#when the chronicler gets prefix-happy

[gailyinthedark]

Geoffrey

what are you doing Geoffrey

[voliyu]

An Interview with Fu Hua's CV( Miss Mace )

Mace, a seiyuu of HI3 V4.6"Unequaled Unrivaled" , has a variety of different styles of voice, and is well known by the majority of captains as the seiyuu of the popular character Fu Hua in "Honkai Impact 3". 

"I like dubbing, food, sleeping and posting beautiful girls, and I also do some modeling work and live streaming."

Seiyuu: Fu Hua (HI3rd) Fischl , Albedo (GI)

Hello everyone, this is Moonlight Sauce.  Recently, the animated short film "Duchen"(Shattered Samsara) was launched, and Fu Hua will also celebrate hers birthday next week. We are honored to invite the class monitor’s voice actress to be our guest again. Let us applaud~Teacher Ma!

*Hello everyone, I am Mace or you can call me teacher Ma or Little Ma~*

Q: I heard that Teacher Ma is a veteran member of voice acting. Why did you think about becoming a voice actor?

Mace: It was probably when I was at school, the teacher praised me for reading the text well, hahaha, and then I have been a in small broadcasting at the school radio station hahahahahaha.  Later, at the age of thirteen or fourteen, I loved reading novels, and listened to radio dramas. Finally, I wanted to try online dubbing by myself~ I met some seniors and friends on the Internet. After graduating from high school, I was called to audition by Laiqi, whom I met by chance, just like this, slowly embarked on the road of voice actors~

Q: It's great to be able to fulfill your childhood dreams!

Q: Speaking of which, the captains of Honkai 3 would have known Teacher Ma through Fu Hua, so how did you get this role in the first place?

Mace: Each role is determined through auditions~ It may be that the voice is more suitable (maybe luck), in short, I am very grateful to the project team for choosing me TAT. I seemed to be still in my sophomore year. A very young newcomer, thank you Ah Fu for accompanying me to grow up over the years.

Q: Although Fu Hua version 2.0 was officially installed, the 1.1 version chronicles chapter Xuanyuan sword you has already appeared in the game, and she can be regarded as an official playable character. Has Teacher Ma any particularly impressive lines in the past four years?

Mace: "Major Himeko, let me guide the task this time" is the first Fu Hua's voice recorded during the audition. This is the first time I know her!

Q: As Fu Hua’s voice actress, does Teacher Ma have any views on the character?

Mace: When I first met Fu Hua, everyone and i had similar impressions of her, a little dull, serious and very reliable.  But afterwards, the feelings for Fu Hua became more and more complicated. In the honkai world, she was firm and strong. As long as she was there, we would feel at ease; but all her friends would always leave her, and the memories would be needed give up in order to stay awake.  She is an immortal who exists only for guardianship, she hardly reveals her own thoughts, and rarely has contact with others.  As one of her few friends, the captain naturally feels very distressed TAT

Q: You really speaks out for all the captains.

Q: Regarding the Herrscher of Sentience, everyone seems to treat her as an independent character different from Fu Hua. What does Teacher Ma think of her?

Mace: In the script, when we first saw the herrscher, it was the beginning of Chapter 20. At that time, she hadn't become the herrscher of Sentience yet. The impression of her should be strange: what she did is very different from that of Fu Hua, but she feels herself is Fu Hua.  Now I think she is a child, with a very cute side, she firmly believe that what she do is right, and she also hope that others will admit that she is a good person. I really like her self-confidence and easygoing~

Q: If you think about it carefully, there was a big difference between the tone of the Herrscher of Sentience and Fu Hua. Has Teacher Ma encountered any difficulties during the dubbing process?

Mace: The most recent challenge should be the combat voice of the HoS. In addition to the weapon box, she has a total of four weapons. Each weapon has basic attack combos and branch attacks. The basic attack combos of several weapons are probably separate.  Under 6-8, we will give 3 versions as alternatives or replacements for every breath.  It's very difficult, the combination of prefixes is too difficult to think about! We have used most of the ones that can be used. It is not surprising that it is not easy to think of something new.

Q: Teacher Ma is also a veteran captain. Do you have any stories you like or impress?

Mace: If it is only to Fu Hua, it would be the farewell of Fuxi and Nuwa. At that time, I really felt sorry for her TAT.

Mace: If it's other character relates to Fu Hua, it’s definitely the last lesson. When dubbing, there is a sense of immersive feeling: "Major Himeko, gratitude for your lessons. Perhaps fate will let our paths cross again in the future..."

Q: Mihoyo is really good at breaking our hearts.

Q: Teacher Ma often uses Fu hua characters when playing HI3, right? Which battle suit do you like best?

Mace: Shadow knight~ When I was very very playing the game so hard(and also very good at the same time), she made me feel as if I might not be so good!

( I'm invincible now )

Q: Fu Hua's long life can be divided into several stages. Which period does Teacher Ma like best?

Mace: In the previou era, she had made good friends, she had noodles.  She was happy and free during that time.  There was no honkai, no sacrifice, no mission, and it’s great to be able to joking with friends easily and be an ordinary girl.

Q: Regarding the recently launched animated short film "Duchen"(Shattered Samsara), many captains were emotional after watching it. Does Miss, Ma have similar feelings?

Mace: Kiana has grown up, I'm so happy to see Fu Hua's journeys along the way, Also I was happy and sad and plus with Rubia song, QAQ crying~~~~ I'm so fortunate to participate in such an excellent work.

Q: The last part is still the usual question: If there is a chance to cross Fu Hua's side, what era would Teacher Ma want to go to and what would you want to say to Fu Hua?

Mace: I would say, after the little book die?  But after thinking about it, it doesn't matter. I want to say something to her and stay with her for a while. I don’t know when I would leave her again. It’s too cruel... It’s also good to know her in Hyperion as a captain. I don’t know where our story will go, but I Will always love her.

