#but as is the bible says it is and id rather refuse to do something harmless than cause harm because i wanted what i want

[commander-chaoss]

What does side y mean?

I'm pansexual but celibate bc I'm a Christian

[brbjustdying]

Owen/Avery - 14/03/2021

You

15:47 - got a favor to ask 

Dancer

15:50 - call me when u want love 

He tapped the phone icon, hoping she would pick up the first time. she liked to let him wait. 

“Hello Order. It’s been a while, I saw the news, how are you dealing with the loss of your nemesis?”

Of course everyone would know about it… 

“Pretty well. It’s about that, the favor.”

“Oh, pretty boy switched sides because of you? Can’t say I’m surprised. He’s your type.”

“It’s absolutely not what happened, stop. Can you handle his file? And I’ll forget about the waterfall incident. No more debt. Just this one favor.”

“Sounds like I’m getting more than I’m giving. Why do you care?”

“Because there’s a lot of good in it for me. It’s always nice when someone switches sides and you get all their knowledge don’t you think?”

“I see. Give me some time for the pictures, and see for any name change, or family names or whatever. Have it by 3 AM, I’ll be done with the pictures by then. But I won’t make any kind of ID or anything, I sold all my equipment a few months ago.”

“No worries, I’ll talk to Demeter about it.”

He heard the woman laugh on the other end of the line. 

“They’re out of business, you should know it.”

“Favors don’t disappear when you go out of business, you should know that. I’ll text you the details, bye.”

“Bye Order, don’t get used by Adam, he might be nice but you never know if it’s a ruse.” 

He hung up, not wanting to hear more. 

He wasn’t stupid, but he also knew he wasn’t important enough to be used in such a scheme. 

His ties with the villain world weren’t the strongest, and he had very little influence there. He was mostly known for getting in the way, but always having people owe him for some reason. That’s what he got for being gifted with such a strong power he guessed. 

*

“Are you sure? I don’t mind helping you know.”

“Stop it, I like cooking. Besides, I have something else for you to do.”

“Oh?”

He laid down the paper he’d printed at work.

“This is your current identity. Everything I could find in your public record. Now, I’ve asked a friend to help me change it. It’s something we do pretty often when someone switches sides, to protect them. This friend is going to change every record of you, altering your picture so it’s different but similar. People won’t notice the difference, but if they see the real you they will just think you look similar. It helps a whole lot trust me. If there’s anything you want to change, you can just cross it out and rewrite it. I got some colorful pens somewhere… Dancer hates purple so use it as much as you want.”

“Dancer?”

“My friend. She’s currently doing the pictures.”

Adam grabbed the pen, looking unsure at the idea. 

“Is it really necessary?”

“You’ve been declared a criminal by the administration, and with a really high bounty. everyone will be trying to get you as soon as you step a foot outside.”

“Oh.”

Owen internally sighed. This was all new for the guy. Of course it would feel weird. 

“What am I supposed to change? What’s the things that matter the most basically.”

Well, that was a quick change of attitude. Weird. 

“Usually, place of birth, names of closest family, but also some people in the extended family. They didn’t have a file on your family so don’t worry about it, it’s not public knowledge. Things like height, weight, but just slightly. We can’t do anything about the power obviously, but you’re only supposed to use it when having a mask on so it’s usually not a problem. Most people also change their names and find an alias.”

That was the biggest one. People didn’t like changing their names, but he heard it happened very often in the academy, or even when they started as heroes. since they didn’t have aliases, they tried to have names that meant something relating to their powers or their values. Though it seemed to be marketing more than anything, it worked great and people loved to theorize around destiny and if giving your child a specific name could improve their chances at becoming a great hero one day. The number of articles made about the subject was astounding. 

“You think I should change my name?”

He shrugged.

“It’s your choice. It’s very common, but it’s super personal so most people don’t want to do it. It means too much to them. You have a fairly common name, so you might be fine keeping it.”

“No I think I’d like to change it.”

“Okay, need ideas?”

He nodded. 

Owen went to his office, giving Panda a scratch on the head on the way, and retrieved three books from the top shelf. They were super dusty. 

When he came back, he dropped them on the table, smiling at the puff of dust that rose from them, and the disgusted expression on Adam’s face. 

“Looks like the bible. Let’s see. Girls name, alphabetical order. Boy’s name, alphabetical order, Gender neutral names, alphabetical. Gender neutral?”

“Names you can give to a boy or a girl, usually a lot of non binary people like those more than heavily gendered names. It’s been changing in recent years, but it’s still difficult to be accepted if your name is closely tied to a specific gender so people often choose to change it. Have a look while I make dinner.”

He wanted to make something really nice, because he still hadn’t slept in ages, and he needed to have at least that. Then he’d have to get some sleep, because he’d had way too much coffee. Maybe one day he’d even manage to get a schedule for his sleep. Right now it couldn’t be called a schedule, it was all over the place, there was no pattern. And it made work even more intolerable. 

As he was slicing a cucumber, Adam spoke again. 

“I think I found one I like.”

“Hmm.”

“Avery. I really like it, or Wren. But I’m not sure, what do you think.”

“It’s your choice, you’ll be the one wearing it every day. Avery is closer to Adam so it might be easier to get used to but honestly I’m not sure.”

Chosen from the gender neutral book. Interesting. 

“You think it needs to be close to the previous name?”

“Not really. I almost changed mine to Clarence so…”

“You did? Why? And why not really. If you don’t mind telling me.”

“Don’t worry. I really wanted to be called chaos, and the convention is to choose an alias with the same first letter as your name. It was really stupid though.”

“Chaos would fit you. What made you decide against it?”

“Uuuuh…”

“It’s fine.”

The truth was… A little shameful. 

His mom found out about it, and told him that she’s almost named him Clyde, after the famous Bonnie and Clyde story. She also said Chaos was super corny, and didn’t suit him at all. “You’re an orderly boy Owen, and you should know yourself better. What you want is justice and peace, not chaos and destruction.”

“It’s because of my mom. God I still can’t believe you met her! I texted her and she only answered with an emoji, and now she won’t answer my calls.”

“She was really nice, don’t worry she didn’t tell anything weird about you or whatever.”

He grumbled and turned back to his cucumber. The betrayal of it all! No one was supposed to know where he lived or anything. But he’d rather have Adam know about where he lived than where his mom lived. Not that it really mattered now. 

“Anything else you changed on the paperwork?”

“Made hero me a little taller, not sure how believable it is but I’m pretty small so… Also changed the date of birth by two days, and the place of birth to a city with a really similar name i found online. Do you think it’s enough?”

“Sure. Do you have allergies?”

“Not that I know of, why?”

“Just to be sure I don’t accidentally kill you, it would suck.” 

Adam snickered. 

“So, settled on a name?”

“I think I’m going to go with Avery. I really like the sound of it.” 

Owen wished they had more time to think about this, he really did. It was a big thing, hopefully he wouldn’t change his mind in a few days or weeks. 

“Alright, take pictures of the picture and send them to me, I’ll transfer them to Di- Dancer.”

Almost spilled the real name of one of his friends, great. He was getting a little too comfortable around the ex-hero.

His phone chimed, and he knew it was already done. He dressed the plate and put them on the table, Avery having moved the books out of the way to the coffee table. 

“Can you take them back to my office? Last door, I think it’s open. Panda is probably sitting on the chair but you can move him if you want.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude.”

“I mean you’re probably going to stay here for a while so might as well get used to the place. Go, or I’ll eat your food!” 

He dashed to the office, talking to Panda once he was there, and Owen smilled. 

I really need to sleep. I can’t just be his friend so easily. God what even is happening.

Dinner went really well. They talked about a whole bunch of different things, but Owen couldn’t help but notice that Avery always avoided the subject of his family. He loved to tease Owen about his mom, but didn’t offer any information about his potential family. It could be from a desire to protect them, but seeing as the administration didn’t have any file on them, and they’d never been quoted in interviews, not even mentioned as refusing to comment for articles, he had another idea. 

“Why did you call yourself order then?”

Owen looked up from his phone, trying to forget the text from Dancer that said “got the papers. fuck u for the purple, also avery is a really nice name for a really cute boy, give him my number” 

“What?”

“Why order, why not something else, like… Offense? Omen? Omelet?”

“Oh I’d be a terrifying villain if I was named omelet, for sure. Told you, my mom.”

Panda walked into the room like he owned it, which he pretty much did, distracting Avery from the discussion. 

The boy crouched down, smiling brightly when the cat purred and asked for more pets, meowing softly from time to time. 

Damn friendly cat, already forgot me and everything I do for him.

“Well, looks like you just found your first kid. Good luck being a parent, he’s a brat.”

“How dare you! Panda has been nothing but an adorable gentleman since I met him.”

“Hmm, wait for the day where you need to take him to the vet because he knocked down an entire shelf and looks like he broke his bones but really he’s just being dramatic and messing with you.”

“Not cool Panda, not cool.”

Panda only looked smug, as usual, probably not seeing the problem in doing anything for attention. 

Owen flopped on the couch, wanting nothing more than for his brain to just shut off, sleep for about a week, and not have a single thought. That never happened of course, but maybe today would be the day.

“So, what’s your villain name going to be?”

“You think I need one?”

“Unless you plan to sit on your ass while I use all the info you gave me do to something, yeah you need one.”

“True.” 

He took Panda in his arms, and came to sit next to Owen.

Too close.

“Got any ideas? I don’t know how I can choose something like that… At the academy we could put suggestions, but I didn’t think they’d call me that.”

“Adam’s not your original name?”

“Nah. Don’t remember what it was though. I’ve been there for a long time.” 

Weird. 

“Okay. Strange.”

“They have this dude that can replace memories. He usually only uses his powers to change minimal memories from students, the name is one of them. He hates doing it, but if he’s not on the side of the administration I guess they’d hunt him down because it’s such a dangerous power.”

Huh.

“Probably yeah. Are you curious to know what the name before Adam was?”

“Kind of? I guess yeah. It might be able to tell me something about myself. Don’t know how I’d ever get that information.”

“Good thing that’s what I do then! Hang on, I’ll get my laptop so we can find you a cool villain name.”

He let Avery cuddle Panda to death, and quickly sent another text to Dancer, asking her to dig up anything she could about that. 

Dancer

20:44 - this is really big Order, real big 

20:45 - fuck imagine what they can do about it 

20:46 - I’m getting Neon on it with me 

He wouldn’t mention it to Avery unless they came up with something interesting. He didn’t need more things to worry about. He’d already offered to cover half of the rent despite staying only a day, and a bunch of unnecessary things. Where did he get his awesome morals? 

“So! Most people have an idea because you don’t just decide to become a villain like that. But sometimes it happens, in that case you go online, and look up lists of words until you find one you resonate with. Here, have a loot. You can choose any letter, but I really recommend something that starts with an a.”

“Alright, let’s see.” 

Panda moved to Owen, disappointed that he wasn’t the center of attention anymore. Sadly it wouldn’t be much better from his owner, who fell asleep without even knowing, only to wake up a few hours later, gently being shaken by his new friend. 

“Hey Owen. It’s really late, I think you should go to sleep in your bed.”

He grumbled his answer, not sure himself what he intended to say. For once he’d actually fallen asleep, curse him for waking him up. He was comfortable too, something warm next to him. 

He abruptly stood up when he realized that he’d been sleeping laying on Ad-Avery. Oh no. Oh my god no what an idiot.

The guy smiled softly, and then grabbed his hand to lead him to his room, thinking his foggy mind probably prevented him from finding his way. 

Panda only moved a little, not wanting to leave the warm blanket that had ended up on both of them at some point. 

When the warm hand that was holding his let go, pushing him gently towards his bed, he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep any more that night. 

*

Owen was waiting for his coffee to brew, in a bigger french press than the previous day. He’d done his bets to be silent, but Avery still heard him. 

He looked like death. Weird, considering he’d been sleeping so well the previous evening. Did he not go back to sleep after he went to his room? He didn’t make any noise, so Avery assumed he’d fallen asleep again. Did he have insomnia problems? Maybe he shouldn’t have woken him up… 

He shook his head and closed the bathroom door, intending to take a short shower and then plan his next move. 

It had been a weird few days. 

When he stumbled here the other night, broken and lost, he didn’t expect Order to help him. Of all people, he probably should hate him the most, they had fought so much and he always got in his way. 

But instead he was faced with an almost stranger. someone kind, calm, thoughtful and resourceful. Who had a pretty good fashion sense too! 

He glanced at the simple cream shirt and grey sweatpants and underwear the other hand lent him, refusing his protests. He’d been so nice, Avery felt bad. What had he done that was so great to deserve such kindness? Because it seemed like his whole life had only been a lie. 

Trained by the academy since he was a kid, through summer camps, special classes, coaches, everything, he’d grown up to become a powerful hero, with a lot of potential, or so everyone said. But it never really felt right. Then he moved on to the actual academy, taking as many classes as he could, always doing his best. It was a good education, and he needed as much of it as possible if he wanted to be a good hero, who did the right thing. 

His dedication and drive started to become annoying traits of his, rather than what teachers and coaches praised. Hewanted to know too much, he realized now. It wasn’t like he ever suspected there was something so bad hiding behind. 

And now, they had destroyed everything in just one night. Everyone thought he was an insane person who just wanted to believe in the conspiracy, and bring people down. The public opinion had swayed very easily, a couple false articles being enough to change people’s mind. 

He couldn’t even be angry at them, he’d fallen for it too, when he’d seen other heroes switch sides and read about their reasons in the pres. he never questioned it. The press had always been fairly nice to him, he didn’t have many enemies in the journalists. 

It was probably because the administration controlled them too. 

He wiped his tears and rinsed his hair one last time, before turning off the water. 

He had to at least pretend it was fine. Owen was nice enough to let him stay around even if he had no reason to, and he couldn’t be any kind of a burden. He was glad Panda was around, he was great at comfort. Even if he did bite his fingers a couple times. He wouldn’t tell that to Owen, it would make him right. 

He got dressed and messed with his hair for a while, before giving up. It was a mess like it always was no point in trying now. Sometimes he really hated whoever gave him genes for such fluffy hair. It was impossible to handle. One of his friend had theorized it was because he was of east asian descent, and that he had to try different ways of taking care of it to find what was the best. But he hadn’t, because it felt too much like something his actual parent should have taught him, not something to look up online. and that made him really sad, for some reason. 

“Whatever, let’s find Panda and get a hug,” he whispered to himself. 

He had hoped the cat would be on the couch, here he’d last seen him, licking his butt after having his breakfast, but he wasn’t there anymore. 

Owen was sitting at the kitchen island, writing furiously on his laptop, and barely sparred him a glance. 

For some reason, Avery suddenly felt really heavy, an intense sadness filling him, and he wondered when this would end. It was probably just a bad time, things would get better after a while, but he could sense that something else was about to fall on him and destroy everything again, and he didn’t look forward to that. 

Why does it never stop?

“Hey.” 

Owen was standing in front of him, concern on his face, definitely awake despite his lack of sleep. 

Avery didn’t say anything. He knew if he tried, he would start crying again, and he couldn’t have that. Not now. Not in front of him. It wasn’t - 

Owen slowly wrapped his arms around him, giving him plenty of time to move or push him away. But he didn’t. It felt nice. He hugged him back, enjoying the warmth of his friend. He’d always been taller, something Avery hated when they had to fight a little too close, but right now it was really nice. He was whispering reassurances to him, telling him it would be alright, they’d find solutions and it wouldn’t always suck this much. 

It felt really nice, and he hoped it would last forever. For once, his thoughts had stopped racing. 

*

He had barely slept, and kept turning and tossing in his bed, wondering if he had fallen asleep so easily because he was so tired, or if it was because of the person next to him. 

He already knew the answer, but didn’t want to think about it, much less go ask the other for a hug so he could sleep again. 

God he really needed to talk to a new doctor about this. One who wouldn’t ask too many questions about what could possibly be stressing him out, or preventing him from going to bed at reasonable hours. 

When a reasonable time came, he got up and made the biggest pot of coffee he could find. He thought he had a bigger pot, but couldn’t remember where it was, and didn’t want to make even more noise than he had. Avery had woken up anyway, so it wasn’t like it mattered. But he didn’t have the mental energy to dedicate to it all. So he just made his coffee, giving his guest some clothes and squashing his complaints. If he didn’t want him to stay around, he was very capable of kicking him out, regular person way or villain way. He’d like to keep his apartment clean and Panda calm though. 

The first cup of coffee felt like drinking that water that was supposed to give eternal youth, the name of which he couldn’t remember or bother to look up. The second one was more for pleasure than out of necessity. 

He’d gotten a text from his boss, saying the shop had been damaged in a fight last night, and he didn’t need to come in for work for at least two weeks. The administration would cover the wages of the employees as well as the cost of repairs. 

A blessing truly, he just had to fill in a form with his information, as well as a formal declaration that he wasn’t present when the incident happened. 

Easy peasy. 

But then Avery walked out of the bathroom, eyes still red from crying, and looking really sad. He wasn’t sure what to do, so he didn’t mention it, but from the way his face fell, it was clearly not the right thing to do. 

He looked like the weight of the world was on his shoulder. And maybe it was a little bit after all. His whole world had come crashing down just two days ago. 

“Hey.” 

He tried to keep his voice soft, and not cold as it apparently always was. According to his friends at least. 

Avery looked like he needed a hug, so without overthinking it, Owen did just that. He gave him time to push back of course, he didn’t have to accept, but he did. He even clung to him like he was the last person on earth, relaxing visibly, and even smiling a little against his neck. 

Oh this was bad, really bad. Owen would never be able to squash his feelings now, they’d refuse to go away, reminding him of this moment. 

They stayed like this for a long time, Owen doing his best to make Avery feel better, giving him empty promises of making things better and finding solutions. It seemed to work, because he stopped breathing so fast and being so tense. 

It was going well until Panda decided he wanted some of that attention for himself too, and literally jumped from the counter onto Avery’s shoulder, making him gasp in surprise. 

“Is that…?”

“Yep. That’s Panda, jealous that he’s no longer the center of attention, despite being the king of this house. Come on Panda, that’s just rude now. Do you even have an ounce of manners in that fluffy body of yours?” 

The cat meowed, making Avery laugh. 

“I don’t think Panda has a lot of respect for you.”

He shifted a little, but didn’t seem ready to let go yet, so Owen just rubbed little circles on his back, considering his answer carefully. 

“Panda don’t take it personally okay? You’re right, he has no manners. Honestly he’s super friendly, but also really bratty ? I don’t know where he got that. I tried to educate him but…”

“Aw, be nice to him. He’s sweet. He let me pet him so much! I really like him. I always wanted to have a pet but couldn’t. It’s so nice.” 

He finally let go, quickly wiping his eyes, and then grabbing Panda from his shoulder, and carrying him like a baby instead. 

“I’m going to be off of work for at least two weeks, so I will be around to see how much of a betrayal Panda is, and just how much cuddling he can accept from other people.”

“He doesn’t accept it from you?”

“Oh he does, but I think he found a new favorite person.”

Avery blushed, and OWen couldn’t help but notice just how cute that was. 

Before they got the chance to say anything else, the landline started ringing. 

The only person who called on this line was his mom. So she was done with ignoring him. 

“Ah, the traitor finally stops ignoring me!”

“The traitor?”

He grabbed the phone, ready to give his mom a piece of his mind. 

“Hi baby! Am I bothering you? I saw the place where you work got blown up, it was night and no hospital texted me, so I guess you’re doing fine.”

“Hi mom, or should I call you traitor?”

“Oh Owen that’s a bit strong, makes me reconsider my offer too, such an ungrateful son!” 

Her voice contained no heat, only amusement. Clearly she didn’t care what he thought. He only raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to elaborate.

“You’re going to be off work right?  I’m going to your uncle’s house, if you want to come with me and take some holidays!” 

Oh. So that was what it was about. 

“Can I bring someone?” 

On the other end of the line, he heard his mother choke on her drink, cough it out for a solid minute before talking again. It made him smile. He was full of surprises. 

“Yes, of course. do I know that person?”

“Yeah, it’s what I’ve been trying to call you about for two days now.”

“Oh, that nice boy I met once. Really sweet and polite, Adam I think? The press isn't kind to him lately.”

“His name is Avery now. I’ll take the ferry as usual. Get ready for Panda, he misses you.”

