#ultimately his faith in the future in renewed at some point just before his death idk maybe by seeing Noa's scions or something | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

childofchrist1983 · 10 months

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How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. - Psalm 13:1-5 KJV

Everyone suffers what some have called "the dark night of the soul" at some point in their lives. It can happen when a tragedy strikes or when you just feel that God isn't listening. Saints have written about this experience! Jesus Christ was probably experiencing this on the cross when He quoted Psalm 22, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!" The above psalm also expresses what it feels like to be abandoned. It also reflects the same confidence that just as God has saved us in the past and He will be there in the present and in the future. It can be easy to give up hope. Remember the story of Job. His friends kept telling him that believing in a good God was foolishness. The more that he defended God, the more his friends kept working on him to blame God for his problems.

We may have friends who do the same thing. We may have friends who don't believe in God or who think that God punishes us by allowing bad things to happen. It can be difficult to maintain our faith and believe that God is with us through the sufferings rather than being the cause of them. Rather than listening to these "friends" we need to remember the times when we have felt this way before, and remember how God was with us then. It is important for us to take stock each day of how God has been present in our lives and blessed us. If we do this on a daily basis, then when the dark times or dark hours hit, we will be better prepared to trust in the love of God and His presence guiding, protecting and walking with us. Most of the time, we trust that He is with us, but there are those days when we weaken and doubt. May Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ help us to remain faithful and strong in Him during those dark times and to remember the times when He has been there for us, so that we may continue to have hope and peace.

Leaning on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit strengthens us and our knowledge and wisdom about God and His Gospel Truth, exposing these imposters. May God help us to seek and lean on Him daily to gain the strength, wisdom and spiritual discernment needed to expose Satan and his imposters who seek to destroy us and God's ultimate Truth. Everyday, we must remember to share Jesus Christ's Gospel Truth with the world and to thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for the grace that He poured out for us on the cross at Calvary. He has freed us from the burdens of sin and from the eternal damnation of Hell. In all we say and do, may all praise, honor and glory always be given to Him and His Kingdom of Heaven.

With renewed minds, hearts and wills, let us serve Him humbly and faithfully out of pure love and grateful rejoicing. May He remind us of His presence and to remain at peace, fully knowing that all will be well because He is always with us. Let us seek Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ today and everyday with all our heart and being, looking for His love, light and will for our lives with each step we take. Let us seek to please Him with our thoughts, words, and deeds and seek to advance His Kingdom of Heaven and His glory with our lives. Let us seek Him from a pure and humble heart, and when we so seek, we believe Him and His promise that we will find. May He help us all to be more sensitive to the teaching ministry of His Holy Word and Spirit, relying on Him and allowing Him to speak to us and guide us every step of our Christian journey.

God gave us the Holy Bible - His living and Holy Word - to let us know of Him and His abiding love and care as well as guide and prepare us for all our lives. May He help us encourage one another as we continue our walk with Him and our duty to Him daily. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for being present for all our new beginnings and all our lives. May He redirect any anxiety we feel as He provides countless opportunities for growth and change. May we humble ourselves before God always, asking Him to forgive our sins and make our hearts and lives anew through His Holy Word and Spirit. May He help us make Him and His Holy Word top priority, so we can grow spiritually and grow in our relationship with Him as we apply it to our daily lives. Thank God that we can focus on Him and everything about Him, for that is what keeps us sane and at peace. May our words and actions always be a reflection of Him and His Holy Word and Spirit and will.

May He help us to always walk in His grace and Holy Spirit, not by our own measure. May He give us the humble humility to know that our freedom and eternal salvation is found only in Him, so that His grace may sustain us, and we may never lose sight of His love and light and mercy. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for calling us to Him and to serve Him. May He equip us to do all that He has called us to do so that as He works through us, He may use us to produce fruit, to reach others, and to encourage all brothers and sisters in Christ. May He work all of these things in us and through us for His Kingdom and His glory. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all His creation, for His miraculous ways and for everything He does and has done for us! Keep the faith and keep moving forward in your walk with Jesus! He loves us and He knows what is best for us. Seek, follow and trust in Him - Always!

Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Word and for sending His Holy Spirit so that we might have His grace, not only to awaken us and transform our hearts in our spiritual rebirth and guarantee our eternity with Him, but to also call upon Him whenever we are in need. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all the reminders of His love and mercy and faithfulness within His Holy Word. He is bigger than any challenge or circumstance in our lives. Knowing this within our minds and our hearts, nothing can deter our faith in Him and His Truth. May we all accept Him and His eternal gift of salvation and ask that He would transform our hearts and lives according to His will and ways. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Spirit who saves, seals and leads us. May we always thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His almighty power and saving grace. For He is our strength, and He alone is able to save us, forgive our sins and gift us eternal salvation and entry into His Kingdom of Heaven.

May we make sure that we give our hearts and lives to God and take time to seek and praise Him and share His Truth with the world daily. May the LORD our God and Father in Heaven help us to stay diligent and obedient and help us to guard our hearts in Him and His Holy Word daily. May He help us to remain faithful and full of excitement to do our duty to Him and for His glorious return and our reunion in Heaven as well as all that awaits us there. May we never forget to thank the LORD our God and our Creator and Father in Heaven for all this and everything He does and has done for us! May we never forget who He is, nor forget who we are in Christ and that God is always with us! What a mighty God we serve! What a Savior this is! What a wonderful LORD, God, Savior and King we have in Jesus Christ! What a loving Father we have found in Almighty God! What a wonderful God we serve! His will be done!

Thanks and glory be to God! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Hallelujah and Amen!

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romancemedia · 3 years

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Will the couples of Young Justice begin to question their futures?

Now we’ve all seen how losing Conner has impacted the lives of everyone who knew and loved him, but I wonder if his death might also make some of the other couples question their futures together. Couples like say Dick and Barbara or Kaldur and Wyynde might begin to truly reconsider their lives together, wondering if despite their devotion to protecting others and keeping the world safe, is it worth it if they lose each other in the process?

Conner and M’gann are not the first couple to suffer the tragic fate of being torn apart and they certainly won’t be the last as we all know too well when Artemis lost Wally and not enough mention when Garth lost Tula. Despite these tragic losses, everyone still manage to maintain their devotion to fighting for truth and justice while some even took a leap of faith to confess their love or renew relationships. However, with a major loss such as this, I can’t help but wonder now if everyone will begin to seriously reconsider their futures. Conner and M’gann were the great love story who overcame so much and were finally about to get married until he made the ultimate sacrifice that cost him not only his life, but his and M’gann’s future together just as Wally and Tula did all those years ago. This is clear example how the hero life can take everything you love away in an instant, no matter how strong or careful you are.

Aside from losing the person you love to the life, it can also affect the couples in other ways for example: The Mental State. When Dick was affected by Granny Goodness X-Pit back in season 3, Barbara was extremely worried about him, both physically and mentally to the point she wouldn’t leave his bedside for days. However, the person beginning to seriously suffer mental health issues is none other than Garfield, who already began to develop severe PTSD due to his hero life, causing him to lose everyone he ever loved and cared for and now with Conner’s death, it’s gotten even worse than before. Although Garfield and Perdita are currently separated, no doubt she would be greatly concerned and worried about him and would be there if she could.

Which leads me to my final point in which another obstacle that can affect a couple is the separation. Due to their heroic responsibilities it can cause couples to not spend much quality time together like say for Mal and Karen back in season 2 or right now with Garfield and Perdita in season 4. Separation is bad enough, but it can also make a partner feel neglected, perfectly demonstrated by Karen when she got so caught up in her studies and hero life that she started taking Mal for granted for most of the second season.

Overall, no matter whether its the sacrifice, mental state or separation, all of these can affect a couple in one way or another when it comes to the life of a hero. Will the death of Conner Kent make any of the other couples of Young Justice seriously reconsider their life choices and choose a safer path if it means they can be together without any worries?

#Young Justice Phantoms #My Thoughts #Young Justice #DC #Miss Martian x Superboy #M'gann x Conner #Kid Flash x Artemis #Wally x Artemis #Dick x Barbara #Garfield x Perdita #Conner Kent #M'gann M'orzz #Dick Grayson #Barbara Gordon #Wally West #Artemis Crock #Mal Duncan #Karen Beecher #My Thoughts Young Justice

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dailyaudiobible · 3 years

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07/23/2021 DAB Transcript

2 Chronicles 8:11-10:19, Romans 8:9-25, Psalms 18:16-36, Proverbs 19:26

Today is the 23rd day of July welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I’m Brian it is a joy and a privilege and an honor to be here with you today around the Global Campfire as we come in and take the next step forward together. Right now, this part of the year, this part of the month, we find ourselves in the book of second Chronicles. We’ve been reading for the New Living Translation this week, which is what we’ll continue with today. Second Chronicles chapter 8 verse 11 through 10 verse 19.

Commentary:

Alright. So in the book of Romans we had been discussing the law, its role, its function, its revealing of our failures and how it showed us what sin was and we’ve basically been talking about sin since for the last couple of days. And we get a really good picture of what we would…what we would call the now and the not yet, which is something that's described about Paul's writings, where there is a now. And, so, Paul was very confessional about his own struggles. Now he does the things he doesn't want to do. And he does the things that he doesn’t want to do, and who…who can free him, and only Jesus can free us. But we have this kind of squatter, sin, who has no claim, but if we obey then we become a slave. And, so, we always have this choice. And, so, it's essentially Paul's conviction that sin will get us in the end, in this mortal body. In other words, we will die in this mortal body, but sin has no claim to our Spirit and day by day we are being transformed into the likeness of our Savior. In fact, it's the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead that's with in us. And if the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, raised Christ from the dead than we can expect the same things, that we will experience resurrection as well. So, that's kind of a summary of what we are reading today, but let's just put it in Paul's own words. “Christ lives within you. So, even though your body will die because of sin the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead. He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” And, so, Paul’s saying this is a…a current state of reality for us, but we’re in the in between. This is a process, and this is where we are. Our bodies in a sinful world are going to wear down but our Spirits will be renewed every day. And ultimately the not yet will be the now and we will be restored to complete perfection as it was intended to be. Paul says it like this, I quote, “yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later for all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who is children really are, for we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time and we believers also grown even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We too to wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.” Okay. So, that's the not yet. That is what we are hoping for, a time when sin is no more, and death has died, death has been swallowed up in victory. So, essentially if we had a boil down what we've been saying over the last few days it is that sin is a thing and sin, even though we are free from its claims to us is something that we can still choose to obey. We can still choose that kind of slavery if that's what we want. We’re just not perpetually in that state. It doesn't have a claim to us anymore. We died to it and we’re resurrected spiritually. We have right standing before God. We have been grafted into his family. We can call him Abba, Papa, Father, Daddy. We don't have to be afraid. I mean, I have a little boy, his name is Ezekiel. He’s gotten really popular around here this year for reading Daily Audio Bible Kids and he’s doing a great job, but he’s a little boy and he does things that are wrong from time to time, and he does things that he knows are wrong from time to time. And if he has to come and confess or acknowledge because something's been discovered that he has done, something that he knows is wrong he doesn't come to me in terror. He’s not afraid of who knows what I might do to him. He comes and he knows he's done wrong. So, he already knows it was wrong. He's already learned. He may have punishment. He may have consequences that have arisen out of his own actions, but he doesn't have to have terror. He's my son. I am his poppa, his abba, his daddy, his father. So, we may wrestle with the things that we struggle with that we’re trying to medicate or soothe or fill or whatever. We may choose things that ultimately separate us from God or are sinful but we don't have to live in terror of our Father. We need to run to our Father, confess our ultimate and utter dependence and kick the squatter out of our lives. This may be theological, even technical in some ways, but this is the good news. God wants you back and will never stop wanting that for everyone. And, so, let's carry that forward into this day and into this weekend.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, come. May we rest in the knowledge that You really do love us, that maybe we exasperate You at times because of our foolishness, but You really love us deeply, individually. You know our stories. You know who we are and where we've come from. And, so, we come to You. There is no other place to go. Even when we choose things that are destructive in our lives, help us Holy Spirit to rapidly recognize what's going on and rapidly return to our source of life itself. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Announcements:

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And it's where you find the Prayer Wall and pray for one another around here. That's in the Community section. And of course, all this can be accessed on the web at dailyaudiobible.com or using the Daily Audio Bible app by pressing the Drawer icon in the upper left-hand corner. So, you can find the Prayer Wall in the Community section.

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If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible you can do that on the web or in the app as well. On the web there's a link on the homepage. In the app there’s is a give button in the upper right-hand corner. Thank you. Thank you humbly and profoundly for your partnership as we continue our journey, the voyage of a lifetime across a year and through the Bible together in community. If that is life-giving to you than thank you for your partnership.

If you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can hit the Hotline button in the app, the little red button at the top or there are a number of numbers that you can call depending on where you are in the world. In the Americas 877-942-4253 is the number to dial. In the UK or Europe 44-20-3608-8078 is the number to call. And if you are in Australia are the lands down under 61-3-8820-5459 is the number to dial.

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

Community Prayer and Praise:

Good morning Daily Audio Bible family God bless you God bless the Hardin family and the reading of the scriptures. I am Lauralee. I am 16-year listen her. I am 16 years old…17 years old in Christ and I'm just calling. I came to work to this morning and got news that Adrian Lubetkin died last night. Father your word says it's appointed to man once to die and then face judgment. We have prayed for Adrian, that her own understanding about death would be changed in the last couple weeks, that you would perform heart surgery on her. And I have great faith because I saw you do it for my dad. I witnessed it, I saw it. So, I have great faith, that even though I didn't see it that you answered our prayers for Adrian according to your will because you don't delight in the destruction of the wicked and you want everyone to be saved. So, we asked and I trust you that I will see her and that you performed a miracle because you are God of miracles and You're good and You love your creation. I pray that You have made her one of Your very own and we’ll see her later in the name of Jesus. Thank you have a good day.

Hello DAB family this is the Disciple that He loves in Ohio. I've been listening for years now but have never called. I just desperately need prayer for my daughter. She's 15 and has been battling depression since she was 11 or 12. She has such a good heart and at times I just see glimpses of the person she's supposed to be but she's stealing and lying and is so far away and she just says all the time that she doesn't see a point of living and she wants to die. It just breaks my heart. I've prayed over this girl and loved her and asked angels to protect her her whole life and it just, I'm just worried. I'm afraid I'm going to lose her. She talks about dying and wanting to be dead all the time. I'm doing everything I can to get her the help but she just seems like she's getting worse instead of better. I just ask that everyone can come against the spiritual powers of wickedness and that are taking over her and that she would turn back to God and she would be healed over depression and her suicidal ideations. Thank you so much. I love you.

Hi this is Micah in Awe in Kansas City MO. I wanted to pray today for people today that are struggling with mobility issues. Shandra from Maryland you really touched me with your encouragement. And I tasted just briefly what it's like to be immobilized for…for about six months. I was on a knee scooter and kind of hurt to use my other foot to push the knee scooter but I still was able to. And I remember thinking of how…how much of a struggle it would be for someone in a wheelchair and how inaccessible certain places were like just different stores and I wanted to make a change but I just never did but I still want to and today I'm asking all of you out there whether your mobile or immobilized to pray for people that feel or are physically immobilized and not able to get around to where they want to go and feel like they're trapped. Let's pray. Lord today I ask for people all over the world not just DABbers, not just listeners, but everybody who struggles with immobilized…that are immobilized that you can help them feel free even when they are trapped, that you can help them with quality of life and joy when they can't do the things that they once were able to do. We ask for assistance with machinery and equipment that can help them, like if someone wants to get out on trails, some sort of like wheelchairs type bike or something. I don't know what it is but Lord you know what can be done. And I ask for changemakers, like…like make me a changemaker in the mobility area, that these people can have better quality of life and freedom Lord. But we know that our real freedom is in you Lord. Set them free internally and give them great joy. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Hey DAB family this is Sam in Seattle. I haven't gotten on to do a voice recording in a while but have kind of posted on the DAB friends and I’ve been keeping up there. I am coming to ask for prayer for people that are involved in family court. It's torturous. It's downright disgusting the things that are happening and how people with mental health conditions are allowed to use the court system to inflict wrongdoings upon the people that they have abused before or people that have been charged with domestic violence or assault on people, right? They are allowed to use the family court system to attack people's character, their jobs. So…and I…I've heard a lot of single parents on here before, you know, asking for prayers considering their kids and custody things. I even know there's somebody down South from me, I think you're in Kent, maybe you're in Tacoma, but a man that has been going through a lot of custody stuff too. So, I just…I want to ask for prayers for people that are involved in family court and the children…the children that are getting abused through this. Thank you.

