#with his chief ambition only ever being with the church

[ducavalentinos]

[...]The reconsolidation of the States of the Church, the recovery of her full temporal power, which his predecessors had so grievously dissipated, had ever been Alexander's aim; Louis XII afforded him, at last, his opportunity, since with French aid the thing now might be attempted. His son Cesare was the Hercules to whom was to be given the labour of cleaning out the Augean stable of the Romagna. That Alexander may have been single-minded in his purpose has never been supposed. It might, indeed, be to suppose too much; the general assumption that, from the outset, [Rodrigo Borgia] chief aim was to found a powerful State for his son may be accepted. But let us at least remember that such had been the aims of several Popes before him. Sixtus IV and Innocent VIII had similarly aimed at founding dynasties in Romagna for their families, but, lacking the talents and political acuteness of Alexander and a son of the mettle and capacity of Cesare Borgia, the feeble trail of their ambition is apt to escape attention. It is also to be remembered that, whatever Alexander's ulterior motive, the immediate results of the campaign with which he inspired his son were to reunite to the Church the States which had fallen away from her, and to re-establish her temporal sway in the full plenitude of its dominion. However much he may have been imbued with the desire to exalt and aggrandize his children politically, he did nothing that did not at the same time make for the greater power and glory of the Church.

- Rafael Sabatini, The Life of Cesare Borgia: Chapter II. The Knell of the Tyrants.

[ben-j-man]

The Angaran Chronicles: A False Legacy Chapter 2

The Hunter, Arken, is hired by an aristocrat to investigate into a town under his rule. A town that has cut off all communication with the outside world. What he finds is beyond his worst imaginings. What he finds implies something beyond mortal comprehension. Was long-listed in the 2018 Wattys, making it into the top 800 out of 362,423 TOTAL ENTRIES!

Link to Chapter 1 of An Ulterior Motive

https://ben-j-man.tumblr.com/post/184363343578/the-angaran-chronicles-an-ulterior-motive

After the destruction of her village, the only survivor: Emilia is saved by a stranger: an elf named Anargrin. Who claims to work for a mercenary organisation known and respected all over the continent of Angara: The Hunters. He asks for no payment and to help her with the sickness that threatens to overwhelm her.

But why?

There were many different Hunters with many different methods. Some Hunters were infiltrators; they stuck to the shadows with religious zeal, only revealing themselves in the most dire of circumstance. Some waltzed into towns waving their sigil, relying on the respect the commoners had for the organisation for their co-operation. It mostly depended on the mission, who had hired them and how the client wanted it handled. But some Hunters were more adaptable than others; they were usually the longer-lived, more experienced ones. Despite only being in his late eighties, the Ritual having lengthened his meagre human lifespan, Arken was chief amongst them. He had been taught by the best.

Hasteq had neglected to tell them how he wanted Arken to do it, so Arken elected to do it the way he liked.

He walked right in.

Arken expected the small town to be deserted, or be at least quiet, but much to his surprise, it was bustling with life. Many of the locals even greeted him on the street. Men were marching back from the mills or other odd jobs. When Arken found the tavern, it was filled with rowdy locals who eyed him with anything but suspicion. It was all smiles and nods which disturbed Arken more than if they treated him with hostility.

Before he set out, Arken had done his research. There had been many times over the history of Angara when entire towns had gone silent. The most recent was in a country far to the north named Camaria when a large group of vampires moved in and killed or sired most of the locals. They were led by an original vampire named Kalthasin, who was one of the most dangerous and powerful mages of the time.

It took twenty Hunters to stop them. Seven Hunters were killed in the battle, and most of the town was burned to the ground. But over fifty vampires lay dead, and Kalthasin, who had not taken part in the fight, was later tracked down by the legendary human, swordswoman, Malidil and her apprentice. They managed to take down Kalthasin, but Malidil was killed in the process.

Her apprentice was still alive and now active as a Hunter, but Arken couldn't recall his name. He was an elf and-

Arken stopped just shy of the counter as the realisation hit him. Ever since he had started down the main street, something had seemed off, and now he knew what it was.

There were no elves or dwarves.

'May I help you there, sir?' said the barkeep.

Arken nodded. 'Yes, please. I would like a room, and do you know where the best fishing spots are, by chance?' he said in his best Everdeenian accent.

The people in the tavern were watching him, and Arken didn't need the ability to sense magical auras to know it.

Arken stood upon a rock, doing his best to pretend to fish. The cool north-westerly blew through his long white hair. It was more than refreshing as it dispersed the humidity notorious for Everdeen.

To their credit, the two men tailing him weren't bad. Disturbingly good, actually. But they were no match for his senses. Despite this, Arken couldn't help wear a constant smile. This was the closest he had to a holiday for a long time. With the waves smashing against the coast and the beautiful blue sky, he couldn't help feel relaxed.

The fact the locals had set a tail on him wasn't surprising. It confirmed there was something behind this ex-communication, and the fact they had some skill announced they'd had training in it, either that or first-hand experience. If Arken had ghosted the town, he wouldn't have found this vital information so fast.

Arken hoped the town's people were rebelling against their corrupt aristocracy. Perhaps even wishing to free the slaves? If so, it was an admirable ambition, but too lofty. They wouldn't last long against the might of the Everdeenian army. But the fact there were no elves and dwarves around disturbed Arken.

He'd noticed the tail the second he'd left the tavern that morning, the second he'd been here, so he had decided to go straight to the beach to fish. That'd been five hours ago. Arken was at now at ease while they would grow bored and weary; he could keep this up all day. But that was the problem; as much as he didn't want to, he had to stop soon as they may rotate the watch replacing the bored, tired locals with fresh ones.

With a curse, Arken packed his gear and began back to the town.

He took a different route back to the tavern, this time past the church. It was one pm, the holy time allotted by the Jaroai for the daily worship of the mindless masses. Arken had always wondered why the Jaroai had dictated that time in the holy book of the avatar. Perhaps it was because it was the time when the sun was at its hottest? That it had something to do with the fact the Jaroai could only use the light and fire magic disciplines? Arken had never encountered a Jaroai, but he'd heard stories.

The thought caused a shiver up his spine, and then he paused in his tracks.

Was that the sound of construction? And was it coming from inside the church?

Arken carried on, and the closer he came to the church, the louder the sound became. The constant hammering and banging forced him to remember. He watched while his men built a siege tower; Arken's army had surrounded Hamar's capital, Valtagan. The tower was over twenty metres tall, one of the largest made by mankind. That was one of the many things forgotten from his legacy after the church destroyed most records of the "cowardly king."

He turned the corner, and the church came into full view; like most of its ilk, it was gaudy, over ostentatious and well maintained. The churches usually ringed in the locals to work for free due to it contributing to the "community spirit" and 'in the service of Jaroai.'

This, despite the wealth the churches held due to the donations were given by their parishioners, they could easily pay them. Arken would be more inclined to use the term 'sheep' when in his more bitter moods.

What made him pause was the beautiful stain glass windows boarded up from the inside.

Two men stood guard at the large double doors — big bastards trying their best to look intimidating.

This didn't stop Arken from approaching.

'Uhh, excuse me!' Arken said. 'I am visiting from Symbalmark and here for daily worship. What's going on? Is the church closed?'

'It is,' said the man on the left, his beard as thick as his huge arms. 'Church is closed for renovations.'

Arken nodded. 'D-do you have another place for replacement?'

The two guards exchanged glances. 'No, not yet, sorry,' said the one on the right,

Arken wasn't sure how his false persona would react to this. Most of the sheep would lose their minds, being so brainwashed. But his character was faced with two large thugs, and cosmopolitan Everdeenians weren't known for their faith.

'I don't understand,' said Arken.

'There ain't much to it, to understand,' said the right thug. 'Go and pray at the inn.'

'The book of Jaroai says-'

'Yeah, it does, but unlike you city folk, we don't have a place big enough,' said left thug. 'Everyone is doing it by themselves.'

Arken said nothing, frowned, but nodded, then turned and walked away.

What could they be doing inside the church? And the strange thing was, he couldn't sense the aura of the local priest. Could the locals be rebelling? It would make sense they would kill their priest. But the absence of the elves and dwarves put paid to that theory.

This couldn't be good, not at all.

[coraofwales]

How the royals gave Harry and Meghan everything they wanted - but they still wanted more

Camilla Tominey

9 JANUARY 2020 • 9:00 PM

It was the outburst that first put Prince Harry at odds with his grandmother over the way he and his wife intended to run their royal lives.

Telling one of the Queen’s most senior aides: “What Meghan wants, Meghan gets”, in the run up to their Windsor wedding in May 2018, the ill-tempered comment is understood to have prompted a rare rebuke from the 93-year-old monarch.

Yet ever since that glittering ceremony at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, the royals have been uncharacteristically accommodating of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes’ demands - which makes their decision to step down as senior royals without consultation all the more baffling.

It started before the couple had even got married when the Queen broke with royal tradition to invite American divorcee Meghan to spend Christmas at Sandringham in 2017, even though she was only engaged to Harry at the time.

Recognising that the former Suits star had not just moved to the UK but also given up her blossoming acting career to marry into the Firm, the royals bent over backwards to make Meghan feel as welcome as possible - as did the British public.

The Cambridges even allowed the lovestruck pair to stay at Anmer Hall, their private bolthole on the royal estate in Norfolk and the ‘Fab Four’ were famously captured by amateur photographer Karen Anvil walking arm in arm to St Mary Magdalene Church on Christmas morning.

When their big day arrived, Harry and Meghan got the multicultural service they craved, the carriage procession and the star-studded reception, away from the prying eyes of the world’s media.

When cracks started appearing in their relationship with the Cambridges amid rumours of a rift between the royal brothers - and a tearful incident between the sisters in law at a bridesmaids dress fitting for Princess Charlotte - efforts were made behind the scenes to patch things up.

The Duchesses put on a united front in the Royal Box at Wimbledon a couple of months later, and the Sussexes agreed to spend a second Christmas at Sandringham - albeit staying at the ‘big’ house rather than Anmer Hall.

Credit: Ben Curtis /AP

Soon after it was announced that the royal household shared by the brothers at Kensington Palace was to split, a move engendered by Harry and Meghan amid fears they were being overshadowed by the Cambridges and their growing brood.

Moves to renovate a larger apartment for the couple at the royal residence synonymous with Diana, the late Princess of Wales, were abandoned and £2.4 million of taxpayers' cash was instead ploughed into the refurbishment of Grade II listed Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.

Although the Queen and Prince Charles denied the couple the chance to set up their own ‘court’ in Windsor, preferring instead for them to be kept under the auspices of Buckingham Palace, their wish to set up their own charitable foundation was granted - as well as their own Sussex Royal Instagram page and social media platform.

And when their son Archie was born in May 2019, the Queen agreed that the newborn should not have a royal title but inherit the family surname Mountbatten-Windsor.

They were allowed to keep the location of the birth secret (until it was later revealed on the royal baby’s birth certificate) as well as breaking with royal protocol by also keeping the identity of his godparents under wraps.

And when it came to their first royal tour as a family - following a hugely successful visit to Australia in 2018 - the Sussexes were permitted to take Archie to Harry’s beloved Africa last autumn.

Almost everything that Meghan (and Harry) wanted, they got. And yet it still didn’t seem to be enough. Giving an interview to ITV’s Tom Bradby during the African tour, Meghan hinted at a lack of support from her royal relatives, tearfully declaring: “Not many people have asked if I’m ok.”

Harry later issued a statement attacking the press for “bullying” Meghan - without the prior knowledge of the Queen or her successors in a growing sign of what was to come.

According to one former aide: “They always wanted autonomy and saw it as a huge disadvantage to be in with all the others at Buckingham Palace. They think the world is against them. Harry has always complained about being sidelined by William”.

But in wanting the cake and eat it scenario of being “financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen,” the couple now appear to have issued a demand too far.

With both Buckingham Palace and Clarence House pushing back on the idea of them continuing to hold onto their royal titles and receive money from the Duchy of Cornwall while ‘stepping back’ as senior royals, the couple has never looked more isolated.

And not just from their nearest and dearest but their own advisers. Their PR chief Sara Latham now appears to be playing second fiddle to US based master of the dart arts Ken Sunshine, David Beckham’s former publicist Izzy May and talent agent Nick Collins - all of whom now appear a part of the Sussexes’ inner circle amid claims royal aides have been “frozen out”.

“The couple have been ignoring the advice of their palace staff,” revealed an insider.

A power vacuum following the sudden departure of the Queen’s former private secretary Sir Christopher Geidt in 2017 has not helped matters. Some have suggested that Harry and Meghan have capitalised on the absence of the highly respected former Scots Guard, reportedly forced out by Prince Charles and the Duke of York, who “ran a very tight ship”. With the Queen turning 94 in April and the Duke of Edinburgh, 98, now retired from public life and recently in ill health, the “Sussex situation” appears to have lacked proper management.

The complex relationship between Harry, William and Charles - which was tested heavily during the commemorations to mark the 20th anniversary of Diana’s death in 2017 - has made it difficult for both father and brother to assert their authority, with William’s attempts only serving to further drive a wedge. (The heir and second in line to the throne are only mentioned twice on the Sussexes's revamped website).

As Bradby, who knows both couples well, mused in the aftermath of Wednesday’s shock statement: “With families, we all know stuff happens, things are said.

“And also a family dispute within a family firm - you are working in a big family firm, everyone has their wishes and desires and ambitions and they have to be balanced up - and it’s very hard.”

Or as that understated and rather curt Buckingham Palace response put it: “These are complicated issues”.

The simple truth is, in giving them what they wanted, the royals only succeeded in leaving Harry and Meghan wanting more.

@anonymoushouseplantfan

@the-charlatan-duchess

@the-best-soap-opera-ever

[pamphletstoinspire]

The Feast of the Holy Innocents - December 28, 2020

by Father Francis Xavier Weninger, 1876

By the Holy Innocents, who are honored as martyrs today by the Catholic Church, we understand those happy infants, who, by the command of King Herod, were put to death, for no other cause than that the new-born King of the Jews might be deprived of life. When Christ was born, Herod, well known for his cruelty, reigned at Jerusalem. He was not of the Jewish nation, but a foreigner, and was therefore hated by the Jews. Herod knew this well; hence he feared that they would dethrone him, and he had several illustrious persons executed, whom he suspected of aspiring to the throne. Meanwhile it happened that the three Magi or Kings from the East came to Jerusalem, to find and adore the new-born King, who had been announced to them by a star; as they doubted not that they would learn more of Him in the capital of Judea. They therefore asked without hesitation: “Where is he, that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to adore him.”

This question seemed very strange to the Jews, and the news of it spread through the whole city, until it reached the King. His fear can hardly be described; for he already believed his crown and sceptre lost. To escape the danger in which he supposed himself, he called the chief priests and scribes together, and inquired of them where the Messiah should be born. They answered: “In Bethlehem, according to the Prophets.” Satisfied with this answer, Herod had the three wise men brought to court, and speaking very confidentially with them, he asked diligently when and where the star had appeared to them. After this, he advised them to go to Bethlehem and inquire after the new-born child, and when they had found and adored it, to return and inform him, as he wished to go and adore it also. These words of the king, who was not less cunning than cruel, were only a deceit, as he had already resolved to kill the new-born child.

Meanwhile the Magi followed the advice of the king, and, guided by the star, which again appeared to them when they had left Jerusalem, went to Bethlehem, found and adored the divine Child, and offered gold, frankincense and myrrh, as we read in Holy Writ. Having finished their devotion, they intended, in accordance with king Herod’s wish, to bring him word that they had happily found the Child. An angel, however, appeared to them in their sleep and admonished them not to return to Jerusalem, but to go into their own country by another way; which they accordingly did. When Herod perceived that they had deluded him, it was too late, and his rage was boundless. Hearing of what had taken place in the temple, at the Purification of Mary, that the venerable Simeon had pronounced a child, which he had taken into his arms, the true Messiah, the King’s heart was filled with inexpressible fear and anxiety. The danger in which he was, as he imagined, of losing his crown, left him no peace day or night. He secretly gave orders to search for this child; but all was of no avail; it could not be found.

After long pondering how he might escape the danger, his unbounded ambition led him to an act of cruelty unprecedented in history. He determined to murder all the male children, in and around Bethlehem, that were not over two years of age, as he thought that thus he could not fail to take the life of the child so dangerous to him. This fearful design was executed amidst the despairing shrieks of the parents, especially the mothers. How many children were thus inhumanly slaughtered is not known, but the number must have been very large. Yet the tyrant gained not his end; for, the divine Child was already in security. The Gospel tells us that an Angel appeared during the night to St. Joseph, saying to him: “Arise, take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt, and remain there until I tell thee. For, it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him.” St. Joseph delayed not to obey, and fled, the same night, with the child and his mother, into the land indicated to him.

As this had happened before Herod executed his cruel determination, God thus frustrated the plot. Herod soon after, received his just punishment. Several terrible maladies suddenly seized him, as Josephus, the Jewish historian, relates. An internal fever consumed him, and all his limbs were covered with abominable ulcers, breeding vermin. His feet were swollen; his neck, shoulders and arms drawn together, and his breast so burdened, that the unfortunate man could hardly breathe, while his whole body exhaled so offensive an odor, that neither he nor others could endure it. Hence, in despair, he frequently cried for a knife or a sword, that he might end his own life. In this miserable condition, he ceased not his cruelties, and only five days before his death, he had his son, Antipater, put to death. As he had good reason to believe that the entire people would rejoice at his death, he wished at least to take to the grave the thought that many should grieve, if not for him, at least for their friends and relatives. Hence, he had the chief men of the nobility imprisoned, and gave orders to his sister Salome, that, as soon as he had closed his eyes, they were all to be murdered. This order, however, was not executed by Salome, who justly loathed its cruelty. In this lamentable condition, the cruel tyrant ended his life, but began one in eternity whose pains and torments were still more unendurable, and from which he cannot hope ever to be released; while the innocent children massacred by him, rejoice for all eternity in the glories of heaven, giving humble thanks to God for having thus admitted them into His presence. The Catholic Church has always honored them as martyrs; because, though not confessing Christ with their lips, as many thousands of others have done, yet they confessed Him with their death, by losing their lives for His sake. 

“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” (Matthew 2: 1-18) 

by Dom Gueranger.

The feast of the beloved Disciple, [St. John] is followed by that of the Holy Innocents. The Crib of Jesus, where we have already met and venerated the Prince of Martyrs and the Eagle of Patmos, has today standing round it a lovely choir of little Children, clad in snow-white robes, and holding green branches in their hands. The Divine Babe smiles upon them: He is their King; and these Innocents are smiling upon the Church of God. Courage and Fidelity first led us to the Crib; Innocence now comes, and bids us tarry there.

