have to celebrate and have our Christmas party together around the Global Campfire virtually. And, so, what we do is we call in our Christmas blessings, Christmas stories, Christmas wishes, and we share those with each other. We’ll compile them all sometime next week, but for this week you can call in and share your Christmas wishes to the community that you've shared this year as we've traveled through the Bible. So, you can obviously dial 877-942-4253 or you can dial any of the other numbers. Like in the UK you could dial 44-20-3608-8078 or if you’re in Australia you can dial 61-3-8820-5459 or no matter where you are in the world, if you have the Daily Audio Bible app, you can press the little Red button at the top, the one that we use to call in our prayer requests. The same numbers that we use to communicate via prayer with one another, this is what we’ll use for Christmas. There's only one rule. This is one time when you can call in more than once because if you have a prayer request you need to make that a separate call. If you have a holiday greeting, you need to make that a separate call. Just don't combine a prayer request in a Christmas greeting in the same call or it’s gonna get real confusing around here. But all this week until the end of the week we’ll take these calls. Use the Hotline button, use the phone, however you please but call in and share your holiday greetings with your brothers and sisters who have been sitting around this Global Campfire for the year and taking this journey together and then next week we’ll start putting that all together and we’ll release our annual Christmas party.

Additionally, we’ve been talking about this for I guess about a couple…couple weeks…roughly-ish…the Daily Audio Bible Christmas Box for 2019 is available and it is packed full of some of the most popular resources that we have. And we are just thrilled about it and I'm thrilled…thrilled just to watch it go all over the world. And that is available in the Daily Audio Bible shop. You'll find a Christmas section. And, so, check that out.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com as well. There is a link and that link lives on the homepage and I thank you for your partnership. If…if you…if you want to use the Daily Audio Bible app, you can just press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or, if you prefer the mail, the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And as always, if you have a prayer request or comment or right now for this week a holiday greeting, you can just press the Hotline button in the app or dial any of the numbers that we talked about just a couple minutes ago.

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

[dailyaudiobible]

03/29/2019 DAB Transcript

Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32, Luke 8:22-39, Psalms 70:1-5, Proverbs 12:4

Today is the 29th day of March. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It is a pleasure and a joy to be here with you as we end another work week together or end another school week together and this week we've been spending our time, at least in the Old Testament, reading the book of Deuteronomy and we’ll continuing to move our way through Deuteronomy, Moses's last words to the children of Israel before they moved forward toward the Jordan River. So, we’ll pick up with that story where we left off yesterday. We’re reading from the Good News Translation this week. Deuteronomy chapter 11 and 12.

Commentary:

Okay. So, this story in the gospel of Luke, it's a famous story, certainly in the New Testament. Those of us who were in Israel last month, you know, stories like this, they echo back through our memory because we can see the sea of Galilee freshly in our memories. And this particular story from the Gospels, especially this account in the gospel of Luke, has always been intriguing to me. I've thought long and hard about this particular story over the years, even writing about this particular story in Sneezing Jesus because there's a couple of things about the story that are just so fascinating to me. One is the Jesus went to the other side of the lake through an incredible storm after being exhausted through ministry on the other side of the lake for this one guy because, as the story goes, this one man was the only one who was set free on this journey. I’ve sat at that place. There's a place that marks the spot. It's called Gerasene. There's an ancient monastery there, one of the oldest monasteries in Israel and you can walk up the side, kind of the cliff face, and there’s like former shrines up there to the event and I have sat there. I have sat there in the fall, when all of the grass is dead and brown and I have sat there in the spring when the wildflowers are just dancing in the fields and thought about Jesus coming for this one person because man…I mean…I…at least I think we all…but I have played the role of the of the man running down the shore screaming at God. And in some translations what the man screams is, “why are you interfering with me?” I thought about the times in my life when I’ve felt that way only to feel Jesus saying, “because you asked me to. Like, do you want to be free or do you prefer bondage.” I've also been riveted by the events, right? I mean, Jesus casting a legion of demons into a herd of swine and the swine running down into the sea of Galilee and drowning and just bobbing there along the shore is a pretty dramatic scene. So, the shepherds when they go to the villages and the people come down off the mountain to see what's going on. You can just feel the tension and the drama in that story and in that moment. And their response to this man getting his freedom and his life and his sanity back was to ask Jesus to leave. And I find myself in that story too. If God decides to move in some sort of way that does not find itself into our theological formulas or bends our minds around because how could God work through a sinner like that? That can’t be God. And, so, it must be the devil. And, so we freak out and just say go somewhere else. And those are the saddest moments in the Bible to me. They echo Moses – “Lord send anybody else but me.” So, this story that happens kind of on the northeast side of the Sea of Galilee echoes across time through the Internet and lands itself in our laps no matter where we are sitting on this planet and invites us to consider the ways that we’re thrashing around and asking God why He's interfering with us and what He's doing when all He's doing is trying to set us free or the ways that we get freaked out at the move of God that we’re seeing in our lives or in other’s lives and ask Him to leave. We might not out and out say a prayer, “dear Jesus, holy son of the living God I need you to leave” but we do this with our thoughts, words and deeds every day.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, we invite You into that. What are our lives asking of You? Are our lives asking why You are interfering with us or are our lives asking You to leave or are we running to You with abandon, naked, and desperate for freedom? Holy Spirit we ask You to lead us down the pathways of our lives today so that that question can be rightfully answered. And when it is rightfully answered, we invite You into that answer. We don't want to be pushing You away or asking You to leave. We want to be running to You and staying by Your side in lockstep movement so that wherever You are that's where we are because wherever that is it will be the right place even if we don't understand it.  Come Holy Spirit we pray. In Jesus name’ we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is the website, its home base, its we’re you find out what's going on.