Q: The story of Fu Hua and the Herrscher of Sentience has come to conclusions here, Teacher Ma, could you give some blessings words for them please~

Mace: I hope Ah Fu is healthy, happy, and spends more time taking care of herself; I hope my little herrscher can resist the honkai and be recognized by everyone, and mommy loves you!  No matter where you go, you have your place on my bridge!

Q: The interview is coming to an end. Is there anything Teacher Ma wants to say to everyone?

Mace: Thank you everyone for loving and supporting Ah Fu, and Little Ma~ I wish you Happy Chinese New Year every one!

(it's not 100% accurate but hope you enjoy~)

[oh-boy-me]

HONESTLY I am really endeared to leviathan being the more incomprehensible brother AND am very interested to know what makes him particularly difficult to translate (both in text and when he’s speaking)... you’ve mentioned he uses a particular dialect and a lot of slang and I am so intrigued to hear the details 👀

Oh I will take ANY excuse to gush about language; I’m more than happy to dissect some of the more frustrating lines I’ve translated from Levi.

There are lots of times where Levi uses slang, either general colloquialisms or gaming terms, but because it’d take too long to find them all I gathered the ones I specifically complained about in the posts.  I’ll sacrifice myself and re-translate them, breaking it down lol.  With luck I’ll be able to get across why it was so frustrating.

First, I’ll break down a simple comment, to give an idea of what straightforward Japanese looks like.

俺もやってみたいな (ore mo yatte mitai na)

(Simeon’s comment from Create Your Own Avatar?) 俺: I も: also やって: From やる (to do), more colloquial than する み: From みる, in this case “to try” たい: Want な: A little bit of emphasis So together, it’s “I want to try it too.”

Japanese takes some getting used to, because the word order is very different, it loves postpositions, and you have to figure out what parts to group to get the right meaning, but it’s nothing that you can’t handle with a little practice and base knowledge.

As for Levi, well... that’s below the cut for length purposes.

神企画キター！！ (kami-kikaku kitaa)

(From Idol Mammon) 神: Before a noun, 神 means “top notch.”  It’s a productive prefix, so you can add it to a lot of things to suggest that it’s good quality.  In the gaming world “godlike” is the general meaning. 企画: Planning, design キター: きた comes from くる (to come), and if it doesn’t make sense in the sentence literally, it probably means “here it is.” So together, it’s “Godlike planning!!”

By the way, in linguistics “productive” means that it’s still being used to make new words today.  For example, -s to make a plural is productive, but -en (like in oxen) is unproductive.

これぞ真のリア充！ (korezo shin no riajuu)

(From Chronicles of an Otaku) これぞ: This, but like.  More powerful.  It’s like “THIS,” emphasis on the this. 真の: Real, genuine リア充: Normie I think I translated it as “This is the true ultimate normie!”, where “ultimate” came from the strength of これぞ.

ぴょんブームだったんだよね (pyon buumu dattanda yo ne)

(From Mammon the Bunny) ぴょん: Boing, or jumping like a rabbit would ブーム: A boom, as in a fad だった: The past form of です (to be) ん: Kind of implies an explanation だよね: Either “isn’t it?” or “yep,” depending on the context. Since everything from だった on basically means “it was,” all we have left is “boing” and “fad.”  So… “That was a bouncy boom”

そのままやないかーいwww (sono mama yanai kaai)

(From Where Did the Rabbit Go?) そのまま: The way things are, without anything changing やない: This is the kansai-ben part.  The kansai dialect is (obviously) spoken in the kansai region, and is mainly characterized by the language of Osaka.  やない replaces じゃない to mean “isn’t.” かーい: Also common in kansai-ben, but it’s basically an elongated か, which is a softer, more masculine question mark.  やないかーい means “it is, isn’t it?” ＊Previously I said that it was specifically kansai-ben, but I don’t think it’s actually exclusive to that area. www: lolol It basically means “Nothing’s changed has it?” but with the obvious colloquialism I stylized it to be “Business as usual, huh?”

I don’t think Levi uses kansai-ben consistently, so I’m not entirely sure why he threw it in here.  Maybe he’s just borrowing it because it sounds cool to him.

レッツサバヘルゲー！ (rettsu sabaheru gee)

(From I’ll Protect You) This one is either pretty interesting, or kind of annoying. Survival game is サバイバルゲーム (sabaibaru geemu) or サバゲ (sabage).  ゲー and ゲーム are the same, so there’s no problem there.  But Levi says サバヘル (sabaheru), which has two options:

It’s a play on words, because ヘル means hell.  Which is cool

Levi doesn’t pronounce things ever.  Which would be really cool if Japanese wasn’t my third language and I wasn’t trying to understand it

I don’t remember if I talked about that in the post, but I was very tired when I made that post specifically, so.  If it’s the wordplay option, unfortunately I couldn’t think of any way to give the same idea in English at the time (maybe survivhell itself would work?).  The meaning is just “Let’s (play a) survival game!”

--

In terms of speaking, he’s mainly frustrating because the way words would be pronounced in textbook Japanese aren’t always how he pronounces them because... well, in the real world people don’t pronounce things the textbook way.

For example, if you listen to him say Leviathan (pronounced reviatan in Japanese) when entering battle, I kept hearing “rebiadang.”  Phonologically, here’s probably why:

bi (ビ) is the more natural way to pronounce vi (ヴィ) in Japanese.  Vi is pronounceable, but not natural.

da (ダ) instead of ta (タ) is a common case of voicing a voiceless consonant when it’s between two vowels.

In Japanese, /ng/ and /n/ are both ン, as in they don’t differentiate between those two sounds, and it went to the velar /ng/ because the next sound is /k/, also velar.  Although you could argue that he does say /n/.

Looking back, it probably should have been obvious that “rebiadang” was “Leviathan,” but when you’re stressing to figure out what it is, the answer isn’t as clear.

I’m not going to try to explain how he pronounced ざまみろ because he kind of just... doesn’t say that.  It sounded more like wario than mamiro to me.

If I had to explain what makes transcribing him hard, I’d say that he often cuts corners and sacrifices enunciation for speed.  Lucifer also has a few consonants that get blended, usually with /k/ and /g/.