Herod intended to include the Son of God amongst the murdered Babes of Bethlehem. The Daughters of Rachel wept over their little ones, and the land streamed with blood; but the Tyrant’s policy can do no more: it cannot reach Jesus, and its whole plot ends in recruiting an immense army of Martyrs for Heaven. These Children were not capable of knowing what an honor it was for them to be made victims for the sake of the Savior of the world; but the very first instant after their immolation, all was revealed to them: they had gone through this world without knowing it, and now that they know it, they possess an infinitely better. God showed here the riches of His mercy: He asks of them but a momentary suffering, and that over, they wake up in Abraham’s Bosom: no further trial awaits them, they are in spotless innocence, and the glory due to a soldier who died to save the life of his Prince belongs eternally to them.

They died for Jesus’ sake; therefore their death was a real Martyrdom, and the Church calls them by the beautiful name of the Flowers of the Martyrs, because of their tender age and their innocence. Justly then does the ecclesiastical Cycle bring them before us today, immediately after the two valiant Champions of Christ, Stephen and John. The connection of these three Feasts is thus admirably explained by St. Bernard: In St. Stephen, we have both the act and the desire of Martyrdom; in St. John, we have but the desire; in the Holy Innocents, we have but the act.  . . . Will anyone doubt whether a crown was given to these Innocents? . . . If you ask me what merit could they have that God should crown them? Let me ask you what was the fault for which Herod slew them? What! is the mercy of Jesus less than the cruelty of Herod? and whilst Herod could put these Babes to death, who had done him no injury, Jesus may not crown them for dying for him?

Stephen, therefore, is a Martyr by a Martyrdom of which men can judge, for he gave this evident proof of his sufferings being felt and accepted, that, at the very moment of his death, his solicitude both for his own soul and for those of his persecutors increased; the pangs of his bodily passion were less intense than the affection of his soul’s compassion, which made him weep more for their sins than for his own wounds. John was a Martyr, by a Martyrdom which only Angels could see, for the proofs of his sacrifice being spiritual, only spiritual creatures could ken them. But the Innocents were Martyrs, to none other eye save Thine, O God! Man could find no merit; Angel could find no merit: the extraordinary prerogative of Thy grace is the more boldly brought out. From the mouth of the Infants and the Sucklings Thou hast perfected praise. The praise the Angels give Thee is: Glory be to God in the highest, and peace on earth to men of good will: it is a magnificent praise, but I make bold to say that it is not perfect till He cometh Who will say: “Suffer little Children to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.” 

“Today, dearest brethren, we celebrate the birthday of those children who were slaughtered, as the Gospel tells us, by that exceedingly cruel king, Herod. Let the earth, therefore, rejoice and the Church exult — she, the fruitful mother of so many heavenly champions and of such glorious virtues. Never, in fact, would that impious tyrant have been able to benefit these children by the sweetest kindness as much as he has done by his hatred. For as today’s feast reveals, in the measure with which malice in all its fury was poured out upon the holy children, did heaven’s blessing stream down upon them.

“Blessed are you, Bethlehem in the land of Judah! You suffered the inhumanity of King Herod in the murder of your babes and thereby have become worthy to offer to the Lord a pure host of infants. In full right do we celebrate the heavenly birthday of these children whom the world caused to be born unto an eternally blessed life rather than that from their mothers’ womb, for they attained the grace of everlasting life before the enjoyment of the present. The precious death of any martyr deserves high praise because of his heroic confession; the death of these children is precious in the sight of God because of the beatitude they gained so quickly. For already at the beginning of their lives they pass on. The end of the present life is for them the beginning of glory. These then, whom Herod’s cruelty tore as sucklings from their mothers’ bosom, are justly hailed as “infant martyr flowers”; they were the Church’s first blossoms, matured by the frost of persecution during the cold winter of unbelief.” Saint Augustine 

The Latin Church instituted the feast of the Holy Innocents at a date now unknown, not before the end of the fourth and not later than the end of the fifth century. It is, with the feasts of St. Stephen and St. John, first found in the Leonine Sacramentary, dating from about 485. To the Philocalian Calendar of 354 it is unknown. The Latins keep it on 28 December, the Greeks on 29 December, the Syrians and Chaldeans on 27 December. These dates have nothing to do with the chronological order of the event; the feast is kept within the octave of Christmas because the Holy Innocents gave their life for the newborn Saviour. Stephen the first martyr (martyr by will, love, and blood), John, the Disciple of Love (martyr by will and love), and these first flowers of the Church (martyrs by blood alone) accompany the Holy Child Jesus entering this world on Christmas day. Only the Church of Rome applies the word Innocentes to these children; in other Latin countries they are called simply Infantes and the feast had the title “Allisio infantium” (Brev. Goth.), “Natale infantum”, or “Necatio infantum”. The Armenians keep it on Monday after the Second Sunday after Pentecost (Armen. Menology, 11 May), because they believe the Holy Innocents were killed fifteen weeks after the birth of Christ. 

[scarletgardensrpg]

UNDEAD ♦ TWENTY-SIX ♦ NEUTRAL

EVANDER BUCHANAN is the Gravekeeper of the Oude Kerk. While Evander does not uphold most traditional priestly duties, such as Sunday sermons and rituals, he offers Undead baptisms, wherein the newly rehabilitated are “purified” as a means of initiation into Amsterdam—a common practice for nearly all Undead citizens, regardless of their religious affiliation. He was killed and transformed into a rotbeest at the age of twenty-six by Cecile, then resurrected in the Carpathian Mountains by Julian in 2045. 

BIOGRAPHY

tw: alcohol and drug abuse, death

“Fuck. Fuckfuckfuck.” Julian, on the other end of the line, sounded tinny and unimpressed. Thank you for that, good morning to you as well. Now if you'll be more specific... “Okay, um. I’m still at the beach.” A long silence. “I took Papa’s Porsche.” An even longer silence. “It’s, like, not in great condition. Anymore.” This last stretch of silence went on for so long, Evander pulled his phone back from his ear to make sure the call hadn’t disconnected. “Julian.” Is it still driveable? “Yeah, I think so. Maybe. I dunno, the wheels look fine?” That’s not—okay. Drive it to the nearest collision center. Now, it was Evander’s turn to be silent. For the first time, in a long time, he felt something akin to shame. He was nineteen, and still trying—failing—to make his brother proud. “I’m, uh, still kind of drunk. Sorry. Do you think you could—” Yes. I’ll be there soon. Click. Evander swore under his breath and shoved his phone back into his pocket. His eyes hurt, there was sand in the depths of his ass crack, and Ce was going to mock him for a week. 

- ❀ -

Spare the rod and spoil the child. He came last: after Julian had been born and deemed favorite and heir, after Cecile had been born and deemed illegitimate and unwanted. Evander, then, found himself with nothing to prove and nothing to endure: it was all roses. Handsome, good grades, star of the football team; he’d spend his youth living out some iteration of the American fantasy: a young prince without a care in the world, idling indulgently by an emerald infinity pool—the very picture of privilege. But, of course, as with all things that seemed too good to be true, there was the untarnished gleam of good appearances and saved face—and then, there was the truth. The Buchanans, for all their money’s worth, were a study in psychopathy: generations of well-dressed bastards who had lied and cheated their way up to Heaven, and scaled up the ladder of power using their claws and teeth. A thousand ruined lives could be put to Papa’s name—his own children’s being chief among them. It was a beautiful life, filled with exotic vacations and designer clothes, more money than he’d ever need, enough to fill entire rooms with—and it was an ugly life, marred by screaming matches, broken furniture, and five perpetually unoccupied seats at the dinner table. 

In the end, it was enough to drive Julian to heartlessness, Cecile to madness, and Evander to debauchery. He, especially, wanted no part in any of it all. His siblings were formidable and hungry: the boldest and brightest of the Buchanan clan, with enough conviction to set the world aflame and enough ambition to swallow it whole. What candle could he have held to those big people, those big dreams? He had no interest in trying. Instead, at Dartmouth, he would retreat into his expensive amusements and vices: liquor and wine, lines of cocaine, a quarter-million dollars blown on a bad bet in the casino, yes-men all around him. You’re so pathetic, Cecile would say disdainfully each morning she found him passed out in the foyer—and this, Evander knew, was the one thing she and Julian could agree on. He didn’t mind. That meant there was one less thing he had to listen to them fight about. He loved them, dearly and inexplicably—and he had thought they loved him, too. Wasn’t it enough that they had one another? The answer was, printed in neat clinical letters atop a stack of biochemical consent forms: No. He had underestimated both of them. Julian’s love and Julian’s ambition were two breeds of the same beast. Cecile’s wrath and her ambition were two strains of the same poison.

So: he would die by the hands of his siblings. At this point, it was so trite to talk about: six years of experimentation, Cecile shouldering the brunt of it—not out of concern for Evander, but a twisted need for it to fucking work, already before it got to Julian. When at last it did, and Cecile came out of the bloody waters a dead woman with gleaming eyes, she’d make plans to raise hell, as was so typical of her—but this time, intended Evander to partake in the chaos, too. He had bled to death at her feet, cheek pressed to the filthy basement floor, more afraid than ever. When his mind sank away from him at last, Cecile let him up and swung the door open. It’s me, Ce, she cooed. You always liked to have fun. We’re going to have some fun. And was it fun? In the moment, it might’ve been. Evander couldn’t say. He would come to in three years, in the mountains with Julian’s blood in his mouth and no recollection of what had occurred in the time between the night he’d died and now. His brother looked older, icier than ever. Cecile was nowhere to be found. There’s no need to save her, Evander had spat into the snow. She saved herself. 

At least I’ve saved you, Julian said. To that, Evander could only laugh and laugh, until the incredulity wore off, and there was only grief.

CONNECTIONS

IVONNE – PESKY WOMAN. Evander understands she is his counterpart of sorts—a Priestess to the living in the same way he is a Gravekeeper for the dead. Evander doesn’t understand how this, alone, is sufficient justification in Ivonne’s eyes to enter and leave his church as she pleases (“Evander, this is public property. Your attitude is un-priestly.” “I’m not a priest!”) with armfuls of baked goods, insisting matter-of-factly that he doesn’t eat enough, among a myriad of other baseless declarations she makes to him, about him. They are, in Evander's opinion, vastly different people: where he had happened upon the abandoned Oude Kerk and, in seeing no better option, made a reluctant home for himself there, Ivonne is a zealous New Worlder type. She is a peculiar woman in general: for all her power and popularity, it doesn’t seem she has many friends, nor particularly wants them. In some ways, Evander thinks she’s even lonelier than him. Despite this, he remains quick to brush her off—sometimes aggressively, the hurt of having someone to look after him after so many years both sharp and jarring, and other times begrudgingly, between bitefuls of (admittedly delicious) lemon meringue. She is not exactly motherly, per se—Ivonne acts more like a disapproving corporate manager, or a disinterested therapist—but her attentiveness for Evander is both overwhelming and...neither appreciated, nor unappreciated. He’s conflicted. You know, I can take care of myself, he told her once. Ivonne had lifted a single, elegant brow. Yes, I know. I wonder all the time why you don’t.

JULIAN & CECILE – TWO KNIVES IN HIS BACK. It’s hard—no, impossible—for him to reconcile that Julian, who read him to sleep after nightmares and took a welt to the cheek for Evander after he’d crashed the Porsche, had also watched impassively from across the expanse of an infinite table while Evander signed his life away—and that Cecile, who cried in the bathroom when nobody came to her recital, and accepted expulsion from six successive schools for the simple want of being loved, had been the same woman to draw Evander calmly into her arms, only to kill him between teethfuls of flesh and blood. Once, Evander thought his older brother and sister hung the moon. Cecile never was able to accept Julian’s kindnesses—ones she called debts, mouth wrapped sourly around the word—but Evander would have been content to bask in that kindness forever: diamonds and Jaguars, exotic beaches, lovers in every city—and above all other luxuries, the one of knowing the three of them would be together, always. That hope of his has come true, he supposes, in the most twisted of ways. True, he has Cecile to thank for not abandoning him in a basement in Palestrina—but she’d left him three years later instead in Poland. And he has Julian to thank for resurrecting him—but Julian was the pronouncer of his death sentence to begin with; and what’s more, he’s carried him out of one Hell, only to drag him into another. They were never a happy family, but they were a family. Now, whatever it is that’s keeping them together—science, death, and that ugly word, debts—Evander wishes it wouldn’t.

KISARA & OKSANA – THE LOVERS. He really, really, wishes they would stop making out in his cemetery. Well—they are not exactly kissing, but by the way they spar and wrestle, eyes gleaming bright with the closest thing to feeling alive : it might as well be kissing. Kisara is an old friend—someone he used to visit at the Moulin Rouge when he’d first arrived in Amsterdam, having defaulted back to sex and gambling to quell his misery. The two of them had once gone to depraved depths with one another, lost their minds eating seeds, tumbled about in satin sheets— Eventually, he turned his back on all of it once and for all, but Kisara stuck around. According to her, Oksana is new meat. I’m showing her around, she says, feinting disinterest as she goes to examine her perfect, shiny red nails. Evander snorts. Yeah, showing her around your bed. When Kisara jabs him in the rib with a snarl, he has to roll on the ground and make exaggerated sounds of pain for like, a while, before she finally laughs and forgives him. Kisara and Oksana have been coming around more often—De Wallen is cramped and unsightly, while Centraal Station tends to overrun itself with creepy 200 junkies when it gets late enough. The Oude Kerk, decrepit and, exempting Evander himself, void of people, is an admittedly good place to have some privacy. In truth, Evander doesn’t really mind. Kisara is welcome to come whenever she’d like, and he likes Oksana enough: she’s witty, abrasive, and reminds him a lot of Cecile. But perhaps it’s that very resemblance to his conniving sister that makes him uneasy about her. Kisara, too wrapped up in whatever it is they have going on, doesn’t seem to see the way Oksana holds herself: calmly and calculatively, showing just enough teeth to pass off as fully feral. Evander knows her kind. He’s not inclined to trust her.

OPEN ♦ FC: SEAN O'PRY

[artemisegeria]

The Picture of the Mind Revives Again (3/?)

Title: The Picture of the Mind Revives Again (3/?)

Rating: T

Word count: 1319

Warnings: None

Summary: Sequel to “A Formula, A Phrase Remains.” Title is from “Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey” by William Wordsworth.

Vision has gone missing after Shuri, Bruce, and Helen revived him. Now they must tell Wanda what they did without her knowledge.

Chapter Summary: Vision explores more of the world and tries to get acclimated to the new time.

A/N: Wow, I can’t believe it’s been a little more than four months since I updated. Sorry. This one’s quite short, but I’ve been struggling with it since I posted the last chapter. We’re almost to 2020, and I’ve decided that my goal for the year is to just do things without agonizing over them so much. So hopefully the next chapter will be quicker. Enjoy!

 Vision watched the sun rise over the Italian countryside. He had been traveling around Europe for several weeks. He had been to Germany, Belgium, Romania, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and others, spending no more than a day or two, and sometimes only a few hours, in each location. A deep sense of restlessness filled him. He wanted to travel everywhere, but something kept him tethered to areas where the environment was at least partially familiar. He still determinedly avoided any place that had a connection to Wanda or the Avengers, but he did go to places that reminded him of them.

Tuscany was one such place. He and Wanda had discussed traveling there, but they had not made it before everything was destroyed. It was one of the most beautiful places he had visited. The warm golden stucco of most of the buildings matched the golden atmosphere. The warmth of the sun baked into the cobblestones. He knew that Wanda would love it. Vision thought of sending her a message telling her about it, but the whole point of the exercise he had undertaken was to have some space. So he maintained his silence.

That did not stop him from following the Avengers’ movements, though. Although their quarterly meetings were never publicized, New Yorkers noticed the influx of various air and space craft into the New York skyline. Paparazzi descended on the mansion in more force than usual, hoping for a glimpse of one of the more exotic members of the team.

He could not resist a glimpse of Wanda online, out for lunch with some of the women Avengers. She looked relaxed and happy. He was relieved to see her appearing in such good spirits. Vision considered doing some research to ascertain whom her companions were, to take part in her life somehow, but he decided to wait on that as well.

Vision needed more time. The world was strange. He had always considered humanity somewhat odd, but the stresses of all the recent calamities only highlighted that. The fear pushed humans to extremes. Vision did not want to leave himself open to such traps. Staying away was best for now.

***

A few weeks later, Vision was traveling through a French village when he saw a church filled to overflowing with people dressed in black. He ducked into a side street to change his attire and stood at the back of the crowd. The mourners were listening to eulogies delivered tearfully by an older woman and a young man.

He learned that Gabriel, the man who was being memorialized, had died in a simple car accident. Much of the grief was due to the fact that, after everything the world had suffered, they were still subject to random tragedies. Vision listened attentively to the mourners and absorbed their grief. He could not change what had happened, but he could bear witness.

After the funeral service and burial concluded, there was an open-air meal in the village’s main square. Vision was about to walk away when Gabriel’s fiancé and chief eulogizer called him over. He thanked Vision for attending. Later in the evening when Vision was helping to clean up the area; Gabriel’s mother and fiancé insisted that he stay the night. Vision obliged. He was honored by the hospitality when he did not know these people at all.

***

Vision cast his line into the water and relaxed in his rented boat in the south of Italy. He was not having any luck with catching fish. For some hours, he simply sat, enjoying the sunshine. Eventually he was approached by another boat. The fisherman told him that the area he had picked was bad for fish. They invited him to follow them.

He found their company extremely pleasant. One of the men, an older gentleman who was as skilled an interrogator as Natasha, drew out Vision’s whole plan for the next months and invited him back to his home when he heard that Vision was traveling alone without any sort of schedule. He was reluctant to accept at first, but the man insisted.

One night turned into five turned into three weeks. The Bianchis owned a farm. It was harvest season, and they could use all the extra hands they could find. Vision assisted in reaping the family’s wheat crop and repairing some of their older equipment.

During that time Vision perfected his conversational Italian. One night one of the family’s teenage daughters caught him staring mournfully up at the moon. Mariella asked him what was wrong. He found himself pouring out his and Wanda’s entire story, with certain identifying details edited out. It felt as if a great burden were lifted from him when he had finished. Mariella herself had started crying at his tale. She confessed that she was in love with the son of a rival farmer. Their families had been in bitter competition for years, and she did not know what to do. Vision wished her well, urging her not to give up on her love.

