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dfroza · 4 months

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A baby is born

God becoming a Man as A new Adam

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 2nd chapter of the book of Matthew:

Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem, in the province of Judea, at the time when King Herod reigned. Not long after Jesus was born, magi, wise men or seers from the East, made their way from the East to Jerusalem. These wise men made inquiries.

Wise Men: Where is this newborn, who is the King of the Jews? When we were far away in the East we saw His star, and we have followed its glisten and gleam all this way to worship Him.

King Herod began to hear rumors of the wise men’s quest, and he, and all of his followers in Jerusalem, were worried. So Herod called all of the leading Jewish teachers, the chief priests and head scribes, and he asked them where Hebrew tradition claimed the long-awaited Anointed One would be born.

Scribes and Priests: An ancient Hebrew prophet, Micah, said this:

But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are no poor relation—

For from your people will come a Ruler

who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.

Herod called the wise men to him, demanding to know the exact time the special star had appeared to them. Then Herod sent them to Bethlehem.

Herod: Go to Bethlehem and search high and low for this Savior child; and as soon as you know where He is, report it to me so that I may go and worship Him.

The wise men left Herod’s chambers and went on their way. The star they had first seen in the East reappeared—a miracle that, of course, overjoyed and enraptured the wise men. The star led them to the house where Jesus lay; and as soon as the wise men arrived, they saw Him with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. They unpacked their satchels and gave Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And then, just as Joseph did a few months before, the wise men had a dream warning them not to go back to Herod. The wise men heeded the dream. Ignoring Herod’s instructions, they returned to their homes in the East by a different route.

After the wise men left, a messenger of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.

Messenger of the Lord (to Joseph): Get up, take the child and His mother, and head to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you it is safe to leave. For Herod understands that Jesus threatens him and all he stands for. He is planning to search for the child and kill Him. But you will be safe in Egypt.

So Joseph got up in the middle of the night; he bundled up Mary and Jesus, and they left for Egypt.

After a few months had passed, Herod realized he’d been tricked. The wise men were not coming back. Herod, of course, was furious. He simply ordered that all boys who lived in or near Bethlehem and were two years of age and younger be killed. He knew the baby King was this age because of what the wise men told him.

This sad event had long been foretold by the prophet Jeremiah:

A voice will be heard in Ramah,

weeping and wailing and mourning out loud all day and night.

The voice is Rachel’s, weeping for her children,

her children who have been killed;

she weeps, and she will not be comforted.

Joseph, Mary, and Jesus stayed in Egypt until Herod died. This fulfilled yet another prophecy. The prophet Hosea once wrote, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

And after Herod died, a messenger of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt:

Messenger of the Lord: You may go home now. Take the child and His mother and go back to the land of Israel, for the people who were trying to take the child’s life are now dead.

So Joseph got up and took Mary and Jesus and returned to the land of Israel. Soon he learned that Archelaus, Herod’s oldest and notoriously brutal son, was ruling Judea. Archelaus might not be any friendlier than Herod had been. Joseph was simply afraid. He had another dream, and in this dream, he was warned away from Judea; so Joseph decided to settle up north in a district called Galilee, in a town called Nazareth. And this, too, fulfilled what the prophets have taught, “The Savior will be a Nazarene.”

The Book of Matthew, Chapter 2 (The Voice)

A set of notes from The Voice translation about this chapter:

Mary and Joseph name their baby Jesus, but sometimes He is referred to as Immanuel, because by coming to dwell with us, living and dying among us, He would be able to save us from our sin.

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These are exceptionally good gifts, for gold is what is given a king, and Jesus is the King of kings; incense is what you expect to be given a priest, and Jesus is the High Priest of all high priests; myrrh ointment is used to heal, and Jesus is a healer. But myrrh is also used to embalm corpses—and Jesus was born to die.

Today’s paired reading from the First Testament is the 13th chapter of the book of Hosea:

When Ephraim spoke, people trembled

because he was powerful in Israel.

But he was guilty of worshiping another divine master

and was sentenced to death.

Even now they keep on sinning; they cast metal idols for themselves,

shaping silver to fashion wretched images.

These idols are all skillfully crafted by humans.

People say, “Offer your human sacrifices to them, and kiss these calf-idols.”

God will destroy them for this, and they’ll be like fog in the morning,

like dew evaporating at sunrise, like the chaff blown from the threshing floor,

Like the smoke that drifts out of a window.

Eternal One: I’m the Eternal One.

I’ve been your God ever since you left Egypt.

You are supposed to be exclusively loyal to Me.

No other god can be your liberator.

It was I who established the relationship with you in the wilderness,

I who looked after you in that parched and weary land.

When I fed them, they were satisfied,

but when satisfied, they filled with pride and then forgot Me.

So I’ll be like a lion to them,

like a panther stalking the roadside.

I’ll meet them like a bear who’s lost her cubs;

I’ll rip open their chests.

I’ll devour them as if I’m a lion,

and I’ll tear them apart as if I��m a wild animal.

This is why you’re going to be destroyed, Israel:

you’re against Me, against the One who’s helping you!

Where is your king now?

Let’s see if he comes to save you and all your cities.

Where are your leaders, the ones of whom you demanded,

“Give me a king and princes!”?

I gave you a king, even though you made Me angry by asking for one,

and in My rage, I decided to take him away!

Ephraim’s guilt has been wrapped up;

his sin has been hidden.

The labor pains of his mother are coming for him, but he is unwise;

he does not move from the birth canal.

Should I deliver them from the power of the grave?

Should I rescue them from death’s cold grip?

Hey, Death! Where is your big win?

Hey, Grave! What happened to your sting?

I’ll look the other way and not show them any pity.

Though Israel, among his brothers, is like a plant that flourishes in the wetlands,

an east wind will come—a dry desert wind sent by Me—

And the waters will dry up. His spring will run dry.

All the treasures in his storehouse will be plundered.

Because of her guilt and her rebellion against her God,

Samaria will be punished: her people will be cut down by the sword;

Her children will be dashed to pieces; her pregnant women will be torn open.

The Book of Hosea, Chapter 13 (The Voice)

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for monday, january 8 of 2024 with a paired chapter from each Testament (the First & the New) of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons about “I Am”:

When Moses asked why he (of all people!) was chosen to be God’s emissary, the LORD did not explain His decision in natural terms; nor did not appeal to Moses’ past experiences, his potential, his family lineage, or even his great humility... Instead God simply said that whatever inadequacies Moses might have, being in relationship "with Him" was entirely sufficient: "ki ehyeh imakh" (כִּי־אֶהְיֶה עִמָּךְ): “for I will be with you” (Exod. 3:12). That is all that Moses would truly need...

When Moses then sought for some way to justify his role as a prophet sent from God, he sought to know God’s secret “name” (see Exod. 3:13). God’s response to the request was enigmatic: אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה - ehyeh asher ehyeh: “I will be what I will be” (or I am what I am), which may be understood as, “It doesn’t matter what my Name is - I will be what I will be - all that matters is that I will be with you (ehyeh imakh) -- and that is enough!

Indeed, God’s name is nifla (נִפלָא) - “wonderful and incomprehensible” (Judges 13:18; Psalm 139:6), since the LORD is infinite and beyond comparison to finite things (Psalm 147:5). God is the great “I AM” that pervades all of Reality (אָנכִי), the glorious Eternal Personal Presence (i.e., hayah, hoveh, ve’yihyeh) whose power constantly sustains all things. Most of all, God is declared and expressed as our Savior, the One who reveals the face of God to us all (2 Cor. 4:6).

Regarding the perennial question of whether we can fully apprehend the inner meaning of the Name of God, we read the following vision from the New Testament: “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called ‘Faithful and True’ (נֶאֱמָן וְיָשָׁר), and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a Name written that no one knows but himself (שֵׁם כָּתוּב אֲשֶׁר לא־יָדַע אִישׁ כִּי אִם־הוּא לְבַדּוֹ). He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the Name by which he is called is ‘the Word of God’ (דְּבַר הָאֱלהִים). And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron. And He will tread the winepress of the fierce fury of the wrath of God, the Ruler over All, the LORD God Almighty (יְהוָה אֱלהֵי צְבָאוֹת). On his robe and on his thigh he has a Name written, the King of kings (מֶלֶךְ הַמְּלָכִים) and the Lord of lords (אֲדנֵי הָאֲדנִים). And with the breath of his lips He will slay the wicked” (Rev. 19:11-16).

Notice that in this passage the LORD both has a Name that no one knows but Himself and also that is He is called ‘Faithful and True,’ ‘the Word of God,’ and so on... In other words, within Himself God's Name is something that only He can truly understand, though we can know what He is called based on the revelation and analogical language of the Scriptures.

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

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Exodus 3:14a reading:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/exod3-14a-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/exod3-14a-lesson.pdf

1.5.24 • Facebook

from yesterday’s email by Israel 365:

All who have faith in the God of Israel know that the end of history is good. God will redeem the world. Knowledge of God will one day fill the earth. Evil and falsehood will be defeated. The biblical promises of the glorious future for the world are certain. And yet, each and every one of us knows that we may not be fortunate enough to live to see the Kingdom of God on this earth. We yearn for it while knowing that this lengthy historical process may very well reach its glorious conclusion after we are gone. Are we still able to rejoice in the promises of the future? Are we joyous and grateful as we envision the great redemption of humanity that may occur after we are gone, even though we will not live to see it?

This is not a small challenge for our lives of faith. It forces us to confront a fundamental question regarding our devotion to God’s purposes. We know that the long march of history will end with the knowledge of God covering the earth like water covers the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). We know that we make our contributions to this future when we live our lives according to the expressed will of God. But what really motivates us? Are we in it for ourselves, or to serve God?

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

January 8, 2024

Not Giving, but Sowing

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully.” (2 Corinthians 9:6)

As John Calvin pointed out long ago in expounding this key passage, “We are not giving, but sowing” when we contribute of our financial means to the work of the Lord, for it miraculously is considered by the Lord of the harvest as seed sown in the soil of the hearts of men.

And it is a rule of the harvest that, other things being equal, the more seed planted, the more harvested. He who is deficient with his seed must necessarily anticipate a meager crop.

Of course, a bountiful harvest presupposes not only an abundance of seed but also good soil, properly prepared, watered, and cultivated. It is no good simply to give money to anyone or any cause, any more than it is good simply to throw a seed on a rocky slope or city street or weed-infested yard. One is responsible to give where God’s Word is honored—not just to give, but to give responsibly.

Furthermore, even though an abundant harvest is promised, the motive in giving is also vital. The harvest is souls—not gold! “God loveth a cheerful giver”—not a conditional giver (v. 7). “He that giveth, let him do it with simplicity” (Romans 12:8). Often God does bring financial blessing to a Christian who has proved faithful in the grace of giving, but this is so he can give still more and thus lay up still more treasure in heaven. “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Luke 12:48). “Therefore,” as Paul said, “see that ye abound in this grace also” (2 Corinthians 8:7).

And as we give, we must never forget that Christ has given more. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor” (2 Corinthians 8:9). HMM

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americaistheoldworld · 1 year

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The Superior Moscow, Russia

The Superior Moscow, Russia is a necessary post since it has been so much talk about the Tartarian Empire lately. Tartary is a Country in Asia near Russia, but what if the Americas was home to the original Russia and Tartary? If this is proven correct, it will demonstrate that America is the orient (the East) and the true old world. Please read my previous blog post that proves that the Americas is the land of the Orient and Asia Major: https://www.americaistheoldworld.com/ancient-china-the-land-of-the-orient/.

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The Creeks are the Greeks

Creek Indian Chief Silas Jefferson (1835-1913) was born at Taskigi Town (or Tuskegee) in the Old Creek Nation. His parents were Betsey and Jeffery Manac (McNac). Also known as Ho-tul-ko-micco "Wind Clan chief." As you can see, he was a dark aboriginal man or a Blackamoor. It appears that all of the early pictures of American Indians from the 1800's show dark skin people that we would call African-American today.

Flag of the Empire of Tartary

This is the Flag of Empire of Tartary. As you can see Tartary was very Moorish, since it has two red Moorish flags on its Grand flag.

Maur Hieroglyph

This is the Maur Hieroglyphic from the Palermo Stele in Egypt. As you can see the Owl represents the Maur and the term Maur in Egyptian means a High-Priest of Anu. The owl is also a symbol of Tartary (Tartaria) and it represents the wise ones who know who; and supervision since owls can rotate their heads 360 degrees.

