#Emmanuel Church of God

[drshermaines-wisdomnuggets]

"THE CHRISTMAS GUEST THAT WILL NEVER LEAVE!"

Matthew 1:23, “Listen! The virgin shall conceive a child! She shall give birth to a Son, and He shall be called “Emmanuel” (meaning “God Is With Us.”) (TLB) During the holidays you have to admit there’s quite a bit that can make you cry! Seeing family, exchanging gifts, watching kid’s faces light up, reading heart-felt cards and the like. However, there’s an even bigger Kleenex moment that…

[momentsbeforemass]

The why of Christmas

Thinking up the worst possible outcome.

Maybe even two or three or more ways that it can go wrong. And then getting stuck thinking about them.

It’s one of my least useful skills.

Especially when it comes to imagining how someone is going to respond to something hard. Or how a difficult situation is going to work out.

If you’re like me, then you know how this “skill” can really run you through the wringer. Long before anything has actually happened. Much less anything bad.

One of the worst ways that this plays out? With other people. Especially people we don’t really know. When we have to rely on what someone has told us about them.

Probably the most obvious (and most damaging) example of this is with God.

Here’s why I say that. We live in a culture that’s created a lot of versions of God that are horrible.

And it’s not just people who supposedly hate God. Some of the people who proclaim their faith the loudest proudly show off their petty, vengeful, resentful, hateful versions of God.

So it’s really no surprise that even people who don’t horrible-ize things imagine the worst possible outcomes from any interaction with God. They’ve been given every reason to get stuck thinking about God that way. They’ve been given every reason to stay away.

Except the truth.

Today’s Gospel (Matthew 1:1-25) gives the names of the Son of God – Jesus and Emmanuel.

Jesus means “God saves.” It tells us what God will do through Jesus, and how God works.

Emmanuel means “God with us.” It tells us who Jesus is, and what’s in God’s heart.

That’s the truth about God. How do we know that’s really the truth about God?

Because that’s what plays out in the Incarnation. In the pattern of redemption that runs from Christmas through Good Friday to Easter.

God saves. And He does it by being who He is, by being God with us.

The thing to know is how God does it.

God doesn’t save us begrudgingly. God isn’t the God of “if-I-have-to.”

God doesn’t save us judgmentally (although some of God’s noisiest alleged followers want Him to be). God isn’t the God of condemnation.

So how does God do it?

Isaiah tells us in the first reading (Isaiah 62:1-5), and it has zero to do with anything about what you and I have done. Or how far we’ve wandered. Or how much we don’t fit in someone else’s messed up version God.

Here’s the truth. And it’s the why of Christmas, the source of the joy of Christmas.

God looks at you and loves you.

God looks at you and gets excited about being with you.

God delights in you.

This Christmas, may God fill your heart with the joy that comes from knowing just how much you mean to Him.

Readings for Christmas Eve

[mytopfinding]

We sing hymns to God. We speak hymns to each other.

[watchigtbj]

Unraveling the Bias: A Rebuttal to openDemocracy's Campaign Against TB Joshua and SCOAN

[davedocrogers]

Foundation Series – God made flesh, God with us

with Dr David J RogersFoundational Scripture:Luke 1.4That you may know the certainty concerning the words which you were taught. The God of the Bible is different from who and what the world sees as deities or gods. The God of the Bible says He is God all by Himself. The God of the Bible made us like Himself and wanted/wants to be with us. The God of the Bible had a plan for us. In the…

[hymnsofheresy]

Advent & Christmas Carol Playlists

christ mass part 1 & part 2 - these are hymns & carols you might hear at a church. part two is a bit slower and more meditative.

blue christmas is a carol playlist for when christmastime doesn’t really feel all that jolly, when the darkness of the winter feels too overwhelming.

play me a carol is a selection of soft piano carols to put in the background while relaxing after a long day.

lofi bells to holly and jolly to is a lofi christmas playlist that you can easily use while studying for those finals. anime girl bopping along not included.

joy to the world contains a multitude of christmas songs from all over the world, from east asia to the americas.

old timey christmas has all the classic christmas carols that people in the 50-60s churned out like they were working at the christmas carol sweatshop.

yuletide is a celtic-inspired christmas playlist. a selection of folk-tunes, jigs, carols, and gaelic hymns.

rise up shepherd is a collection of spirituals, carols, and gospel songs from the black american spiritual tradition.

glory to the newborn kin(g) is a selection of christmas orchestral music

emmanuel quite literally translates as “god with us” so this playlist is a selection of american-folk carols.

ye olde christmas is a playlist for all the tumblr medievalist girlies. although before anyone attacks me, i did put some renaissance carols on there as well

bodacious gnarly hella tubular christmas is a 80s-90s pop christmas playlist. yes it does feature the queen of christmas herself.

dulcimer christmas is self explanatory. if you don’t like the hammered dulcimer, i fear that this playlist will be extremely disappointing.

a-caroling provides all of your wassailing needs. i promise you there is no pentatonix. all my playlists are pentatonix free. let me liberate you from their chokehold on christmas music.