The harvesting finally drew to a close. The Bianchis invited him to stay longer in thanks for all his help, but he was ready to travel beyond this village. He was gratified by the party all the Bianchis and their neighbors held before his departure. The youngest children taught him a traditional folk dance. They were the delighted when he spun them around in the air. The requests for encores did not stop until the adults declared bedtime to a chorus of mutinous grumbling.

He bade farewell to the family laden with the food they insisted on giving him for his journey. He gave a last comforting word to Mariella and a few more twirls to the younger children before finally departing with many promises of keeping in touch and returning if he were ever in the area again.

***

When Vision finally moved on, he decided to leave Europe and travel farther afield. He started off in Morocco. Walking through the golden streets, he enjoyed seeing children playing soccer. He absorbed the colorful bazaars overflowing with unfamiliar leather goods, rugs, and foods. Though many people spoke English, Vision was grateful for his language capabilities when he journeyed into the countryside.

When he settled into a hotel room for the first night, he took the opportunity to catch up on news he had missed during the busy weeks of the harvest. Despite the difficulties of adjusting to this new world, he was somewhat reassured to find that human nature remained unchanged. There were the same sorrows and joys, petty squabbles and soaring ambition, innocence and wrath. It was only a different year.

The next morning he kept a corner of his attention on the local emergency signal, as usual. It was just turning seven o’clock when significant chatter burst across his senses. Vision gathered that there had been a collapse at nearby quarry. He immediately phased through the wall and lifted into the air. The workers who had escaped were desperately trying to lift the fallen stone from their comrades. Vision stepped in, assuring them that all would be well and requesting that they let him work.

He was met with suspicious stares, but when they saw Vision begin to lift the massive rock face with ease, they backed away. As soon as he had lifted the rock enough, the other workers rushed in to pull out the injured. Emergency vehicles had not yet arrived, so Vision triaged the fallen. One of the men’s legs had been badly crushed. Vision did what he could to stem the bleeding. The others were more fortunate. They only had symptoms of concussion and mild shock.

Vision fled as soon as the man he was treating was stabilized. He did not wish to answer any questions or face any undue speculation. He allowed himself to fade away into his incorporeal form.

[douchebagbrainwaves]

PARTLY BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED A BRILLIANT IDEA TO START A STARTUP THAN REALIZE IT

Their value is mainly as starting points: as questions for the people who had them to continue thinking about. And for programmers the paradox is even more pronounced: the language to learn, if you want to be running out of money.1 If even someone with the same qualifications who are both equally committed to the business, that's easy. Microsoft. You knew there would be.2 I wonder. You don't need or perhaps even want this quality in big companies, but you need it in a way that doesn't suck. And yet the grad students seem pretty smart. That's ok.3

Milton was going to visit Italy in the 1630s, Sir Henry Wootton, who had been ambassador to Venice, told him his motto should be i pensieri stretti & il viso sciolto.4 I suspect the only taboos that are more than taboos are the ones you never hear about: the company that would be the ideal place—that it would basically be Cambridge with good weather, it turns out you have to have at least one person willing and able to focus on one type of ambition. We felt like our role was to be impudent underdogs instead of corporate stuffed shirts, and that the weight of a few extra checks that might be easy for General Electric to bear are enough to prevent younger companies from being public at all. Like skirmishers in an ancient army, you want to go with Ron Conway and bet on people and those who prefer to bet on people. It would cost something to run, and it might be worth a hundred times as much.5 Some smart, nice guys turn out to be easier than I expected, and also did all the legal work of getting us set up as a company with a valuation any lower.6 We talked to a number of VCs, but eventually we ended up financing our startup entirely with angel money.7 If you believe everything you're supposed to when starting a company. Yes, because they give them more leverage over developers, who can more easily be replaced. There are very, very few who simply decide for themselves.

The English Reformation was at bottom a struggle for wealth and power, but it seems so foreign. When you get a couple million dollars from a VC firm, you tend to, because that's where smart people meet. The church knew this would set people thinking. It would cost something to run, and it came closer to killing us than any competitor ever did.8 That last test filters out surprisingly few people. It used to mean the control of vast human and material resources. Usually the claim is that you should be more careful about drawing conclusions based on what a few people think in our insular little Web 2.9

No one dared put on attitude around Robert, because he was obviously smarter than they were and yet had zero attitude himself. No doubt there are great technical tricks within Google, but the most important may be that once you have users to take care of. Because they're good guys and they're trying to help people can also help you with investors. But that assumption is often false, and this is the right way to search for components. At this stage, all most investors expect is a brief description of what you plan to do.10 It would be too easy for clients to fire them.11 Smile at everyone, and don't tell them what you're thinking. Could you describe the person as an animal? So parents are giving their kids an inaccurate idea of the language by not using them.

Usually there is something deeper wrong. So the acquirer is in fact getting worse performance at greater cost. When you offer x percent of your company for y dollars, you're implicitly claiming a certain value for the whole company. He says the main reason is that people like the idea of being mistaken. One of the founders might decide to split off and start another company, so I figured it had to be carefully planned.12 It's not a charity, but they weren't setting the terms of the debate then. Suppose it's 1998. Of course, if they have time machines in the future they'll probably have a separate note with a different cap for each investor.13 It's worth trying very, very few who simply decide for themselves.14 The trouble with lying is that you get a lot of people need to search for components, and before Octopart there was no good way to do that is to visit them.

In a field like physics, if we disagree with past generations it's because we're right and they're wrong. But can you think of one that had a massively popular product and still failed? It was as if I'd told him how much girls liked Barry Manilow in the mid 80s.15 That depends on how ambitious you feel.16 David Filo's title was Chief Yahoo, but he was proud that his unofficial title was Cheap Yahoo.17 If another map has the same mistake, that's very convincing evidence. Clearly you don't have to find startups. More generally, design your product to please users first, you leave a gap for competitors who do. Online dating is a valuable business now, and they're all trying not to use words like fuck and shit within baby's hearing, lest baby start using these words too. Morale is tremendously important to a startup is that you need someone mature and experienced, with a business background, may be overrated.18 But only about 10% of the total or $10,000 of seed money from our friend Julian. I realized it would probably have to figure out where to live by trial and error.19

Perl may look like a cartoon character swearing, but there are cases where it surpasses Python conceptually.20 Don't do what we did. Of the two versions, the one where you get a lot of data about how they work. What drives people to start startups is or should be looking at existing technology and thinking, don't these guys realize they should be doing x, y, and z?21 And pay especially close attention whenever an idea is being suppressed. How much stock should they get? Programmers like to make a winning product. There could be ten times more startups than there are, and that is exactly the spirit you want. There's a hack for being decisive when you're inexperienced: ratchet down the size of your investment till it's an amount you wouldn't care too much about losing. The reason Cambridge is the intellectual capital is not just that there's a concentration of smart people, but diluted by a much larger number of neanderthals in suits. They'd face some challenges if they wanted to make web apps work like desktop ones.

Notes

I could pick them, but the idea is the only cause of the year, they can grow the acquisition into what it means to be a lost cause to try to be a good plan for life in general we've done ok at fundraising, but that it's boring, we try to become dictator and intimidate the NBA into letting you write has a spam probabilty of.

What if a company tried to raise money? This is an acceptable excuse, but I call it ambient thought. Many more than determination to create a portal for x instead of themselves. So, can I make it easy.

Only in a rice cooker.

We wasted little time on a saturday, he wrote a hilarious but also the perfect life, the top 15 tokens, because there are few who can say they're not ready to invest more, and stonewall about the paperwork there, and b when she's nervous, she doesn't like getting attention in the US treat the poor worse than Japanese car companies have little do with the government, it could change what you're doing. But in most competitive sports, the world in which multiple independent buildings are gutted or demolished to be some number of restaurants that still require jackets for men. Particularly since economic inequality in the Baskin-Robbins.

It's worth taking extreme measures to avoid the topic. They bear no blame for any opinions expressed in it. Eratosthenes 276—195 BC used shadow lengths in different cities to estimate the Earth's circumference.

But it was cooked up, but what they made, but investors can get for free.

They look superficially like the one hand and the valuation of an investor? If the startup isn't getting market price.

William R.

There are successful women who don't aren't. The more people would treat you like a probabilistic spam filter, dick has a similar logic, one variant of compound bug where one bug happens to use some bad word multiple times.

Even though we made a bet: if he hadn't we probably would not change the number of customers you need to be about web-based applications. Everything is a function of two things: what ideas did European culture with Chinese: what ideas did European culture have in 1800 that Chinese culture didn't, they would implement it and creates a rationalization for doing so.

Is what we measure worth measuring? But this takes a startup idea is stone soup: you post a sign saying this is not pagerank commercialized. So if you're a YC startup you have a standard piece of casuistry for this point.

Deane, Phyllis, The First Two Hundred Years.

Anyone can broadcast a high product of some brilliant initial idea.

One new thing the company is like math's ne'er-do-well brother. The original edition contained a few old professors in Palo Alto, but they're not. Travel has the same attachment to their situation.

But although I started using it, whether you realize it till I started using it, and so effective that I'm skeptical whether economic inequality is not a remark about the same advantages from it. Html. But the change is a constant multiple of usage, so you'd find you couldn't do the equivalent thing for startups. 32.

Obviously, if the present, and mostly in less nerdy fields like finance and media. Those groups never have to put it this way that weren't visible in the 1960s, leaving the area around city hall a bleak wasteland, but I'm not talking here about academic talks, which is probably not far from the Dutch not to be in most competitive sports, the fact that the VC.

At YC.

It's unpleasant because the proportion of spam. One source of food. The French Laundry in Napa Valley.

Even as late as Newton's time it takes forever.

That's very cheap, 1/10 success rate is 10%, moving to Monaco would give you fifty times as much the better. In a startup with debt is a negotiation.

There are fairly high spam probability. Once again, I'd open our own startup Viaweb, and that there's more of it in action, there are only pretending to in order to attract workers. Though you should probably be the technology everyone was going to visit 20 different communities regularly. Html.

[bbclesmis]

The Telegraph: Les Miserables: the real history behind the epic that changed hearts and minds

Les Misérables begins in defeat. The immensely complex and rambling plot – united by the long cat-and-mouse pursuit of the convict Jean Valjean by Inspector Javert – takes off in October 1815, a few months after Waterloo, when France’s prestige had suddenly plummeted to its lowest level for centuries. Only five years previously, Napoleon’s empire had extended from Lisbon to Moscow and seemed like the mightiest force that mainland Europe had known since the Romans. But now the humiliations of defeat had reduced it to a vassal state, its fate at the mercy of the conquering and occupying Allies.

The reckoning was devastating: two decades of military campaigning had incurred the deaths of perhaps 1.5 million French citizens (more than the First World War). Inflation, heavy taxation, unemployment, food shortages and Britain’s naval blockade intensified the hardship; thousands of deserters and criminals were on the run in the chaos; the revolution’s utopian attempt to replace the church’s charity with state welfare had failed dismally, and at least two million people were suffering the brutal deprivation that Victor Hugo describes so graphically through the character of Fantine (played by Lily Collins in the new BBC adaptation) who has to sell her hair and front teeth to survive. Over the next six decades, as intense division and repression periodically exploded, France would struggle to re-establish stability and dignity.

Les Misérables follows this history from Waterloo up to 1832. But Hugo wasn’t greatly interested in the corridors of power or the outcome of battles. Born in 1802 at a point when Napoleon had declared himself First Consul for life, Hugo had been a royalist in his youth, then converted to republicanism in his mid-twenties but was too much of an individualist to engage seriously in party politics (the character of Marius – the young boy who was barred from seeing his father in episode one last Sunday, and who grows up to be a student revolutionary – has often been seen as a partial self-portrait). Like much of Dickens’s fiction, Les Misérables is not an ideological manifesto but a passionate protest on behalf of the downtrodden – and above all, the victims of a system that delivered so much injustice.

The novel is one of the longest ever written – at 655,000 words, running in many editions to 1,500 pages, it is considerably longer than War and Peace. A leading light of the romantic movement since his early success with the play Hernani, his novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and his voluminous poetry, Hugo had become France’s most popular writer and a beacon to the idealistic young. A man of astounding egotism and energy, he gestated Les Misérables over decades, drawing on personal memories and experiences but writing it largely during the late 1850s – a period when he was based in the Channel Islands, living in voluntary exile from the regime of the Emperor Louis Napoleon, Napoleon Bonaparte’s nephew, who in 1851 had seized power in an illegal coup d’état that Hugo vociferously deplored.

Because this hostile attitude made him persona non grata in France, Les Misérables originally appeared in Belgium and copies were smuggled over the border. Such was Hugo’s international reputation that it was instantly translated into many languages and sold in its hundreds of thousands. Highbrow critics deplored its prolixity and tub-thumping – Flaubert sneered at it as “infantile” – but posterity ranks it with Oliver Twist and Uncle Tom’s Cabin as one of those 19th-century novels that changed not only hearts and minds but also the social agenda.

Hugo was a writer who had views about everything and no inhibitions about expressing them. But he expends little space on explaining the forces that were driving and enforcing the oppression he was excoriating (and Andrew Davies, who has written the BBC television adaptation, simply hasn’t the luxury of time to do so).

In October 1815, when Les Misérables starts, Napoleon has abdicated and just arrived at St Helena, the island in the Atlantic Ocean where he was detained by the British until his death in 1821. In his stead, the British have placed Louis XVIII, the brother of Louis XVI who was guillotined by the revolutionaries in 1793. A man of moderate and malleable views, the new king seemed to stand a fair chance of holding the middle ground.

But the issues confronted by his government – voted in by a small gerrymandered electorate – did not lend themselves to peaceful negotiated compromise. One sensitive area was the problem of how much of the pre-Napoleonic and pre-revolutionary order to restore, particularly in relation to confiscated land and nobles who had left the country to escape persecution.

Almost immediately, there was an outbreak of “White terror” in the south of the country, as bands of “Ultra” royalists took the law into their own hands by purging hundreds of Bonapartists and seizing what they considered to be illegally expropriated property. The legitimists then took draconian measures to punish these rebels, setting up a chain reaction of kangaroo courts, brutal kidnappings, arson and massacres.

This anarchy was the last thing France needed: in the post-war slump, unemployment was high and the government’s coffers were being emptied by the Allies’ demands for a huge indemnity of 700 million francs. In 1816-17 the harvest failed, creating a crime wave that bred thousands of Jean Valjeans; and in 1820, the duc de Berry, third in line to the Bourbon throne, was assassinated by a fanatic Bonapartist.

This provoked a state of emergency and a paranoid fear of liberals and students, causing a marked swing to the Right and the empowerment of ruthless investigative police chiefs such as Hugo’s monomaniacal Javert (played with intensity by David Oyelowo in the new series). In 1821 the “Ultra” royalists, mostly provincial landowners, came to command a parliamentary majority.

But in 1825 the thumbscrews of reaction were turned too tight. A hugely unpopular law enforcing the guillotine for sacrilege was passed, and after Louis XVIII died, his brother Charles X was crowned in a ridiculously medieval ceremony involving holy oil. The Ultras’ continued insistence that land lost during the revolution should be restituted to émigré nobles enraged a population that was seeing no economic benefits from strong rule.

The result was the gradual strengthening of what liberal elements remained in the government and the formation of illegal clandestine societies such as Hugo’s Friends of the ABC, to the cause of which the idealistic character of Marius is sympathetic. Their energies were in the ascendant: Charles X proved a weak ruler, and when violence erupted in Paris over “three glorious days” in July 1830, the army was caught unprepared, nobody rushed to the Ultras’ defence and Charles abdicated, escaping to Britain.

Having rejected what looked too similar in spirit to the pre-revolutionary absolute monarchy, the chambers of government then elected the duc d’Orléans Louis Philippe, whose conciliatory tone and bourgeois lifestyle at first boded well. But in 1832 an epidemic of cholera erupted in Paris, killing 20,000, and as the novel chronicles, the funeral of a popular liberal, General Maximilien Lamarque, became a flashpoint. Barricades were thrown up in working-class areas of the city, with hundreds of casualties and calls for republican liberty ensuing. The insurrection was successfully quashed and of no lasting consequence, but Hugo was an eyewitness to the action, and his vivid recreation of the violence has given the episode an immortality far in excess of its political significance.

That power to move and inspire is at the heart of Les Misérables, which isn’t a novel of meticulous realism, to be read with a cool head. The incredible saga of Jean Valjean is more like a romantic epic, fuelled by the author’s moral outrage as well as his thunderous rhetoric and boundless ambition. It asks fundamental questions about society, pointing a finger of responsibility at us all: and its passion and compassion remains central to the conscience of the French nation.

Rupert Christiansen’s City of Light: The Reinvention of Paris was published last year by Head of Zeus

Les Misérables is on Sundays at 9pm on BBC One (x)

[ollyarchive]

LET IT BURN: YEARS & YEARS

With Years & Years’ second album ‘Palo Santo’, Olly Alexander is smouldering away all negative energy and shaping communities from the dancefloor.

By El Hunt on 27th April 2018

Years & Years’ ringleader Olly Alexander - clad in a magnificent pair of PVC overalls; his second costume change of the day - is currently milling around an East London photo studio, thoughtfully munching on cookies, and discussing Mariah Carey in great detail. The megastar pop icon has hit the news this same week after speaking publicly about her bipolar disorder diagnosis for the first time, and Olly’s quick to commend her bravery in letting down her barriers. “I think it would be nice to believe that pop stars and famous people are just incredibly happy and fabulous; that they move glitteringly through the world, and that everything they touch turns gold,” he reasons. “But it’s a fantasy. Actually, I think vulnerability - and being able to be vulnerable - is a sign of real strength.”

You sense that Olly Alexander lives by these same words as he navigates the landscape of being a pop star in 2018. In the three years following Years & Years’ rapid rise to the highest echelons of the charts, Olly has gradually morphed into something of a public figure, too. A prominent spokesperson on mental health and LGBT activism in particular, Olly dedicated the band’s landmark Glastonbury show in 2016 - which took place roughly a year on from the release of their debut album ‘Communion’ - to pride, promising to “shove a rainbow in fear’s face” in an emotional speech to the assembled crowds. A year later, Olly took a camera crew back to his unassuming hometown for a moving BBC documentary titled ‘Growing Up Gay’, and was very honest in discussing his experiences with bullying, eating disorders, and anxiety. ‘Palo Santo’ - Years & Years’ second album - is a continuation of this, combining ridiculously overblown, brilliantly lavish sci-fi landscapes and gigantic pop ambition with an amped-up sense of honesty, and a space-reclaiming edge that defies the presence of negative energy. Today, Olly observes that one of his chief goals as an artist is to write the songs that would’ve lifted him up as a teenager still searching for a community.