Good morning Voice the bass player calling in from northern Nevada and I wanted to call and pray for Joe the Protector Who called to pray for someone else and…but mentioned that he started a new job recently and he's…he's having problems with other guys on the job not being believers. And, so, I pray for…I’m praying for Joe, that…that he could just keep a good heart, a good amount of positive thinking and thinking of the Lord and His goodness during his workday. But he also mentioned that he has three daughters or four daughters I think he said and none of them are walking with God. And I can relate to that because I have four children also and there's only one that I would consider to be walking with a Lord Jesus. And, so, I wanted to pray for all the people out there that have kids that are…that are not saved. You know, our children are the biggest blessing that we have from the Lord. A pastor friend of mine said having children is like having your heart outside of you walking around. And it's true. So, Lord Jesus I just pray for everyone who has children that need to be saved, that need to know you, that need to have their hearts changed by the Holy Spirit. I pray for all of them in Jesus’ name. And everyone have a great week. God bless.

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reflectionsofacreator · 4 years

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So like. I kinda sat down to write about this one, and I feel like I don’t know what to write about. There’s a lot to write about, but like... [scrubs face] it’s like, there’s a lot of emotional (sledge)hammers with this one, and it’s hard to pick apart so I can actually talk about it. Paralyzed by there being so much, you know?

God writing this one was like pulling teeth, tbh.

Buckle up lads, this one clocks in at over 2k. Mobile users I’m so sorry.

I think the first thing I’m gonna tackle is the name of this one. It’s called The Truth, but in the context of Clay, that previously had an incredibly specific meaning. “The Truth” wasn’t so much a phrase as it was referring to the real truth of the Precursors and the nature of Eve and Adam, and the truth of humanity as a whole. Historically, every mention of “The Truth” around Clay refers to that specific idea, and now we have a new thing that uses the same name. It’s kind of interesting too, because the Truth that Clay shared was very explicitly something he was giving to other people, after learning about it for himself. And in this case, this is Truth that he’s being given, either about his situation, or the situation of his successor.

This memory opens up with a doctor and Warren Vidic talking, after the episode that Clay had with the Bleeding Effect, and the doctor makes mention of Clay having been here a year already. He administers a medicine that’s actually an anti-psychotic, as a way of trying to stabilize Clay’s deteriorating mental state. There’s no guarantee that it’ll actually work, is the issue, mostly because the Bleeding Effect isn’t exactly a well known mental condition, and what everyone knows about it is simply what they’ve found out via the Subjects. Which is a very small group of people. I do wonder, though, about the Bleeding Effect as a .. hmm, genetic thing? It’s seeing the memories of your ancestors superimposed over your own perception of the world, and it’s implied that it’s because of the Precursor DNA that you can even have that happen, because it’s linked to Eagle Vision. Or at least, that’s what I’ve gotten so far, I could be completely wrong.

The conversation with the doctor gets shooed away in favor of a conversation between Clay and his father, and like. I really wonder at the timing of it, if it’s supposed to be a conversation that Clay had while he was in Abstergo. It’s possible that it was a conversation that happened before Clay got sent in, but he sounds too resigned and weary I feel like, to have it happen outside of his imprisonment. Another reason why I feel like it’s after is because the last conversation we heard with Clay and his father was during the Bleeding Effect, when Clay was telling him about the Assassins, and things dissolved into a fight when Harold made it about money. This conversation feels like it’s a while after that, after Clay’s resigned himself to not being able to really convince his father of anything.

Before Clay dives into the mainframe, there’s another glitch, which causes your controller to rumble. The screen goes noisy, and what shows is an exit at the end of a long walkway. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen glitches or hallucinations, but it’s freaky literally every time.

We watch as Clay starts to hack through Abstergo’s systems after that, and the actual design of “going into” the mainframe is covered in a dozen different firewalls. It’s a neat sort of visual way to show just how hard Clay’s hacking is, as well as how many firewalls there are, because if he gets caught, he can get killed.

Right before he goes in, on the right side of the “mainframe” is a code cipher.

This is a Caesar cipher with an alphabetical shift of 3, and it reads "Lucy, she Is aLways behind You." The capital letters spell out LILY -- traditionally lilies were associated with death. Now, you could interpret this as “Lucy’s got his back, she’s his teammate.” Which like, maybe. But with the addition of the word lily, and knowing that Lucy betrays him... nah. It’s more like she’s a threatening presence that needs to be watched.

Clay snoops through Vidic’s mainframe and learns that Vidic is specifically after Desmond. Now, we know that this is at least over a year of Clay’s being here, and that Desmond was captured September 1st. What I’m really saying is just how long did Abstergo know about Desmond, and what lengths did they go to research him before they took him? Another question I have is like -- I know ac1 said that Abstergo found him via his fingerprints for his motorcycle license, but just how would that give them access to his genetic profile. Granted, that’s probably some early installment weirdness of ac1, but. (That being said, I remember reading a fic where they made mention of Desmond donating plasma for cash, and that’s how Abstergo found him, which is more believable than fingerprints....)

I also can’t help but wonder like -- what’s going through Clay’s mind as he realizes that the Desmond Miles that Juno spoke of during his Bleed is the next Subject, and his successor? Or is it that he was completely unsurprised because Juno gave him a look into the possible future with the Calculations?

Anyways, Clay finds out what Vidic wants, and excitedly says that they can leave, and we follow the path to see what looks like a broken stone circle at the base of two beams of light.

(The wireframe is just the gameplay mechanic) I have... no earthly idea what this is, or what it could possibly mean. I think this is the only broken structure you see in all the memories, Desmond or Clay’s. It’s vaguely reminiscent of a broken film wheel, but I’m not sure if that’s what it’s supposed to be. But like, it’s so goddamn conspicuous because it’s the only broken structure we find. ls it supposed to symbolize a broken trust, a loss of faith after witnessing the “play” unfold?? .

Speaking of the “play”-- what the fuck. What the actual fuck. Is it supposed to make me uncomfortable? Because by god it did that. The sharp departure from how the rest of the narrative has been told is jarring as fuck, especially because it’s so like, proper. I swear, all that’s missing is like, a slightly off-key oldtimey music track and you’ll have a full blown horror segment. Maybe I’m just being dramatic, but like -- finding the broken wheel when that’s already something weird, having the camera forcibly taken away from you so you can watch this performance. And like, just listening to Warren monologue at Lucy is disturbing as well, for reasons that are hard to articulate.

It’s like -- Meta wise, I know why she��s not talking. Her voice actress, Kristen Bell, had left and didn’t renew her contract (as her contract was only for 3 games), thus not being able to voice Lucy for any further appearances. IIRC, this is actually why Lucy was written to die, instead of simply recasting her, and then they had to scramble to make the “She’s a Templar!” twist work. Jury’s still out if it did or not, but like -- I do appreciate them trying to explain why she defected during her undercover years, but like... Ugh. It still leaves such a sour taste in my mouth, because it’s obviously a writing scramble and not a cohesive narrative that was plotted from the beginning.

For a comparison, Clay’s story and ultimate fate feels complete, it feels alright. Yeah, it’s arguably a worse fate than Lucy, he died twice over, but like. We knew he was dead from the first moment we saw him, we knew that there was only one way that this could really go, a tragedy. There was a clear progression of his story, and the fact that you know how it ends. That being said, I do wonder about Clay’s death as a Subject in ac2, before the plotbeats of Lucy being a Templar were set in stone for Brotherhood. I know that the 20 glyphs in ac2 did talk about how Lucy was there when Clay killed himself, but I kinda doubt that it was in the same context of “she was supposed to save him but deliberately betrayed him due to her loyalties”. I guess what I’m getting at is that Lucy’s story feels terrible due to the writing surrounding it, while Clay’s feels deliberately terrible because that was the point.

Back to my original point of “Lucy not talking”-- while there is a meta reason for it, I kinda want to ascribe a narrative reason, despite the meta outweighing the narrative.

Lucy is characterized by almost never showing the full extent of her feelings or motivations, leaving you to wonder what’s actually going on in her head constantly. Sure, she leaned on Desmond a lot, but there’s also an undercurrent of a power imbalance there, and we always got the sense that she kept more to herself than she revealed. By having Warren talk at her, we’re further kept from knowing just what she felt about all of this, and instead we’re given another glimpse of the strange relationship that Warren and Lucy had.

Warren was her boss, but also her superior in the Templar order, and the man who saved her life from his own company. Back in ac1, Lucy recounts to Desmond how she was attacked in the middle of the night, going to be silenced by Abstergo so she couldn’t talk about the Animus, only for Warren to save her life by telling the men to stand down. The assailants were people that she interacted with every day, even ate lunch with. This is after she’d been with Abstergo for a while, and finally feeling like she was being taken seriously with her work (as well as her undergrad thesis/work) she was going to be killed to keep quiet. We don’t actually know why Warren saved her, but it’s my firm belief that that’s when Lucy changed alliances to the Templars.

However, I do wonder about the confrontation between Lucy and Warren at the end of ac2, during the credits. I know, I know, her being a Templar wasn’t really a thing in ac2 (I think), so therefore you have to take it all with a grain of salt, but like. The conversation here brings attention to it, where Warren tells her “Make sure you look very upset. You need to be convincing.” And I can’t help but wonder if Warren and Lucy ended up trading insults that hit way too close to home in order to further the deception... It wouldn’t be hard to pretend to be hurt if she actually was hurt by what he said, y’know?

I think the last thing about Warren’s speech that really bugs me is like -- he tacks on the whole “Oh, yes. Once inside their hideout, perhaps you might ask the Assassins why they left you alone for so many years.” And like. That just gets under my skin in a lot of ways because like-- he’s got a point, the Assassin’s methods are Rather Horrible™ with how they completely cut her off for a deep cover mission at seventeen (no I will not ever be over that), but the way he says it just. He’s clearly manipulating her to entrench her further onto his own side, and I just. Ngh. I kinda wonder if the delivery of the line was intended for the audience rather than Lucy herself, because she already knows all this, and for him to bring it up feels like an insult to her intelligence. It feels kinda slimy in a way that I can’t really describe. Or maybe it’s just because I just do NOT like Vidic.

There’s also the question of like, how did Clay see this -- this is all dramatized for the sake of us, the audience, but did he watch this via video feeds or something??? The thought of him watching Lucy and Warren talk about his successor is kinda jarring tbh. Also this throws a wrench into the ending of ac1 (though tbh what DOESN’T throw a wrench into ac1) where they were going to dispose of Desmond only for Lucy to intervene. Is it because Warren and Lucy were operating on their own project that wasn’t exactly approved by the Templar higher ups?? Or something??

This whole memory says that Desmond was their goldmine for the amount of genetic information he held, so why would the higher ups -- wait. Unless the whole thing was a ploy by having Lucy speak up in “defense” of Desmond in order to get him to trust her some more.... Hrm.... Granted that fits, it’s just a sort of way of re-contextualizing the ending of ac1...

Waves hand anyways Clay finds out about this plan for Lucy to gain Desmond’s trust and give them the data, and then we finally have control again. There’s this sort of distorted error noise, and the red blocks start to fill up the room, threatening you as they force you closer and closer to the screen, which only shows a picture of a door with a strange symbol on top of it.

This is the symbol for 3 Juno, an asteroid in our solar system that’s the 11th largest, and contains 1% of total mass of the asteroid belt. It was discovered September 1st, 1804, by Karl Ludwig Harding, and initially considered to be a planet, along with a few other asteroid/dwarf planets at the time. It was given this symbol, ⚵, like how Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter all have their own symbols.

Aside from the obvious “hey that’s Juno, she’s the big bad of this shit”, there’s a couple things that stood out to me. The date of discovery, September 1st -- that’s the same date that Desmond got captured by Abstergo, gives me pause. I’m not sure if it’s something that was intentional on the dev’s part, or if they were just looking for a symbol that would represent Juno. Either way, that’s enough of a coincidence that it makes me feel unsettled, the same way that Lucy was bothered by the date of the satellite launch being 72 days away. It might just be an honest coincidence, but considering that this is Clay we’re dealing with... nah.

Another thing that the AC wiki told me is that this is also the symbol for the Instruments of the First Will, an in-universe religious organization that worships the Precursors, and specifically Juno. Now, this organization doesn’t actually appear until at least ac4 Black Flag, and continues on all the way through Syndicate. This is more like an early bird cameo than a full blown reference, as we still have to get through ac3, But it’s still interesting to point out and look at, and wonder what’s going on with it all.

Anyways, the door itself is actually part of the screen, and impassible, and it stays that way as the bricks come closing in, chasing you. It’s really tense tbh, with this feeling of claustrophobia on top of the revelations you were forced to watch. It also doesn’t help that like. You had control wrenched away from you so you could watch the conversation, and the speech was long enough to lull you into maybe putting your controller down to watch, and then with a rumble you suddenly have control again and are being chased towards a door that doesn’t open.

The picture of a door becomes an actual door after the blocks get closer and closer, and we break through into the light, and onto memory 7.

If you like what I do, or want to see any other sort of analysis, consider buying me a ko-fi!

#Lucy Stillman #Clay Kaczmarek #Assassin's Creed #fuck it this goes in the main tag cause i'm proud of it #i'm so fucking sorry mobile users #motherfucker unlimited #creator plays ac rev #creator plays ac lost archive

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frmartinshomiliesandreflections · 3 years

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4th May >> Fr. Martin’s Gospel Reflections / Homilies on John 14:27-31 for Tuesday, Fifth Week of Eastertide: ‘My own peace I give you’.

Tuesday, Fifth Week of Eastertide

Gospel (Except USA)

John 14:27-31

A peace the world cannot give is my gift to you.

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me say: I am going away, and shall return. If you loved me you would have been glad to know that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you this now before it happens, so that when it does happen you may believe. I shall not talk with you any longer, because the prince of this world is on his way. He has no power over me, but the world must be brought to know that I love the Father and that I am doing exactly what the Father told me.’

Gospel (USA)

John 14:27-31a

My peace I give to you.

Jesus said to his disciples: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.”

Reflections (11)

(i) Tuesday, Fifth Week of Easter

In the gospel reading, Jesus speaks to his disciples whose hearts are troubled and afraid. The emotional state of the disciples is understandable because this is the night of the last supper and the prospect of Jesus’ death at the hands of his enemies weighs heavily upon them. Yet, it is clear that Jesus himself is not troubled or afraid. Rather, he is at peace, and he offers the gift of his peace to his troubled and fearful disciples, ‘Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you’. Jesus’ peace is rooted in his loving relationship with God his Father. He knows himself to be eternally loved by his heavenly Father. He also knows that beyond death he will be going to the Father whom he loves. Even though the prince of this world, Satan, is on his way, Jesus is at peace in the loving embrace of God his Father. He wants his disciples and all of us to experience something of his own peace. Jesus shows us that even when, from a human point of view, there is much to trouble us and make us afraid, we can still be at peace within ourselves because we know in our heart that, in the words of Saint Paul, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Our sense of God’s love for us, our love for God in return, and the future destiny that loving relationship holds out for us, gives us a share in the Lord’s own peace, regardless of the situation in which we find ourselves. That sharing in the Lord’s own peace enables us to put fresh heart into others and encourage them, just as we find Paul and Barnabas doing in the first reading.

And/Or

(ii) Tuesday, Fifth Week of Easter

In the gospel reading, Jesus speaks to his disciples on the night of the Last Supper of his going away, his going to the Father. His death will involve a real departure which will be difficult for his disciples. If they had their way they would not have wanted him to go away. Yet, Jesus says to his disciples that if they really loved him they would be glad to know that he is going to the Father. If they really loved him, they would not try to hold onto him. They would rejoice to let him go to the one who sent him, because in going back to the Father Jesus can do so much more for his disciples and for disciples of ever generation than if he stayed. In going to the Father he will pass into a new and more glorious life and he will open up a way to that life for all who believe in him. Through his going to the Father, he will be able to send the Holy Spirit to his disciples. Jesus is saying to his disciples that his departure is very much to their advantage and to the advantage of all his followers. That is why if they really loved Jesus, they would be glad he is going to the Father and they would willingly let them go. Jesus is reminding us that, sometimes, the greatest expression of our love for others can be to let them go, and not try to hold onto them, to let them go to whatever God wishes and desires for them.