1491 Map of Berber Tribes

1491 map of the Distribution of the Barbarous Tribes, East of the Mississippi, from the University of South Florida. In this post is an image of the said map. Barbarous is just a descriptive word for barbarians, which is just code for the word Berber; especially, since we know that the vowels are interchangeable with ancient Semitic languages; therefore, Barbar-ous can easily be converted to Berber-ous tribes, which where Turks/ Moors. The Spanish considered the Saracens (Moors) uncivilized barbarians, because of their belief in Islam. These Native American Tribes are tribes of the Greater Morocco that we had in the Americas

1861 Flag of Muskogee Creek Nation

The Muscogee Creek were Moors and I got the 1861 Flag of the Muscogee Creek Nation to prove that the Creeks were Moors. As you can see, the Creek Flag is Islamic since it features the Islamic Crescent moon and star on it. This Islamic Creek Flag is similar to the Confederate Flag Banner, the State flag of Turkey, the 1844 flag of the Ottoman Empire, and the 1861 State Flag of South Carolina, which are all Islamic states, since the said flags all have cherry red backgrounds with the Islamic Crescent Moon and star on them. This highly suggests that the South was ran by Moors or Turks, aka, the seed of Ishmael, the son of Abraham of the Bible

The Flag of the Soviet Union - Russian Flag

The flag of the former Soviet Union is cherry red Islamic flag with a crescent moon and star on it.

State Flag of Florida

The original Flag of The Iroquois confederation

The original confederate flag is not a racist symbol of slavery, because it is the Flag of the Iroquois confederation. Only Indians had confederacies, therefore, this flag could never possibly belong to Europeans from the South, because Europeans did not have confederacies, because only Indians did. Yes, this flag was stolen from the Blackamoors, aka, Indians and converted into a symbol of hate and slavery to get Blackamoors to disconnect with the South and their own sign and symbol.

The original confederate Flag

The original confederate Flag. This was the Battle flag of the Moors. This flag is the flag of the Iroquois confederation and it is also the Flag of Saint Mary and the Flag of Saint Andrew. Saint Andrew was the first apostle of Jesus Christ and the Patron Saint of Scotland.

The Red shield of the Red One's

Origin: Scottish. Coat of Arms: A red shield with a green saltire over which is a gold saltire. Crest: A saracen's head. Motto: Victrix fortuna sapientia. Motto Translated: Wisdom is the conqueror of fortune.

Saint Andrew was a Moor (Saracen)

This is Saint Andrew, the first apostle/ disciple of Jesus. The Flag of Scotland, Jamaica, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi, and Maryland all have the X symbol. Saint Andrew, the first Apostle was crucified on the Cross and was able to perform miracles just like Jesus could. The Gospel of Saint Andrew and the Acts of Andrew were taken out of the Bible, Because Saint Andrew had the same kind of wisdom and powers that Jesus had. Saint Andrew is also associated with the lost tribe of Israel, aka, the Hebrew Israelite Moors in America. This is the Link to the Andrews Family Crest, aka, the lost tribe of Israel: http://the-red-thread.net/genealogy/andrews.html. Looks like so-called Blacks are really Hebrew Israelite Moors

Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus Christ -Russian Icon in Pahokee, FL.

In 2001 Edward and Adele Kahn, owners of House of Kahn Estate Jewelers, donated a jewel-encrusted painting from Moscow, Russia of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child that was created in the 16th century. This Black Russian icon was donated to St. Mary Catholic Church in Pahokee; which is the poorest church in the Diocese of Palm Beach. A 2008 appraisal places the value at $1.3 million, and today its value exceeds $2 million US dollars.

Now, where is the original Moscow, Russia? Well, here is a 1562 map of America by Spanish cartographer, Diego Gutiérrez, from the Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3290.ct000342?r=0.163,0.175,0.732,0.315,0.

The 1562 Diego Gutierrez map shows Francisca (France) and the mythical golden city of Norimberga (Germany) that was allegedly built by Vikings (Danes). This said map also shows you the original Moscow, the capital of Russia in North America to the left of Francisca.

Now that we know that Moscow and Asia Major (India Superior) were in the Americas, let’s discuss “Our Lady of Bethlehem,” a Blackamoor Russian Icon, that is currently in Pahokee, Florida. Why Pahokee, Florida?

“In 2001 Edward and Adele Kahn, owners of House of Kahn Estate Jewelers, donated a jewel-encrusted painting of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child created in the 16th century to St. Mary Catholic Church in Pahokee, the poorest in the Diocese of Palm Beach. A 2008 appraisal places the value at $1.3 million, and today its value exceeds $2 million”: https://rb.gy/yllkwk.

THE MUSCOGEE CREEK OF MOSCOW:

Well, Florida has a Moscow, Florida, and a tribe of Creek (Greek) Indians called the Muscogee (Muscogee=Muscovite=Moscow). Muscogee is very similar to Muscovite. In fact, Muscovite is the plural form of Moscow (Muscovy) since the people of Moscow, Russia refers to themselves as the Muscovites. The Muscovite (Muscogee) Creek are the Greeks: https://www.facebook.com/Americaisthetrueoldworld/posts/4475429415854657

Florida also has a Russian city called Saint Petersburg, Florida that has the same Moorish/ Tartarian architecture found in Saint Petersburg, Russia (see the Tampa Bay (Bey) Hotel): https://rb.gy/seuben.

Additionally, we have a Russia, Ohio, and a Moscow Ohio in North America. When we hear of Russia, we think of the Tartarian Empire that was near Russia in Asia, but what if North America was Grand Tartary: https://www.americaistheoldworld.com/grand-tartary-was-in-north-america/.

ANCIENT JERUSALEM, BETHLEHEM, AND GALILEE:

Now, that we know that the Superior Moscow (Russia) was in the Americas, the Russian Icon, “Our Lady of Bethlehem,” being now in the custody of the Kahn (Mr. Edward Kahn) in Pahokee, Florida is starting to make sense; especially, if we consider Bethlehem, Florida, and Lake Galilee in Florida. Galilee and Bethlehem are associated with Mary (Maya) and her baby Jesus Christ and the Holy City of Jerusalem.

Ancient Jerusalem is located near Bethlehem (Bethlehem, FL?) and Galilee (Lake Galilee, FL?) on maps of the Mediterranean region. We already know that the original Mediterranean Sea was the Gulf of Mexico, which makes Florida, aka, La Floridas, the area of the original Holy land or land of the Bible. Florida was once a huge territory of land that was known as Tameri, aka, Abyssinia, or Ethiopia Superior/ India Superior (the land of the Maurs): https://www.americaistheoldworld.com/gibraltar-of-the-west/.

Here is evidence that ancient Jerusalem (Moslem-Jerusalem) was in the Americas and was under the jurisdiction of the Washitaw Mu’urs (Maurs/ Moors), aka, the Ancient Ones/ Mound Builders: https://rb.gy/xbwqyi.

Here is evidence that Mother Mary, King David, and Jesus are Moslem Maurs (Saracens): https://rb.gy/mob6xq.

This information explains why “Our Lady of Bethlehem,” a Russian Icon, is currently housed in Pahokee, Florida, since Florida was Bethlehem and Muscogee (Muscovite=Moscow, Russia) Creek territory. The Makoski/ Muscogee Creeks occupied a huge territory of land that covered several US States, according to the 1491 map of the Distributuion of the Barbarous (Berber-ous) Tribes East of the Mississippi. The huge territory of land occupied by the Muscogee Creeks (Greeks) suggests that the Grand or Superior Moscow was in the Americas.

THE ORIGNAL MOSCOW, RUSSIA:

Russia (Russia=Russ-Asian) was established by the mighty Andrews/ Andros/ Ros/ Rus clan from Scotland when they were Saracens (Old Arabs), which explains all the Black “Russian Icons” and the Islamic state flag of the former Soviet Union (Russia) with its cherry red background and Islamic crescent moon and star on it. https://the-red-thread.net/genealogy/andrews.html.

The 1861 Pro-Confederate Flag of the Muscogee Creek Nation is also an Islamic flag with a crescent moon and star on it, because the Muscogee Creek Nation were Berber Maurs that helped to ran the Southern Confederacy during the Civil War: https://www.americaistheoldworld.com/the-moors-ran-the-south/.

The Andrew’s clan were Saracen (Moslem) descendants of Saint Andrew. Saint Andrew is the patron saint of SCOTLAND, GREECE, ITALY, and RUSSIA and was Christ’s first disciple. Saint Andrew was crucified on the cross (X) and had the same kind of wisdom and powers that Jesus had, hence the reason why the Vatican removed the Gospel of Saint Andrew and the Acts of Saint Andrew from the Bible. Saint Andrew was a fisher of men that preached in Nineveh (the House of the Fish) that was originally in Jacksonville, Florida and surrounding areas: https://www.americaistheoldworld.com/nineveh-was-jacksonville-florida/.

The term Maur means high Priest of Anu, according to the Palermo Stele from ancient Egypt. The owl and the serpent (dragon) are Hieroglyphic symbols that represent the Maurs, according to the Palermo Stele from Egypt. The owl and the dragon are both flag symbols of Tartary, which makes the Maur a Tartarian. In this post is the flag of the Empire of Tartary. As you can see, Tartary was very Moorish, since it has two cherry red Moorish flags on its grand flag.

Moscow is a corruption of Mosque, and most of the cathedrals and U.S. Capitol buildings in the Americas were mostly Mosques or Mausoleums at first before Spanish (Roman) conquest of the Americas. These Moorish/ Tartarian buildings were later converted into Christian and Catholic churches and other governmental structures after the fall of the Moors.

Cashapp: $Amunhotep7 PayPal: [email protected]

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astranemus · 3 years

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In an obscure article from 1980, the Harvard-trained classicist Ruth Scodel took note of a thousand-year tradition that connected Homer to later thinkers like Plato, Plutarch, and Nonnus - all of whom used the word pharmakon to describe wine. She matter-of-factly acknowledges that "wine is conventionally praised as a good pharmakon" across Greek literature, calling it a "ritual formula." Wine's reputation as a complex elixir traveled all the way from the Greek Dark Ages to the fall of the Roman Empire because that's what it was - a versatile substance ranging from what Scodel calls a "drug against grief," to a perilous, sometimes fatal "medicine," to a tool for invoking wine gods both old and new.

If ever you find yourself in a game of connect the ancient dots, you want Father Francis on your team. Sensing where I'm headed with this passage from Euripides, he gets another mischievous twinkle in his eye. "You know... we call the Eucharist the pharmakon athanasias," he beams, using the Ancient Greek phrase for the "Drug of Immortality." The priest had first mentioned it during my visit to Italy last May. But before that, I had honestly never heard the expression. Until I found the original Greek source, I thought the brainy Catholic was just pulling my leg.

...

Though he may have wanted to distinguish the Christian Eucharist from its pagan past, the Greco-Syrian Ignatius drops a loaded phrase that seems custom-tailored for those Greco-Ephesians who weren't quite ready to leave Dionysus behind. In his little-known letter Ignatius unambiguously refers to the Eucharist as the "Drug of Immortality" (pharmakon athanasias) - an "antidote" or "remedy" (antidotos) for death, capable of generating eternal life.

It was not a random choice of words. By this tiny example we gain tremendous insight into the very Hellenized world of the eastern Mediterranean into which Jesus and his early followers were born. From Greece to North Africa to the Near East, a new generation of classicists is now referring to this melting pot of religious ideas as the "ancient cultural internet" that linked a diverse network of Greek speakers "in multi-voiced conversation." From its initial discovery and ritual attachment to Greek life, wine was perceived as nothing less than a powerhouse drug with the potential to either slay or sanctify, at once toxic and miraculous. And in this one interconnected neighborhood, whether you were in Athens or Alexandria or Antioch - Dionysus was its dealer.

Before, during, and after the life of Jesus.

Brian C. Muraresku, The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion With No Name

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orthodoxydaily · 4 years

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Saints&Reading: Fri., Aug. 21, 2020

Commemorated on August 8_Julian Calendar

Saint Myron, Bishop of Crete

Sainted Myron, Bishop of Crete, a wonderworker, in his youth was a family man, and worked at farming. He was known for his goodness, and he assisted everyone who turned to him for help. One time a thieves burst in upon his threshing floor, and Saint Myron himself helped them raise up a sack of grain upon their shoulders. By his generosity the saint so shamed the thieves, that in future they began to lead honourable lives. Out of profound respect for the saint, the Cretan people urged him to accept the dignity of presbyter in his native city of Raucia, and afterwards they chose him bishop of Crete. Wisely ruling his flock, Saint Myron received from the Lord the gift of wonderworking. At the time of a flood on the River Triton, the saint stopped its flow and went upon it as upon dry land, and then he sent a man back to the river with his staff with a command for the river to resume its course. Saint Myron reposed to God at age 100 in about the year 350.