“Wonderful, I look forward to seeing you boys. Oh this promises to be interesting, you have to give me details alright? I know I’m your mom, but I wanna know.”

“Nope, definitely not. Bye mom, see you tomorrow, love you.” 

She chuckled but said her goodbyes. 

Why didn’t I tell her it’s not like that. Oh god she probably thinks we’re dating. Oh no she’s going to make this so awkward. I’m such an idiot.

He stopped his internal panic when he noticed Avery looking at him curiously. 

“Wanna spend a week at a beach house?”

*

I will write them more, just maybe not tomorow (I’ve been procrastinating my homework a whole lot)

[famous-aces]

Simone Weil

Who: Simone Adolphine Weil

What: Philosopher, Mystic, and Political Activist

Where: French-Jewish (active largely in France, Spain, and UK) 

When: February 3, 1909 - August 24, 1943

(Image Description: a black and white photo of Weil in the 1940s on the street in Marseilles. She is a pale woman with an oval face and big round glasses. Her hair is short and dark and fluffy. She is wearing a beret and a cap.  She is in her early thirties but I would have thought she was older. Behind her are buses, sidewalk [with trees] and curb. There are some other people on the street behind her. End ID)

There isn't much about Simone Weil that isn't odd and often contradictory. A pacifist who went to war, a Christian mystic who refused baptism, a writer whose most important works were not published until after her death, a religious humanist, intelligent but perpetually naïve, an ethnically Jewish woman utterly disconnected from her heritage, despite embracing the questioning and intellectualism that characterize much of the Jewish faith.

The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy calls her "a philosopher of margins and paradoxes" and André Gide called her “the patron saint of all outsiders.". Today she an important left-leaning philosopher, but her real influence did not come until after her death. But between 1995 and 2012, more than half a century after her death, over 2,500 newly scholarly articles about her were published.  She inspired the likes of Albert Camus, Jean-Luc Godard, Pankaj Mishra, Flannery O'Connor, and Pope Paul VI. Camus said she was "the only great spirit of our times." But her legacy is extremely mixed (with good reason) and some claim she was insane or unbalanced. Even people who greatly admired her say she was a bit odd.  Susan Sontag calls her "one of the most uncompromising and troubling witnesses to the modern travail of the spirit." Which may be an accurate description. She was strange, often contrary, sadly comedic, and, indeed, sometimes deeply troubling. Which is odd, considering that her heart was almost certainly in the right place; regardless of her naïveté and occasional hypocrisy her goal was truth and justice. And as mixed as her legacy was there is a lot to admire in Weil's steadfastness and dedication to others. Indeed her uniqueness of character almost makes her worthy of study even without her influence.

Weil's heart was in the right place (she had a darker side that I will get to).  She was extremely dedicated to the workers, the poor, and the otherwise less fortunate, and was critical of both capitalism and communism. Eventually this dedication extended to God, not necessarily religion, but an Abrahamic God.

She wrote extensively on a number of subjects including labor, management, politics, war, peace, religion and spirituality, among other subjects throughout her life. She was an activist who threw herself into the fray, mind, soul, and body. This last despite being in quite poor physical health for all her life, including suffering from tuberculosis. Her intellectualism and dedication to others began in early childhood. She was always reading and forming opinions. At age five Weil refused to eat sugar to be in solidarity with French soldiers in World War I (then raging).  Her activism often got her in trouble at school, something that didn't change when she went from student to teacher. She was always something of an outsider among her peers.

She was extremely political, altruistic, self-sacrificing, and warm hearted throughout her life. As an adult she worked largely as a writer and teacher, inturupted to spend time incognito working in an automobile factory to get first hand experience/accounts of the plight of workers and the psychological damages caused by industrialization. She was involved in the 1933 general strike in France. Ultimately she was booted from several teaching gigs because of her politics, activism, and contributions to leftist journals. 

She briefly fought against the Fascists in Spain (1936) but was very clumsy and a poor shot due to her terrible eyesight. No one really knew what to do with her, but she was dedicated. Weil ultimately ended up injuring herself with hot oil and her parents came and took her away.

Around this time she became very interested in Catholicism. She was never baptized, however, because her religious interests were far broader than one faith, extending to numerous religious traditions of the East and West, and she disagreed with some of the more brutal moments in the Bible. She had sort of her own conception of God and faith, she called it fundamentally Christian, but it was really her own philosophy with a grounding in the Abrahamic concept of an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and above all omnibenevolent God.

It is important to note that despite being ethnically Jewish Weil was in no way religiously Jewish and has been criticized as downright antisemetic. Having barely read anything of hers beyond a little for this project I cannot say without a doubt if she was, but what I have heard described certainly worrisome. This is obviously not exhaustive and she may have said far worse but she was critical of the Torah (without realizing a lot of the things she loved about Christianity actually came from it), critical of the cruelty of the "Old Testament"/Talmudic God (as if Christianity didn't embrace those actions perhaps more than the Jewish faith), claimed that Hitler was no worse than any other colonizer, while comparing Judaism/Jewish people to the Roman Empire/Romans (she hated the Roman Empire). So be aware of that, especially given the era -- both the one Weil was writing in and our own. Her family was secular, she never interacted with Judaism on any real level, so it is possible -- given the political climate at the time and France's history of antisemitism -- Weil was misled, but given the fact that her political views changed throughout her life (starting as a communist and ultimately abandoning it) and the fact that she was so open hearted elsewhere is saddening and negates the ignorance argument.  It does seem she failed to understand the weight and reality of what she was saying/critiquing. She was vehemently against racism in other forms, but never seemed to make the connection. According to some sources she was always shocked to be called out on hypocrisy (which she was, more than once). So maybe there is something to be said for her just not getting it. This is not an excuse for hatred, but ignorance might be a huge part of the problem.

After France fell to the Nazis in 1940, Weil and her parents fled and began a life in exile, first in the US, then in England.  In England Weil wrote her best known work, L'Enracinement, prélude à une déclaration des devoirs envers l'être humain (The Need for Roots: Prelude Towards a Declaration of Duties Towards Mankind) (written 1943, but it wasn't published until 1949). During this time she worked for the French Resistance, although exactly in what capacity seems to be unknown. But her punishing work against the Nazis and penchant for self-denial ultimately ended up costing her her life at age 34 of either heart failure from malnutrition or tuberculosis. 

(Image Description: the cover of one of Weil's many notebooks. On it she has written "3 (1941)" in the top left corner. She has covered the rest of it in writing in a bunch of different languages including Greek and Sanskrit [maybe?]. All of it is written in squares/rectangles with one rectangle in the middle with shapes/writing in it. End ID)

Like The Need for Roots most of her work was printed posthumously. Her ouevre has been translated into other languages, including English, Arabic, and German as she reached international acclaim.  During her life only a few of her works were published of the 20-some volumes that survive today. Her most important works include (French / English) L'Iliade ou le poème de la force / The Iliad, or the Poem of Force (1940), La Pesanteur et la grâce / Gravity and Grace (1947), Attente de Dieu / Waiting for God (1950), Lettre à un religieux / Letter to a Priest (1951), Oppression et Liberté / Oppression and Liberty (1955) among others, including a lot of eccentric, esoteric, and diverse notebooks kept throughout her life, like the one above.

Probable Orientation: Aroace

As is probably obvious I do not quite know what to make of Weil, but one thing I can tell you is she was definitely asexual.

Weil's sexlessness (and by extension asexuality) has long been part of the narrative oddness of her life. The fact that she shunned physical and romantic relationships is often thought of as part of the pathetic humor as her personality. Clumsy, naïve, downright weird, sexless has become part of that persona, that cloak of oddity. 

People love to claim political reasons for others chastity and Weil is no exception. There has to be some reason beyond natural disinterest. The alternative is too foreign or strange for allos to fathom. All of these suppositions are equally aphobic. The idea that asexuality must be a conscious choice rather than a natural part of a person is extremely damaging as is the idea that not feeling sexual/romantic attraction/desiring sex/romance is unnatural.  There have been people who try to explain away Weil's lack of sexual desire as well: some Christian writers say she was devoting herself to God years before she found the church (Weil herself says the idea of pursuing what she calls "purity" struck her at 16, she would not find Catholicism for more than a decade), to certain subgroups of feminists her sexlessness a conscious choice to escape the patriarchy. But really it seems much more to be her sexual orientation than a political statement. Weil was a woman who made a lot of political statements, constantly, but the avoidance of sexual contact seemed natural rather than put on. 

For one thing she spurned physical contact, but only that with sexual intent. She didn't spurn friendly contact and she would kiss her friends in a platonic way more common in her era. Weil wasn't prudish nor offended by the idea of sex. When she was asked if she was seeing anyone she laughed, but was unbothered, it was more like she thought the idea of her dating was ridiculous rather than looking down on the idea. She had many friends both male and female. 

 In her teen years Weil started dressing oddly so that no one would find her physically attractive. She had a reputation from youth as being a weirdo in part due to her asexuality, but an attractive one. Although it seems that people, especially boys, had a mixed response to her attempts to mask her beauty. Some of them said it was a shame, others said she was never attractive in the first place.

Many of her critics in the modern day claim her odd traits and behaviors can be explained away by extreme sexual repression, once again giving into that belief that sex makes us normal and whole.

Also like many aroaces it seems that Weil put her love and attention into someone or something other than a significant other/partner. For many of them it is a specific friend or family member, for others it is a passion or cause. These are the historical figures dubbed to be "married to their work". This includes the likes of Erdős, Rankin, Franklin, Santos-Dumont, Nightingale, Wang, Woodson, and Tesla. This is not to say they were friendless, indeed some of them have extremely close relationships but overall these are people who dedicate themselves utterly and completely to their passion and their work. People with more than drive. People who are happiest not in a romantic/sexual relationship, but when doing what they love. I think Weil is part of that category. Her love was not for one person but for nearly the whole of the world. 

(Image Description: a photo of Weil as a young woman/teenager. She is a pretty and pale woman with fluffy dark hair, dark eyes, and full lips. She is not yet wearing her glasses.  She is shown from the neck up. End ID)

Quotes:

"The idea of purity, with all that this word can imply for a Christian [so, virginity], took possession of me at the age of sixteen, after a period of several months during which I had been going through the emotional unrest natural in adolescence. This idea came upon me while I was contemplating a mountain landscape and little by little it was imposed upon me in an irresistible manner." 

-Simone Weil, letter sent to a priest friend on May 15, 1942. (Years after the fact Weil attributed her lack of interest in sex to an inclination to Christianity, but it sounds as if she herself is trying to explain away her lack of sexual attraction or interest. This is something a lot of baby aspecs still do, try to explain away why they aren't interested in sex or romance. I know I did.)

"The Red Virgin" 

-The taunting nickname given to Weil by her classmates due to her chasteness and lack of romantic interest.  She was also referred to as "the Martian" for being "inhuman" and was widely mocked for being aspec. 

"As for her death, whatever explanation one may give of it will amount in the end to saying that she died of love.”

-Sir Richard Reeds (due to the fact that, despite being chronically ill with a fatal disease she continued to work for the French Resistance while also not eating anything above the French ration to show her solidarity.)

(Image Description: a colorized photo of Weil from 1936 when she was fighting in Spain. She is wearing a dark military uniform with a dark bandana around her neck. Her dark hair is even darker than usual. She has a rifle on her back. There are some men behind her on a fairly quiet street. End ID) 

[chimcharstar]

1 THROUGH 55 AND 1 THROUGH 30 GO GO GO

LETS FUCKIN GO

tumblr please actually make this a keep reading

55 interesting questions you should drop in someone’s inbox

1. If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?

I ALREADY WATCH NETFLIX AND AGONIZE OVER MY STORY

2. What’s your favorite piece of clothing you’ve own/owned?

MY JACKETS. ANY CHEST OBSCURING, BROAD SHOULDERED, COZY JACKET

3. What hobbies would you get into if time and money wasn’t an issue?

DANCING, ID NEED TO GO TO CLASSES OR SOMETHING

4. What would your perfect room look like?

IM ACTUALLY PRETTY HAPPY WITH MY ROOM BUT IVE ALWAYS WANTED A LAVA LAMP, AND 1800 MORE PLANTS COULDNT HURT

5. Do you play sports?

NO

6. What fiction place would you love to go to?

SINNOH REGION

7. What Job would you be terrible at?

DEBT COLLECTION. I WOULD BE GIVING SHIT TO PEOPLE FOR FREE. I COULDNT BEAR BEING ENCOURAGED TO FORCE PEOPLE WHO CANT PAY FOR SOMETHING TO PAY MORE

8. If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would it be?

SERVING. HOW MANY PLATES CAN YOU CARRY AT ONCE

9. What’s the most annoy habit other people have?

WALKING IN MY SPACE BUBBLE WHEN MY SENSES ARE OVERLOADED

10. What skill would you like to master?

A SECOND LANGUAGE

11. What would be the most amazing adventure to go on?

THE ONE FROM MY DREAM WHERE I KISSED A GIRL DYED MY HAIR BLUE AND WE ELOPED TO BRAZIL TO RAISE SHEEP

12. What’s your favorite drink ?

THAT CHRISTMAS SHIT. PEPPERMINT MOCHA AT STARBUCKS. A FRIEND GOT IT FOR ME ONCE. NOW I ORDER IT A BILLION TIMES.

13. What state or country would you never like to go back to?

I HAVE NOT TRAVELLED MUCH EVER

14. What songs do you have completely memorized?

I DONT REMEMBER LYRICS SO MUCH, BUT I COULD PROBABLY REMEMBER HOW MANY SONGS GO COMPLETELY

15. Are you usually early or late?

LATE. IM GETTING BETTER THOUGH

16. What takes up too much of your time?

GETTING OUT OF BED

17. What do you wish you knew more about?

SWORDS

18. What are some small things that make your day better?

COFFEE. SOMEONE SAYING SOMETHING NICE TO ME.

19. What TV channel doesn’t exist but really should?

QUEER EYE BUT BY TRANS PEOPLE FOR TRANS PEOPLE

20. Who has impressed you the most with what they’ve accomplished?

YOU. AND ME. ITS GROWTH

21. What age do you wish you can permanently be?

21, SO I HAVE TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE FUCKS GOING ON

22. What TV show or movie do you refuse to watch?

13 REASONS, THE BOOK WAS TRIGGERING SO I WONT RISK IT

23. What would be your ideal way to spend you weekend?

TAKING A WALK, HAVING COFFEE, WATERING PLANTS… IM HAPPY

24. What’s something in your life that’s considered a luxury?

I HAVE PERFUME...

25. Is there anything you’re too young/old for?

TO YOUNG TO NEVER DRINK. TOO OLD FOR POKEMON

26. What’s your favorite genre book or movie?

I DONT HAVE THE ATTENTION SPAN FOR EITHER BUT I SEEM TO LIKE URBAN FANTASY A LOT

27. How often do you people watch?

I THINK IM SO POLITE BUT HONESTLY, I QUIETLY SCRUTINIZE SO MANY PEOPLE ON THE TRAIN EVERY DAY AND GUESS AT THEIR PERSONAL HABITS AND SELF IMAGE.

28. What’s the best single day on the calendar?

MY BIRTHDAY, SAGITTARIUS SEASON RULES BABY

29. What are you interested in that most people haven’t heard of?

I DONT KNOW ABOUT ANYTHING PPL HAVENT HEARD OF BUT IM INTERESTED IN BLACK HOLES

30. Do you relax after a hard day?

FOOD. NETFLIX. DECOMPOSING ON TUMBLR

31. What’s the best book or series you’ve ever read?

I HAVENT READ A BOOK I REALLY LOVE IN AGES. HARRY POTTER AND ARTEMIS FOWL WERE MY FAVOURITES GROWING UP, BUT CORNELIA FUNKES BOOKS SLAPPED AND HIS DARK MATERIALS WAS GORGEOUS

32. Where’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home?

IDAHO?

33. What’s the most heart warming thing you’ve ever seen?

LUCIFER WAS LIKE YOU DESERVE SOMEONE WHO CARES ABOUT YOUR BORING MIDDLE NAME JANE AND KNOWS THAT EVERY MURDER BREAKS YOUR HEART AND YOU SIMPLY DESERVE BETTER SO NO MORE MOMENTS WHILE THEYRE HAVING A MOMENT AND CHLOE IS WATCHING THIS FUCKING IDIOT AND IVE WATCHED THIS BEFORE SO I KNOW SHES GONNA KISS HIM AND THEN THEY KISS

34. What’s the most annoying question that people ask you?

ANY SMALL TALK QUESTIONS

35. Would you give a 40 minute presentation with no preparation?

YES. ID MAKE THAT SHIT RIGHT UP. SKILLS

36. What’s something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?

GIVE ME A HUG AND SOME CHOCOLATE

37. Would you rather go Hand Gliding or Whitewater rafting?

HANG GLIDING

38. Dream car?

SOMETHING I DONT HAVE TO WORRY WILL FALL INTO PIECES AT ANY MOMENT

39. What’s something so many people are obsessed with and you just don’t understand why?

STRAIGHT LOVE SONGS

40. What are you most looking forward to in 10 years from now?

HAVING A CAT

41. What’s something you’ve been meaning to try but haven’t gotten to it?

DECORATING THE DOLLHOUSE I RESCUED FROM THE BATHROOM

42. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you all week?

IM NOT VERY FAR THROUGH THE WEEK AND I HAVENT ENJOYED MOST OF IT BUT PEOPLE SAYING ADORABLE THINGS

43. How different was your life one year ago?

NOT A LOT DIFFERENT, IM JUST LONELY IN THE CITY NOW, MINUS A TOXIC RELATIONSHIP, ONE YEAR ON T

44. What/who would you rate 10/10?

MY CACTUS JAKEN. I DROPPED HIM SO MANY TIMES AN ENTIRE HALF OF HIS SPIKES ARE FLAT SCARS. AND LOOK AT HIM. THRIVING

45. What kind of art do you enjoy the most?

GENUINELY MADE ART

46. What do you hope never changes?

MY T PRESCRIPTION

47. What movie title best describes your life?

I LOOKED THROUGH NETFLIX AND I PICK TWILIGHT

48. What website do you visit most often?

TUMBLR

49. What’s something you’re looking forward to this year?

MY BIRTHDAY

50. What’s something you’d like to unlearn?

FINDING A REASON TO CANCEL EVERY SINGLE LITTLE THING

51. Where would you spend all your time if you could?

WALKING BY SOME RUNNING WATER

52. What age would you like to live to?

80. THATS MY MENTAL HEALTH ANSWER

53. What’s something you’re most likely to become famous for?

SOMETHING CREATIVE WOULD BE AWESOME

54. What’s something you’re most likely to be arrested for?

CRIMES

55. What’s something you really want but can’t afford?

A CAT

Lgbt+ ask game

What do you identify as and what are your pronouns?

I’m even a little shaken by a questioning state right now but for a while I’ve felt the best fit is the androgynous label -- I read a description of it being the purple on a pink to blue scale, both at once but not specifically either one, and something else by itself. I’m also happy with a cryptic masculine grey area. My pronouns are he/him.

How did you discover your sexuality, tell your story?

During the Puberty 1.0 nightmare, I was basically living someone else’s life, and any attraction I felt wasn’t in relation to myself. I felt disconnected from my body and gender and everything too, and I felt a lot of social pressure to experience a certain type of attraction, fit into a certain role, et cetera, and none of these feelings existed in me at all, so I used to identify as ace. When I realized I was trans, I was too caught up in the, transition safely, my life is a lie, stopping dysphoria drama to focus on this, but I had an idea I might be a gay guy judging from my gay creative writing until I caught feelings for a girl and realized this wasn’t the first time that had happened. Some bi positivity and nonbinary rage later, I am reminded that gender is a joke.

Have you experienced being misgendered? What happened and how did you overcome it?

Yes of course A LOT. Starting with my parents, who do it aggressively and maliciously. And plenty from strangers and customers, mostly after hearing my voice pre-transition. It used to hurt terribly because I was dealing with so much other stuff at the time, and one little thing could be the last straw, so I used to react strongly and harshly, to people you express yourself to anyway. On T, I’ve been so much more chill and confident, and it’s less painful to accept that some people just don’t know any better, although that doesn’t change its effect.

Who was the first person you told, how did they react?

I don’t remember, I think it was a high school friend. I vaguely remember texting someone in a bathroom during a crying session at work. My high school friends were all warm and supportive.