And/Or

(iii) Tuesday, Fifth Week of Easter

The gospel readings these mornings are taken from what has come to be called the Last Supper Discourse in John’s gospel. On the night before his passion and death Jesus is depicted as speaking at length to his disciples who are distressed at the prospect of Jesus leaving them. In this morning’s gospel reading Jesus declares to them, ‘if you loved me you would have been glad to know that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I’. Jesus is saying to his disciples that if they really loved him they would not try to hold onto him; they would let him go to the Father so that he can be present to them and to all disciples of every generation in a new, in and through the coming of the Holy Spirit. Genuine love for someone often means not holding on to them but letting them go to a life that is fuller for them and, ultimately, fuller for us too. This is the kind of love that Jesus is calling for from his disciples, a non-possessive love that surrenders to what God wants for him and for them. Genuine love delights in what is best for the other, even though that may be entail a painful letting go for us.

And/Or

(iv) Tuesday, Fifth Week of Easter

In this morning’s first reading we are told that as Paul and Barnabas made their way back through the churches they had founded, ‘they put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith’. We all need encouragement, especially with regard to our faith and our relationship with the Lord. We need to keep putting fresh heart into each other, encouraging each other to persevere in the faith. That is what we find Jesus doing in the gospel reading. It is the night of the last supper; the disciples are feeling discouraged. Jesus says to them, ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid’. He offers them the gift of his peace, a ‘peace the world cannot give’. He assures them that although he is leaving them, he will come back to them again in a very short while, through the Holy Spirit. He is actively engaged in putting fresh heart into the disciples. We can encourage each other, but the Lord himself is the great encourager. If we turn to him in confident prayer, he will help us to persevere in the faith.

And/Or

(v) Tuesday of Fifth Week of Easter

In the gospel reading this morning, Jesus promises the gift of peace to his followers. He immediately goes on to contrast the peace he gives with the peace the world gives. In the time Jesus lived and in the time John’s gospel was written, the Pax Romana, the Roman peace, was being heralded and praised throughout the empire. This peace that Rome brought was the fruit of conquest and oppression. This peace which the world of the time gave is not the peace that Jesus gives. The Lord’s peace is not the fruit of conquest, but is what Paul would call the fruit of the Spirit. It is the peace which comes to those whose lives are led by the Spirit and shaped by the Spirit. The primary fruit of the Spirit is love. Love and peace are dimensions of the one fruit of the Spirit. When we love with the Lord’s love then we will know his peace and we will become channels of that peace to others.

And/Or

(vi) Tuesday, Fifth Week of Easter

The description of the ministry of Paul and Barnabas in this morning’s first reading is striking. Visiting churches that were struggling in a pagan world, we are told that ‘they put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith’. Jesus is described as doing something similar in the gospel reading. He turns to his disciples who are distressed at the prospect of his immanent departure, or death, and he says to them, ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid’. There is a time when, as disciples, we need to be challenged, but there is also a time when, as disciples, we need to be encouraged. Jesus and Paul knew how to give encouragement when encouragement was needed. The risen Lord continues his work of giving encouragement to disciples today. Getting discouraged about how we are doing as disciples of the Lord can be a very life-draining business; it can drag us down. Such discouragement does not come from the Lord. The Lord is much more about putting fresh heart into us, what the gospel reading calls a ‘peace the world cannot give’. Every so often when we are feeling somewhat discouraged about ourselves, and how we are doing, it can be good to turn to the Lord and to invite him to put fresh heart into us so that we can be joyful and energetic in the living of our faith. The Lord puts fresh heart into us through the Holy Spirit. That is why one of the names given to the Holy Spirit is ‘Comforter’/‘Consoler’ and why in that lovely prayer we can turn to the Holy Spirit and pray, ‘Heal our wounds, our strength renew; On our dryness pour thy dew’.

And/Or

(vii) Tuesday, Fifth Week of Easter

Many of us find departures difficulty, especially when the person departing from us is significant for us in some way. The words Jesus speaks in this morning’s gospel reading are set by the evangelist within the context of the evening before Jesus was crucified. Jesus is about to leave his disciples. Yet, in leaving them he also assures them that he is not abandoning them. He will in fact come back to them. That is the promise of Jesus to the disciples in the gospel reading we have just heard, ‘I am going away and I shall return’. Jesus returned when he rose from the dead; having returned, he remained present to them through the Holy Spirit. The season of Easter, which runs from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday, celebrates the return of the Lord, his rising from the dead and his continuing presence among us through the Holy Spirit. It is the risen Lord’s presence to us that is the source of the peace, which Jesus speaks about at the beginning of our gospel reading, a sharing in his own peace. Even in the midst of difficulty, struggle, loss and failure, the risen Lord’s presence to us can give us a peace that the world cannot give us.

And/Or

(viii) Tuesday, Fifth week of Easter

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is portrayed as speaking on the night of the last supper, the night before he was crucified. His disciples are understandably troubled and fearful. Jesus has been telling them that he is going away. His death will take him from them. Yet, Jesus wants to reassure them that his leaving them, through death, is actually to their advantage. Yes, it is a great tragedy, but God is going to bring something wonderful out of this human tragedy. In and through his death, Jesus will give them the gift of peace, a peace the world cannot give, a peace that is deeper than any peace that those who are in power in the world can bring. The peace Jesus brings is peace with God, a reconciled relationship with God, and this will come to pass precisely through his leaving them, through his death. Jesus says that even though the prince of this world is on his way, namely, Satan who has taken hold of Judas and others, what is about to unfold will reveal Jesus’ love for his heavenly Father, and his Father’s love for Jesus and the world. These are powerful, life-giving words that Jesus speaks to his disciples in their distress and anxiety. It is said of Paul and Barnabas in the first reading that they put fresh heart into the disciples. What Jesus does for his disciples at the Last Supper, Paul and Barnabas do for later disciples. It is what we are all asked to do, as disciples of Jesus. By what we say and do, we are called to put fresh heart into one another, to encourage one another. We are to be messengers of the Lord’s refreshing, encouraging presence. If that is to happen, we ourselves need to listen to and absorb the Lord’s life-giving words, those same words we have just heard in our gospel reading.

And/Or

(ix) Tuesday, Fifth Week of Easter

The opening words of Jesus in today’s gospel reading may sound familiar to you, ‘Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you’. A version of those words have made their way into the text of our Mass, just before the sign of peace, ‘Lord Jesus Christ who said to your Apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you’. Jesus spoke those words to his disciples in the setting of the last supper. They had heard Jesus say to them that he was going away and that he would return. They were disturbed by his talk of going away. The full reality of what was about to happen on the following day was beginning to dawn on them. Their hearts were troubled and afraid. In that sombre setting, Jesus gives them the gift of his own peace, which he identifies as a peace the world cannot give. Jesus was at peace in this hour and he wanted his disciples to experience something of his own peace. Jesus was at peace in spite of the fact that, as he says in the gospel reading, ‘the prince of the world is on his way’. This is a likely reference to Satan and to all those who are in Satan’s power. Jesus is at peace in the full knowledge that evil stalks the land. His peace is rooted in his loving relationship with God his Father. This is the peace that Jesus gives to his disciples, to all of us. It is a peace that is rooted in God’s love for us through Jesus. Because it has such deep roots, it can endure even in the face of the world’s hostility.

And/Or

(x) Tuesday, Fifth Week of Easter

The first reading begins with an example of the trials and tribulations Paul experienced in the course of his missionary work. Some people stoned Paul and dragged him outside of their town, thinking he was dead. Yet, Paul was far from dead. He got up, went back to the town and the next day he set off for another town. There, Luke tells us, he ‘put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith’. If most of us were treated in the way Paul was, it would take the heart out of us. Paul, in contrast, was able to put fresh heart into others, shortly after his own dreadful treatment. In the gospel reading, Jesus announces to his disciples that ‘the prince of this world is on his way’. This prince of darkness, working through human agents, would put Jesus on a Roman cross. Yet, even as this is about to transpire, Jesus is putting fresh heart into his fearful and troubled disciples, giving them the gift of his own peace, a peace the world cannot give. Both Paul and Jesus had a peace that, even in the face of great hostility and rejection, allowed them to bring peace and encouragement to others. This peace could only be of God. It was the fruit of their love for God and their deep awareness of God’s love for them. In the gospel reading, Jesus declares, ‘I love the Father’. He will go on to say, ‘the Father has loved me’. Jesus wants us to experience the same love of the Father through him, ‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you’. In opening ourselves to this love, we too will know a peace the world cannot give, and we will become peacemakers, bringing fresh heart to those we meet.

And/Or

(xi) Tuesday, Fifth Week of Easter

I listened recently to an interview with the secretary of Goebbels, Hitler’s Minister for Propaganda. She was 103 when the interview happened and could remember the outbreak of the First World War. She was reflecting aloud on her life, including her time as Secretary to Goebbels, for which she spent fifteen years in a Russian prison. Towards the end of the interview she commented on all the evil in the world. She claims to have become aware of the evil of the Nazi regime only after the war. She then paused and hesitatingly said, ‘I believe in the Devil, but I do not believe in God’. She had no doubt about the Devil’s influence in the world, but could see no sign of God’s influence. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus speaks of the devil as ‘the prince of this world’. On the night before his crucifixion, he says to his disciples, ‘the prince of this world is on his way’. However, Jesus immediately goes on to say, ‘He has no power over me’. Jesus was aware of the presence of the devil, but he was also aware that he was more powerful than the devil, God was more powerful than the devil. If the devil was instrumental in Jesus’ death, God overcame death and brought Jesus to a new life. Jesus continues to live with that new life, the life of heaven, which is the life of love. He releases that life of love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. The power of the Spirit is greater than the power of evil, which is why Jesus teaches to pray with confidence, ‘Deliver us from evil’. God is always working to overcome evil and he empowers us to share in that work.

Fr. Martin Hogan.

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spirit-science-blog · 3 years

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“Time not important… only life important.” yep, we’re going there, things are about to get a little bit philosophical now that we’re dealing with the Fifth Element...no..not the Alchemical Quintessence, but close! That crazy 1990s Sci-Fi about a killer planet, the power of love… and… You know, Bruce Willis’s Wacky Taxi Adventures... and all that…

So, major spoiler alert… The fifth element is Love. Well, kind of...it’s this woman called Leeloominaï Lekatariba Lamina-Tchaï Ekbat De Sebat… For short, Leeloo is the fifth element, and in essence: a perfect, supreme being of sorts. In a way, she’s kind of like Avatar Aan, destined to unite with the other classical elements in an ancient Egyptian temple to act as a defense system against this super evil Dark Force called Mr. Shadow - which takes on the form of a cruel planet, whose only goal is to destroy life in a cosmic cycle every 5000 years.

It’s a movie that’s had its fair share of criticism, especially in the gender department… Leeloo is the only real female character, with others appearing randomly throughout as passive objects, sex objects, or with most of their femininity stripped away like Major Iceborg. Aside from the fifth element herself, there’s a real lack of divine feminine in this story, but then again, her nature itself does embody many characteristics of the divine feminine: powerful, unique, and beyond the understanding of nearly everyone that she meets.

Regarding the plot, we have kind of a Raava vs. Vaatu thing happening like from Legend of Korra… and it’s hard not to draw lines to Avatar here considering the whole elemental theme huh? In the intro, we see an archaeologist deciphering ancient words regarding the conjunction of celestial bodies, something we should all do more of you know? Which, by the way, if you haven’t picked up your edition of the 2021 Almanac of the New Age, I might highly recommend it, because it helps you do just that without being randomly surprised by a giant robot-alien! Before they show up though, the archaeologist has to keep yelling to Aziz to wake up, as the kid keeps nodding off… I wonder if this is subtly depicting how humanity keeps falling asleep and thus the light that illuminates sacred knowledge is not currently stable. Yet when the advanced beings come to show the way, the light is blinding… Powerful and concrete.

There’s also a sense here that humans are the custodians of Earth, so we have to protect it from darkness and destruction ourselves, and while these higher beings help when the time is right, they cannot do it for us. While Love is shown as this mythical force that these advanced beings can use to defeat the darkness, it could also be said that Love is neutral energy between Light and Dark, one that is capable of harmonizing both sides, ultimately resetting the cycle, something that is echoed in Zorg’s speech later on.

All this knowledge is of course passed down through a secret brotherhood of priests, acting as keepers through the generations, of which there are many stories of secret societies doing the same in our history, and amazingly in the future where the main story takes place, Priest Cornelius is also an “Expert of Astrophenomenon”. He’s not just an expert on the metaphysical, but also seemingly the scientific study of space, and there’s certainly a sense that he’s got that whole balance thing down to a tee, working to better his understanding of both science and spirit by combining the two fields.

So when the military fires a bunch of missiles at Mr. Shadow, it’s interesting to see how they treat Cornelius, who tries to explain to them what Mr. Shadow is, to which he is mostly ignored, and they continue trying to brute force the problem. Yet Evil begets more Evil - as Cornelius explains, subtly referencing that the military's weapons, or at least their intentions. Mr. Shadow - symbolic of “our” shadow selves, demonstrates that it will grow in power if you try to destroy it with the same mindset that created it. The only way to truly harmonize the darkness is through love.

Even more impressive is this disconnect between the President of Earth and Earth itself. While, of course, they are trying to protect the earth and all of its life, when we see the world, we have to ask… are those living? Police and robots so heavily control everything, it’s smoggy, you see some crazy representations of people like the guy who tries to rob Korben in his apartment, and I’m not sure I saw a single tree…

Now, Major Dallas, to that end, of course, represents the divine masculine, also fulfilling the warrior archetype. While, of course, he checks all the classic hero tropes of the ex-lone warrior destined to save the world and fall in love with a perfect supreme sacred woman, the way it plays out DOES provides us with a bit of wisdom for ourselves concerning synchronicity. He describes that what he wants is to meet that perfect woman, and she falls from the sky into his cab. Perhaps this is a nod to manifestation in some way, as it’s their love story that’s the key to resolving the movie's conflict. It’s also a reminder for us that when we stumble into synchronicity, we have to be willing to take that leap of faith and follow where it leads us. For Korben, he has an opportunity to give LeeLoo up to the coppers but ends up putting his whole life at risk for her instead, but it’s THIS path that leads to the world being saved. Korben has to ask himself what’s important, following his heart and helping someone in need or earning more points on his taxi license…

Now, Leeloo on the other hand, through her character explores the nature of spirituality, DNA, and the physical capabilities of our souls within a body. A big topic in spirituality today is the science of ascension - we made a whole workshop on that which you can watch for free if you like - and what enlightenment might look like or do to our physical bodies. Leeloo’s DNA is perfect.. But it isn’t inhuman. There’s nothing really out of the ordinary about her DNA, she has the same genetic composition as us, just more of it, more tightly packed, allowing for greater inherent genetic knowledge and potential. Perhaps there’s a message here that the human genome is already whole, we just need to utilize its latent capabilities to find inner harmony, leading to a leveling up of what we are truly capable of.

So if Korben was like Link and LeeLoo was Princess Zelda, Zorg would be Ganondorf, completing the trinity. Zorg actually drops some pretty interesting wisdom in his discussion with Cornelius. Despite his “evil” role, his whole name is Jean Baptiste Emanuel Zorg, being named after the prophet and saint in many religions, and Emanuel meaning ”God is with us” in Hebrew. Zorg explains that life itself results from chaos and disorder at times. He believes that by creating a little destruction, he is encouraging life to renew itself, so the Priest and he are really in the same business… while it might just sound like he’s been brainwashed by the Shadow, when we look deeper, we do find some hidden spirituality!

His ideology is in alignment with the wisdom of the importance and honorable role of darkness in our reality. Much like the tower or death card in the major arcana or the shells of the Qliphoth in the Kabbalah, agents of darkness often come to give structure, boundaries, and direction for light to move through, as well as clearing stagnant energy to make way for new and evolved paradigms. Much like the cycles and sine waves that move through nature, energy flows through peaks and valleys that balance each other out.