The Monk Gregory the Sinaite

The Monk Gregory the Sinaite was born in about the year 1268 in the seacoast village of Clazomeneia near the city of Smyrna (Asia Minor), of rich parents. In about the year 1290 he was taken into captivity by the Hagarites and sent off to Laodicea. After gaining his freedom, the saint arrived on the island of Cyprus, where he was tonsured a monk. He set off afterwards to Mount Sinai and there assumed the great schema. Having fulfilled his obediences of cook and baker, and then as writer-copyist, surpassing all in reading and knowledge of Scriptural and patristic books. The strictness of his life (fasting, vigil, psalmody, standing at prayer) brought some to astonishment and others to envy. Departing the monastery, the monk visited Jerusalem. For some time he lived on the island of Crete, and afterwards he made the rounds on Athos with its monasteries and ascetics. By such manner he acquired the experience of the monastic life of many centuries from the ancient monasteries. Only after this did the Monk Gregory the Sinaite settle himself in a solitary place for "hesychia" ["mystic quiet" doing the Jesus Prayer] – a cell for silence and unhindered pursuit of mental prayer, combined with hard monastic work. The precious legacy of the Monk Gregory is in his precepts about the inner life, 15 chapters about silence, and 142 chapters about the commandments, where he says, that "one seeking to comprehend the commandments without fulfilling them, and through study and reading to find that which is desired, is like a man imagining a fantasy in place of truth". The monk is reknown also as a remarkable writer of song, – to him is ascribed the "Mete it is in truth" ("Dostoino est vo istinu"), and a canon to the MostHoly Trinity read at Sunday vigil, and a canon to the holy Cross. In a canon-book (from the year 1407) of the Monk Kirill (Cyril) of Belozersk (+ 9 June 1427) is found the "Canon of propitiation to the Lord Jesus Christ, – a work of Gregory the Sinaite". Through his concern for the spreading of monastic deeds, the monk founded several cells on Athos, and also four laura-monasteries in Thrace. The Monk Gregory the Sinaite died in the year 1310 (some historians suggest the year 1346) at his so-called "Concealed" ("Parariseia") monastery, founded in the mountains of Macedonia for the strict followers of his life.

2 Corinthians 4:13-18

13And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak,14knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.15For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.16Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,18while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Matthew 24:27-33, 42-51

27For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.28For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.29Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.30Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.31And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.32Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.33So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near-at the doors!42Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.43But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.44Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?46Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.47Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.48But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,'49and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards,50the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,51and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

#orthodoxy #orthodoxchristianity #firstchristian #ancientfaith #spirituality #sacredtext #holyscripture #gospel #wisdom #knowledge

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neverwatchedonepiece · 5 years

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650-651: "Luffy and the Gladiator of Fate - Rebecca!" and "Protect You to the End! Rebecca and the Toy Soldier!"

NARUTO-KUNNNNNN

So Bartolomeo is basically Hinata.

He collects Strawhat posters.

He is their biggest fan.

You guys were right.

This is hilarious.

I love him. xD

“I SENT YOU MY BLOOD, LUFFY!”

Once Luffy and Don Chinjao left the ring, the clean up and reconstruction team moved in. As of now, three contenders could potentially move forward to challenge Diamante: Jesus Burgess, Bartolomeo and the Not-So-Mysterious Lucy.

I say “not so mysterious” because everyone and their gran fighting in the next round knows who he is now.

And I have a theory: Bartolomeo, Rebecca and Luffy will team up against Burgess in the next round.

Why do I think this?

Well, once Luffy left the ring, pursued by Cavendish, two fodders happened to pass by Bartolomeo. He overheard them talking shit about Luffy.

“Why does Cavendish keep yelling Strawhat? As if he’d be here. That’s the guy who couldn’t even save his brother’s life. Anyone could do what he did if he doesn’t have to save anyone’s life!”

For some reason, Bartolomeo Did Not Like This. He pinned the fodder and almost crushed him with a barrier. At first I thought Bartolomeo’s reaction was something to do with Ace. Maybe they were friends once?

Nope.

The real reason was Even Better.

“What was that joke you made so lightly?” Bartolomeo growled. “Listen, Luffy-senpai will become the standard bearer for this era. He will become the Pirate King!”

No, I thought. No way. Bartolomeo was a Luffy supporter? How? And why Luffy-senpai? Had Luffy unknowingly taught him along the way?

The answer? Sort of.

Bartolomeo was there at Loguetown.

“I saw it with my own eyes. Over two years ago. At Loguetown in East Blue. On the legendary scaffold where Roger died, Luffy-senpai shouted it out then. At that moment, straight from heaven, came a bolt of thunder which saved his life. What I saw was a miracle!”

And thus Luffy’s Biggest Fan was born.

Seriously, this guy used to be a gangland boss (had taken over about one-hundred and fifty towns). But he began to follow the news stories. Alabasta, Enies Lobby, Impel Down and Marineford. He made a fan shrine with his bounty poster collection! In the end, Bart’s hardcore fanboy status reached the lofty height of emulation. Inspired by Luffy, he sailed out to sea.

And it turns out Bart does not take kindly to anyone talking shit about his idol.

While Luffy dodged Cavendish, Bartolomeo peeked round the wall and watched. “I can’t approach him. When it comes to it, I can’t do it. I’m too nervous to go anywhere near him. The scar under his left eye. It’s real! He’s so cool! Oh... my eyes are suddenly blind with tears. That stupid Cabbage shit. I want to beat him to death and save Luffy!”

It’s nice to know Luffy has such a dedicated in-universe fanbase.

And Don Chinjao can be added to the club too. He joined Cavendish in thundering after Luffy because he wants to place his grandson’s Happo Navy under the command of Garp’s Illustrious Grandson. What a result, right?

Except Luffy was thoroughly weirded out, wondering why these three crazy guys were chasing him.

Luckily for him, Rebecca was around.

Teach Takes Another Level in Scumbag

She grabbed his arm and hauled him off. There was a more private place nearby where no one else went.

On the way, they passed Jesus Burgess. He was in the middle of a DDM call. A very familiar voice was on the line. So familiar, it caused a visceral reaction in Luffy. He screeched to a halt immediately.

It was Blackbeard. And they were having a weird conversation.

“By that logic, Shiryu is no different,” Teach said.

“But I can’t trust Aokiji!” Burgess complained. “Uh... Hold on a sec, Captain. Strawhat is here.”

This piqued Teach’s interest. “Eh? You there, Strawhat?”

“You’re Blackbeard, aren’t you?” (You know when Luffy remembers you straight away that you must either be A) Really Good, or B) A Real Asshole.

“Yeah, it’s been awhile. Heard you’re fighting in the competition, Lucy. But my man, Burgess, is gonna win the Mera-Mera Fruit. I can’t wait because it’ll be like having Ace in my crew. He turned me down in the past.”

OOOOFT.

Wow, that one was a low blow. To be honest, I really like how Oda employs Teach as a long-term adversary to Luffy. Teach’s panel/screen time is economical but every time he appears, Oda really ramps up the enmity between him and Luffy. No exchange is ever wasted.

I was pretty proud of Luffy for keeping his cool here. It shows how much he’s matured as a person and as a Captain.

I am also intrigued by why Burgess is worrying about Aokiji? That was pretty random. Is our favourite ex-Admiral really operating in the underworld now? Is he trying to wangle information from the Blackbeards? Hmm... Don’t think Smoker would like that. Then again, he has had a hard lesson on Punk Hazard. Maybe he will be a little more cynical in future and won’t dismiss intel from pirates out of hand.

Justice for Toys!

Post Blackbeard Encounter, Rebecca led Luffy further away from the chaos. On the way, Luffy was distracted by free food samples. Just before he cleaned out the stall, Rebecca offered to buy him lunch, even though she didn’t have much money.

What a nice gesture, right?

Rebecca found a deserted looking area and Luffy smashed into his bento like it was Blackbeard’s face. Through mouthfuls of food, Luffy asked where they were. Rebecca explained it was quarters for the gladiators. They called it “a prison” (which, we learned later, it literally was).

Since Luffy’s life revolves around piracy and food, he asked Rebecca if she was hungry and if she wanted some food.

This triggered an Obvious Trauma Flashback. Smol Rebecca and her mother beneath the tree in Flower Field. Smol Rebecca saying, “I’m hungry.” Her mother replying, “Okay, do you think you can stay here alone for a while?” Then suddenly... dead mother.

Rebecca said tightly, “I don’t get hungry.”

Although I figured there was guilt here, I didn’t link Smol Rebecca’s food request directly with her mother’s death. Not until the big reveal of Rebecca’s past.

That unwitting conversational misstep must have pushed Rebecca into enacting her plan. She had intended to lure Luffy into a quiet area and kill him. When she turned on him, to my surprise, some randoms in bandages piped up from behind bars. “YEAH, GIT HIM, REBECCA!”

But Rebecca had picked on the wrong competitor.

Or, when you look at it from another angle, exactly the right one.

Luffy was able to fend her off while still tucking into his delicious meal. It was an embarrassingly easy win. The gulf of ability between them was so wide, she was never on Luffy’s radar. Right now, beating Rebecca would be like swatting a fly. (Not disparaging her general fighting ability, but compared to Luffy, most people would come off worse.) She was no threat, therefore Luffy wasn’t angry about the assassination attempt.

Luckily, she bought Luffy lunch. Especially since she didn’t have much money. He loves food and would appreciate that. Any other offence would pale in comparison to that act of generosity.

“I’m not gonna do anything to someone who bought me food,” Luffy said when Rebecca insisted he just kill her and get it over with.

Then Luffy noticed the “mummies” - the prisoners in bandages in the background. Rebecca explained the situation. She and the other guys in the room are “convict gladiators”, pretty much like the system in ancient Rome where slaves and criminals could be slung into the arena and ordered to fight to the death.

To ramp up Doflamingo’s evilness, they also said, “The king says we can be released if we win a thousand times. Everyone who tried to escape got shot. There’s nowhere to run for us. Before Doflamingo became king, gladiatorial matches were not to the death. In this kingdom, there are very bright and very dark sides.”

So Doflamingo brought in the Delayed Death Penalty for criminals. I guess it’s a way of ushering capital punishment through the back door. Entertain the masses and get rid of undesirables in one go. Few will object because most love the Colosseum games. The ones who won’t fight, or the really dangerous ones likely to talk too much, are turned into toys. That’s iron control of Dressrosa right there.

And Rebecca is not a fan.

“Today an army led by Sol will come to let us out by provoking a battle against Doflamingo. He is willing to sacrifice his life to destroy the kingdom. But I’m gonna do it before he does. I don’t want to just be protected anymore. I want to protect Sol this time! I’ll win today’s competition no matter what and will kill Doflamingo with the Mera-Mera Fruit power.”

I thought I’d figured out Rebecca’s motive to fight. Poor kid with no food, no family, maybe resorted to petty criminal activity, was arrested and now she wants to escape. Amongst all the crap that happened to her, maybe Sol was her only friend.

Luffy was like, “Why are you worried a toy is gonna die?”

Rebecca just smiled and said, “You’re not from here, so it’ll be hard for you to understand. Toys are the same as humans (wait til she finds out they *are* humans. She’s gonna flip tables). They are friends to the friendless. Siblings for those who have none. Lovers for the loveless. I don’t understand why they’re not able to live with us. Since I lost my mother, Sol-san raised me. He’s like a father to me (I bet he is).”

Luffy actually listened to this (which is a huge accomplishment, Rebecca. You should be proud of that) and said, “You don’t look like a prisoner to me. Buy me lunch again sometime!”

Rebecca walked out to the ring and said, “See you at the finals.”

I like her confidence.

Then a flashback kicked in that showed me how wrong I was about Rebecca’s motivations.

Oda Really Likes Princesses, Doesn’t He?

The sad tale of how Sol came to raise Rebecca opened with a scene of Smol Rebecca and her mother living quietly on Flower Field, picking flowers to sell in town. They had a lovely house. An idyllic life. But don’t think I missed that one empty chair at the table. (Sol is totally her dad.)

Then there was fire. The King Riku army was setting town on fire. This really puzzled me. (I’m still not one-hundred percent on this. Are we talking the actual King Riku or the Resistance King Riku Army here?)

Soldiers chased Smol Rebecca and her mother, Lady Scarlet. Diamante headed the charge. Sol stepped in and defended them. After the battle, Smol Rebecca and Lady Scarlet hid out in Flower Field. Rebecca said she was hungry. Lady Scarlet knew it was a risk but she sneaked into town to buy food. She was shot and killed. Sol brought her body back, along with the food she’d died to buy Rebecca.

Smol Rebecca nudging her mother’s dead body and telling her to get up was like post-stampede Mufasa and Simba all over again. It was Very Sad. ;_;

She almost cried but Sol clamped his hand over her mouth. Enemies were still looking for her.

“Your mother was high-born. Do you know we have a new king now? The new king wants to capture all the former nobility. He even wants to capture you because your mother’s blood runs through your veins. I’m gonna protect you unti the end with my life. Until the day you are filled with happiness, I will always be by your side.”

Wait... I thought. Rebecca is a noble???

What the hell?

What was going on?

Was the battle the night before a civil war in Dressrosa? One that Doflamingo won against King Riku?

Who Says Politicians Never Keep Their Promises, Eh?

Because here he is. On a podium. A shiny new king wearing his all time fave feather jacket. The adoring crowd chanted his name. “Doflamingo! Doflamingo!”