Honestly though, after the frustration in the moment, it’s great that Levi doesn’t sound like he’s right out of the Genki II textbook.  It forces me to exercise my language muscles, and shows off how unique everyone can make their own manners of speaking!  Keep being you, Levi, and I’ll keep figuring out what you mean by that.

[turningpagebooks]

AUTHOR Q&A AND EXCERPT: L. Penelope, Author of “Song of Blood & Stone”

I was lucky enough to interview the lovely L. Penelope, author of the recently released Song of Blood & Stone.

Song of Blood & Stone is a thrilling, epic fantasy about an outcast drawn into a war between two powerful rulers. With the world building of Brandon Sanderson, the romance of Ilona Andrews, the epic quest of Lord of the Rings, and the doomed star-crossed love of Romeo & Juliet, the first instalment in the Earthsinger series was published on May 1st, 2018.

Orphaned and alone, Jasminda lives in a land where cold whispers of invasion and war linger on the wind. Jasminda herself is an outcast in her homeland of Elsira, where her gift of Earthsong is feared. When ruthless soldiers seek refuge in her isolated cabin, they bring with them a captive--an injured spy who threatens to steal her heart.

Jack's mission behind enemy lines to prove that the Mantle between Elsira and Lagamiri is about to fall nearly cost him his life, but he is saved by the healing Song of a mysterious young woman. Now he must do whatever it takes to save Elsira and it's people from the True Father and he needs Jasminda's Earthsong to do it. They escape their ruthless captors and together they embark on a perilous journey to save Elsira and to uncover the secrets of The Queen Who Sleeps.

Thrust into a hostile society, Jasminda and Jack must rely on one another even as secrets jeopardize their bond. As an ancient evil gains power, Jasminda races to unlock a mystery that promises salvation. The fates of two nations hang in the balance as Jasminda and Jack must choose between love and duty to fulfill their destinies and end the war.

------------------------------------------ INTERVIEW --------------------------------------

What inspired you to write this series? What came first: the characters or the world? What was your inspiration for the magic of Earthsong? Were you inspired by other books?

When I first wrote this book, up until the time I gave it to my first editor, I thought it was going to be a novella. It was always meant to be a fairytale-esque story of a girl’s journey from the margins of society straight to its upper echelons. The characters Jack and Jasminda were there before the world was ever clear in my mind. The first scene I wrote was the one where they meet in front of her cabin. I knew they were from different, warring countries and they came from very different sorts of lives, but that was all. Through the magic of revision (lots and lots of revision) I discovered the journey that the characters would go on and all the conflicts they would face.

I love fantasy and there were so many inspiring series that I soaked in prior to writing the book, from Graceling by Kristin Cashore to Seraphina by Rachel Hartman. But I think this book owes its biggest inspiration to the Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta. Her fantasy world felt well realized and complex, filled with incredibly detailed characters, groups, nations, and settings. But I also wanted to write a kinder, gentler fantasy novel that wouldn’t double as a doorstopper. And mix in a really strong romance like some of my favorites Nalini Singh or Kresley Cole.

What were your favorite scenes to write for Song Of Blood & Stone? What was the hardest scene to write? Is there a scene or moment that really sticks with you?

Though Usher, Jack’s valet, spends relatively little time on the page, I loved writing the scenes with him and Jack. When two characters have known each other for a long time, it can be really fun to play with how to show their relationship. Usher has known Jack his entire life and so the way they interact is unique. I also loved writing the visions that Jasminda gets from the stone. They were in a different voice, from a totally different perspective and the peeked in on a vibrant, fully formed world that’s different to the one of the main story. Hardest to write were the ones where Jasminda is confronted with the racism and bias of Elsirans. The scene that sticks with me is when Jack and Jasminda are in the army base and he sleeps on the ground beside her, holding her hand. I find it really sweet and romantic.

What advice would you give aspiring authors, especially authors or colour, striving to have their stories and truths shared?

I would tell aspiring authors to really investigate your goals and be frank with yourself about why you want to do this. It’s a difficult path emotionally, creatively, and professionally and what will get you through the low points is being very clear about your “why”. It can also be incredibly rewarding, but knowing what you’re getting yourself into is key.

Writing and publishing are two different disciplines. Your “why” will inform whether you pursue traditional publishing or seek to self-publish. It will keep you going through rejections, delays, bad reviews, disappointment, and the imposter syndrome that we all go through.

The other very important thing is to have a community to fall back on. Whether that’s a chapter of a professional organization like RWA, SFWA, SCWBI, and others, or a Facebook group, critique group, or writer’s circle, having others to commiserate and celebrate with you makes the journey much easier.

You've said before you're a firm believer in fast drafting and then fleshing out the story later. What other writing tips to do have?

I’m a plotter who also discovery writes between plot points, so flexibility is key. I tend to use different plotting systems on different projects. Sometimes the Hero’s Journey will work perfectly, for other books, the “Save the Cat” method is better. It’s important to not be rigid with your idea of what kind of writer you are and understand that each book will require something different from you. Once you accept that, you can roll with the punches better instead of getting bogged down trying to make everything fit into the same method each time. It’s kind of scary, but kind of freeing to know that when you sit down to write, the rules may not be the same as the last time you did it.

And if you’re still working on getting through your first book, flexibility is still important. Consider all feedback seriously before discarding it. You need critique partners, but you don’t need to listen to them all the time. However, don’t discount them out of hand without serious consideration first.

Which character in Song Of Blood & Stone do you most relate to? How do you select names of your characters?

I think Jasminda represents various aspects of myself both as I am and as I’d like to be. She’s definitely bolder than I am, but her struggle to feel a part of things is one that I understand.

As for naming my characters, for each nation, I asked questions about how the names should generally work. Things like: which prefixes and suffixes are common? Which letters and sounds are prevalent? Which letters or sounds either don’t exist or are more rare? So the Elsirans have a lot of double vowels in their names. Qs, Vs, and Zs are prominent, but there are no hard Cs.