After spending several years moving around the country living next to a variety of theme parks - the singer was born in Blackpool, where he lived next door to the Pleasure Beach, before moving down the road from both Alton Towers and Staffordshire’s Drayton Manor - Olly Alexander and his mum settled into rural Gloucestershire life when he was thirteen. Trading in the garish Blackpool illuminations for the distant glimmer of the Severn Bridge, it was a drastic change in pace .“It always gets described as sleepy, Coleford,” Olly grins, having swapped his neon-orange PVC vest and chain necklace (another of today’s outfits) for something a little more practical. Up until it became the hometown of Years & Years’ frontman, the small market town boasted a ukulele expert as one of its most famous residents, and was perhaps best known for being the location of the world’s only Ribena production plant. It wasn’t exactly the epicentre of queer culture for a teenager searching for a community, especially given that the nearest gay bar - Flamingos - was thirty miles away in Bristol, and located the other side of a toll bridge.

“I was actually too scared to go to Flamingos,” Olly remembers, laughing. “I love that as a name for a gay bar. Flamingos!” he announces, with grand intonation. ”[Coleford] was never a place that felt connected to anything queer when I was growing up.”

“I did like growing up around trees and fields, pretending I was a fairy,” he adds, chirpily. “I enjoyed getting that experience.”

“Being able to be vulnerable is a sign of real strength.”

Rather than heading to the now-closed Flamingos (R.I.P), Olly surrounded himself with a sea of pop bangers growing up instead, worshipping at the altar of Christina, Britney and TLC. And speaking of worship, he also remembers taking notice of another prominent community in the town: the church next door to his house. Though organised religion wasn’t his bag, the strange rituals - decorating an orange for Christingle, reciting the Lord’s Prayer at his local Church of England primary school - proved intriguing. Later in life, he’d grow to view songwriting as a cathartic and mysterious kind of healing ritual, as well as noticing odd parallels between a church’s sense of belonging, and the celebratory freedom that exists in a space filled with dancing, thrashing bodies, and filthy, sexy pop.

As Years & Years were starting to etch out the first strokes of ‘Palo Santo’ at the beginning of last year, Olly explains he was “newly single”, and reading a lot of books in his spare time. Besides taking on the mammoth task of conquering David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest, he also picked up Andrew Holleran’s cult novel Dancer From the Dance; set amongst New York City’s LGBT disco scene in the 1970’s. As well as being flamboyant and fun - presenting a campy, fabulous surface world that’s soundtracked by The Marvelettes and Sister Sledge - it’s also a heartbreaking read, documenting the “psycho-sexual drama” of desire, and touching on both loneliness and immense inequality. It’s a double-edged sword that also exists in ‘Palo Santo’.

“It talks a lot about how the club is like a church; a church for gay people to go and dance, and I was like, yes!” Olly says, excitedly. “This is putting into words how I’ve been feeling for so long, and what I’ve been trying to communicate in music. It really inspired me to write a lot,” he says. One song on ‘Palo Santo’ directly credits the book as an influence. ‘I breathe the rituals of the dancer’s dance,’ Olly sings on ‘Sanctify’.

“When I see dancers, their body is their medium,” Olly notes. “The art is their body. What an amazing embodiment of creativity, to literally be your limbs and your expression and movement! I’ve always been enchanted by dance,” he says. “Plus, I think a pop video should have dance in it, too. It’s a prerequisite! A bit of choreography! You want that fantasy moment where everybody’s going to burst into dance. Some choreo! I just think, if you can’t do that in a pop video, where can you?”

Such considerations rule on ‘Palo Santo’, an album that pushes every last bold facet of pop to the maximum extreme. Set in a high-concept, futuristic world which plays on traces of real life to sneaky, allegorical effect, it also sees Years & Years more fearless than ever. One pulsing highlight, ‘Hallelujah’ dives straight onto the dancefloor to find healing in letting loose, while Olly’s current favourite ‘Lucky Escape’ confronts the more unlikeable aspects of our own emotions. “It’s such a petty song!” he reasons. “I was quite sick when I recorded the vocal for it, and I can really hear when I listen to the song that I’m not feeling very well. I don’t like the person that’s saying those words in a way, but it’s an honest reflection of what I was feeling at the time. I’m proud to put that on there.”

“I’ve always been enchanted by dance.”

Over the past three years, Olly says, he has started to realise that pushing his own boundaries reaps creative rewards. “Putting yourself in an uncomfortable position - in terms of the creative process - it usually means you’re going to get something worthwhile,” he adds. “I really had to get past the levels of pettiness…. sometimes it made me laugh. I’d be writing a song when I was so angry at my ex boyfriend. I would never want to present this to the world, where I’m just this bitter ex who’s still hung up on him!’ Olly admits. “[But] actually, sometimes we are hung up! It’s an ugly, but also truthful and beautiful, side to our humanity. I had to be okay with it.”

Another standout track called ‘Rendezvous’, meanwhile, contains hints of Jennifer Lopez’s euro-banger ‘On the Floor’ (“it does!” Olly exclaims in agreement) and explores hook-up culture, along with unpacking his immediate feelings as a relationship draws to a close. “After a relationship you think, maybe the things they did weren’t as well intentioned as I thought they were?” Olly says. “I was in my petty, angry phase. I have had a lot of experiences with guys where the sex has felt like this depressing inevitability. We’re gonna meet up, and we’re going to have sex. That’ll kind of be it, and then onto the next person. What’s happening in that interaction, and what happens in that interaction when it’s someone you want more from?” he asks, pausing. “I also just really wanted to write a song called ‘Rendezvous’!” he adds. “I think I’d smoked a really big joint before I wrote that song, so there’s that, too. Beyonce would have a song called ‘Rendezvous’ and she’d kill it! She has ‘Deja Vu’, of course. Britney loves a French moment, too. With stuff like that, you just need conviction.”

Conviction is a world that springs to mind easily when you’re talking to Olly Alexander. As well as his commitment to sharing his own experiences with unwavering honesty, this new era of the group feels like a step onwards from the anonymous throngs of bodies that once grabbed at Olly way back when the band released their video for ‘King’. Performing solo gyrating routines for a panel of extra-terrestrial judges as Years & Years returned with ‘Sanctify’ - a bit like a filthier Strictly Come Dancing if it were set in an alternate universe - it’s the very definition of conviction. And with his bandmates Emre Turkmen and Mikey Goldsworthy also taking on a slightly different role this time around - acting as behind the scenes production wizards and, as Olly puts it, “his musical husbands” - there’s a sense that he’s also careful when it comes to handling his newfound platform responsibly.

“What is the point of a pop star in 2018? What should they be saying?”

“What is the point of a pop star in 2018?” Olly asks nobody in particular. “What should they be saying?”

Heading into ‘Palo Santo’ with the aim of creating a record that tackles the intricacies of belonging in a world that feels increasingly dangerous and fragmented, the band crafted an entire fictional landscape to explore the darker grit. “It felt too monumental, hard or depressing to set everything in our real world,” he reasons. “I thought a lot about where I could make a place where we take out all the rules surrounding gender identity and sexuality. I thought, well, why don’t we just have everybody be androids?” Olly laughs.

“I’ve always loved artists that take people to their mad world with them, like Bowie, Prince, Gaga. I thought, I want to do something like that, and go as big as possible,” he concludes with resolve.

In ‘Palo Santo’, Years & Years have done just that, flinging open the doors on a vastly ambitious universe that ignites life’s bullshit in a blaze of euphoria. Infiltrating the mainstream with dagger-edged pop - and doing it in fantastical, glittering style - Olly Alexander might just be the most important pop star we have in 2018.

[dalyunministry]

Sister. Savita Manwani

🍁

Praise the LORD! It’s time to receive the word of God. Greeting to all in Jesus name.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time. As we meditate on your word, you lead us to understand your word for your word is alive, active and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword that divides and pierces the soul and the spirit, the joint and the marrow. I pray today that let your word accomplish the purpose for which it is being sent and may our spirit be enlightened by your word. In Jesus name. Amen.

Topic - SPIRITUAL HOLINESS

No parents want their children to remain as babies though childhood is very exciting. So it is with our Heavenly father who desires that each one of his child grows in every area of his/her life because perpetual infancy is an embarrassment to Him.

The Bible repeatedly says: “do not be children….”

1 Corinthians 14:20 - Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.

Ephesians 4:14a - that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.

The writer of Hebrews lamented perpetual infancy.

Hebrews 5:12, 13 - For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

God’s will for us is not just growth but full growth.

Ephesians 4:13 - till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

The verse says “we all” that means every child of God.

But the tragedy in the Church today is that there are many spiritual dwarfs and the reason is that they are not taught the Biblical prescriptions for growth. The Stan has taken advantage of this situation and led people into stunted and twisted growth.

Spiritual growth is both our privilege and our responsibility. All that God has provided for our growth is our privilege and how we use them is our responsibility.

Remember, as God’s children, we grow into adulthood, as justified through faith we grow in sanctification; as saints we grow in saintliness.

Our spiritual growth has nothing to do with our acceptance before God, but it does increase our usefulness to Him.

Ephesians 4:15 says… but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

We are to grow in all aspects. A multidimensional growth is required. We must not neglect any area.

The Apostles challenged the believers to grow in all aspects neglecting nothing.

2 Corinthians 8:7 - But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.

When we give attention to all areas, Apostle Paul points out God’s promise.

2 Corinthians 9:8 - And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Note: All grace, all sufficiency, all things…every good work….always

WOW! What a promise….Hallelujah

This multidimensional growth is seen in the lives of several Bible characters. But we will take just 2 examples:

1. Boy Samuel – 1 Samuel 2:26 - And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the LORD and men.

2. Boy Jesus – Luke 2:52 - And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

The word “stature” indicates physical growth

The word “wisdom” indicates intellectual growth

Favor with God indicates spiritual growth

Favor with men indicates social growth

Note the multidimensional growth of these two bible characters.

Here are few spiritual disciples and let us see what it means to grow in them.

1. Growing in Biblical understanding

The Bible is a book that contains law, history, prophecy, wisdom, doctrines, etc. in these there are promises, commandments, warnings, exhortations, etc.

It will be childishness if we only look for booklets listing “promises” of God. We need to look into the whole Bible for a better understanding.

“Wholesome growth is not possible without the “whole” Bible.

2. Growing in Prayer

It is not just asking God whatever we want but it is asking according to His will.

1 John 5:14 - Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

1 John 3:22 - And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

3. Growing in Worship

It is childishness to worship God for excitement and for just feeling good. It is not just giving thanks to God for what He has done for us but it is praising God for who He is! i.e. His worth.

Revelation 4:11 – “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

Revelation 5:9 – And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

Revelation 5:12, 13 – saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

Revelation 7:12 - saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

4. Growing in Holiness

To start with we should confess our sins and as we mature we should compare with God’s Holiness.

First, we should leave the sins of the Flesh. All those that are mentioned in Galatians 5:19-21. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Filthiness of not only the “flesh” but also the “Spirit”and must be confessed and be cleansed.

2 Corinthians 7:1 -Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Then, we should grow in the fruits of the Spirit. Those that are mentioned in Galatians 5:22.23 -love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

5. Growing in Obedience

It is said about Jesus that He “learnt” obedience.

Hebrews 5:8 - though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

He walked in obedience into the waters of baptism. He walked in obedience into the fire of suffering. He was always obedient and never yielded to temptations to disobey God. He was obedient even to the point of death.

As far as we are concerned the Bible says we are originally the children of disobedience.

Ephesians 2:1-3 - And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Sometimes we are reluctant to obey, sometimes choosy to obey and sometimes we delay in obeying.

Friends, we need to grow into willing, wholehearted, delightsome, and instant obedience.

6. Growing in Forgiveness

Mathew 18:21, 22 - Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

First - seven times then, 70 x 7 times

7. Growing in Patience

Children are very impatient. They want everything instantly. But we need to grow in patience even when are prayers are delayed or God answers them differently.

8. Growing in Humility

Let us take the example of Apostle Paul

1 Timothy 1:15 -This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

As a sinner, he calls himself the “chief of all sinners”

Ephesians 3:8 - To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

As a saint, he considers himself “Less than the least of saints”

1 Corinthians 15:9 - For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

As an apostle, Paul considers self to be the “Least of all apostles”.

As far as we are concerned, many of us think we are somebody, then we find out that we are nobody but when we begin to grow spiritually we understand that God is everything and without Him we are nothing,

Finally, I would like to capsulate multidimensional spiritual growth like this –

• Its’ climbing higher in Holiness

• It’s digging deeper into the Scriptures

• It’s drawing nearer to God in prayers.

• It’s walking softer in behavior

• It’s opening our hands wider in accepting people.

• It’s working harder in work and ministry.

May God bless you all and may you grow more and more spiritually, strengthening the weak areas in your life so that your growth may be wholesome.

[xadoheandterra]

Title: Don’t Write Me A Postscript Chapter: VIII (I / II / III / IV / V / VI / VII / IX / X / XI / XII / XIII) Fandom: Red vs Blue Characters: Church | Alpha, Dr. Leonard Church | Director, Micheal Caboose | Agent California | Micheal-210, David Church | Agent Washington | Recovery One, Aiden Price | Counselor, F. I. L. S. S | Xi Summary: He was all sorts fucked up and didn’t want to admit it. Being alone for fourteen months didn’t help matters--except, well, Church was tired of being alone. Tired of people leaving and dying--and he thought, no more. I’m done. I’m out.

Won’t Say You’re Sorry (I / II / III)

Do You Even Feel Compassion? (I / II)

Leonard pressed his lips thin as he held his hands behind his back and stared at the screens upon the Father of Intuition. From slightly behind him Aiden Price stood, and Leonard felt his shoulders tense. He’d grown more and more wary of his ‘secret’ ONI watcher as time moved on, and now as Freelancer crashed and burned around him that unnerved energy only grew.

“How far along are we in the decommission of the simulation bases?” Leonard asked as he studied the information available on Freelancer agents.

“As well as can be expected,” Price said, and Leonard could hear the pleased hum in his voice. “Any survivors from Agent Maine’s rampage have been appropriately sequestered and given adequate psychiatric care.”

Leonard tilted his head to look back at Price. “And the status of my Freelancer agents, Counselor? Why are so many of my men marked as KIA?”

Price folded his own arms and sorrowfully dipped his head. “Unfortunate circumstances,” he said. “It appears Agent Maine is not just targeting those of Alpha squad.”

Leonard clenched his jaw. That he didn’t believe. Sigma’s obsession held no quarry with the rest of Freelancer, only with his ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters’ and ‘creator’ and ultimate himself. Leonard always knew his ambition was a dangerous thing, he just never suspected how much.

Price stepped up toward the map and nodded toward Agent Carolina, “And what of your daughter?” he questioned. “Any word of her?”

Leonard squeezed his hands and tried to ignore the urge to snarl at the man. “Agent Carolina is dead, Counselor,” he said, tone cold. “If you remember she was the first casualty of Agent Maine’s rampage.”

Price hummed. “Of course.” There was a moments pause, and then, “Is her death the reason why you’ve worked so hard to mitigate Agent Maine’s actions?”

“I am mitigating Agent Maine’s increasing erratic behavior because it is reprehensible,” Leonard said sharply. “Agent Carolina’s unfortunate death has no bearing on that.”

“And yet you were willing to see how she’d handle two AI fragments,” Price mused. “I find this discrepancy…odd.”

Leonard breathed out slowly, tried to control himself. “Counselor…my feelings on Agent Carolina and her demise are not up for discussion.” He squeezed his hands again and reminded himself that choking Price would be counterproductive. “The experiment with multiple AI fragments was her own idea, as you well know. After the determination that a single AI fragment could function stably with our Agents it is only logical we progress to see how two would work, given a full AI implantation ended…in utter disaster.”

Price hummed. “Ah, yes. Agent California.” He side-eyed Leonard. “Is that not when the Beta AI became apparent?”

“You know that answer.”

“Of course.”

Leonard focused on the names.

Georgia who went missing initially after they retrieved him from space, later reported dead in the news. Alabama discovered by Recovery Five. Utah who disappeared from the intensive care unit he’d been placed in after a second disastrous test of the dome shield. Louisiana Oklahoma Michigan Montana Nevada presumed dead, potentially MIA

The names went on and on. There were as many known listed KIA’s as there were MIA’s. Barely even a handful of Freelancer’s remained, and it left a sour taste in Leonard’s mouth. He’d always hated death, and found it to be part of why he’d never quite been fit for military life.

“It is interesting,” Price spoke up, “how this project has failed in incorporating a full AI with a soldier. Perhaps the fault is in our design for the neural implants and not in compatibility.”

Leonard glanced to Price with narrowed eyes. “And why do you think that is?”

“You have heard that Master Chief had implanted the CTN series, did you not?” Price tilted his head, curious.

Leonard furrowed his brow. “While our designs were experimental we did share our project goals with the SPARTAN II program,” Leonard said slowly. “However, we did not reveal everything, my dear Counselor. While yes implantation in the manner that Master Chief John-117 achieved is possible, we were searching for a more…permanent solution, if you recall.”

Price hummed. “True, and in that respect the Project is a failure. Does this concern you?”

Leonard squeezed his hands. “That my goals were a failure? That I did not achieve what I sought to do? No. It is merely a disappointment, and I will weather the storm of the fallout as always. Now, Counselor, I would appreciate it if you let me be.”

Leonard strode from the screens and over to his desk. He released his hands from behind his back and laid one down onto a small picture—the only picture he had left of Allison and Charmaine.

“Are you sure you do not wish to discuss your feelings, Director?” Price questioned.

“I want to be left alone, Counselor,” Leonard said, and he turned his head to look at Price. Price nodded and turned to leave the room.

“You know where to find me if you wish to talk,” Price said as he left. “It is, after all, best if you do not bottle up these emotions, Director. It could lead to dire consequences.”

The door slipped shut and Leonard snorted. As if I would discuss what ahm feelin’ with you, he thought bitterly. Once he might have, before he found the records and logs of Price’s sessions with David. Leonard clenched the photograph tight, and then folded it down flat on the desk so that he couldn’t see the picture. He moved around and grabbed a decanter, alcohol—the strongest he could afford—and drifted over toward his couch with a tired sigh.

“F.I.L.S.S., go secure,” Leonard sat down on the couch and leaned back.