He made a speech. Par for the course with new kings.

“The Riku Family has been running this poor country for centuries! In the end they became shameless and robbed money and goods from citizens for themselves. I’m gonna make this country wealthy, instead!”

This is where I lost track of the situation. From what has been revealed about people turning into Toys, I thought Doflamingo “brought someone in” to do that. I figured that would have been *after* he gained power. But Toys were around before that. Sol is proof.

What gives?

And the people of Dressrosa *really* hate King Riku and anyone associated with his bad, corrupt family. Unfortunately for Rebecca, not only is she a noble, she is also King Riku’s granddaughter. Her status is also well-known in the Colosseum. When she walked into the ring, the commentator introduced her as the Phantom Princess of King Riku’s line. She was booed and vilified by the audience. “BURN IN HELL! CORRUPT FAMILY!”

I get the feeling Doflamingo engineered this somehow. It’s all too perfect a narrative. Doflamingo, the saviour, sweeps in and saves Dressrosa from the evil, corrupt family, while he is as bad, if not worse. Or maybe Doflamingo did have good intentions, but, as always in life, matters snowballed and he became hella corrupt himself. Leaning more towards deliberate coup at the moment.

I am also highly suspicious of the gladiator Ricky. It’s very close to Riku and there was definitely an older gent under that mask...

“SELL THEM FOR STRAWHAT MERCHANDISE!”

#one piece #neverwatchedonepiece #nwop #never watched one piece #monkey d. luffy #donquixote doflamingo #bartolomeo #rebecca sugar #sol the toy #lady scarlet #king riku #diamante #cavendish #don chinjao #dressrosa

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tce070 · 4 years

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Who was Jesus and did he go to heaven?

This has always been very thought provoking to a lot of people to the point where they are ready to sacrifice their lives in order for it to be true! Also, let it be known that just because you believe in something doesn’t make it true. For that I know as a fact. Just because your mom or grandma tell you that Jesus is in your heart doesn’t make it real. Wait, or does it now?

First off, the “lifeform” modern day society knows as “Jesus” knew him by a different name. This all happened two millennia ago but for some reason it’s still talked about today. What also is problematic here? It went down in the Middle East near modern day Palestine. After the atrocities of World War II, the Jewish people were given permission by the United Nations to migrate back to their Holy Land where ancient Jews ruled for some time.

Anyways back to the story at hand: Its been said his name was Yeshua or Yawee and the English translations get even worse from there. In Christian folklore, his mother had never been sexually with another and bore him as a virgin! Pretty far out man! Also, on the evening of his birth 3 wisemen blessed him with gold and silver. Have you seen a modern day nursery? Wow it must be so nice for a baby to be born in such style and glamour. Surely this child would fulfill the prophecies.

I can’t comment on every churches beliefs here but for the most part the young child is left out of it. Mary, his mother, eloped with a man named Joseph. Surely Jesus had brothers and sisters. My how heyzeus has changed! Jesus fulfills many Hebrew prophecies and for the Holy Bible’s sake comes into his adulthood at 33. Some say he married, others believe he spent time with horrors. Whatever the case, no Christian church recognizes a blood line. We do not rule in Kingdoms for the most part but Democracies and Republics. Over 7 billion people on this Earth and surely 95%-%99 have heard his name. Know about his prophecy!

Ultimately, Jesus was denied by the Middle Eastern Jews and sacrificed on a cross where he proved to be super human and came back to life! That’s why I started this off by calling him a “lifeform”. Surely at one point in this “thing’s” life it was a living breathing human. Perhaps what the people of Jerusalem witnessed was his spirit rising out of its body. People even today believe that ghosts are inhabiting our space as well. It raises the question: Are supernatural things real? Is there a paranormal realm we don’t fully understand? Well, this Christmas I hope you seek its meaning like I try to do every year.

#Christmas #Jesus #2020

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kingdomofthelogos · 5 years

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The Two Paths

Adventure of Holiness No.1

The Two Paths

Christians have historically held to a teaching that there are two modes of existing on this earth: the path of life and the path of death. Those that are separated from God through the fallen state of sin are on the path of death, but those that have found Christ are on the path of life. The consequences of these two modes of being are deep, and the church must be instrumental in reconciling people to Christ and the true life found in Christ.

These two ways are part of the opening of an ancient Christian document known as the “Didache,”or alternately titled as “The Lord’s Teachings Through the 12 Apostles.” The Didache is an ancient document that was the early Church’s first handbook with instructions concerning order, ethics, and practices for Christians. It is not a part of our canon of Scriptures, but it is still a powerful text that is extremely useful and shapes our modern theology. The opening statement in Didache 1:1 reads as follows: “there are two ways, one of life and one of death, and there is a great difference between the two ways.”

The grace of God is ever present in the world. It is calling people to walk the path of light. This way of life is an adventure of holiness that calls all of us to leave behind the corrupting bend towards sin that leads to death. The way of death is the default state of life in fallen creation, it invites people to reject holy transformation and look anywhere but towards God for fulfillment.

The Gospel of Saint Matthew is an excellent source to see the juxtaposition, or comparison, between these two paths. In the opening chapters of Matthew’s Gospel, we can see an example of a family that is accepting the grace of God to go on the adventure of holiness that takes them on the way of life. In contrast, we can see an example of someone who has rejected the way of life and chose to live on the path of death instead. Joseph and Mary embark on the way of life, and King Herod is set on the way of death.

As one reads through Matthew 1:18-2:16, one is able to see how Mary and Joseph are accepting the grace of God to walk the way of life. In there case, life is transformed for them on many levels. Not only are they tasked with being the earthly parents to the Messiah, who is begotten by God, but also they have little understanding of how this adventure will pan out. Nonetheless, they pursue the way of life.

On the other hand, Herod the Great lives a seriously contrasting life. His life is on the way of death, and his example reminds us of the potency of sin. The way of death disorders life, and it is not a mere personal shortcoming. Sin brings chaos, suffering and death to those near the way of death. Even bystanders are affected by sinful decisions. As you read through the Scriptures pay attention to these two ways.

Matthew 1:18-2:16

18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”

16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. (NRSV)

Upon reading Matthew 1:18 to 2:16, it becomes clear that there are two modes of existence that one can espouse on this earth: the way of life and the way of death. These are the paths emphasized by the Didache, and understanding the trajectory of these paths has been fundamental to Christian thinking all throughout our history.

In the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, we find vivid examples of these two modes of existence: the way of life and the way of death. Mary and Joseph follow the call of God and go on a holy quest in their lives, while Herod chose to be an instrument of death to all who stand in his way.

Jesus' earthly parents embody the way of life. Mary and Joseph are two humble Jewish commoners who have been visited by God with a great message revealing that Mary, as a virgin, will give birth to the Messiah. She and Joseph will have the honorable responsibility of raising God’s anointed. This is an enormous task, and they are not equipped to raise such a magnificent child in a place of royalty. However, having a royal palace for this divine child is not a requirement set before them. They are not instructed to raise the child in a palace, for this King will be different than any king that the world has ever known. They are simply instructed to be an upstanding family that fears God as they raise the child.

Mary and Joseph are simply commanded to be a righteous family, and in this we are reminded of the great adventure of family that God calls His people to embrace. The Christ is to be raised in a normal Jewish custom, and He does not demand the extravagant commodities of worldly royalty. The way of life is humble. Mary and Joseph recognize that they are not the power or authority setting the path for this life. He does not need to be brought up with great people of wealth, power, or authority. Instead, He needs to be raised by a humble Jewish family that fears God.

Great responsibility is given to those on the way of life. As one answers the call to the pursuit of holiness and the way of life, it requires a total commitment of life that often makes one a target of the world. Mary and Joseph found that Herod would make a target of any child in his way, and thus the family had to flee.

Herod embodies the other mode of existence: the way of death. Herod is corrupted by sin. He does not know how to value life properly, and he does not know what things he should love. It is appropriate to understand that God calls people to serve in positions over others, so let us not think that it is inherently sinful to have a position of authority and responsibility. Yet, when that authority and responsibility is abused or neglected then it becomes a divergence from the path of life collapsing down to that of death. Herod finds himself ruthlessly addicted to the way of death due to the nature of his twisted soul. His soul is misshapen and is so sharply bent towards sin and wickedness that he is a tyrant even to his own family. Furthermore, history tells us that Herod was incredibly tyrannical to all around him, and he sparred no one of his wrath.

Early in the Old Testament, we find the instruction that people in authority of others should fear God, be righteous and uphold the laws of God, and hate dishonest gain. Herod wants others to fear him, he wants his unpredictable and self-driven word to be absolute law, and he is more than happy to accept dishonest gain if it benefits him.

Herod’s improper pursuit of power and authority has taken him down the pathway of death. His demand for the life of royalty turned into destruction for him and those around him. This Herod wore the title of the "King of Judea," the King of the Jews. This is odd because he was not really a king; but rather he was given his position by Rome. The fact that he sought out the title of "King of Judea" shows just how much his life is bent towards the self-gratifying nature of the way of death. In the years leading up to his reign, Herod led an assault against his uncle, who was governor over Judea. Herod went to Rome and appealed to the authorities that he could be made governor with the title of a king. This was very unusual by Roman standards, but Herod was permitted. For years Jerusalem was turned into a bloodbath of death and chaos while Herod claimed power. Death was everywhere as Herod sought power.

Moving forwards in time to Herod’s later years, we can find in the Gospel of Matthew, that Herod is still an instrument of death as he murders the innocent children. The way of death is destructive, and it brings chaos and tragedy to all of those around it.

In conclusion, there is an obvious contrast between the way of life and the way of death. Joseph and Mary are humbled by the responsibility given to them. The new life that will come from the works of Jesus is beyond what the world expected of the Messiah. Furthermore, the grace of God that is found on this way of life is active even in the early stages of the Gospel.

The church is to be an institution of true life. This is life as God intended when he breathed the first breath of life into our most ancient ancestors. The Church is not called to be stagnant, but rather it is to be an institution that brings people into the true life modeled and purchased for us through the perfect love of Christ Jesus. To enter in the true life of the church, is to enter into the body of saints who have had their lives reordered by the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. The way of death disorders life, but the way of life humbles people before a God of order. As believers, let us forever pray that we can be instruments leading people to the way of life and away from the way of death.

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grover-nyquist · 5 years

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Twenty-sixth Transmission

Before Jesus was born, the babies would appear in caves at night; hollowed-out baby bodies with their innards swimming in ash. In rich ages of ancient Judaism and Rome, Jews and Romans would collect these stones, usually sawdust or clay, call them “love rocks,” and use them to decorate the empty coffins. These stones had become the accepted “zodiac” sign (Gabriel through Saturn) and were placed atop cradles for infants to sleep upon.

Without doubt, some part of that pre-emptive and life-saving determination to save these young souls or children of God happened that Tuesday night in Bethlehem.

As I said, though, in Judea and in Egypt and in the highlands of Persia and in Alexandria’s Jewish ghetto, in the hills of the Crossroads of the city of AD 36, when Canaanites were planted amid Ephraim’s goats, goats with camels who had snarled before their inevitable fall, during the Exodus this summer of 40, as they watched the children of Abraham tucking into matzo baked on the Mount of Olives at one end of the city, they watched as Babylonia and Mesopotamia in the sea, the Christian Near East, and Greek Palestine would forevermore have the equally word-made-known figure known as the baby.

In the hills of this mountain, early during AD 36, a third capital city existed, the city of Ephesus, which date back to the early summer of BC 350. The Apostle Paul has mentioned it five times in his letters, every letter being numbered, because it was the first capital city of the so-called eastern state of Titus (who, of course, had been the youngest brother of the Jewish prince Titus the Elder, who built the first Jewish Temple to the Jewish king Herod the Great in Jerusalem, and the capital city of the Roman Empire).

In Ephesus, “the pigmatite,” the gold on baptismal stones, which would later (with the plumbing and plumbing of a medieval city) be coated in gold, were placed on a table between the building and the wren-laden cliffs by their priestly fathers. This priestly father wrote nothing on them, but he showed them to “Fir”, a man who was acknowledged by the worshippers to be a “living god.” No doubt you have been served a “gold-steeped” meal by a waitress who has not taken her final phone call before the curtains close on her shift.

Then, after the priest prayed the “baptisms of the demons” on the pillows on which the sermons were held, the priest led the congregation to a basin outside the building to pour liquid into a wren that was facing the building. These liquids, which were “earthquake acid”, were to be dispersed along the slope of cliffs to destroy the devil’s corporeal person, which would then be consumed in flames by an angel of God. These “poison rocks” were set aside for thirty years of (on the basis of faith) a Sabbath “holiday” called for by the priest, because there was an idol worshipped and worshipped and worshipped in that town. That Friday night, after midnight prayers of the angel, the men’s night of prayer went forward from the priestly academy and took place outside the town. There too, the women gathered, outside the synagogue on the west side of the mountain. They sang “Hare and the Hares.”

