#Dedication to Theophilus

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

Dedication to Theophilus

1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

John’s Birth Announced to Zacharias

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.

23 So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. 24 Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

Christ’s Birth Announced to Mary

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”

38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

The Song of Mary

46 And Mary said:

“My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. 50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

Birth of John the Baptist

57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

Circumcision of John the Baptist

59 So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 60 His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.”

61 But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62 So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.

63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. 65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zacharias’ Prophecy

67 Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

68 “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, 69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, 70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began, 71 That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, 72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, 73 The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: 74 To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, 77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; 79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80 So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

[throwaway-yandere]

I'm just gonna drop by because I'm in the thick of it (writing for that one blasted fic is taking YEARS off of my LIFESPAN /exag) and I have to say this to Theo.

Sir, I hope you know that I loved you ever since you were first revealed and especially your lore, and I literally voted for you because I genuinely thought (and still do) that you're very interesting and want to get to know you better. It sucks that you'll be departing in 13 days (as of writing this ask) but! It is nice while it lasted.

Anyways, I hope you accept my potential future peace offering in a few days. When? I don't know. Will it happen? If I am able to, yeah.

Anyways, happy (early!) valentine's Theo <33 I hope you get sweets and whatnot before you go :D just wanted to rant a tiny bit abt how I felt abt you in a genuine way because God I have a type, and you are literally PRETTY as hell.

(I'll shut up now HAUHDUIF also Ansy!! Hydration check. No I will rattle ur ass if you skip it. /gen)

"But thank you!" Theophilus smiled. "You are very sweet. My nation does not exactly believe in... Valeen.. Times? Day? Once again, forgive me for being unable to pronounce these terms adequately."

"I do have a holiday dedicated to my name. The church becomes a rather busy time receiving offerings around that m-month— I... Sorry, it's a bit hard for me to gush about. I'm convinced King Lukas had only made it a custom to tease me. M-Must the tradition continue for three centuries?!..."

The archbishop looked away with a pinkish hue dusting his cheeks.

"On another note, you are not obligated to send me any offerings," he sighed. "I don't understand why the Royal Family insists that anyone who visits must present something. Do not stress yourself with a peace offering, dearie."

He laughed softly behind his hand. The archbishop's eyes were closed as he thought about his next words. There is a considerable amount of devotees who believe his habit of pondering comes with his wisdom and ancient years— but truth he told, he simply enjoys prolonging conversations. Young people live life faster than ever, barely stopping to smell the flowers. And your company in particular was one he wants to keep for much longer.

"And of course, thank you for the compliment. I've heard from Ansy that you do "idol work"? From what I know, the occupation requires charm— and you seem to have it in abundance." Theophilus chuckled. "Which is to say, you look wonderful as well."

[catholicsaintquotes33ad]

St. Dorothy, Virgin, Martyr (288 AC) Feast Day: February 6th

St. Dorothy was martyred in 288 by Fabricius. Because he lusted for Dorothy and desired to inherit her fortune, he attempted to marry her. However, Dorothy dedicated herself to God, denying him several times. Fabritius sought an opportunity for vengeance. Around the time of Emperor Diocletian, Fabricius brought Dorothea to his judgment to make her renounce God and sacrifice to idols. She responded, "My name is Dorothea, and I am a Christian; the true God and Lord forbids me to sacrifice someone other than him alone. Tell me, O Fabricius, if two command the opposite, an earthly ruler and a heavenly ruler, whom should I obey, the immortal God or a man?" Fabricius replied: "Don't be foolish, obey, sacrifice to the gods, where not, then you shall feel terrible torment!" Dorothea: "I fear only God, but not the torments you threaten me; these are easy and soon over, but the torments of hell are severe and eternal."