“Of course Director,” F.I.L.S.S. chimed, her trademark eye covering up the listed names. Leonard listened as the walls hissed shut and sealed him inside. He waited for a breath, and when F.I.L.S.S. chimed in, “We are secure,” Leonard fully relaxed.

“Thank you, Xi,” he murmured tiredly.

A flicker, and Xi fully appeared in front of him, standing atop the coffee table. She tilted her head. “Would you like me to play the video file?” she asked him.

“No,” Leonard closed his eyes. “Not tonight.”

Xi watched him; Leonard knew Xi watched him because she always did. Compassion, the one trait he barely held any of, and yet it was one of the largest fragments that Leonard had ever seen—larger than even Beta. Leonard let himself fall heavy with the thought, sipped his alcohol, and found himself drifting off into a light doze. He felt the room warm just a bit, enough to help him drift off as a blanket settled around his shoulders.

“Rest well, grandfather,” Xi said softly.

Leonard hummed. Xi had always reminded him of Charmaine when she was younger. Perhaps that was why…and he barely held the thought before he drifted off into dreams. Dreams of Allison, of Alpha and Charmaine and David and Xi—of everything being right in the world.

When Leonard woke he could hear Xi humming softly. For a moment he just laid there and listened to the familiar song that Allison used to sing to Charmaine. Eventually he opened his eyes and sat up, and instantly Xi stopped. She flitted over until she settled across the coffee table, aquamarine and bright. Leonard couldn’t help the smile that crossed his face.

“There is a glass of water on the end table,” Xi said, and Leonard glanced over. “There have been no updates since the room went secure.”

“Thank you, Xi,” Leonard murmured and picked up the glass of water. He eyed the decanter and his bottle of alcohol and decided to ignore it for now. “Any news on Charmaine?”

“No news on Charmaine,” Xi said disappointedly. “David has refused contact.”

“As expected,” Leonard murmured as he sipped on his water. “What about their Freelancer files?”

Xi flickered. A file popped up in front of her, faintly holographic like her own form, filled with binary that danced in front of her glasses.

“Agent Washington of Project Freelancer,” Xi recited, “Given name, David. Surname, Greer. Age, 32. Status, Active. Station, Recover One. Location, en route to Rhodam and Outpost 17, codname Valhalla.”

Leonard frowned, but nodded with a murmur of, “Good.”

“Agent Carolina of Project Freelancer,” Xi recited as the screens twisted around her. “Given name, Charmaine. Surname, Greer. Age, 31. Status, MIA, presumed KIA. Station, Freelancer Alpha Squad Leader. Location, unknown.”

Leonard relaxed back and closed his eyes with a tired sigh. “Are you sure givin’ her the same surname is the best idea?” he questioned.

The folders flickered away and Xi looked at him. “David’s service record speaks for itself, and all necessary files have already been altered to reflect his name of ‘Greer.’ As soon as you provide the word the record of Agent Washington within Project Freelancer will be erased. As for Charmaine, since they are biologically siblings with only a year apart, it is best to provide her with the same last name.”

“Maryanne is not goin’ to like that,” Leonard mumbled tiredly. He scrubbed a hand down his face.

Xi blinked. “It is the best possible response as any blood test would instantly declare them related siblings,” Xi pointed out, “and…to allow David and Charmaine to repair the relationship they never had.”

“Maryanne is gonna kill me,” Leonard groaned. She had just as vicious a kick as Allison and as much a propensity for crotch shots. Leonard already lamented the state his balls if they ever saw each other once again.

“Surely she would not hurt you?” Xi questioned.

“Xi, darlin’, you have never met the Greer sisters. Maryanne is almost exactly like Allison, and that is sayin’ somethin’ less than wonderful about my wife, but true nonetheless.” Leonard leaned forward and sighed.

“Should I change it then?” Xi asked.

Leonard took a moment before he sighed. “No,” he said. “No, you are right. The consequences will have to just be dealt with. Now what about the Alpha, Xi?”

Xi flicked her fingers and focused on the information she had at her fingertips about the Alpha, as well as the tracking implant to help keep an eye on him. “AI serial DTR-4302-5; designation, Alpha. Status, active. Assignment, High Ground. Location, en route to Rhodam and Outpost 17, codename Valhalla.”

Leonard froze. “What.”

“En route to Rhodam and Outpost 17, codename Valhall,” Xi repeated.

Leonard raised his head to stare at Xi, brow furrowed, and with a sharp curse he stood and quickly stormed over to his desk. “Get a hold of Alpha immediately, Xi! What the fuck does that little shit think he’s doin’? Ah had him at High Ground for a damn reason. Wanderin’ off with David like nothin’ wrong and huntin’ him down that stupid arrogant child.” Leonard grit his teeth.

Xi watched him, her fingers absentmindedly flickered through to start a call to Alpha for the Director. She looked at her files, and then said softly so that Leonard couldn’t hear, “Perhaps it’s good I didn’t tell him about Agent California, then….”

Church lounged and dozed against Caboose, out of armor, while Washington poured over digital documents with a frown. Frustrated at the man for his silence on matters aside from questioning them about O’mally, Gary, and Tex, Church decided to ultimately ignore him. He also ignored Caboose who would look at him with big, disappointed eyes. Church had a right to know what was going on, dammit. He’d been left in the dark about plenty in his life and fuck he hated it. First Florida kept secrets from him tahnks to his head injury, then the Director followed suit, and now Agent Washington.

“You should try to be nice, Church,” Caboose grumbled from where he’d wrapped his arms around Church. “Agent Washingbin only wants to be friends.”

“I’m angry,” Church grumbled back.

“But not at Washtub,” Caboose pointed out and damn him.

(he was right)

(fuck)

(he was always right)

“So?” Church settled to glare wat Washington instead of actually cussing Caboose out like he wanted.

“I’m your best friend, Church,” Caboose pointed you. “You know me, and I know you.”

(best friend)

(that’s how…)

(but why?)

(I hurt you)

Church twisted and buried his face into Caboose’s chest with a faint sigh. “I hurt you,” he mumbled bitterly.

“You did not know,” Caboose explained patiently. Why was he always so patient with Church even when he didn’t deserve to be? “You slayed the dragon.”

“And burned you,” Church snapped back. He played into the fantasy that Caboose used to cope, aware that if he tried to pull the other man out it’d end in disaster at this point. As much as he wanted to snap and tell Caboose to quick being so damn childish, to quit hiding behind these stupid analogies, Church held his tongue. He knew enough about psychology to know that he wasn’t qualified to bring Caboose out of the mix of reality and fantasy the man lived in.

“I am fine,” Caboose soothed. He moved his hand up and down Church’s back—Church grimaced and fought the urge to tell Caboose to stop because part of him loved it, loved the comfort, but the rest of him wanted to shove it away as a weakness. He didn’t deserve comfort from Caboose anyway.

(guilty, he raged)

(caboose)                                                                            

(he doesn’t)                        

(just)                                                    

(understand)                    

(please)

(caboose)                                                            

(I broke you)

“Ass,” Church finally settled on grumbling as a compromise. He could practically feel Caboose smile in response.

“Now,” Caboose said, pleased, “make friends, Church.”

“Not interested.”

Caboose frowned, but before he could prod Church further an alert went off—shrill and catching, even Washington jerked up in surprise—and Church pinpointed it from his sky-blue armor. Quickly he extricated himself from Caboose’s grasp and scrambled over to his armor even as Agent Washington got to his feet and followed. Church fumbled to pull the thing on—

“What the hell is going on?”

—and quickly Church flicked off the external speakers once he’d gotten the thing in place.

(secret)

(secret)

secretsecretsecretsecretsecretsecretsecretsecret

(I’m)

secretsecretsecretsecretsecretsecretsecretsecret

(must remain)

secretsecretsecretsecretsecretsecretsecretsecret

(a secret)

Church sucked in a breath and answered the call.

secretsecretsecretsecretsecretsecretsecretsecret

“Why the fuck have you decided to call me now?” Church demanded. There was only one person who would attempt to call him, and after months of silence Church was not in a forgiving mood.

secretsecretsecretsecretsecretsecretsecretsecret

“What in th’ evah lovin’ hell do ya think ya doin’ leavin’ High Ground ya irritatin’ fuckin’ piece ah damn shit!” the Director raged, accent thick in his anger, voice sharp and loud and something else that Church couldn’t quite identify, didn’t quite want to.

“Have you…been drinking?” Church questioned.

(he wanted to ask if he was okay)

(except that meant admitting care)

(he didn’t care dammit)

(he didn’t)

Washington narrowed eyes and Caboose got up from his seated position, suddenly tense as Church got more and more wound up from the words the Director spoke. Something like concern laced his frown, and Washington seemed to catch on that things were wrong.

“No ahm damn well not okay, and it ain’t any damn concern ah yah’s if ahm drinkin’!” the Director snapped, voice slowly rising in pitch to a familiar shriek. “What in sam hell do yah think yah doin’, boy? David’s job ain’t safe for ya t’be ‘round, yah sonnovabitch!”

(low blow)

(but then you’d know wouldn’t you?)

(a whore of a mother)

(bastard father)

(we’re so shitty)

(everything)

(just shitty)

(aren’t we?)

“So?” Church responded despite the way his thoughts churned beneath the surface. “High Ground wasn’t any damned safer than my box!” He began to pace the small commons area like a caged tiger.

Caboose cautiously approached now while Washington’s hands flexed for his sidearm.

“Church. Church, calm down,” Caboose said—and it penetrated the helmet in its intensity, hit the audio sensors enough that the Director could hear.

“Who. Is. That?” the Director ground down, voice going soft.

“Why does it matter?!” Church snapped out and flung one arm wide. Washington jerked and grabbed his sidearm out of reflex, pulled up and aimed at Church.

A quick scuffle between Caboose and Washington followed. Caboose wrestled for the gun, wrestled to pull it away a snarl about not hurting Church.

“ALPHA!” the Director shrieked, furious. Church jerked and his whole body locked up stiff. In the shock of seeing Church suddenly, utterly, tense Caboose got the sidearm away from Washington and tossed to the side. He then moved over toward Church quickly.

“What the hell is going on?” Washington questioned. He tracked Caboose, tracked the way Church remained tense as a board while Caboose grabbed him and curled his arms protectively around him.

“Bad conversation with mean goblin man,” Caboose grumbled for Washington.

“Wait—is that Californiah?!” the Director demanded. “What in the hell—why is fuckin’ Californiah there?!”

“Why do you care,” Church replied quietly.

“What?”

“Why do you care?” Chuch repeated.

“Alpha—”

Church exploded, struggled in Caboose’s grasp, “WHY DO YOU FUCKIN’ CARE?!” The words were loud enough for even Washington to hear, who jerked back sharp enough, and far enough that he hit the wall. His hands grasped for a sidearm that was no longer there, for a knife he hadn’t allowed himself to carry in years.

Church’s struggles increased, furious and grief stricken and confused. He began to slip, accent bursting forth in a way he’d refused to allow in years. “YOU NEVER CARED BEFORE! AFTER EVERYTHIN” AN’ ALL YAH DONE—TAH ME AN’ THEM AN’ US—WHY DO YA SUDDENLY FUCKIN’ CARE?!”

“Church, Church,” Caboose repeated as he grabbed at Church’s hands, grabbed at Church’s arms, shoulders, wrapped him tight while he fought and scratched and struggled tog et out of the grasp, to beat something to hurt something.

Church’s eyes burned with the want to shed tears he could not create. His voice wanted to choke up as it grew shriller and shriller and shriller. Washington’s breathing grew heavier by the wall, eyes wide and pupils dilated and fear shot through his veins like liquid electricity. Then, all of a sudden, Church went silent and limp in Caboose’s arms. Wash trembled and fought down fearfearfearfearfearfear that threatened to overwhelm him—he hated fighting ever since the crash, the counseling, the everything—and the world around the three of them seemed to still.

The Director said nothing at first, and then started, “Alpha—” but Church had enough. Caboose slackened his arms, and Church ripped the helmet off and squirmed out of Caboose’s grip and—he didn’t flee, he didn’t run, he didn’t—stormed off to his small sequestered bunk on their small, acquired ship. Caboose watched him go, then picked up the helmet and pulled it on.

“—regrettin’ what happened—” the Director spoke, conversation continued unaware that Church had left.

“Church is angry,” Caboose said plainly and the Director stopped cold.

“California—” he started, but Caboose cut the connection and pulled the helmet off. He looked to Washington.

“Church is angry,” Caboose said plainly.

“No shit,” Washington replied. He scrubbed a hand down his face tiredly and moved back toward his paperwork. He chalked everything up to simulation trooper bullshit and decided to ignore what just happened even though it gnawed at him—gnawed at him with niggling thoughts and terrified considerations.

He knew that voice.

Caboose watched him. Caboose watched him, and looked to the helmet, and then to the door that Church disappeared through.

He knew that voice, Washington thought. He knew that voice.

[godssea7-blog]

“In only one way can this resurrected Holy Roman Empire be brought to fruition—by the ‘good offices’ of the Vatican, uniting church and state once again, with the Vatican astride and ruling.”—Herbert W. Armstrong

Looking at Europe today, it is difficult to imagine the appearance of another Charlemagne, Napoleon or Hitler. The idea of Europe participating in another destructive global conflict, let alone initiating one, seems impossible and outrageous.

For most people, Europe’s storied history—its dungeons and castles, its ancient weapons and renowned battlefields, its celebrated medieval past filled with royal and political intrigue—is valuable only as a lure for tourists. Europe’s days of conquest and empire are done. The future, so many believe, belongs to America, China, Russia and Islam.

One can understand this perception. After all, the world hasn’t been frightened by a European military since the Second World War. Europe continues to ward off economic and financial ruin, as well as social unrest and revolt. Europe is multicultural and sophisticated, and a world leader in defending human rights and environmental activism. The European Union itself is an inefficient, cumbersome collection of states beset with conflicting interests, bogged down by bureaucracy, and seemingly incapable of ever becoming a formidable global leader, let alone a lethal imperial superpower.

But 1,500 years of European history should warn us against underestimating the Holy Roman Empire—and the Vatican.

We must not merely look at Europe in its current state. It must be studied in its historical context. And we ought to consider Europe’s potential. The EU is home to 506 million people, almost 7 percent of the global population. Its economy is twice the size of China’s and much larger than America’s. One fifth of all the world’s economic activity happens in the EU. European nations have 1.5 million personnel in their armed forces. Europe is led by one of the world’s strongest, healthiest and most popular countries: Germany.

Europe has great potential to become a dominant financial, political and military power.

And as we have seen, Europe also has a long history with imperialism and global domination. Imagine if these elements of power were marshaled into a cohesive, dynamic geopolitical entity—a force that was once again directed at resurrecting the Roman Empire?

What if such a terrifying beast is close to being formed already?

EU—a Catholic Creation

The keynote prophecy of Herbert W. Armstrong’s 55-year ministry was about the seventh and final resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire. As early as the mid-1930s, during the Second World War, and even immediately after the war—when the battlefields of Europe were still smoldering and Germany was a wasteland—Mr. Armstrong warned that Germany would once again emerge as the leader of a united European superpower that would plunge mankind into World War iii.

Informed by Bible prophecy and history, Mr. Armstrong explained that while Germany would lead this final resurrection, it would be underpinned by the same religious entity that inspired all the other resurrections. “The politicians cannot [unite Europe] by themselves,” he wrote in a co-worker letter on January 23, 1980. “Only with the collaboration of the popecan they do it.”

In the January 1979 Plain Truth, Mr. Armstrong wrote: “I have been proclaiming and writing, ever since 1935, that the final one of the seven eras of the Holy Roman Empire is coming in our generation—a ‘United States of Europe,’ combining 10 nations or groups of nations in Europe—with a union of church and state! The nations of Europe have been striving to become reunited. They desire a common currency, a single combined military force, a single united government. They have made a start in the Common Market [which later became the EU]. They are now working toward a common currency. Yet, on a purely political basis, they have been totally unable to unite. In only one way can this resurrected Holy Roman Empire be brought to fruition—by the ‘good offices’ of the Vatican, uniting church and state once again, with the Vatican astride and ruling (Revelation 17:1-5).”

Did you know that most of the EU’s “founding fathers” were staunch Catholics?

To men such as Jean Monnet, Robert Schuman, Alcide De Gasperi, Otto von Habsburg and Konrad Adenauer, the European project was a religious ambition as much as it was a political aspiration. In recognition of their pursuit of a Catholic European empire, the Catholic Church is in the process today of canonizing both Schuman and De Gasperi. Again, these men were politicians, not priests.

Most people today have no understanding about how centrally involved the Vatican and the Catholic Church was in the creation of what we now know as the European Union. Notice this 1962 article from Topic, a prominent magazine in Britain at the time: “The Vatican, usually cautious over political changes not of its own inspiration, now considers the Common Market the work of divine providence. Not since the times of Spain’s Charles v has a Roman Catholic political force been so strongly welded. Not since the end of the Holy Roman Empire has the Holy See been offered a Catholic rallying point like the Common Market. If the ‘Pact of Rome,’ which created the Common Market, had been signed within the Vatican walls, it could not have favored the church more.”

In The Principality and Power of Europe, a book exposing the origins of the European Union, Adrian Hilton writes, “Europe’s leaders and the Roman Catholic Church are still working together towards the common goal of unity. Many of Europe’s political leaders … see a crucial role for the Roman Catholic Church in their efforts, providing a powerfully cohesive common religion to hold Europe together politically.”

How many people today realize that the Vatican is one of the chief architects of European unification?

Papal Intervention

“Since World War ii, each pope has thrown his weight behind moves toward the creation of a supranational European union,” Adrian Hilton continues. “Pope John xxiii insisted that Roman Catholics should be ‘in the front ranks��� of the unification effort. In 1963, Pope Paul videclared: ‘Everyone knows the tragic history of our century. If there is a means of preventing this from happening again, it is the construction of a peaceful, organic, united Europe.’ In 1965, he further observed: ‘A long, arduous path lies ahead. However, the Holy See hopes to see the day born when a new Europe will arise, rich with the fullness of its traditions.’

“Perhaps the most concerning of Paul vi’s pronouncements on European unification came in Rome, in 1975, when he declared: ‘Can it not be said that it is faith, the Christian faith, the Catholic faith that made Europe?’ He continued: ‘It is there that our mission as bishops in Europe takes on a gripping perspective. No other human force in Europe can render the service that is confided to us, promoters of the faith, to reawaken Europe’s Christian soul, where its unity is rooted.”