[halipula-aika]

Okay I've seen enough "Christmas should include more existential dread" type posts on my dash to physically need to talk about Heinillä härkien kaukalon and why it is the best hymn ever if you want to feel sad about baby Jesus.

So this epitome of depressing Finnish holiday songs isn't actually Finnish in origin; it's a translation of Entre le bœuf et l’âne gris, a French song from the 16th century. It was adapted into Finnish in 1926. I say adapted instead of translated here, because the Finnish version has an EXTREMELY DIFFERENT vibe.

The first verses are very similar in both French and Finnish. Like, here's the French translated literally:

Between the ox and the grey donkey / Sleeps, sleeps, sleeps the little son

A thousand divine angels, a thousand seraphim / Fly around this great God of love.

And here's the Finnish:

On the hay, in the bulls' trough / Sleeps an innocent Child. The path of a flock of angels / Soon leads to Him / To marvel at the greatest Love

The next two verses are the same shit in both languages. There's "in the arms of Mary/the mother", and then there's "between roses and lillies". The metaphor used for Jesus changes a bit so it rhymes with the verse, and the thousand angels/great love part is always repeated.

And then. The Finnish translation. Pulls the fucking rug from under you.

The French version has two more verses; you've got "Amidst the gentle shepherds / Sleeps, sleeps Jesus who smiles" and "On this beautiful, so solemn day / Sleeps, sleeps, sleeps Emmanuel". Okay, cool, it's five verses of baby jesus. Great.

The Finnish adaptation only has four verses. And I'd like you to imagine what you have read so far with me. Every time I've heard this hymn, it's sung as almost a lullaby. It's about a baby sleeping in his various aspects: an innocent child, the son of God, the Lord of people. Singing those verses as a fragile lullaby makes sense.

And then in the fourth verse, the choir goes all out, the organist gets to flex how loud they can play, and the church echoes as the last verse is sung:

On the cross beside a criminal / Sleeps the purest sacrifice

The path of a flock of angels / Soon leads to Him / To marvel at the greatest Love

Additional fun facts about the Finnish language: the words for "sacrifice" and "victim" are the same, so you could read this as "the purest sacrifice" or "the cleanest victim".

Merry Christmas!

[touratoura]

TV Show idea: A Christian woman named Juliet moves into a new neighborhood, hoping to find a husband and have a child. After moving into her new home, she goes to meet her next-door neighbors - and is horrified to find out it’s a loud, party-girl, dirty mouthed black lesbian named Maggie Dalene and her smart, CEO girlfriend Mary (played by Laverne Cox). Juliet does everything she can to try and turn them to Christ. She does it both forward and subtle. While she does this, she also meets and falls in love with a man named Paul, and starts visiting the local orphanage to bring the kids there to faith.

The main plot points of the first season:

Juliet’s (failed) attempts to convert Mary and Maggie. They keep running into each other. Maggie goes the opposite way and tries to get Juliet to relax a little. Juliet is especially concerned when Christmas comes around and they bring out the Menorah.

Juliet meets three triplets at the orphanage named Jesus, Emmy, and Susej. Susej is the only girl. Juliet tries to get the three Jewish kids to convert, but they refuse. She also tries to get Emmy to go by his full name, Emmanuel - but he finds it stupid.

Lucifer and Abbadon (Lucy and Abby) are a gay gender-unconforming couple who have extremely random jobs everywhere. They seem to be working everywhere. Cashiers, fake-Gucci boot sellers, librarians, janitors, shelf restockers, anything. They’re there. No one else mentions it. It drives Juliet insane. She finds the idea of them being feminine men disturbing, but she can’t call them anything but Lucy and Abby as she refuses to say the Devil’s name. She also finds Abby being black disturbing.

It’s often hinted at that Susej is the Antichrist. And by hinted at I mean she’s always staring piercingly into empty space, whispering threateningly, and is always there when things go wrong. Also her eyes occasionally go black and she starts floating and speaking ancient curses. Juliet is terrified. No one else notices.