Lagrimari names generally don’t use Js. I set up which suffixes were for men and women and the types of sounds the names would have. There are only 9 last names in Lagrimar, corresponding with the Houses. Jasminda as a name is an exception. Her parents didn’t follow the naming conventions of either country for her or her brothers. Because their interracial relationship was unique, they wanted their children’s names to be distinctive as well.

A lot of books feature devastating endings, but your story gives readers a happy ending and shows the power of love. Why do you find this so important to portray in your book?

I started reading romance pretty voraciously as an adult, and one thing I love about the genre is the happy endings. Good stories make you feel something. I don’t want people feeling terrible at the end of my books. Life can be depressing enough, so when I read, I want to finish a little more “up” than where I started. That’s what I put in my writing. There might be a difficult journey, but at the end of the day, leaving people feeling good is important to me.

What do you most hope that readers will take away from Song Of Blood & Stone?

I really just hope readers enjoy the story and the characters. Jasminda is a heroine that I had been longing to see, so I hope people get as much joy and heartache from her story as I did when I wrote it.

Can you tell us more about the next books in the series? What are you working on now?

Book 2, Whispers Of Shadow & Flame, follows a parallel timeline to Song. It’s about Darvyn, a character we hear about in Song who was the Earthsinger responsible for disguising Jack. The disguise’s failure gets Jack captured and he wonders what happened to Darvyn. So in Whispers, we find out. But it also pushes the story forward, showing what’s going on in Lagrimar in the days before the [climax of Song], and setting up the next challenge that Jack, Jasminda, and Darvyn will face.

Book 3, Cry OF METAL & BONE picks up the story of how Elsira and Lagrimar deal with the [final events of Song] and the new threat facing the nations.

I’m also working on a brand-new series with dragons.

What are your favorite books you would recommend to readers?

Among my favorites of all time are Wild Seed by Octavia Butler, The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay, Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta, Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover, Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor and Sheltered by Charlotte Stein. I could go on and on, but I’ll leave it there.

Thanks to L.Penelope for this fun Q&A! Song of Blood & Stone is out on May 1st!

---------------------------------- ABOUT THE AUTHOR ------------------------------

Leslye Penelope has been writing since she could hold a pen and loves getting lost in the worlds in her head. She is an award-winning author of new adult, fantasy, and paranormal romance. She lives in Maryland with her husband and their furry dependents: an eighty-pound lap dog and an aspiring feral cat.

---------------------------------------------- EXCERPT ------------------------------------------

Jack had found himself in a great many hopeless situations in his life, but this one was the grand champion—a twenty­two­year rec­ ord for dire occurrences. He only hoped this wouldn’t be the last occurrence and sent up yet another prayer that he might live to see his twenty­third year.

The temperature had dropped precipitously. His spine was as­ saulted by the rocky ground on which he lay, but really that was the least of his discomforts.

His vision had begun to swim about an hour ago, and so at first he thought the girl looming above him was a mirage. She peered down at his hiding spot behind a cluster of coarse shrubbery, her head cocked at an angle. Jack went to stand, years of breeding kick­ ing in, his muscle memory offended at the idea of not standing in the presence of a lady, but apparently his muscles had forgotten the bullet currently lodged within them. And the girl was Lagrimari— not strictly a lady, but a woman nonetheless—and a beautiful one, he noticed as he squinted into the dying light. Wild, midnight curls floated carelessly around her head, and piercing dark eyes regarded him. Her dress was drab and tattered, but her smooth skin was a confectioner’s delight. His stomach growled. When was the last time he’d eaten?

Her presence meant he was still on the Lagrimari side of the mountain range bordering the two lands and had yet to cross the other, more powerful barrier keeping him from his home of Elsira: the Mantle.

The girl frowned down at him, taking in his bedraggled appear­ ance. From his position lying on the ground, he tried his best to smooth his ripped uniform, the green fatigues of the Lagrimari army. Her confusion was apparent. Jack was obviously Elsiran; aside from his skin tone, the ginger hair and golden honey­colored eyes were a dead giveaway. And yet he wore the uniform of his enemy.

“Please don’t be scared,” he said in Lagrimari. Her brows rose toward her hairline as she scanned his supine and bloodied body. Well, that was rather a ridiculous thing to say. “I only meant that I mean you no harm. I . . .” He struggled with how to explain him­ self.

There were two possibilities. She could be a nationalist who would turn him in to the squad of soldiers currently combing the mountain for him, perhaps to gain favor with the government, or she could be like so many Lagrimari citizens, beaten down by the war with no real loyalty to their dictator or his thugs. If she was the former, he was already dead, so he took a chance with the truth.

“You see, I was undercover, spying from within the Lagrimari army. But now there are men looking for me, they’re not far, but . . .” He paused to take a breath; the efort of speaking was draining. He suspected he had several cracked or broken ribs in addition to the gunshot wound. His vision swirled again, and the girl turned into two. Two beautiful girls. If these were his last moments before traveling to the World After, then at least he had something pleas­ ant to look at.

He blinked rapidly and took another strained breath. His mis­ sion was not complete; he could not die yet. “Can you help me? Please. I’ve got to get back to Elsira.”

She stole an anxious glance skyward before kneeling next to him. Her cool hand moved to his forehead. The simple touch was soothing, and a wave of tension rolled of him.

“You must be delirious.” Her voice was rich, deeper than he’d expected. It eased the harsh consonants of the Lagrimari language, for the first time making it sound like something he could imagine being pleasant to listen to. She worked at the remaining buttons of his shirt, pulling the fabric apart to reveal his ruined chest. Her expression was appraising as she viewed the damage, then sat back on her haunches, pensive.

“It probably looks worse than it is,” he said. “I doubt that.”

Jack’s chuckle sounded deranged to his own ears, so it was no surprise that the girl looked at him askance. He winced—laughing was a bad idea at this point—and struggled for breath again. “The soldiers . . . they’re after me. I have to get back through the Mantle.”

“Shh,” she said, peering closely at him. “Hush all that foolish­ ness; you’re not in your right mind. Though I’ll admit, you speak Lagrimari surprisingly well. I’m not sure what happened to you, but you should save your strength.”