The song begins thus:

We have heard about her thee hen,

the blasphemers from among their Israel/

I have learned also her, does her name appear/

In the Hebrew, she sheds her life’s blood for thee/

Well here is a blessing for thee, for thy God has breastered her, and thou shalt not divorce her/

A victory was won on the Day of Judgment/

And the earth is cleansed of her crack, and his bones are cleansed/

“This,” the prayer said, “is the power of the smoke,

which is made of those rocks, and ashes are cast

Whereas, the mother must know that her child’s journey is blessed/

And all will abide in peace from the Day of the Judgment/

In thee, O Lord, are my salvation and my power;

For thou bestows my glory

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agameforgoodchristians · 5 years

Text

The wise men, three years late for the nativity (Matthew 2:8-11) [An Epiphany Card Talk]

It’s a familiar part of the Christmas story, but it shouldn’t be. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, “wise men from the East” arrive in Jerusalem asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage” (Matthew 2:2). This upsets King Herod greatly, as he sees it as a threat to his throne. Herod gathers the court intelligentsia to ascertain where the prophesied Messiah was to be born, and they tell him Bethlehem. Herod now has a where, but he needs a when. He asks the visiting wise men for the exact time when the star had appeared in the sky, so he could calculate the age of the child he will kill. Once he has this information, he sends them to Bethlehem asking them to find the child, and report back His location, ostensibly to “pay him homage” (vs 8).

The wise men travel from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, following the star to Jesus’ home.

When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. (vs 10-11)

But none of this is a part of the Christmas story.

As we (briefly) discussed in another Card Talk, the wise men did not appear at the Nativity scene, as a careful reading of Matthew chapter 2 reveals.

This is just one aspect among many to be re-examined below.

We three kings from Orient are

Bearing gifts, we’ve traveled afar…

According to most scholars, church historians, and Bible nerds of all stripes, these “wise men,” or magi, were most likely Persian magician-astrologers, not “kings.” The Jewish readers of the gospel would have seen them as learned, but mostly evil foreign mystics. But the inherent nationalism in that sentiment is part of the story: even god-less heathen gentiles from the East know the importance of Jesus’ birth, and are willing to make a long journey to seek Him out. To that end, technically, they did travel from the “Orient”— meaning “the east”—, but seriously, no one but your “he’s from another time,” semi-racist grandfather should be using that word (and you should really get him to stop too).

It is also good to note that the passage never specifies the number of magi present at the scene, only that they were bearing three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These specific gifts hearken back to Psalm 72 — a “royal psalm,” tradition would have us believe was written by King David to usher in the reign of his son, King Solomon. This Psalm is employed in the Revised Common Lectionary during Epiphany to speak of the advent of the Messiah, because its verses proclaim the adoration of one king by a group of other kings bearing-gifts. For example, verses 10-15 include

May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts. May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service.

For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight.

Long may he live! May gold of Sheba be given to him. May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all day long.

Similarly, the gospel writer may have had Isaiah 60 in mind, which includes images such as:

Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. (vs 3)

A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord. (vs 6)

Foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you; for in my wrath I struck you down, but in my favor I have had mercy on you. Your gates shall always be open; day and night they shall not be shut, so that nations shall bring you their wealth, with their kings led in procession. (vs 10-11)

And maybe all this travelling over various terrain is what made them so late to the party. That and they were following that wandering “star.” (Ooooh Ooooooohhhhhhh…)

Star of wonder, star of night,

Star with royal beauty bright…

There is a tradition that the “star” which guided the magi, was not a celestial body at all. Not a ball of gas gone supernova, a comet, or some planet in retrograde motion. Some argue it was an angel.

In Ancient Near East literature, including the Bible, angels and celestial bodies are sometimes interchangeable (c.f. Job 38:7 & Revelation 12:4). This could be such a time. Replace “star” with “angel” in the events surrounding tales of Jesus’ birth and childhood and see what happens.

An angel:

Appears to announce the pregnancy of Elizabeth with John the Baptist (Luke 1)

Appears to announce the pregnancy of Mary with Jesus (Luke 1)

Appears in a dream to Joseph to not leave Mary (Matthew 1)

Appears at the birth of Jesus (possible the same one the Shepherds saw in Luke 2:8-20?)

Leads the magi from the East to Jesus (Matthew 2)

Warns the magi, in a dream, not to return to Herod (Matthew 2:12)

Warns Joseph in a dream to ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’” (Matthew 2:13).

In Matthew, a star or an angel (or group a of angels, maybe they have a union) led the magi to the home of the holy family, but not on the night of Jesus’ birth.

when The Magi arrive at the holy family’s house,they find A toddler, not a newborn.

Born a King on Bethlehem plain…

Years have passed since the nativity scene. The magi do not show up moments after the birth of little Yeshua; they do not find him "laying in a manger" like the shepherds in Luke chapter 2. There is simply no way and the text makes this clear.

First, look at the narrative itself. The chapter begins by saying that the magi arrive in Jerusalem “after Jesus was born in Bethlehem” (vs 1) because they “observed his star at its rising” (vs 2). Think about it: they saw the star on the day Jesus was born, while they were still in their home country. After this they began figuring out the significance of the astronomical anomaly, packed their things, and then made the voyage from modern day Iran to Israel, without motorized vehicles, and all the hassles associated with such a magnificent journey.

Now add to that Herod welcoming them to his court, with its fanfare and protocols, as well as their audience with Herod. Now add Herod “calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people” to figure out where Jesus was born (vs 3-6), a process which would have required the gathering, unfurling, and pouring over of scrolls, and complicated mystical, astrological, numerological computations— they didn’t already know the answer and were sitting on the information for giggles. Now add Herod’s next conversation with the magi about the matter. Now add the magi travelling the five miles between Bethlehem and Jerusalem following the star to Jesus’ home (vs 9-10). You’ve just added up quite a bit of time.

Second, look at the language employed in the passage. Jesus is repeatedly referred to as a "child" in the chapter (e.g. 9; 11;13-14), not a newborn. The Greek word employed in these verses is consistently used in Matthew’s gospel to refer to young children, not newborns. If the writer of Matthew meant “newborn,” he would have used the word for it.

Third, and the most telling, are the actions of Herod: ordering the Massacre of the Innocent. “[Herod] sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men” (vs 16). From the information he received from the magi, Herod believes that Jesus could be as old as two years old. But he’s not taking any chances: everyone two and under will die (talk about “the terrible twos,” right?).

And it is the very presence of the magi is what set Herod on his baby-killing mission.

…Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying…

No matter how late their arrival, without the appearance of the magi, the lives of the holy family would have been very different. Herod would not have been paranoid and sent out his death squad. There would have been no flight into Egypt which, as Matthew explains, was to manifest the words of the prophet Jeremiah:

“A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”

(Matthew 2:18; c.f. Jeremiah 31:15)

It should be noted that, perhaps, the gifts of the magi were a part of God’s plan. Aside from the symbolic reasons related to His ministry, death, and Resurrection (we are not going to delve into), these expensive items, often bestowed on royalty, could have been sold for food, shelter, and basic stability for the holy family along the way, and in Egypt. But all of this begs the question of why Matthew recorded this narrative which is not included in the other three gospels.

Beyond arguing for historical accuracy, scholars wonder if there was a tradition of Jesus spending time in in Egypt that needed to be satisfied.

The Messiah, like the children of Israel before Him, arising from a stint in Egypt is powerful, but was that based on some other tradition about his childhood: fact over typology? (c.f. Hosea 11:1).

Of course there is the notion, repeated throughout the Gospels, of Jesus as the “new Moses” leading His people (all people) to salvation. To this point, Matthew’s gospel shows Jesus being saved in childhood from an oppressive king who wants him dead, who kills a host of infants and babies in the process, just like in Moses’ story. In both tales, the hero is saved by sheltering in Egypt, though in different ways. But there is another element of this story that should not be overlooked.

This is the Season of Epiphany,

Broadly defined, an epiphany is a “sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something,” “an intuitive grasp of reality,” “an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure,” and/or “a revealing scene or moment” (Merriam-Webster).

For theology nerds, it is the time when the Church commemorates the revelation of Jesus to the gentiles. It is the recognition of, the essential perception of, the fundamental nature of Christ’s message and mission: God became man, not solely for the Jews, but for all nations.

But not all epiphanies are welcomed revelations.

When Jesus was a child, Herod was not thrilled with the prospect of another king usurping his authority and power. As an adult, the religious leaders of His day were not pleased with Jesus’ message, and they completed the job that Herod couldn’t: they killed Him.

The Bible is filled with stories of prophets and priests, apostles and disciples, Godly women and men, whose lives were cut short because of the message they brought. History is equally filled with martyrs (real ones, not whinnying, American suburbanites who yearly complain about a “war on Christmas,” or the ever-present threats to their “Christian way of life” because someone too brown, too gay, or too “progressive” opened their mouths in public).

Perhaps this is the season to realize the suffering heralded by the magi’s recognition of Christ .

Perhaps this is among the revelations Christ wants us to apprehend: that to be seen standing (or kneeling) for something often means we will suffer.

Perhaps to be blessed with the kingdom of heaven, you must first be poor in spirit, and persecuted for righteousness’ sake.

Perhaps to be blessed with comfort, you must first mourn.

Perhaps to be blessed with the earth as an inheritance, you must first be meek, not responding in power when you have the will and ability to do so.

Perhaps to be blessed with fullness, you must first hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Perhaps to be blessed with mercy, you must first be merciful even to those who you feel don’t deserve it.

Perhaps to be blessed with visions of the divine, you must first be pure in heart.

Perhaps to be blessed with the name of God, you must first be a peacemaker in times of war.

Perhaps to be blessed with great rewards in heaven, you must first suffer scandalous people who will revile you, persecute you, and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely for Christ’s sake.

Perhaps with a smile on your face. (Matthew 5:1-11)

Perhaps this is the true gift of the magi.

But what do we know: we made this game and you probably think we’re going to Hell.

#Matthew 2:8-11 #Epiphany #Christmas #Wise men #Magi #Family Drama #Dead babies #Suffering #Baby Jesus #Angels #d

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swyllh · 6 years

Text

[wonwoo] my mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun

title: my mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun [from sonnet 130]

pairing: wonwoo x reader

word count: 3081

genre: fluff. just. fluff.

"leav me alone," you curse, catching a high-five from vernon. it's a good pun. you've been waiting to use it since thinking it up last sunday night when you were bitching with seungkwan.

you: 192, wonwoo: 192. boom.

wonwoo rolls his eyes. "one measly poet doesn't diminish the value of page poetry."

you scoff, "yeah it just olib-obil- fucking- oblierated your argument on publishers being gatekeepers of page poetry."

"obliterated," wonwoo corrects scathingly. that despicable raccoon. "at least it's better than not having a gateway at all."

"no, because slam is fundamentally different," you say between gritted teeth.

wonwoo starts packing his bag. "so it's not poetry, you admit?"

god. you raise your heads to the high heavens, and are met with the questionable, green remnants of that-incident-with-jeonghan-and-seokmin on the ceiling. the clatter of the ceiling fan offers no enlightenment. why do idiots roam freely among us, you ask. brr, brr, cries the fan.

wonwoo: 193, you: 192.

"no!" you exclaim.

wonwoo raises an eyebrow, shifting his bag strap on his bony shoulder. one day he'll fall onto his own shoulder and puncture his huge, inflated ego. one day. "no, it's not poetry?"

"i am not conceding," you snap back.

"so there is something to concede."

wonwoo: 194, you: 192.

you chase after him angrily. damn long legs. he'd have been executed in some ancient civilisation for being so freakishly tall. freaking slender man.

"poems weren't written down at first - that's an eurocentric notion that dismisses other groups of people who didn't have written language," you pause to catch for breath.

as you amble past jeonghan, he reaches out and ruffles your head without so much as a look in your direction; your rowdy garnish arguments are a common occurrence in the east wing now. at precisely 10:14am the sounds of heavy sarcasm and undiluted exasperation ring throughout the hallway like clockwork.

"poetry came from songs, odes," you wave your hand around to gesture other unnamed synonyms. "slam poetry represents a revolution - not just because it introduces newer concerns and techniques of rhyme and rhythm, but because it is a tribute to older times."

wonwoo holds up a hand. you shove it away. "don't interrupt me."

he quirks an eyebrow. you find you have nothing else to add. "okay, interrupt me."

"as poetic as your argument sounds," he says, slowing down as you near the corner before you part, "you do realise that nobody's consciously paying tribute to the ancient origins of poetry and hymns, right?"

you roll your eyes. "even if they don't have the intent, so what?"

"so what, indeed," wonwoo echoes softly. there's got to be menace lurking somewhere in his words.

you puff your chest out, ready to defend slam poetry's honour to the very last. wonwoo stares at you. and then his watch. and then back at you again.