Describe what it was like coming out, what did you feel?

It was scary as hell. I’m sure coming out (with your gender specifically) is scary by nature because it’s a huge truth to be telling that can really change how the people you love perceive you, for better or for worse, but for me, I’m also thinking with the dread and certainty that my family would be too conservative and potentially dangerous. Coming out to my family was one of the worst, most painful things I’ve ever been through -- being kicked out and laughed at, a lot of drama, confrontations, Bible readings and being ganged up on at odd hours, trying to comfort my mom who took it as her personal failure -- I was shaking with adrenaline 24/7. I think of the “I’ll suffer through anything as long as it has meaning” comment that was about angsty fanfics, but knowing the truth about myself was a source of unshakable strength and it felt refreshing and even triumphant to say, like I was giving myself permission to exist for the first time. I came out a bunch of times, though...

If you’re out, how did your parents/guardians/friends react?

My family reacted mostly badly, my sister is a little confused but has the spirit, and my friends have been wonderful.

What is one question you hate people asking about your sexuality?

It’s more of a gender thing, but I hate it when people imply that I shouldn’t be on T or are subtly trying to talk me out of it with their questions. After all the disrespectful as fuck bullshit I heard from my parents, I’m tired of this.

Describe the style of clothing that you most often wear.

Zombie apocalypse denim? Gay Layers

Who are your favourite lgbt+ ships?

I’m not really emotionally invested in these “ships” you cool kids are talking about. I like canon, age-appropriate ones.

What does makeup mean to you? Do you wear any?

I’ve never really worn makeup. I brazenly never bothered to growing up, and if it had an effect on me socially, I was too tuned out to care. My sister always wanted to do my hair and makeup, but I wasn’t interested and wouldn’t let her, much to her frustration. I wore some for a musical once though, and I had no idea what I was doing and it was extremely uncomfortable. I felt what I know now is dysphoria and ended up using the lipstick to draw. Another aspect to this is my family forbade it (or my dad made the decision for everyone), not that it made my sister feel less pressured to wear it, so maybe it was some female presentation I could easily get out of. For that reason, I don’t have super strong feelings about it. Not understanding it probably resulted in me feeling left out a lot among my peers.

Do you experience dysphoria? If so, how does that affect you?

Yes. Before my realization, it was a numb horror I wasn’t consciously aware of, ruining nice things growing up to the point where I feel like I missed out on being a teenager. I remember it as feeling nauseous while sitting in a corner, feeling like none of my clothes ever fit for some mysterious reason. Living with my family in the closet, it defined my life, and I was obsessed with my presentation. These days, it does not bother me on that level at all, except a minor freakout now and then if I get really wild and wear feminine clothes. Or I still feel it in more subtle ways, when I default to customer service voice, or when guys my age are twice my height and I look aaaall the way up at them and wonder what gender they see me as.

What is the stupidest thing you’ve heard said about the lgbt+ community?

Trust me, I have heard truck loads of dumb shit and the winner is the Gay Agenda is R****a’s propaganda to weaken the integrity of North America. Considering what is happening over there, it was enragingly stupid.

What’s your favourite thing about the lgbt+ community?

I feel like I can be myself around lgbt+ people. I don’t feel like I have to hide stuff or put on a show, and I’m not afraid because it’s familiar territory.

What’s your least favourite thing about the lgbt+ community?

Aside from obvious problems like TERFs, ace discourse. Ace people are part of the community if they want to be and that’s enough on that, my skin is already breaking out.

Have you ever been to your cities pride event? Why or why not?

I finally went to a Pride event this year! I was surprised it was the first one I’d been to, then remembered my parents discouraged me from going anywhere, never mind to a gay where.

Who is your favourite lgbt+ Icon/Advocate/Celebrity?

I can’t think of many people right now, but Leslie Feinberg seems awesome, and some quotes from Stone Butch Blues are very validating.

Have you been in a relationship and how did you meet?

No. Technically I have been in one, but it was shitty and ridiculous, and basically platonic, and I don’t want it to count.

What is your favourite lgbt+ book?

I barely read… I read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe in high school and it was honestly so precious.

Have you ever faced discrimination? What happened?

Yes. I got kicked out (but then kicked back in again), had my stuff stolen and damaged, was verbally harassed… and I was indirectly fired by an employer, but We Will Never Know Why...

Your Favorite lgbt+ movie or show?

Queer Eye! I don’t know of many though, and some important ones, I just haven’t watched.

Who are some of your favourite lgbt+ bloggers?

My mutuals :D

Which lgbt+ slur do you want to reclaim?

I’m okay calling myself queer.

Have you ever gone to a gay bar, or a drag show, how was it?

No, but I did see some drag performances at the one (1) Pride event I went to, and they were jaw-dropping.

How do you self-identify your gender, and what does that mean to you?

I’m not sure what this question means, but I decide what fits right by what makes me feel the most alive and emotionally real and in the moment. What makes me feel the most attractive to be honest. There’s a post about dysphoria I saw going around, the things on it are basically what I use to figure things out.

Are you interested in having children? Why or why not?

I am actually! Not anytime soon, but I’m the responsible type for sure, and judging by the way I love growing plants and being around animals, I’m probably a nurturing person. I actually like kids too, lol, they’re just so high-energy.

What identity advice would you give your younger self?

You’re a boy. Go!

What do you think of gender roles in relationships?

I think people are going to have different ways of expressing themselves that make them happy, but… I don’t think they should infringe on basic human decency. When I hear “role” I think of acting a certain way because someone told you to, something I want to disagree with on the spot.

Anything else you want to share about your experience with gender?

People move out of my way on the sidewalk and take me seriously now. Privilege or self-confidence… I never want to forget what it used to be like, or get too entitled.

What is something you wish people know about being lgbt+?

That it’s simply living one’s reality. I think that trips up a lot of straight people -- that some people just come like this, and they don’t have to make it fit into their personal identity.

Why are proud to be lgbt+?

Because I worked hard to be alive and happy right now. I’m proud of choosing to get through those rough patches, take care of myself, heal, take walks, cook breakfast, learn healthy coping mechanisms, that was out of love for myself and a defiant conviction that I have a place in this world.

[hg47]

47 Reasons Why I Fear Islam - (Reason 44)

-44-Islamic hatred of non-Muslims is often simmering just below the surface, only needing a pretext to flash into violence.  We are unclean, detestable scum who are polluting the Earth, THEIR EARTH, with our miserable presence. ++++------- http://www.amazon.com/Cruel-Usual-Punishment-Terrifying-Implications/dp/1595551611/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380310980&sr=1-1&keywords=CRUEL+AND+USUAL+PUNISHMENT+by+Nonie+Darwish In CRUEL AND USUAL PUNISHMENT Nonie Darwish is very eloquent in describing how polygamy under Islam has worked against the average Muslim man because he cannot afford the pleasures and sexual options and ego massage his religion allows him.  Instead, the average Muslim man becomes an angry sexually repressed victim full of hate, cued-up for mob violence by the local ranting preacher. ++++------- A quote from Robert Spencer: The Jerusalem Post carried a report that a group of Arab villagers in Israel, rejoicing at a wedding celebration, had been heard chanting, “The Arabs will soon be cutting the throats of the Jews.” ++++------- http://www.amazon.com/Why-I-Am-Not-Muslim/dp/1591020115/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380655534&sr=1-1&keywords=why+i+am+not+a+muslim From WHY I AM NOT A MUSLIM by Ibn Warraq: “…God could scarcely have been more explicit.  He told the Arabs that they had a right to despoil others of their women, children, and land, or indeed that they had a duty to do so: holy war consisted in obeying.  Muhammad’s God thus elevated tribal militance and rapaciousness into supreme religious virtues.” ++++------- tweet ~ The slave trade still flourishes in Muslim countries. There are over 500,000 slaves in Mauritania alone, circa 12/23/2013 1:14 PM ~ verify at: http://wikiislam.net/wiki/Muslim_Statistics ++++------- http://www.amazon.com/Myth-Islamic-Tolerance-Treats-Non-Muslims/dp/1591022495/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380476667&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=MYTH+OF+ISLAMIC+TOLERANCE+%28THE%29+edited+by+Robert+Spencer In MYTH OF ISLAMIC TOLERANCE (THE) Robert Spencer tells about the troubles his publishers and translators had with Muslims over his book ISLAM UNVEILED.  The translator and the publisher both received vicious death threats by eMail. “You must be an enemy of Islam!  You will die for what you do!” “You must be a Jew!  I hope somebody will slit your throat, you dirty Jew pig!” @hg47 says – These events also demonstrate that Muslims are tapped into the power structure.  Another way to look at that would be to say that Muslims have spies in French businesses.  This is a “moderate” function that “moderate Muslims” can perform; because Muslims are at war with anything that is not Islamic, it is quite proper to glean info about the enemy and then pass that info along to other Muslims willing to take action to “Defend the honor of Islam” by shutting down the truth through intimidation, death threats, and if necessary violence, or even murder.  The honor of Islam must be defended!  “I am beheading you now—Infidel Scum!—to prove that we are peaceful!”  WHACK! My guess is that the issue of “pretext” was also involved here.  Possibly the publisher had already published things that irritated Muslims in France and/or possibly the translator had translated something that had irritated Muslims in France.  This would put the publisher and/or the translator on a sort of Muslim Watch List where their actions would be tracked.  Any dealings at all with Robert Spenser would endanger the publisher and translator.  Muslims like to provoke the enemies of Islam into making some sort of aggression against them, so they can call their violent attack a “defense of Islam,” not an attack at all, really, but a defensive action.  Working with Robert Spenser would be a sort of last-straw that could be seen as requiring counter-attack! If Muslims cannot actually provoke an aggression on the part of Infidels, a sort of straw-that-broke-the-camel’s-back effect occurs.  Little irritating Infidel events build up, turning minor irritation into simmering hatred, until any imaginary slight is seen as an attack upon Islam which must be redressed!  (By death threats and/or a violent attack!) Two links concerning pretext in Islam: http://www.citizenwarrior.com/2008/08/pretext-for-hostilities-in-islamic.html http://www.inquiryintoislam.com/2010/10/24-islamic-writings-teach-use-of.html ++++------- http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Troubling-views-on-suicide-bombings-78-of-2573956.php An interesting stat from the article: The war in Iraq is wrong, according to 75 percent of the American Muslims surveyed, and only 40 percent believe Arabs carried out the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. ++++------- A quote from Ibn Warraq: …Muslims have not moved away from the literal interpretation of the Koran: all Muslims—not just a group we have called “fundamentalist”—believe that the Koran is literally the word of God… ++++------- A quote from Citizen Warrior: “Islam not only encourages intolerance and violence against Unbelievers, but commands all Muslims to show their devotion to Allah by fighting for Islamic domination over all other governments and nations.” ++++------- http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324787004578495711470936512.html?mod=googlenews_wsj CHARLOTTE ALLEN on how when Pope Benedict XVI quoted some words from 14th-century Byzantine emperor Manuel II Palaiologos in a 2006 speech; this provoked a fatwa against Pope Benedict in Pakistan, church burnings and bombings in the West Bank and Gaza, threats of jihad from al Qaeda, and the murder of a nun in Somalia. ++++------- http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/28/us-syria-crisis-lebanon-idUSBRE91R0OV20130228 Evidence of how the Civil War in Syria may cause Lebanon to implode into Civil War also. ++++------- http://pedestrianinfidel.blogspot.com/2006/11/twenty-things-you-should-know-about.html Islam regards all unbelievers as ritually unclean subhumans to be killed, subjugated, enslaved, exploited, or parasitised. Kafirs are described by the Arabic word ‘najis’ - literally ‘filth’. That’s why Muslim hatred of Kafirs is intrinsic to their ‘religion’. A Kafir doesn’t need to DO anything to offend a Muslim; his very existence is enough of an affront. @hg47 says – Infidels are filth, in the same legal category as piss and poop and (if I remember correctly) dog sweat.  How much do Muslims hate us?  My Holy Bible is suitable for use as toilet paper by Muslims, according to Islamic law, but if I so much as touch a Koran, I make it unclean. And this puppy calls itself a religion? Preaching hatred and inciting violence toward Infidels is not an accepted religious practice, in my opinion, but rather a hate crime.  But what do I know?  I’m just another inferior Infidel.  The United States tamed the Mormon Church; the United States tamed the KKK; it’s time to tame Islam and the Muslims among us.  You don’t get a GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD just because you’re a religion. ++++------- http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.9277/pub_detail.asp LT. COLONEL JAMES G. ZUMWALT, USMC (RET) on the creeping Islamization of Western societies, partly because most Muslim immigrants refuse to assimilate, and work to impose their own values on the West. ++++------- A quote from AMIL IMANI: Islamic clerics believe it their right to execute people they consider heretics and place bounties on the heads of those their bloody hands cannot reach. Salman Rushdie is one of the widely known cases. ++++------- http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/op_ed/view/2011_0405fired_up_over_nothing_book_burning_neither_illegal_nor_interesting/ Interesting article by Michael Graham on how Muslim death threats are destroying the Western concept of Freedom of Speech. ++++------- tweet ~ 1,250,000 white European Christians were captured and sold into the Muslim slave trade between the 16th and 19th century. ~ verify at: http://wikiislam.net/wiki/Muslim_Statistics ++++------- http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/568093/201104041857/Beheading-Ourselves-Over-Islam.htm Quote from Rashad Hussain, U.S. special envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference: “I am of the opinion that one of the strongest tools that you can use to counter radicalization and violent extremism is Islam itself, because Islam rejects violent extremism.” After Hussain spoke to the locals in Afghanistan, telling them that the antidote to Islamic violence was Islam itself, the Afghans reacted by murdering a dozen United Nations workers.  In the name of Islam. Rashad Hussain’s message plays very well in the West; unfortunately, the only people who agree with him are Infidels, even though many other Muslims are singing the same tune to fool us inferior creatures who must be subdued. ++++------- A quote from Pamela Geller: It needs pointing out that wherever Muslims live in non-Muslim countries, there is a level of agitation, conflict if you will, the level of which is directly tied to the size of the Muslim population. ++++------- http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/02/02/christian-persecution-continues-amid-egypt-turmoil/ Christian Persecution Continues Amid Egypt Turmoil. ++++------- A quote from Terry Kelhawk: Middle Eastern countries should open their eyes to see that the United States is not working on an anti-Islamic agenda in Middle East, but rather is cooperating with their leaders, and in fact is showing restraint… ++++------- http://www.citizenwarrior.com/2009/05/terrifying-brilliance-of-islam.html A quote by Citizen Warrior in this excellent article: The use of pretext means you need only the barest excuse to begin hostilities. It means you’re actually looking for an excuse, and even trying to provoke others into striking the first blow (“starting” the hostilities). @hg47 says – When Muslim mobs go on a rampage on the other side of the world “because” of a cartoon in the West, that’s not what is really happening.  It’s pretext in action. Islamic leaders have long lists of Infidel targets they are itching to attack because the presence of Infidels that have not been properly humbled in their midst is an affront to their Muslim “superiority” and dignity.  The preachers just need a theme for their next Rave Jihad Paradise Party: a pretext. The best way to fire up an angry Muslim mob is by ranting that Islam is under attack, and Muslims need to defend the honor of Islam, and by the way, there are a bunch of Infidels at the U.N. outpost just down the block, Go There!  Also, angry rioting Muslim mobs are the result of a carefully orchestrated plan; not some spontaneous eruption.  The official word authorizing the attack comes down from above to many separate preachers, operating from the same script, pointing their crowds at the same designated target. The proximate cause of the violence is never some cartoon or holy book that got burnt.  That’s just the excuse to attack NOW.  The proximate cause of Muslim mob violence is a high-up Muslim religious leader giving the order to Cut Loose The Dogs, and the many preachers following orders likely ranting from the same script to incite violence against a specific Infidel target. ++++------- KORAN; Sura 47, 4: “When ye encounter the infidels, strike off their heads till ye have made a great slaughter among them…” Keep in mind that Christianity has an interpretive tradition where the violent Old Testament passages are moderated by Christ’s teachings in the New Testament.  Also keep in mind, that Islam is the reverse: every last peaceful passage in the Koran about Infidels has been officially abrogated, reduced to meaningless pretty words of nonsense by the intolerant and violent passages about us. ++++------- tweet ~ Africans taken as slaves by Muslims (or killed while being taken) is estimated to be higher than 140,000,000! ~ verify at: http://wikiislam.net/wiki/Muslim_Statistics @hg47 says – Yes, the United States has an awful and terrible history of slavery, in our past.  I timidly suggest that before you hate our own culture so much that you love Islam without reservation, check the facts.  140 million African slaves taken or killed by Muslims!  If Sharia law triumphs over the U.S. Constitution, here we go again: Slavery without limit!  “Tote that bale, Y’all!” ++++------- http://www.jpost.com/home/article.aspx?id=188855 DANIEL PIPES about the erosion of Western Freedom of Speech.  Muslims in the West have achieved a privileged status where they are free to insult others, but Muslims may not be insulted. ++++------- http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/249704/islam-and-west-conrad-black From the article by Conrad Black: When a completely unofficial Danish cartoonist produced some relatively innocuous renderings of Muhammad five years ago, Danish embassies were stoned and the whole nationality was anathematized in many Muslim countries. ++++------- A quote by Oskar Freysinger: Kurt Westergaard, a Danish cartoonist, lives in hiding under the threat of a fatwa. Having survived three attacks, he often changes his town and country, never leaves home without armed escort and turned his home into a fortress. This hell has lasted five years. Enough to discourage other practitioners of “misplaced” humor. ++++------- tweet ~ 95% of all suicide bombing attacks conducted worldwide are carried out by Muslims. ~ verify at: http://wikiislam.net/wiki/Muslim_Statistics ++++------- http://blogs.forbes.com/abigailesman/2010/10/12/just-say-nothing-is-the-american-press-afraid-to-talk-about-radical-islam/ From the article, by Abigail R. Esman: So while the Dutch courts try parliamentary leader Geert Wilders on charges of hate speech (or what in another era we’d have called “free speech”), America, it seems, has adopted another approach: Just say nothing. ++++------- http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/former-cia-agent-in-iran-comes-in-from-the-heat/2/ An article which gets into the radicals who control Iran.  “We are anti-American and we are America’s enemy,” and “Non-Muslims are animals roaming the planet.” +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +Go-To-45+ +Go-To-Beginning-Of-47-REASONS-WHY-I-FEAR-ISLAM+

[sejanashines]

Come in! Come in! Searching YouTube for videos of what the houses looked like in South Korea was what we were most excited about when preparing for our move here. We appreciated every video that we were able to see so we could get an idea of what to expect. So, here’s our new home to add to the mix. Hope you like the video!! Keep reading through because after the video I write about making friends, the housing office process, money (rent & utilities), getting a realtor in Korea, and move-in day! We live in Area IV, Daegu, Korea – so our experiences detailed here could be especially helpful for anyone being stationed in (working in) Camp Walker, Camp Henry, Camp George, or Camp Carroll and living off-post. This post is especially geared towards the US military with dependents. Be sure to call and/or contact the agencies listed for any up- to- date information.

A few corrections from the video

Floor heating. The floor heating does not have GAS running all through the pipes under the entire floor but rather HOT WATER heated by the gas (not the electricity). I guess that was why I kept saying that over and over that it won’t greatly affect your electric bill when you turn on the heat. (My hub is worried about what the electric bill will cost us as he was briefed during the housing briefing that the electricity prices progressively increases once you reach a certain level of usage.)

Notice the progressive rate of tax for electricity costs in Daegu (formerly known as Taegu).

Water filter. You can leave on the water filter’s hot water switch if you want to. That is probably more convenient than turning it on and waiting for 20 minutes if you know you will use it. In fact, in order to save electricity (here we go again!) we used the gas stove to boil water and then we make our drinks. That lasted only one day. LOL. Now we turn on the switch and wait but I imagine that that waiting will get old pretty quickly and before you know it we will surely just leave the darn thing turned on!!