She closed her eyes, and suddenly his whole body grew warmer, lighter. The odd sensation of Earthsong pulsated through him. He had only experienced it once before, and it hadn’t been quite like this. The touch of her magic stroked him intimately, like a brush of fingers across his skin. The soft vibration cascaded over his entire body, leaving him feeling weightless.

He gasped, pulling in a breath, and it was very nearly an easy thing to accomplish. Tears pricked his eyes. “Sovereign bless you.”

Her expression was grave as she dug around in her bag. “It’s just a patch. You must have ticked someone of real good. It’d take quite a while to fix you up properly, and the storm’s coming. You need to find shelter.”

She retrieved a jar filled with a sweet­smelling substance and began spreading it over his wounds. The Earthsong had turned down the volume of his pain, and the cream soothed him even more.

“What is that?”

“Just a balm. Helps with burns, cuts.” Her hand paused for a moment. “Never gunshot wounds, but it’s worth a try.”

He laid his head back on the ground, closing his eyes to savor the ability to breathe deeply again. “A quick rest and I’ll be back on my way. Need to keep moving, though. Need to get back.”

“Back through the Mantle?” Her tone vibrated with skepticism. “And away from the Lagrimari soldiers chasing you?”

“Yes.” Her palm met his forehead again. She thought he was delusional. He wished he was. Wished the last few weeks had been nothing but the imaginings of an impaired mind.

[dfroza]

will you take the message to heart?

not just as words, but as the very presence of the Spirit of our Creator who inspires your own?

(inside, Anew)

Today’s reading of the Scriptures is the start of another Letter

[First Thessalonians]

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church gathering in Thessalonica, those living in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus the Anointed.

May grace and peace be yours [from God our Father and the Lord Jesus the Anointed].

We always thank God for all of you in our prayers. Your actions on behalf of the true faith, your tireless toil of love, and your unfailing, unwavering, unending hope in our Lord Jesus the Anointed before God our Father have put you consistently at the forefront of our thoughts. O brothers and sisters loved by God, we know He has chosen you. And here is why: what you experienced in the good news we brought you was more than words channeling down your ears; it came to you as a life-empowering, Spirit-infused message that offers complete hope and assurance! We lived transparently before you so that you would know what sort of people we truly are. We did it for your sake, and you have modeled your lives after ours just as we are modeling ours after the Lord. You took to heart the word we taught with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, even in the face of trouble. As a result, you have turned into a model of faith yourselves for all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. In fact, not only has the message of our Lord thundered from your gathering into Macedonia and Achaia, but everywhere we go, your faith in God is talked about so we don’t even have to say a thing! You see, they go on and on telling us the story of how you welcomed us when we were introduced to you; how you turned toward God and realigned your life to serve the one true living God—leaving your idols to crumble in the dust—and how you now await the return from heaven of His Son, whom He raised from the dead—namely, Jesus—our rescuer from the wrath to come.

The Letter of 1st Thessalonians, Chapter 1 (The Voice)

Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is the 10th chapter of 2nd Kings that continues with Jehu’s reign:

Ahab had seventy sons still living in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters addressed to the officers of Jezreel, the city elders, and those in charge of Ahab’s sons, and posted them to Samaria. The letters read:

This letter is fair warning. You’re in charge of your master’s children, chariots, horses, fortifications, and weapons. Pick the best and most capable of your master’s sons and put him on the throne. Prepare to fight for your master’s position.

They were absolutely terrified at the letter. They said, “Two kings have already been wiped out by him; what hope do we have?”

So they sent the warden of the palace, the mayor of the city, the elders, and the guardians to Jehu with this message: “We are your servants. Whatever you say, we’ll do. We’re not making anyone king here. You’re in charge—do what you think best.”

Then Jehu wrote a second letter:

If you are on my side and are willing to follow my orders, here’s what you do: Decapitate the sons of your master and bring the heads to me by this time tomorrow in Jezreel.

The king’s sons numbered seventy. The leaders of the city had taken responsibility for them. When they got the letter, they took the king’s sons and killed all seventy. Then they put the heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel.

A messenger reported to Jehu: “They’ve delivered the heads of the king’s sons.”

He said, “Stack them in two piles at the city gate until morning.”

In the morning Jehu came out, stood before the people, and addressed them formally: “Do you realize that this very day you are participants in God’s righteous workings? True, I am the one who conspired against my master and assassinated him. But who, do you suppose, is responsible for this pile of skulls? Know this for certain: Not a single syllable that God spoke in judgment on the family of Ahab is canceled; you’re seeing it with your own eyes—God doing what, through Elijah, he said he’d do.”

Then Jehu proceeded to kill everyone who had anything to do with Ahab’s family in Jezreel—leaders, friends, priests. He wiped out the entire lot.

That done, he brushed himself off and set out for Samaria. Along the way, at Beth Eked (Binding House) of the Shepherds, he met up with some relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah.

Jehu said, “Who are you?”

They said, “We’re relatives of Ahaziah and we’ve come down to a reunion of the royal family.”

“Grab them!” ordered Jehu. They were taken and then massacred at the well of Beth Eked. Forty-two of them—no survivors.

He went on from there and came upon Jehonadab the Recabite who was on his way to meet him. Greeting him, he said, “Are we together and of one mind in this?”

Jehonadab said, “We are—count on me.”

“Then give me your hand,” said Jehu.

They shook hands on it and Jehonadab stepped up into the chariot with Jehu.

“Come along with me,” said Jehu, “and witness my zeal for God.”Together they proceeded in the chariot.

When they arrived in Samaria, Jehu massacred everyone left in Samaria who was in any way connected with Ahab—a mass execution, just as God had told Elijah.

Next, Jehu got all the people together and addressed them:

Ahab served Baal small-time;

Jehu will serve him big-time.

“Get all the prophets of Baal here—everyone who served him, all his priests. Get everyone here; don’t leave anyone out. I have a great sacrifice to offer Baal. If you don’t show up, you won’t live to tell about it.” (Jehu was lying, of course. He planned to destroy all the worshipers of Baal.)