During the 1970s and 1980s, after it had helped establish what eventually became the European Union, the Vatican played a key role in drawing Eastern Europe, then under Soviet yoke, into the burgeoning European empire. Pope John Paul ii in particular was instrumental in prying much of Eastern Europe from Communist Russia.

Consider Poland. When Pope John Paul ii returned to his native Poland, communism wilted in his presence! Here is how the Associated Press reported it: “Martial law had crushed the church-backed Solidarity labor movement, and Poland’s Communist rulers expected a chastened Pope John Paul ii ready for compromise when he visited his homeland in 1983. Instead, his voice rising, the pontiff lectured a surprised [Communist] party chief, Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski, as the nation watched on television. History would be his judge, the pope warned, demanding that union rights be restored for the Soviet bloc’s first free trade union [Solidarity]” (Jan. 9, 1998).

In the face of the pope’s demand, the Communist Jaruzelski eventually capitulated. The Vatican-funded Catholic Solidarity movement triumphed, and Poland broke the Communist yoke and quickly sought a close attachment with the European Union. Just as Herbert Armstrong had prophesied, the Vatican had driven one of many major wedges under the Iron Curtain that was destined to help crack it and eventually bring about its collapse!

A news release by abc correspondent Bill Blakemore recognized the power of this papal diplomacy: “Not only had John Paul ii ignited a nonviolent revolution when he first returned as pope in 1979, but by 1989 he had guided it with patient force till it won—the Polish Solidarity movement spread until the Berlin Wall came down and the Communists went away.”

Just as it had so many times in the past, the Vatican was paving the way for Europe to emerge as a world power. The Vatican was once again uniting Europe!

Benedict XVI

During the 1990s and 2000s, as the EU expanded and invited in countries that had less history with Catholicism, it appeared Catholicism’s influence within the EU was waning. The Vatican recognized this perception and moved quickly to restore the church to the heart of European power—a task still underway today.

Joseph Ratzinger, the German cardinal elected in April 2005 to replace Pope John Paul ii, was instrumental to the revival of traditional Catholicism and the restoration of Europe’s Catholic roots.

Upon taking office, Cardinal Ratzinger took the name Pope Benedict xvi, a title inspired by the life and work of Benedict of Nursia, a fifth-century monk venerated as the patron saint of Europe and the founder of the Benedictine monasteries. Benedict of Nursia was instrumental in advancing the influence of Catholicism throughout Europe during the early Middle Ages. The selection of Benedict as his namesake showed that Ratzinger considered it his duty to facilitate the revival of that ancient church-state union, the Holy Roman Empire.

During his first speech as pope in 2005, Benedict praised his namesake and explained how he laid the groundwork for European unification. “[Benedict] represents a fundamental point of reference for the unity of Europe and a strong reminder of the unrenounceable Christian roots of its culture and civilization,” he stated.

During his first weekly papal audience in 2005, Pope Benedict used the occasion to express what the New York Times said “may become a central theme of his pontificate: the Christian roots of Europe” (April 29, 2005).

Under this pope, the Vatican experienced a renaissance of Catholic tradition and conservatism. Benedict’s Vatican, as many noted, had a special affection for medieval doctrine and practices, and emerged as perhaps the most notable defender of tradition. Together, Benedict and the Vatican waged war on moral relativism, compromise and secularism.

By the time he resigned in February 2013, Benedict had made great strides in eliminating liberalism within the church, reviving traditional and conservative Catholic dogma and practices, and restoring Europe’s “Christian roots.” Despite his success, however, there was still much work to be done.

Enter Pope Francis

For decades, Herbert Armstrong forecast that two specific threats would propel Europe to coalesce as a global superpower and, with the Vatican’s guidance, manifest as the final resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire.

In 1984, Mr. Armstrong warned that a massive banking crisis “could suddenly result in triggering European nations to unite as a new world power larger than either the Soviet Union or the U.S.” (co-worker letter, July 22, 1984). We have witnessed just such a crisis. The banking crisis that began in America in 2008 and quickly rippled over to inflict terrible damage on Europe has initiated major political and financial changes in Europe. It is forcing—albeit in fits and spurts, with a lot of tension and debate—further integration and federalization of Europe’s economies and finances. Global financial upheaval is, and will continue, to forge Europe into a financial superpower.

Mr. Armstrong also warned that an empowered Russia would spur Europe to unite. In his January 23, 1980 co-worker letter, he warned that fear of Russia “will be the spark to bring the heads of nations in Europe together with the Vatican to form a ‘United Nations of Europe.’” This too is happening. The belligerent behavior of Russian President Vladimir Putin alarms Europe. Russia’s emergence as an aggressive superpower is forging, and will continue to forge, Europe into a powerful and efficient political and military superpower.

Although these two crises have given Europe motive to unite, we must remember where the spiritual leadership and inspiration to integrate originates. Just as it has so many times in the past, the Vatican is critical to helping Europe integrate in response to the dual threats of financial ruin and a belligerent Russia. Consider the works of Pope Francis.

The selection of Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio as successor to Pope Benedict xvi in March 2013 caught many by surprise. He is the first non-European pope in more than 1,200 years, the first-ever pope from the Americas, and the antithesis of the ultratraditionalist that many assumed would replace Benedict xvi. Inconspicuous and humble in appearance, Bergoglio struck many as lacking in reputation, in theological pedigree, in charisma and personality. Many wondered: Could Bergoglio, an outsider, a non-European, a man seemingly more interested in the poor than in politics, increase the Vatican’s power in Europe, unite the Continent, then lead the prophesied Holy Roman Empire?

It wasn’t long before the answers came. Within eight months of becoming pope, Francis was arguably the most popular and loved man on Earth, the hope of millions, and Timemagazine’s Person of the Year. The enthusiasm he has brought to the church is so dramatic it has its own name: the Francis Effect.

Across the planet, public support of the Catholic Church is increasing. Church attendance is up. Conversions are up. The pope is widely adored and admired, even among non-Catholics. Francis has worked wonders among the church’s lukewarm, disillusioned laity. “[W]hat makes this pope so important is the speed with which he has captured the imaginations of millions who had given up on hoping for the church at all,” wrote Time (Dec. 11, 2013).

Joy of the Gospel

Joy of the Gospel (Evangelii Gaudium) was the title of the pope’s November 2013 apostolic exhortation, a document that encapsulates Francis’s vision for mankind. Its message is powerful, transformative and, in the context of history and Bible prophecy, deeply concerning. John Thavis, author and Vatican expert, described the pope’s exhortation as a “remarkable and radical document, one that ranges widely and challenges complacency at every level.”

He described it as the “Magna Carta for church reform” (Reuters, Nov. 26, 2013).

Evangelii Gaudium was a direct response to the global financial crisis. The exhortation covers a range of subjects, but it is especially striking for its tough and uncompromising appraisal of the global financial system, particularly capitalism. Francis attacked unfettered capitalism as “a new tyranny.” He condemned income inequality, the “culture of prosperity,” and “a financial system which rules rather than serves.”

Cloaked as a defense of the poor, the missive was taken by many as a denunciation of capitalism. Pope Francis demanded, in the words of Reuters, an “overhaul of the financial system” (ibid).

While the pope’s message sounds radical in modern context, it is nothing more than a restatement of long-standing Catholic social doctrine. The new financial system the pope called for is, in essence, the same financial system the Catholic Church has used in all other resurrections of the Holy Roman Empire.

For the first few resurrections of that empire, this system was feudalism. Within this system, the pope, as “God’s representative on Earth,” is the supreme authority. He delegates some of that authority to kings, who in turn delegate to lords, who delegate to knights, and so on. In 1891, Pope Leo xiii brought this system into the modern era of firms, trade unions and businessmen. Feudalism was updated and became the Catholic principle of subsidiarity. In essence, Pope Leo’s analysis was this: Marxism fails because it concentrates too much power with the national leaders; it gives them the capacity to do great evil and there is nothing to stop them. Capitalism avoids this; the problem with it, however, is that it is intrinsically selfish and fails to look after the poor. The Catholic solution is a strong, almost Marxist state with the wealth and power to take care of the poor. To prevent the national leaders from wielding their considerable power unjustly, the Catholic Church would also have major power. This way, the “good” of the church prevents the national leaders from abusing their power. These “benevolent” rulers then ensure everyone is treated fairly.

This is simply a modernization of the same Catholic economic system that has ruled Europe six times before. The Catholic Church is championing the plight of the poor to regain its central economic role.

As Europe struggles with high levels of unemployment, Pope Francis’s message about transforming the global financial system to defend the poor is very popular. Francis is an outspoken champion of Europe’s poor and unemployed. The economic crisis in Europe will intensify until the pope is finally encouraged to impose his solution. This is understandable. Millions of people are disconcerted and disillusioned with the current system of politics and finance. But while the current system is inept, deeply flawed, and entirely unsustainable, is the Vatican’s solution right for mankind?

The Catholic religion has presided over many governments, societies and economies in the past. Not one has been successful.

Be Praised

Pope Francis’s second encyclical, Laudato Si (Be Praised), published in June 2014, is a continuation of the imperialistic message of Evangelii Guadium. In Laudato Si, Francis explores the issues of world poverty and environmental destruction, two very real problems. But it is his solution to these issues that is most telling—and alarming.

In Laudato Si, Francis quotes a dramatic statement from his predecessor, Pope Benedict xvi. “To manage the global economy; to revive economies hit by the crisis; to avoid any deterioration of the present crisis and the greater imbalances that would result; to bring about integral and timely disarmament, food security and peace; to guarantee the protection of the environment and to regulate migration: for all this, there is urgent need of a true world political authority ….”

The pope articulates his message well, and his aspirations seem to be noble and selfless. Poverty and environmental degradation are serious problems, and we desperately need a solution. But is the solution the establishment of a “world political authority”?

Can you think of a single instance of a supreme authority ruling with equity, tolerance and justice, for the benefit of every subject?

Given the flawed nature of Western systems, Francis explained, “it is essential to devise stronger and more efficiently organized international institutions, with functionaries who are appointed fairly by agreement among national governments, and empowered to impose sanctions.” When has such an endeavor produced positive results?

It is important to recognize that the creation of a supreme, all-powerful authority is not simply the pope’s opinion or aspiration—it is a declaration of intent. Francis is actively working for the establishment of a new system of world government.

One of the core themes of both Laudato Si and Evangelii Guadium is that Western-style government and finance are deeply flawed, and therefore need to be destroyed and replaced. The pope is right. Our systems of government and finance are flawed and in desperate need of replacing. But Catholic solutions have been tried before, multiple times, and failed each time—usually after terrible pain and suffering.

The Vatican’s encyclicals are patently anti-Western, and have a special venom for the United States. The attack on “unfettered capitalism,” for example, was clearly directed at the United States. On several occasions he has condemned “the great powers”—the Allies of World War ii—for not bombing German concentration camps or the railway lines leading to them during World War ii. He also condemned the “great powers” for “looking the other way” during the Armenian genocide 40 years earlier.

Such finger-pointing is astonishing. Francis is the leader of the church that endorsed the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler, that turned a blind eye to Hitler’s destruction of 6 million Jews, and that perpetuated Nazism by helping Nazis escape Europe following the war. And he is disappointed with America and Britain for not doing enough to rescue the Jews during World War ii?

It is no coincidence that these same “great powers” are the nations responsible for building the current world order. It was the Allies—Britain, America, the Soviet Union and France—that received the first permanent seats on the UN Security Council. The UN itself and many other global bodies are of their design. Yet the pope’s words are filled with hate and anger against these powers.

The pope we have today might appear to endorse the United Nations, the closest thing to a “world political authority,” but his definition of the UN as a “true world political authority” clearly does not include the Allies, at least not in a meaningful role. It is hard to imagine him endorsing Russia and China as the new leaders of his “world political authority.” So, who does Francis envision being in charge of this new world authority?

The answer is evident, both within the encyclicals and in history: It is the Roman Catholic Church.

As we have seen through this book, Pope Francis’s message is entirely consistent with history. Pope Gregory, during the Investiture Controversy, pushed “a theory of papal world-government.” Pope Urban proclaimed, “In one sense the whole world is exile for a Christian, and in another the whole world is his country.” And if the pope is the head of all true Christians, as the church claims, then doesn’t that put the Catholic Church at the head of the world?

The clue is in the name—the “catholic” or “universal” church.

The Vatican as a Political Force

Since he became pope, Francis has wielded decisive influence in two key global political issues: Cuba and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

In December 2014, U.S. President Barack Obama surprised the world when he announced that after 53 years of hostility America would restore diplomatic ties with Cuba. The terms of the deal completely favored Cuba. Cuba did not have to abandon communism or reform its dictatorial governance. In practical terms, the U.S. got nothing out of the deal.

Pope Francis played an instrumental role in President Obama’s decision. In early summer 2014, the pope appealed to both leaders by letter, urging them to exchange prisoners and improve relations. The Vatican later hosted a secret meeting between the two sides in Rome. In fact, the Vatican’s involvement in this situation goes back to 2012, when Pope Benedict xvibegan pressuring the U.S. to normalize relations with Cuba.

“Francis is a master of blending the spiritual with the political,” wrote National Public Radio’s Rome-based senior Europe correspondent, Sylvia Poggioli. “[He] has embraced the bully pulpit of the papacy, emerging as a daring, independent broker on the global stage” (Dec. 25, 2014).

Doesn’t this bring to mind the scene described in Revelation 17 of a great religion “sit[ting] on many waters,” controlling and influencing the “inhabitants of the earth,” and interfering with and reigning “over the kings of the earth”?

Pope Francis was at it again in spring 2015. On May 13, the Vatican announced that it had formally recognized the “state of Palestine” in a newly finalized treaty with the Palestinians. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas visited the Vatican in mid-May. During the visit, the pope effectively gave his approval of all the acts of terror committed by the Palestinian leader and his followers, even telling the Palestinian terrorist leader, “You are an angel of peace.”

Critics of Israel and backers of Palestinian statehood were elated by the Vatican’s announcement. The movement to recognize a Palestinian state has gained momentum in recent years, particularly within the United Nations, and this endorsement from the Vatican was huge. Gaining the support of humanity’s most respected and admired leader could be just the boost needed to get the project of Palestinian statehood over the finish line.

These examples show that the pope clearly has his own foreign-policy agenda. He talks with leaders around the world and even makes major interventions in some of the top issues facing the world today: the economic crisis, the Middle East, America’s foreign relations and more.

Again, these are apt examples of the scene described in Revelation 17 and 18. Revelation 18 even says that “the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.” This religion even gets involved with the global financial system.

Isn’t this incredible? The Apostle John prophesied almost 2,000 years ago of a great religion involving itself in world politics and even influencing the global economy.

Pope Francis, like so many pontiffs before him, is fulfilling this prophecy. He is attempting to set up the church to rule over or influence the kings of the Earth—to make rulings through new “enforceable international agreements.”

The Vatican’s Weapon?

One of the great lessons evident within each of the past manifestations of the Holy Roman Empire is that the Vatican always works through a specific individual and people. During the first resurrection, the Vatican’s man was Justinian. During the second, it was Charlemagne. During the sixth resurrection, it was Adolf Hitler at the helm of Nazi Germany.

If the Holy Roman Empire is going to rise again, we should expect the Vatican to once again work with one nation specifically, and even one individual. The identity of this nation is obvious.

Germany today is Europe’s undisputed and unchecked leader, politically, financially and militarily. The financial crisis that began in 2008 has empowered Berlin, which, compared to the rest of Europe and the world, is in robust financial and economic health. Germany has had to rescue multiple European states from bankruptcy, a process that has augmented Berlin politically and created a distinct master-servant relationship between Germany and much of the rest of Europe.

Germany’s ascension is so obvious that many mainstream and respected journalists and politicians today talk openly about Germany’s Fourth Reich. In its March 21, 2015, issue, Germany’s Der Spiegel—a respected magazine with a circulation of more than 1 million—explicitly compared modern Germany to the Holy Roman Empire. It spoke of how the term reich simply refers to “a dominion, with a central power exerting control over many different peoples. According to this definition, would it be wrong to speak of a German Reich in the economic realm? … An empire is in play, at least in the economic realm. The eurozone is clearly ruled by Germany, though Berlin is not unchallenged. It does, however have a significant say in the fates of millions of people from other countries.”

Der Spiegel is far from the only voice espousing this view. Consider just a few observations from the past few years.

Simon Heffer, Daily Mail, August 17, 2011: “Where Hitler failed by military means to conquer Europe, modern Germans are succeeding through trade and financial discipline. Welcome to the Fourth Reich.” March 29, 2013: “History shows it is, always, only a matter of time before Germany ends up dominating Europe. After years of refusing to assert itself, Germany’s time has come again. The Fourth Reich is here without a shot being fired: and the rest of Europe, and the world, had better get used to it.”

Stephen Green, Telegraph, June 23, 2015: “Germany finds itself at the geographic and economic center—and therefore increasingly the political center too—of the new Europe. No longer do all roads lead to Paris, but to Berlin.”

Nigel Farage, former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party, in the European Parliament, September 2010: “We are now living in a German-dominated Europe—something that the European project was actually supposed to stop—something that those that went before us actually paid a heavy price in blood to prevent.”

Peter Oborne, Daily Telegraph, July 21, 2011: “Germany has come very close to realizing Bismarck’s dream of an economic empire stretching from Central Europe to the Eastern Mediterranean.” March 5, 2015: “This marks a vital turning point in the postwar world. Germany has long been the dominant economic power in the European Union. With Ms. Merkel in charge, it is now turning that economic power into diplomatic power.”

Martin Wolf, Financial Times, May 8, 2012: “This is not a monetary union. It is far more like an empire.”

Nicholas Kulish, New York Times, September 10, 2010: “In ways large and small Germany is flexing its muscles and reasserting a long-repressed national pride. Dozens of recent interviews across the country, with workers and businessmen, politicians and homemakers, artists and intellectuals, found a country more at ease with itself and its symbols, like its flag and its national anthem—a people still aware of their country’s history, but less willing to let it dictate their actions.”

It is beyond dispute: The EU now is a German-dominated, German-led world power.

The resurrection of the seventh and final resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire is undoubtedly going to be presided over by the Vatican and Germany.

This too was prophesied.

God’s Rod of Correction

The book of Isaiah contains many prophecies for the end time. One of those prophecies is in Isaiah 10:5, where God says, “O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.” It is easy to prove that the Germans today are the modern descendants of biblical Assyria. (Request our free reprint The Remarkable Identity of the German People.) But here in Isaiah 10, God specifically identifies the Assyrians as being the “rod of mine anger.”