Jesus is friends with a group of 12 boys from the orphanage, named Peter, James, John, Andrew, Phillip, Judas I, Matthew, Thomas, James A, Bart, Judas T, and Simon. Jesus goes by Jeezy-boi. The others go by Peezy, Jazzy, Jozzy, Azzy, Pheezy, Jewzy, Meezy, Teezy, Jameezy, Beezy, Yeezy, and Seezy. They’re all played by 12-year-olds, except Yeezy, who’s played by a Kanye West-lookalike. It’s never remarked upon. He talks like Kanye.

Juliet tries to get Mary to turn to God. She will often compare her to her “namesake”, Mary of Jesus fame, to show her the “right side”. Mary takes none of it and points out that Mary and Jesus were Jewish. Mary is very no-nonsense when it comes to these things. Mary is heavily implied to actually BE Mother Mary as she knows things the church doesn’t.

Paul keeps accidentally calling Juliet Jennifer. She doesn’t notice. He’s often drunk and rude to waiters and retail workers. Juliet is too, mind you. He hides his phone and yells a lot. He complains about Juliet’s decision to “wait until marriage”, but doesn’t mind her being anti birth control.

At the end of season 1, Juliet gets married to Paul. He barely gets the vows right at the wedding. Mary and Maggie go out for an unknown trip. There’s a time skip of a few months. Maggie and Mary are celebrating outside of their house, because Maggie just won a Noble Prize in Chemistry. Maggie is yelling “I won! I won!” Juliet smiles and says, “No. I won.” She’s holding a baby in her arms. Maggie paused for a moment and responds “No baby, I won. Paul’s gonna leave yo ass in 3 seconds. You gon have to raise that baby alone. And who says we ain’t got kids?”

Jesus skates by on a skateboard with a cowboy hat. He tips his hat to them as he passed. Emmy is running behind him in a pink skirt. Juliet places her baby down momentarily to talk with them, as Susej comes up and starts whispering to the baby. It nods, and she smiles, before disappearing in a cloud of black smoke. She reappears behind Mary. End of Season 1.

This isn’t a prompt but I would gladly accept criticism and more ideas. And characters. I’m open.

[shinyhappysims]

Mini time jump to cut down on the birthday/I’m pregnant posts bc I really don’t find writing them interesting and Jamilah has way too many kids to make a post about all of them, esp considering the fact she doesn’t even care about most of them lol whoops. Anyways, Emmanuel-Paul, Honor-Luke, Glory-Jane, and the twins have all aged up. One daughter has been born, Sunday-Grace, and Jamilah is 9 months pregnant with a son. Woof.

Merry Christmas all! Although I’m HEAVILY pregnant, I still made it to church service today with my family! My Sunday-Grace turned TWO last night and she was very excited to celebrate the holiday and her birthday by PRAISING GOD with me!

Late in the night, I gave birth to my NINTH child and FIFTH son! Since he was born on Christmas, I decided to give him a name fitting for the holiday. Everyone please meet Angel-Gabriel!

All the best, Jamilah <3

[ifishouldvanish]

i wish everyone calling mizrak a colonizer a very merry go do some research, because everyone's ethnicities in nocturne were chosen very deliberately, and if you know anything about the knights of st john (emmanuel's and mizrak's order) you know that the knights were heavily involved in the slave trade and enslaved many muslims. in fact, there was a large scale turkish slave revolt (failed) in malta in 1749, about 40 years before nocturne takes place. one way for the slaves to "earn" their freedom was through conversion to christianity. we don't know mizrak's story yet, but the hints are there ("has the world abandoned you, mizrak?"), and he's very obviously middle-eastern coded. his name is turkish. he carries an ottoman saber. while what he said to olrox while stressed out was uncalled for, i'm just saying that it's 99.9% likely that olrox wasn't the only one oppressed by europeans.

So I do agree it's not accurate to call Mizrak a colonizer, and you've given me some context I will admit I was lacking re: the knights of st John, so thank you for that. But I don't think it's unfair to say that he is aligned in a way that falls opposite from the ethos Olrox is operating from.

If we are to assume he is a convert, then the way he speaks of his faith and rationalizes his willingness to carry out the abbot's agenda suggests that said conversion is genuine. He is not doing these things "because the Abbot said so" or out of fear of punishment, but because he believes he is serving God. He pleads with the other knights to help him because he believes that they are, too. His instinct at the chapel when the abbot is ready to sacrifice Maria is to run to the pews and pray. His faith is legitimate and not a performance.

