#PRIMEMOVER

[cdlhunter]

International Harvester DCF400 #dcf400 #primemover #cdljob #cdljobs #cdlhunter #IH #internationalcabover #international #Ihharvester #ihtruck #ihtrucks #internationaltrucks #butterbox #internationaltruck #eagle #emeryville #internationaleagle #transtar #ihtranstar #internationalharvester #truckerslife #truckdrivers #diesel #trucksofinstagram #largecar #chickenlightsandchrome https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm6L6DYOsvO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[copias-girl]

I’ve been having some…… definitely unholy feelings about secondo recently 👀

I might have a slight obsession with mr bone daddy…..

Oh well 😈

Just look at him you’re telling me you WOULDNT fuck him on sight?!

Secondo is SO FUCKING HOT

LIKE

Ofc I’d 10000% fuck him on sight 🤤🤤🤤

He’s spooky, intimidating, daddy af! Literally so so so deliciously hot!! He makes me feel scared and horny and I love that combo 😭😂

I feel like I’d have a bit of a hard time looking right into his intense gaze,,,, and he’d probably command me to look him in the eyes while he’s railing me-

UM ANYWAY- 😮‍💨🫠🫠

[gloriatrucktrailer]

Shacman Truck | Shacman X3000 Tractor Truck 420hp for Sale in Nigeria

[anotherghoul666]

This Could All Be Yours

STRIPPER!AU STRIPPER!AU GUYS IT’S HERE I FINISHED IT IT’S HERE

This is my offering to this wonderful community of horny and supportive people for the holidays. Yule blessings aplenty on you if you’re pagan like me / merry christmas if that’s something you celebrate / happy hanukkah / if you celebrate another holiday at this time of year I wish you a good one. And if it’s a weird or difficult period of the year for you then I hope this fic brightens your day and brings some positivity in! ❤️

Pairing: Swiss/Rain

Rating: Explicit

Tags / contains: stripper!AU; come discover the setting of the Ghost strip club in all its glory, possibilities and inner workings; get to know each ghoul and their jobs in the stripper!verse; Rain is not in the band / get to know everyone through his eyes; fish out of water trope; every ghoul gets a whole ass scene at least, sometimes more than one scene (yes that’s partly why it’s so big XD); sex worker appreciation; fat bodies appreciation; normal bodies appreciation; yes all the moves I name in the dance scenes are real and you can google the names to see exactly what move the strippers are doing; THE OUTFITS YOU GUYS, the outfits I put the strippers in, I had so much fun with the outfits, please come gush over the outfits with meeeeeeeee; stripper/client dynamic; light D/s vibes; dom!Rain kinda? he tries his best; sub!Swiss kinda? at least he listens; watch these two dorks simultaneously develop a crush on each other; lap dances; private dances; breaking strip club rules; grinding; nipple play; frottage / jacking off dicks together; cum play; breaking even more club rules; idiots in love.

Summary: Rain is an abbey ghoul with a rather monotonous and repetitive life. He’d like a change, but he can’t quite seem to make it happen. It’s his lack of confidence that’s the issue, his coworkers say, and they give him all sorts of tips, tricks and challenges to help him grow. Including a dare to go spend an evening at the infamous Ghost Strip Club. The ever popular establishment, high-end provider of the most enticing and luxurious sins of the flesh, equally intimidates and fascinates Rain. Beyond the heavy cathedral doors of the club lies a whole world of temptations and pleasures with its own rules, its own codes, its own inhabitants. Rain gets a taste of the peculiar staff of the club in more ways than one, and he also gets a confidence lesson he won’t soon forget. What better way to learn how to be bold than some hands on practice?

Read it here on AO3!!

Tagging the usernames I wrote down for people who showed interest in this fic in my comments and asks, etc: @joeynihil @st-danger @reaperghoul @ghostnamelesfan @sodo-emeritus @namelessghouls-primemover (I dunno if you changed your username or deleted buddy but just in case Imma still tag it the way it used to be written in case you recognize yourself) @merginyourface @royalchachi @crimsonclergy @unholybuttholey @arsonyard @idkhowbut-art @blanchebees I'm sure there's others I missed and forgot to write down specifically, I'm sorry, consider yourself tagged if you were part of the stripper!AU hype train with us too! ❤️

[copiousloverofcopia]

Prime Mover Ren, I have a desire for more short, one-shots of Terzo as a daddy. 💕

Ask and you shall receive Ghestie (even if it takes me forever to do it cause #primemover) lol

Anyways this little drabble was actually inspired by the Ministry BBQ art by @beepophobia and in honor of Father's Day!