And the next thing on the calendar is the More Gathering for women. And we have been talking about this for a while but registrations about the close. So, today's the 29th and registration closes for the More Gathering on the 31st. So, when this weekend is done so is registration. So, I encourage you, this is going to be an epic adventure. We are tremendously excited and can feel the energy as we get closer. We’ve been praying over this for months. Jill and her team have been meeting for months praying into this event. So, if it's time, right? If you know there has to got to be more to this faith journey than this, then perhaps More is for you. If you’re looking for changing of the season's, new perspective, then More may be for you. So, you can get all the details at moregathering.com or go to dailyaudiobible.com and click the Initiatives section and you'll see the More Gathering there and that will take you to all the information that you would want to know and we certainly are praying for all of you who will be in attendance and can't wait to see you and I hope to see everyone there.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that dailyaudiobible.com. There is a link, it lives on the homepage. Thank you. Thank you, humbly and profoundly for your partnership. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or, if you prefer, the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or comment 877-942-4253 is the number to dial.

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

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hi friends, this is Vivian from the front range in Northern Colorado. I thought I would just call in and give you an update on my pastor’s son, Noah whose been having seizures. He is scheduled for surgery this Friday the 29th and I’m just calling back to once again ask for your prayers for this little boy. He loves Jesus. He’s a sweet little thing and I know his family is anxious about this. I would be too if it were my little boy. I’m just asking for your prayers for support for the family, for provision, protection, and healing for this little guy. I love you all and I appreciate all the prayers that I’ve heard on his behalf already. Just keep them coming. We appreciate it. Thank you. Love you guys. Bye.

This is a praise call and this call goes out to all of the ladies that listen to the Daily Audio Bible. This is Cindy the Sinner from Seattle. You’ll never forget my name now because I’m a sinner and that is part of my name, but I wanted to tell you all the reasons you should go to the More conference. I think there’s still time for you to sign up and the biggest things that I got out of the conference last year are number one, forgiveness. It is so hard sometimes to forgive and I know it’s 7×70 but if you really want to make some progress on forgiving some people or things that you need to in your life, More will help you create the scaffolding to help forgive other people. Not only that but you will gather some tools at More that will help you address your giants. So, Brian has talked about facing our giants this lent and again, More will prepare you and give you some tools to face your giant. Addressing sensitive thoughts and wounds, I know we all carry around these wounds and things that make us really sensitive throughout our lives and More can help soften and heal those spots. And lastly, I have 14 More sisters. There’s probably more than that, there’s probably 15 or 16 or 17 but we have been in communication all year and let me tell you ladies, I’ve got some issues that I need prayer for on a daily basis and these more sisters are praying for me and man there is no other support system like a good Christian sister and More sister. And, so I’d love to see you there and hope I do. Bye.

Hi, this is Michelle in Indiana and I’m calling for my mother in Kentucky, her name is Sally and I am calling for prayers. She lost feeling in her legs on Sunday and I’ve been praying, and we don’t know what the outcome is. The hospitals still running tests. We don’t know if it was a stroke or what it is but I just…I’m asking for prayers for her. I just need the Daily Audio Bible family to pray for her, come together, heal her, help her heal, let her walk again, let her know that Jesus is with her and Jesus can heal her. This is the first time I ever called. So, I really appreciate any prayers that can send your way. Appreciate it very much. Thank you. God bless you all.

Hello DAB community family this is Catherine calling from Maryland. I was just listening to the March 25th podcast and once again amazed at the confluence of messaging between the readings and the prayers. So, I just wanted to call and celebrate with you Bridget and to say __ I was so very moved by your prayer. I will be praying for Michael and __ because our God is mighty to save. And as Moses said in the reading this morning, “when does this ever happen, when else in the history has this happened?” But we can forgive and have compassion for someone who hurt us so badly, you know, in killing your son-in-law. But God is so powerful. He is mighty to save, and He upholds you with His righteous right hand. And if God can save in this situation, and He will. He will do a mighty work in Michael and __. Like, Moses was a killer, that killers can’t be redeemed. And I think you’ve obeyed…you’re obeying God, you’re forgiving, you are…only in God’s power could you ever do that. And in so doing you unleash all of the power of God and the Holy Spirit to work in this world. And as you do that it goes well for you, that’s what the word of God says. So, Bridget I salute you and you’re an inspiration to the rest of us. And, so, for those who are calling and who are anxious or worried or filled with feelings of worthlessness, you think about this, think about how wonderful and amazing God is and how He can redeem anyone from anything and that’s just the truth. So, may all of those who suffer from feelings of worthlessness from anxiety…

Hi, I’m a listener…I’ve been and around for I don’t know…about four or five years. I’ve been to the More gathering twice. I’ve never called. I’m calling today for my daughter Amanda. She’s 33. She knows who Jesus is. She knows…she grew up that way in church, but she doesn’t…she doesn’t want to talk about it. She doesn’t want anything to do with Jesus anymore. She’s hurting, she’s been hurt very badly recently. She has two beautiful children but she’s going off the deep end [crying] I can’t reach her. Please pray somebody will come into her life and reach her and show her the love of the Lord. Thank you. Thank you.