After he ordered her to be tortured with rods and whips, she remained steadfast, eager to be with God. She was thrown into the dungeon but miraculously healed there. Then, he tried to change Dorothy's mind through flattery. Unsuccessful still, he handed Dorothy over to two sisters, Christina, and Kallista, who denied Jesus and vowed to make Dorothy follow in their footsteps. However, Dorothy convinced them to join her in martyrdom. Crying at her feet, they publicly asked for her intercession and swore to die as Christians. Fabricius summoned the sisters, hoping to hear that Dorothy changed her mind, only for them to say, "We sinned because we fell away from the Christian faith; Dorothea led us to knowledge and repentance; we revoke our apostasy and want to belong to the Christian faith from now on." Enraged, the tyrant threatened them with cruel tortures, but the sisters remained steadfast in their vows and were lowered and burned in a cauldron. At their last moment, Dorothea shouted to them: "Go ahead! Your case is forgiven by God! You have found the already lost torture crown again. The merciful Father, who received the prodigal Son, will receive you with joy." At that time, Dorothy had already been through a series of tortures, being stretched and burned with torches. She gave no indication of her torment, keeping a smile and heavenly joy. The tyrant asked her: "Why are you happy amid torment and torment?" The Virgin answered him: "Never before have I had such joy in my life because I snatched the souls of my sisters from the fraudulent enemy and won them back for the Christian faith. Lieutenant, do not hesitate to complete me too to come into their company because I have long longed to come to my beloved, in whose garden I will pick roses and apples and feast with him forever." Frustrated by Dorothy, he sentenced her to death. Hearing the verdict, she exclaimed loudly, "My Lord and my God!... groom of my soul, thank you for honoring me for paradise and your blessed community." As she was led to her execution, a writer named Theophilus approached her mockingly, saying, "Listen, you bride of Christ! Send me some apples or roses from your lover's garden." Then, with holy seriousness, the Virgin said to him: "Your desire will be fulfilled. Don't doubt I'll send you roses and apples." Arriving at her execution place, she threw herself on her knees and prayed. Suddenly a heavenly boy was standing in front of her, who offered her three apples and three roses. Dear brother, said Dorothea, bring this gift to the young man Theophilus and tell him: Dorothea sends you these fruits and flowers from the garden of her heavenly groom. After these words, she was killed. Meanwhile, Theophilus laughed to tell his friends what he wanted from Dorothea and what she promised him. He was standing at the window when suddenly a boy stepped in front of him, took him aside, and said: "My sister Dorothea sends you these apples and roses from her lover's garden. When he spoke such things, he disappeared. Amazed at the beauty of the fruits and flowers that he held in his hands, even though it was wintertime, he exclaimed, enlightened by the divine light: "Surely, there is no other god but the God of Christians. Faith in Christ is not a deception. I want to worship him alone now, serve him alone." When the governor got word, he had the newly converted called before him, and since he could not dissuade him from faith in Christ by any threat, he was tortured, burned with torches, and beheaded. Dorothea is depicted in virgin garb, with roses and fruits next to her. On the 6th of February, her name is listed in the old martyrologies attributed to St. Jerome.

[orthodoxydaily]

 Saturday, March 25/March 12

Celebration of the Icon of the Mother of God, “NOT MADE BY HAND”

The wonderworking Lydda Icon is mentioned in the service for the Kazan Icon (July 8 & October 22) in the third Ode of the Canon.

According to Tradition, the Apostles Peter and John preached in Lydda (later called Diospolis) near Jerusalem. There they built a church dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos, then went to Jerusalem and asked her to come and sanctify the church by her presence. She returned them to Lydda, saying, “Go in peace, and I shall be there with you.”

Arriving at Lydda, they found an icon of the Virgin imprinted in color on the church's wall (some sources say the image was on a pillar). Then the Mother of God appeared and rejoiced at the number of people who had gathered there. She blessed the icon and gave it the power to work miracles. This icon was not made by the hand of man, but by a divine power.

Julian the Apostate (reigned 361-363) heard about the icon and tried to eradicate it. Masons with sharp tools chipped away at the image, but the paint and lines just seemed to penetrate deeper into the stone. Those whom the emperor had sent were unable to destroy the icon. As word of this miracle spread, millions of people came to venerate the icon.

In the eighth century, Saint Germanus, the future Patriarch of Constantinople (May 12) passed through Lydda. He had a copy of the icon made and sent it to Rome during the iconoclastic controversy. It was placed in the church of Saint Peter, and was the source of many healing. In 842, the reproduction was returned to Constantinople and was known as the Roman Icon (June 26).

The oldest sources of information for the Lydda Icon are a document attributed to Saint Andrew of Crete in 726, a letter written by three eastern Patriarchs to the iconoclast emperor Theophilus in 839, and a work of George the Monk in 886.

The icon still existed as late as the ninth century.

[cassianus]

Feast of St. Luke, October 18

Saint Luke came from the city of Antioch, probably of a pagan family. From his youth he applied himself to seek after wisdom and to study the arts and sciences. He traveled all over the world to quench his thirst for knowledge, and had particular skill as a physician and in painting. The Gospel he wrote shows his excellent command of Greek; he also knew Hebrew and Aramaic.

There is a tradition that Luke was one of the Seventy Disciples that the Lord Jesus Christ sent before Him, two by two, to announce salvation in the towns and villages. Luke was in Jerusalem at the time of the life-giving Passion and, on Easter morning, walked with Cleopas (October 30) towards the village of Emmaus, distraught at the loss of the Master. But sadness was turned into unspeakable joy when Christ, whom they were unable to recognize when He joined them on the way, revealed to them in the breaking of bread that He was really and truly risen (Luke 24:35). After the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, Luke remained for a time in Jerusalem where there were already disciples. Some say that on his way back to Antioch he stopped to preach the Good News at Sebaste in Samaria, where he obtained the relic of the right hand of the Holy Forerunner, which he took as a precious trophy to his own city. It was, therefore, at Antioch where he met Saint Paul in the course of his second missionary journey and accompanied him thence to proclaim salvation in Greece.

But another tradition says that Luke did not know the Lord during His earthly sojourn, and that he met Saint Paul while working as a physician at Thebes in Boeotia during the reign of Claudius (c. 42 AD). The Apostle’s fiery words convinced him of he Truth that he had vainly sought in the wisdom of this world for so many years. Without hesitation, he gave up all that he had and his profession in physical medicine to follow Paul and become the beloved physician (Colossians 4:14) of souls.