So Happy Father's Day to all the Papas out there and HERE WE GO!

Terzo's Day

Also available HERE on AO3!

SFW below the cut!

The air was thick with sweet smell smoke and delicious shimmering meat. The sounds of laughter and small children playing, surrounded the Abbey grounds. As the afternoon sun shined brightly upon them, Terzo sat on one of the many picnic benches wearing a gray tank top to keep cool as he sucked back on a can of Peroni Nastro Azzurro—quenching his thirst. He was enjoying the day, his family close at hand and a happiness in his soul he could not find the words to describe.

"Fratello the grigliata mista di carne is gonna burn." he jabbed, watching his brother with Mr. Saltarian at the grill. Secondo was sensitive when it came to his cooking skills and Terzo’s playful commentary had definitely struck a nerve. Secondo starred up into his brows. Regaining composure before deciding to respond.  

"Cazzo, you keep your comments to yourself. I can handle the meat." he replied, balancing the cigarillo in his lip. Terzo shot back a wide-spread mischievous grin. Secondo, instantly regretting the way he phrased his words before Terzo blurted out his response. 

"Oh I bet!" Terzo laughed, dodging the ketchup bottle that caming flying across the table at him. Mr. Saltarian shaking his head at the juvenile antics of these supposed, “Heads of the Church”. A little bit of sibling rivalry and some good natured ribbing was par for the course at any Ministry barbeque. Today’s carnivore culinary exploration however was special. A celebration in honor of Father’s day and Terzo was determined to enjoy every minute of it.

The clergy, siblings, and ghouls all had gathered with their families in abundance. The Abbey grounds, almost faire like in its jubilance and brimming activity. It was on days like this when the full community of the Abbey came together in something other than prayers and rituals. Something other than their commits to Lucifer in which to allow themselves a moment of respite.  

Terzo was grateful, acknowledging that he had everything to celebrate. His beautiful Prime Mover Alessandra, was carrying their third child in her womb. Only days away from welcoming another yet Emeritus into his brood. Terzo, fully determined to populate the world with his unholy spawn. 

Two of which, Filomena and Dante, were gleefully running around with the ghoul kits as the grownups were preparing lunch. Terzo and his brothers had all huddled together at the grill. All of them bickering as to the right way to prepare the feast, a pastime that was one of the simplest pleasures.

It wasn’t that long ago that Terzo’s regard for Father’s day was barely a footnote to be mentioned. Every year the same unenthusiastic celebrations as he actively avoided fatherhood. While he and his brother’s were close, Nihil wasn’t exactly the type of father figure to be celebrated and so for all the years leading up to Alé, the day was nothing but monotonous and draining. Terzo, counting down the minutes until he no longer had to pretend to care about Nihil. 

Now this day was for him. He was now a father to be celebrated, a fact sometimes he still had trouble wrapping his head around. Terzo smiled as he watched those around him. Nihil was pouting that Secondo had shoved him off the grill, while Sister Imperator, in her new wide brimmed hat and back dress, consoled him. Secretly giving Secondo a thumbs up as they’d managed to evade Nihil’s poor cooking. 

Terzo caught sight of Copia, his best friend and their new reigning Papa. He was running around like a chicken with its head cut off as he dashed back and forth, grabbing all the things forgotten inside. Copia’s people-pleasing at an all time high during things like this. Terzo couldn't help but smile at him as he passed, buns in head and an anxious look on his face. 

Then Terzo set his sights on Primo. His eldest brother seemed at first to be content. Enjoying the outdoors even more so than normal—if that was physically possible. But underneath Terzo sensed something—a quiet sadness behind that old worn smile. 