Trash. So right now, (in the video) we do have plastic trash bags hanging everywhere from the cabinets filled with sorted recyclable trash in it (in case you were wondering about that). I know that is so tacky! Remember, we are still moving in and will eventually find / or buy things to make this new place our home. I should have taken a photo before I asked my son to go and take out the trash to the recycling bins so you could really see what it was like! I’ll do another video about the trash recycling situation here later. If you have been stationed in Germany, you know about the recycling. In South Korea they have taken it to the next level as most things are sorted out (by you) and recycled! This is great for the environment and it really cuts down on your trash costs (as you only pay for what can’t be recycled). It will take some patience (and maybe some labeling) to make it easier on everyone to remember what goes where.

ACS Lending closet. Army Community Service (ACS) is currently located on Camp Henry, but eventually it will move to Camp Walker in the One Stop building.  (Daegu falls under AreaIV of the Pacific area region.) Find a ride (or catch a cab) to transport the items you check out for your new home. You can borrow them for 30 days and can request an extension as well if needed. I provided my military ID and a copy of our orders (bring your lease as well, if you have it) to the ACS desk in order to use this service.

Realtor. I did mention in the video that we had a bad experience with (only) one of the 4 realtors we used when looking for a place, read below for details on realtors. Basically, as these realtors are showing you different places to rent, just know that you will be working with (or through) this person for the duration of your stay. Beware of any realtors who do not listen to what you want and refuse to let you leave their car because they want to show you “a great place that’s good for your family.” The first place they show you may be a misunderstanding but after the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th place you may decide like we did to just be happy to be allowed to leave and know that you will NEVER return this person’s phone call. Not ever. Never again. No matter how many times that they call you or your hotel. (Yikes!!)

“Smile everyone, this may be our last photo of us alive!”

First look inside our South Korean villa apartment home in Daegu near Camp Walker Area IV

Make Friends

Situational. Yes so the kids and I caught a ride with a stranger* (*use your judgment people!) the second day we arrived here in Camp Walker, Daegu, because it was pouring and we needed to get back to the hotel. (It didn’t even occur to me that we could have had someone call an on-post taxi!) Thankfully, some woman offered my soaked children and I a ride and guess what? She lives in my neighborhood! The American community feels smaller because we are all in the same boat. (THANK YOU to helpful strangers!)

There are even signs on Camp Walker that encourages (validates) this! LOL

Intentional. At every post worldwide there is a PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel) (or something like it). Before I arrived, I found the one here and connected with them using Facebook (PWOC Area IV). I went there to meet people and to begin making connections. To me, the friendships we make in a new place help us to feel that we are home. Come look for me there, if you check it out! (We meet in the Camp Walker post chapel building.)  Anyway, I almost forgot why I’m mentioning PWOC in the first place… oh, so I met a friend from my new Bible Study class who saw me coming out of housing on Camp Henry. My husband and I had just signed our lease. She sincerely asked us what we needed and so I said, “sheets”!! I’m so thankful that she helped us out by loaning us three sets of sheets, pillows AND blankets until our things arrive PLUS a ride to/from the ACS lending closet. (Our vehicle hasn’t arrived just yet!) (THANK YOU to our new friends!)

Old friends. The Lord helped us tremendously during our whirlwind move by providing two  families we knew previously to move here first and answer many, many questions about life in Daegu. One family we were stationed with back in Baumholder, Germany and the other family we met at our last duty station in Fort Lee, Virginia. It is so good to see people we know happy here in this foreign land! I got to check out their apartments once we got here (they both live in two different high-rise apartments) which was helpful for me to have a better idea of what we could expect and what to look for when looking for our own place to live. (THANK YOU to our old friends! This world is so small like that.)

Military Housing office (Area IV)

If you are authorized to live off-post (if not, you will need to submit an exception to policy unless there is no space for you on-post), after you find a place housing will give you an inspection date and the lease signing date. They will NOT do this until you have attended their mandatory housing briefing (even if you have all the documentation in order and went ahead and found a place on your own that you’d like to rent). This was our experience. After the sponsor attends this required briefing, the necessary dates are then scheduled.

Housing inspection. During the inspection, the owner, the realtor, the housing inspector, and you will meet at the place you hope to rent. The inspector will look it over for any safety deficiencies and will provide the realtor a date that any repairs will need to be made by in order to proceed as scheduled.  (For us, the carbon monoxide detector was malfunctioning and so they had until Sunday to fix it; our lease signing was scheduled for a Monday.)

Lease signing. You will have to sign in your realtor at the Camp Henry gate in order to obtain a visitor’s pass to bring your realtor and owner onto the base and escort them to the housing appointment. During the lease signing, the housing person will tell you your move in day (for us, it was 2 days later on a Wednesday). This is the day that your OHA begins (and you will need to check out of lodging as finance will not “double pay”) and your temporary housing furniture will be delivered.

Now that you’ve signed your lease you can contact the movers to schedule your Household Goods (HHG) and/or Unaccompanied Baggage (UB) delivery!

If you have school aged children, don’t forget to then go by the School Transportation Office to get new bus passes created with the new bus stops.

Housing furniture request. There is a limit on what you can borrow! I didn’t know this and so I requested away! Um, so we had to go right back there and complete a new form (this time using the correct form).

Incorrectly completed. Um, this is not a shopping spree woman!

Incorrectly completed vs correctly completed housing furniture request form.

  Money, Money, Money, Money… MONEY!!

COLA. (Cost of Living Allowance.) Your COLA begins the day you arrive (sign-in) in country. You receive COLA twice a month; type in “KR045” into the Overseas COLA Calculator to see your rate here.

OHA. Rental Allowance starts on your move in date. You will only receive the amount of your rent listed on your lease UP TO the maximum amount of your rate. Type in “KR045” into the OHA Calculator to see your rate here. Your first payment will be for the prorated amount of rent (if this applies to you; it did for us as we moved in on the 24th so we paid 8 days for October), the following month of rent (November), a month of rent for the deposit (you can request this through Housing at your lease signing if you like but if so you are required to pay back all of it to Finance when you move) and any fees (for us it will be the one-time dryer “hook up fee” (35,000 KRW) and the water filter installation free (15,000 KRW). You (we) will pay any rent and utilities monthly in won through the realtor. Don’t forget to get your receipt stamped as proof! (I’ll update this in a few days after we make our initial payment if anything is different or I misunderstood anything.)

OHA. Recurring Maintenance Allowance / Utilities also starts at your move in date. You can keep (pocket) any leftover money from this amount, if there is any. Hopefully there will be something!! (I asked the realtor about the previous tenant costs; I will list the amounts paid for the month of August 2018 in orange for you to have a general idea of what your utility costs may look like.) The following are the Utilities that we are required to pay (for my home). These will all be paid through the realtor (along with the rent); be sure to get your receipt stamped! (You may be fortunate enough to have some of these utilities covered as a part of the rent but that needs to be worked out and identified on the lease.) Utilities covers the Maintenance Fee (which includes internet and cable) (230,000 KRW *this is by far the highest fee of all the places we have seen or heard about), electricity (138,850 KRW) (see above for progressive electricity chart), gas (heating & hot water) (17,530 KRW), cold water (11,000 KRW), the cost of buying special trash bags (5,000? KRW) (I’ll make a separate video explaining the trash), and water filters/cleaning (optional service) (15,000 KRW). (Adding up all the orange (previous tenant’s costs for August) it amounts to 417,380 KRW = $367.)

  Money exchange. I know that we will need to pull out dollars and then convert it to Korean Won to pay the realtor, however, I haven’t used this process yet. I’ve heard lots of things and I don’t know which is better so I’ll just leave this at that for now and will edit this portion later. Let me know if you have any recommendations!

Realtors in Daegu, Korea

If you are looking for off-post housing in Korea, let me start by advising you with what everyone else told us- use several realtors. It’s not like the States where available places are listed on a MLS (Multiple Listing Service) that all the realtors have access to. No, instead, here each realtor has their own separate listings.  There are lots of realtors (and realtor agencies). So the way it works is that the owner who wants their place rented goes through a realtor to get their property rented. Each realtor has their own specific apartments, villas, or homes (aka listings) to offer to you. (Now savvy realtors may work with other realtors to help you find what are looking for and then share the cut.) This is why you should check with different realtors because they have different listings.

However, whichever realtor you end up going with, just remember that THAT realtor is the person whom you will interact with during your entire stay, not just throughout the procurement of your new place. You will contact your realtor for any issues with your place and they will operate more as a property manager and a translator. They will be the go-between for you and the landlord / owner or between you and the “engineers” (‘everyone is known as an engineer here’ our sponsor jokingly told us) that need access to your place for any repairs. The realtor will also be the one you go to each month to pay your rent (if you pay month to month). (The civilian employees pay their rent and utilities up front for the entire year; some owners prefer this type of renter verses the month to month rent(er) as they can use that lump sum of cash for other things (and they might even get more money over all doing it that way). Military personnel will only be paid by finance the “month to month” monthly OHA – overseas housing allowance.)  So, since you will interact with your realtor throughout your time here, it would behoove you to take notice of the type of service they offer to you, the level of communication you have with them as they show you around the different apartments, and if you feel like you can trust them to be there as later you may need them to help with repairs.

Do you have school aged children coming with you? You might want to think about the bus stop location if they will attend the DoDEA schools. We confirmed with the School Transportation Officer the distance from an apartment we were thinking about renting and the school bus stop (even though the realtor informed us where it will be). One place we found we really loved with a beautiful living room view of the mountain but discovered it was a 15 minute walk to the nearest school bus pick up location. That was a deal-breaker for us. Sigh.

In the end, we talked with 4 different realtors (different agencies) because we really wanted a 4 bedroom place (there were lots of 3 bedrooms available but not 4 bedrooms) that was near the subway and the bus stop. We thought about parking and most important for us was the distance to the base and the monthly rent (and the maintenance fee) amount. Know what you want and don’t be afraid to keep looking. Be open and honest with your realtor and they will work hard for you, if they want your business.  I have found that if they can get you what you are looking for they will definitely try their best.

The villa we chose was shown to us by 대구 부동산 Daegu realtor Kevin from Okey Dokey Realty. We were connected to him through our sponsor who highly recommended him.  He picked us up to take the kids and I on our second day in Daegu. I didn’t really like this place he showed us at first (which we now call home) so that is why we kept looking around at other places and through other realtors.  I’m choosing to recommend our realtor, Kevin, with anyone that is looking for a realtor because he has consistently provided excellent customer service to us. He provided a map when we first met, took time to explain features and answer questions (no question is a stupid question with this guy), informed us up front for any fees and showed us proof or explanations when available. (I would definitely be skeptical if people are speaking in a different language around me and then spring on me that ‘I owe’ or ‘it costs such and such’; that has not been the case with my experience with Kevin.) Kevin responds quickly to texts or calls and is very organized by providing documents (in English) about basic things that he probably has gotten asked all the time by Americans when we come here. I like that he labeled items around the house that were in Korean, especially on our dishwasher and stove. He arranged for the water filter and the dryer hook ups to be completed on our move-in date without us even asking. There was a leak we discovered on our move-in date and when we showed him, he took video and sent pictures to the owner. He responded the next day that he contacted the engineer but that they were busy but then called the day after to see if we were available and it got fixed. Perhaps this is normal service here but after talking with our other friends whom we knew previously that also rent off-post, I’d say Kevin offers great service, his English is perfect and he is not pushy! (THANK YOU to our realtor for your great customer service! Hope it’s okay to include your info in my post!)

Move in day!

Check out of your hotel by the appropriate time. We were staying in Camp Walker Lodging. Take with you everything that’s yours. Befriend someone with a truck (our sponsor already has his ready) and transport your things to your new place! Maybe your ride will also even take you to the post Commissary so you can begin to fill your fridge and cabinets. (THANK YOU to our sponsor!!)

Our realtor came over a few hours later to help us change the locks (no one uses keys here it seems), show us how to properly operate everything, where to record the gas, water and electric usage, how to use the video doorbell, how to properly dispose of trash, how to set the floor heaters and welcomed the water guy and the dryer engineer. Whew!! (I can’t imagine this process going any smoother!)

On 8 September we turned in the keys to our rented home back in Virginia and now on 24 October we moved in and got to enjoy our first “we made it at home” meal courtesy of all the support we have received along the way. What a long journey!

Welcome home!

I hope this has been helpful for you. Let me know what else you’d like to see/read, maybe I can create it for you. Please take a look around and find more blogs like this here at https://sejanashines.com/.

If you are military, you might be interested in the Military Life category.

Take Care!

First look inside our South Korean villa apartment home & military off-post housing process Come in! Come in! Searching YouTube for videos of what the houses looked like in South Korea was what we were most excited about when preparing for our move here.

[sacredinkedblood]

MY PERSONAL BLOG ON VARIOUS TOPICS#knowledge #education #politics #writers #authors #howto #butterflies #gardening #controversial #myopinionsMENUSKIP TO CONTENTJESUS CAME TO SAVE THE SINNERS1 thing I can say about myself is that I’m no hypocrite, I can talk about the goodness of God and still know how I am and admit it. And I am not a hypocrite because I can say what’s on my heart even if it sounds un-Christian because God already knows, so why lie? “Christian” is a misunderstood word, and I don’t have much respect for many Christians in that sense of the word. When I say that I’m a christian but don’t label me as one that’s because I follow God and I’m a follower of Christ. I mean I know Him, believe in Him, I love & respect Him and sometimes I doubt or question Him or get angry with Him. At least I’m real and that makes me genuine. The stigma that you’re never suppose to question Him or doubt Him or get angry at Him is absurd. He’s my Heavenly Father and just like an earthly parent or any parent, I can go to Him and tell Him all those things that I just mentioned and as a loving and understanding and All Knowing he will comfort me, reassure me and wrap His arms around me instead of condemning me. Besides why go to another person that only has human reasoning over that when you can go directly to the source? I would rather be a believer than making the claim such as Christian! I don’t fall in line with how I see Christianity (that is in general) demonstrated. I know a few people that make claims to being a Christian that demonstrate christianity beautifully but the majority does not. If that makes any sense? JESUS CAME TO MINISTER TO THE SINNERS! Today too many are focused on their own little Christian communities that they unintentionally ignore the spiritual needs of those outside of their communities and churches. They’re more self focused and concerned with what makes them more comfortable instead of extending it to other’s that don’t fit their schedules. Some actually refuse the undisciplined because they are only concerned with order within their church. Well it’s the undisciplined, it’s the one’s without supervision, it’s the ones that do anything in order to receive attention, that should be the mission of the church to reach as Jesus demonstrated.But am I wrong at all, if I am please tell me, It’s not a set up for an argument but sincere people will point it out in a loving manner!Even some atheist demonstrate love and morals better than some of those that are labeled christians. Maybe 1 day if we become more loving like Jesus was and demonstrate acts of kindness without condemnation then maybe those atheists will see God and want to know Him.But for now I’m calling it like I see it. And because I am politically minded somewhat that makes it okay for me to post anything I want on my page just as it does everyone else! Just because we may not agree doesn’t mean that we both don’t want what’s best because I believe most of us do!But so many churches need to include people who are different than you. Talk about the good news in the bible instead of about politics in church. God is not a Republican, a Democrat, a conservative, a liberal or a socialist. He transcends all our political categories, however important they might be to us.Politics matters, but it will never change the world the way the Gospel can (or has).But the church doesn’t exist to elect or defeat politicians. It exists to glorify Christ and grow his Kingdom (which is an alt Kingdom) in the world. (Here are a few more thoughts on being the church in the present political climate.)Just know this: if God has all the same opinions your political party does, you’re probably not worshipping God.So you want your church to reach people who don’t go to church.That’s wonderful because that’s basically the mission of the church: to share the love of Christ with the world in the hopes everyone will come into a relationship with Jesus.The challenge is that unchurched people aren’t exactly flocking to most churches, and many Christians seem stumped as to why that is.There are many reasons, but a surprising number center around one thing: Christians who treat the church as if it’s their private club. They set it up only to satisfy their personal needs or preferences. JESUS CAME TO SAVE THE SINNERS AND THAT SHOULD BE YOUR CHURCH’S MISSION ALSO! Maybe compromise, set up particular times for the members who demand it but have other scheduled times and or events to reach others. When undisciplined children & teens show up, do you want them gone because they’re disruptive and it’s uncomfortable for you? Well that’s awful and shameful!!! Maybe their not use to attending church, maybe they don’t have a loving environment at home maybe your church is the only bible they’ll read… do you want them to read that they’re unacceptable because they never had a chance to learn so they need to stay home or find another church? Oh I hope not!! Don’t be a stumbling block unto them. Jesus said, do not suffer the children to come to me! Period… he didn’t add conditions such as only if they have a supervised adult with them or only if they are mindful and behaved well!!! The bible talks about order and discipline within the church but it doesn’t take priority over winning a person over to Christ. If you don’t have the patience it takes for however long it may take an individual to adjust then maybe you need to ask God to discipline your own heart!!!Christians should be the most generous and selfless people on the planet.Sadly, we’re often known as the stingiest and most selfish (ask any non-Christian who’s worked at a restaurant).The Gospel calls us to die to ourselves so that others may live and to put something bigger than ourselves above ourselves.If you give your life away, you find it.When you die to yourself, something greater rises.Being the church is about a lot more than showing up for an hour on Sunday or tuning in online.If you’re really going to reach the next generation, it means giving your time too.Authentic Christianity is more about what we give than what we get. Our giving doesn’t earn us our salvation, of course, but it’s a joyful response to a God who gave everything for us.And that’s exactly what far too many churches do: focus exclusively on the needs and wants of their members.Okay, it’s worse than that. Maybe it’s not even about needs and wants. Maybe it’s about preferences.So many church leaders (staff and volunteer) struggle to lead beyond the preferences of the church members. And as soon as they try, they get inundated with complaints and angry emails. Too many Christians feel like it’s their right to have a church that caters exactly to their tastes and whims, and millions are paying the price for that (including unchurched people).#real #harshreality #Christian #churches #Jesus #realtalkhttps://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2537284809824204&id=2253944324824922DECEMBER 12, 2019 BY MY BLOGCATEGORIES: UNCATEGORIZEDPOST NAVIGATIONPULPIT TO PEN ARTICLEFALSE PROPHETS/CHARLATANSComments aBlog at WordPress.com.

[ct-9932-dedsec]

You want the truth?

Name: Justin Eugene Sholler or Justin Eugene Stuart Jr depending on which parent you ask. Dad wanted me to be a junior, guess you should've been around jackass..

DOB: 03-31-1994

Aries

Fire

Hobbies: guitar, codong/programming, and video games

Currently unemployed but looking

I used t to tell my brother that his toy cars would look cooler if they were wrecked, that way I was able to smash them with a hammer and not feel bad about it. It didn't work, I still felt bad about it.

I would take my old cowboy and Indian plastic figures out to the garden in Texas and cut them up with a garden hoe.

I got called a freak because I was always so smiley and liked a girl named Rachel in 4th grade.

I have always wanted to do homemade experiments and science things, but never had the confidence to try anything.

My room is always a mess, I clean it and let it get a wreck again so that way anyone who sees it can see how messed up my mind is.

Me and my friends would catch frogs just to put firecrackers in places or tied to them. POP

I would climb this certain tree behind the dumpster in our old complex and pick the apples just to throw them at passing cars.

Got in trouble for fights that a kid started. I took his abuse for a while then just unloaded on him. Assault.

More trouble for going outside with Billy at 2 am because kids were screaming, so we convinced them we were vampires and they were targets since we could hear them from miles away, they reported us I got inducing panic and obstruction of justice for lying about it.

Got another assault case, this kid and i were arguing back and forth for some time and i finally sung on him with a book, got his back and left a rectangle bruise covering some ribs and midback.

Now this moment is another I am not proud of!! Me and my brother were fighting and arguing and i to get what all was said to me but I looked at him and said, "at least my dad isn't dead". The look in his eyes..the pain I caused him..afterwards my mom talked to him and told him the story and he was more understanding then. I feel this is one of many reasons he refuses to talk to me.

My dad seen me as a baby, I don't remember those times. I remember seeing him at 7 or 8 and that was for one night he was lying next to me on the floor to spend time with me then he got up and i hardly got to talk to him after that, the next morning he was gone. He seen me when i turned 18 or 19, took me to a Chinese place and told me all this I should have been there bullshit, then he was gone again. So twice after seeing me he wanted nothing to do with me, obviously I'm the problem.

I'm probably the least self confident person you will ever meet.

I failed to graduate high school because I stopped caring, during my last job I lied to everyone saying I was going to college classes when I was really going back to get my diploma. I did get that though, took tests got credits got the stupid thing. Meeting Kristina (more down the post) is what motivated me to finish it.