He went with the Apostle in his journeys from Troas to Philippi, where Paul left him to nurture the newly born Church. Luke remained in Macedonia for some years and, when Paul visited Philippi again during his third journey (AD 58), he sent him to Corinth to receive the collection made by the faithful there for the needs of the poor at Jerusalem. They went together to the Holy City, strengthening the Churches on their way. When Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and transferred to Caesarea, Luke remained with him. He accompanied Paul to Rome and describes their difficult and eventful voyage at the end of the Acts of the Apostles (chapters 27-28).

Luke wrote his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles at Rome in obedience to Paul, dedicating the Acts to Theophilus, the Governor of Achaia, who was a convert. In his Gospel, Luke adds details which are not found in the first two evangelists: in telling of the Savior’s life, he especially stresses His mercy and compassion for sinful humanity that He has come to visit as a Physician (Luke 4:23; 5:31). And in the Acts, after telling of all that happened in the foundation of the Church at Jerusalem, he gives most attention to the work of his master, Saint Paul, who labored more abundantly than all the other Apostles in spreading the glad tidings of salvation.

After two years of imprisonment in Rome, Paul was released and immediately resumed his traveling ministry, followed by his faithful disciple Luke. But Nero launched his furious persecution of the Christians in Rome soon after, and Paul returned to the city at the risk of his life to strengthen the faithful there. He was arrested, put in chains, and held in far worse conditions than before. Luke remained steadfastly faithful to his master while others forsook him (Timothy 4:11), and he was probably present at Saint Paul’s martyrdom, although he left no written testimony to the fact.

After the glorious death of the Apostle of the Gentiles, Luke made his way back to Achaia, preaching the Gospel in Italy, Dalmatia and Macedonia. It is said that, in his old age, amid great tribulations, he also evangelized the idolaters in Egypt. He is supposed to have gone as far as the remote Thebaid and to have consecrated Saint Abile, the second Bishop of Alexandria.

On his return to Greece, Luke became Bishop of Thebes in Boeotia; he ordained priests and deacons, established churches and healed the sick in soul and body by his prayer. The idolaters arrested him there when he was eighty-four years old. They flayed him alive and crucified him on an olive tree. Many miracles were wrought afterwards by a miraculous myron trickling from his tomb, which was particularly effective in the cure of eye diseases for those who, in faith, anointed themselves with it.

Many years later, the Emperor Constantius, the son of Saint Constantine the Great, sent Saint Artemius (October 20) to Thebes to bring the relics of the Apostle Luke to Constantinople, where they were placed under the altar of the Church of the Holy Apostles with the relics of the Apostles Andrew and Timothy.

It is the tradition of the Church that Saint Luke was the first iconographer and that he painted an image of the Holy Mother of God in her earthly lifetime. The All Holy Virgin praised this representation and said, “May the grace of Him who was born of me be upon this image.” Saint Luke afterwards painted other images of the All Holy Virgin and of the Apostles, giving rise in the Church to the devout and holy tradition of veneration of the icons of Christ and of His Saints. For this reason, Saint Luke is honored as the patron of iconographers.

[anneelizabeth1317]

A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant

One of the first things I must say about this novel is not to let the cover fool you. While there are plenty of intimate moments between our hero and heroine, this book is not about writhing virgins surrendering to lust.

"I love the romance genre, but one thing that annoys me is the stereotypical book covers. Particularly, romances between men and women often feature a certain style of cover, regardless of the novel’s content.

This novel has a wonderful backbone heavily steeped in period accurate portraits of country living and the impact the landed gentry had on the lives of the people around them. 

Martha Russel, Mistress of Seton Park, is deeply committed to her community and doing all she can to make it better. Her focus is on bettering the lives of her tenants and those tenants' children by championing a local school and encouraging the families to send all their children, not just the boys.  Her neighbor, Theophilus 'Theo' Mirkwood, initially lacks direction but is inspired by Martha's dedication. Witnessing the poor conditions of his laborers, he becomes more involved in estate management. 

We are shown how seriously Martha takes her duty through her interactions with the Vicar, Mr. Atkins. She’s heavily involved with speaking to the local families and trying to convince them of the benefits of sending all their children. I truly enjoyed watching her execute her strategy on the parents. Most families were okay with sending their sons, and having the daughters stay home. Martha understands the family's hesitancy and is in it for the long haul. Her plan is subtle, starting with the girls just going to Sunday school for an hour at first then hoping to transition the female students to the school during the week. 

She also appeals to the idea that if the girls have some education they might be able to marry a tradesman of some standing. I enjoyed Martha being progressive and fighting for what she believes is right. As women have done for centuries she’s able to advocate for better circumstances within the confines of society using her wit, wiles, courage, and resourcefulness.

Theo sees the beauty in her determination: 

But she was never lovelier than when she spoke this way, all afire with the knowledge of wrongs to be righted and good to be done

Theo is a youngish man who has never had high expectations placed on him and, as a result, hasn’t really applied himself. He is sent to the Sussex countryside  to gain an education in estate management by his father, the Baronet. Theo has been a wastrel in London and his father is hoping some time at one of the family homes will help him gain a sense of responsibility. A visit to the homes of the laborers on his estate impacts him deeply as he finds their living conditions unacceptable This spurs him to become better acquainted with the people living on the property. Seeing Martha’s example of taking care of her tenants he begins to take more of an interest in estate management. With Martha’s help and support Theo begins to see the impact he has on the lives of those around him. He takes initiative to better the lives of those around and even comes up with an idea to create a local dairy since there is no good cheese, butter or milk to be had for laborer and tenet families. 