Terzo placed his hand over Primo’s, catching his brother’s attention as he scooted up closer to the table, leaning over to speak. “You alright old man?” Terzo asked him. Primo at first said nothing, letting out a sigh as he continued to watch the activity around him. Taking a moment before his eyes met with Terzo’s across the table. 

“I will be…Fratellino…” Primo began, Terzo now concerned. The hint of melancholy in his voice and the painted smile seemed to be holding back something that Terzo had never recalled seeing with Primo before—pain.

“Si? What is wrong?” he asked him. Primo got quiet, clearing his throat and nodding as the siblings and ghouls passed by their table. Terzo knew that he was stepping into unfamiliar territory but he had to know. 

“Just promise me that you will never take what you have for granted.” Primo said quietly, his tone and demeanor betraying him. Allowing Terzo to see that there was more unsaid but that Primo couldn’t muster to speak. 

“Primo?” Terzo proceeded with caution. 

“Promise me that you will always honor Alessandra and love and cherish every child she bears you. That you won’t take for granted the blessings Satanas has given you—or you may end up an old bitter man like me.” Primo said with a smile. Terzo smiled back at him, it was evident then that while Primo had lived a long life, he had missed out on things—things for which he now had regrets. Terzo squeezed his hand tightly, struggling himself to maintain his composure as he spoke again.

“I promise fratello—I promise.” Just then little Mena came dashing up to the table. Her purple sundress, completely soaked and the curls of her dark hair dripping wet. 

“Dad!” she cried, “...Dante won’t stop squirting me with the water guns! I have asked him to stop but he won’t!” Terzo pivoted around on his bench, looking over to see his very guilty looking son staring back at him. Terzo allowed Menta to take his place as he stood. 

“Piccolo uomo, vieni qui dal tuo Papa.” he commanded Dante. His little boy was the spitting image of him, a mess of hair and a charming smile. He approached his father like a puppy with its tail tucked between its legs. His hands suspiciously hidden behind his back. 

“Yes Daddy?” Dante asked. His voice, sweet and his face adorned with the softest, round cheeks that Lucifer himself would be unable to resist pinching. Terzo dropped to his knees before him, bringing himself eye level with his son.

“Dante…sii serio piccolo. Have you been spraying your sister with the water again?” he asked him. Dante shook his head no, adamant that he hadn’t done anything wrong. It was then Terzo could see Alessandra coming up from behind them. Holding a pair of soft towels and a look of exhaustion spread across her beautiful face. 

Just as she reached them, Secondo called out that the food was done and the whole of the Abbey came running up from all around them. “Sorry I have been trying to keep up with them but it’s getting a bit hard.” she smiled standing before Terzo. He smiled back up at her, placing his hand on her belly and feeling their child kicking away inside her. 

“I can only imagine amore…but It seems we have a problem.” he said, sending her a wink.

“Oh, is that so?” Alé laughed. Mena stood up beside her father, still dripping as Terzo explained. 

“Si, apparently there is someone who looks exactly like Dante spraying Mena with a water gun.”

“Ah I see, what a weird coincidence. You see I seem to recall letting Dante and Phil’s nits get the water guns out from the green house.” Alé laughed again.

“Indeed.” Terzo replied, listening to Primo holding back his laughter from behind him. “Now Dante…are you sure that it wasn’t you?” 

“Yes.” Dante proclaimed. Alé raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for him to be honest with his dad as she knew the truth. And even more importantly she could see something Terzo could not. 

“You’re being too hard on the boy.” Primo commented, Terzo turning to face his brother before Dante spoke. 

“Daddy?” 

“Yes Dant—-” Terzo shouted as he was hit full force in the face with a cold stream of water. The likes of which was powered by the pair of water guns that Dante had hidden behind his back. Instantly Primo and Alessandra burst out in laughter. Watching as Terzo panicked a moment before opening his eyes and flipping back his dampened hair from his face. As his vision came into focus, he watched as his mischievous little boy ran off laughing with Mena trailing not far behind him.

Terzo turned back to face Primo, “Still have regrets?” he chuckled, the face paint running down his face. Primo nodded and smiled, Terzo was a lucky man and even though it wasn’t always easy he loved being a father to his children. He loved them more than life itself and that while it wasn’t always perfect it was his. And today was his day.