God continues: “I will send him [Germany] against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets” (verse 6). The German-led Holy Roman Empire is a tool in God’s hands. God uses this rod to correct a “hypocritical” nation—referring to modern Israel, specifically America and Britain.

Notice verse 7: “Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so ….” There is a specific individual leading the Holy Roman Empire, an end-time Charlemagne or Hitler. This man, at least when he first comes to power, does not intend on inflicting terrible carnage. But he experiences a change of heart, and as the verse says, “… it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.”

This man will lead the Holy Roman Empire into World War iii.

God also discusses this German-led, Catholic Holy Roman Empire in the book of Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 23, the prophet describes a scenario where Britain and America are “dot[ing] on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours.” Britain, the U.S. and the Jewish state draw close to Assyria.

In this prophecy, the term Assyria (Germany) is used interchangeably with Babylonians and Chaldeans (see verses 14-18)—referring to the people from the region of Babylon and Chaldea. Genesis 10 and 11 show that the Assyrians were a prominent and leading race in ancient Babylon, and worked closely with the Chaldeans. Together, these two races were the dominant power in ancient Babylon.

Prophetically speaking, the terms Babylonians and Chaldeans refer to the Holy Roman Empire, the roots of which, as we have seen, extend all the way back to ancient Babylon. Today as in the past, Assyria, or Germany, leads the collection of peoples that comprise the resurrected Holy Roman Empire.

Ezekiel 23:24-25 reveal the consequences of Israel’s naive and foolish fling with this empire: “And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, and wheels, and with an assembly of people, which shall set against thee buckler and shield and helmet round about: and I will set judgment before them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgments. And I will set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee: they shall take away thy nose and thine ears; and thy remnant shall fall by the sword: they shall take thy sons and thy daughters; and thy residue shall be devoured by the fire.”

This prophecy describes a horrific and sudden German double cross of Britain, the U.S. and the Jewish state.

The Prophet Habakkuk also had much to say about the end-time Catholic-inspired, German-led Holy Roman Empire. In Habakkuk 1:6, God says, “For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation ….” Chaldeans refers to this same Holy Roman Empire, which is led by Germany.

Notice how God describes Germany and its empire here: “For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat” (verses 6-8).

It is a terrifying scene, in which this “bitter and hasty nation” storms through the land destroying and devouring everything in its path!

It is like World War ii all over again, but on a far greater scale!

The Jerusalem Bible renders verse 7, “A people feared and dreaded, from their might proceeds their right, their greatness.” If you know anything about secular and biblical history, you know about whom God is talking. The German people are warriors whose strength gives them the “right” to do anything they want, anytime they want.

Verse 11 says: “Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.” This is talking about the specific individual leading the Holy Roman Empire. This man is discussed further in Daniel 8. But notice: The mind of the man who leads this political beast will change. He will come under the possession of a powerful and evil spirit being. This being is Satan the devil, mentioned throughout Scripture (Revelation 12:9; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2).

The power of Satan will be behind a revived and terrifying Nazi Germany!

Can you begin to see what is happening on the world scene today? One of the most stunning geopolitical developments this world has witnessed since World War ii is the unification and revival of Germany. The postwar transformation of this nation—from rubble to Europe’s greatest power and the absolute leader of the growing European superstate—is remarkable. But it has not happened by accident!

As we have seen, a great amount of thought and planning has been invested in restoring Germany as a global power and cementing Berlin as the head of the superstate we call the European Union. Just as it has so many times throughout history, the Vatican has been central to the rise of Germany and the unification of Europe!

Whether you believe this or not, this is reality. The seventh and final resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire is now forming with lightning speed. Very soon now, the horrible history explained in this book will be a living reality.

The 21st century is about to have its own Hitler, its own deadly European empire, and its own terrible history.

To survive, to remain sane, to maintain any semblance of hope and optimism, we must immerse our minds in God’s ultimate plan. God’s prophecies are not confined to the horrible, terrifying events that unfold in the end time. Truly, the grim prophecies are merely stepping-stones to the most exciting and incredible, and hopeful, prophecies you will ever read.

Before we conclude, it’s imperative that we immerse our minds in the incredible vision of what comes after the seventh and final resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire.

[crossedswordsrp]

The Humanist

❛ And when my prayers to God were met with indifference, I picked up a pen and I wrote my own deliverance. ❜

Full Name His Eminence Cardinal Armaud Rossignol Alias “The Nightingale” Age 56 (b. 1585) Alliance The Crown/Catholic Church Position Chief Minister to France Negative Traits Manipulative, Ruthless, Suspicious Positive Traits Ambitious, Brilliant, Passionate

Armaud was born the second son of three in a family of down on their luck aristocrats. He had the further misfortune of having been conceived while his father, a French soldier, was visiting the family homestead of Sarlat in southwestern France in the middle of the Wars of Religion. The death of his father during the Wars only served further to leave the already struggling family nearly completely bankrupt, with little more than their manor and a hereditary title of bishop of Sarlat to their name. Growing up missing and idolizing a lost father and raised to love both King and Country, Armaud had decided early on that he was to follow his father’s footsteps in becoming a soldier, while his elder brother, Jean-Michel, was to inherit the family manor and his much-loved younger brother Philippe was to inherit the diocese by becoming a monk.

However, such plans were tragically cut short when Jean-Michel, Armaud and Philippe had made a journey to Paris with their mother, who was eager to present her sons further to other members of nobility. Fate, however, was not kind to them when Armaud and Philippe – noting easily that their elder brother due to his years was the center of attention, decided to excuse themselves from court early to return to their inn. They took a shortcut through the outskirts of the Court of Miracles, where they were robbed at knifepoint by a small group of thieves. While Armaud compiled to the thieves’ demands, the more spirited Philippe resisted, and in front of his horrified older brother, he was stabbed to death, dying in Armaud’s arms.

A shattered and grieving Armaud, freshly driven with the knowledge of the transience of life, upon return to Sarlat gave up his dreams of becoming a soldier in order to secure the diocese by becoming a monk in Philippe’s place. He joined the Abbey of Saint-Sauveur of Sarlat to secure his family’s possessions. He did well there – likely much better than he ever would as a soldier – and became Bishop of Sarlat at the age of twenty one in 1606, for which he received special dispensation from  Pope Paul V. Armaud entered royal politics first as almoner (head of the religious branch of the royal household) to Queen Marie-Claire Valois, and soon after to become Secretary of Foreign Affairs in 1609, and later a Cardinal. After the death of the king’s favorite minister, Georges Delafose, the Cardinal was appointed as Chief Minister to France in 1612. Although much beloved by King Louis Valois, he was viewed with great suspicion by the Queen Marie-Claire, who saw his quick rise through politics as a sign of undue ambition, especially as the King seemed to listen to the Cardinal more than to her. Distrusting the amount of influence Armaud had with the King, she schemed for a way to unseat him.

Armaud’s deliverance from Marie-Claire came from an unusual direction in the King’s infatuation with a young girl from the Court of Miracles, Angeline Baptiste. Despite his prejudices concerning those from that rat’s nest of a place, he saw this as an opportunity to rob the Queen of political power and secure his own, and so encouraged the match. He even pulled strings in multiple systems to have a surreptitious divorce settled between the King and the Queen and an equally surreptitious marriage occur between the King and Angeline. All of this was kept out of the knowledge of the vast majority of the Court with the assistance of then-Grand Master Jean Bourbon, due to the King’s request, who wanted to father an heir by Angeline before the controversial match was released to the people. However, Angeline, kept out of the public eye, died giving birth to the true heir, and the King died himself under mysterious circumstances soon before. Seeing the death of the King as a potential assassination, Armaud acted fast to secure his future potential ace. He had the true heir sent away secretly to the down-on-their-luck Dubois family, whose matriarch Alais, eager for standing, raised the boy among her own children.

Armaud still serves as Chief Minister to France, supporting to all who view him the bastard son of Marie-Claire, and playing keen games of power with her. He is known as the one of the most powerful men in France, and he has one goal and one goal alone: to forge France into the most powerful realm the world had ever seen, a goal that would have made his father proud. Believing himself in power to be the best way to serve France, he created his own private army in 1623 – the Red Guard – as an answer to the then Queen Regent Marie-Claire’s 1622 creation of the Musketeers. He put regional governors in different counties, having them report directly to him rather than local lords, and created a cloak and dagger spy network unlike the world had ever seen. In the meantime, he keeps the former Queen Regent pacified by discovering and executing anyone considered for treason and heavily keeping an eye on the Court of Miracles. France is set on the world stage to become a giant– and Armaud believes that he is the best man to lead it there - for the good of the country.

Connections

Danièle Lavigne (Non-player character) - One of Marie-Claire’s ladies-in-waiting who had been feeding him information about the then-Queen, Armaud found himself drawn to her despite his focused ambitions. The two shared several months of mutual, quiet, and surreptitious passion. Despite the brevity of their involvement, there was a part of him that was joyful as well as conflicted when Danièle had told him that she was pregnant - seeing it as perhaps a chance to claim a part of family that had been lost. For the first time since his brother’s death, Armaud was struck with a potential choice of slowing down ---with the payment of being present in the raising of his child. However, unfortunately, that choice was never his. In late 1613, Danièle left the Palace unexpectedly without notifying him of where she was going, likely in an attempt to save him from shame. Heartbroken, unable to try to locate her lest he reveal their secret, Armaud comforts himself that she might still wear the small golden band that he had given her around her finger. Although he has long thrown himself back head-first into politics, he does still wonders what became of their child - who they are, where they are, and if they know how much they are loved.

Marie-Claire — Former Queen Regent, Marie-Claire had a child by the late King Louis Valois - but while she and Louis, her ex-husband, were divorced - her son King Alexandre Valois is a bastard. Armaud and Marie are on opposing sides, with Marie both distrusting him for the rumored role he played in her ex-husband’s divorce of her and the Cardinal’s current and heavy influence upon her son. The seemly mild mannered Armaud sees her in return as a dangerous, power-grabbing radical trying to poison the king against him – precisely the thing that would ruin France. However, both at the moment – due to their firm entrenching - must pretend courtly affability as they scheme against the other so as not to give the game away.

Philippe Donadieu – The unknowing legitimate heir to the throne is the Cardinal’s ace up his sleeve. The former Queen Regent is a problem, and so he likes to keep Philippe in reserve, scheming that one day he will take the throne instead of Marie-Claire's son Alexandre. Philippe – named by Alais after Armaud’s brother in an attempt to endear herself to the Cardinal – was kept a close eye on growing up by his adopted mother (and Armaud’s spy) Alais Dubois. Putting aside his prejudices for the good of France, Cardinal himself played the role of kindly benefactor, visiting the boy occasionally as he grew under the pretense of seeing to the family Dubois, and subtly manipulating Philippe to the join the Church where the Cardinal would be able to keep an eye on him. Not long after Philippe became a full priest, Armaud manipulated to have his monk’s vows annulled and had the boy plucked from Compiègne Abbey (Abbaye Saint-Corneille de Compiègne), and transferred to Paris the current year 1641– still acting the part of kindly father figure. He hopes to continue to introduce the boy to court and to keep him close for when he is needed.

Simone Baptiste – The adopted daughter of late revolutionary François Baptiste, Simone is also a problem, albeit a very subtle and difficult to remove one. Armaud had had little idea that Angeline had snuck out letters to her brother François concerning her marriage to the King and her pregnancy. It was indirectly Armaud, hearing of the creating of François’ movement through his spy network, that had the Court of Miracles patriarch captured by the Musketeers and executed, although the letters themselves were never found. It would not do to give the game away so early. Although Armaud suspects that the La Bande Noire movement still exists and is growing, Simone is far more subtle than her father and is keeping her wild brother in line. At the moment, Armaud merely wishes to keep an eye on the young strategist as she does in return, recognizing in her a potential future ally were he to win her to his side.

This character is portrayed by COLIN FIRTH and is TAKEN

OOC Notes: Most of the relevant plot information needed by the player is here, but it is worth mentioning that at start of game the Cardinal is the only person who definitively knows that Philippe Dubois is the legitimate heir to France. Marie-Claire, Jean Bourbon, and those connected to La Bande Noire/Black Band movement are the only living people apart from the Cardinal at start of game aware that the former King was married to Angeline or that the former Queen and King were ever divorced at all. However, Marie-Claire, the Cardinal and those connected to La Bande Noire movement are the only characters aware that Angeline had a son. Please see Alexandre Valois, Fernand Baptiste and Marie-Claire’s bios and the plot for more information.  The Cardinal suspects Marie-Claire of killing her ex-husband, the late King Louis Valois, but he has no concrete proof.

Note also that Herbert Dubois has history with the Cardinal not listed in The Cardinal’s connections. Please see Herbert Dubois’ bio for more information! He also has important connections with Hasekura Valentin, Pierre Chauveau, and Ameline de Granada Venegas, and former Captain of the Red Guard, Bertrand Rouzet.

The personal home of the Cardinal, the lavish Palais-Cardinal in the center of Paris, was completed in 1639. Cardinal Rossignol has swag, but the majority of his time is spent at the Royal Court in the Palace of Tuileries.

Please see our Influence of the Church section for important historical background information for this character.

[pamphletstoinspire]

Gospel Reading and Commentary for Wednesday, January 2, 2019 - Roman Catholic - Matthew: 23: 8 -12

8. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

9. And call no man your father upon the earth for one is your Father, which is in heaven. [p. 771]

10. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

11. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

12. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Chrys.: The Lord bad charged the Scribes and Pharisees with harshness and neglect; He now brings forward their vain-glory, which made them depart from God.

Pseudo-Chrys.: Every substance breeds in itself that which destroys it, as wood the worm, and garments the moth so the Devil strives to corrupt the ministry of the Priests, who are ordained for the edification of holiness, endeavouring that this good, while it is done to be seen of men, should be turned into evil. Take away this fault from the clergy, and you will have no further labour in their reform, for of this it comes that a clergyman who has sinned can hardly perform penance.

Also the Lord here points out the cause why they could not believe in Christ, because nearly all they did was in order to be seen of men; for he whose desire is for earthly glory from men, cannot believe on Christ who preaches things heavenly.

I have read one who interprets this place thus. “In Moses’ seat,” that is, in the rank and degree instituted by Moses, the Scribes and Pharisees are seated unworthily, forasmuch as they preached to others the Law which foretold Christ’s coming, but themselves did not receive Him when come. For this cause He exhorts the people to hear the Law which they preached, that is, to believe in Christ who was preached by the Law, but not to follow the Scribes and Pharisees in their disbelief of Him. And He shews the reason why they preached the coming of Christ out of the Law, yet did not believe on Him; namely, because they did not preach that Christ should come through any desire of His coming, but that they might be seen by men to be doctors of the Law.

Origen: And their works likewise they do to be seen of men, using outward circumcision, taking away actual leaven out of their houses, [p. 772] and doing such like things. But Christ’s disciples fulfil the Law in things secret, being Jews inwardly, as the Apostle speaks. [marg. note: Rom 2:29]

Chrys.: Note the intensive force of the words of His reproofs. He says not merely that they do their works to be seen of men, but added, “all their works.” And not only in great things but in some things trivial they were vainglorious, “They make broad their phylacteries and enlarge the borders of their garments.”

Jerome: For the Lord, when He had given the commandments of the Law through Moses, added at the end, “And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be ever before thine eyes;” [Deut. 6:8] the meaning of which is, Let my precepts be in thine hand so as to be fulfilled in thy works; let them be before thine eyes so as that thou shalt meditate upon them day and night.

This the Pharisees misinterpreting, wrote on parchments the Decalogue of Moses, that is, the Ten Commandments, and folding them up, tied them on their forehead, so making them a crown for their head, that they should be always before their eyes. Moses had in another place given command that they should make fringes of blue in the borders of their garments, [marg. note: Num 15:39] to distinguish the people of Israel; that as in their bodies circumcision, so in their garments the fringe, might discriminate the Jewish nation.

But these superstitious teachers, catching at popular favour, and making gain of silly women, made broad hems, and fastened them with sharp pins, that as they walked or sat they might be pricked, and by such monitors be recalled to the duties of God’s ministry. This embroidery then of the Decalogue they called phylacteries, that is, conservatories, because those who wore them, wore them for their own protection and security. So little did the Pharisees understand that they were to be worn on the heart and not on the body; for in equal degree may cases and chests be said to have books, which assuredly have not the knowledge of God.

Pseudo-Chrys.: But after their example do many invent Hebrew names of Angels, and write them, and bind them on themselves, and they seem dreadful to such as are without understanding. Others again wear round their neck a portion of the Gospel written out. But is not the Gospel read every day in the Church, and heard by all? Those therefore who receive no profit from the Gospel [p. 773] sounded in their ears, how shall the having them hung about their neck save them? Further, wherein is the virtue of the Gospel? in the shape of its letters, or in the understanding its meaning? If in the characters, you do well to hang them round your neck; if in their meaning, they are of more profit when laid up in the heart, than hung round the neck.

But others explain this place thus, That they made broad their teachings concerning special observances, as phylacteries, or preservatives of salvation, preaching them continually to the people. And the broad fringes of their garments they explain of the same undue stress upon such commandments.

Jerome: Seeing they thus make broad their phylacteries, and make them broad fringes, desiring to have glory of men, they are convicted also in other things; “For they love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues.”

Raban.: It should be noted, that He does not forbid those to whom this belongs by right of rank to be saluted in the forum, or to sit or recline in the highest room; but those who unduly desire these things, whether they obtain them or not, these He enjoins the believers to shun as wicked.

Pseudo-Chrys.: For He rebukes not those who recline in the highest place, but those who love such places, blaming the will not the deed. For to no purpose does he humble himself in place who exalts himself in heart. For some vain men bearing that it was a commendable thing to seat himself in the lowest place, chooses so to do; and thus not only does not put away the vanity of his heart, but adds this additional vain ostentation of his humility, as one who would be thought righteous and humble. For many proud men take the lowest place in their bodies, but in haughtiness of heart think themselves to be seated among the highest; and there are many humble men who, placed among the highest, are inwardly in their own esteem among the lowest.

Chrys.: Observe where vain glory governed them, to wit, in the synagogues, whither they entered to guide others. It had been tolerable to have felt thus at feasts, notwithstanding that a doctor ought to be had in honour in all places alike, and not in the Churches only. But if it be blameworthy to love such things, how wrong is it to seek to attain them?

Pseudo-Chrys.: They love the first [p. 774] salutations, first, that is, not in time only, before others; but in tone, that we should say with a loud voice, Hail, Rabbi; and in body that we should bow low our bead; and in place, that the salutation should be in public.