"w-what?" you say, not stuttering. "well, if they don't have the intent then doesn't it also show like, a return to some common ground? of humanity or something."

"you mean to say that slam poetry is innate?" wonwoo deadpans. "like how newborn babies come out -"

you roll your eyes. "no! i mean the rhythm. the need to vocalise."

wonwoo crosses his arms. "interruption deduction."

wonwoo: 194, you: 191.

"hey! you interrupted me earlier!" you bite back.

"technically you had nothing left to say." and then, "what about babies born deaf or dumb?"

you hate how slimey his reasoning is. there's got to be some loophole. this guy's got the soul of a lawyer but the major of an english lit. what the heck.

you huff, squaring your shoulders. "that's because you interrupted my train of thought! and about disabled babies -"

"you need to think faster," he says quickly. "what was it about disabled babies?"

... wonwoo: 195, you: 191.

you settle for crossing your arms, leaning against the wall of the intersection. "well, i concede the point about disabled babies, but only because the nuance is controversial and cannot be covered in a fast-paced environment as such."

as you finish your sentence, the bell rings. wonwoo eyes you cautiously. the rush of students stampeding off to their next class breezes past the both of you, cocooning you in a whirl of noises and varying degrees of body odour or thickly-layered deodorant.

wonwoo leans in, and repeats a set of numbers to you.

"...380," you echo back.

he nods, and turns to join the stream of migrating salmon towards their final destination. advanced calculus. what a nerd. you can't believe you actually know someone who takes that willingly in the arts stream.

"...380," you repeat, walking off to your own class.

"so you're telling me," kimmy says, placing a hand in front of you.

"interruption deduction," you blurt out.

kimmy retracts her hand warily like you're a particularly grotesque descendant of some arachnid monstrosity. "you have jargons. ugh."

"kinky," chan says, tapping at his game.

kimmy shoves him out of the seat. chan winces, though his fingers never leave the screen.

"freaking hell, i almost died!"

kimmy snaps her fingers at you again. "you mean to say he gave you his number after that weird mating ritual you guys went through."

you hold up a finger. "first, yes, but only to continue the argument, and secondly, it's not a mating ritual. he's wrong about-"

"but it is weird," kimmy says. "you talk to the guy you claim to hate-"

"-he's misguided and-"

"-you claim to hate," kimmy emphasises, slamming your finger down, "every. single. lit class, and it's not even for class participation."

"that's a good idea," chan says, thumbs pummelling down on his phone. "two birds with one stone."

kimmy grabs your hands, beseeching. "please just use your head and think."

you [1902]: http://watchtube/video_knob_poetry_seventeen+right+here_11294

you [1902]: http://watchtube/video_knob_poetry_like+ocean+waves_11653

you [1902]: http://watchtube/video_knob_poetry_twenty+four+seven_12472

you [1902]: http://watchtube/video_knob_poetry_boom+boom_18273

you [1902]: http://watchtube/video_knob_poetry_gibun+gibun+gibun_17349

wonwoo [2024]: jesus christ.

wonwoo [2045]: alright, some of them are good.

you [2046]: see??????

wonwoo [2046]: always exceptions to the rule.

you [2046]: u g h

you [2046]: are you serious

wonwoo [2047]: i did say some of them were good.

you [2047]: h a

wonwoo [2047]: i never said there weren't good ones.

wonwoo [2047]: i just said that page poetry is generally of higher quality.

you [2048]: by what standards?

wonwoo [2048]: you haven't been able to prove the longevity of any particular slam poem.

wonwoo [2048]: wouldn't you say that's the problem?

wonwoo [2048]: its circulation isn't tied to any specific culture or reinforced thereafter.

wonwoo [2049]: therefore: oral tradition doesn't apply here.

you [2050]: ..........

you [2050]: why longevity? why does it need to be tied to any culture? why rate slam according to the criteria of page poetry?

wonwoo [2050]: that's because you haven't set a criteria.

wonwoo [2051]: boom.

you [2051]: christ.

you [2051]: brb im going to work on history essay

you [2053]: this is n o t a cowardly retreat!!!!!!!!!!

wonwoo [2053]: you said it

you [2054]: i will be back!!!!!!!!!!

when you join her at lunch, kimmy gives you an odd look. you respond by pretending to change tables. she holds you down.

"where's wonwoo?" she says.

you roll your eyes. "join the club."

"no, seriously," she says, angling her head to glance behind you. "where is he?"

"how would i know?" you throw your hands up in the air, narrowly endangering your cutlery. "first vernon, then jeonghan, then professor lee, then this weird guy from whatever abstract math, then-"

kimmy pulls away. "from math?"

you fling your hands out at her, smiling widely at her scrunched up nose. "don't worry. i made sure to sanitise myself after contact."

kimmy groans. "not the point."

"then?" you wag an eyebrow. "you were spooked when he started joining our table."

"yeah," kimmy deadpans, picking up her chopsticks and pointing them at you. a dribble of soy sauce falls from it. "but since then he's been coming over every day without fail to bicker with you and so i got used to it."

you spread your arms out, appreciating the space and the rare stab of freedom and uncontested territory. "and now we are delivered from all our burdens."

kimmy pokes around at her noodles. "so you don't know where he is."

"lady!" you exclaim, jabbing your fork at her fishball. "no! i'm not a wonwoo-detector!"

she pauses, ignoring your heist. "you have his number."

"yeah?"

kimmy gives you a meaningful look. "are you going to check if he's sick?"

"why?"

you've done it. kimmy's finally reached maximum-incredulity. for a moment you feel the urge to reach over your head to see if you've sprouted extra limbs or a third eye. with the way she's gawking at you, you think you might have regressed into a blobfish.

she presses a hand to her temples. sighs, and then steadies herself. "okay. at the very, very least, aren't you going to make sure he doesn't miss anything in class."

you think about it. "he's got other friends."

kimmy presses her fingers together like a steeple over her nose. BOI. "you are his friend."

"i wouldn't say friend," you say, shuddering at the word, even as you tug your phone out. "it's more, like-?"

you choke out a questionable, questioning sound. kimmy has a glimmer of hope in her eyes before sighing it away again.

you [1236]: hey you sick?

wonwoo [1236]: yeah, a bit.

"yeah, he's sick," you report.

kimmy chews on her noodles. "tell him about class?"

you [1238]: so for lit today we went through freudian vs feminism, as well as why slam is better than page, and the homework is reading chapters 11-13

wonwoo [1238]: nice try.

you [1239]: you're not that sick then

wonwoo [1239]: i haven't moved an inch since freefalling onto my bed at 7 last night.

you [1240]: müde

wonwoo [1241]: is that german?

you [1241]: pun.

wonwoo [1242]: if you have to explain it it's not that good.

you [1242]: precautionary measures for a foolproof pun.

wonwoo [1243]: hey i'm sick remember

you [1243]: whats new

"it's cute and all," kimmy interrupts, drawing your attention back up to her, "to see you smile like a fool, but we got five more minutes and your food isn't gonna eat itself."

you frown, hard. "not smiling like a fool."

kimmy waves you away. "just eat."

when she rises to put away her tray, you turn back to your phone.

wonwoo [1244]: mean :(

wonwoo [1245]: ?

you [1247]: gtg class

wonwoo [1247]: oh okay bye

you [1247]: ttyl

wonwoo [1250]: thanks, btw.

you[1251]: np

mingyu, from his other class, saddles you with a stack of math notes. holding them in your arms feels like an allergic reaction. you follow his haphazard instructions to get to wonwoo's room. the security guard doesn't even blink when you walk into the building. so you do.

the dorms are unexpectedly clean. doors are plain and apparently functional, the hallway is well lit, and noise isn't much of a concern. then again, it is a school day.

you reach wonwoo's room. knock twice. the door opens to show a young lady with a dark red lip.

"is this wonwoo's room?"

she nods. "yeah, he's sleeping now."

you notice the way she's got on a too-large shirt. wonwoo's worn that in one of your lit classes. you hand her the stack of notes.

"these are from his math class."

she takes them. "ah, thank you! is there anything you want me to tell him when he wakes up?"

"no," you say.

the door closes on you. you look down and see a pair of black strappy heels next to plain sneakers.

wonwoo [2143]: did you come over?

you [2146]: yeah

wonwoo [2146]: thanks, for the notes.

you [2148]: np

the reality of things don't sink in until you're stuck in a library cubicle, knees barely brushing against wonwoo's (that giant) and huddling over the table to doodle little devils on his side of the paper. you glance up, head almost bumping into wonwoo's, and then zip back down to jot another idea.

come to college, they said. it would be intellectually stimulating, they said.

you can't believe you're prepping for a presentation by going through all of your arguments for and against slam poetry with him. it's all chan's fault, you think bitterly, watch as he separates argument from argument with careful underlines. suggesting to actually make this class participation.

talk about exploitation. something doesn't sit right with you.

"so when we debate," wonwoo whispers, focused and oblivious. "you'll bring up this point in rebuttal to this. see how that works?"

you hum. "yeah."

"right. then for closing-"

you crash your head into the table with an obnoxiously loud slam. wonwoo flinches in his seat. the librarian narrows her beady eyes on the both of you.

"i think we'll get an a for this," you mutter.

wonwoo looks at you, caps his pen, and leans back in his seat.

the debate goes well. everything happens as anticipated. you're able to uphold the integrity of academic investigation. whatever that means. wonwoo doesn't interrupt you. the nuances of your arguments are spared sufficient time before their expiration.

(he looks bored.)

but that all goes to hell when you realise the class gets to vote. you turn on wonwoo: did you know this?

he averts his eyes. a sure sign of guilt.

something gnaws inside of you, worse than that time when you found kimmy's concoction of green onions, dr pepper and baking soda. it was an infusion alright. but the smell left you retching for days on end.

the worst thing is, you don't know why you feel this way now.

you don't know who won. everything happened in a blur and now you're stomping out of the hallway, tugging the zip of your bag close. wonwoo catches up. you walk faster.

"well, congrats," he says.

"take your congratulations and shove it up your ass," you bite back.

wonwoo holds his hands up. "what's wrong?"

you swivel to a stop, fixing him with a shrivelling glare. "leave me alone."

wonwoo backs off. you turn the corner and run for class.

wonwoo [1225]: hey are you alright? wonwoo [1227]: what's wrong? wonwoo [1232]: is it something i did? wonwoo [1240]: ?? wonwoo [1255]: i'm sorry? - "you look like shit," is the first thing kimmy says to you. "is it wonwoo?"

you stab at her fishball. "no."

she rolls her eyes. "i didn't hear anything when i was walking over from the north wing, so something's up."

"nothing's up."

kimmy shakes her head, placing his chopsticks down. "when you come running to my class crying, i think something's up."

you scowl at her. she winks back. and then rearranges her face to something more sombre.

"did you guys..." she leans in. "break up?"

you swat at her. "what?"

chan slides into the seat next to her. "i've been summoned by the allusions to love."

kimmy shoves him. "just because you play love live doesn't mean shit."

to you, she says, "look. you have his number-"

"i have your number too."

she pinches your lips together. "shut up. you walk each other to the next class faithfully without fail-"

you swat her hand away. "that's because he's being a prick-"

"you have inside jokes that nobody else gets."

"that's the point of inside jokes."

kimmy squeezes your cheeks together this time. god, those hand grips are working. "when he's gone, people ask you where he is. after that debate, you came to me crying. and the best part is you let him steal your fries."

she releases her hold on you, allowing you the chance to breathe. and then immediately choke.

kimmy, satisfied, returns to eating.

"oh my god," you say, eyes wide. "oh."

"yeah," kimmy echoes, "oh."

the realisation does you no favours. "...he's off-limits. he's got a girlfriend."

chan finally detaches from his game. the whimsical sounds of squeaky little gems fade away as

he lets his character die. "what?"

"there was a girl in his room," you say.

kimmy rounds up on chan. "you never said anything."

"i didn't know!" chan protests, "i thought-"

he falls silent. you stuff your face with fries.

the rest of the week is horrible. you can't help but notice how wonwoo pulls out his phone, sighs, and replaces it in his pocket before shooting you looks. it sucks, really, to be so aware and want to not be.

before you can pack up and leave, though, wonwoo strides over with his freakishly long legs. "saturday night."

you look at the pamphlet he's offering you. slam night.

"please come," he says, exhaling slowly. "at least - consider it."

he leaves it in your hands, and bolts out of class.

you hate that you're considering it. you hate that you're already here. you hate that you're still hoping. there's no reading between the lines because everything is so blurred and reckless and there is no way out of this. so here you are, sitting at the side, going to this slam because you've gone to all the other slams anyway.

"hey, you're wonwoo's friend," a girl says.

you look up. it's the girl with the red lip. "yeah."

she smiles, sitting down gracefully next to you. "that idiot said he'd be slamming."

maybe you should have gone home. out of all you'd expected from this evening, you didn't think sitting with your crush's girlfriend is one of them.