Notes: grigliata mista di carne -popular Italian barbecue dish of mixed grilled meats Piccolo uomo, vieni qui dal tuo papà- Little man, come here to your Papa. sii serio piccolo- be serious little one

[angellayercake]

THE SPELL SHALL BREAK???

will be the final installment in the sleeping beauty terzo trilogy from this slumber you shall wake and when true loves kiss

What lengths will reader go to for Terzo? Having murdered his Primemover what else does he need to do to build his power? Is anyone in the upper clergy safe? Nihil? Sister? Copia? What even is he?

All questions that will hopefully be answered when i get on with writing it 😁

[inkrabbit]

I LOVED THAT RECENT SODO/religious reader fic you just posted it’s amazing like I was hooked the whole time and I just want to read more and more of it like it was truly amazing.

You probably won’t continue it but if you do I would definitely read it

- @namelessghouls-primemover

I am so glad someone likes that piece of shit fic omg <3333

I did consider doing a second part for it where the reader does meet Papa and is eventually brought in and they learn... basically everything. I'm gonna keep that idea jotted down

[bayflowermoving]

PrimeMoves: Best Brandon Moving Companies

Bayflower Moving Group stands out as one of the Best Brandon Moving Companies, delivering top-notch relocation services marked by reliability and efficiency. Trust us for your seamless move.

[gyatk]

RVCR – a new dimension in ‘zero carbon’ technologies.

The route to Zero Carbon reality

The global Transport and power industry are focusing on Electrification of light vehicles, Green-Fuel, and Renewable energy, as mainstay strategies for adapting to environmental market drivers. Though these solutions have been pursued for long now, yet they are not widely implemented due to inherent technology limitations. We have developed RVCR technology, based on globally patented concept in ‘Mechanisms of Energy Conversion’, that bridges this gap. RVCR is a seed concept that outputs new breed of green Primemovers (wind, Hydro motors/ Green-fuel Engines/ Electric motors) for across sector applications to enable rapid implementation of newer long-term Climate Regulation compliance strategies. We provide the technological and business operations support services to clients in designing, developing, and commercializing newer products powered by RVCR technology based green Primemovers.

About RVCR

RVCR is based on a novel concept invention in ‘Mechanisms of Energy-Conversion’ used in Primemovers (Machines which converts energy in Wind, Hydro, green fuels etc. into Drive force). Current Primemovers (I.C.Engines, Electric Motors, Turbines etc.) are based on either ‘Slider-Crank’ or ‘Rotary’ mechanism. These machines are saturated at peak ceiling efficiency from incremental refinement since they were invented about a century ago and unable to cope-up with demands for ever stricter climate regulations. RVCR Mechanism simplifies the energy conversion process seeding new breed of Primemovers, with lower carbon-footprint, whilst delivering leap in Efficiency . It enables new adaptive features to deal with environmental challenges by combining the performance advantage of rotary motors and positive displacement mechanism We have developed the base know-how and have initiated individual dedicated projects for developing RVCR Technology for specific industry applications.

Why RVCR now?

Forceful societal pressures towards sustainable and lower carbon goals are leading to trillions in investments for large-scale diversification into Green/Renewable energy sources. We see massive investments made in European Super Grid to converge power from renewable energy generated across vast expanse of time zones, for streamlining power demand and supply and reducing reverse spinning margin. Similarly, Green energy source count is increasing, however the critical constraining points in the energy jugulars that registers losses are the node points of energy conversion. Fractional improvement here has a great impact in the cumulative systemic efficiency. RVCR technological innovation is the key to this energy-to-power-to-work exchange and stands as a unified solution applicable to the entire transport and Energy ecosystem. RVCR stands as an enabler technology based on superior Physics in energy conversion at a crucial juncture in time when conventional mechanism has exhausted all means of any substantial efficiency improvement and are saturating at their theoretical ceiling limits. RVCR’s success now will see the timely maturation of new solutions, clearing the road for next-gen Primemover, to add the missing component for achieving ‘Net Zero Carbon Emission 2050’ goals ‘with ease’.