Zorg knows he is a monster and is proud of it. He’s a businessman at heart, powerful from the money of capitalism, and a reflection of society's state of awareness and evolution. As we mentioned, this future society is portrayed as consumerist and still dwelling on issues of pollution and crime, even in spite of great new technologies. Perhaps that’s why the Darkness had to come, to help propel the evolution of consciousness forward and bring about divine love. However, while the love between Korben and Leeloo is highly symbolic, it doesn’t seem to affect basically anyone else, which might call us to ask ourselves… would it have been better for humanity and its pollution to be destroyed? This - at the very least - seems to be the underlying thinking behind Zorgs criminal activity. Ultimately, in the face of darkness, humans must come together to accomplish things and stop evil, something we wouldn’t do otherwise… This is what makes us evolve as a species.

Zorg perfectly encapsulates his philosophy in his quote about glass, saying “this glass is serene and boring, but when destroyed, a lovely ballet ensues full of form and color”. He then knocks it off the table and a bunch of little vacuum cleaner droids come and clean it up. Describing that the “People who created them, technicians, engineers, now have money to feed their children. They are part of the chain of life".

Interestingly though, Zorg is only a monster because life experiences took him there, but he started like any of us. There is a nice lesson from Cornelius about how fickle life is: all of Zorg’s power counts for absolutely nothing when his entire empire comes crashing down because of one little cherry. Cornelius saves Zorg’s life regardless, showing us the virtue of the angels, even towards the demons.

When the team finally makes it to the alien space opera, we get to meet Ruby Rhod and Plavalaguna. Ruby is one of the most unique parts of this movie… Crazy sexual antics aside, he is unapologetically authentic to his true nature, bending gender standards and seemingly embodying masculine and feminine with grace and humor. Perhaps the epitome of the wacky human spirit. And then as for Plavalaguna, she has some very ascended master vibes. The Mondoshawans entrusted her with the safekeeping of the elemental stones, who actually carries them inside her body as a safeguard. From a Spiritual perspective, this seems to describe how we all embody the classical elements within us. She even senses Leeloo's presence behind a wall down the hallway, implying she has some measure of clairvoyance. Interestingly, like the Mondoshawan from earlier, she doesn’t seem overly concerned with her own death, echoing the movie’s sentiment that time is not important, only life. Deeper though, it appears that she knew she was going to die all along, in order for the stones to get out of her…. We’re not even gonna ask how she got the stones inside her in the first place...that’d be one hard pill to swallow, let alone perform an entire opera with these giant rocks in your belly. Mad props to her.

Perhaps the reason superior beings don’t fear death as we do is that they know the bigger picture, they know these lives are transitory, so they don’t mind dying for a cause, as they understand the purpose of this life in the bigger scheme of things. Knowing that the flux and flow between life and death is transient, they’ll be back in the right place and the right time as life requires it. In the same way, in traditional tarot the horse Death is riding, is stepping over a prone king, which symbolizes that not even royalty can stop change. Plava understands her role and accepts her death, after imparting wisdom to Dallas that Leeloo is still fragile and somewhat human, despite her seeming physical evolution.

This idea of Leeloo still being human, however, forms a key part of the ending, as up until this point she has been learning all of human history via an alphabetical database… When she learns of war, she loses hope in humanity after seeing the darker sides of our past. Certainly, we can’t blame her, humans are the only species to cut down a forest to make room for a billboard that says “stop deforestation”, I’d be pretty shocked about our history too. However, Korben’s love shows her that love is an undefinable thing, it’s not a stone like the other elements, but a feeling between people that permeates everything and is worth fighting and caring for.

It’s pretty funny that when it comes down to it, none of the characters actually know how to activate the super-love bomb. Leeloo doesn’t know what will happen, but she continues to follow her divine calling to be on that platform without second-guessing herself, even if she didn’t know at the end how to activate the final “weapon”..she follows her own inner voice and calling and is guided into defeating the darkness, speaking to the importance of following our intuition and own inner guide.

Ultimately love is shown to be something with no boundaries, no clear explanations, but still exists through us, changing our lives in powerful ways. And through thousands of years, it will stay as the most important thing worthy to fight for. It’s no accident that in a time of such modernized technologies and possibilities humanity once again has to turn to nature for help in the form of the elements. It reminds people that technology cannot always provide protection, it is nature that always has been the source of power, as it exists forever. And only things that are eternal, like nature and love, are of true significance. Today, it seems people either love or hate this movie, but whatever way the coin falls, it is undoubtedly a fun experience, and packed to the brim with spiritual wisdom!

So until next time, be mindful of what you do with the gift of life, cause we never know when a sentient evil planet might try and eat us. Toodles!

This video was created by Team Spirit Connect with the team at https://spiritsciencecentral.com/about

#spiritualitu #science #ascension #mystery school #spirit science

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nokomiss · 5 years

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So I've had a few days to process the Magicians season finale and basically I've come to the conclusion that:

a.) They actually killed off Quentin Like That, did their cast and crew dirty Like That, treated their fans Like That, and thought that the plotting of that story was actually decent, which, loooool.

b.) They are clumsily attempting to pull a Jon Snow, where they want everyone to believe Quentin is dead, but will bring him back at some point in the future.

If it's option A, it's supremely gross. Everyone has listed the reasons already -- the killing the 'white male protagonist' to show how edgy and subversive your show is? Gross. If you've written a show where you have a generic white male protagonist, that's the failure of the writing. And if you've written a show where the protagonist is canonically linked romantically to both women and men (even if you don't put a label on it) and is ALSO explicitly shown to mentally ill and suicidal, and you think the best solution to that is to have them heroically commit suicide, after a season of buildup to a romantic climax with a male character, and have no resolution to that? Gross. The self-congratulatory attitude of the showrunners is really what made this such a betrayal.

AND then there's option B.

Option B was something I kept thinking about shortly after hearing about the 'oh it's permanent' thing, and then one of the actor's tweets mentioned GoT, which isn't evidence at all but does open the door for the comparison. I'm going to speak here as a longtime ASOIAF fan/GoT viewer. (I have my own issues with Game of Thrones as a TV show that I won't get into here, but suffice to say I love it but don't view it with rose-colored glasses.) The reason the Jon Snow thing worked and no one revolted? Was that it was earned. Jon Snow was a central character, but not the central character; GoT has a huge cast, multiple storylines, and if one character dies, even a beloved one, there's plenty of story remaining and, vitally, plenty of bonds to hold the remaining characters together. And, possibly most importantly, it was consistent with the show’s own internal rulebook.

Quentin is the emotional heart of the Magicians -- even the show itself explicitly brings his love of magic and his love of Fillory as the beating heart of the story. Ripping that away, to use a metaphor from the show itself, will be like when Julia was severed from her soul -- still present, but missing a vital piece. And the show has a long history of characters fighting against death, and finding ways to cheat it. It’s not a tragedy. It’s a very different kind of tale.

I have a lot - a LOT - of feelings about this, so I’m going to put them under a read more. Some spoilers for GoT ahead, and a lot of feelings about earned narratives, storytelling, characters, hope and betrayal.

Jon Snow's death didn't come out of the blue, either. The tensions and discontent in the Night's Watch were building until there was only one real possible outcome to the situation, and it made sense within context that his brothers would turn on him. Quentin's death, as part of a really ham-handed finale, was not earned? It didn't have any build-up or gravitas. You had a character who had been depressed, put in to an awful situation with the possessed body of his ex-love, found the fire within him to fight against the Monster, and then... instead of any logical emotional arc, they had him hook up with an ex and go on the most deux ex machina quest I can remember on the show, and then kill himself over a forgettable villain. All the campfire sing-alongs in the world can't make up for the emotional momentum they lost when they took away Quentin's spine.

When they took away his heart.

And -- here's the thing -- both of these series are based on books. And you know what? In ASOIAF, in canon right now, the last thing to happen to Jon Snow was to die bleeding out in the snow. And yet, when he died on screen, and Kit Harrington spent a year telling everyone he was done with the show, everyone still knew that Jon Snow would return. It made narrative sense. I've honestly only read the first Magicians book, but I did read the summaries of the later two, and Quentin doesn't die. Quentin is given an ending filled with hope.

And the reason I keep coming back to the 'maybe they're doing a Jon Snow' is that his death? in that manner? Just does not make any sort of narrative sense. Probably (undoubtedly) it's just me trying to see meaning where there is none, trying to optimistically think that the showrunners had more care for their own story than they do. But Quentin dying with no emotional fulfillment with Eliot, after a full season of fighting to save him, of being dragged through hell by the Monster, makes no sense. If they'd had the two speak at all, conclude their plotline, I would have accepted the death much more calmly. At least there would be emotional catharsis, even if plot wise I was left frustrated.

Because, here's the thing. When I read that the show had been renewed for Season 5 before Season 4 even aired, I immediately figured that it was a two-season story arc. When Season 4 was so slow to solve the Monster plot, it seemed obvious to me that they were planning on dealing with the repercussions with Season 5. Probably -- again -- that was me putting way, way too much faith in the writers of the show. But there are just so many dangling plotlines, and things that were dealt with so clumsily that they might well have never been addressed at all -- the library, the hedge witches, the magic rations, the old gods, Fillory's issues, really almost EVERYTHING from the season except for getting the Monster out of Eliot's body, and even that failed to address why his growing humanity was even a THING -- that they apparently decided no one would notice because of the Shock and Subversiveness of killing Quentin. I went into the finale with the absolute lowest of bars, because I could see there was no possible way of wrapping up everything, and I totally expected a To Be Continued at the end. Somehow they still managed to disappoint.

And that doesn’t even begin to address how they treated the other characters. Kady, reducing herself to just Penny’s girlfriend. Alice’s own character growth stunted to shove her back into what had already been shown as a failed relationship. Margo, beautiful fierce Margo, abandoning her own plan to save her own best friend because… she liked a dude? And had already solved the fish-issue with her fairy eye? Penny23, reduced to just a puppy trailing after Julia, even though he had telepathy and was a traveler? Julia, with her choices concerning her body and entire existence stolen from her again. (because a telepath couldn’t talk to her????) Fen, totally ignored for the finale? Eliot, never getting his chance to be brave?

That doesn’t exactly inspire a lot of faith for them to make a shift to a show that focuses on diverse characters, when this is how they treat them.

Where does that leave me? With a bad taste in my mouth either way, basically. I told a friend before the finale that "It's a universe where magic exists! They can fix things!" and it's so simple to canonically bring someone back. All the writer's talk about realism is ridiculous, this is a show that thrives on the ridiculous and the absurd. Even if Jason Ralph chose to not return, that doesn't mean Quentin can't. It's very in-the-box thinking if so -- I could think offhand of a half-dozen ways for him to return in a different body, hell, make it a POC one if they're actually that worried about having a White Male Protagonist -- but ultimately I felt most betrayed because this death was not emotionally EARNED by the writers. It is lazy. It is banal.

And it's ultimately incredibly tone-deaf. Sci-fi and fantasy stories offer escapism, and when the real world looks like it does now, literally no one wants their dumb show about magic grad school to be about death and despair. The message the fans look for is one of hope. Quentin as a character offered hope -- you could struggle with depression and still find the beauty of all life, you could find yourself in a magical land, you could find love and friendship and bravery within you that you never realized. That you didn't have to be the hero to be important. So if his death is permanent, like the writers claim -- and at this point I have literally no faith in them whatsoever -- then it's an incredible waste of what could have been a beautiful and groundbreaking story.

And if they're toying with the fans... it's misguided, and just frankly has not been earned in the way they think it has, and frankly means they're blind to their own storytelling faults. It's downright mean, and I'm not sure that I would be willing to support their show even if they brought Quentin back, knowing how little they thought of their fans.

#the magicians #the magicians meta #meta #it's been two days and i'm putting into words why this finale hurt so much #it wasn't because i was mourning a character #it was because i'd put trust in a show and had it betrayed #the whole thing feels like a stunt #and that's what lead me here #i had a LOT of feelings

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godfirstgodalways · 6 years

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(1/2) Hi please help me. I’m in a relationship that I know is not right for me, and God has wanted me to end it months ago. I tried to, twice, but breaking up w/ this person proved to be difficult. & when I tried, he continued to persuade me otherwise. Then my heart doubts & gives in. I know it’s wrong, but I don’t have the courage to part now. Therefore, I feel as if God is out of my life. I can’t hear or feel him. My heart is heavy for God & this person.

(2/2) We agree to give this one more try. But this anxiety & burden is gnawing at my heart. When I pray, it even seems useless. I feel like I want to give up because what’s the point anymore. I also feel like I can’t break from this person now because we just made up & want to give it another go. I’m sorry but I just feel tied. I’m not exactly sure what kind of help I’m seeking either, but any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

———————————————————————————————————–

I have a question. Did you ever pray for him or about him before you became a couple or at least in the beginning of your relationship?

God blesses me whenever I get questions that I can relate to so much. Almost each and every ask I get here, it’s usually the case. I’ve been with my boyfriend, David for 4 ½ years (my longest and most mature relationship), and for 3 years before I met him, I prayed that the Lord would prepare my heart and mind for my future husband. I told the Lord I was tired of dating and flirting and playing games. I asked Him specifically to open my eyes to seek for qualities that I lack…for qualities that would compliment me and vice versa. Funny because before I prayed that way, I asked for a potential husband and I did get a potential husband. It never worked out. This time, I asked for a future husband. And guess what? He was the first to mention marriage and still initiates the subject today. I had very specific desires I often prayed about. There’s even the fact that he is so good at managing money and very practical overall. I also asked Him to not give me a “die hard Christian” because He knew that I would be intimidated and have commitment issues, and doubts. I even asked that he didn’t have to be perfect, that he was at least hungry for God and believed in Him, and that he and I would grow in faith no matter what. I asked specifically for someone I could be friends with without pressure for a long time before we could even say we loved each other. I asked for someone whom I could impart my faith on and that we would learn so much from each other. And even though he is a very practical person especially in the beginning of our relationship, because I was diligent in prayer, my faith definitely influences him today to be more faithful and not so overly practical. He’s an absolute answered prayer that God keeps proving to me time and time again. With those things I asked in prayer, He also made sure that I worked on myself. When God began to answer my prayers, I did not stop praying. Now with that said there have been very trying times since he and I have been together, and by “trying” I mean we have compromised. The struggles are there to push you to grow. It’s how strong your faith is that will determine your overall confidence about where your relationship is headed. The only reasons I am still in this relationship is because he was an answered prayer, something that brings me back to God no matter how difficult things get and because God has been so gracious to give us more faith to continue taking it one day at a time. We are growing in God’s will and in God’s pace. We are blessed that this relationship is long distance but the distance is not too far that we can’t handle. God is so great!!!

Can you remember how you felt right before you brought up breaking up to him? Know the difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow. Worldly sorrow concerns yourself and only yourself…you feel sad because you did not receive what you expected. Godly sorrow leads you back to Him…knowing what you did or said was not pleasing to God, therefore it humbled you. It’s a righteous kind of pain that ultimately makes you desire to be more obedient to Him. So let me ask you, are your complaints louder than your realization that you have been disobedient? At the time of your attempt to break up with your boyfriend (not right now but at the time), did you feel more so wronged or did you feel you deserved the outcome of your sin? You might have felt both, but be honest which one felt stronger? If you felt you were wronged, then you must practice humility, which means in your case you must be more aware of your speech and actions around him. If you feel you deserved the outcome of your sin, that’s good, but please don’t remain in a state of pity because it is a sin. If you leaned more on the second feeling, you’re in a better place with your faith and I believe you might have a chance at making this relationship right once and for all. With God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). If you didn’t feel godly sorrow at the time you brought up breaking up with him, learn to recognize it sooner than later and go to God right away. Go to Him as often as you can remember anyway.