The pacing of this novel is exceptional. Grant quickly establishes the stakes, engaging the reader from the outset. She also trusts her reader is smart enough to make connections with subtle hints. I enjoyed the fact that once I made a connection once certain information was revealed, Grant revealed the information in the next section. I cannot begin to state how frustrating it is when an author stretches out an obvious conclusion in a novel. 

If you’re looking for great character development, good dialogue, and women being supported and protected in the regency era, Cecilia Grant’s A Lady Awakened is for you! 

Enjoy your reading!

Novel TW: mentions of sexual assault 

[systementcorp]

George Walker was a pioneering American composer, pianist, and educator who made history by becoming the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for music. His groundbreaking work and achievements have left a lasting impact on the world of classical music. Early life and Education George Theophilus Walker was born on June 27, 1922, in Washington, D.C. His mother, Rosa King Walker, was a piano teacher, and his father, George Walker, Sr., was a physician. From a young age, Walker showed exceptional musical talent and began studying piano with his mother at the age of five. After graduating from Dunbar High School, Walker went on to study at the Oberlin Conservatory of music, where he earned a Bachelor of music degree in 1941. He then continued his studies at the Curtis Institute of music in Philadelphia, where he studied piano with Rudolf Serkin and composition with Rosario Scalero. music Career Throughout his career, George Walker composed over 90 works, including symphonies, chamber music, piano pieces, and vocal works. His music is known for its emotional depth, lyrical beauty, and innovative use of harmony and form. One of Walker's most famous works is his "Lilacs" for voice and orchestra, which was inspired by the poem of the same name by Walt Whitman. The piece was premiered by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1996 and has since become a staple of the American classical music repertoire. Pulitzer Prize Win In 1996, George Walker made history by becoming the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for music for his composition "Lilacs." The award was a groundbreaking moment in the history of classical music and brought Walker's work to a wider audience. Upon receiving the Pulitzer Prize, Walker said, "I hope this will encourage black composers who have been overlooked. I hope it will encourage young composers, black and white." Legacy and Impact George Walker's legacy extends far beyond his Pulitzer Prize win. He was a trailblazer for African American composers and musicians, breaking down barriers and paving the way for future generations. His music continues to be performed and celebrated around the world, ensuring that his contributions to the classical music canon will never be forgotten. In addition to his work as a composer, Walker was also a dedicated educator, teaching at prestigious institutions such as the Peabody Institute, Rutgers University, and the Smith College Department of music. FAQs Q: What other awards did George Walker win during his career? A: In addition to the Pulitzer Prize, George Walker was the recipient of numerous other awards and honors, including the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award, the Fromm music Foundation Award, and the Guggenheim Fellowship. Q: Was George Walker the only member of his family involved in music? A: No, George Walker came from a musical family. His mother, Rosa King Walker, was a piano teacher, and his brother, Dr. Hugh Walker, was a violinist and musicologist. Q: What is George Walker's most famous composition? A: While "Lilacs" is perhaps George Walker's most famous composition, he composed many other notable works, including his Piano Sonata No. 1, his String Quartet No. 1, and his Sinfonia No. 4.

[berylnatheo]

Behold, a beauty graced by gods: Park Sunghoon.

Disclaimer

This is a roleplay account dedicated to portraying the character of Sunghoon from ENHYPEN. Any content shared here is purely fictional and does not reflect the beliefs, actions, or opinions of the real Sunghoon or ENHYPEN members.

SUNG7HOON.

With the grace of Apollo himself, Park Sunghoon stood in regal splendor, a beacon of timeless elegance and poise.

An ensemble of celestial virtuosos, their harmonies paint melodies that transcend mortal realms, weaving a symphony of timeless elegance that echoes through the annals of history.

In the garden of dreams, where whispers dance with the stars, love blooms eternal, entwined in melodies of yore.

[ramrodd]

"Much of the Gospels is Likely Invented" - Dr. Robyn Faith Walsh

COMMENTARY:

The Gospel of Mark is a military report from Cornelius to Theophilus explaining and expanding on what they, the intelligence section of the 10 Legion, had in writing about the events leading up to the euangelion Pilate sent Tiberius describing the Gospel of Peter. The Pilate to Tiberius euangelion = The Gospel of Peter.  Cornelius will add an edited version of Pilate's euangelio to this report, Mark 15:1 = 16.8. An indication that this is a Roman miliary report is the way it ends; the last contact the 10 Legion would have with the Jesus Followers the Romans cackled "Christians: in the same way Grunts called the communist enemy in Vietnam "Charley". It's a universal soldier thing.

This is the last thing the Roman soldiers and centurion who had the vision of the Talking Cross saw of the Jesus Followers they called Christians.