Olrox and Mizrak are foils in the sense that the ways/extent to which they have assimilated are vastly different. Olrox has made no buy-in into colonialism whatsoever, but has learned to basically weaponize the illusion that he has (e.g., his stately manner of dress and speech despite deliberately choosing to feed on nobility, grudgingly playing along with the vampire crowd at the chateau for the sake of getting information, etc).

Mizrak on the other hand does demonstrate some buy-in. While he has his reservations about the abbot's methods, he is on board with the mission that the Catholic church needs protecting from an increasingly secular society, so much so that it is worth colluding with Erzsebet as what is effectively an arms manufacturer to do it.

That being said, I fully expect his arc is going to be about reflecting on which parts of himself are true to himself/his beliefs and which parts of himself are the product of colonization and a need to assimilate for survival. Whether that is a personal journey Olrox has never taken or one he has already taken remains to be seen, but there is an ocean between their worldviews/politics that needs to be reconciled before the relationship between them can grow any real wings, and THAT is the thing that keeps me up at night and screaming into the void

[apenitentialprayer]

Jesus is the ultimate norm of Christian existence; everything must be referenced to Him. If He is not the final standard against which the Church and the Christian must measure everything in order to determine if it is the will of God or not, then who or what is?

Rev. Emmanuel McCarthy ("The Nonviolent Eucharist")

Adoration of the Lamb, from MS Latin 14410, folio 6, created in Normandy, circa 1330. (x)

[sleepyheadincoulds]

Emmanuel M. Ruiz - Ceremonial Robes (Vignette Pt.1)

When summoned: “Aha-.. This has to be some silly dream… right???”

Vignette story below ⬇️

“Come on, Elle!” David yelped out and honked his horn of Oliver’s car. Both him and Oliver were outside of her house, waiting for her so they could go explore an abandoned church. Oliver swatted his hand, “My car isn’t a toy.” He said sternly. “Loosen up, will you?” David spoke back.

• • —— • •

Meanwhile, Emmanuel was rushing upstairs, packing her satchel. A Polaroid camera, Instant mini 9; polaroid film, 2 packs; a walkie talkie, and lastly, a blue crochet pouch—for trinkets. 

She had a sweater that only had three buttons, it was blue and crocheted by her abuela. She had a white, buttoned up blouse underneath it, while also wearing high-knee, white, socks; and blue jean shorts. She rushed downstairs with her packed satchel, while tying up her hair with a light blue ribbon. She could hear the loud horn of Oliver’s car. 

She quickly put on her high-top, black, Converse shoes, grabbing the extra house keys; rushing to the door and slamming it shut. She locked the door to her house, and quickly ran to the honking car.

• • —— • •

“What took you so long??” David asked when Emmanuel rushed to the backseat of Oliver’s car, throwing her satchel. “Well I just saw your text when I woke up, and I only had thirty minutes to get ready.” Emmanuel responded back while buckling in her seat.

David had his legs up, he was wearing his baggy, olive green pants, with a black tank top. His dark chocolate hair up in various dreadlocks. Oliver was wearing baggy light blue jeans, and wearing his grey Nirvana shirt; his dirty blonde hair being messy and long enough to reach his shoulders. And his freckles patterned on his face and arms. 

“How did you not see my text?” David asked with a scoff.

Emmanuel gave a quick side eye, “Well, who sends a text at 6 in the morning??”

“Okay, my bad on my part.”

Oliver was driving, to wherever the hell the abandoned church could be. He had his phone open to the maps, so he was following the directions carefully. “Who stays up at 6 AM for? And what were you even doing that up late.” Emmanuel asked her reckless friend.

“Okay, well, I was up looking for another place we could explore. And I found this abandoned church, only less than an hour away, and perfect for my blog. Plus maybe we can find ghosts or some paranormal activity this time.” He was talking, while showing Emmanuel an article he found of the old church. 