Even though you say you can’t hear or feel God right now, the fact that you know this relationship is not right for you, that acknowledgement from deep within was from God, because your soul is crying out for righteousness. If you believe he is not right for you, then he is not right for you. I understand where you’re coming from. If you believe this relationship is not right for you, then you leave yourself subconsciously open to the the possibility that it might not be right for you right now, but it could be right later on….which could explain some of your doubts and anxiety. I could be wrong. But anyway, you know you must do something about it. What can you do now? If you even care about your boyfriend’s soul, that should tell you how much you really love him. Begin to pray more often about him and yourself. Take the focus off of praying for your relationship because that will only bring on more anxiety. I remembered doing this when I was still with my then-boyfriend…the more I prayed about our relationship, the more God revealed it was not in His favor/His will. So if you love your boyfriend, love him in a way that Jesus loves him. Genuinely be patient, genuinely be forgiving, genuinely be respectful, genuinely care about his soul and feelings by practicing righteousness. Get rid of all the things that distract you from worshiping God and that don’t allow you to show His love towards your boyfriend. Your faith will save you. Stop praying for your relationship. Please trust me. FOCUS ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. The confidence and faith you will gain will build your wisdom and help you make the right decisions in order that you will keep this relationship. Hand over your concerns and anxiety to God. Hand over this relationship to Him, that’s how you can pray about it. In your prayer, never mention for Him to save it or make it work. Pray instead that He will show you what you must do to love your boyfriend like Jesus loves him. But again FOCUS ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. Pray for yourself and your relationship with God. If your boyfriend is heavy on your heart and you really love him, you will know that your relationship with GOD is so much more important, but absolutely pray for his salvation if he is not saved. If you are serious about recommitting to Him and doing the right thing, this is the only way your relationship could be saved for good. Learn to recognize godly sorrow from worldly sorrow in all situations. My advice is to pray. Pray to be an example to him. Pray for his soul and your soul. Pray specific prayers about your relationship with God. Pray everyday as often as you can remember. Don’t take for granted each time you don’t feel like praying. It’s those times that really count. Your faith and your relationship with Him is everything. So start reading your Bible often and listen to messages that will feed your soul and share them with your boyfriend. If focusing on God while still in this relationship is too difficult for you to do, you must leave now, especially if he refuses to understand what you are trying to do. It will only be too difficult to focus on God if you continue to put him on a pedestal and sooner or later if you break up, it will be devastating. I hope this has helped. You can always message me if you have any more questions/concerns. I won’t bite. I just have a few questions I want to ask, but don’t want to make this post too long as it already is. Maybe I can help you figure out exactly what you really want to happen. A breakup for good could be your best answer. Praying for you love.

2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Titus 2:7-8 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

James 4:7 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

Romans 6:6-7 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Mark 13:11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

By His Grace, Sheela (Via godfirstgodalways)

#godfirstgodalwaysreply #REPLY TO ANON #Christian advice #love and relationships #breaking up #anxiety #relationship status #anon ask #premarital sex

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claudinei-de-jesus · 3 years

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The Security of Salvation

We have studied the preparations for salvation and considered the nature of it. In this section we consider: Is the final salvation of Christians unconditional, or can it be lost because of sin?

Experience proves the possibility of a temporary fall from grace, known as "straying". The term is not found in the New Testament, but in the Old Testament. A Hebrew word means "go back" or "turn around"; another word means "to turn around" or to be "rebellious". Israel is compared to a stubborn calf who turns around and refuses to be led, and becomes unyielding to the yoke. Israel turned away from Jehovah and stubbornly refused to take the yoke of his commandments.

The New Testament admonishes us against such an attitude, but uses other terms. The deviant is the person who once had the zeal for God, but now has become cold (Matt. 24:12); it once obeyed the Word, but worldliness and sin prevented its growth and fruitfulness (Matt. 13:22); he once put his hand to the plow, but looked back (Luc. 9:62); like Lot's wife, who had been rescued from the city of destruction, but her heart went back there (Luc. 17:32); he was once in vital contact with Christ, but now he is out of contact, and he is dry, barren and spiritually useless (John 15: 6); he once obeyed the voice of conscience, but now he threw away that compass that guided him, and as a result, his vessel of faith was shattered on the rocks of sin and worldliness (1 Tim. 1:19); he was once happy to call himself a Christian, but now he is ashamed to confess to his Lord (2 Tim. 1: 8; 2: 12); he was once freed from the contamination of the world, but now he has returned as the "sow washed in the mud-sponge" (2 Pet. 2:22; see Luc. 11: 21-26).

It is possible to fall from grace; but the question is whether the person who was saved and had this lapse can finally be lost. Those who follow the Calvinist system of doctrine respond negatively; those who follow the Arminian system (so called because of Arminius, a Dutch theologian, who brought the question to debate) answer in the affirmative.

1. Calvinism.

John Calvin's doctrine was not created by him; it was taught by Saint Augustine, the great theologian of the fourth century. Nor was it created by Augustine, who claimed to be interpreting Paul's doctrine of free grace.

Calvin's doctrine is as follows: Salvation is entirely of God; man has absolutely nothing to do with his salvation. If he, the man, repents, believes and goes to Christ, it is entirely because of the attractive power of the Spirit of God. This is due to the fact that man's will has become so corrupted since the fall that, without God's help, he can neither repent, nor believe, nor choose correctly. This was Calvin's starting point - the complete servitude of man's will to evil. Salvation, therefore, cannot be anything other than the execution of a divine decree that fixes its extension and its conditions.

Naturally, this question arises: If salvation is entirely the work of God, and man has nothing to do with it, and is helpless, unless the Spirit of God works in him, then why does God not save all men, since everyone is lost and helpless? Calvin's answer was: God predestined some to be saved and others to be lost. "Predestination is the eternal decree of God, by which he decided what will become of each and of all individuals. For not all are created in the same condition; but eternal life is foreordained for some, and eternal condemnation for others. . " In acting in this way, God is not unjust, for he is not obliged to save anyone; man's responsibility remains, for Adam's fall was his own fault, and man is always responsible for his sins.

Since God predestined certain individuals for salvation, Christ died only for the "elect"; the atonement would fail if some for whom Christ died were lost.

From this doctrine of predestination follows the teaching of "once saved always saved"; because if God predestined a man for salvation, and can only be saved and kept by the grace of God, which is irresistible, then he can never be lost.

Proponents of the "eternal security" doctrine provide the following references to support their position: John 10: 28,29: Rom. 11:29; Fil. 1: 6; 1 Ped. 1: 5; Rom. 8:35; John 17: 6.

2. Arminianism.

Arminian teaching is as follows: God's will is for all men to be saved, because Christ died for all. (1 Tim. 2: 4-6; Heb. 2: 9; 2 Cor. 5:14; Titus 2: 11,12.) To this end he offers his grace to everyone. Although salvation is the work of God, absolutely free and independent of our good works or merits, man has certain conditions to fulfill. He can choose to accept God's grace, or he can resist and reject it. Your right to free will always remains.

The Scriptures certainly teach predestination, but not that God predestines some for eternal life and others for eternal suffering. It predestines "everyone who wants" to be saved - and that plan is broad enough to include everyone who really wants to be saved. This truth has been explained in the following way: on the outside of the door of salvation we read the words: "whoever wants can come"; when we enter through that door and are saved, we read the words on the other side of the door: "chosen according to the foreknowledge of God". God, by reason of his knowledge, predicted that these people would accept the gospel and remain saved, and predestined for those people a heavenly inheritance. He predicted their fate, but he did not fix it.

The doctrine of predestination is mentioned, not for speculative purposes, but for practical purposes. When God called Jeremiah to the ministry, he knew that the prophet would have a very difficult task and could be tempted to leave it. To encourage him, the Lord assured the prophet that he had known him and called him before he was born (Jer. 1: 5). In effect, the Lord said: "I already know what lies ahead of you, but I also know that I can give you enough grace to face all future trials and lead you to victory." When the New Testament describes Christians as objects of God's foreknowledge, its purpose is to make us sure of the fact that God foresaw all the difficulties that will come before us, and that he can keep us and will keep us from falling.

3. A comparison.

Is salvation conditional or unconditional? Once saved, is the person saved forever? The answer will depend on how we can answer the following key questions: On whom does salvation depend? Is grace irresistible?

1) On whom does salvation ultimately depend: from God or from man? It must certainly depend on God, because who could be saved if salvation depended on the strength of the person himself? We can be sure of this: God will lead us to victory, no matter how weak or foolish we are, since we sincerely wish to do his will. His grace is always present to admonish, repress, animate and sustain.

However, is there not a sense in which salvation depends on man? Scripture constantly teaches that man has the power to choose freely between life and death, and God will never violate that power.

2) Can the grace of God be resisted? One of the fundamental principles of Calvinism is that the grace of God is irresistible. When God decrees a person's salvation, his Spirit attracts him, and that attraction cannot be resisted. Therefore, a true child of God will certainly endure to the end and be saved; even if he falls into sin, God will punish him and fight with him. Illustrating the Calvinist theory, we would say: it is as if someone were on board a ship, and took a fall; yet he is still on board; he did not fall overboard.

But the New Testament does teach that it is possible to resist divine grace and to resist eternal perdition (John 6:40; Heb. 6:46; 10: 26-30; 2 Pet. 2:21; Heb. 2: 3; 2 Pet. 1:10), and that perseverance is conditional depending on keeping in touch with God.

Note especially Heb. 6: 4-6 and 10: 26-29. These words were addressed to Christians; Paul's epistles were not addressed to the unregenerate. Those to whom they are addressed are described as having once been enlightened, having tasted the heavenly gift, partakers of the Holy Spirit, having tasted the good Word of God and the virtues of the future century. These words certainly describe regenerated people.

Those to whom these words were addressed were Hebrew believers, who, discouraged and persecuted (10: 32-39), were tempted to return to Judaism. Before being received again in the synagogue, they were required to make the following statements publicly (10:29): that Jesus was not the Son of God; that his blood had been spilled just like that of an ordinary malefactor; and that his miracles were worked by the power of the evil one. All of this is implied in Heb. 10:29. (That such a repudiation of the faith might have been required, is illustrated by the case of a Hebrew Christian in Germany, who wished to return to the synagogue, but was refused because he wished to retain some New Testament truths.)

Before his conversion he had belonged to the nation that crucified Christ; to return to the synagogue would again be to crucify the Son of God and expose him to reproach; it would be the terrible sin of apostasy (Heb. 6: 6); it would be like the unforgivable sin for which there is no remission, because the person who is hardened to the point of committing it cannot be "renewed for repentance"; it would be worthy of a more terrible punishment than death (10:28); and it would mean incurring the vengeance of the living God (10:30, 31).

It is not claimed that anyone had gone up to that point; in fact, the author is persuaded of "better things" (6: 9). However, if the terrible sin of apostasy on the part of saved people was not even remotely possible, all these admonitions would be without foundation.

Read 1 Cor. 10: 1-12. The Corinthians had boasted of their Christian freedom and the possession of spiritual gifts. However, many were living at a very poor level of spirituality. Evidently they were relying on their "position" and privileges in the Gospel. But Paul warns them that privileges can be lost through sin, and he cites the examples of the Israelites.

These were freed in a supernatural way from the land of Egypt, through Moses, and, as a result, accepted him as their chief during the journey to the Promised Land. The passage through the Red Sea was a sign of his dedication to Moses' direction. Covering them was the cloud, the supernatural symbol of the presence of God that guided them. After saving them from Egypt, God supported them, giving them, in a supernatural way, what to eat and drink. All of this meant that the Israelites were in grace, that is: in favor and in communion with God.

But "once in grace, always in grace" was not true in the case of the Israelites, as the route of their journey was marked with the graves of those who were destroyed as a result of their murmurings, rebellion and idolatry. Sin interrupted their fellowship with God, and as a result, they fell from grace. Paul states that these events were recorded in the Bible to warn Christians of the possibility of losing the most sublime privileges through deliberate sin.

4. Scriptural balance.

The respective fundamental positions, both of Calvinism and Arminianism, are taught in the Scriptures. Calvinism extols the grace of God as the only source of salvation - and so does the Bible; Arminianism stresses man's free will and responsibility - and so does the Bible. The practical solution is to avoid the unbiblical extremes of both points of view, and to avoid putting one idea openly in opposition to the other. When two biblical doctrines are placed in an antagonistic position, against each other, the result is a reaction that leads to error.

For example, too much emphasis on God's sovereignty and grace in salvation can lead to careless living, because if a person is taught to believe that conduct and attitude have nothing to do with his salvation, he can become negligent. On the other hand, too much emphasis on man's free will and responsibility, as a reaction against Calvinism, can bring people under the yoke of legalism and strip them of all confidence in their salvation. The two extremes that must be avoided are: illegality and legalism.

When Carlos Finney ministered in a community where the grace of God had been overemphasized, he greatly emphasized man's responsibility. When he directed works in locations where human responsibility and works had been strongly defended, he emphasized the grace of God. When we leave the mysteries of predestination and go to the practical work of saving souls, we have no difficulty with the subject. John Wesley was an Arminian and George Whitefield was a Calvinist. However, both led thousands of souls to Christ.

Pious Calvinist preachers, like Carlos Spurgeon and Carlos Finney, have preached the perseverance of the saints in such a way as to avoid neglect. They were very careful to teach that the true child of God would certainly endure to the end, but they stressed that if they did not persevere, they would doubt the fact of their new birth. If a person did not try to walk in holiness, Calvin said, he would do well to doubt his election.

It is inevitable to face mysteries when we propose to deal with the powerful truths of God's foreknowledge and the free will of man; but if we keep the practical exhortations of the Scriptures, and dedicate ourselves to fulfill the specific duties that we are commanded, we will not make mistakes. "Hidden things are for the Lord God, but revealed things are for us" (Deut. 29:29).

To conclude, we can suggest that it is unwise to insist on talking unduly about the dangers of the Christian life. Greater emphasis must be placed on the means of security - the power of Christ as Savior; the faithfulness of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the certainty of divine promises, and the unfailing effectiveness of prayer. The New Testament teaches true "eternal security", assuring us that, despite weakness, imperfections, obstacles or external difficulties, the Christian can be secure and be victorious in Christ.

He can say with the apostle Paul: "Who will separate us from the love of Christ? The tribulation, or the anguish, or the persecution or the hunger, or the nakedness, or the danger, or the sword? As it is written: For the love of you are put to death all day long, we have been regarded as sheep for the slaughterhouse. angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor the present, nor the future, nor the height, nor the depth, nor any other creature can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord "(Rom. 8 : 35-39). ... A Segurança da Salvação

Temos estudado as preparações para a salvação e considerado a natureza desta. Nesta seção, consideramos: É a Salvação final dos cristãos incondicional, ou pode perder-se por causa do pecado?

A experiência prova a possibilidade duma queda temporária da graça, conhecida por "desviar-se". O termo não se encontra no Novo Testamento, senão no Antigo Testamento. Uma palavra hebraica significa "voltar atrás" ou "virar-se"; outra palavra significa "volver-se" ou ser "rebelde". Israel é comparado a um bezerro teimoso que volta para trás e se recusa a ser conduzido, e torna-se insubmisso ao jugo. Israel afastou-se de Jeová e obstinadamente se recusou a tomar sobre si o jugo de seus mandamentos.

O Novo Testamento nos admoesta contra tal atitude, porém usa outros termos. O desviado é uma pessoa que outrora tinha o zelo de Deus, mas agora se tomar fria (Mat. 24:12); outrora obedecia à Palavra, mas o mundanismo e o pecado impediram seu crescimento e frutificação (Mat. 13:22); outrora pôs a mão ao arado, mas olhou para trás (Luc. 9:62); como a esposa de Ló, que havia sido resgatada da cidade da destruição, mas seu coração voltou para ali (Luc. 17:32); outrora estava em contato vital com Cristo, mas agora está fora de contato, e está seco, estéril e inútil espiritualmente (João 15: 6); outrora obedecia à voz da consciência, mas agora jogou para longe de si essa bússola que o guiava, e, como resultado, sua embarcação de fé destroçou-se nas rochas do pecado e do mundanismo (1 Tim. 1:19); outrora alegrava-se em chamar-se cristão, mas agora se envergonha de confessar a seu Senhor (2 Tm 1: 8; 2: 12); outrora estava liberto da contaminação do mundo, mas agora voltou como "porca lavada ao espoja-douro de lama" (2 Ped. 2:22; vide Luc. 11: 21-26).

É possível decair da graça; mas a questão é saber se uma pessoa que era salva e teve esse lapso, pode finalmente perder-se. Aqueles que seguem o sistema de doutrina calvinista persistente negativamente; que segue o sistema arminiano (chamado assim em razão de Armínio, teólogo holandês, que trouxe a questão a debate) afirmativamente.