That is an absolute,  existential bench mark, Christians. This is what makes it a war story and military Journalism. Caesar's "Commentaries" are a classic example. Compare the manner of thought and expression with Grant's Memoires. And then read "Hell in a very small place". And then mix in images in your mind of the Israeli woman Hamas dragged out of the trunk of an SUV who had shit in her pants. That's the point of calibrating your Pucker Factor in th emilitary. If you live to tell the tale, shitting in your pants adds authority to the emergency.

I grew up in the Anglican confession of George Washington in the Chapel of the Centurion at Ft, Monroe Virginia. I am not making any of this up. I grew up seeing the world from exactly the same perspective as Cornelius. Richard Bachman's Gospel Eyewitness is exactly correct except that it isnt the report of an illiterate fisherman but the cold eye of a very senior centurion and a member of the Italian Regiment that was the founding organization of the Roman Republic that is a creation of the secular rule of law. The Talking Cross is all about the covenant between the Jewish god and the Italian Regiment as the New Wine Skin of the New Wine of Jesus. There is a military role of the Italian Regiment that runs, straight as a laser, to the Commad Sergeant Major of the US Army with an office across the hall from the Army Chief of Staff.

I am an Army Ranger. My dad was on the team that created the Ranger School and were with Ridgway during the McCarthy Hearings. Cornelius was writing for a market defined by the senior leadership of the Praetorian Guard at the Equistrian Executive Level just below Sejanus who appointed Pilate to Judea. The Gospel of Mark is God's Hones Truth, Scout's Honor Bright>  

The difference between me and James Tabor is that I am a combat crazed Vietnam vet and he's a Campus Radical SIS draft dodger. He is also an Air Force Brat Most draft dodgers weren't being noble or expedient, but were just scared shitless of going to Vietnam. Like John Bolton. Jimmy Tabor's academic career has been dedicated to proving being a draft dodger was divine righteousness

[breumadler73]

Zeus 138 Portable Powerbank Review

The zeus 138 is an incredibly versatile portable powerbank with USB-C and lightning ports, a power delivery output and cigarette lighter adapter. The built-in 5000 mAh battery can fully charge most smartphones up to 10 times and is capable of powering larger devices like tablets, laptops, and power tools. This portable power bank features a built-in flashlight, SOS and strobe modes for emergencies and can even be used as a power supply to your car's cigarette lighter. The powerbank's USB-C port supports fast charging for up to 3x faster performance than traditional USB ports. Unlike many competing powerbanks, the zeus 138 has two dedicated charging ports for simultaneous charging of dual devices. In addition, the cigarette lighter adapter allows for connection of external accessories such as a tire pump and air compressors. In ancient Greek religion there was an entire pantheon of gods and goddesses, each with their own responsibilities and spheres of influence. The most famous of these was Zeus, the king of the Olympian gods. His story was retold in the Theogony by Hesiod, written around 720 BCE. Zeus was the son of Cronos, king of the Titans, an ancient race of gods who ruled the world before the Olympians rose to prominence. After zeus138 between the Titans and the Olympian gods, Zeus was granted the status of king of the Olympians and established his home on Mount Olympus. From there he assumed his royal duties and acted as mediator between the Olympian gods and mortals. Theogony also recounts some of his most notable exploits. These include his rape of Hera and the deceptions that he employed to seduce mortals. These tales of his infidelity and deception are particularly disturbing in light of the fact that Hesiod wrote that Zeus was responsible for the deaths of both women and men. The skepticism of Hesiod and the later arguments of the apologists reveal that there was a very real debate about this issue in antiquity. Theophilus of Antioch (Cbishop 170-180 A.D) cites Euhemerus of Messina and other Greek apologists in his attack on atheism. Despite his admonition not to dwell on the topic of the death and burial of Zeus, Theophilus mentions Euhemerus' stock argument in reference to the god's mortality. In contrast to this, Clement of Alexandria (died before 215 A.D) exonerated Euhemerus and a host of other thinkers from atheism on the grounds that they did not believe in a godless universe.

[saharafoley]

Featured Free eBook - Alice in Vampireland by Theophilus Monroe

Meet Alice Bladewell She used to persecute her own… Alice is a 130+ year-old vampire who, for most of her existence, served as a Nightwalker with the Order of the Morning Dawn. The Order was a zealous “religious” organization dedicated to the elimination of vampires and witches. To further their cause, they recruited an army of vampires called “Nightwalkers” to do their dirty work. How did they…

[miajolensdevotion]

Acts 1

* The Promise of the Holy Spirit

1. Who wrote the Book of Acts and to whom it was dedicated?

Answer: Luke wrote the book of Acts & it dedicated to Theophilus 

2. After His resurrection, for how many days did Jesus remain on earth? What did He do during those days?

Answer: After His resurrection, Jesus did remain on earth for 40 days; He walked & talked in places where His ministry had been

3. What command did He gave to the disciples?

Answer: The command did He gave to the disciples is to spread His teachings to all the nations of the world

4. What was this gift that Jesus was talking about?

Answer: The gift that Jesus was talking about is gift of the Holy Spirit

* The Ascension of Jesus

1. Why was it important that they wait for the gift before heading out to witness?

Answer: it is important to wait for the gift of the holy spirit before heading to witnesS, the power of the Holy Spirit would guide them And help them to disciple other people.