• • —— • •

Twenty minutes into the ride, Oliver snuck a cigarette in his mouth, lighting it. Emmanuel looked up from her phone and caught him. “Again, Oliver?” She asked. David put down his phone and gave a disapproval look to Oliver. Oliver sighed, deeply, while keeping his eyes on the road instead of either of his friends. Then, speaking up, “Look, I’m kinda not doing it so much anymore.” “How so?” She asked. “I’m only doing two cigs a week.” “Don’t lie.” “Okay, five a week.” David then butted in, “Seriously Oliver, you’re gonna get sick or something if you keep doing that much.” Oliver gave him a side eye, and his tone turning sharp, “You don’t need to worry about me.” “Why?” Emmanuel questioned. “Because I’m an adult, and you both are still kids! I can do whatever the hell I want, and I don’t need you two to worry about me!” Oliver snapped at her immediately, once they stopped at the red light.

There was a deadpan silence, it felt suffocating and the sounds of the car engine could only be heard. Once the light turned green and Oliver continued driving with the cigarette still in his mouth; Emmanuel ended the silence, “Sorry Oliver for nagging at you like that.” After her apology, he sighed. He knew he shouldn’t snap at her like that, she’s fourteen for God’s grace, and she doesn’t understand a thing. “No, I should be sorry. You’re too young and kind for your own good, and you’re still young. Same for you David. I’m the adult here and I should be a good example for you both, even as a best friend.” The car stopped at another red light and he took out the cigarette from his mouth and put it out, before throwing it out the window. 

“Look, David, you’re sixteen and you should grow up to explore as many abandoned places as you want and blog about them. Even if it’s reckless and dangerous. And Elle, I do want you to become a dressmaker and own your own store like your mother. Maybe you’ll start your own clothing line or something.”

“I don’t want to influence you guys like this. Even though I’m in a good band, cigarettes can still get in the way and ruin you. I’ll try to do better for you guys.” Once the light turned green, after Oliver finished his own speech, he continued driving to the abandoned church. 

• • —— • •

During the rest of the drive, the trio of best friends listened to whatever was on the radio. David would play around with the buttons, and tried to find something good to listen to. Oliver didn’t seem to care, and Emmanuel was too busy with trying to pry open the pack of film for her Polaroid camera. Like a raccoon trying to claw its way to open a bag of chips.

David turned his head to Emmanuel, watching her struggle to open the pack of film in amusement. “What’s that for?” He spoke up in a teasing tone. 

“For my Polaroid camera, so we can take pictures together at the church.”

“How much film do you even have? Plus aren’t they like crazy expensive?”

“I only brought two packs with two sets of ten film in each of them, but I have more packs at home.”

“Well how can you afford so much??”

“With the money I make in the summer by working in my mom’s store.”

“You have a point there. What do you do all day in that clothing store, anyways?”

“Either finish up sewing projects, or help at the cashier. It’s not boring or anything. Plus, it’s also learning experience, once I own my own clothing store.”

Oliver was listening to the whole conversation while driving, he had a smirk on his face about the conversation between the two. Though, he was locked in while driving the car. He never let any distractions bother him while driving. Whenever he drives, he’s always extremely careful and focused. Only thirty minutes into the drive, and almost there to the abandoned church.

• • —— • •

After a long while, they finally made it to their destination. The church was old and had a vintage yet creepy aura. Oliver parked the car, David got his recording camera ready, and Emmanuel unbuckled her seatbelt and grabbed her satchel. 

The three of them got out of the car, looking around the outside area of the church. Oliver was in awe by the angle statues. “Woah…” Emmanuel pulled out her Polaroid camera, looking over at David who was recording the beautiful statues that were angels. “Let’s take some pictures here?” She questioned. David smiled at the idea, and turned his attention to Oliver, “Oliver, how about we take a picture of you with one of the angle statues?”

Oliver turned his head to him with his eyebrows raised, “Hmm, sure. Why not?” David and Emmanuel both smiled eagerly. Oliver then got in position with one of the large angel statues. Standing in front of it with the peace sign up with both of his freckled hands. Emmanuel got her camera ready and in position, while David was recording the little moment. 

Flash! She took his picture, the small print of the film coming out blank, and Emmanuel took it out and waved it lightly for it to develop. “Did it come out good?” David asked. “Hang on, it’s still developing.” Emmanuel responded, still waving the film that was in her hands.

After a few seconds, the picture appeared on the piece of film. Oliver looked over her shoulder watching the picture appear. “The product good?” David spoke up with his voice raised, while recording the area. “Yep! It’s coming out perfectly.” Soon enough the picture developed, and it looked like it could be the perfect album cover. 

A smile crept on Oliver’s lips, as he looked over at Emmanuel’s shoulder of the picture. The photo had that 90s style, very vintage looking too.