Read More at

[cdlhunter]

GMC 9500 Prime Mover #primemover #gmc9500 #gmc #gmctruck #gmctrucks #gmcsemi #gmcdaily #truckin #trucklife #logistics #truckerhat #liftedtrucks #trucknation #truckporn #trucker #truckdaily #truckerslife #transport #truckshow #truckerlife #cdljob #cdljobs #cdlhunter 🚛 Follow @cdlhunter 📲 Call or text us at (347) 878-2591 for a driving job https://www.instagram.com/p/CbqZr4VJQh4/?utm_medium=tumblr

[gloriatrucktrailer]

Shacman X3000 6×4 Tractor Truck 450hp for Sale in Senegal

[mikecom36]

Reposted from Troy Davies Transport New Plymouth New Zealand @tdt_limited Our new ride or die. Shes no 5oh or an oil painting but she's ours for the keeping. New venture for 2022. Had an awesome day today fitting brackets for the drivers side muff, wiring up fog lights/switches and all the other go fast bits. Hopefully painted early this year. #Kenworth #t404 #kenworthk t404 #kenworth2022 #kenworthnewzealand #Kenworthtrucks #kenworthtrucks2020 #kenworthtrucks2022 #kenworthtrucksofinstagram #Kenworthsofinstagram #kenworthtrucksofnewzealand #Kenworthsofnewzealand #newzealandkenworth #truck #kenworthsdaily #trucks #primemover #btrain #newzealand #nz #trucking #troydaviestransport #tdtlimited #copyshineon #biggear #newtruck #newadventures #truckphotos #truckpictures #kwtweek2202 (at New Plymouth, New Zealand) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZB2yTEJXHg/?utm_medium=tumblr

[kenworthtrucks2020]

Reposted from @southpac_trucks Pyramid Trucking Ltd of Manukau City Auckland have put a new Kenworth K200 into service. The 2.3m Flat roof, 6x4 tractor unit will be driven by long serving employee James towing a Fruehauf 6 axle flat deck b-train. Specs: Cummins X15-600hp @ 2050ft-lb, Eaton-Roadranger Ultrashift and Meritor axles all round. Fitted with a full safety package consisting of ESP Electronic Stability Program, Bendix Fusion - Integrated Safety System, Stationary Vehicle Braking Collision Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control, ACB Active Cruise Braking - with collision mitigation, Driver Alerts, Lane Departure Warning, EBSS- Electronic Braking System Features: Factory fitted Jost 5th wheel, smooth alloy chassis covers, Rhino guards with stainless inserts, stainless wrapped rear bumper, twin back of cab air intakes with chrome round hoods, additional exhaust behind the back of cab, stainless cab entry panels with marker lights, stainless trim kit for fuel tanks. All engineering work carried out by Southpac Engineering Auckland. #Kenworth #K200 #kenworthk200 #kenworthnewzealand #Kenworthtrucks #kenworthtrucks2020 #kenworthtrucks2021 #kenworthtrucksofinstagram #Kenworthsofinstagram #kenworthtrucksofnewzealand #Kenworthsofnewzealand #kenworthsdaily #truck #primemover #truckandtrailer #newzealand #Kwopper #Kwnz #Kenworthnz #Southpac #Spt #Sptnz #Paccar #Paccarnz #truckpictures #kwtweek2109 (at Southpac Trucks Ltd) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMNs4vCJWKk/?igshid=v803ofz3w78p

[angellayercake]

Daddy Secondo for the wip ask game please 🥺

so this is a bit of a collaboration with a certain secondho who wanted a slooooowburn hurt/comfort with Secondo.

I have very little except vague outlines so far but I will share the basic premise and a little extra surprise.

TW: mentions of primemovers (only briefly) and very questionable parenting

The Emeritus brothers had the importance of their bloodline drummed into them for as long as they could remember. When he was young Secondo had thought the idea of a Primemover had been romantic, a woman of standing chosen just for him to love and build a family with. That is until he had seen how his Mother had been cast aside when she had only been able to produce one heir.

When the time came he loathed the whole process. He did what was required of him but no more than that so when the inevitable happened and they had a little girl he wasn't surprised when she no no longer filled the position. The girl was an Emeritus that could not be denied but his resentment was all he could feel when he looked at her. His whole life had be planned out for him without his input and now he was expected to raise a child because he was the only one of his brothers to be successful?