2. Is this gift  still available for us? 

Answer: yes

3. What lesson can we learn from the directive of Jesus?

Answer: we should go and make disciples. And baptize them in the NAme of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

* Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

1. How did they chose Matthias to replace Judas over______ as part of the Apostles?

Answer: They chase Matthias to replace Judas over 12 as part of the Apostles

2. What is the criteria/ guideline for choosing?

Answer: The criteria/ guideline for choosing is to witness of the resurrection & ascension

3. Do you think casting lots is better than casting votes? Why?

Answer: I think casting lots is better than casting votes; because we should not assume that if the Lord would have us to pray for leaders, He would also not want us to use every opportunity to assist in electing the leaders that would be the best ones for promoting peace

What  verse made an impact to you today?

Answer: The verse that made an impact to me today is the verse 5

[packedwithpackards]

"A man of wealth": Samuel Packard, the Rhode Island slaver [part 2]

Notes

[1] Merriam-Webster defines a slaver as someone involved in the slave trade while the Cambridge English Dictionary says it is a person who sold slaves, Wikitionary it is "a person engaged in the slave trade" and Collins English Dictionary defines the word as "an owner of or dealer in slaves." No matter the definition we chose, it is another word for someone who is a slave trader.

[2] Wilkerson, Isabel. Caste: The Origins of our Discontents (New York: Random House, 2020), 17-20.

[3] This includes Zachariah Packard, my great-great-great-great-great-great-great grand uncle (see "Zachariah Packard: the slaveowner" along with mentions within "Chapter III: The Packards in Bridgewater," "Massachusetts tax inventory and two Packards"; "The story of Nathan Packard") and his children, Charles Chilion Packard, my great-great-great-great-great grand uncle who “had the ten slaves from the estate of his wife’s deceased first husband” in 1820, the Packards that lived in New England who were involved in that the region depended on a “trading system that serviced the wealthier slave-based economy of the West Indies,” which constituted an interconnected trade network.

Contrasting this is my great-great-great-great-great grand uncle, William Packard organizing “a petition asking the United States Congress to abolish slavery and the slave trade in DC,"  Rev. Theophilus Packard who is my great-great-great-great-great grand uncle, a dedicated anti-slavery crusader, Elizabeth Parsons Ware Packard, who is my great-great-great-great aunt in-law, seemed to scowl at her sentiments that slavery was a sin, along with William Henry Packard (my great-great-great grandfather) who fought in Louisiana during the Civil War and my great-great-great grandfather Lawrence Weber (not a Packard) who fought in a gunboat to stop Confederate blockade runners.

Furthermore, Reverend E. N. Packard (Edward Newman Packard  of in Dorchester, MA), my great-great-great uncle, and Adelpus Spring Packard (my great-great-great-great uncle), a professor of Bowdoin College, both opposed slavery, while two Packards in Topeka, Kansas (Cyrus and Sarah Burrows) sheltered “runaway slaves”.

[4] Davis, Paul. "Buying and Selling Human Beings: Newport and the Slave Trade," Providence Journal, Sept. 2006, accessed July 12, 2021. Jay Coughty, as noted in the Journal of the American Revolution, noted that there were "no slave voyages departing from a Rhode Island port after December 1, 1774 and before 1784."

[5] Voyage 36601, General Greene (1794) via Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade - Database, accessed July 11, 2021; "Packard, Sam" via Enslaved: Peoples of the Historical Slave Trade database, accessed July 11, 2021; Jay Coughtry, The Notorious Triangle: Rhode Island and the African Slave Trade, 1700-1807 (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1981), 266; Ship Registers and Enrollments of Providence, Rhode Island, 1773-1939, Vol. 1, Issue 1 (Providence, RI: The National Archives Project, 1941), 390-391. See page 240 of The Notorious Triangle for the guide to the chart. I was unable to find an online copy of The Dutch in the Caribbean and the Guianas by Cornelis Goslinga, but I did find, with some searching, the Zachary Macaulay papers, 1793-1888, with possibly something here.

[6] Streissguth, Tom (2009). Suriname in Pictures. Twenty-First Century Books. pp. 23–. ISBN 978-1-57505-964-8; C.R. Boxer (1990). The Dutch Seaborne Empire. Penguin. pp. 271–272. ISBN 9780140136180; Thompson, Alvin O. "Amerindian-European Relations in Dutch Guyana" within Caribbean Slave Society and Economy (ed. Hilary Beckles and Verene Shepherd, New York: The New Press, 1991), 26; Greenwood, Richard. "Zachariah Allen and the Architecture of Paternalism," Rhode Island History, Vol. 46, No. 4, November 1988, p. 118.

[7] "Ships of Bondage and the Fight for Freedom," Center for the Study of Slave & Justice,Brown University, accessed July 12, 2021.

[8] Gazette of the United States and daily evening advertiser. [volume], September 05, 1794, Image 3, accessed July 14, 2021.

[9] Voyage 36612, General Greene (1795) via Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade - Database, accessed July 11, 2021; "Packard, Samuel" via Enslaved: Peoples of the Historical Slave Trade database, accessed July 11, 2021; Coughtry, The Notorious Triangle, 267.