• • —— • •

Soon enough, the three of them entered the old abandoned church. The place wasn’t so messy though, but very dusty. The place looked liked if no one has taken care of it or stepped foot in it for a long time. As they entered sanctuary, the sun was shining through the stained glass, beautiful vibrant colors falling onto the benches in the sanctuary. Most things were boxed up, such as Bibles, candles; and boxes of tissues. 

“Hey look at this.” David spoke up, in his hands was a small figure of one of the shepherds from the Christian Christmas tale. It still had some good conditions, but some of the paint was chipped off and the wood of it was cracking. “That looks like one of the shepherds.” Emmanuel pointed out. “… Looks old but somewhat in good condition.” “You wanna keep it?” David asked, gesturing the small figure to her. “Sure, why not.” She took the figure from his hand, holding it gently and putting it in her satchel. 

“What information do you got on this church?” Oliver asked while looking through the boxes of Bibles. Some being different versions and designs. Meanwhile, David was recording the place with his camera, “Apparently this church closed in 1970s, the name of it was, Houston Baptist Church.” Oliver hummed at his response, “So this place has been closed for almost 50 years then.” “Yep, they closed it down for a good while.” “I wonder why.” Oliver muttered as his interest was on a specific Bible. The design was simple but the conditions of it were somewhat okay. The paper looked a bit yellow and torn, but the front cover was brown. With the signature cross and title, “Holy Bible,” titled in gold. The texture was smooth, but for some reason, for Oliver, it probably held some value to it. 

• • —— • •

While Oliver was busy looking through boxes, and David recorded the untouched holy house of God, Emmanuel looked at some old frame pictures hung up on the walls. She admired the beautiful and colorful stained glass windows. It’s vibrant and bright colors that the sun shined upon on. 

She left the sanctuary, unnoticed by her two best friends, she explored the halls to her left, where there was a massive scroll was displayed in glass. The language was in Hebrew, but she read what the description of the scroll was. The first Bible written in Hebrew. Was found by Williams Raffel. The rest was scrapped out, but she learned something new about the history of this scroll. She took a picture of it with her Polaroid camera, maybe David would want to post about it on his blog.

She walks down further in the hallways, and is met with double doors. She grabbed the handle of door, it had an icy touch to it, and opened the doors to a cemetery. The sun kissed her silky, brunette hair, making it shine in the light outside. The sun was hugging her peachy, soft skin; making it welcoming and warm. The breeze hit her softly, as if she’s the most delicate thing to touch.

She closed the door behind her as she set foot on the grass of the cemetery. The place did feel like it was a place for the resting, but the day was shining and with cool temperatures. She began to explore the area, some gravestones had fresh flowers by them. Maybe the cemetery still had its visitors. Though some graves had its dead and decaying flowers.

She would read each name on the gravestones, learning about the persons name and who they were. Though one specific name caught her attention, Williams Raffel. The same name of who found the first written Bible in Hebrew. She read more about the man, “Husband, Father, Friend, Pastor.” 

She saw how there were no flowers for the man’s gravestone. So she decided to gather some for him. She looked around the area, finding red, red roses with its thorns. The thorns lightly pricked her fingers as she picked three. The red roses looked like beautiful rubies, but of course, every rose has its thorns.

She then found some white flowers, they looked like popcorn, she picked them, one by one. She then found some daisies, the sun shining on them, giving its sunlight to them. But even though they can be pretty, daisies are weeds. But why would her sweet mind care? They’re far too pretty to not be picked. 

She carefully arranged them together, she took off the blue ribbon that kept her long, beautiful hair up. She used the ribbon to hold the flowers together as she arranged them perfectly. Her long, curly, silky hair was long enough to reach her hips. As she finally finished arranging the flowers, she walked back to the grave of William, and placed the flowers there. Paying her respects to the man that was a husband, father, friend, pastor, and the man who found the first Bible scroll written in Hebrew. 