I would cut in the middle of my classes in middle school just because I hated that people had to put up with me being around.

My eyes are hazel and often change color from what I'm told.

I recently used a bible paper to roll a cigarette since we ran out of rolling papers.

I clean the apartment because id rather it be done by me than listen to my mother or sister bitch about them having to do it.

First time I learned about love was from a girl named danii, was my first for a lot, so when she cheated on me it did tear me apart.

Moved on and cheated on the next girl I dated by messaging some chick in a sexual way.

Moved on started dating Jen who cheated on me quite a bit, I cheated on her while I lived with her just so I could find a way out of the relationship.

Then I met Kayla went good for a while, she lied to me and kissed someone else so I got torn yet again. We tried working on it for a while but I was realizing after years of that relationship it was just meant to be over, for some reason I didn't want to let go.

I met Kristina, after meeting her I realized something, I fell in love pretty fast, I spent 42 hours staring at her and i wish I could have spent way more the same way. It felt like I finally found someone who I could see myself being with forever. Then I fucked it all up. I didn't tell my family or Kayla about our relationship, I ended up cheating on the one person I never wanted to hurt. Because of me she can't trust when I say I love her, because of me she is hurting and that thought is so unbearable I want to cut out my brain and heart just to stop thinking and feeling.

I have lied to people recently, I haven't been sleeping as much as I claim. I actually can't remember the last time I slept longer than an hour. I spend that time relearning code, practicing guitar, and if I get bored enough video games. I have nothing else to do since I can't sleep without you next to me.

When I say I can't get comfortable, it means exactly that. I can't get comfortable because you are not in my arms, you are not next to me. Even lying on the floor in the living room with my mom, sister, and kayla makes me feel alone because you're not there.

I grind my teeth under times of stress.

I refuse to smile anymore because my teeth and without your love i have no reason to.

I don't know if I'm 6foot 1 or 6'2"

I weigh around 150ish I don't know, I don't gain weight.

I haven't eaten much lately.

I don't feel the need for food or sleep anymore

This is a long post.

[mrlnsfrt]

Christmas Family Drama

Family

Have you ever tried to define what family is? Its one of those words we use often but we each have a different way of interpreting it. I struggled with defining it on my own so I decided to look it up.

According to Merriam-Webster.com family is

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children also : any of various social units differing from but regarded as equivalent to the traditional family a single-parent family 

b : spouse and children want to spend more time with my family 

2 : a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head : household 

3a : a group of persons of common ancestry : clan 

b : a people or group of peoples regarded as deriving from a common stock : race 

4a : a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation : fellowship 

b : the staff of a high official (such as the President) 

5 : a group of things related by common characteristics: such as 

a : a closely related series of elements or chemical compounds 

b : a group of soils with similar chemical and physical properties (such as texture, pH, and mineral content) that comprise a category ranking above the series and below the subgroup in soil classification 

c : a group of related languages descended from a single ancestral language 

6a : a group of related plants or animals forming a category ranking above a genus and below an order and usually comprising several to many genera 

b in livestock breeding 

(1) : the descendants or line of a particular individual especially of some outstanding female 

(2) : an identifiable strain within a breed 

7 : a set of curves or surfaces whose equations differ only in parameters 

8 : a unit of a crime syndicate (such as the Mafia) operating within a geographical area 

Good job Merriam-Webster! You were much more thorough than I would have been. But even though Merriam-Webster give us 8 different definitions, there are many more, just look it up online.

I know that these challenges with defining family can lead to some drama. For example, we will have a small wedding, we will only invite family members, or we will spend the holidays with family. Who gets included? Who will be excluded? How will that go over?

Maybe you have a perfectly balanced family and never have to struggle with this, or maybe you’re from a different country and you have a solution to these types of situations. I know plenty of people that dread the holidays because of their relationship with their “family.” Maybe you feel bad talking about it, perhaps you feel like everyone else has perfectly happy families, and you’re the only one walking on eggshells afraid of offending someone or setting someone off.

Maybe you wonder about peace on earth, and how the holidays are supposed to bring people together. But you’re not the first one to have family issues, and you’re not the last one. I always find comfort when I read a Bible story that helps guide me through challenging situations, and the first chapter of Matthew has some great ones!

Matthew chapter 1

Matthew begins with something many just skip right over, a genealogy. Matthew begins that way because it is important to establish Jesus as a direct descendant of Abraham and David in order for his Jewish audience to accept Jesus as the Jewish Messiah. Luke’s genealogy (Luke 3:23-38) traces Jesus’ ancestry all the way back to Adam making Jesus the universal Savior. Though in modern days where you came from seems to matter less, at least in some parts of the world, in the time of Jesus it made all the difference. Jesus’ lineage was part of His claim to legitimacy so it would make sense to highlight all the great men in his family line all the people that would be admired by others.

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:

2 Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Matthew 1:1-3 NKJV (bold mine)

If I was writing the genealogy of Jesus, in an effort to convince Jews that Jesus was the Messiah, I would have tried to make it as impressive as possible. Don’t politicians do that? Don’t they try to cover up any potentially embarrassing part of their past? Why would Matthew include a woman, which was unusual, but to make things more surprising, why would he choose to include Tamar?

Tamar

The story of Tamar can be found in Genesis 38:1-30. I want to one day do a whole post just on Genesis 38, it is a fascinating chapter, especially in its context (literary and historical). But for now, I will only hit some of the key points of the story of Tamar.

Judah moves away from the main compound of Jacob, marries a Canaanite woman, and becomes the friend of a Canaanite leader.

Tamar is the Canaanite wife of Judah’s oldest son Er. (Canaanite = outside God’s special blessings promised to Abraham and his descendants)

Er is so wicked in the sight of the LORD that the LORD kills him. (Genesis 38:7)

Onan is Er’s younger brother and he now has the responsibility of marrying his brother’s wife and raising an heir to his brother. Onan refused to raise an heir for his brother and the LORD killed him also. (Genesis 38:8-10)

Judah then sends Tamar back to her father’s house as a widow to wait until his youngest son is grown. (verse 11)

If the story was not odd enough, it gets worse.

Tamar covers herself and sat by the road. Judah sees her and thinks she’s a harlot and gets her pregnant. She holds on to the equivalent of his ID until he sends payment. (verses12-19)

Soon after, Judah sends a servant to pay the harlot and his servant is unable to find her. (verses 20-23)

Three months later Judah hears that Tamar is pregnant. Judah wants to literally burn her when she shows him his ID saying that the man who owned it is responsible for getting her pregnant. (verses 24-25)

From that pregnancy she gave birth to twins Perez and Zerah as mentioned in Matthew 1:3.

I imagine you have many questions about Genesis 38, it is a fascinating story, but that will have to wait until it gets its own post.

Why would Matthew bring up the story of Tamar? Imagine if that was your family, would you talk about the past?

Rahab

4 Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. 5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6 and Jesse begot David the king.

David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. 

Matthew 1:4-6 NKJV (bold mine)

Matthew continues his genealogy and things seem normal for a while until he mentions Rahab. To learn more about Rahab we need to read Joshua 2,6.

Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.”

So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. Joshua 2:1 NKJV (bold mine)

Yep. Rahab the harlot. Rahab lived int he city of Jericho, she was part of a community that God had ordered Israel to completely wipe out. So it ought to make you wonder how a prostitute, from a wicked city, who was not part of God’s chosen people (she was not born a Jew), finds herself in the genealogy of the Messiah!?

A brief overview of who Rahab was:

Rahab was a harlot who lived in a house in the wall Jericho. She knew that God had given the city to the Israelites and she lied to save the lives of the spies from Israel who were staying at her house. The day that Israel attacked Jericho Rahab and her family were the only ones who were spared. (For more information read Joshua 2, 6)

Ruth

5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse,

Matthew 1:5 NKJV (bold mine)

I have several posts on the book of Ruth (Love is series, first one here), and I would encourage you to read/listen to those messages. In essence:

Ruth is a Moabitess who decides to follow her mother-in-law back to Israel and worship her God (the LORD).

Bathsheba?

and Jesse begot David the king.

David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. Matthew 1:6 NKJV (bold mine)

To learn more about Bathsheba we need to read 2 Samuel 11-12.

Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah the Hittite. We don’t know what nationality she was. But David had Uriah killed and married Bathsheba.

This was the lowest point, morally speaking, of David’s life. Why would Matthew bring up Uriah’s wife? Why not just mention that David was the father of Solomon?

A less than perfect family

Matthew does not mention any other women besides these four, and Mary the mother of Jesus, at the very end. (Matthew 1:16)It is unusual to mention women in genealogies, and why would Matthew choose mention especially the women who don’t seem to belong?

Why mention the family members that people would rather forget?

Why bring up stories that make everyone feel uncomfortable?

Why would Matthew bring up these characters that remind us of how messy life can get?

Could it be to keep us from thinking that our life is too messy for Jesus to accept us?

Perhaps to remind us that Jesus was born into a chaotic world surrounded by messy people with less than perfect lives?

Jesus came to bring healing, harmony, peace, salvation to a world that desperately needs Him. We still need Him today. Out life is not too messy. Look at His earthly lineage!

An Inclusive Family

Keep in mind that Tamar was a Canaanite. Rahab the harlot lived in Jericho, a city doomed to destruction, full of enemies of Israel. Ruth was a Moabitess, and a widow. Bathsheba was the wife of a Hittite, who became pregnant by King David while she was still married to Uriah.

These women were mostly outsiders, yet they were not only included in God’s special people, but they also had the privilege of playing a role in the lineage that eventually led to the coming of Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Mary

The last woman mentioned by Matthew in the genealogy of Jesus is Mary, the mother of Jesus. But even that had some drama involved. t was so bad that Matthew tells us that Joseph had plans to divorce her. (Matthew 1:19) In those days, though the marriage was not fully consummated during the betrothal period, the betrothal couple was legally binding and could only be dissolved by a certificate of divorce.

Joseph could have had Mary stoned (Deuteronomy 22:23-24), but he was kind and preferred to get a private divorce. When Mary agreed to be the mother of Jesus she literally put her life on the line. (Luke 1:26-38) A careful reading of Luke 2:5 reveals that when Mary and Joseph made their trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem they were still not married. There is a possibility that Joseph had intended to divorce Mary in Bethlehem so that she would not be ostracized by her community. At least in Bethlehem no one knew her, as opposed to the place where she grew up and was well known.

The timeline is tight in Luke 2. There is a possibility that when Jesus was born Mary was betrothed to Joseph but not yet married. Even nowadays, when someone has a child out of wedlock, people talk, imagine back then, in small communities where everyone likely knew everyone else.

Besides the humbling place where Jesus was born, He was also born in a less than ideal social setting. There was drama. That first Christmas was not without drama. Jesus’ family was dysfunctional, when you look at His genealogy you see people mentioned that don’t seem to belong. But Jesus intentionally came into a messy world to bring harmony, peace, and salvation to all of us and our messy lives.

[kqduane]

I’ve wanted to write about Barronelle Stutzman’s faith, and her grace under pressure, for weeks. I kept praying that her predicament would resolve itself. I hoped that the “powers-that-be”, in the State of Washington, would finally come to their senses and realize that Barronelle lives in America – the land of the free, especially the land of the religiously free!

But, that was not to be. Instead, they’ve proved themselves to be no better than the pagans of ancient Rome, heartlessly tossing Christians to the lions in the Colosseum to appease their twisted priorities. And, to make matters much worse, unlike the Romans, most of these modern-day persecutors of Christians, are Christians themselves!

Judge Alex Ekstrom, 44 – Was Just Appointed to Superior Court in Sept. 2014.

On February 19, 2015, while Barronelle was peacefully sleeping in Richland, Washington, she would suddenly awaken to find that her flower shop had been moved to pagan Rome, or perhaps Nazi Germany, or maybe Communist Red China or worse, Islamist Iran, where intolerance for people of faith ran rampant.

It was on that day that Benton County Superior Court Judge Alexander Ekstrom, 44, ruled against Barronelle’s right to religious freedom, (which we all thought was unquestionably guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution) and, in favor of anti-Christian homosexual proclivities. 

Oddly, just five months earlier, the judge who had presided over Barronelle’s nearly 2-year-old case, Judge Salvador Mendoza, 43, was replaced by Judge Ekstrom, at what seemed like the eleventh hour.

Looking back, could Mendoza have been a Christian and could he have been was leaning in favor of Barronelle and was therefore “promoted” out-of-the-way? We will probably never know, as Judge Ekstrom would rule on Barronelle’s case, in Mendoza’s stead.

Ekstrom not only ruled that Barronelle’s business was in violation of Washington’s anti-discrimination laws but incredibly, so was she. He deliberately ruled, to not only place her business on the chopping block, but also her personal assets, including her home and her savings! The viciousness of the ruling was unprecedented. It was truly a persecution!

Ekstrom ruled that Barronelle must stop bringing her faith to work and pay a fine or lose EVERYTHING to the two gay men, who brought their suit against Bartonella, simply because she was a practicing Christian.

Barronelle stood her ground and flat refused, saying that she loved Jesus more than her belongings.

Mrs. Stutzman was born in Springfield, Missouri. She is a 70-year-old mother of 8, grandmother to 23 and great-grandmother to 3.

In 1948, Barronelle moved with her family to the Tri-Cities of Richland, Kennewick and Pasco as a three-year-old. Her father came to the state of Washington because jobs were plentiful. The United States government’s Manhattan Project, which was making plutonium for nuclear weapons, was in full swing and they needed workers in the region.

Stutzman’s Christian faith has sustained her throughout her entire life. Although her father was an atheist, her mother was a devote Christian. And, for as long as she can remember, she went to Church with her mother every Sunday.

Arlene’s Flower Shop

When Barronelle’s mother bought her flower shop in the early 1980s, it was named Arlene’s Flowers. And, soon after her mother purchased the shop, Barronelle began working there. She started as a delivery person and soon began making flower arrangements. She didn’t enjoy the work, until one day she realized that the shop was not just about flowers, it was about people.

Real people, who needed flowers for the best of times, and the worst of times, in their lives. People who had their own troubles and their own joys. People who were once strangers but would soon become friends. People who loved, lived and lost with grace and courage. Just good, everyday Christian people, trying to do the best they could with the opportunities, abilities and talents God gave them.

With this new understanding, Barronelle’s work at the shop suddenly became important to her and she began to minister to the community’s needs on multiple levels. She realized that her strong faith in God allowed her to not only rejoice at people’s celebrations including births, anniversaries, graduations, job promotions, engagements and holidays but that it could console those suffering with illness, loss or death as well.

So, when her mother became ill, Mrs. Stutzman happily bought the store that had provided her mother, herself and her customers, with so much more than simply flowers.

Robert Ingersoll

More than thirty years later, while still serving the community of Richland, her life would be changed forever, when on March 1, 2013, long-time customer, Robert Ingersoll, ironically, a manager at Goodwill Industries, entered her shop with a request.

Ingersoll walked into Arlene’s Flowers, just as he had done on many occasions over the previous nine years. But on that particular day, rather asking for Barronelle’s shop to design a flower arrangement for him, Robert asked if Barronelle would do all of the flowers for his September marriage, to his male partner, Curt Freed.

When the message was relayed to Barronelle, she discussed the request with her husband, and graciously declined Ingersoll’s request, because it was against her faith to participate in, or condone, homosexual activities as it would place her everlasting soul at risk of eternal damnation.

My initial reaction to this story was that Ingersoll was blatantly inconsiderate, shamefully intolerant and exceedingly disrespectful to have made this type of request of a woman that he knew was a devout Christian. Did he set her up, hoping to hit the lottery in court? With Washington’s one year old law, making discrimination against homosexuals a crime, my guess is, absolutely YES!

So, when Robert returned to Barronelle’s shop for an answer to his request, she told him that, as a Southern Baptist, she could not participate in his same-sex marriage, “because of my relationship with Jesus.”

The Holy Bible

As any real Christian knows, the Bible is very clear on this point.

1 Timothy 5:22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

Matthew 18:8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter eternal life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.

James 4:17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Matthew 12:36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.

Ezekiel 3:18 When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.

As a practicing Christian, Barronelle understood that she was accountable for other’s sinfulness and was therefore required to live her life as an example for others, in hopes that they would follow her lead.

  As a result, if she took part in Ingersoll’s homosexual “wedding”, rather than leading by example, she would be placing her “stamp of approval” on something that was strictly forbidden by God.

The Holy Bible

And, in doing so, Barronelle would not only become a hypocrite, but more importantly, she would one day be accountable to God for her sinful actions as well. She decided that it was just not worth the risk, because the Bible is very clear on this point too.

Romans 1:26-27 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

1 Corinthians 6:9  

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality.

So, when Robert Ingersoll turned to leave Barronelle’s flower shop that day, nothing seemed amiss. In fact she said, “He was very gracious. He said, ‘I understand,’ and we talked about his mom a little bit, and about how he got engaged. And then we hugged each other, and he left.”

  There was no indication that Robert was offended by Barronelle’s decision, nor did he appear upset when she suggested two other florists what would be able to supply his flowers.

  No, nothing seemed amiss, until soon after his departure, her store’s five phones began to ring off the hook. Bartonella said, “The calls were … not very nice. Very hateful, very threatening, things you could not repeat. Things I had to look up, because I had no idea what they meant.” She began to spend most of her time answering the phones herself, so that her 12 employees would not be subjected to the vitriol.

  Just when the phone calls began to taper-off, the hate mail began to arrive. Hundreds of letters, and thousands of e-mails, poured into her shop. The pile of hate mail finally reached three-feet high.

Curt Freed

The source of this vicious hatred would prove to be Ingersoll’s boyfriend, Curt Freed. When Robert returned to their home that day, Freed became incensed, with Barronelle.

And, with non-Christian vengeance, he took to Facebook to disparaged, denigrate and defame Mrs. Stutzman for her faith. His virulent intolerance for her Christian faith, was so ferocious, that Freed’s rant went viral, initiating the phone calls and hate mail.

Suddenly, a small town florist, in the middle of nowhere (145 miles southwest of Spokane) was ground-zero for vicious, vile and vitriol-soaked, anti-Christian hatred and intolerance.

  On April 18, 2013, the ever-vigilant ACLU (the most notoriously, anti-Christian non-profit organization in the country, which is funded by the more notorious, billionaire currency trader, and non-Christian, George Soros) took up Ingersoll and Freed’s separate cases against Barronelle and sued in Ingersoll and Freed’s personal capacity.

Bob Ferguson – Attorney General for the State of Washington

Just ten days prior to the filing of the ACLU’s suit, Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, 50,  (who has a non-Christian ancestry) after hearing about Freed’s tirade on Facebook, decided to join the melee, and as a representative of the state, filed an anti-discrimination consumer protection lawsuit against Barronelle.

So, rather than address the 203 murders, 2,100 rapes, 5,700 robberies, 12,200 aggravated assaults that occurred in 2013, Ferguson chose instead, to personally go after an elderly grandmother florist because she had the nerve to live her life according to her Christian faith.

  And worse yet, rather than be ashamed of his behavior, this Catholic-educated man (who must get re-elected for the second time in 2016) wallowed in the political maelstrom his actions created.

  The Alliance Defending Freedom offered to defend Mrs. Stutzman pro-bono because they had never seen a AG behave in this unorthodox manner.

  As it would be shown, no one had requested, complained or directed Attorney General Ferguson to get involved with Barronelle’s situation – not the Legislature, not the Washington Human Rights Commission (which is the legal channel through which these types of  discrimination cases are directed to the Attorney General), not the ACLU and not even the two gay defendants.

  Ferguson just chose to stick his nose, where it didn’t belong, and file an additional suit against Mrs. Stutzman, and despite his supposedly Christian faith, just because he could.

In response, Mrs. Stutzman’s lawyers, including Kristen Waggoner, who is the senior counsel from the Alliance Defending Freedom; Attorney Alicia M. Berry of Liebler, Connor, Berry & St. Hilaire and attorney JD Bristol, who is one of nearly 2,300 attorneys allied with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), filed a countersuit.