[10] Stewart, Robert, "A Heritage Discovered: Blacks in Rhode Island," Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, 1976, p. 20. Also see here.

[11] White Jr., George Wylie. "A Rhode Islander Goes West to Indiana (1817-1818)," Rhode Island History, Vol I, No. 1, January 1942, p. 21-23. He owned the sloop Sally, schooners James, Enterprise, and Flying Fish, and Brigantines Betsey, Eliza, Louisa, and Dolphin. Ship registers indicate he was the owner of the Enterprise from 1794-1797, a schooner named the Federal from 1791-1792, the Betsey in 1800 with Nathaniel Packard, Jr. as captain, Eliza in 1803, Minerva in 1794, Juno in 1805, and Dolphin in 1792 (see Ship Registers and Enrollments, 136, 264, 297, 319, 348, 615, 745). Nathaniel Packard was recorded in 1777 to be captain of a privateer from Providence named the America.

[12] "Voyage 36628, Ann (1796)" via Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade - Database, accessed July 11, 2021; "Packard, Sam" via Enslaved: Peoples of the Historical Slave Trade database, accessed July 11, 2021; Coughtry, The Notorious Triangle, 268; "Packard, Sam" via Enslaved: Peoples of the Historical Slave Trade database, accessed July 11, 2021.

[13] Ship Registers and Enrollments, 72.

[14] Knight, Franklin. "The Transformation of Cuban Agriculture, 1763-1838," within Caribbean Slave Society and Economy (ed. Hilary Beckles and Verene Shepherd, New York: The New Press, 1991), 75-78; Williams, Eric. "Capitalism and Slavery" within Caribbean Slave Society and Economy (ed. Hilary Beckles and Verene Shepherd, New York: The New Press, 1991), 125.

[15] Ward, J.R. "The Transformation of Cuban Agriculture, 1763-1838," within Caribbean Slave Society and Economy (ed. Hilary Beckles and Verene Shepherd, New York: The New Press, 1991), 85-87; Sheridan, Richard D. "Morality and the Medical Treatment of Slaves in the British West Indies" within Caribbean Slave Society and Economy (ed. Hilary Beckles and Verene Shepherd, New York: The New Press, 1991), 198.

[16] Voyage 36658, James (1796) via Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade - Database, accessed July 11, 2021; Coughtry, The Notorious Triangle, 270; "Packard, Samuel" via Enslaved: Peoples of the Historical Slave Trade database, accessed July 11, 2021; Donnan, Elizabeth, ed., Documents Illustrative of the History of the Slave Trade to the America, vol. IV (Washington, DC, 1934), 633; Ship Registers and Enrollments, 545. I was not able to find a digital version of James A. McMillin's The Final Victims: The Foreign Slave Trade to North America, 1783-1810 or the edition of the Georgia Gazette in 1796 on the Georgia Historical Newspapers site.

[17] Robert A. Geake, "The Age of Ships and Their Masters" within A History of the Providence River: With the Moshassuck, Woonasquatucket & Seekonk Tributaries (Arcadia Publishing, 2013), 39; Jay Coughtry and Martin Paul Schipper, Papers of the American Slave Trade (University Publications of America, 1996), vi.

[18] Lemons, J. Stanley, "Rhode Island and the Slave Trade," Rhode Island History Vol. 60, No. 4, Fall 2002, 98-100.  Reprinted on the Gaspee Virtual Archives website. Jay Coughtry even says that the "American slave trade from 1727 to 1807 might be better called the Rhode Island slave trade" because merchants from Rhode Island "controlled between 60 and 90 percent of American trade in African slaves." The same year this law passed, the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade was founded in Britain by Granville Sharp and Thomas Clarkson, as noted by Reuters.

[19] The full name was "The Providence Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, for the Relief of Persons Unlawfully Held in Bondage, and for Improving the condition of the African Race."

[20] Davis, Paul. "Brown vs. Brown: Brothers go head to head," Providence Journal, Sept. 2006, accessed July 12, 2021; Coughtry, Jay, "Introduction" within Papers of the American Slave Trade, Series A: Selections from the Rhode Island Historical Society, Part 1: Brown Family Collections (Bethesda, MD: University Publications of America, 1998), v-vi; Coughtry, The Notorious Triangle, 213–214. Coughtry cites the Bristol Rhode Island Papers (presumably the Bristol Town Records Collection not Records of the U.S. Custom House, Bristol-Warren, Rhode Island), the Moses Brown Papers, specifically the Old volume IX: Correspondence, 1796-1799, no. 20, 29, 31, 43, 44, with letters between Moses and John Brown on March 15, 1797, July 29, 1797, and July 31, 1797, and one between William Roch, Jr. and Moses Brown on March 21, 1797 as a source for the petition which implicated Samuel and Cyprian, and other matters.