No he would not play Dad, his father didn't so why should he? So he finds a nanny and departs the Abbey to take up a recently vacant cardinal position to forge his own way. But as time goes on his sinning and debauchery get less satisfying and his decision starts to weigh on him. Maybe he isn't better off being an absent father. But that decision is made for him when he is called back to become Papa. For the first time in years he will be in the same place as his daughter. Is it to late for him to build a relationship with her? And how will he be able to parent when she has only been raised by her nanny her whole life?

And bonus @tasty-ribz

[eli-kittim]

Polytheism Versus Monotheism

By Biblical Researcher and Award-Winning Author, Eli Kittim

——-

The First Cause

Some Bible critics have argued that there maybe other gods in the universe. However, the Bible itself claims that there’s only one God. Now, you may see that as circular reasoning but there are also valid philosophical arguments which demonstrate that there can only be one cause to the universe, to wit, a “first cause.” Philosophy does not posit a multiplicity of first causes but rather the existence of a single, first cause, just as other theosophical and spiritual traditions have also posited a single incorporeal first cause. Let’s not forget that we’re not talking about a genus, a multiplicity of “contingent” beings, but about the source of everything, a “necessary” being that is beyond time and space and beyond being. If there were two such beings, then neither of them would be god. There can only be one maximally great being that can exist in every possible world.

——-

The Cosmological Argument

Plato (c. 427–347 BCE), in the Timaeus dialogue, posited a "demiurge" of absolute intelligence as the creator of the universe. Plotinus, a 3rd century Neoplatonist philosopher from Alexandria, claimed that the “One” transcendent absolute caused the cosmos to come into being as a result of its existence (creatio ex deo). Proclus (412–485 CE), his disciple, later clarified that “The One is God.”

Similarly, according to Aristotle, the “unmoved mover” (Gk. ὃ οὐ κινούμενον κινεῖ, lit. “that which moves without being moved”) or “prime mover” is the main cause (or first uncaused cause) of all the motion in the cosmos but is not itself moved or caused by any previous action or causation. Notice that the so-called “first cause” arguments do not entail multiplicity or diversity but rather unity and oneness.

In other words, nothing can come into being from nothing. Think about everything you see around you: your house, your car, your phone, your computer, your clothes, your food, your furniture, your TV, your parents, your friends, even yourself. Everything comes from something else. And the further back you go in time, in trying to unravel what caused what, the more you realize that everything came from something else. Someone or something either designed it, produced it, formed it, or gave it birth. If there were 2 gods, we would have to ask who came first? Who brought the second god into being?

However, the cosmological argument necessarily presupposes a single cause, which itself was never caused, namely, a timeless being, capable of creating everything (i.e. all contingent beings). Otherwise, if there was no first “unmoved mover,” there would be an infinite regress of causal dependency ad infinitum. This “first cause” can therefore be inferred via the concept of causation. This is not unlike Leibniz’ “principle of sufficient reason” nor unlike Parmenides’ “nothing comes from nothing” (Gk. οὐδὲν ἐξ οὐδενός; Lat. ex nihilo nihil fit)! All these arguments demonstrate not only that there must be a “necessary” being that designed and sustained the universe, but also that there can only be “one” such being!

——-

The One God of the Old Testament

Epistemology is a philosophical branch that questions the conditions required for a belief to constitute knowledge. The possible sources of knowledge that could justify a belief are based on perception, memory, reason, and testimony. Thus, divine revelation, which was subsequently transcribed or inscripturated, would certainly qualify as “testimony.”

There are multiple passages in both Testaments of the Bible where God declares to be without a counterpart: without an equal. Similar to the “Absolute Being” of philosophy which is logically inferred as a single, first cause, the Old Testament clearly affirms the existence of only one God. So, the uniqueness of a single God can also be attested by Divine Revelation. Scripture is therefore a witness to the reality of God’s existence as being unparalleled and unique. For example, in Isaiah 44.6-7 (NRSV), God declares that there are no other gods in the universe except him. He exclaims:

I am the first and I am the last; besides me

there is no god. Who is like me? Let them

proclaim it, let them declare and set it forth

before me.