Raban.: And herein they are not without fault, that the same men should be concerned in the litigations of the forum, who in the synagogue in Moses’ seat, seek to be called Rabbi by men.

Pseudo-Chrys.: That is, they wish to be called, not to be such; they desire the name, and neglect the duties.

Origen: And in the Church of Christ are found some who take to themselves the uppermost places, that is, become deacons; next they aspire to the chief seats of those that are called presbyters; and some intrigue to be styled among men Bishop, that is, to be called Rabbi. But Christ’s disciple loves the uppermost place indeed, but at the spiritual banquet, where he may feed on the choicer morsels of spiritual food, for, with the Apostles who sit upon twelve thrones, he loves the chief seats, and hastes by his good works to render himself worthy of such seats; and he also loves salutations made in the heavenly marketplace, that is, in the heavenly congregations of the primitive.

But the righteous man would be called Rabbi, neither by man, nor by any other, because there is One Master of all men.

Chrys.: Or otherwise; Of the foregoing things with which He had charged the Pharisees, He now passes over many as of no weight, and such as His disciples needed not to be instructed in; but that which was the cause of all evils, namely, ambition of the master’s seat, that He insists upon to instruct His disciples.

Pseudo-Chrys.: “Be not ye called Rabbi,” that ye take not to yourselves what belongs to God. And call not others Rabbi, that ye pay not to men a divine honour. For One is the Master of all, who instructs all men by nature. For if man were taught by man, all men would learn that have teachers; but seeing it is not man that teaches, but God, many are taught, but few learn. Man cannot by teaching impart an understanding to man, but that understanding which is given by God man calls forth by schooling.

Hilary: And that the disciples may ever remember that they are the children of one parent, and that by their new birth they have passed the limits of their earthly origin.

Jerome, Hieron. cont., Helvid. 15: [p. 775] All men may be called brethren in affection, which is of two kinds, general and particular. Particular, by which all Christians are brethren; general, by which all men being born of one Father are bound together by like tie of kindred.

Pseudo-Chrys.: “And call no man your Father upon earth;” because in this world though man begets man, yet there is one Father who created all men. For we have not beginning of life from our parents, but we have our life transmitted through them.

[ed. note: The Catholic doctrine is, that “the man” is born from his parents, by propagation, but that the soul is immediately created by God, the human agency being but a certain disposition of matter - such that according to God’s good pleasure, by a law which He has appointed, the gift of a soul is accorded to it. And thus, though a man’s soul cannot be called the son of his parents, yet that compound nature of which the soul forms part, is such.

That the soul is immediately from God by creation is the Catholic doctrine. St. Leo speaks of the Catholic faith consistently and truly, preaching that the souls of men, before they were breathed into their bodies, were not, nor are incorporated by any other but by God the Framer, Who is Creator of them as well as the bodies. Ep. 15, ad Turrib. 10. And so St. Hilary, “Every soul is the work of God, but the generation of the flesh is come from the flesh.” De Trin. x.20. Vide also Greg. Nyss. deAnim. p.934. Ambros, de Noe. 4. Hieron. in Eccles. xii. 7.]

Origen: But who calls no man father upon earth? He who in every action done as before God, says, “Our Father, which art in Heaven.”

Gloss., non. occ: Because it was clear who was the Father of all, by this which was said, “Which art in Heaven,” He would teach them who was the Master of all, and therefore repeats the same command concerning a master, “Neither be ye called masters; for one is your Master, even Christ.”

Chrys.: Not that when Christ is here said to be our Master, the Father is excluded, as neither when God is said to be our Father, is Christ excluded, Who is the Father of men.

Jerome: It is a difficulty that the Apostle against this command calls himself the teacher of the Gentiles; and that in monasteries in their common conversation, they call one another, Father. It is to be cleared thus. It is one thing to be father or master by nature, another by sufferance. Thus when we call any man our father, we do it to shew respect to his age, not as regarding him as the author of our being. We also call men ‘Master,’ from resemblance to a real master; and, not to use tedious repetition, as the One God and One Son, who are by nature, do not preclude us from calling others gods and sons by adoption, so the One Father and One Master, do not preclude us from speaking of [p. 776] other fathers and masters by an abuse of the terms.

Chrys.: Not only does the Lord forbid us to seek supremacy, but would lead His hearer to the very opposite; “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.”

Origen: Or otherwise; And if one minister the divine word, knowing that it is Christ that makes it to be fruitful, such a one professes himself a minister and not a master; whence it follows, “He that is greatest among you, let him be your servant.” As Christ Himself, who was in truth our Master, professed Himself a minister, saying, “I am in the midst of you as one that ministers.” [Luke 22:27] And well does He conclude this prohibition of all vain-glory with the words, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

Remig.: Which means that every one who thinks highly of his own deserts, shall be humbled before God; and every one who humbles himself concerning his good deeds, shall be exalted with God.

[christianmenatwork]

Good News and Bad News-Selah23-CMAW091

S

Good News and Bad News -Start with bad news, if our heart isn't totally committed to Jesus Christ in a relationship vs. a religious spirit, we're a not a true follower of Jesus, anything less than total surrender to Jesus doesn't cut it, we understand this type of commitent is a necesary part of a marriage, God shows us how He wants our relationship to have that same, even higher commitmment, In Eph 5:25-33 he compares those 2 relationships, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might [g]sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, [h]of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband" -Eph 5:25-33, "For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God" Exodus 20:5, In Revelation Jesus talks to John about 7 churches.  All of these churches did good things, but Jesus rebuked or corrected all of them, except 2, Smyrna called the Persecuted Church and Philadelphia called the Spiritual alive church, The Laodicean church called the Luke Warm church Jesus said he would spit them out of His mouth, in Matthew 5:28 Jesus says "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." in this and other passages he shows that it's not enough to keep the Laws or commandments in terms of your actions you have to guard your heart and take captive all your thoughts to the obedience of Christ, the Psalmist understood this in Ps 139:22-24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting." 1 Samuel 16:7 says "For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."  Jesus blasted the Pharisees for having good outward appearance while neglecting matters of the heart, Matthew 23:27 Jesus said "“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness",   Rom 8:6 "For to be [b]carnally minded is death" vs 7 says "Because the [c]carnal mind is enmity against God", notice Paul talks about our mind not what we do with our hands and mouth, my Pastor says a good way to think about our sin is 3 words: doing, thinking, saying, my pastor also spoke recently about racism that we've made great strides as a country at politically correct, i.e. we've gotten good at not doing and saying certain things when it comes to race, but being PC doesn't change the heart, I'll personally testify that doing the "right" things in marriage but having an angry, judgmental, non-loving and non-compassionate heart will lead to strife, bitterness, and pain, when it comes to our work if we do a "good job" at work but our heart is filled with discontent, envy, judgment and we're not in relationship with God while we're at work, we will be miserable in our job and will not prosper, here's another piece of bad news: good intentions are worthless, saying "I'm trying" or "I'll try to do better" if worth than doing nothing at all, let me be transparent with an example of this: I recently started carrying a small NT/Psalms Bible from the Gideons with me to work, I just realized and am ashamed to admit that I've been doing this for weeks and not once have I looked at it, are you now ready for some good news? Let me start with the First Light Devotion from Pastor Brian Biggers sent on July 9 - "I have always loved the twenty first chapter of John. It is the great story of Simon's restoration. It is also God speaking to you and me revealing what He is really like at heart. Perhaps no one in history has blown it with God like Simon. He was Jesus' dearest friend; the one Jesus took with Him everywhere. He was the one that Jesus confided in and looked to most often. As a side note, the fact that God chose a redneck, ignorant, uneducated fisherman to be His best friend brings me great hope! When told of Christ' impending arrest and murder Simon vowed that even if all abandoned Him, he would stick with Him. You know the story. In His greatest hour of need at a mockery of a trial, Simon told all present that He had never met the Man. When pressed about the issue he cursed and swore that he had no idea who Jesus was. Some friend! Far be it from me to look down my nose at the famous fisherman. My loyalty could be questioned at no few times. As often happens when a follower of Christ messes up very badly, Simon went back to his old life at sea assuming that his days in God's inner circle were over after His public failure. What a shock to look up from his nets early one morning and see Jesus standing on the shore! First time he had seen Jesus since he had cursed Him and watched as Jesus turned to gaze at him without speaking. What would He do? What does God do to people that betray Him and abandon Him? When Simon arrived at the shore Jesus invited him to eat breakfast that was prepared on a coal fire. As they sat around the fire not a word was spoken about the downfall. It was never mentioned again. Finally, after eating, Jesus looked at Simon and asked him, "do you love me"? He replied, no doubt with deep humility, "yes Lord, you know I love you". After his response Jesus simply said, "tend my sheep".  This is God. This is how He treats people that mess up. Big time. No revenge. He didn't even ask him if he thought he could do better from now on. With Him the question is never "can you behave". It’s always "do you love me"? He is immediately restored in his relationship with Christ and repositioned as the chief preacher in God's great movement. Who cannot love a God that forgives that freely and never gives up on His plans for you? How about you? Have you missed it with Him? Blown it big time? Here's the message of the Bible. If you're not dead, God's not done!

Father, I would have given up on me a long time ago. Your mercy makes no sense. Thank God!

Now I want to borrow from the message I heard from Pastor Adam Cook this morning about freedom, Adam and Eve were naked, content and connected, this was God's will all of use, by comparison now all who sin are marked by shame, striving and separation.  Think about that for a moment, how those 3 things describe aspects of your life, I don't have to think hard to think about how they apply to mine, think specifically about your work, shame shows up in awareness of the mistakes we make at work, not measuring up to our co-workers or to standards set by ourselves or our boss or both,, striving shows upo in feeling like we're working hard, seeing our work as boring or drudgery, being a perfectionist being prideful of of our work which only brings us misery as we judge others we see as not measuring up to our standards, separation shows up at work when when we feel lonely at work, disconnected from others and from God, waiting for church on Sunday to feel spiritual but otherwise feeling like we're just blending with the world while we're at work, working for the dollar or working for the weekend,, buy heart of Jesus in John 8:34-36 Jesus says "34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.", 1 Corinthians 32:17 NIV says "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom", Galatians 5:1 NIV says "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."  We just celebrated Independence Day in the U.S., in America value highly our freedom, you could say we worship it, when it comes to politics both sides have their own version of what freedom means, I'm realizing more and more that freedom by worldly standards is not true freedom, I like the definition of spiritual freedom that my Pastor Adam gave "the unhindered experience of the presence of God".  The curse that came from sin giving us shame, striving, and separation is reversed by Jesus if we walk in it. We can walk in the cool of the day with Jesus, as my Pastort said, it's like God is saying to us you can swing and miss but you can’t fail because you’re free in me, that is the abundant life that only comes from surrendering our lives to Jesus not just when we're born again but in our daily walk at work and everywhere else

E

Grant Smith update

L

1 Thess 4:11-12 NIV "11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."

A

None

H

9) Pray (before, during and after meeting)

Check out this episode!

[nolimitsongrace]

November 20: It Takes Desire To Get to the Top

It Takes Desire To Get to the TopNovember 20, 2019

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. — 1 Timothy 3:1

Today I want to talk to you about “desire” and what it takes to get to the top — to be the best at anything you do. This issue of “desire” is hugely important in all aspects of our lives. In fact, when the apostle Paul instructed Timothy on how to choose the top leaders for his church, he urged the young pastor to choose people who have this specific quality. He said, “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work” (1 Timothy 3:1).

The word “desire” is the Greek word orgidzo, and it describes a longing, a craving, an urge, a burning desire, or a yearning ambition to achieve something. It portrays a person so fixed on the object of his desire that his whole being is stretched forward to take hold of that goal or object, and he will not be satisfied until he reaches and obtains it.

Paul held the qualification of “desire” above everything else on his list of requirements for leaders — and it takes only a few personal experiences with “desireless” people to clearly understand why he did this! However, to illustrate the power of desire, I would like to share a true story from my own life that took place many years ago.

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

I once saw a photograph that had been taken from the summit of one of Canada’s tallest mountains. It was unquestionably the most beautiful photograph I had ever seen. In fact, it was such an amazing sight that I determined I wanted to take a trip to Canada and climb to the top of that mountain to see the view in real life!

Eventually my dream came to fruition, and I made arrangements to travel to Canada and join a mountaineering expedition up this mountain. Upon my arrival, I linked up with a group of men who would serve as my climbing partners and accompany me to the summit of this mountain. All of these other men were experienced climbers — I was not. They were all in superb physical conditions — I was not. I had no idea how difficult the journey was going to be, but I knew that I had enough desire to keep me going and get me to the top!

After some preparation, the expedition team began the difficult ascent. This route wasn’t the most technical or dangerous path to follow with the help of a guide. But it could be extremely treacherous to a person unfamiliar with navigating rugged, glaciated landscapes, and it had claimed the lives of several people through the years. In fact, just days before our own climb, two professional climbers had made a tragic misstep on a patch of black ice along this very same route and had fallen several thousand feet to their deaths on the glacier below!

I huffed, puffed, and pushed my way to the top of that mountain. With each step, the weight of my backpack got heavier. I scrambled up steep inclines that led to even sharper inclines. Rocks tumbled under my feet. I fell. I rolled. I promised God again and again that I would never attempt to do such a stupid thing again if I could just get to the top of that mountain and then make it back down alive!

Finally, we made it to the summit, and I stood on the top of that mountain and looked out over the peaks of the Canadian Rockies. Spread out before me was a stunning panoramic view of hundreds of incredibly beautiful mountain peaks. The sky was so clear that I could see for a hundred miles. I could see peak after peak after peak. As the sun went down, I watched as orange, blue, and purple tones colored the sky. I’d seen sunsets in beautiful places all over the world, but this was gorgeous beyond words! Hard as it was to believe, the photograph I had seen paled in comparison to the real thing.

My exhaustion disappeared, and for a few minutes, I forgot about the hardships I had encountered to get to the summit. I had conquered that mountain! I had really done it! My heart was shouting, and I was filled with inexpressible joy.

However, my great victory was about to be interrupted in a big way by altitude sickness. A few hours later, my victorious celebration came to a screeching halt as I began to feel nausea and dizziness wash over me. It came fast and hard, wave after wave of nausea pounding against me until I was unable to stand. My eyes began to see black spots. My head seemed to spin round and round, and I started violently vomiting until I had nothing left in my stomach to throw up. Even then, my body still convulsed with dry heaves.

Dehydrated and weak, I didn’t know how I could physically make it through the night. All night long my body wrenched with dry heaves, even though my stomach was empty. I cried. I pleaded for help. I prayed. It was a sickness like nothing I had ever experienced in my life.

The next morning I was still sick and so physically weak that I had to muster the energy to take a few steps. The problem was that we had to start the trip back down the slope to where we had begun the climb the day before. The other men didn’t know how I was going to make it. But I was determined that the mountain wasn’t going to conquer me! I was going to make it up and down that mountain successfully!

I took one small step down the mountain — then another small step and then another. Each step took such an effort that I had to work up the nerve to take each next small step.

The other men in our group knew the risks inherent in an expedition of this nature, and they’d assumed that I knew them too. However, I was uninformed and ill-prepared. If I had possessed the right knowledge, it wouldn’t have made the climb easier, but at least I would have understood the potential risks and been better prepared to overcome them. My ignorance on this subject meant that I had to figure it all out on my own, and that is always the most difficult way to learn!

Why am I telling you this story? Because you, too, will run into many obstacles in life that no one prepared you to face. Most likely, people did not deliberately deny you the information. They may have assumed you already understood, or they may have wrongly believed that you were more prepared than you actually were. However, if you have the inward desire to achieve your goal

Any obstacle can be overcome.

Any challenge can be conquered.

Any mountain can be successfully climbed.

Paul stressed the importance of “desire” — a yearning ambition to achieve a goal — in First Timothy 3:1 because it is absolutely fundamental to achieving success in any arena of life. It is without a doubt the chief characteristic needed to survive the challenges of ministry and life while serving God with a pure heart.

If your level of “desire” is strong, it doesn’t matter if you’re ill-equipped or uninformed in certain areas. You will complete your assigned task because your inward determination and resolve will not let you give up!

Of course, First Timothy 3:1 is specifically talking about a person’s desire to attain to a leadership position within the ministry. But that word “desire” could also pertain to anyone who desires to reach “…the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14) for their own lives.

Each person’s calling is different, and you are uniquely gifted to fill a specific role within the great plan of the Father. However, to truly realize your potential, you must possess a strong inner desire — a desire that refuses to quit at all costs and continually presses forward to reach new heights. This is the desire to be all God has destined and created you to be, and it will propel and sustain you even when the going gets tough and you feel like you can’t take another step!

Today I urge you to pray the following prayer and make the subsequent confession of faith. Let it come from your heart, asking God to insert His mighty hand into your spirit to stir up the faith that resides there! Then let your faith lift you up and move you toward conquering any mountain that lies in your path. Remember, if you’ve got enough desire, there is nothing that you cannot achieve!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I ask You to stir up desire in my heart that is strong enough to make me yearn to be the best possible me and achieve all that I can achieve. I know that You expect me to perform to my fullest potential, but I admit that my desire needs an upgrade in order for me reach that highest level. You have given me the talents I need, and I have ideas that I’ve never taken the time to develop. Now I see that I need greater desire at work in my life. So today, Father, I ask the Holy Spirit to stir desire deeply inside me so that I’ll never again be satisfied with mediocrity or the status quo!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that a strong, God-given desire propels me forward, energizes me, and compels me to be the best I can be at whatever I set my hand to do. I reject laziness; I reject any idea that just doing “what’s required” is enough for me; and I put forth whatever effort is required to reach the top of the mountain God has set before my life. I intend to scale that mountain, shout the victory — and rejoice that God has done such a wonderful work in my life and granted me the desires of my heart!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

After reading the Greek definition for “desire” at the beginning of this Sparkling Gem, would you say that desire is a force that is at work in you? If yes, how do you see it in your life? If no, why not?

Have you seen others who were super-talented and naturally gifted, yet failed to achieve something magnificent with their lives because they had no motivation or desire? Think about who those people ar Reflect on the decisions they have or haven’t made and consider how they affected the outcome of their own lives. What can you learn to do and not to do from what you’ve observed in their lives?

If God were to say what He saw in your life, would He say that He sees desire at work, or would He say that you’ve been willing to lay low and just accept the status quo? What do you need to do or change in order for God to see that “desire” is propelling you toward a grand and glorious future?