"maybe he's trying to impress someone," she continues, winking at you. "my brother can be so thick."

before you can ask her what she means, the emcee starts to welcome everyone to the event. you sit patiently, trying not to bounce your knee when the epitome of grace is right beside you. the first few acts pass by without much enthusiasm. you shuffle in your seat.

and then wonwoo comes up. there's polite applause as he scans the darkened crowd. he pauses in your direction, and smiles. you turn to his sister(?). she spares you an undecipherable look.

"hello," he says into the microphone. "i'm wonwoo, and up till recently i was sceptical towards the fine art of slam poetry."

you snort.

he continues, "but i've been converted, maybe, to see the beauty of paying tribute to the ancient origins of poetry. i'm not a poet, but shakespeare is, and he's pretty ancient as far as i know.

"so here's sonnet 130."

#seventeen #seventeen imagines #wonwoo imagines #wonwoo x reader #wonwoo #jeon wonwoo #wonwoo scenarios

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dfroza · 1 year

Text

A threat avoided.

(although the violence of an evil king brought about much weeping)

and the True King arrived upon earth, born as a baby boy through Mary (Spirit-conceived)

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 2nd chapter of the book of Matthew:

Wise Men: Where is this newborn, who is the King of the Jews? When we were far away in the East we saw His star, and we have followed its glisten and gleam all this way to worship Him.

Scribes and Priests: An ancient Hebrew prophet, Micah, said this:

But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are no poor relation—

For from your people will come a Ruler

who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.

Herod called the wise men to him, demanding to know the exact time the special star had appeared to them. Then Herod sent them to Bethlehem.

Herod: Go to Bethlehem and search high and low for this Savior child; and as soon as you know where He is, report it to me so that I may go and worship Him.

After the wise men left, a messenger of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.

So Joseph got up in the middle of the night; he bundled up Mary and Jesus, and they left for Egypt.

This sad event had long been foretold by the prophet Jeremiah:

A voice will be heard in Ramah,

weeping and wailing and mourning out loud all day and night.

The voice is Rachel’s, weeping for her children,

her children who have been killed;

she weeps, and she will not be comforted.

Joseph, Mary, and Jesus stayed in Egypt until Herod died. This fulfilled yet another prophecy. The prophet Hosea once wrote, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

And after Herod died, a messenger of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt:

Messenger of the Lord: You may go home now. Take the child and His mother and go back to the land of Israel, for the people who were trying to take the child’s life are now dead.

The Book of Matthew, Chapter 2 (The Voice)

A note from The Voice translation:

Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is the 8th chapter of the book of Esther with new orders issued to the Jews that saved them from being killed:

On the same day, King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther all the household of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. Then Mordecai was brought before King Ahasuerus, for Queen Esther had told the king how they were related. The king took off his signet ring (the one he had taken back from Haman) and gave it to Mordecai. Then Esther put Mordecai in charge of all of Haman’s household.

Esther came before the king once more. This time she fell at his feet, wept, and begged the king to do something to stop the evil plan that Haman (the Agagite) had brought upon the Jews. The king, as before, extended his golden scepter to Queen Esther; and she stood to her feet before him.

Queen Esther: If it pleases the king, and if I am in his favor, and if the king believes it is the right and just thing to do, let there be an official decree written that will cancel out the order that Haman (son of Hammedatha, the Agagite) had written to rid all the king’s provinces of the Jews. For I can’t bear to see this catastrophe brought against my people; how can I live another day if I witness the destruction of my kindred?

King Ahasuerus (to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew): Look, I have given you, Queen Esther, Haman’s household because of his vengeful actions against your people. That is also why he hangs on the pole he had made for Mordecai. I have done all I can do; the rest is your responsibility because no order that has been written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s signet ring can be overturned. So you must write a new order to the Jews to remedy the situation; it, too, must be written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring.

So the royal secretaries were summoned together on the 23rd day of the 3rd month (the month of Sivan). The king’s new orders were written down exactly the way Mordecai dictated them, and they were written to the Jews, the rulers, the governors, and the nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. The orders were written down in every script and every language spoken in the provinces, including the Jewish script and the Jewish language. Mordecai wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with his signet ring. Then, these orders were dispatched to the provinces by couriers who rode on the finely bred horses sired by the royal stud. The king’s new orders gave the Jews in every city the right to gather together, to protect themselves, and to kill or destroy any army of any nation or province (including their women and children) who might attack them. The orders also gave the Jews the right to take over the assets of their enemies. These new orders were set to go into effect on the 13th day of the 12th month (the month of Adar). This was the same day Haman had determined by casting lots to kill the Jews. An official copy of the king’s order was to be issued to every province and read publicly to all nationalities, so that the Jews would be ready to protect themselves against their enemies. The couriers were quickly dispatched by order of the king, and they left the capital riding on royal steeds. Then the decree was publicly proclaimed in the citadel of Susa.

Mordecai went out from the king’s presence donning blue and white royal robes, a large gold crown, and a fine linen and purple cape. When the people of the city of Susa saw this, they exploded into joy. For the Jews, it was a time of celebration. Darkness had turned to light. Sadness to joy. Shame to honor. In every city and province, wherever the king’s law and orders were received, there was happiness and joy among the Jews. They feasted, they danced, they celebrated—and people from other nations living among the Jews professed to be Jews because they were afraid of the Jews’ sudden political power in Persia.

The Book of Esther, Chapter 8 (The Voice)

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for Sunday, April 23 of 2023 with a paired chapter from each Testament of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons about choosing life:

"Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life." - Bonhoeffer

====

There is a core element of our spiritual life that is all-determinative, that affects everything else, and that is the decision of whether we will choose to "show up," whether we will engage its hope; and whether we will open our eyes and yield ourselves to the light... And this is an *ongoing decision.

Therefore we read: “If you walk in my statutes (אִם־בְּחֻקּתַי תֵּלֵכוּ) and observe my commandments and do them...” (Lev. 26:3). The sages note that unlike the holy angels, we must "walk out" the faith of our days, and therefore we are always moving either forward or backward. In this world, God’s sun shines on the just and unjust alike (Matt. 5:45). Every human being lives by faith of some kind, and it is therefore impossible to opt out of the decision to “choose this day whom we shall serve” (Josh. 24:15). Indifference or apathy is as much a spiritual decision as is outright rebellion, and if we do nothing today to draw us near to the Lord, we will eventually regress and slip backward.

This is all very sobering. "No one knows the day or hour," and that's why it is so vital to turn to God and be healed while there is still time. So turn today and bacharta ba'chayim (בָּחַרְתָּ בַּחַיִּים) - "choose life!" "For this commandment (of turning to God) is not hidden from you, and it is not far away... No, the matter is “very near you” (כִּי־קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאד) - in your mouth and your heart - to do it" (Deut. 30:11-14; Rom. 10:8-13).

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

========

Deut. 30:19b reading:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/deut30-19b-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/deut30-19b-lesson.pdf

4.19.23 • Facebook

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

April 23, 2023

Hold Fast

“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 1:13)

There are several significant pieces to this important command. We must “hold firm” to the “pattern” of the “wholesome words” that have been given to us. And that firm hold must rest in the faith and love that we have in Christ Jesus.

This is not an option. We are to hold to the form of the sound words. Hupotuposis is the Greek term, only used one other time in the New Testament, where Paul insists that his life was to be “a pattern to them which should hereafter believe” (1 Timothy 1:16, emphasis added). We are to be “under” (hupo) the “outline” or “pattern” (tupos) of the wholesome words. The purpose of the two letters to Timothy was to encourage the young pastor to follow the example of his human teacher Paul, who had completely submitted himself to the authority of all Scripture.

To the Roman Christians, Paul was delighted that they “obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered” to them (Romans 6:17, emphasis added). To the Corinthians, he reminded them that the events recorded in the life of Israel had “happened unto them for examples” (1 Corinthians 10:11, emphasis added). Paul also insisted that the people of the church at Philippi should “be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample” (Philippians 3:17, emphasis added).

Both biblical and church history provide us with patterns to follow. But the sound words of Scripture give what is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). HMM III

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xtruss · 2 years

Text

Scholars Now Believe Mary And Joseph Were Denied Room In The Inn Due To Being Unvaxxed

— Scripture | November 12th, 2021 - BabylonBee.com

BETHLEHEM — Biblical scholars have uncovered a dusty old scroll that turned out to be a record of Jesus's birth. According to the ancient writing, Mary and Joseph were actually denied room in the inn because they were unvaxxed.

“The record reveals the reason why they were denied a room in the inn, clear as a shining star in the East,” said scriptural historian Bart Madson. “The Holy Family’s vaccination status banned them from going indoors, according to the mandate at the time.”

The ancient writ describes Joseph and Mary approaching the inn’s entrance, exhausted from their long journey to Bethlehem, and Mary being great with child. The warm comfort of the inn’s door was quickly blocked by Karenekiah, a mask-wearing pharisee who smelled like hand sanitizer, demanding proof of vaccination.

When Joseph explained the family’s natural immunity due to the virus already passing through their family, he was mocked and ridiculed by the pharisee as being “anti-science” and a “Samaritan.”

The Pharisee then sent them away, according to the record. As they turned to leave, the innkeeper came out and apologized for the inconvenience, but that “Karen” was there to enforce the vaccine mandate, and that he had no choice.

“You always have a choice,” said Mary.

The innkeeper gave a long, tired sigh, according to the dusty scrolls, then motioned for the young family to follow him to the nearby stable, where they were made as comfortable as possible.

The rest of the story can be found in another book, available to everyone.

Oscar The Grouch Refuses The Vaccine, Stocks Up On Ivermectin

— Entertainment | November 8th, 2021 - BabylonBee.com

SESAME STREET, NY — With the COVID-19 vaccine now approved for 5 to 11-year-olds, many of the residents of Sesame Street are flocking to get the vaccination, even though it has not been specifically approved for large birds, monsters, or vampires.

“Yay! Inject Elmo!” Elmo was heard shouting as he got in line for the shot.

There is a lone holdout, though: trashcan resident Oscar the Grouch. “Go ahead and get the experimental vaccine,” said Oscar to everyone in line. “I hope you don’t die, though. Actually, I hope you do die — because I’m a grouch!”

Oscar the Grouch, who often listens to Joe Rogan without earbuds—inflicting the podcast on whoever is near his trashcan—has instead stocked up on Ivermectin—the preferable way for a grouch to treat COVID-19. “Yeah, you sheeple line the pockets of Pfizer while the vaccine does who-knows-what to you,” said Oscar. “Me, I’ll be here with my alternative treatments, being perfectly healthy and perfectly grouchy.”

“Oh no. Elmo now scared of the shot!” said Elmo.

“Don’t listen to him,” cautioned Big Bird. “I heard he voted for Trump.”

“Twice!” exclaimed Oscar. “And I’ll do it again in ‘24!”

Oscar also got into a spat with CNN, which claimed Oscar had been using a common parasite treatment approved for humans, when in fact Oscar had very specifically only been consuming horse dewormer. Because he’s a grouch.

Now That He's Sold The Pfizer Vaccine, Here Are 10 More Upcoming Product Endorsements From Big Bird

— Sponsored | November 9th, 2021 - BabylonBee.com

The beloved Sesame Street character Big Bird is finally doing what he was born to do: sell pharmaceutical products to small children! After his resounding success in selling a Pfizer vaccine, here are 10 more exciting Big Bird product endorsements PBS is planning:

1) The brand new cereal Pfizer-O's: Every bowl is the equivalent of one additional COVID booster. The FDA says it's a balanced part of your complete breakfast! Cool!

2) Pfizer's watermelon flavored puberty blocker chewables: change your gender without sacrificing taste.

3) Lead finger-paint set: This is a great way to boost your child's immunity to lead poisoning. Made in China.

4) Communist Manifesto: Illustrated Children's Edition: It's never too early to introduce your kids to the greatest political ideology on earth. A great alternative to Tuttle Twins books.

5) Fisher Price's My First Pregnancy Test: They even come in pink and blue, depending on whether your pregnant child is a man or a woman!

6) Waterboarding kit: A great way for kids to learn how we treat enemies of the state.

7) COVID Heroes Trading Cards: Fauci, Whitmer, Newsom... collect 'em all!

8) Injectable sugar: a great way to boost your energy on the go!

9) Afghanistan withdrawal Lego set: Reenact Biden's heroic withdrawal from Afghanistan, and decide who gets left behind!

10) A government-issued satellite phone for reporting your parents to the state: Don't let them get away with mask violations on your watch!

NOT SATIRE: Don't let Joe Biden or Big Bird raise America's kids! And certainly don't let them provide medical treatment or teach them socialism. Instead, let's teach America's youth with the Tuttle Twins!

The Tuttle Twins children’s book series is teaching the rising generation about the ideas of freedom, free markets, individual responsibility, and American history.