Jehu ordered, “Make preparation for a holy convocation for Baal.” They did and posted the date.

Jehu then summoned everyone in Israel. They came in droves—every worshiper of Baal in the country. Nobody stayed home. They came and packed the temple of Baal to capacity.

Jehu directed the keeper of the wardrobe, “Get robes for all the servants of Baal.” He brought out their robes.

Jehu and Jehonadab the Recabite now entered the temple of Baal and said, “Double-check and make sure that there are no worshipers of God in here; only Baal-worshipers are allowed.” Then they launched the worship, making the sacrifices and burnt offerings.

Meanwhile, Jehu had stationed eighty men outside with orders: “Don’t let a single person escape; if you do, it’s your life for his life.”

When Jehu had finished with the sacrificial solemnities, he signaled to the officers and guards, “Enter and kill! No survivors!”

And the bloody slaughter began. The officers and guards threw the corpses outside and cleared the way to enter the inner shrine of Baal. They hauled out the sacred phallic stone from the temple of Baal and pulverized it. They smashed the Baal altars and tore down the Baal temple. It’s been a public toilet ever since.

And that’s the story of Jehu’s wasting of Baal in Israel.

But for all that, Jehu didn’t turn back from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, the sins that had dragged Israel into a life of sin—the golden calves in Bethel and Dan stayed.

God commended Jehu: “You did well to do what I saw was best. You did what I ordered against the family of Ahab. As reward, your sons will occupy the throne of Israel for four generations.”

Even then, though, Jehu wasn’t careful to walk in God’s ways and honor the God of Israel from an undivided heart. He didn’t turn back from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who led Israel into a life of sin.

It was about this time that God began to shrink Israel. Hazael hacked away at the borders of Israel from the Jordan to the east—all the territory of Gilead, Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh from Aroer near the Brook Arnon. In effect, all Gilead and Bashan.

The rest of the life and times of Jehu, his accomplishments and fame, are written in The Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. Jehu died and was buried in the family plot in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz was the next king. Jehu ruled Israel from Samaria for twenty-eight years.

The Book of 2nd Kings, Chapter 10 (The Message)

my personal reading of the Scriptures for Tuesday, december 15 of 2020 with a paired chapter from each Testament of the Bible, along with Today’s Psalms and Proverbs

A set of posts by John Parsons about the nature of truth and Light:

Happy Chanukah, friends! In the Gospel of John it is recorded that Yeshua said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (i.e., ᾽Εγώ εἰμι ἡ ὁδὸς καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια καὶ ἡ ζωή; John 14:6). The Greek word translated “truth” in this verse is aletheia (ἀλήθεια), a compound word formed from an alpha prefix (α-) meaning “not,” and lethei (λήθη), meaning “forgetfulness.” (In Greek mythology, the “waters of Lethe” induced a state of oblivion or forgetfulness.) Truth is therefore a kind of “remembering” something forgotten, or a recollecting of what is essentially real. Etymologically, the word aletheia suggests that truth is also “unforgettable” (i.e., not lethei), that is, it has its own inherent and irresistible “witness” to reality. In that sense light is a metaphor for truth: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). People may lie to themselves, but ultimately truth has the final word.

Greek scholars note that the word lethei is derived from the verb lanthano (λανθάνω), which means “to be hidden,” so the general idea is that a-letheia (i.e., truth) is non-concealment, non-hiddenness, or (put positively) revelation or disclosure. Thus the word of Yeshua - His message, logos (λόγος), revelation, and presence - is both “unforgettable” and irrepressible. Yeshua is the Unforgettable One that has been manifest as the Word of God (דְּבַר הָאֱלהִים). He is the Light of the world (אוֹר הָעוֹלָם) and the one who gives us the “light of life” (John 8:12). Though God’s message can be suppressed by evil and darkened thinking, the truth is regarded as self-evident and full of intuitive validation (see Rom. 1:18-21).

The Hebrew word for truth (i.e., emet: אֱמֶת) comes from a verb (aman) that means to “support” or “make firm.” There are a number of derived nouns that connote the sense of reliability or assurance (e.g., pillars of support). The noun emunah (i.e, אֱמוּנָה, “faithfulness” or “trustworthiness”) comes from this root, as does the word for the “faithful ones” (אֱמוּנִים) who are “established” in God’s way (Psalm 12:1). A play on words regarding truth occurs in the prophet Isaiah: אִם לא תַאֲמִינוּ כִּי לא תֵאָמֵנוּ / im lo ta’aminu, ki lo tei’amenu: “If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all” (Isa. 7:9; see Faith Establishes the Sign). Without trust in the LORD, there is no stability... Truth is something trustworthy, reliable, firm, or sure. In colloquial English, for example, this idea is conveyed when we say, “He’s a true friend...”, indicating that the loyalty and love of the person is certain. The familiar word “amen” likewise comes from this root. Speaking the truth (dibbur emet) is considered foundational to moral life: “Speak the truth (דַּבְּרוּ אֱמֶת) to one another; render true and perfect justice in your gates” (Zech. 8:16). Yeshua repeatedly said, “Amen, Amen I say to you....” throughout his teaching ministry to stress the reliability and certainty of God’s truth (Matt. 5:18, 26, etc.). Indeed, Yeshua is called “the Amen, the faithful and true witness” (Rev. 3:14).

The relationship between the Hebrew and the Greek ideas seems to be that the revelation of God - the aletheia - is reliable and strong. The source for all truth in the universe is found in the Person and character of the God of Israel, blessed be He... The self-disclosure of the LORD is both unforgettable - both in the factual and moral sense - as well as entirely trustworthy. Aletheia implies that truth is something that should never be forgotten, and therefore we are regularly admonished not to “forget” the LORD (Deut. 8:11, Psalm 103:2), to “remember” his covenants, to “keep” his ways, to “guard” His precepts, and so on.