Kristen Waggoner

JD Bristol

Alicia M. Berry

Dale Schowengerdt

Dale Schowengerdt, Senior Legal Counsel for ADF explained the motion,

“In America, the government is supposed to protect freedom, not use intolerance for certain viewpoints to intimidate citizens into acting contrary to their faith. The attorney general has acted inappropriately by trying to intimidate Barronelle through his lawsuit rather than leaving the process where the law says such matters need to take place. Plenty of other florists are willing to provide flowers for same-sex ceremonies, yet both lawsuits against Barronelle insist on going after not only her business, but going after her personally as well. That’s extraordinary, and we’re asking the court to put a stop to it.”

  Schowengerdt continued, “The Attorney General’s action here, on behalf of the State of Washington, is based on an unprecedented interpretation of the Washington Law Against Discrimination…and the Consumer Protection Act…

  ADF’s motion says, “The State’s action goes against the statutes’ specific terms and more than thirty years of prior agency practice by successive Attorneys General. This Court should reject the Attorney General’s illegitimate claim of authority to bring this action…. Accordingly, this Court should dismiss the Complaint filed by the State of Washington for lack of primary jurisdiction, failure to exhaust administrative remedies as required by law, and lack of standing.”

Dale Schowengerdt, is later quoted as saying, “This is the first time in the history of the Washington Attorney General’s Office that they have done something like this,” He went on to say that, “This is definitely a political issue for the attorney general. It’s unusual for him to go around the state talking so much about specific cases, but he has talked a lot about this, and when they filed the suit, he was the media point person for it.”

It was indeed, very unfortunate for Mrs. Stutzman, and very fortunate for Robert Ingersoll and Curt Freed, that Judge Salvador Mendoza, Jr, who had presided over Stutzman’s case for over a year, would suddenly be promoted to a federal judgeship. Was this a coincidence, or was it a plot? 

On June 29, 2013, Mendoza combined Ingersoll’s and Freed’s separate cases into one. And then, just six months later, on January 16, 2014, Mendoza – after being on the Benton County Superior Court for just 8 months, as compared to his predecessor Judge Craig Matheson, who served 26 years on the bench – was suddenly nominated by Pres. Obama to become a federal judge on the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Washington State. 

Judge Craig Matheson

Judge Salvador Mendoza

Judge Alexander Ekstrom

And just as interestingly, Mendoza had replaced Matheson just a couple of weeks after both law suits were filed against Barronelle Stutzman in April of 2013.

Six months later, Mendoza’s speedy appointment to the federal court would be confirmed by the U. S. Senate on June 17, 2014. On August 1, 2014, after serving just 14 months on Benton County’s Superior Court, Mendoza would become the first latino judge on the Eastern District’s federal court. 

  Mendoza was gone and Ekstrom replaced him on September 19, 2014, just 5 months before he would make the ruling on Stutzman’s case. Three different judges have presided over Barronelle’s life during the course of her case.

  More interestingly, Judge Alex Ekstrom refused to recuse himself from the case, despite the fact that he personally knew Freed and, was a member of the Board of the Columbia Basin Community College. Curt Freed was employed at the college, for an annual salary of $110.000, as Vice President for Administration/Instruction. Ekstrom also noted that his wife had bought flowers from Barronelle on many occasions as well. Despite these obvious conflicts of interest, Ekstrom refused to step aside.

  In December 2014, Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed a motion. They asked the Benton County Court to dismiss Ferguson’s and the ACLU’s claims against Barronelle in her personal capacity.  While Ferguson and the ACLU asked the court to find her liable without a trial or jury determination. The case was argued in court that same month.

  Under the new discrimination law, both Ferguson and the ACLU can pursue penalties against Barronelle for up to $2,000 per violation, as well as legal fees, against both her business and her personal assets. And the message the attorney general and the ACLU was sending to the citizenry of Washington was crystal clear: surrender your religious liberty and your free speech rights, or face personal and professional ruin.

Benton County Courthouse

On February 19, 2015, Judge Ekstrom ruled that Mrs. Stutzman’s refusal to provide flowers because of sexual orientation violated Washington’s anti-discrimination and consumer protection laws. She was fined $1,000, plus $1 in court costs and fees. Barronelle believes the judgement will prevent her from practicing her Southern Baptist faith. 

Basically, Ekstrom ruled that she must provide full support for wedding ceremonies that are contrary to her faith. And incredibly, it basically states that Barronelle is free to believe what she wants, but not to practice her religious beliefs.

Ferguson, on the other hand, agreed to settle Barronelle’s case for $2,001 if she agreed not to do any weddings and to not appeal the ruling. In other words, Barronelle must defy her conscience and participate in same-sex weddings or the full coercive power of the state, as well as civil liability, will be brought against her.

  Barronelle’s letter of response, to the threats made by Attorney General Ferguson, are as follows:

ARLENE’S FLOWERS 1177 Lee Blvd. Richland, WA 99352

February 20, 2015 

Attorney General Bob Ferguson 1125 Washington St. SE P.O. Box 40100 Olympia, WA 98504 

Re: State of Washington v. Arlene’s Flowers and Barronelle Stutzman 

Dear Mr. Ferguson,

Thank you for reaching out and making an offer to settle your case against me.

As you may imagine, it has been mentally and emotionally exhausting to be at the center of this controversy for nearly two years.  I never imagined that using my God-given talents and abilities, and doing what I love to do for over three decades, would become illegal. Our state would be a better place if we respected each other’s differences, and our leaders protected the freedom to have those differences. Since 2012, same-sex couples all over the state have been free to act on their beliefs about marriage, but because I follow the Bible’s teaching that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, I am no longer free to act on my beliefs.

Your offer reveals that you don’t really understand me or what this conflict is all about. It’s about freedom, not money. I certainly don’t relish the idea of losing my business, my home, and everything else that your lawsuit threatens to take from my family, but my freedom to honor God in doing what I do best is more important. Washington’s constitution guarantees us “freedom of conscience in all matters of religious sentiment.” I cannot sell that precious freedom. You are asking me to walk in the way of a well-known betrayer, one who sold something of infinite worth for 30 pieces of silver.  That is something I will not do.

I pray that you reconsider your position. I kindly served Rob for nearly a decade and would gladly continue to do so. I truly want the best for my friend. I’ve also employed and served many members of the LGBT community, and I will continue to do so regardless of what happens with this case. You chose to attack my faith and pursue this not simply as a matter of law, but to threaten my very means of working, eating, and having a home. If you are serious about clarifying the law, then I urge you to drop your claims against my home, business, and other assets and pursue the legal claims through the appeal process. Thanks again for writing and I hope you will consider my offer. 

Sincerely,

Barronelle Stutzman

Barronelle obviously declined to pay the fine and plans to appeal the decision. She is a woman with the courage of her convictions. Her attorney said it could leave her liable for legal fees and court costs that reach over $1 million and not even that frightens her. She is truly Christian warrior.

Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI called what has happened to Barronelle, and what is happening to other Christians, the tyranny of tolerance. He went on to say that the “sexual rights” of some are more important than the religious rights of others. How eerily correct he was in that statement.

Barronelle agrees when she said, “Little by little, they are stripping us of any thought we might have, or any difference of opinion. This is our religious freedom at stake.” She went on to say, “I’m a grain of sand in a little spot, and why God chose what He did … that is up to God. It’s a battle, but it’s a good battle to be in, and I’m glad I’m on this side of it. It’s an opportunity for me to be obedient, to show Christ’s love, to stand up for what I believe.” Barronelle added, “And it’s not a burden—it’s a joy. I don’t mean that to sound ‘Pollyanna.’ It’s just that Christ has given me this peace. I’m sure there will be a lot more hate coming, but they’re not hating me, they’re hating Him. And He can take care of Himself. ” 

  Mrs. Stutzman wrote in a statement, soon after the unprecedented summary judgement against her by Ekstrom, “I just want the freedom to live and work faithfully and according to what God says about marriage without fear of punishment. America would be a better place if citizens respected each others’ differences and the government still protected the freedom to have those differences. Instead, the government is coming after me and everything I have just because I won’t live my life the way the state says I should.”

Barronelle’s ADF lawyer, Kristen Waggoner said, “The message of these rulings is unmistakable: The government will bring about your personal and professional ruin if you don’t help celebrate same-sex marriage.

Mrs. Stutzman said she is holding up under the stress of the case and bears no ill will toward the couple. She recently said that, “The support has far outweighed the bad and if (Rob) comes in, I would give him a hug and catch up on his life.”

Barronelle Stutzman is an extraordinarily admirable woman, a Christian woman who has inspired a nation of Christians to stand up for their faith, despite overwhelming odds.

I pray that the powers-that-be come to realize that, unless the vengeful, vicious Ingersoll/Freed’s of the world are stopped, wonderful Christians, like Barronelle Stutzman, will cease to exist. Christians are the backbone of America’s greatness and the reason why America is the only country on earth where people stand in line to enter.

It’s all about religious freedom, and without that, America will shrivel on the vine of history and men like Ingersoll, Freed, Ferguson and Ekstrom will be to blame.

Let’s pray that Barronelle’s Christian persecutors read the following quote from the Bible and are touched by the Holy Spirit to change their treacherous ways and come back to God.

Romans 14:19 

“So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual up-building.”

  Let your voice be heard in defense of this courageous Christian. Attorney General Ferguson’s phone number is 360-753-6200.

Admirable Women – Florist Barronelle Stutzman’s Business, Home and Personal Assets at Risk Because She’s A Devote Christian I've wanted to write about Barronelle Stutzman's faith, and her grace under pressure, for weeks. I kept praying that her predicament would resolve itself.

[fadingpersoncollectorstuff-blog]

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""If you move to a higher-cost car insurance state, when does the increase take effect?""

If I move to a new state that has higher car theft and higher minimums, which I imagine would definitely increase my premium, would I have to pay as soon as I told the company of the address change? Or, would the increase only be seen on my next bill (a few months later)? This is for moving from Arizona to Washington, if it matters. Thanks!""

Best car insurance quote for a 17 year old. (UK)?

im going on my parents insurance, and i need the cheapest insurance as possible. i heard a company named something like 'quantitive' do a good price? but im not sure... looking for no more than 2000""

Does car insurance get significantly cheaper when you turn 21?

Does car insurance get significantly cheaper when you turn 21?

Any suggestions on best Health Insurance for a diabetic?

My son is in his late twenties, without health insurance and was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, requiring him to take insulin daily. We are trying to help him with this financially, and bills are enormous. Any ideas on what might be the best health insurance plan for him? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.""

Is there an insurance that gives the same benifits as AAA at a lower price?

AAA is awsome but expenisve is there any other car insurance that offers the same benifits at a lower price

What is this type of insurance called? And how much?

So from general information, i know typically an arena will say that you need some insurance to cover (X) amount, like $1,000,000. My question is how does that person get that insurance? What does the insurance policy look like? And how much would he/she have to pay to get that insurance?""

Where can I sign up for just 1 week of health insurance?

I just graduated and I will have travel health insurance (for a extended trip celebrating graduation) until September 16th and my health insurance from my new job will start on Septemeber 21st. Everything online for health insurance keeps giving me monthly rates -- is there a way I can just buy 1 week's worth of insurance? (I live in Massachsuetts, so while I would normally go uninsured for 5 days, I hear it might cause me huge tax issues under the new mandatory health insurance laws)""

Is it cheaper to buy your own insurance or go on your parents insurance?

I was looking at prices online for one person and it's between 2K and - 3k for 6 Months just for me and my friends are own there parents insurance and they only pay 100 - 200 a month is that true about that? Where close to the same age.

Car Insurance Online Chat?

Does anyone know if there is a car insurance company that offers online chat with a representative? If so, which one? A lot of the ones I am looking at ask for all of your information and if when I call others they put you on hold for a long time!""

Do I qualify for my parents health insurance?

I have a job that offers health insurance at a price I'm in school I'm 22

Do any of you have insurance?

Car insurance cell phone insurance life insurance health insurance renters insurance homeowners insurance Title insurance Troll insurance No matter what the product its good to have insurance AM I RIGHT?

How do you find out if buisness's / companys have insurance?

how do you find out if a newspaper company has insurance

""Spouse suspended license, live together, can I get auto insurance?""

Actually, it is my son in law who has a suspended license. My Daughter's policy was canceled and she wants to start a new policy, but she says that no insurance company will touch her because she lives with someone with a suspended license. Is this for real? Sound like a bunch of hog-wash to me. She lives in Massachusetts.""

Car insurance first time owner?

Hi, I'm an international student with USA drivings license in Fl. I'm covered by my boyfriends car insurance company in order to drive his car but that's everything what I have as insurance. I'm on my way on buying a new car and I don't know what to do. Because I have my driving's license for an less than year the rates are pretty high. Almost 500$ for a month. Does anybody know any cheap insurance company that will help me to overcome this obstacle and moreover is there any other trick that I can use in order to reduce the rates. Thank you in advance.""

Most Comprehensive Health Insurance for a College Student?

I'll be going to college in a few years, and I'm fully aware of the healthcare crisis. Although money is an issue, my health is more important. Assuming that money is not ...show more""

What is the cost of an insurance for a 250 cc scooter? (Louisiana)?

I know that there are many options, but a vague answer is fine. I just want to know if it will be around 100$ or 500$.""

What is the average car insurance rate for a teenager?

I am currently under my mom's insurance. I don't know what she has, but she said after I get my license I need to give her $1200 up front for my part of the insurance. Is there anything cheaper I can get on my own? JSYK: I am a 17 year old about to get a license in 10 days. I have a 3.8 GPA and got over a 90 on the written portion to get my permit. I live in New Jersey, and I am a female. I currently have about $1,100 saved from working the passed few months but I need some of it for band camp and I am paying for my car. My parents won't put anything forth to help me with the payments.""

Is a 1978 lincoln mark v cheap to insure?

i am looking at a very cheap car to insure. i was looking into one of these classic cars. i currently drive a 1995 ford explorer V6 and its RWD that costs $140 a month on insurance and it gets worse gas mileage than a 1969 lincoln mark iii. as far as i know, this is a 34 year old car and registration is probably gonna cost 50 bucks or less and i live in NH. im 19 and have no tickets or accidents, will the lincoln mark v be cheaper than my explorer. i only have liability""

Cheapest Car Insurance here in Florida?

My wife will going to finance a car this month. A ford focus to be specific and its my first time to avail an Auto Insurance but I'm driving for four years in Philippines and I'm now 24 yrs old. Some advice what car insurance company is the cheapest for first time buyer and who doesn't have a credit history? My wife is 29 and we got our license here in Florida last month. I drive for more than 4 years and my wife just learned how to drive last year before we went here in US.

Infiniti g35 insurance rate for a 19 year old?

Infiniti g35 insurance rate for a 19 year old?

Will my car insurance skyrocket if I switch from a '97 to a '09?

I live in NYC so my car insurance is already astronomical. I drive a 97 Saturn right now and Im thinking of getting a Prius because of gas prices. Do you think my insurance will increase by a lot because of the difference in model and year? I know I could just get a quote but that's a process with my insurance company.

How much does insurance cover?

I have blue cross shield insurance I am fourteen how much would I be for Invisalign On my bottom teeth? I got braces on my top years ago The insurance covered all of my tonsilectomy we paid nothing out of pocket.

liberty insurance car insurance

liberty insurance car insurance

If the insurance company totals my car do they keep it?

My car is old. Its a 95 Neon and it was backed into this weekend. We got one estimate of 2600 but that is more than the car cost. If we go thru the insurance company and they total the car will they keep the car or let us keep it. It still runs fine.

Insurance rebate?

If you cancel your car insurance, do you get a rebate as you do with road tax?""

What are the risks with Co-signing on a car and putting insurance in my name for a bf?

My daughters father needs a new and wants us to get it together. I would be co-signing on the car and the insurance would be in my name. It would mainly be his car, I would only pay $100/month on the insurance. I'm very hesitant about doing this as a) our relationship is rocky b) he has a bad record...many tickets/fines to the point where he could not get approved for insurance c) I dont want to get screwed over. He's pretty upset that im saying I dont want to, and is complaining that he cant rely on me, but I feel im protecting myself and my credit. So what exactly are the risks, and how can I get him to understand why I'm saying no?""

Cheapest car insurance south australia?

what is and the price, for the cheapest car insurance places in south australia for a japanese import car with a turbo for a p plater, 16 years old, nealry 17? thanks""

Can an insurance co suspend your liscense ?

the insurance co is threatening that a suspension is in progress if a payment is not made. payments have been made for the past 3 years but now they want the remaining 2000, and said they can suspend the liscense. Is this true? in the state of CA""

Which auto insurance carrier is best?

I want to find a reliable company. I've looked into Geico and Allstate... just don't know how they handle claims and things. Any input?

How can I start an auto insurance business in California?

How can I start an auto insurance business in California?

I have question about car insurance?

so i literally bought my car insurance 2 days ago and i just got into a accident .... i have full coverage and a guy ran his red light and hit me and just left... will my insurance company think that i was just telling a lie or will they help me...i have progressive...

Why are so many Americans so damn dumb?

why don't they realize things like how the insurance companies are screwing them? Insurance companies keep 30% of every dollar spent and it goes in their pocket. They exist to deny you service, to keep you sick. America is the only industrialized country in the world without universal health care. I await the predictable comments about that, fed to most americans by the likes of hannity, savage and limbaugh, all with great health insurance.....so, why are so many americans so damn dumb?""

Can I trust American Health Insurance?

I'm going to an American university and I have to buy student health cover. How trustworthy is it actually? If I get sick, will the insurance just say that my injury/illness isn't covered and left me to die - even if it's an insurance company that the university requires students to buy insurance from??""

Why at 22 years old is a first time drivers insurance so dam high?

Yeah so the title says it all. Has anyone got any tips on how to lower insurance down a bit I'm looking at prices from 2k-2.4k at the moment and that's only on a 1.3 ford fiesta. Hopefully someone has a few tips on how to get the cheaper insurance ;p

Where can i get really cheap auto insurance. when i turn 18 I am getting my own car and own insurance.?

I don't make that much money probably only about 200-300 dollars a month so I wanted to know where i could get the cheapest car insurance in ME. i don't want to do a car quote now because I am not old enough and I don't actually have my license and a car now but I would just like an average or what around what the cheapest cost is. Thanks

Is healthcare ever going to be affordable again in our country?

I just got an e-mail saying that my insurance premiums are going up again and now I'm going to be paying $500+ per month for insurance premiums. This is for a high deductable plan where I have to meet $2,500 in deductable before I get covered at 100%! It's like my raises don't matter anymore and they only serve to keep my head above water when each year when my insurance spikes. I get hit harder than anyone because I am in the employee plus family category. 1. Is there a ray of hope at the end of this tunnel? Will we ever get back to affordable health care (us guys that don't work for huge companies)? 2. Are there any alternative solutions for me out there? I can get covered 100% for employee only, but my wife and child need coverage. Please Help

What should i do with my insurance to test drive cars?

I am looking at a car tomorrow that i will more than likely buy. My insurance is comprehensive but says the driving of other cars extension is not included for any driver named on the policy I have phoned my insurance company Diamond and the guy said it would cost me 17.50 to insure the car for a day third party. I undestand that third party means if i bump someone my insurance pays for their damage but not for mine. If i decide to buy the car should i be getting fully comprehensive for the day?

How to get health insurance?

how does a student (college) go about getting health insurance? i used to be on my sisters insurance but she is currently not working there anymore and has lost her insurance, therefore am not covered anymore. How do i get health insurance?? thanks""

Anyone have Mega Insurance?

It's supposed to be for the self employed. Is the high premium worth the benefits or even the coverage compared to other insurance companies out there (like e health insurance.com)

What happens if i cancel by car insurance?