1. Calvinismo.

A doutrina de João Calvino não foi criada por ele; foi ensinada por santo Agostinho, o grande teólogo do quarto século. Nem tampouco foi criada por Agostinho, que afirmava estar interpretando a doutrina de Paulo sobre a livre graça.

A doutrina de Calvino é como segue: A salvação é inteiramente de Deus; o homem absolutamente nada tem a ver com sua salvação. Se ele, o homem, se arrepender, crer e for a Cristo, é inteiramente por causa do poder atrativo do Espírito de Deus. Isso se deve ao fato de que a vontade do homem se corrompeu tanto desde uma queda, que, sem a ajuda de Deus, não pode nem se arrepender, nem crer, nem escolher corretamente. Esse foi o ponto de partida de Calvino - uma servidão completa da vontade do homem ao mal. A salvação, por conseguinte, não pode ser outra coisa senão uma execução dum decreto divino que fixa sua extensão e suas condições.

Naturalmente surge esta pergunta: Se a salvação é inteira obra de Deus, e o homem não tem nada a ver com ela, e está desamparado, amenos que o Espírito de Deus opere nele, então, por que Deus não salva a todos os homens, posto que todos estão perdidos e desamparados? A resposta de Calvino era: Deus predestinou alguns para serem salvos e outros para serem perdidos. "A predestinação é o eterno decreto de Deus, pelo qual ele decidiu o que será de cada um e de todos os necessários. Pois nem todos são criados na mesma condição; mas a vida eterna está preordenada para alguns, ea condenação eterna para outros. " Ao agir dessa maneira Deus não é injusto, pois ele não é obrigado a salvar a ninguém; a responsabilidade do homem permanece, pois a queda de Adão foi sua própria falta, e o homem sempre é responsável por seus pecados.

Posto que Deus predestinou certos necessitados para a salvação, Cristo morreu unicamente pelos "eleitos"; a expiação fracassaria se alguns pelos quais Cristo morreu se perdessem.

Dessa doutrina da predestinação segue-se o ensino de "uma vez salvo sempre salva"; porque se Deus predestinou um homem para a salvação, e unicamente pode ser salvo e guardado pela graça de Deus, que é irresistível, então, nunca pode perder-se.

Os defensores da doutrina da "segurança eterna" apresentam as referências para sustentar sua posição: João 10: 28,29: Rom. 11:29; Fil. 1: 6; 1 Ped. 1: 5; ROM. 8:35; João 17: 6.

2. Arminianismo.

O ensino arminiano é como segue: A vontade de Deus é que todos os homens sejam salvos, porque Cristo morreu por todos. (1 Tim. 2: 4-6; Heb. 2: 9; 2 Cor. 5:14; Tito 2: 11,12.) Com essa grande ele oferece sua graça a todos. Embora a salvaguarda obra de Deus, absolutamente livre e independente de nossas boas obras ou méritos, o homem tem condições a cumprir. Ele pode escolher aceitar a graça de Deus, ou pode resistir-lhe e rejeitá-la. Seu direito de livre arbítrio sempre conservado.

As Escrituras certamente ensinam uma predestinação, mas não que Deus predestina alguns para a vida eterna e outros para o sofrimento eterno. Ele predestina "a todos os que querem" a serem salvos - e esse plano é bastante amplo para incluir a todos que realmente desejam ser salvos. Essa verdade tem sido explicada da seguinte maneira: na parte de fora da porta da salvação lemos as palavras: "quem quiser pode vir"; quando entramos por essa porta e somos salvos, lemos como palavras no outro lado da porta: "eleitos segundo a presciência de Deus". Deus, em razão de seu conhecimento, previu que essas pessoas aceitariam o evangelho e permaneceriam salvos, e predestinou para essas pessoas uma capacidade celestial. Ele previu o destino delas, mas não o fixou.

A doutrina da predestinação é mencionada, não com propósito especulativo, e, sim, com propósito prático. Quando Deus chamou Jeremias ao ministério, ele sabia que o profeta teria uma tarefa muito difícil e poderia ser tentado a deixar-la. Para encorajá-lo, o Senhor assegurou ao profeta que o conhecido conhecido e o ocorrido chamado antes de nascer (Jer. 1: 5). Com efeito, o Senhor disse: "Já sei o que está adiante de ti, mas também sei que posso te dar graça suficiente para enfrentar todas as provas futuras e conduzir-te à vitória." Quando o Novo Testamento descreve os cristãos como objetos da presciência de Deus, seu propósito é dar-nos certeza do fato de que Deus previu todas as dificuldades que surgirão à nossa frente, e que ele pode nos guardar e nos guardará de cair.

3. Uma comparação.

A salvação é condicional ou incondicional? Uma vez salva, a pessoa é salva eternamente? A resposta depende da maneira em que podemos responder às seguintes perguntas: De quem depende a salvação? É irresistível uma graça?

1) De quem depende, em última análise, a salvação: de Deus ou do homem? Certamente deve depender de Deus, porque, quem poderia ser salvo se a salvaguarda dependesse da força da própria pessoa? Podemos estar seguros disto: Deus nos conduzir à vitória, não importa quão débeis ou desatinados sejamos, uma vez que sinceramente desejamos fazer a sua vontade. Sua graça está sempre presente para nos admoestar, reprimir, animar e sustentar.

Contudo, não haverá um sentido em que a salvação dependa do homem? As Escrituras ensinam constantemente que o homem tem o poder de escolher escolher entre a vida e a morte, e Deus nunca violará esse poder.

2) Pode-se resistir à graça de Deus? Um dos princípios fundamentais do Calvinismo é que a graça de Deus e irresistível. Quando Deus decreta a salvação de uma pessoa, seu Espírito atrai, e essa atração não pode ser resistida. Portanto, um verdadeiro filho de Deus certamente perseverará até ao fim e será salvo; ainda que caia em pecado, Deus o castigará e pelejará com ele. Ilustrando uma teoria calvinista diríamos: é como se alguém estivesse a bordo dum navio, e levasse um tombo; contudo está a bordo ainda; não caiu ao mar.

Mas o Novo Testamento ensina, sim, que é possível resistir à graça divina e resistir para a perdição eterna (João 6:40; Hb 6:46; 10: 26-30; 2 Ped. 2:21; Hb 2: 3; 2 Ped. 1:10), e que a perseverança é condicional dependente de manter-se em contato com Deus.

Note-se especialmente Heb. 6: 4-6 e 10: 26-29. Palavras foram dirigidas a cristãos; as epístolas de Paulo não foram dirigidas aos não regenerados. Aqueles aos quais foram dirigidas são superados como havendo sido uma vez iluminados, havendo provado o dom celestial, os participantes do Espírito Santo, havendo provado a boa Palavra de Deus e como virtudes do século futuro. Essas palavras certamente descrevem pessoas regeneradas.

Aqueles aos quais foram dirigidas palavras essas eram críticos hebreus, que, desanimados e perseguidos (10: 32-39), estavam tentados a voltar ao Judaísmo. Antes de serem recebidos novamente na sinagoga, requeria-se deles que, publicamente, fizessem as seguintes declarações (10:29): que Jesus não era o Filho de Deus; que seu sangue derramado derramado justamente como o dum malfeitor comum; e que seus milagres foram operados pelo poder do maligno. Tudo isso está implícito em Heb. 10:29. (Que tal repúdio da fé podia haver sido exigido, é ilustrado pelo caso dum cristão hebreu na Alemanha, que desejava voltar à sinagoga, mas foi recusado porque desejava conservar algumas verdades do Novo Testamento.)

Antes de sua convivência existido à nação que crucificou a Cristo; voltar à sinagoga seria de novo crucificar o Filho de Deus e expô-lo ao vitupério; seria o terrível pecado da apostasia (Heb. 6: 6); seria como o pecado imperdoável para o qual não há remissão, porque a pessoa que está endurecida a ponto de cometê-lo não pode ser "renovada para arrependimento"; seria digna dum castigo mais terrível do que a morte (10:28); e significaria incorrer na vingança do Deus vivo (10:30, 31).

Não se declara que alguém houvesse ido até esse ponto; de fato, o autor está persuadido de "coisas melhores" (6: 9). Contudo, se o terrível pecado da apostasia da parte de pessoas salvas não fosse ao menos remotamente possível, todas essas admoestações careceriam de qualquer fundamento.

Leia-se 1 Cor. 10: 1-12. Os coríntios se salvos jactado de sua liberdade cristã e da possessão dos dons espirituais. Entretanto, muitos estão vivendo num nível muito pobre de espiritualidade. Evidentemente eles estavam confiando em sua "posição" e privilégios no Evangelho. Mas Paulo os adverte de que os privilégios podem perder-se pelo pecado, e cita os exemplos dos israelitas.

Estes foram libertados duma maneira sobrenatural da terra do Egito, por intermédio de Moisés, e, como resultado, o aceitaram como seu chefe durante uma jornada para a Terra da Promissão. A passagem pelo Mar Vermelho foi um sinal de sua dedicação à direção de Moisés. Cobrindo-os estava uma nuvem, o símbolo sobrenatural da presença de Deus que os guiava. Depois de salvá-los do Egito, Deus os sustentou, dando-lhes, maneira de sobrenatural, o que comer e beber. Tudo isso significava que os israelitas estavam em graça, isto é: no favour and na comunhão com Deus.

Mas "uma vez em graça sempre em graça" não foi verdade no caso dos israelitas, pois a rota de sua jornada ficou assinalada com as sepulturas dos que foram destruídos em consequência de suas murmurações, rebelião e idolatria. O pecado interrompeu sua comunhão com Deus, e, como resultado, caíram da graça. Paulo declara que esses eventos foram registrados na Bíblia para anunciar os cristãos quanto à possibilidade de perder os mais sublimes privilégios por meio do pecado deliberado.

4. Equilíbrio escriturístico.

As posições fundamentais, tanto do calvinismo como do arminianismo, são ensinadas nas Escrituras. O Calvinismo exalta a graça de Deus como uma única fonte de salvação - e assim o faz a Bíblia; o Arminianismo acentua a livre vontade e responsabilidade do homem - e assim o faz a Bíblia. A solução consiste em prática em evitar os extremos antibíblicos de um e de outro ponto de vista, e em evitar colocar uma idéia em aberto antagonismo com a outra. Quando duas doutrinas bíblicas são colocadas em posição antagônica, uma contra a outra, o resultado é uma reação que conduz ao erro.

Por exemplo: a ênfase demasiada à sóbria e à graça de Deus na salvação pode conduzir a uma vida descuidada, porque se a pessoa é ensinada a um crer que a atitude nada têm a ver com a sua salvação, pode tornar-se conduta negligente. Por outro lado, ênfase demasiada sobre a livre vontade e responsabilidade do homem, como reação contra o calvinismo, pode trazer como pessoas sob o jugo do legalismo e despojá-las de toda a confiança de sua salvação. Os dois extremos que devem ser evitados são: a ilegalidade e o legalismo.

Quando Carlos Finney ministrava em uma comunidade onde a graça de Deus recebia excesso de ênfase, ele acentuava muito a responsabilidade do homem. Quando dirigia trabalhos em localidades onde a responsabilidade humana e as obras anteriores sido fortemente defendidas, ele acentuava a graça de Deus. Quando deixamos os mistérios da predestinação e nos damos à obra prática de salvar como almas, não temos dificuldades com o assunto. João Wesley era arminiano e George Whitefield calvinista. Entretanto, ambos conduziram pontos de almas a Cristo.

Pregadores piedosos calvinistas, do tipo de Carlos Spurgeon e Carlos Finney, têm pregado a perseverança dos santos de tal modo a evitar a negligência. Eles tiveram muito cuidado de usar que o verdadeiro filho de Deus certamente perseveraria até ao fim, mas acentuaram que se não perseverassem, poriam em dúvida o fato do seu novo nascimento. Se uma pessoa não procurasse andar na santidade, dizia Calvino, bem faria em duvidar de sua eleição.

É inevitável defrontarmo-nos com mistérios quando nos propomos tratar como poderosas verdades da presciência de Deus e a livre vontade do homem; mas se guardamos as exortações práticas das Escrituras, e nos dedicamos a cumprir os deveres específicos que se nos ordenam, não erraremos. "As coisas encobertas são para o Senhor Deus, porém as reveladas são para nós" (Deut. 29:29).

Para concluir, podemos sugerir que não é prudente insistir falando indevidamente dos perigos da vida cristã. Maior ênfase deve ser dada aos meios de segurança - o poder de Cristo como Salvador; a fidelidade do Espírito Santo que habita em nós, a certeza das divinas promessas, e a eficácia infalível da oração. O Novo Testamento ensina uma verdadeira "eterna", assegurando-nos que, um despeito da debilidade, das imperfeições, problemas ou dificuldades exteriores, o cristão pode estar seguro e ser vencedor em Cristo.

Ele pode dizer com o apóstolo Paulo: "Quem nos separará do amor de Cristo? A tribulação, ou a angústia, ou a perseguição ou a fome, ou a nuz, ou o perigo, ou a espada? Como está escrito: Por amor de ti somos entregues à morte todo o dia; fomos reputados como ovelhas para o matadouro. Mas em todas estas coisas somos mais do que vencedores, por aquele que nos amou. Porque estou certo de que, nem a morte, nem a vida, nem os anjos, nem os principados, nem as potestades, nem o presente, nem o porvir, nem a altura, nem a profundidade, nem alguma outra criatura nos pode separar do amor de Deus, que está em Cristo Jesus nosso Senhor "(Rom. 8 : 35-39).

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owl-eyed-woman · 7 years

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Attack on Titan Season 2 Episode Reviews - Episode 1

It’s been a hard four years. But now, the wait is finally over. Attack on Titan is back and all is right with the world. So, with the advent of a new season (and a new era of joy in my life), I’ve decided to review/recap each episode of AOT Season 2. A bit of background: I was a big fan of AOT season 1 while it was airing, and after rewatching the anime these past two days in two glorious 6 hours chunks, it’s clear that this fangirl fire still burns. However, I have not read the manga - yes, I somehow managed to repress that temptation and yes, the struggle was very real. But honestly, not reading the manga has been a conscious decision on my part. I found the twists and turns so vital and thrilling in the first anime that I wanted to retain that experience for the second season. So expect a lot of shocked reactions and enthusiastic ramblings with each revelation, and perhaps some ill-advised speculation. There will most likely be some gushing in these reviews, but I will endeavour to include incisive critical analysis, of course. Enough background, onto the review! The show begins with a wonderfully brief recap, (good work show) before picking up where we literally left off, addressing that final, tantalising shot of the last the season: a titan within the wall. This is exactly what we needed, no pussyfooting around, no wasting time, we’ve only got 12 episodes so let’s just get right to it! Before the shock can settle in, Pastor Nick begs Hanji to keep the titan out of the sunlight, which is ominous to say the least. Hanji complies with this but, desperate for an explanation, tries to interrogate the Pastor, threatening to drop him from the wall. Pastor Nick remains tight-lipped though, knowing so much more than he’d ever willingly divulge, even under threat of death. It’s a potent reminder that they’re not just fighting titans but the worst parts of human nature, be it corruption, greed, complacency or, in this case, blind faith and irrationality. As a character, Hanji has always had this intensity about her, but her personality and thirst for knowledge has been presented more light-heartedly as almost goofy. Here though, we get to see some of the frightening ways this intensity can manifest as well as their very genuine frustration that the knowledge they desperately need is constantly hidden from them. It’s a necessary reminder of the emotional depths of a character who is too often dismissed as a ‘mad scientist’; they too have seen many comrades die for humanity’s survival and are just as dedicated to the cause, willing to kill or even be killed. But even more shocking than that, in the face of this new information, Hanji, one of the most joyful and enthusiastic characters in the show, isn’t invigorated or scheming, they’re just exhausted and terrified by the depths of their ignorance. Crucial information has always been hard-won for our mains, but not only that, it’s how much they don’t know that truly terrifies and takes a heavy toll.

No time to rest, though! Further demonstrating that AOT intends to use every second of its runtime, not only is a titan attack imminent, it actually arrived 12 hours earlier and the battle is already well under way. Following this revelation, the episode flashes back 12 hours to the activities of the rest of 104th cadets who are having some downtime at the Scout Regiment barracks. Being a soldier isn’t always high-stakes, sometimes it’s just sitting around, bored. It looks like this season will be focusing a lot more on the side characters and I am very excited if this is the case. AOT has been the ‘Eren/Mikasa/Armin Show’ for a while and it will be good for the show overall to start fleshing out some of their thus far underutilised characters, like Bertholdt, Reiner and Conny, who have been sketched more vaguely in character terms. Oh, and Ymir and Krista too! Yeah, there’s a fair few I’m excited to learn more about.