In Isaiah 42.8, God states that he doesn’t share his glory with anyone. He alone is God without equal or rival:

I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I

give to no other, nor my praise to idols.

Moreover, in Isaiah 43.10-11, God declares categorically and unequivocally that there were no gods formed before him, nor will there be any gods formed after him:

Before me no god was formed, nor shall

there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and

besides me there is no savior.

This truth is reiterated several times in Isaiah 45.18, 21:

For thus says the Lord, who created the

heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth

and made it (he established it; he did not

create it a chaos, he formed it to be

inhabited!): I am the Lord, and there is no

other.

There is no other god besides me, a

righteous God and a Savior; there is no one

besides me.

This assertion, of course, implies that there are not multiple gods that receive many different forms of religious worship but rather a single Godhead sans equal.

In Isaiah 46.9-10, God sets a unique standard against which all other theories are measured, namely, the fulfillment of prophecy. That is to say, no one else can predict the future except God himself:

I am God, and there is no other; I am God,

and there is no one like me, declaring the

end from the beginning and from ancient

times things not yet done.

Similarly, 2 Sam. 7.22 seems to attest to the truth of God’s oneness by way of divine revelation (cf. 2 Pet 1.18):

You are great, O Lord God; for there is no

one like you, and there is no God besides

you, according to all that we have heard

with our ears.

——-

The One God of the New Testament

When we turn to the Christian scriptures, we find the exact same theme concerning one God who reigns supreme above humanity and the heavenly host. At no point in Scripture is there any hint that there are other gods that exist beside the God of the Old and New Testaments. John 17.3, for instance, brings to bear the authority of Scripture on the matter by calling the source of all creation “the only true God.” Critics of the Trinity (who view it as polytheistic) should be rebuffed because in the Johannine gospel Jesus clearly establishes that there’s *one essence* between himself and God. He proclaims, “The Father and I are one” (10.30).

The Christian doctrine of the Trinity holds that God is one God, but three coeternal, consubstantial persons or hypostases—the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit—as "one God in three Divine Persons". The three Persons are distinct, yet are one "substance, essence or nature" (homoousios). Paul the apostle also knows through direct revelations that “God is one” (Rom. 3.30). Paul understands that the Triune God is not equivalent to multiple gods but is rather a *monotheistic supreme deity* (1 Cor. 8.6 emphasis added):

there is ONE GOD, the Father, from whom

are all things and for whom we exist, and

one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are

all things and through whom we exist.

Colossians 1.15-16 explains that no other god or gods created the universe except God the Father (the source) through his Son (who is his image or reflection):

He [Christ] is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of all creation; for in him all

things in heaven and on earth were created,

things visible and invisible, whether thrones

or dominions or rulers or powers—all things

have been created through him and for him.

1 Tim. 2.5 basically reiterates the exact same concept of the ONE GOD, not as 2 or 3 separate beings, but as ONE BEING (in multiple persons):

For there is one God; there is also one

mediator between God and humankind,

Christ Jesus, himself human.

Similarly, Hebrews 1.2-3 reveals the exact same *truth* regarding a single God and his Son, “through whom he also created the worlds”:

in these last days he [God] has spoken to

us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all

things, through whom he also created the

worlds. He [Christ] is the reflection of God's

glory and the exact imprint of God's very

being, and he sustains all things by his

powerful word.

——-

God is Truth & Does Not Lie

The Bible repeatedly reminds us that God is truth, holiness, and veritable love itself, and therefore he does not lie. The Old Testament verifies his truthfulness by instructing us to imitate his holiness. Exodus 20.16 says,

You shall not bear false witness against

your neighbor.

Proverbs 12.22 reads:

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,

but those who act faithfully are his delight.

What is more, there are many Bible passages that demonstrate unlimited confidence in God’s honesty, transparency, and accountability. Titus 1.1-2 (emphasis added) is such a passage:

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of

Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of

God's elect and the knowledge of the truth

that is in accordance with godliness, in the

hope of eternal life that God, WHO NEVER

LIES, promised before the ages began—

In John 17.17 (ESV), Jesus himself says to God the Father:

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is

truth.