[23] "Clipped From Weekly Raleigh Register," Weekly Raleigh Register, Raleigh, North Carolina, 30 Apr 1804, Page 3; "Fraud on Underwriters,"  The Evening Post, New York, New York, 13 Apr 1804, p. 3; Jones, George Farquar, Family Record of the Jones Family of Milford, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island: With Its Connections and Descendants, Together with the Ancestry and Family of Lorania Carrington Jones, Wife of George F. Jones (George Farquar Jones: Philadelphia, 1884), 43; John Marshall Varnum, A Sketch of the Life and Public Services of Joseph Bradley Varnum of Massachusetts (US: David Clapp & Son, 1906), 19; "A Voyage from Providence to Alexandria, VA. in 1788," Book Notes, Vol. 5, no. 17, Aug. 18, 1888, 117. Also, in 1785, some "dogs were accompanied from France to New York by young John Quincy Adams and were shipped from New York to Mount Vernon in Capt. S. Packard’s sloop Dove," according to letters in August (also see here) and September 1785.

[24] P and S sections of "Owners and Occupants of the Lots, Houses and Shops in the Town of Providence Rhode Island in 1798," RIGenWeb Project, accessed July 14, 2021, transcribed by Henry R. Chace's book of the same name. Also see this comparison of residents in 1759 and 1798.

[25] The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, otherwise known as the Trafficking Protocol defines human trafficking, speciically in article 3(a). I'm not the first person to note this, as Karen Bravo in Open Democracy compared transatlantic slavery and contemporary human trafficking, as has Stevie J. Swanson in the Florida A & M University Law Review, UN Office on Drugs & Crime, UN Secretary General in 2008.

Some, however, have rejected the comparison between the two, saying they are distinct, as has Emily Smith, Curator of Contemporary Forms of Slavery, International Slavery Museum, writing about this comparison.

[26] "Accessions and Gifts: June 15, 1923 to March 14, 1924," Bulletin of the Rhode Island School of Design, Vol. XII, April 1924, p. 19; Robert Grandchamp, Jane Lancaster, and Cynthia Ferguson, "Original Members of PMCA" within "Rhody Redlegs": A History of the Providence Marine Corps of Artillery and the 103d Field Artillery, Rhode Island Army National Guard, 1801-2010 (US: McFarland, 2011), 214.

[27] White Jr., "A Rhode Islander Goes West to Indiana (1817-1818)," 22-23; Cole, J. R. History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island (New York: W.W.Preston & Co., 1889), 392-393.

[28] Ancestry.com; Rhode Island, Wills and Probate Records, 1582-1932; Probate and Town Council Records, Vol 9-13, 1756-1795; image 231, transcribed by Ben Costantino of the Rhode Island Manumissions Project. Also listed is Frances Congdon who had a Black girl "named Desire" and two older Black people, Tenny and Tom.

[29] "Part 1 of Packard's statement" within The Washingtonian, Windsor, Vermont, 07 Oct 1811, page 3; "Part 2 of Packard's statement" within The Washingtonian, Windsor, Vermont, 07 Oct 1811, page 3.

[30] "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch, accessed 15 July 2021), Samuel Packard, West District, Providence, Rhode Island, United States; citing p. 69, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 58; FHL microfilm 281,232.

[31] Vital record of Rhode Island, 1636-1850, Vol 10, page 382.

[32] "An Act to Prevent the Slave Trade and the Encourage the Abolition of Slavery," October 31, 1787, pages 6-7 of 8, via Rhode Island State Archives Digital Archive page "Quaker petition for abolition of slave trade, June 1787." The fine for violating the law is 100 pounds (and he violated it four times), while the fee for violating Slave Trade Act of 1794 was $2,000. The conversion of Rhode Island pounds to dollars was one pound to one dollar, according to information compiled here.

[33] Fikes also notes that "family history shapes who we and where we come from and what we have access to, today." She also criticizes White historians for sitting on information and only releasing it when they are comfortable to do so.

Note: This was originally posted on Aug. 25, 2021 on the main Packed with Packards WordPress blog (it can also be found on the Wayback Machine here). My research is still ongoing, so some conclusions in this piece may change in the future.

© 2021-2022 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

[ultrachoppedpenguinbouquet]

Theophilus

Was Theophilus a high priest? Theophilus was the High Priest in the Second Temple in Jerusalem from 37 to 41 CE according to Josephus’s Antiquities of the Jews. He was a member of one of the wealthiest and most influential Jewish families in Iudaea Province during the 1st century. Theophilus means friend or lover of God. He was a Christian, probably a Roman, to whom Luke dedicated both his…

[mrthomasfrank]

Day 313 - The Ark of the New Covenant

Today in the #bibleinayear journey we read about Mary becoming the Ark of the New Covenant. #biblereading #newtestament

Thoughts and Reflection Today we start the Gospel of Luke. He dedicates his work to “Theophilus.” We don’t know who Theophilus is, he may have been a historical person or it may have been anyone who loves God. The name itself in Greek comes from theos which is the word for God and philos which is love. The angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah and tells him that his son will be a prophet. Here we…

[e350tb]

This post is dedicated to the High Chief Kanaʻina, to the marines Corporal James Thomas, Privates Theophilus Hinks, Thomas Fachett, and John Allen,  and to the Hawaiian people who were all killed as a result of Captain James Cook’s rank stupidity, contempt and arrogance on 14th February 1779 at Kealakekua Bay.