As the first to encounter the incoming Titan attack, the 104th cadets are tasked with alerting the surrounding villages, but have no time to get into gear. The difficulty of prepping ODM gear is something I’ve thought about and clearly it’s on the showrunner’s minds as well with the opening featuring the gang suiting up, so to speak. ODM gear is amazing but by god does it look complicated and very intricate (I may or may not have had a dream once about frantically trying to put together my own set to fight a titan, but I digress). I’m digging this greater sense of vulnerability or even nakedness that comes with such a simple development and the ways it may change how future conflict is addressed. Not only this, the emotional stakes have been significantly raised for several of the characters as their home towns and families are explicitly and immediately at risk. The stage has been set for some tense, future moments!

In a brief digression from this main action, we visit Eren who is still recuperating from his titan battle. While Mikasa sleeps peacefully at his bedside, Eren dreams of his mother admonishing him for his weakness and his constant reliance on Mikasa. Eren has always had a complex regarding his own weakness and inability to protect those close to him – I mean, AOT literally begins with Eren unable to save his mother. He so desperately wants to protect those around him, but, unfortunately, Eren just isn’t the best protector, Mikasa is. Because of this, Eren often resents Mikasa and pushes her away when she attempts to get closer to him.

So, what does his comment about buying Mikasa a new scarf signify? The scarf is a symbol of several things; it symbolises their bond as family, Mikasa’s devotion to Eren and how he grounds her, and for Eren, quite simply, the time he saved her life. So, with this comment, Eren is renewing his commitment to being the protector instead of the protected with a new scarf showing that he has protected Mikasa as he once did. It seems as though he has entirely missed the point– Eren has always been a bit emotionally dense, especially when it comes to Mikasa. For Eren, the scarf primarily and most importantly represents the time her saved her physically. But for Mikasa, what matters is how he saved her emotionally. Eren’s heart is in the right place, as he is trying, in his own way, to say he truly cares about Mikasa. But Mikasa doesn’t need Eren to protect her, she needs him to be there for her emotionally. I’m interested to see if this dynamic plays out this season and how Eren and Mikasa continue to grow. Regardless, it’s nice to have a quiet character moment in such a plot heavy episode, even if it is more of a setup for future development than anything momentous in and of itself.

But there is only one star in this episode and that is the beast titan! Miche, who volunteers to stay behind to hold off the titans and give the others a head start, is given the dubious honour of first encountering him in all his glory. The design of the titans has always been such a vibrant, varied part of the show, in one moment unsettling, in another goofy and in yet another absolutely terrifying. The beast titan is yet another example of Hajime Isayama’s keen eye for designing unique and startling creatures. So much meaning is packed into his design! His almost ridiculously stocky, square body suggests a terrifying strength. His as of yet unseen 17m height highlights the fact that he can’t be classified under our previous understanding of titans.* His fur sharply distinguishes him from humanity and normal titans but his expressive, humanoid face and piercing, intelligent eyes throws into sharp relief his connection to us, and the threat his intelligence presents. Long ape-like arms combine the bestial with the uncanny while the decision to reference primate anatomy again suggests an uncomfortable proximity to humanity and hints at the theme of evolution. The beast titan is so effectively frightening because he occupies this uncomfortable, liminal space between species, further emphasising the increasingly unstable boundary between titan/beast and human.

It’s only appropriate for this to be the titan that delivers us a bombshell: some titans can talk. AOT has always been about breaking down the divides between monsters and humans, and the implications of this are mind-blowing. This reveal is also perfectly paced, with his first line delivered offscreen as we focus on Miche’s reaction instead. The action of the show itself seems to pause, forcing us to stew in this feeling of disbelief before confirming the origin of the voice. It’s the filmic equivalent of someone saying “is that what I think it is?”, revelling in that moment of incredulous shock. They’ve chosen a great voice too, appropriately ominous and imposing. It’s fair to say I am both terrified and mesmerised by everything about the Beast titan: his design, his voice, his intelligence, the way he can control the titans and how he seems to be studying humanity. As a side note, I want to give a shout out the to the goggle-eyed, big nosed chibi titan. He is disgusting and I love him.

In the end, Miche, shaking off his shock, tries for one last, heroic attack before being devoured under the beast titan’s orders. I will miss you, weird sniffing guy. To be honest, I found this death scene a little too sadistic. While gory deaths are undeniably part of the appeal of AOT and essential to keeping the stakes high and tense, it seems to go on for just a touch too long as we see him being violently torn and bitten apart by several titans. There’s a fine line between impressing the visceral terror of such a death and revelling in the violence thus cheapening the moment. Ultimately though, any opinion on this is intensely personal and, in this case, I won’t definitely rule on whether Miche’s death is tasteful or tasteless.

And now after waiting four long years, a new wait begins for the next episode. It’s going to be a long, long week. See you Sunday!

*Yes, there have been taller titans (colossal ones even) but I think its’ notable that his height of 17m specifically surpasses the typical classifications of titans i.e. 15m titans. **I did not expect to write this much, I will try to keep things more succinct next time

#attack on titan #aot #shingeki no kyojin #snk #anime #review #attack on titan episode 26 #attack on titan season 2

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ncfan-1 · 7 years

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KOTOR II: Tarot Head Canons

Keeping in mind that I got the meanings for these tarot cards off of a website, I decided to list my head canons for which tarot cards the party members of KOTOR II, along with some of the NPCs, fit best. (Note: The Exile’s entry is head canon-heavy.)

The Exile/Kalani Nuna:

The Magician, Upright (power, skill, concentration, action, resourcefulness): a wartime General who got stuff done.

The Tower, Upright (disaster, upheaval, sudden change, revelation): Malachor V.

The Star, Reversed (lack of faith, despair, discouragement): the ten years she spent wandering the Outer Rim and beyond.

The Moon, Upright (illusion, fear, anxiety, insecurity, subconscious): how she is at the very beginning of the game.

Death, Upright (endings, beginnings, change, transformation, transition): how she is by the end of the game, when she’s found a sense of purpose again, when she’s been able to find a way to live with what happened to her, and started to rebuild a life for herself.

Kreia:

The Chariot, Upright (control, willpower, victory, assertion, determination): I was gonna go with the High Priestess, but let’s be real, this one fits a lot better.

Atton Rand:

The Hanged Man, Upright (suspension, restriction, letting go, sacrifice): Though Atton does go through an emotional journey throughout the game (provided you get enough influence with him to convince him to become a Jedi), he remains this throughout.

Bao-Dur:

Judgment, Upright (judgment, rebirth, inner calling, absolution): This, I think, fits Bao-Dur’s characterization as someone who absolutely loathes having created the Mass Shadow Generator, and who is looking for (and ultimately finds) peace and redemption.

Visas Marr:

The Moon, Upright (illusion, fear, anxiety, insecurity, subconscious): Visas as a worn-down Sith Apprentice, and as the woman she is when we first meet her.

The Moon, Reversed (release of fear, unhappiness, confusion): Visas’s big scene in her cell on the Ravager.

The Star, Upright (hope, spirituality, renewal, inspiration, serenity): How I imagine Visas to be post-game. She’ll likely never be the person she was before Nihilus got a hold of her, but she has a life now, and hopes for the future, and that’s a lot more than what she had when we first met her.

Mira:

Strength, Upright (strength, courage, patience, control, compassion): Mira’s ability to survive in a ravaged post-war galaxy despite having been orphaned at a young age, and her refusal as a bounty hunter to kill her targets (to the point that when the Exile points out that Mira seems to have no compunction about killing opponents when she’s with her, it’s taken as foreshadowing of the reveal) qualifies her for this. Though, like everyone, she does have her baggage, she’s one of the most well-adjusted members of the main cast, which is an achievement in itself.

Mical/The Disciple:

Temperance, Upright (balance, moderation, patience, purpose, meaning): And Mical is probably the most well-adjusted member of the main cast. Having been kicked out of a Jedi enclave once he was deemed too old to be taken as an apprentice, he manages to build up a life for himself despite the fact that having lived basically his whole life in a Jedi enclave on the Outer Rim would have likely left him ill-equipped to survive outside of its walls without the support structure the Jedi provided. Though he is highly critical of the Jedi Order’s teachings, he does not dismiss the Jedi as being worthless—instead, he has the idea of remaking the Jedi Order with the best parts of their teachings intact, and the worst parts replaced by something more humane.

Brianna/The Handmaiden:

Wheel of Fortune, Upright (good luck, karma, life cycles, destiny, a turning point): Brianna is not a character I am terribly familiar with. I’ve never played as a male Exile (and I have no desire to), and I mostly know Brianna’s story from Let’s Plays, gifs and meta, which to me lack the punch of actually playing through it myself. However, from what I do know, Brianna’s choosing to learn the ways of the Force seem to put her in this category.

Canderous Ordo/Mandalore the Preserver:

The Emperor, Upright (authority, father-figure, structure, solid foundation): As the patriarch of the Mandalorian people, this fits Canderous pretty well, this game.

T3-M4:

The Magician, Upright (power, skill, concentration, action, resourcefulness): T3-M4 knows how to get things done, even when he has no help. From repairing the Ebon Hawk in the prologue, to having the presence of mind to download information from Atris’s archives, to saving the Exile’s life more than once, to (it’s implied) convincing the Exile to go looking for Revan post-game, T3 stays on top of things better than a lot of the rest of the main cast.

HK-47:

The Magician, Upright (power, skill, concentration, action, resourcefulness): I was hoping to avoid having to use the same card for two of the major characters in their most ‘up to date’ forms, but HK-47’s solo raid on the HK-50 factory just screams this.

G0-T0:

The Hierophant, Upright (religion, group identification, conformity, tradition, beliefs): G0-T0’s dedication to preserving the Republic is absolute, though many would find his methods questionable at best, and many more would disagree with his lack of concern about in what form the Republic is preserved. Many would rather the Republic fall apart than the Sith rule it, but as far as G0-T0’s concerned, if the Republic is still standing, he doesn’t really care who’s in charge.

Hanharr:

The Devil, Upright (bondage, addiction, sexuality, materialism): Hanharr is another character I’m not all that familiar with, since you will never persuade me to play this game on Dark Side. But I think the fact that Hanharr is, even with my limited knowledge, pretty obviously ruled by his rage is pretty indicative.

Atris:

Death, Reversed (resistance to change, unable to move on): I like the idea of Atris and the Exile being the opposite sides of a coin in this, and Atris is pretty well summed up by her inability to let go of the past, so…

The Jedi Masters, Vrook Lamar, Kavar and Zez-Kai Ell:

The Hanged Man, Reversed (martyrdom, indecision, delay): This is them in a nutshell.

Darth Nihilus:

The Devil, Upright (bondage, addiction, sexuality, materialism): He who is dependent on the Force for survival, who must consume Force energy just to stay alive.

Darth Sion:

The Devil, Upright (bondage, addiction, sexuality, materialism): He who is dependent on the Force and his own rage to hold his crumbling body together.

The Hanged Man, Upright (suspension, restriction, letting go, sacrifice): When the Exile is able to persuade him to let go.

Queen Talia:

Justice, Upright (justice, fairness, truth, cause and effect, law): The rightful ruler of Onderon, who Kreia (with a direct line to the future) says will rule her people “wisely and well”, and who delivers swift justice to the man who attempted to depose and kill her.

Administrator Terena Adare:

Temperance, Upright (balance, moderation, patience, purpose, meaning): A former agricultural administrator who now finds herself the de facto head of state of Dantooine, and is now struggling to keep Dantooine afloat. Despite all the misery caused by having a Jedi Enclave on the planet and the fact that Jedi are persona non grata on Dantooine, Adare is kind to those Jedi she interacts with, sheltering Vrook and giving aid to the Exile.

#Star Wars: KOTOR 2 #KOTOR #Head canon #Tarot cards #Meta

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aion-rsa · 4 years

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Cursed Season 2: What to Expect

https://ift.tt/32rw8Vi

This Cursed feature contains spoilers for both the Netflix series and the illustrated novel of the same name. Read our spoiler-free review of the series here.

Netflix’s Cursed puts a feminist spin on the legend of King Arthur by centering its origins around a woman – Nimue, the future Lady of the Lake. Its first season contained a little bit of everything, from romance and action to politics and magic, with a finale that featured several big character revelations and ended on a major cliffhanger. While Netflix has yet to announce a season 2 renewal for the show, it certainly feels as though Cursed has plenty of stories left to tell. After all, no one’s even referred to Nimue as the Lady of the Lake yet!

Save for a few – admittedly, very intriguing – tidbits, the bulk of Netflix’s Cursed is fairly faithful to the novel upon which it is based. Therefore, we don’t have much to go on by way of a roadmap for what the second season could look like. (That, naturally, may change in the weeks and months ahead, since it seems like a pretty safe bet that the book series will continue, regardless of whether there’s a second season of the show.) But there are a few hints to be mined from the ending of the book, and from the bones of Arthurian legend itself, that might provide us some clues.

Here are our best educated guesses for what we can expect to see in Cursed Season 2.

Nimue Survives

There’s not much fun in the idea of a second season without our leading lady, is there?

Cursed Season 2 will have to sort out precisely what’s happened to Nimue, last seen plummeting toward what may well be her death – or potential eternal supernatural imprisonment – after being shot full of arrows. This is a fantasy series, though, so no one should be really surprised when she inevitably survives. The show is very careful to never show us a body, after all, and leaves us with a final image of Nimue drifting through blood-tinged water. It’s really the how of it all that will be the question.

How Katherine Langford Shakes Up Arthurian Legend in Netflix’s Cursed

By Lacy Baugher

But we have a pretty good idea of what that will probably look like, too. The Cursed TV series ends a few moments before the novel upon which it is based does. The book not only confirms Nimue survives her fall but several other key factors as well, including what appears to be her assumption of the Lady of the Lake mantle. While in the water, Nimue can still sense the Sword of Power and vows to protect it until “a true king rises to claim it.” But instead of transforming into some sort of otherworldly being, an injured Nimue eventually washes up on the shores of the Minotaur Mountains, where she’s surrounded and taken off by a mob of the lepers that serve King Rugen. Whether he will help her or try to use her against Merlin is anyone’s guess at this point.

Merlin’s Magic Tips the Scales

Wild with grief after Nimue’s apparent death, Merlin regains the Sword of Power, reclaims his magic, and murders a bunch of Red Paladins. What’s next for the famous wizard? Probably not helping the Viking king that engineered his daughter’s murder.

Merlin originally allied with Cumber, promising him the sword in the hopes of both keeping Nimue alive and unseating King Uther. Cumber’s betrayal – joining forces with the Red Paladins and ambushing the escaping Fey – means Merlin’s now an enemy, and the only real question is whether he’ll use his newly returned magical abilities to just kill Cumber, or if he’ll decide that Uther should keep his crown as well. Whatever happens, Merlin seems set to claim his place as the real power behind the throne. And that could ultimately prove a boon to Arthur down the road.

We’ll Get to Know The Weeping Monk

The shocking revelation that the murderous Weeping Monk is Lancelot came in the first season’s final moments, leaving audiences little time to process this information. In the world of the original legends, Lancelot is kind of a big deal. He’s most widely remembered for his affair with Guinevere – which brings about the downfall of Camelot – but he’s also the greatest knight of the Round Table and a model of Christian chivalry. (The contradictions are what make it all so fun.)

One has to assume that any Cursed Season 2 would need to focus fairly heavily on turning this character – who spent most of his screen time brooding and executing complex fighting maneuvers – into an actual three-dimensional person. If the intention is that this Lancelot, who murdered a countless number of his Fey brothers and sisters, will one day become Arthur’s most trusted champion and a hero all can admire? Well. He’s certainly got a long way to go.

A Love Triangle – or Possibly Quartet? – on the Horizon

Things will probably get real messy on the relationship front pretty quickly in Season 2. While Arthur and Nimue’s love story feels like it’s barely gotten started, their connection is sweet, romantic, and seems to make them both better people. Arthur, at any rate, has certainly learned to be a leader by watching his girlfriend do it first. Yet, his last-minute meeting with a Viking woman known as the Red Spear means potentially more than a bit of trouble in paradise.