The Scriptures attest that Yeshua is the true Light (אוֹר אֱמֶת) that comes from eternity to give light and revelation for all mankind:

הָאוֹר הָאֲמִתִּי

הַמֵּאִיר לְכָל אָדָם

בָּא אֶל הָעוֹלָם

.

“The true light,

the One who shines to all mankind,

has come into the world." (John 1:9; see audio link below)

.

During this Chanukah Season -- and always -- may the LORD God of Israel help us walk in the unforgettable and irrepressible radiance of His glory. May God help us shine with good works that glorify God’s Name (Matt. 5:16). "For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’ (יְהִי אוֹר וַיְהִי־אוֹר), has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Yeshua the Messiah” (2 Cor. 4:6). Amen. [Hebrew for Christians]

https://hebrew4christians.com/

12.14.20 • Facebook

Has "the Glory of God in the face of Yeshua the Messiah" been revealed to you? Have you seen the great light? In your "land of deep darkness" has his light shined? If so, what does it mean to you to "walk in the light"? How is Yeshua the "light of the world" for you? [Hebrew for Christians]

12.14.20 • Facebook

The essence of Chanukah is simply to receive the light, to bear witness of the radiance of God's victory. We celebrate the work of God, his salvation (יְשׁוּעָה), and the triumph of his love. Therefore its message is "wake up, open your eyes, and believe" the good news: darkness and despair will not prevail; your mourning will find comfort, your grief its solace. Your heart's deepest longing shines brightly, even now, if you will but believe... With God’s help, we will overcome the darkness of fear... [Hebrew for Christians]

12.14.20 • Facebook

The ultimate fulfillment of Chanuakah is drawing near. The LORD promises to shine His glorious light upon the Jewish people and to reveal His glory, despite the hour of darkness and tribulation that will come upon the earth, as it is written:

"Arise and shine (קוּמִי אוֹרִי) for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD (כְּבוֹד יהוה) has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will shine upon you (וְעָלַיִךְ יִזְרַח יהוה), and his glory will be seen upon you (וּכְבוֹדוֹ עָלַיִךְ יֵרָאֶה). And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip" (Isa. 60:1-4).

Sometime during the “plague of darkness” that represents the time of the Great Tribulation (i.e., the Day of the LORD and the judgment of the world, or Yom Adonai ha’gadol), Israel will finally turn to the LORD and receive Yeshua as their long-lost Messiah (Zech. 12:10). The veil will finally be taken away, and all Israel will be saved. The Light of Salvation (i.e., ohr ha’yeshuah: אור הישועה) will be revealed and the glory of the LORD (כְּבוֹד יהוה) will radiantly shine (זָרָח) upon the Jewish people. The land of Israel will be like Goshen during the times of the plagues of Egypt as the world powers are all judged and destroyed. Then the survivors of the nations will understand that the LORD is indeed with Israel and will turn to Him in surrender as well. "And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken" (Isa. 40:5). Yeshua will return to Zion to establish the Kingdom of God upon the earth (Zech. 2:10-13). - jjp

12.14.20 • Facebook

Our Torah portion for Chanukah week is called ”Miketz” (מקץ), a word that means "at the end," and therefore it points to the prophetic future (i.e., the "end of days" or acharit ha-yamim). Just as Joseph was a "dreamer" who was betrayed by his brothers but was promoted to a place of glory by the hidden hand of God, so Yeshua was betrayed by his people yet was exalted over all the nations (מֶלֶךְ הַגּוֹיִם). And just as Joseph later disguised himself as a "stranger" and an "Egyptian" to his brothers but was finally revealed to be their savior, so will the Jewish people eventually come to see that Yeshua is the true Savior of Israel. Then will come true the hope of Rav Sha’ul (the Apostle Paul) who wrote, "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, ‘There shall come out of Zion the Redeemer (גּוֹאֵל) who shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob’" (Rom. 11:26). [Hebrew for Christians]

12.14.20 • Facebook

Today’s message from the Institute for Creation Research

December 15, 2020

The Urgency of Salvation

“For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Perhaps the most deadly sin of the unbeliever is that of procrastination. Satisfied with his current life, he neglects his spiritual need. Even if he understands the gospel and realizes his need of salvation, he still puts off a decision.

But it is always dangerous to count too strongly on tomorrow. “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). The sin of procrastination may easily become the sin of negligence, then of indifference, and finally the unforgivable sin of irrevocable rejection and unbelief. “My spirit shall not always strive with man” (Genesis 6:3). This warning was true in the antediluvian world and it is certainly as true today, when we have far more knowledge and evidence of God’s truth and His will than people did in the days of Noah.

“To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart” (Psalm 95:7-8). This warning of the psalmist was considered so important that the writer of Hebrews quoted it three times (Hebrews 3:7-8, 15; 4:7). Such an emphasis suggests there is indeed great danger in resisting God’s call to salvation. There may be another opportunity, but it is presumptuous and dangerous to impose too long on God’s patient mercy.

Today is the day of salvation. The accepted time is now! “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?...It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:29, 31). HMM

[ihtspirit]