[mihrimahfs]

Tera Renard Castlevania Nocturne- thoughts on final episode

Okay so a week after the Castlevania Nocturne season one premiere I have a lot of thoughts, mostly very positive regarding this season. But one moment has struck me, has occupied all my mind since this aired (warning this will contain  major spoilers for this season so if you haven’t watched this yet, please avoid this) and that is the final episode. particularly when they’re rescuing Maria from being sacrificed by Abbot Emmanuel as a “offering” of his loyalty to Erzesbet Bathory (aka the Vampire Messiah). There’s a lot of stuff that i think when I think of this scene over and over again and it’s one that I think broke me deeply. All great art does this in some way, breaks you till you’re wonderfully changed. anyways, let me begin. (and please also note, i am not an expert by any means, just a historian geek so if im incorrect, don’t hesitate to correct me)

we already know that the abbot regards the revolution as a subversion of “God’s natural order” which at the time and especially Catholic Church, that was the way the order  of the world was seen. That royalty had the so called “divine right to rule” which the catholic church supported as it had them provide legitimacy to rulers for this divine right. France has had a storied loyalty to the catholic church and the papacy, was often seen as a bastion, hell one of their rulers was deemed “the most christian prince” (ironically Francis I). It’s no surprise that for an abbot as “devoted” as Emmanuel, he sees the revolution threatening this, his position and faith that has formed most of his world and how he’s able to “reason” with the world as it were. His alliance with Bathory is sort of seen as his desperate attempt to keep a hold onto this power and this divine order even though he works with vampires and makes night creatures (rather slowly might I add). He sees himself as a bastion of holding the faith and fear mongers his parishioners to following his way and his order to keep this order and also keep hold of his faith. which all is rather ironic considering as a priest who is supposed to keep celibate, he ostensibly had and affair with Tera who fled from Russia which resulted in Maria. and for Tera to say she had to lie to Maria that her father died so she wouldn’t be branded a whore, who eked out a life in france, barely paying rent (see episode 1) all the while the Abbot lived in relative privilege is also another nail to his "piety". Now I cannot say whether he might have indirectly supported Maria and Tera, that’s neither here nor there and many clergy had children on the side they supported or not. It was only after Maria found out what the abbot was doing and tera confronted him that he reluctantly revealed he was marias father. He is a hypocrite. Many of us know “men of faith” that do things like this, lie constantly to justify their own view of faith and God, thinking themselves victims and making martyrs of themselves instead of being held accountable. We can see Mizrak who’s more of a believer be disgusted at the Abbot’s actions especially in light of this revelation and at the abbot’s willingness to sacrifice maria to bathory. He is a hypocritical man who makes himself a victim to justify his actions thinking he’s working “for the glory of God”  though he’s made many suffer (Tera, Maria, Edouard, Jaques, etc).

Tera’s sacrifice without a doubt has been the most brutal scene for me in this series. When the abbot is trying to sacrifice Maria, citing the story of Abraham and Isaac, it also heightens the abbot’s self centered view that he is in divine communication with God- by re-enacting the scene by binding maria to the altar as Isaac was, according to the Bible, he wanted to prove how he was a god fearing man, his legitimacy to his actions, however bad, divinely authorized. I think also for a “god fearing man” as he proclaims to be, to have a child on the side presents a thorn to him and in this way, he can prove she played a part in a  divine plan for his redemption for his “mistake” and allying with Bathory. Honestly right now it seems like nonsense what im saying but to be at the point where you’re sacrificing your child and thinking it makes you holy and can wash all you done away is pretty disgusting. I believe in the bible, it was seen as a binding like he had to bind Isaac which suggests (and please im not a biblical scholar) reluctance on the part of Isaac for this. as a muslim for me, we present this differently- ours has Abraham have a dream he has to sacrifice his child as a test of sorts to prove his love for God above everything but we believe he told Ismail about the dream and Ismail said readily “if its God’s will that he wants this, i am willing to do this”; its really remarkable how the one with isaac there’s reluctance but with the islamic perspective,  there’s consent, there’s the readiness to be willing to be sacrificed while having faith in God. Now in both, God stops in the nick of time and offers a ram in their place. When Tera comes and rightfully so confronts the abbot about this and then bathory comes and realizing that there is no other way to save her daughter, she did what any mother would do- take their place. Let’s also backtrack; when she found her sister trapped in Bathory’s prison in russia, she sacrificed her in a sense, not wanting her to live out in that agony and pain and terror. she sacrifice her innocence, being brought to the point of killing her sister to save her from a worse fate and years later, she did the same for her child, sacrifice herself to save Maria, knowingly and with full cognizance of this action and consent to do this righteous holy deed. Tera is the true martyr, the true epitome of divine sacrifice who is willing to suffer and give her life for the holiest thing a mother has- a child. for her to say “I am the ram. God has given you the ram, Emmanuel” shows who truly is the  one who is doing the right thing for the right reasons.  As a muslim, i was always taught that God doesn’t need sacrifices, like its not meant for His consumption or his want or needs, but that these are to represent what we are willing to do and prove that God is our top priority and that also what are we willing to do to help others. As we commememorate the sacrifice of abraham in our festival Eid ul adha by paying for goats and animals to be sacrificed and their meat distributed to our family, neighbors, and the poor, we remind ourselves there that our sacrifices must be for helping others, not for ego or showing off. The abbot wanted to sacrifice for the wrong reasons and Tera did for her child’s life. It’s still gut wrenching to watch and still heart breaking to remember this selflessness that made Tera turn to a creature that has haunted her for 20 or so years. but its castlevania, no one has a totally happy ending lol. and also, Emmanuel is nothing more than other priests and religious leaders who adopt cowardice and cloak it as piety. Tera deserved better. I truly hope it haunts the abbot and that he gets his karma for his actions and his hypocrisy made an innocent woman sacrifice her life to save their child. 