This is reminiscent of Isaiah 65.16 (ESV) which calls the creator, “the God of truth.” He is similarly acknowledged in Deuteronomy 32.4 (NKJV) as “A God of truth and without injustice.”

In Numbers 23.19 (NRSV), God is further attested as a higher-being whose good character precludes deception and lies:

God is not a human being, that he should

lie, or a mortal, that he should change his

mind. Has he promised, and will he not do

it?

Moreover, the doctrine of the Immutability of God describes an attribute of God which prevents him from changing his will or character. It implies that He will make good on all of his promises. Hebrews 6:18 (ICB) puts it thusly:

These two things cannot change. God

cannot lie when he makes a promise, and

he cannot lie when he makes an oath.

These things encourage us who came to

God for safety. They give us strength to

hold on to the hope we have been given.

Conclusion

This life has no guarantees. So, from an interdisciplinary perspective, when there are multiple lines of evidence concerning one God——coupled with cases abounding in the “religious-experience literature” down through the ages——the *testimony* becomes rather robust and trustworthy! In other words, the religious testimony is ipso facto a possible source of knowledge. And this global testimony——which goes far beyond the Judeo-Christian Bible and includes other world religions——indicates that only one God exists. If we add the philosophical arguments that also assert a first cause regarding everything that has been created in the cosmos, then we can safely say that there can only be one God that is responsible for creating and sustaining the universe!

——-

[dustedmagazine]

Joshua Stamper — PRIMEMOVER (self-released)

PRIMEMOVER by Joshua Stamper

Between 2015 and 2021, Resurrection Philadelphia (formerly City Church Philadelphia) commissioned a number of pieces from composer Joshua Stamper. If you'd expect stodgy hymns or Bach retreads, you'd be far off. Stamper's work — mixing chamber music, jazz, and more — doesn't simply provide an easy soundtrack for the liturgical calendar. Instead, he created music that would challenge listeners and participants as well as edify them. Collected as the PRIMEMOVER album, those pieces make a soundtrack for a particular kind of year in the church life, one with puzzles and rest, beauty and complication.

Stamper begins the sequence with an ensemble of horns providing more abrasion than you'd expect in a cathedral for “Night of Darkness Ending.” They give way to more traditional tonality and melody, as if the end of that darkness means the introduction of a more formal sort of light coming through. The piece builds into a jazzy structure around Matt Scarano's percussion, letting a saxophone take off; release in Stamper's world doesn't simply mean the order of a new creation, but the liberation and flight that comes with that joy. 

Listening to Stamper's work proves to be an exercise in theology as much as musicology. We might be far enough out of the worship wars that drums and saxes are allowed on the podium, but Stamper's compositions draw us into complicated spaces, questioning the tone of our meditations or the relationship between metaphysical ideas. In case his music and lyrics weren't weighty enough, he's brought along an eye-catching trio of readers: novelist Marilynne Robinson, Anglican bishop and theologian Rowan Williams, and poet Malcolm Guite (who also provides the inspiration for one of the tracks). That group appears throughout his suite on the Stations of the Cross, the album's theological highlight as Stamper rearranges pieces of scripture in juxtaposition to encourage new experiences of an old tradition. 

Those writers aren't the only notable guests. The Dirty Projectors' Kristin Slipp provides vocals, and half of the Daedalus Quartet add their strings. Even Stamper's lexicographer wife Kory makes an appearance. It could feel like overkill to pull from all these areas, but Stamper wants something big. His opening essays ponders the connections between the spiritual and the physical, wondering how the abstract and ethereal can be made real in particular bodies. The question notes not just the Incarnation, but all incarnation, and PRIMEMOVER engages key moments in the Christian year to provide a sonic grounding for religious experience. 

In doing so, he depicts a number of mental and emotional processes, from dismay and confusion to wonder and hope. With a variety of sounds and excellent performances, Stamper ties these tracks into a grand statement. The statement ends with the brief piece “Contrails,” suggesting (in a roundabout way) the fleeting nature of our experience, the vapor of our vanities. Were he writing a traditional sort of worship piece, it would make for an odd ending. As it is, it provides an essential part of his larger project, and one that might send us back to the beginning. 

Justin Cober-Lake