Why students shouldn’t be forced to spend so much time sitting at desks in class

Why students shouldn’t be forced to spend so much time sitting at desks in class Originally published Feb. 7, 2019 in the Washington Post. By Valerie Strauss We all know it’s not a good idea for anybody to be sedentary for too long, for health reasons that are too long to chronicle here. Yet in many classrooms, kids are still forced to sit at desks for long stretches of time. This post looks at why and how that is hurting young people. https://ihtusa.com https://ihtusa.com/why-students-shouldnt-be-forced-to-spend-so-much-time-sitting-at-desks-in-class/ Originally published Feb. 7, 2019 in the Washington Post. By Valerie Strauss We all know it’s not a good idea for anybody to be sedentary for too long, for health reasons that are too long to chronicle here. Yet in many classrooms, kids are still forced to sit at desks for long stretches of time. This post looks at why and how that is hurting young people. It was written by Brad Johnson and speaks about education, fitness education, school administration and leadership. He is co-author of “Learning on Your Feet: Incorporating Physical Activity Into the K-8 Classroom.” This post first appeared in the publication Principal, which is published by the National Association of Elementary School Principals. I was given permission to republish it. You can find out more at Johnson’s website, doctorbradjohnson.com. By Brad Johnson [caption id="attachment_17205" align="alignright" width="525"] Students in New Delhi attend a happiness class July 13 as part of a program by the Delhi government to emphasize mental health and well-being. (Mansi Midha for The Washington Post)[/caption] With the decrease in physical education and recess time over the past 30 years, several disturbing trends have emerged. First, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1 in 3 children in the U.S. is overweight — double the figures from the 1980s. From 2000 to 2009, incidences of adult-onset (Type 2) diabetes in children and teens increased 30 percent. Second, diagnoses of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder have also skyrocketed in recent years. In the 1990s, the use of psycho-stimulants such as Ritalin shot up 700 percent, and the United States now consumes nearly 90 percent of the world’s supply of such drugs. There are 5.7 million children age 6-17 who have been diagnosed with ADHD. If these stats were related to an infectious disease, we would declare it a full-blown epidemic. Instead, we call it education as usual. Is it any wonder that children are bored, off-task, disruptive or otherwise disengaged when all they do is sit at desks and listen to lectures or work on assignments with little physical activity involved? From kindergarten through high school, students spend most of their academic lives at a desk. A classroom in which students quietly work at their desks might appear to be ideal, but the amount of time we subject children to a seated position is almost inhumane.

The brain-body connection

Beyond the obvious health-related issues, research suggests that sedentary education might be the reason that students’ creativity and intelligence are hindered through¬out their formative years. Until the age of 4, children are continually playing and learning in a state of constant motion. But when they enter school, the focus shifts to uniformity, control, following rules and sitting at a desk. We are shortchanging our students when it comes to overall education and student achievement. So, what is it about movement and learning that is so important, anyway? First, physical activity improves brain elasticity, which allows children to learn more easily. Second, there is evidence that contact with the natural environment has a calming effect on children. And third, exercise releases endorphins (neurotransmitters that produce a feeling of well-being) that make children feel more relaxed. Finally, the part of the brain that processes movement also processes learning. So when students are sitting still, the learning process is actually hindered rather than enhanced. Several studies offer evidence that years of fine motor exercise allow brain reorganization and nerve growth. Physical movement such as standing, stretching, walking or marching can help the brain focus. If students feel drowsy, for instance, they should be allowed to stand at the back of the room for up to two minutes and stretch on their own. When I taught middle-level science classes, I would always have the students moving. I would let the students stand by their desks, sit on the floor or lie on the floor, even when taking notes. If a student had excess energy, I would let them do push-ups in the back of the class. This became the norm for the classroom quickly, so there were few behavior issues. Changes in body position help develop the vestibular system (inner ear and balance), alter blood chemistry, and develop core muscles. And physical activity — especially core strength and balance exercises — helps develop the executive function part of the brain where new learning is processed. Executive function includes cognition, organization, focus, emotional regulation, and the ability to multitask, all of which help students succeed academically. Sadly, only 1 in 12 students has the core strength and balance of students from the 1980s.

Tech’s effect

Over the past 20 or 30 years, Americans have become infatuated with technology to the point that we think every child must have a device and that gadgets will be the great equalizer in education. But those declines in scores might point to technology as being more culprit than cure. When we examine the countries that lead the world according to international PISA scores, we see a stark contrast. In Finland, students are given 15 minutes of recess not just once or twice a day, but every hour. Finnish officials told Politico that they didn’t need laptops and iPads to get to the top of international education rankings. When morning classes begin, smartphones disappear. The students — some of the highest-achieving in the world — cut graph paper and solve equations using clunky plastic calculators. Teachers prefer hands-on learning methods, using chalkboards rather than smartboards. Similarly, South Korea wanted to immerse its schools in technology a few years ago, but realized that too much tech might not be good for students. Schools limit the amount of class time spent on computers, and they haven’t seen a drop in test scores.

Classroom management

When surveyed, teachers typically say that classroom management is the toughest part of teaching. We have all been trained in different methods to manage behavior. Many say that relationships, expectations and consistency are key to behavior management. But behavior has less to do with teachers’ actions than it does with the students themselves. If a student is constantly rocking, swaying, or tapping a pencil or foot, it doesn’t mean they don’t care about rules and expectations; it means they are children who have lots of energy. As I mentioned above, the executive function area of the brain is responsible for regulating emotions, organizational skills, focus, and for multitasking — traits that influence a student’s ability to behave in class. Imagine a principal walking by a classroom at the end of the day and seeing students slouched over in their desks, tapping a pencil or a water bottle. His or her first thought might be that the teacher is not engaging or that the lesson is boring. The reality is that neither may be true; instead, students might lack the core strength to sit up and focus on the lesson.

The research says

Over the past three decades, we have seen tremendous increases in ADHD diagnoses and the numbers of overweight and obese students. This is a recipe for disaster. A physically active classroom could turn these trends around. What are the effects of adding more physical activity to the academic classroom? Mark Benden, director of the Ergonomics Center at Texas A&M, has dozens of schools using pilot programs to make classrooms more active. His research shows many benefits: There has been a decrease in ADHD medication among the students in his classrooms; body mass index among overweight students in active classrooms showed significant decreases. Executive function and working memory showed significant improvement, leading to improved academic achievement. Physical activity also showed positive results in alternative schools. One class of students with behavior disorders and learning disabilities began using treadmills and stationary bikes at the beginning of class. Within four months, stu¬dents took less medication, behavior improved, and students improved their average by one full grade in reading, writing and math. These results reinforce the idea that the traditional desk-centered, sedentary classroom must be redesigned to better suit students’ needs. It can even be as simple as giving students a “brain break” every 15 minutes to stand and stretch, or offering stability ball seating, push-up mats, and other accessories. To increase student focus, on-task behavior, achievement and general well-being, include physical activity in the classroom. It’s time to get students out of their seats and learning on their feet!

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