I wonder if , when they asked the abbot if he loves Tera when she offered herself in marias place and he says yes, did he mean that? like truly love her , like if he genuinely has all these years loves tera. or if he loved that she sacrificed herself and . some might say both. He might see that this is part of the sacrifice he had to endure for his “holy mission” and thus “loves her” for that. who knows? it would be nice to see a flashback of them. when I think about it, I think he loved being "god's warrior" a bit more than tera which i obvious given after being with team he didn't disavow his vows and marry her and raised their child. I think he might but it's always in conflict with his view on faith. the love he had for tera once faded as his love for his glory and "divine purpose" overshadowed it all. I do wonder also if Tera might have had lingering feelings for Emmanuel. I imagine especially after this, probably not and I hope Tera gets him as her first “victim”. Honestly she’s suffered too much and I want my Muva back. I wonder that Maria might have to think she might have to do what tera did to her sister to her mother. But we see Edouard still retain his humanity despite being turned to a night creature so one can hope the same for Tera. 🙏

Again piggybacking to the comparison of the different religions views on Abrahams sacrifice, where one is seen to be against the consent of the victim and the other with their consent, i find it also telling that many evangelicals love to paint sacrifice as we have to do this to you to save your soul and save ours- much like the abbot. There’s no choice; there’s their way or no way. Versus Maria choosing to save her daughter. Cause that’s what a good mother does. What any good person would do on those horrifying circumstances. And that at her turning, (and someone on here said the same sort of thing) that reaction was against her will, non consent.

I’m reminded that in Islam there’s this saying that we have of God saying “if you oppose my desire, then I shall run you ragged of your desires” and I hope this very much applies to the abbot who despite professing all he does is for God is much rather for his own ego and inflated sense of worth and I hope it all runs him ragged and beyond all redemption in this life or the hereafter.

Justice for Tera Renard and I hope and pray Tera Renard gets the abbot and Maria gets healing and peace as well as richter and annette.👏🙌🤲🙏

I hope somehow all that I said makes sense as it’s sort of me ranting and me trying to make sense…. Cause Tera’s sacrifice hit me so very much like thank God season 2 is confirmed cause I need Muva Tera to come back hands swinging and good news for her!

[angeltreasure]

People like you make me genuinely sad. You are throwing away your one life trying to please a god who doesn’t even exist. I used to be christian too and leaving the church was the best thing I ever did. I hope you can find freedom too one day

God loves us all so much that He took a big risk and gifted us a very special gift called free will, so we may have the ability to make our own choices and decisions in this one life we are given. He doesn’t want to force us to love Him. Forced love isn’t true love. (Wouldn’t you agree?) You may have chosen to turn your face away from God just as the Prodigal Son wanting his sum of money to leave to seek pleasures in the world, but I am not a captive. I freely choose with my free will to boldly say yes Lord, I love you. His Commandments and teachings provide me protection and in Him, the Truth, I am set free. I rejoice in Emmanuel. I know you have a lot of sadness in your heart especially sending this anonymously during the holiday season, so I will pray for you. If you ever feel lost and lonely, know that God will always be waiting for you, run to you with open arms, and celebrate your return. May God bless you.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

by Chris Hutchison | Suffering is a universal experience. If you have a pulse, you either have or will experience suffering. My sad conviction is that far too few Christians today have an adequate Biblical understanding of suffering. And this leaves them in an extremely vulnerable place when the waves of suffering finally do reach the shores of their…

[daughter-of-mary]

Urgent Prayer Request

Please pray for an Australian Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel who was attacked during Church Service. Please also pray for Church members who were harmed and attacked as well. Finally please pray for those who were harmed and killed during the mall attack a few days ago in Australia.

God bless you