I have recently turned 17 and can start driving in the UK. There is obviously a large difference between insurance quotes for my car depending on whether i hold a provisional license or a full license. While i am on a provisional i can get a quote for 620 with Quinn-Direct but this will go up to 2000+ after i pass my test. What happens if i buy my insurance then cancel it when i pass my test and get a quote from elsewhere, (I can get one for 1400) will i get a percentage of my money back or will it just be lost? Cheers Rob""

SO confused about this car insurance issue?

ok, due to being in the hospital giving birth, i missed a second payment on my car insurance in one term. i was told by my broker that was it, there was nothing i could do, they would cancel. my insurance company is ING. i said ok so what next? she told me on july 10th that they were sending out a registewred letter that day stating it was cancelled (my payment was late on june 25th). 2 wks later i had not received anything so i called my broker again. this was at 1 pm (they close at 4) and no one called me back. finally, i called back again, she called ING and called me back saying ok they said if you can pay it today it wont be cancelled (i had asked MULTIPLE times if this was an option, i was told no) by the time she told me that, it was 330 pm. I live a 1/2 drive away and by the time i got the baby together, went to the bank etc, it would be after their closing time so i couldnt do that. i contacted another broker who my mother deals with and he told me that they would send me my""

Wich car will cost more?

wich car will cost more in insurance? im a 16 year old boy with a3.0. i dont need exact prices just wich costs more. 2004 mustang v6 or 2004 silverado 1500 access cab 5.3 litre v8. thank you

Is there an insurance that will insure me and not my car?

my friend had an insurance that insured just him for any car he was driving idk what it was called but it was only for ohio residents anyway(im in pa) ....how would it work?

Insurance on 2011 subaru STI?

I'm 19 sold my truck that had become a money pit and saved about 5 grand to put down on a new car. I make about $1950 a month at my job and have been there for a year. I came across a subaru Impreza STI for the price of $29000 only has 400 miles on the car and I can afford the payments per month (around $400) I'm just curious about insurance costs. I'm 19 been driving for 3 years no accidents and no tickets... What should I expect for insurance per month??(ballpark estimate) my insurance guy is not in til tomorrow just asking to see what you guys think

If I had this non fault accident would my car insurance still gone up?

Okay a week ago I was about to have an accident I passed a railroad track when no train was comming and the bars were up as well so I passed the railroad and I made a turn so this had a stop sign at a corner and didn't make a complete stop so I was passing since I didn't have a stop sign or yield sign and this guy just stepped on the gas and went into the wrong way and then he tried to jump into the way that I was going and I was about to hit him because there wasn't enough space for him to change lanes safely. And so I remember that the day that my dad went to get insurance for his car they told him that they had a record of the accident that he had back in 1991 which wasn't his fault.

How much is car insurance for a 19 year old female in south carolina?

How much is car insurance for a 19 year old female in south carolina?

Do you need proof of car insurance to get your license in Illinois?

Do you need proof of car insurance to get your license in Illinois?

What is the cheapest motorcycle insurance?

so im gonna get a motorcycle but i dont know much about all the insurance and stuff..and i just wanted to know which is the cheapest? i go to school with a guy who pays $80 every 3 months, which is only about $26 every month, which seems like a pretty good deal.""

liberty insurance car insurance

liberty insurance car insurance

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/safeco-home-insurance-online-quote-kyle-rivera"

[castlehead]

I realize now, the only 'it' I have known ever has been the 'it' of GOD. If I believe nothing else I believe in creator/sustainer/what have you, rather than something that amounts to metaphysical poetry, as an abnormal platelet for people to see the wonder in themselves. Give power to the cosmos instead as unfathomable and sexless. Cannot stress that enough. Simply put a denial of this ideal I see as the only fathomable one to me; that is, a comfort in feeling sane for what should have remained a fear without an identity at all. An ultimate, personal meaning is for the namelessness, and if I can learn to separate namelessness from it's paradoxical and outdated ideal, I will have become the most human that I can be. Simply put, I have clogged my head forever with thoughts on---GOD---too much to perceive anything but an 'it' to be manipulated by theory. It has always inspired my imagination; moreover, there is a science there that is always of the words I see as diction. The unfathomable is my only Bible, and will always be. Whatever moral quandary I associated with hurting those around me, or thoughts on the loveliness of this theory of GOD I know I still have, as I am embedded in it enough to feel it's truth always---were only moral quandaries as regards what I, ie, him, did to her, ie the love of his life. Ascribe a sex to anything unfathomable and find that you are way too broad. I referred, to this end, my own personal comfort in the hopes that by giving---namelessness---all my pronouns, except the one I valued much in the 'it' that I left for myself to feel, knowing well, better, a sexless creator, than one that makes way too much of what it is and leaves nothing of it's dreams for what it wants to be, for people to have as their own---in naming what I believe should remain sexless. Add a sex to the diety and you destroy it via mere religious fears of whiplash. Men and women are hims and hers. Any god I could hope to percieve is not human, if but for the respect for those men and women. That I aspired to make the head of god as any sort of relatable muse besides the namelessness i have always needed it to be was and has been what has haunted me. But a personal GOD that one refers to as an 'it' is an utmost token of respect, if the diagram be totally conceived in the head already, which it always has been. No one can beckon GOD, not any system of fucking prayer. Why? Oh, you. Acid inserted the moral 'You' into my mind, maybe to my detriment. This picture of that Rift in the Void so long refused via a religion of assumptions that only in this generation have the possibility to be overcome, in remaining vicious towards that fucking voodoo. In my opinion it is way too moral to think humans are that way, way too horrible to conceive of humankind as being a vast pain of unutterables and confusion 'it' cannot escape from. Acid made the voice of this stranger-god of sorts way too concrete by having it be a literal voice, as in, a crazily imaginative interior voice, and not ever literal voices in my head ever. Deny this craziness and see the retro of societal standards of crazy. I hope you have perspective enough on my thought process and a devotion thereof to see---addressing 'it'-GOD---that that has been my sole spiritual and somewhat theoretical issue since I dropped bombs months ago. a devaluing of my ambition to prove a prouder god in removing 'it's' humanizing form. Whether you are able to see the devotion to a museless idol as being no sort of muse, as needing no muse but the crazy mysteries of time and space and the universe....if you think id need time to figure myself back into a no-human man or woman...well...no, no god, its fine, let this concretion settle, just a psychic hiccup in my head i deferred from a grotesque noisiness to something far more theoretical and worsened and contrived. no god can ever hear us: because all the answers blend, in freaky waves. The diction has always been the honesty and passion I saw in an ultimate expanse and virgin growth of something far the more, that humans would dishonor themselves and their own purity in relating the unfathomable to something human. Religion----is a grotesque, awful misconduct as to the worth of people, who put faith in rituals that empower belief. and that is the humanity for any addict of reliable comfort, one who is strong enough to believe anything, if it be restricted to daily rituals. my daily 'prayers---are ciggies and coffee personally. Anything to stoke the spirit, that's the spirit of the wideness of the universe. That's the wonder of a thing ceaseless in flux. And more than anything, I refuse reliable comfort and always have, and always will, regarding anything that doesn't kill me. But if I see one succumb to drugs for a similar sport, I know where it leads in one's morality, if they have any belief at all in the sustained rhetoric of even the word 'god' that is a perceived wisdom only because it has been accepted for thousands of years. Thousands of years, that is nothing to the nothingness, and Christianity has to be the most furiously squeezed out diatribe i have ever refused to listen to. Too much meaning in too little space, that is a matter of a compression of words, not lives. It's a matter of forming a thought, not a person. My god of thoughts is more one that is and was meant to be totally apart from Dan the Man. I like the distance I name by calling 'it' unfathomable because that's the ultimate scope anyway. I know unfathomable pain, but not the unfathomable pain of everything leading to grief in having no sure way to lead the universe, just myself and my identity. Who I am or who anybody is that I have ever relegated to thoughts on the page has really never had anything to do with them, which I like better anyway, because I know the endlessness of grief as applied only to my short timeline, not an infinite one. I'll feel the rest of death like everyone else, and that's my heaven. Lack of consciousness. Whatever---god-thing---that acid wanted me to see was nauseating banal, and I focused more on indulging the pain of it in indulging what to me acid had made a sitcom: a somewhat wry, crotchey creator----in the attempt to connect the identity of me to the identity of namelessness which I see as no part. Beckett put too much holy trivia in the diction of namelessness as to the emptiness of human life, but this works as an metaphor and nothing more. I see somewhat in How It Is a new birth in perpetuity that whatever IT could only ever not know of creating. And this indifference to the beauty and perhaps lascivious fascination with trivia for the sake of an outdated atom of morals given to man long ago, proves in my eyes that there is an unconscious empathy the universe would have at all in what is a mere hunger for fascinating thoughts that explain ITself. Morality made creator / sustainer / what have you a falsely human concept in assuming it stopped there. Time provides the measurement of value similarly, not morals. Whatever GOD there is I feel would have little problem then with loose ends communicated unconsciously, this ambivalence and chaos as no eventuality but merely on a larger scale---so as to save---something---from something----would become the more of an empathy in a paradigm of inexplicable relations that are the ultimate sonic boom thru the noise of icy cold space and nothingness. No dignity here for humans though. It's either good or bad, how limiting. And I am bound by that as well, the need to rectify so as to make peace with an ultimate fear. That the GOD that is is death. As in, the rest of death, without the rest of remaining an 'it in peace for humans to be blissfully unaware of so that they can give their alms to a 'You' in GOD that in the blink of an infinite eye means nothing but is left if only for the sake of keeping the deity warm, not this sincere, blue sphere of imperfection. So I say to this IT: take the compliment of your ineffability whom I, this dan of sorts, give you, as being my own version of empathizing with the more humanly moral alm-giving, just a diff way to pay respects. Loose ends are the utmost sublimity, and finished work, for a time when I know all the burrs in my head enough to get past every one of those millions of them.

[hellojulie1971]

All inclusive of every sickness and disease!

Did you see it? Every sickness and every disease, even those NOT written in this Book of the Law! This includes the sickness and disease YOU are dealing with right now and is inclusive of every sickness and every disease that was, is, or can ever be!!!

Now let's tie it all together. Since we know that the curse includes all sickness and all disease that's in the world, we can clearly see that according to Galatians 3:13, we have been redeemed or bought out from underneath the lordship of the curse of the law. Therefore, according to these Scriptures, you can clearly see that sickness and disease have no legal right to live within our bodies. According to the Word of God it's illegal - pure and simple, because we have been redeemed!!! It's our birth-right as born-again children of God to be free of sickness and disease. Praise the Lord! Take a moment and really ponder, and take to heart this crucial life-giving fact.

Go ahead and get happy about the blessing that is yours and get mad at the devil for trying to pull one over on you, trying to get you to accept what doesn't belong to you. He's a liar! Remember this: Faith can only act where the will of God is known. You can't claim a benefit that you don't know anything about. But now you know! So put your foot down on the devil and command him to leave and take all of his sickness and disease with him, it doesn't belong to you!!! As it says in John 8:32: "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." You're free! You've been made free of sickness and disease!!! 

It's vitally important for us to realize that we have an active role to play in appropriating our blessings. You see, there's an enemy out there that is continually working against us. However. we need to understand that because we have become born-again, we have been given authority over the devil and all his works.

In Luke 10:19-20 there's a great truth describing our covenant right:Jesus said...

19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions,and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.   

20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this,that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."  

Now that's power!!!And it's your God given right to act upon it..

Did you know that we have been given the right to use His authority over the enemy? And as if Verse 19 didn't say it clear enough, Jesus clarifies it even futher in Verse 20 when He said - the spirits are subject to you!!! What Jesus was really saying in Verse 20; knowing He was about to pay the price for redemption was: "don't just rejoice in this one area of the blessing that I've made available to you, that the spirits are subject to you - there's more, much more and it is yours BECAUSE you're a child of God having been born-again and your names are written in heaven - you are in My family now with all of its rights and privileges, and everything that I've made available to you stems from this. This is what you should be rejoicing about" 

Child of God, you can do this! You have the right, given by the Lord Jesus Himself. Go ahead and take your authority over the devil by commanding him to get out of your life and out of all that concerns you. Command sickness and disease to go! Rebuke it in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Set your will against it, and refuse to accept it on the basis of the Word of God and the shed Blood at Calvary - it doesn't belong to you. You are a Blood bought child of God, so exercise your right!

Did you know that your words are powerful and carry great impact and that your faith is much more stronger than you think or are aware of? Your words are containers that release the blessing of God into your life.

Look what else Jesus said in Mark 11:22-23

22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.

23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be    cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says.

Jesus said you can have whatever you say!

A mountain is an obstacle in life that is blocking your progress or realized blessing! Notice, Jesus did not say to talk to God about your mountain - He said YOU do something about it - use the faith He has given to you and command it to be removed according to the Word of God. That's right - You do it!!! Pick up the Sword of the Spirit, which is the spoken Word of God, and begin to slash your way to victory, proclaiming the Word of God regarding your healing.

Often, when we are sick or dealing with disease, we "hear" the sickness or symptoms speak negativity or doubt to our minds. Thoughts come to us telling us we are not ever going to get well, or "how will you ever get about your business, you're in such bad shape." Or quite possibly convincing us to entertain thoughts of death, suicide or thoughts of total defeat because of the pain or symptoms. Do not listen to that, it will defeat you! Instead, get back to the Word and activate your faith.

Take a look at Isaiah 54:17 for a word from the Lord regarding this.

17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall     condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And the irrighteousness is from Me," Says the LORD. You take the authority over those negative thoughts with the Word!

Did you notice the "You" in this Scripture? Here again, the Lord is telling you to do something about this, He's telling you to take action against it and for you to condemn it.

After reading all that I've presented so far, you must realize by now that according to the Word of the Lord,sickness is judging you falsely. Remember, it's illegal for it to be in your body. It has no right to be there. Rise up in faith and condemn those lying negative thoughts with the truth of the Word of God. Refuse to accept that negativity! Instead, replace those negative thoughts by meditating on the promises of health and healing from the Word. Saturate your mind with the truth which is your inheritance, your birthright - The Word Of God! Begin to see yourself as the Word says - healed, whole and well! Begin to speak out what the Word says about you: "According to the Word of God - I'm healed by the stripes placed upon Jesus' back. Healing is mine and I have it now no matter what I see, or how I feel, it's a gift of His grace, it's my position in Him - I am the healed, I am not the sick - thank you Lord!" I strongly suggest that you read through our healing scripture page and take hold of the scriptures that stand out to you and put your name in them and make them personal speaking them out over yourself a couple of times per day until you are convinced.

We do not deny that sickness or disease is present - however, we are denying it the right to stay in our bodies, by receiving the truth of what was purchased for us at Calvary - which is our covenant blessing!

When you finally come to the place when you are ready to make up your mind to receive your healing by faith, write down that date and settle it before the Lord in prayer. Not the date you want to see the manifestation take place in your flesh, but the day that you are going to put your faith to work to believe that He has already provided your healing. From that day forward you will no longer ask the Lord for healing, instead you will now thank Him and praise Him for it. This is where the battle begins as the enemy will attempt to talk you out of it in the days to come, trying to convince you that it didn't work or it's not for you. You may even hear him say, "oh sure, it worked for Dan Downey, but your different, your not like him, it won't work the same for you." Don't you believe that lie, the Bible tells us over and over that God shows no favoritism - He treats all His children the same - He is an equal opportunity God! You must stand strong in faith and must not give in. When the enemy says you are not going to get healed, you can now state with complete confidence and even have a little fun with it by saying, "Yes, your right devil, I'm not going to receive my healing, because on this date devil, I've already received my healing by faith - you're just too late! It's mine now!!!"

In Mark chapter 4 there is a block of Scripture that many of us are familiar with, it's the parable of the sower. As Jesus was explaining this parable of the sower to His disciples, He revealed in verse 15 that when the Word of God is sown into a persons life, the devil comes immediately with the intent to steal the Word. Obviously the devil knows how powerful and fruitful the Word of God can be!

Mark 4:15 reads:

15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.      

 Does not want the Word to take root and bear fruit.

We know that in the first part of John 10:10, Jesus said that the devil (the thief) comes to steal and to kill and to destroy. This is his goal and focus. Notice that he is very wise in his tactics against us. He knows that if we continue to meditate or focus on the Word of God, it will bring forth fruit, through faith, just as it states in Romans 10:17 when it says that faith comes through hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

The devil knows this is a factual truth, that when the Word is received, it will always produce. So, he attempts to bring something other than the Word for us to focus on, which is his word of doubt, confusion and uncertainty. He attempts to get our focus onto our circumstances instead of the promises of the Word. The Lord told me that we need to use the devil's tactics against him, and walk in at least the same amount of wisdom he uses against us. When we begin to hear that thought of doubt, or begin to focus in on our problem, we need to immediately steal that lying thought and not allow it to take root and immediately replace it with the truth of the Word of God. This is why you need to have your healing Scriptures at the ready.

Use those thoughts of doubt and wondering as a "cue" to speak the Word concerning the promises of health. By doing that, you will steal or stop the devil's word from taking root. Don't hesitate - do it immediately and as often as you need to throughout the day. It's powerful and it works! After all, the enemy has been using this on humanity since the beginning and unfortunately, has been quite successful. It's time for us to rise up and turn the tide! Boldly proclaim that you are a recipient of God's grace and of the promise of health. Rebuke that lying devil and rebuke those circumstances and claim your promise of health. Decree out loud "I am healed because the Word says so! I believe it and it's mine now!"

When the Lord spoke this truth to me, I literally did this about 30 times the first day, proclaiming who I am in Christ and my covenant rights. I did it when I was driving, when I was in the shower, when I was at work, yes, even when I was in bed. Each time I caught my mind beginning to wonder why I wasn't healed, or reminding me of how great the pain was - I caught myself and began to proclaim what the Word says regarding my healing and blessing. I stole the devil's negative, doubting seeds and replaced them immediately with the truth of the Word of the Living God, over and over again. As the days passed by, I also noticed that I wasn't having to do this as much as the previous day - the symptoms were not as great - progress was taking place.

Let's take a look at how the Lord sees us and get a firm understanding of our position, or right standing, in Christ. Many in the Body of Christ see themselves as "weak worms of the dust," and, because of that mentality, they are an easy target for the enemy. Once you get a hold of where you stand in Christ, your life will take on a whole new brightness of hope. You won't have to try and get your faith up, faith will just be!

Let's start in Ephesians 2:4-6 

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

6 and raised us up together, and made    us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Through Grace we're raised upand seated together with Jesus Christ

Did you see that? When we were born-again we were positionally raised up and made to sit together with Jesus. The Father sees us in Christ, in His family, and we have been given the position, or right of "sonship." As it states in Romans 8:17: "we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ." That means all that He has, has already been given to us! Now look at the end of the preceding chapter in Ephesians. Get ready, this is very exciting!

Ephesians 1:19-23

19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

22 And He put all things under His feet,and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

23 which is His body, the fullness of Him    who fills all in all.

The seat of Authority!

If it's under His feet, thenit's under our feet,because we areThe Body of Christ!

This starts out talking about Jesus' work of redemption and the resurrection, or what we call the New Birth. But remember in Ephesians 2:6 it said we are raised up and seated with Jesus and here in verse 20 it is speaking of this very seat. I like to call this the "Seat of Authority" because of what it says next. Verse 21 tells us He is far above, not just above, but FAR above all principality and power and might and dominion (everything and every power the devil has) and also far above every name that can be named! Cancer is a name, diabetes is a name, arthritis is a name, pain is a name, whatever your condition is, it's got a name! And according to Ephesians 2:6, we've been raised up with Jesus Christ above it all! Do you see it? Because we are in Christ, we are positionally seated in that very Seat of Authority with Jesus. That's the authority we have now, here on the Earth, right where we are! Stay with me on this. This is going to transform the way you see yourself from now on.

Now look at verse 22, "He put all things under His feet." Now let me ask you a very simple question: Where are the feet? They are on the very lowest part of the Body, of course. The rest of this chapter tells us that the Body is the Church - hey, that's us! We are the Body of Christ and if they are under His feet then they are all under our feet. Praise the Lord! Do you see that we have been given a very great inheritance indeed! Begin to exercise your authority in Christ by boldly proclaiming what rightly belongs to you by faith. Don't allow the devil to steal from you any longer. Get fed up and put your foot down on the situation and receive by faith the blessings that are yours!

Look at this exciting section of Scripture in 1 John 5:14-15

14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything    according to His will, He hears us.

15 And if we know that He hears us,whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.    

Surely this includes healing!

The Word of God is the Will of God

God's Word is His will. Take it, it's yours!!!

Now proceed on to the listing of healing scriptures - which is your inheritance! Meditate on them, focus in on them. Begin to see yourself in the light of the promises of God. See yourself as the Word says you are! The Lord paid an extremely high price for you to enjoy the benefit of them all. Do not speak your problem, but begin to speak the answer and watch your situations change!!!