Because the Red Spear’s name is Guinevere. Yes, Cursed reimagines the most famous (and controversial) female character in Arthurian legend as a battle-hardened warrior who wants a crown for herself. Let me count the ways that I am here for this. Because although Guinevere is well known as a major player in this legend, her character is another that’s often not fleshed out terribly fully. Despite the fact that her decisions eventually bring down a kingdom, we’re given precious little idea why she makes them. So there’s something intensely appealing in an opportunity to see her get some real agency within her own story, as Nimue has.

Netflix’s Cursed Reinvents the Traditional Once and Future King

By Lacy Baugher

Because much like Nimue, Guinevere also has a destiny, and it involves a future as Arthur’s wife and Lancelot’s mistress. Given that she spent approximately five minutes fighting alongside the former and hasn’t met the latter yet, we’re clearly a ways away from that future. But speculating about how that might come to pass – and how Nimue will react upon meeting Arthur’s new lady friend – is definitely entertaining. Largely because it feels as though Cursed could go in any direction with this group, even as they’re all fighting toward the same ends.

Could We Meet the Actual Green Knight?

Putting a stake in the ground now – there’s no way that Gawain is actually dead. Sure, we did see a body this time – sort of –but in a world that’s brimming with magic? Anything’s possible.

One of the most intriguing fusions in Cursed is the decision to merge the character of Gawain, one of the most famous Knights of the Round Table, and the Green Knight, a man sent to test and challenge Gawain’s chivalry, who also happens to be literally green. (And can also withstand being beheaded.) But it seems quite likely that Gawain’s himself may become a true version of the Green Knight in Cursed, resurrected by the magic of the Fey greenery in Season 2.

There’s Probably More to the Leper King

Out of all the predictions in this list, this one feels the most outlandish. But throughout Cursed it’s difficult not to draw parallels between Ruben, king of the lepers, and the Fisher King of Holy Grail legend. In the Grail story, the Fisher King – sometimes referred to as the Maimed King or the Wounded King – is the last surviving member of the bloodline charged with guarding the famous chalice. He’s always grievously injured in some way, and usually unable to stand. Sometimes the lands of his kingdom are as blighted as his body. Various knights journey to his castle to try and heal him, but everyone fails, except for Percival (and in later versions, Galahad.)

Leper King Ruben isn’t nearly as incapacitated as the Fisher King of legend, but he is physically suffering, and he keeps a horde of ancient, magical, and/or singularly valuable items in his castle vault. Don’t be surprised if one of them turns out to be a particularly powerful cup.

The post Cursed Season 2: What to Expect appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/39lQrVr

#aion-rsa #Den of Geek

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cpdevos · 4 years

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6/13/19 Faith over Fear Pt. 5 (Fighting the good fight of faith)

Hi all!

Hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather and sunshine! We are going to enter into our summer phase of cpdevos where there will only be one devotional per week. Today we will look at the final part of the faith over fear series which ties everything together.

Before you start, pray with thanksgiving! Take some time to meditate on His word, and pray that He would teach you something from these passages.

2 Timothy 4:7 New King James Version (NKJV)

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

To end this short series, I'm going to re-emphasize something that I have been saying throughout the different faith over fear devos: fight the good fight of faith! I know that saying this is way easier than really living that out and life usually isn't that simple. In fact, I believe it's okay to take time to process suffering/losses, work through different trials/tribulations that are thrown at us in life, and even experience emotions(as Jesus showed too). But God hasn't called us to live in fear. He calls us to live by faith, in Him, through Jesus Christ. How can we navigate all the crazy and numerous fears that come our way?

Here are some steps I think would be great starting points in holding onto the faith that Paul says he has kept in verse 7, and how we can fight the good fight God has called us to endure.

Rejoice with thanksgiving always. I've gone through the different ways we can have faith over the fear of failure, rejection, the future, etc but no matter what the fear, no matter what the circumstance, no matter what the sin, or pain, or suffering, or even good days God gives us, He calls us to first off, ALWAYS be thankful. A theme verse for this would be 1 Thessalonians 5:16,18, where Paul so simply writes, "Rejoice always" and "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you". This isn't just a suggestion, it's a commandment. Before you begin to tackle what fears you are struggling with or the worries in your heart, go to God and thank Him for things you can thank Him for. It may even be the trial you're going through right now. Thank God that His plans are higher than yours and that His ways are not your ways (Isaiah 55:8). I love Romans 11:33 where it reminds us of how unsearchable God's ways are! Oh how rich is His wisdom and knowledge, no man can fathom or even begin to explore it. That's the God who is on our side. That's the loving God that sent His only Son to die for us and resurrected Him from the dead so that salvation could be possible. And if you really feel like there's nothing you can think of to thank Him for (which is hard to believe), ask Him to remind you of His goodness, and His faithfulness and His trustworthiness. Thank Him for His word, Jesus' birth, His suffering, His death, His resurrection, His forgiveness, His gospel, His Holy Spirit who's with us till the very end, His people, His vengeance, His glory, etc. The list goes on and on, and those are only a few things we can find from the Bible. How can we rejoice and thank God for what He's already done in our lives? What about the promise that He will work things out for us in the future? Thank Him for it too. This allows us to have the right mindset when we pray to Him and ask for help.

Don't stop praying. The passage I would direct you to for this second theme would be Philippians 4:6. In EVERYTHING, by prayer and supplication (with thanksgiving) let your requests be known to God. In the context of the verse, Paul tells believers to be worried about NOTHING! Whatever fear you're struggling with, present it to God. He commands us to not be worried. As believers, we aren't called to be strong and overcome those anxieties ourselves, but to cast them aside and bring them at His feet so that He can carry the burden for us (Matt. 11:28-30). Prayer in itself is such an important part of our faith and it is absolutely essential that we practice being disciplined in prayer. With humble hearts and joyful attitudes, we need to be thanking God in our prayers and constantly seeking His will so that our lives would be a reflection of our faith in Him. It is through prayer we can praise Him, glorify Him, exalt Him, and worship Him with an outpour of our thankfulness. Through prayer, we also have the astounding privilege of going to our Almighty God and presenting to Him our needs and supplications. We can repent to Him directly and ask that He continues to work in us even through our brokenness. Prayer is powerful and necessary in so many ways, and as God tells us in His word that it is something we have to be doing constantly. How can we overcome our fears with faith? We need to renew ourselves in the Lord (Romans 12:2) daily through prayer so that as we experience these worries, we are not conforming to how the world thinks, but rather we are seeking and experiencing the glorious things our Father in Heaven has in store for us.

The peace beyond all understanding. Moving one verse down from verse 6 of Philippians 4 is Philippians 4:7 which says, "and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus". Accompanying the prayers that Paul calls believers to pray is an overwhelming peace that comes from the God of peace alone (1 Thess. 5:23). In contrast to what the world tells us how peace should be, there is something supernatural about what Christ offers us instead (John 14:27). In Colossians 3:15, Paul writes of a peace from Christ which rules our hearts. Notice the word "rules". It doesn't share. It doesn't even dominate. It rules completely and holistically. That is the difference between worldly "peace" and the gracious peace given by Jesus Christ. It doesn't exist by circumstance and isn't given based on certain conditions. When we have a true understanding of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior, He promises that He would give us a peace that is unlike anything we can ever experience. It isn't void of trials or pain or tribulation, instead, it thrives in it. It rules our hearts because it gives us comfort and hope and faith in Christ Jesus who has won the ultimate war against sin and darkness. By His loving peace, we can endure these fears and struggles with longsuffering and patience, knowing the one who has gone before us and goes after us. Praise be to the Son of God who is exalted above all and crafted the heavens with His very own hands! This peace comes from the Lord, and it is not something we can just make up on our own. Be comforted by that, and pray for that peace that Jesus offers so that you may live out faith over fear.

Finishing the race. It is by God's grace we can run the race we're running. It is also by His power that we get to finish that race strong and faithfully. How do we do that? As I mentioned earlier, 2 Timothy 1:7 is an amazing reminder that God's Spirit works in and through us. He gives us a spirit, not of fear, but of power, love and of a sound mind. When confronting the fear that awaits us, we have to make a choice: let the fear control us and consume our thoughts or trust in the everlasting God who is our rock. I hope you desire the latter. Let's quickly examine the three things that are in the verse. First, God promises a spirit of power. When He says this I think that this spirit of power is less about a gift of strength to fight and overcome things, but rather one of courage and confidence in Jesus Christ. Being hopeful and complete by the salvation that Christ offers is truly a powerful thing! Second, He promises a spirit of love. In the context of the passage, I would say that this love is more geared towards compassion and understanding. Since Paul was writing to Timothy and encouraging him through the struggles in the early church, Timothy needed to be reminded that the author of love Himself would provide the necessary patience and compassion to shepherd the body of Christ. However, God is love (1 John 4:8) and those who follow Him and have experienced that grace, can love others because He first loved us. Love is patient, kind, gentle, and doesn't boast (1 Cor. 13:4-8). When we know what that love is and who ultimately defines love, we can begin to bear those same attributes. Lastly, He promises a spirit of sound mind. When we are faced with so many lies and deceptions of the world, God redirects us towards His truth. While the devil tries to steer us away with fear in our hearts, we need to hold onto what He has promised in His word and the commands He gives us through scripture. Those who meditate and live by the word are living in tune with what God wants and can face the Lord one day with confidence.

When fear haunts you, you have two options: submit to that fear or submit to the Lord. When we choose faith over fear, we let God shape and mold us into who He wants us to be and complete the work He has in us (Phil. 1:6). Remember our constant, everlasting God who stays faithful when we are faithless. I pray that through the fears you may be facing or worries that come your way, that you would look beyond those struggles and see the one who offers a way out, provides comfort and gives the confidence to overcome it. Jesus has won the victory! Don't surrender yourself to fear, give your life to God!

Have Faith over Fear y'all!

Pray to close,

Moses Koo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNwt7LQiYck

#momo #moses

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click2watch · 5 years

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Free Markets and the Future of Blockchain

J. Christopher Giancarlo is Chairman at U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the agency of the US government that regulates futures and options markets.

This will be the last time I speak to you from the CFTC.

Nevertheless, before I go, I wanted to share some thoughts, which I have been saving. My five years at the Commission have been an immense privilege. In the time that I have served, I have learned a lot about the issues facing America’s farmers, ranchers, producers, energy firms and other users of commodity futures who depend on the CFTC-regulated markets for their risk management needs.

It has also been my honor to work on so many issues close to the hearts and minds of the crypto community, not least of which are: virtual currencies, distributed ledger technology (DLT) and fintech broadly. I am appreciative for the time I had to serve as chairman and especially humbled by the moniker of “Crypto Dad” that I was given by this fantastic community of vibrant, bright, ambitious people.

I look back on my time at the Commission since first being sworn in back in 2014, and I marvel at the swift pace of change in issues facing the agency. When I first joined as a Commissioner, the CFTC was just coming off five intense years of feverishly writing Dodd-Frank rules to reform Wall Street in the wake of the biggest financial crisis in America in more than 70 years.

I could not have predicted at the time that virtual currencies, DLT and fintech would become such a major part of the conversation for our agency. I feel fortunate to have been at the helm during this time to be a voice in government to quiet some of the fears and calls to dismiss or squash this new technology.

I recently identified several factors that are challenging the work of regulators: the extraordinary pace of exponential technological change, the disintermediation of traditional actors and business models, and the need for technological literacy and big data capability.

I said that the CFTC’s response to rapidly changing markets and technological developments, including blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies, is built upon the following four cornerstones:

Adopting an “exponential growth mindset” that anticipates the rapid pace of technological innovation and the need for an appropriate regulatory response

Becoming a “quantitative regulator” able to conduct independent market data analysis across different data sources, including decentralized blockchains and networks, without being reliant on self-regulatory organizations and market intermediaries

Embracing “market-based solutions” to determine the value of technological innovations, as we witnessed with the launch of crypto-asset-based futures products

Establishing an internal fintech Stakeholder to address the opportunities and challenges that fintech presents and manage the ever-present tension between innovation and regulation.

Pace of change

With this audience, I never needed to make the argument that the 21st-century digital transformation is well underway – you already knew that, because you are the leaders of this change.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise to this audience that, just as our lives are being transformed, so the world’s trading markets are going through the same digital revolution from analog to digital, from human to algorithmic trading and from stand-alone centers to interconnected trading webs. Emerging digital technologies are impacting trading markets and the entire financial landscape with far-ranging implications for capital formation and risk transfer.

It has been a core belief during my tenure as Chairman that in order for the CFTC to remain an effective regulator, it must keep pace with these changes, or our regulations will become outdated and ineffective. I am pleased to say that over the last two years, the CFTC has been no bystander to the digitization of modern markets.

Many of you have already met with LabCFTC, the initiative we launched to put our agency at the forefront of the digital transformation so that we could be more accessible to market innovators, as well as more proactive in our understanding new technologies. Since it was launched two years ago, LabCFTC has had over 250 separate interactions with innovators big and small. It conducts “lab hours” in places where innovators work: from Silicon Valley, California to Silicon Hills, Texas and from the South Bank of London to Singapore Center.

LabCFTC is not a “sandbox.” It does not try to pick winners from losers. Instead, LabCFTC provides us both an internal and external technological focus. Internally, it means explaining technology innovation to agency staff and other regulators and advocating for technology adoption. Externally, that means reaching out and learning about technological change and market evolution, while providing a dedicated liaison to innovators.

I am proud to say that LabCFTC has become a category leader. Every U.S. federal financial regulator has either created or is creating a program similar to it.

In a few more weeks the world will mark the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo Da Vinci.

One of the powerful lasting figures of the Renaissance his cross-disciplinary genius gave us art, architecture and invention. Da Vinci was uniquely gifted and positioned in history to be present at a time when people’s thinking around life moved from something that had to be short and brutish toward something that could be enjoyable.

The Renaissance was a time of education and study when people attempted to improve the world through the power of ideas. I do not think I am being too bold when I say that we are in such a time again. A boldness to innovate is at the center of the technology revolutions of big data, DLT and AI.

The combination of these technologies and others still yet unimagined will standardize and distribute data to market participants and regulators while bringing tremendous efficiencies. These technologies will also bring amazing advances to other areas of our world as well, such as international trade, charitable endeavors, health care, social services and more.

Protecting Free Markets

I believe we are at a tipping point, where innovation will help us rise to meet our greatest challenges.

As we consider potential solutions to these great challenges, I think it’s important to view them through the prism of an enduring ideal, which is the value proposition of free market capitalism.

The proposition is that broad and sustained prosperity generally occurs wherever in the world there are open and competitive markets, free of political interference, combined with free enterprise, personal choice, voluntary exchange and legal protection of person and property. Free markets and innovation are natural partners in this respect.

Under free market capitalism, well-regulated and well-ordered trading activity is considered a forum of human self-expression and economic advancement. Freedom to act in the marketplace is a part of freedom itself. Billions of consumers, following their own self-interests and individual needs, make the decisions that direct the future, not have it directed for them.

For an emerging generation fascinated by crowdsourcing, free capital markets are the ultimate in crowd-sourced decision making. Free market capitalism is not a source of misery and oppression; free market capitalism is the antidote. It is unmatched in alleviating global poverty and unlocking human potential.

We must disabuse ourselves, our peers, and future generations of the notion that there is anything attractive or aspirational about political control of markets and human enterprise. Everywhere it has been tried, it has been a fraud and a failure. It crushes human liberty and society. It steals power from individuals and families and gives it to government and government elites. It enables abuse by a select few who exercise unbridled power over many.

For innovators, controlled economies are dream destroyers. Free markets should be the natural choice of today’s innovators, who today are striving to build bright and better futures.

I personally hope that we can renew faith in free markets for ourselves and our children. We must not be intimidated, but be confident. With the proper balance of sound policy, regulatory oversight, private sector innovation and a little bit of courage, new technologies and global trading methodologies will lead our markets to evolve in responsible ways, and continue to grow the economy and create a future of untethered aspiration, a future where creativity and economic expression is a social good in its own right, a source of human growth and advancement.

Washington DC image via Shutterstock

This news post is collected from CoinDesk