My goal is to distribute an additional 10,000 copies of the Tuttle Twins before the end of the year. It costs roughly $10 to distribute one copy of the Tuttle Twins to a family.

Honoring Brian Williams: Top 10 Moments Of His Remarkable Career In Journalism

— Sponsored | November 10th, 2021 - BabylonBee.com

Journalist Brian Williams is retiring after serving the human race as one of the greatest journalists to walk the earth. In honor of this brave hero, let us take a look back at the top 10 moments of his career.

1) When he wrote The Star Spangled Banner under cannon fire: In addition to being a brave journalist, Brian Williams is also a brilliant lyricist. According to his own account, he wrote all night as cannonballs exploded overhead. Amazing!

2) That time he destroyed the Death Star without even using his targeting computer: Only Brian Williams could do something so amazing.

3) The day he marched arm in arm with MLK at Selma: Proof that Brian Williams is not racist.

4) Inspiring Paul McCartney to write "Hey Jude": But not even McCartney performed it as well as Brian Williams would have, if he had been given the chance.

5) Editing the Declaration of Independence for Thomas Jefferson: Unfortunately, in the editing process, he removed Jefferson's anti-slavery clause. Not one of his finest moments.

6) When he discovered climate change: Future generations will owe their lives to Brian Williams.

7) The moment he cast the One Ring into the fires of Mount Doom all by himself without any help: And he did so under small arms and RPG fire.

8) When he defeated Thanos with only 3 infinity stones: Also under small arms and RPG fire.

9) The time he calmly took charge of Apollo 13 to guide the ship back to earth: Luckily, he had experience with scary situations after his helicopter went down in Iraq.

10) Reporting on Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden: Yes, he was there when it all began. And if Adam and Eve had listened, we could have avoided all this mess. But then we wouldn't have all these incredible moments with Brian Williams.

NOT SATIRE: The Media Research Center is the ONLY conservative non-profit dedicated to exposing the Fake News media and liars like Brian Williams to the American people.

Thanks to MRC, 90% of Americans do NOT trust the Fake News media. We can't let the media determine our elections, pass their agenda, and censor conservatives.

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madewithonerib · 3 years

Text

RE: CH 2: Seaside Encounter | Billy Strachan [Matthew 4:16-20]

Matthew 4:16-20 | Man Healed at the Pool of Bethesda ¹⁶ the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”

¹⁷ From that time on JESUS began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” ¹⁸ As JESUS was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, HE saw 2 brothers, Simon called Peter & his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

¹⁹ “Come, follow ME,” JESUS said, “& I will make you fishers of men.” ²⁰ And at once they left their nets & followed HIM.

Geneva: M. Coverdale & J. Knox, Baptist [1557] | Matthew 4:16-20

The people which sat in darkness saw great light; & to them which sat in the region & shadow of death light is sprung up.

Matthew Poole, Nonconformist [1624-1679] | Matthew 4:14-16

The text in Isaiah 9:1,2, where the words are,

Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the 1st he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun & the land of Naphtali, & afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

The Jews make a great many objections against the application of this text unto CHRIST, as indeed they do against the application of all texts cited out of the OT by the evangelists.

Christians, believing that the evangelists being Holy men, who wrote not from a private spirit private interpretations,

have not any reason to regard what their interest leads them to object:

but even Christian interpreters are divided in their sentiments whether these words are said to be fulfilled,

in this motion of CHRIST unto Galilee, in a literal, or typical, or a more improper & analogical sense; nor is it any great matter with which of them we agree.

For my own part, I see no reason why Isaiah 9:2 should not be literally understood of & applied unto CHRIST.

There is nothing more ordinary in the prophets, than, after a threatening of judgment & captivity unto the people, to comfort such as feared GOD amongst them with promises of the Messiah, & the spiritual salvation which was to be brought in.

The land of Zebulun & Naphtali suffered much by Benhadad, 1 Kings 15:20, & more by Tiglath-pileser, 2 Kings 15:29, before the general captivity of the 10 tribes, 2 Kings 17:6.

The LORD by the prophet, Isaiah 8:1-22, had been threatening this general captivity; possibly the prophet might say the affliction of those parts should not be so great as the 2nd mentioned, 2 Kings 15:29;

because by the story it seems they were generally carried into captivity before the more general destruction of the other tribes there.

Saith he, This darkness shall be abundantly hereafter compensated, by the coming of the Messiah, & preaching amongst this people;

who living at a great distance from Jerusalem, never had such a light as some other parts of Judea, & 1st drank of the cup of GOD’s wrath in their captivity.

It was called Galilee of the Gentiles, because it was near to the men of Tyre, who were Gentiles, & had doubtless in it a greater mixture of Gentiles than any other part of Canaan, ever since Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in this Galilee [1 Kings 9:11]

Matthew Henry, Nonconformist [1662-1714] | Matthew 4:12-17

It is just with GOD to take the GOSPEL & the means of grace, from those that slight them & thrust them away.

CHRIST will not stay long where HE is not welcome.

Those who are without CHRIST, are in the dark.

They were sitting in this condition, a contented posture; they chose it rather than light; they were willingly ignorant.

When the GOSPEL comes, light comes; when it comes to any place, when it comes to any soul, it makes day there.

Light discovers & directs; so does the GOSPEL.

The doctrine of repentance is right GOSPEL doctrine.

Not only the austere John Baptist, but the gracious JESUS, preached repentance.

There is still the same reason to do so: The Kingdom of Heaven was not reckoned to be fully come, till the pouring out of the HOLY SPIRIT after CHRIST's ascension.

Johann Albrecht Bengel, Lutheran [1734] | Matthew 4:16-20

1.] that walks—There is here a 3-fold ascending climax.

[153] i.e. The 3 expressions used in the latter clause of this sentence are respectively stronger than those used in the former clause—[I. B]

The people that Walk, & on those sitting in darkness In the Region & Shadow of Death, have seen a Great Light. A Light has arisen.

It is worse to sit detained in darkness, than to walk in it. [154]—has seen— a Light [155]

No one is saved except he be illuminated [by that Light]

See Acts 13:47—& to those sitting, [in Psalms 107]:

have sitting in darkness & the shadow of death.

The verb to sit aptly denotes a sluggish solitude—region & shadow, one thing expressed by 2 words. [156]

The natural situation of the country was low, & such was also its spiritual condition—has risen upon them.

In the original Hebrew it is shines, upon them. This increased force of expression corresponds with the epithet a great, in the preceding clause.

Unfortunately for this remark, there is no very ancient authority for ____. All the oldest MSS. & versions, Vulg., etc., read ______. Lachm. & Tischend. do not even notice the former reading—ED.

[155] “Which illumines the whole world.”—B. G. V.

[156] In the original, See Explanation of Technical Terms—[I. B.]

John Gills, English Baptist [1748] | Matthew 4:16-20

1.] The people which sat in darkness—The inhabitants of Galilee, who sat or "walked", as in Isaiah; that is, continued in spiritual darkness, in ignorance, blindness, error, & infidelity, "saw great light";

CHRIST HIMSELF, who came a light into the world;

HE conversed with them, preached unto them, & opened the eyes of their understandings to behold HIS glory, & to know HIM, & salvation by HIM.

And to them which sat in the region & shadow of death: the same persons who sit in darkness, sit also in the region of death; for such are dead in trespasses & sins:

where there is no spiritual light, there is no spiritual life,

& such are in danger of the 2nd death; but the happiness of these people was, that to them "light is sprung up", like the rising sun,

& this without their asking or seeking for:

CHRIST, the sun of righteousness, arose upon them, without any desert, desire, or expectation of theirs, with healing in his wings; & cured them of their darkness & deadness,

turned them from darkness to light, & caused them to pass from death to life.

"Light" is not only a character under which CHRIST frequently goes in the NT, see John 1:4

but is one of the names by which the Messiah was known under the OT; see Daniel 2:22 & which the Jews give unto HIM: says R, Aba

[a] Serungia, "& the light dwelleth with him"; this is the king Messiah. The note of R. Sol. Jarchi on these words, "send forth YOUR light", is, the king Messiah; who is compared to light,

according to Psalm 132:17 the days of the Messiah are by them said to [b] be "days of light"; & so these Galilaeans found them to be; as all do, to whom the GOSPEL of CHRIST comes with power & demonstration of the SPIRIT.

And these days of light 1st begun in the land of Zabulon which, according to Philo the Jew [c], was a symbol of light"; since [adds he]

its name signifies the nature of night; but, the night removing, & departing, light necessarily arises.''

As did, in a spiritual sense, here, when CHRIST the light arose.

Joseph Benson, Methodist [1749–1821] | Matthew 4:16-20

1.] The people who sat in darkness—They whose predecessors were afflicted by the Assyrians, & who, before CHRIST visited them, were captives of Satan, & had lived in gross ignorance of GOD & religion, being far from Jerusalem, the place of worship, & intermixed with the Tyrians, Sidonians, & other wicked heathen: saw a great light

—This is spoken by Isaiah in the prophetic style, which represents things future as already accomplished, because certainly to be accomplished.

This whole country had been overspread with spiritual darkness, but, by the example & preaching of CHRIST, the day-spring from on high visited it,

diffusing among its inhabitants knowledge & holiness, & guiding their feet into the way of peace.

“There were several reasons,” says Dr. Macknight, “which might determine JESUS to be so much about the sea of Galilee.

1st, The countries which surrounded this sea were large, fertile, & populous, especially the 2 Galilees.

For, according to Josephus, Bell., Matthew 3:2, they alone had many towns, & a multitude of villages, the least of which contained above 15,000 souls.

On the east side of the lake were Chorazin, Gadara, & Hippon; on the west, Capernaum, Tiberias, Bethsaida, & Tarrichea, with other places of inferior note.

Wherefore, as it was agreeable to the end of CHRIST’s coming that HIS doctrine should be spread extensively, & HIS miracles wrought publicly,

no country could be a fitter scene for HIS ministry than this.

Besides its numerous inhabitants, there were at all times, many strangers resorting to the trading towns on the lake, who, after hearing JESUS preach, could

carry home with them the glad tidings of salvation which were the subjects of HIS sermons.

Capernaum, chosen by CHRIST as the place of HIS residence, was a town of this kind, & much frequented.

2d, The countries round the lake were remote from Jerusalem, the seat of the scribes & Pharisees, who would not have borne with patience the presence of a teacher held in such estimation as JESUS deservedly was.

We know this by what happened in the beginning of HIS ministry, when HE made & baptized many disciples in Judea.

They took such offence at it, that HE was obliged to leave the country. Wherefore, as it was necessary that HE should spend a considerable time in preaching & working miracles,

both for the confirmation of HIS mission, & for the instruction of HIS disciples in the doctrines they were afterward to preach,

these countries were, of all others, the most proper for HIM to reside in, or rather, they were the only places where HE could be with safety for any time.”

Albert Barnes, American Theologian [1798-1870] | Matthew 4:16-20

1.] The people which sat in darkness—This is an expression denoting great ignorance.

As in darkness or night we can see nothing, & know not where to go, so those who are ignorant of GOD & their duty are said to be in darkness.

The instruction which removes this ignorance is called light. [John 3:19; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 1:5; 1 John 2:8]

● John 3:19 | ¹⁹ And this is the verdict: The LIGHT has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the LIGHT, because their deeds were evil.

● 1 Peter 2:9 | ⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a Holy nation, a people for GOD’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of HIM who called you out of darkness into HIS marvelous light.

● 1 John 1:5 | ⁵ And this is the message we have heard from HIM & announce to you: GOD is light, & in HIM there is no darkness at all.

● 1 John 2:8 | ⁸ Then again, I am also writing to you a new commandment, which is true in HIM & also in you. For the darkness is fading & the true light is already shining.

As ignorance is often connected with crime & vice, so darkness is sometimes used to denote sin,

[1 Thessalonians 5:5; Ephesians 5:11; Luke 22:53]

● 1 Thessalonians 5:5 | ⁵ For you are all sons of the light & sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

● Ephesians 5:11 | ¹¹ Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

● Luke 22:53 | ⁵³ Every day I was with you in the temple courts, & you did not lay a hand on ME. But this hour belongs to you & to the power of darkness.”

2.] Saw great light—That is, as the passage is employed by Matthew, the light under the Messiah would spring up among them.

In that region he grew up, & in that region he preached a great part of his discourses & performed a great part of HIS miracles.

3.] The region & shadow of death—This is a forcible & beautiful image, designed also to denote ignorance & sin.

It is often used in the BIBLE, & is very expressive.

A "shadow" is caused by an object coming between us & the sun. So the Hebrews imaged death as standing between us & the sun, & casting a long, dark, & baleful shadow abroad on the face of the nations, denoting their great ignorance, sin, & woe..

It denotes a dismal, gloomy, & dreadful shade, where death & sin reign, like the chills, damps, & horrors of the dwelling-place of the dead.

[Job 10:21; 16:16; 34:22; Psalm 23:4; Jeremiah 2:6]