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[mintyicee]

Warning: skip this post if want

It’s a rant...and i absolutely hate you tumblr app bc i had to redue this twice now! >:(

Anyway, I’m used to being ignored. Everyone around me since i was little to being a young adult now has left me to own thoughts and corner in my home since forever. Though i am partially to blame being an introvert and an absolutely horrible friend in keeping contact with friends online, I mostly do so if i feel no one wants to hear, see, speak, or look at me. I will personally disappear and hide myself bc i feel it will make others happy if i wasnt around. As if i didn’t exist. True, not everyone in your life will be around forever and true, being oneself is your greatest friend. But, as shy or quiet as i am, I love being around other ppl. I dont want to be around ppl 24/7 but i do want to connect with ppl i feel can appreciate me at my fullest and without feeling like im weird or the odd ball that doesnt belong.

With that being said, I may be USED to it but i ABSOLUTELY HATE IT. As any human being would of coarse and a lot of ppl have it worse dont get me wrong. Making this rant already makes me feel selfish and in need of pity which isnt why im writing this. Simply put i want to push this anger out of me and get it out of my system bc i feel i cant move forward until i do so. And when it comes to my problems i suck at communicating it to others bc i feel they have much more important things to be doing then to babysit someone who is feeling down (but id drop everything to listen to others sadness bc i care way too much). 

I hate feeling like i did back when i lived in my hometown. Very lonely and sad. Constantly crying. I wouldn’t do anything all summer but cry in my room bc of how alone i felt. And i gave a very important part of me away just to make sure i had at least one person hanging around. I regret it very much but my efforts to hang out with the friends i saw at school outside of school would be very close to zero. Everyone is either busy or just low key didnt want to hang out with me. Tho i was lucky to have at least one friend I would see more in certain grades, it wasnt constant. And once all the drama with my nuclear family subsided, i was much more alone in the house than before middle school. 

I didnt have a cellphone or home phone, no internet either till i moved and started high school. The things that kept me going usually was my writing, music, and cartoons. Seriously being serious here. The way Id touch base with any of my school friends was to walk to their house and be lucky if they had time or were home. When i moved i had so much hope that Id find ppl to share and spend time with. Not only that but i was in the real world and no longer stuck in a house like a prisoner or place for that matter. But like stupid ppl or racists, the same ppl pop up everywhere as well as the loneliness i was hoping to leave behind. Only it came in a new form: even when im around others. I am/was happier here tho. No longer confined in my hometown house. But recently it feels like i am. This summer has been my loneliest since the move and the feeling like no one cares about me at all have all come back at my lowest and most crucial decision making time of my life. Not being in school this semester/school year is hitting me hard and no job call backs for a whole month now either. 

Partially my fault tho. The new friend crew ive been spending time with have been ignoring anything i said in the group chat. Id be skipped over and lately it feels as if im just upsetting certain ppl and end up talking about me behind my back. Really nothing new but I’ve just had enough of it. Like always I distanced myself and stopped talking all together. I’ve been more political upset in recent days due to certain issues on twitter but I’ve only been talking to my boyfriend and my mother. In hindsight tho, they really are my best friends. They are here for me at my highest and lowest no matter how many times i cry or how suddenly i get upset or frustrated. They are the ones to accept me for who i am. No one else has done this to the extent as they have and really thats all i need. Even if i dont get any other long term friends i dont care bc i know they will be by my side till the end. 

But I also want to say that if you didnt want to be my friend in the first place or you wanted me to initiate the conversation first then u should at least comment back at what im saying. If i said something dumb or something that didnt add to the convo then tell me dont just ignore me like im stupid. I refuse to be your “friend” that you only want around to be made fun of. I’ve been through a lot and yes ik u have your share of problems but if your going to only look at yourself and care about yourself then i dont need you. Im good without having that in my life. Ive had my fill of people who act like that to me. And im also tired of people who dont care about others and present issues. I CRY ABOUT PPL I DONT KNOW THAT ARE ON THE NEWS WHETHER NAMED OR NOT. HELL I CRY EVEN IF THEY ARENT ON THE NEWS! There are soooo many ppl who have it way worse than myself who suffer daily and im sick of hearing ppl dont care about the ppl and situations around them! I wont sit here making an excuse as to why i cant help its the same old issues no money (no job as mentioned above) hell even no car but that doesnt matter. I still pray! I pray for safety of others and i pray that ppl will be alright and i pray that things will get better! And also mentioned earlier, ive been reposting about current issues on twitter! This is small but i want to try!

So please if you had no intentions of sticking around me at any of my current moods, dont appreciate the person i am, or relatively dont give a fuck then dont involve yourself in my life. Yes it hurts to be alone but Id rather have that and be alone then FEEL ALONE WITH PPL IVE COME TO CARE FOR! Also, if I have helped you through thick n thin and you think u can pop into my life whenever you feel like it only to stop talking to me or purposely upset me and even threaten me? GTFO of my life and dont come back! Ever (yes this is about a certain friend who moved away and i helped not commit suicide that im holding a grudge at)!  And if you honestly are going to get upset at the actions ive done and say you do good things when you have zero sign of love for others in your hearts, live in a bubble of your own world, and follow the bible “word for word” get out of my face too bc i dont need ppl who say they are here to help others only to shun me if i dont constantly keep verses in my head or do things the way you want them to be and to have me fight my own demons while going against your beliefs and saying that im not doing what im supposed to (yes this is about church)! I DO THINGS AND CARE WAY MORE THAN YOU DO TRUST ME AND THIS IS THE ONLY TIME IM EVER GOING TO SELFISHLY SAY SO BC ITS BETTER TO BE HUMBLE AND NOT ARROGANT. I TRY SO HARD NOT TO JUDGE YOU YET YOU GET TO JUDGE ME? NO I DONT THINK SO YOU SHOULD START AT LEVEL ONE AGAIN AND LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE! (still about church not friends here). Also dont worry about the level one thing; you would know what this means if you went to the same church. 

I’ve been couping with the idea that all i need is two friends. I’m so grateful and blessed to have them in my life and if im truly meant to have more than it will be so. I know two others of whom i need to apologize for hardly emailing or sending a message to. I feel so bad i have neglected them only bc ive been feeling so down about this and other issues (like before: school, no job/car, possibly changing career and life goals, etc) but really is no excuse. Welp I’ve said all i wanted to say for the moment. There is another topic i wish to vent about but it will have to be for another day bc i have no energy to complain about that topic. If anyone read all this im sorry i took time out of your day and that I hope you are doing well. I hope you continue to live your life to the fullest and to celebrate the good things not the bad that comes along. I just really needed to vent these emotions so i can finally concentrate on what i need to do. Thank you for listening <3

[victoryliononline]

Anita Desai: Every once in a while, a short story pursues you

As the writer becomes 80, she reflects on how tales briefly told are currently under wont of returning

I was always a scribbler. As soon as I was coached the alphabet I pent even before I could spell so that I was always persecuting everybody in private households( includes the cook who knew no English) How do you spell live? How do you spell tree, flame, fledgling, fish?( He responded by making me a superb offering on my birthday of an inkwell carved out of soft soapstone, which I unfortunately spoilt by running real ink into that tender, decorative object .) I crowded notebook after notebook sat on a cane stool at my round light-green table and was named, with an understandably resigned sigh, The Writer in the Family.

What was I writing? Consciously, with awareness and meaning, relatively limited. I simply had an implore to make all that is I considered, hear and experienced on paper, in ink. I had little awareness of categories journals were bibles to me, the imposing leather-bound bibles behind the glass on my mothers bookshelves, the shabby, dog-eared paperbacks on my siblings shelves, and the exciting, inviting ones in all their diversification in the bookshop where I devoted my pocket money. I cant remember when I learned to differentiate between the short story and the novel no, actually, I can: it was when I first decided to send a piece out to be published( producing was important, I knew writing had to be in etch if it was to earn its mention ), and it was, of course, of a short section to fit into a magazine or magazine. But I was also always writing at length with the idea of a book, a suitable record, in my thinker, and a part of me concluded short floors to be neglected novels.

But a short story is not a failed fiction any more than a novella is an extended short story. Each has only one altogether different specified of such standards and upshots. Length is one of them, but portions run wildly. As Hortense Calisher mentioned, How long should a short story be? As long as a piece of string. I mean to tie down the allotment with. I like her practical, workmanlike coming, but there is, in addition, the element of possibility. How did one section I pent be brought to an end a short story, another increase, unwrap itself, saunter, digress and crusade on to a track, a road to a further destination novella, or novel?

It is all a matter of instinct, certainly, and expedition a conviction that dawns on one, while one drives, that one has said what one set out to say: there is no need to go further. It may be really one tiny chapter, stumbled on unusually, a glimpse out of a opening, the transgression of light on one object while bypassing another, that opens one pause and for some reason is not forgotten. Why has it stayed in the mind when so many other thoughts, encounters and know-hows have turned into a blur and disappeared? And when one has acquired the responses to that the tale is done. It can come to one swiftly or it may take long, very long, to discover. In the short story, it need not be pursued further. Many scribes have commented on its identity being closer to a rhyme than a novels.

I have written only a few short fibs that have me with that sensation that one craves: Ah, I have done what I set out to do , no more is needed. The legends that constitute my new mustered volume are those that I objective on that note. For the most side, I have taken longer and watched the stone Id flung into the pond procreate ripples that diversify considerably, reverberation on gurgle, arc on arc, struggling to reach the far coast, and pondered: where will this get? How will it end? And that search has turned into a novel.

It is the latter mode that I have mostly espouse. It is the one that renders space both dangerous and forgiving, and lays one open to what may be years of discouragement, gloom, incredulity and segregation while one considers alternatives, makes one tack and then another, sees missteps, redresses them, picks oneself up and strives on, only gradually building up the momentum needed for narrative. But while to participate in so much better that is baffle and exhausting, one may be granted briefly and sporadically that inexplicable breath of breeze that comes up unusually, generate a ruffle, a incite, a ebb that lunges one send and routes one soaring, voyaging, hovering through space and time.

It is the pursuit of that elusive and inexplicable sensation that one attempts in the short story, so different a structure. Instead of those long pulls in which a novelist becomes stranded, the short-story columnist must launch forth on what is a high-wire behave, refusing to look back or down into the abyss, running the length of it at a sprint so as not to lose balance: rapid, quick before you fall! You may go back and start all over again, or change sentences and places, but that initial suggest must maintain its necessity from beginning to end.

Lightning that lampoons the light,

Brief even as bright. Percy Bysshe Shelley

In this, the short story is the more challenging shape as I realised when I had the temerity to coach the the time of writing of it to students who came to the creation of fiction as ended apprentices, simply because it was easier to fit into the room of a class, a call that length of cord again. But it was the awfully brevity and limited of the word that required talent, learning and understanding to make it labor, ie, to compose the desired effect.

But every once in a while, when completing that frenetic dash of the short story, even after this is the case in print, one finds it wont “lets get going” of one. It haunts one or, rather, one follows it because there is more to be said, more to be probed into, detected and disclosed. So every once in a while I have found, times and year later, a short story written long ago insisting on becoming a novel.

It is the experience I had when I wrote the short story The Accompanist. I detected then that I had put on paper all I knew very little about that minor figure of the melodic life, the musician in the background, barely detected, all tending being given to the maestro, the soloist. Was he content for it to be so?

Was he or not? There was so much in the life and exertion of that overlooked creator, and I wrote the novel In Custody to give him his due, although I changed the two personas into a poet and student. And again, eventually still, into the novella Translator Translated . One of my earliest short-lived narratives, Scholar and Gypsy, eventually carried on a whole new life as the romance Journey to Ithaca , something I did not even know until a book pointed out the development of the theme: the difference between the specific characteristics who appears the world is all we need and the specific characteristics for whom the world is limited; beyond it there surely lies more. The sought for that other world physical or spiritual that impels them on their tour, had carried on from the short story into the novel as a cartoon might lead to a draw. This subterranean element rising to the surface astonished me, I had not been is cognizant of that development.

Each form requires a different situate of cleverness, even cloths as an creator might necessity pencil or pen and ink, or watercolours or lubricants for one slog or another. Brevity and concision will do for one, while the other involves skepticism, mystery, mistake and staman. If one writes both, which affords the greater enjoyment? Now one , now the other that is the only answer.

The Complete Stories by Anita Desai issued by Penguin. To seek a facsimile for 14.44( RRP 16.99) go to bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0330 333 6846. Free UK p& p over 10, online fiats exclusively. Phone says min p& p of 1.99.

Read more: https :// www.theguardian.com/ volumes/ 2017/ jul/ 08/ anita-desai-short-story-writers-novelist-8 0-tales

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[samanthasroberts]

My Husband Isn’t My “Type”and He’s Definitely Not My Best Friend

“Is your husband really, truly your best friend? Really? Because mine isnt.”

ByRobin O’Bryant

Im going to need everyone who has posted a Facebook status along the lines of, Happy Anniversary to my best friend and the love of my life! to form a line, so that in an orderly fashion, I can walk down said line and thump each of you right in the middle of your foreheads.

Is your husband really, truly your best friend? Really?

Because mine isnt.

When people ask me how I met my husband, I usually just say, Church. You need to know someone pretty well before you say something like, God told me he was my husband and even though Im not used to hearing voices, I just went for it! Whats to lose, amiright?!

It was the summer of 1997, I was 19 years old and spending the break working in the office of a new evangelical church my mother had started attending.

My parents had just gone through a shocking divorce, and by shocking, let me just say that to this very day, almost 20 years after their divorce, Ive never heard my parents argue. Ever. They woke us up one fine Alabama Saturday morning and told us they had gotten a divorce a few weeks earlier and my dad was moving out. There was no warning shot fired, no attempt at counseling or reconciliation, just that one sucker punch when we werent paying attention. A year later, I broke up with my boyfriend of four years and my heart was still tender from both events.

Maybe I was naive to think I could bargain with God, but nevertheless, I laid out my terms in my journal:

Ill never give my heart away again. Im giving it to you. Maybe Im ridiculous to never want to date again, but if you could just give me a sign or something when I meet my husbandTHEN Ill date him and fall in love. I dont want to risk picking the wrong person again. After everything…I dont trust my own judgment. So a burning bush? Im not in a hurry. Im ready to go all Sister Mary Clarence about this (thats a Sister Act jokeGod gets me). So, please. Smoke signals? Something…

Before I headed back for the next semester, my older brother Matt and I decided to go to Texas for a Christian motorcycle rally with a family from our new church. (And yes, I do realize this story is getting weirder by the second.) It was kind of a Christian convention meets county fair/campgrounds, but with former Hells Angels who have converted and love JesusIm sure you have the perfect mental picture.

We borrowed a tent, loaded Matts car and joined a caravan of cars following the OBryant family to Texas. One of their sons, Zeb, was a year younger than me. But even if I hadnt been in my Sister Mary Clarence phase, I wouldnt have looked at him twice.

Zeb wasnt my type. My type was clean cut and all-American, the kind who wore lots of Polo shirts and khaki pants, possibly played golf and most definitely was a member of Key Club. Zeb rode a metallic blue 1976 Harley-Davidson everywhere he went, had a goatee that was a little longer than I thought sanitary and his naturally brown hair was bleached blonde and spiked in a manner not unlike Edward Cullensor Edward Scissorhands, for that matter.

Regardless, meeting Zeb began a weekend-long love affair with his vintage Harley-Davidson and Texas back roads. Every time Zeb jumped on his bike, hed give me a nod, Id hop on and wed take off. The rumble of the Harley and the twisting roads through the Hill Country almost hypnotized me. The wind blasted my face and ratted my hair as the sun warmed my jeans. I was careful to keep my hands gently on Zebs hips and to not lean too close against himSister Mary Clarence didnt want to inadvertently press any boobage against his back and give him the wrong idea.

We were sitting in a tent revival type of meetingfolding chairs and open air with the stars hanging low and lazy in the night sky. Our faces were still grey with the road dust and we smelled sweetly of sunshine and gasoline. I was sitting there with my Bible open on my lap when I had a crazy thought:

My husband is here somewhere…

My eyes scanned the crowd and as they did, they fell on Zeb, who was sitting to my right, ripped jeans and motorcycle boots propped on the chair in front of him. Now Im not saying I heard an audible voice, but something deep inside of me clearly shouted, Its him.

I knew from that moment on I would marry him. And its a damn good thing I was hearing voices that nightotherwise I wouldve totally missed it.

Zeb is my polar opposite. Hes an extrovert; Im an introvert. He loves nature and the outdoors; Ive wondered if I could get a PhD in Netflix. Hes calm, steady and always in a good mood. Im creative, a roller-coaster of emotions and quite franklyprone to hysterics.

I want a best friend who will tell me I need one more pair of shoes and a man who will remind me to save for my retirement account. I want to call my best friend when I feel Ive been wronged and hear her say, What a b*tch! I cant believe she said that to you! I want to be married to a man who says, Who gives a sh*t what she thinks? And I want to get into bed at night with a man who ignites things in me no one else can.

Zeb isnt my best friend.

I have never been so angry at my best friend that I fantasized about throwing a lamp or other miscellaneous piece of furniture at her head. I cant say the same for ole Zeb. For example, once our 3-year-old had walking pneumonia. Sadie was running a fever, listless and refused to drink anything. I tried all manner of juices, an assortment of sippy cups and silly straws all to no avail.

Zeb, will you go to the store and get some Popsicles? I asked.

Do you really think she needs sugar when shes this sick?

I think she needs any type of fluid she can get down because shes going to get dehydrated. So yes, I think she needs Popsicles. I replied.

Give her some water, Zeb advised.

I HAVE.

Try some juice.

Really Zeb? Ive tried everything. Thats why I need Popsicles. I was starting to get pretty pissed.

I just dont think she needs sugar. He said, again.

Noted. Now go to the store and get Popsicles. Please. I said please out loud but in my head I was screaming, YOU SOB!

He was as mad as all get out, but he went to the storevictory was mine! Sadie would be hydrated! All was well with the world…until he walked in the door carrying a box of 200 Otter Pops that werent even frozen.

Is this really happening?! I yelled, What the hell? POPSICLES, Zeb! Why is that so hard?

These ARE Popsicles! He yelled back.

No they arent! Theyll be Popsicles in 36-48 hours but they are most certainly NOT Popsicles right now! Why didnt you get frozen ones?

He looked me straight in the eye and said, I didnt know you could buy them that way.

Are you sure thats how you want to play this? Do you really want me to believe youre that stupid? I asked.

I dont know that Ive ever been so completely filled with rage. Over freaking Popsicles.

But thats the way it is with me and Zebwe are passionate and stubborn. Sometimes I think I might see myself on an episode of Dateline, Josh Mankiewicz strolling down our street as a camera pans wide and says,In the small town of Greenwood, Mississippi, everything looked perfect for Zeb and Robin OBryant…until one day, in a fit of rage, Robin did the unthinkable…

But then, in a split second, Zeb is there with eyes the exact same amber brown assunshine filtered through a beer bottle. He wraps his arms around me while Im standing at the stove cooking dinner. Hekisses my neck and his beard tickles my skin, Sorry, he whispers. And I melt.

Zeb isnt my best friend. Depending on the movie I want to see, Ill ditch him in a second for my girlfriends. But when things gets real, I dont care if anyone is standing with me but him. Hes my partner, my equal and without a doubt, my better half. Zeb is the peanut butter to my jelly, the yin to my yang, the spiritual Xanax to my eight-ball of coke.

Im also going to need all of you people who say, Thanks for the best 15 years of my life! to stand in a separate corner and await your own punishment, because marriage isnt easy, and it most certainly isnt all happy.

Id rather say:

I really appreciate you driving me to therapy every week.

Thanks for not leaving me when I act like a lunatic.

“Thanks for acting like you thought I was sexy for the last 16 years even though Ive gained and lost hundreds of pounds and my stretch marks look like a topographical map of the Rocky Mountains.

I have lots of friends, hell, I even have lots of best friends…but there is and will always be, only one Zeb. Hes my husband and thats enough.

About the Author: Robin O’Bryant is the The New Times best-selling author of Ketchup is a Vegetable and Other Lies Moms Tell Themselves. You can follow her on FaceBook as Robin O’Bryantor Twitter.

Source: http://allofbeer.com/2017/06/10/my-husband-isnt-my-typeand-hes-definitely-not-my-best-friend/

from All of Beer https://allofbeer.wordpress.com/2017/06/10/my-husband-isnt-my-typeand-hes-definitely-not-my-best-friend/