Kingdoms of camelot secrets

Hello we introduce a new kind of factions. Heavily influenced by a worldwide rp with over 60 people, its a new kind of factions/kingdoms. With an immersive and expansive lore we are the first of its kind, with 8 main kingdoms in total with all of them having a special ring bound to their kingdom makes for a good story where your own ambitions and goals drive the world and influence the story of the world
For example of the story and lore :
With rings bestowed upon races, their destinies in store. Let me weave a rhyme that delves deeper into the unknown, Where the last mortal ring, in darkness, is forever thrown.
Three rings for the kings of man, their tales resound, In the annals of war, their might profound.
Two rings for the elves, one for harmony's embrace, One for loyalty, a balance in the eternal chase.
One ring for the dwarfs, their armor weightless and bright, Bathed in pale moonlight, a beacon in the night.
One ring for the half-elves, growth and future blessed, A promise of prosperity, on their path they rest.
But the last mortal ring, a creation of light and dark, Given to the half-orc, forever marked. Torn between the forces, a soul in strife, Bound to neither side, a tumultuous life.
And the final ring, crafted in the gods' ancient reign, Lost in the depths, where no deity can remain. A relic of power, hidden from sight, In the realm of shadows, where darkness takes flight.
So, my friend, the mysteries deepen, the tales unfold, In the realm of rings, where legends are told. Whispers of destiny, secrets yet untold, In this enigmatic tapestry, their stories forever hold.
So if your interested or have any questions feel free to dm us
https://discord.gg/nCbr2JzyRW

Reddit Account: aelfin
Discord Tag: Bolt1219
Name and House: Dorian Hightower
Age: 80
Cultural Group: Reachman
Appearance: Once tall and strong and proud -- a knight of renown -- the passage of time has seen fit to humble Dorian Hightower. The gold-brown hair of his youth has bleached to silver, his countenance marked by wrinkles. He wears his hair long, often unbound that it frames his features. His beard is neatly styled. Despite the betrayal of his body, Dorian's eyes remain sharp and quick, and his smile is that of a younger man.
Trait: Mastermind
Skill(s): Devious(e), Espionage(e), Assassin
Talent(s): Napping, Meandering, Gardening
Negative Trait(s): Sickly
Starting Title(s): Beacon of the South, Defender of Oldtown, Defender of the Citadel, Lord of Oldtown, Lord of the Hightower, Lord of the Port, Voice of Oldtown
Starting Location: Starting Event
Alternate Characters: n/a
Biogaphy Early Life
In 55BC, under a golden sun in the bustling city of Oldtown, Dorian Hightower was born the second son to Lord Leyton Hightower and his wife Leona Bulwer. His early childhood was marked by a sense of curiosity and an inherent noble pride that was expected of a Hightower; against a backdrop filled with the sounds of the bustling harbour, the smell of the sea, and the sight of a forest of sails coming and going. Oft he would watch the ships as they sailed away and wondered where they went
From a young age, Dorian showed a keen interest in learning and the world around him. His education was that expected of one of his lineage; lessons with the Maester were as important as that of his martial education. At just ten, he was sent to Highgarden to squire for House Gardener. There, amidst the vibrant gardens and rich traditions of the Reach, he learned the values of chivalry, honour, and the importance of duty. His time at Highgarden left a lasting impression on him, fostering a deep respect for the knightly traditions that would shape his later life -- which would make the later actions of the Tyrells sting all the more,
At one-and-seven, Dorian’s path took a scholarly turn. Sent to study at the Citadel, immersed in the halls of knowledge, he began forging his maester's chain, dedicating himself to the studies of copper for history, bronze for astronomy, and iron for warcraft. His mentors noted a sharp intellect and strategic mind, qualities that would serve him well in the years to come.
The Heir to the Hightower
In 35 BC, a marriage united Dorian with Leila Tarly, a match both strategic and affectionate. At the age of twnety Dorian became a father, welcoming his first child, Garlan, into the world. Over the years, the Hightower family grew with the births of Garmund, Delena, Owen, and Lynesse. Each child brought new joy and responsibility, shaping Dorian into a devoted father and a wise lord.
The Stranger visited the Hightowers in 20 BC, when Dorian's older brother, Leyton, the heir to the Hightower, was lost in a shipwreck while returning from a journey to Braavos. At five-and-twenty, Dorian was thrust into the role of heir, a position he had not anticipated. Embracing his new responsibilities with determination, he began learning the intricacies of rule, administration, and justice from his father. Living in Oldtown, the heart of the Faith of the Seven, also imparted a deep spiritual awareness in Dorian. The more he learned, the more he was put into positions of authority. Initially undertaking a role as his father's Steward, Dorian learned quickly that he was much too bored by numbers to be anything close to competent. He was better at dealing with people.
Through his dealings his network grew, and this network, he recognised, could be turned toward the flow of information. The ships he had watched as a boy carried trade, but they also carried words from half the world away. If he could find a way to hear those words before any else, he'd have an advantage -- not only in trade, but in politics as well. Setting to work, Dorian used his House's name to tour as often as he could, finding those in key places that would serve his ends for the right price.
Life and Trials
As the head of House Hightower, Dorian instilled in his family a profound sense of fairness and the importance of knightly traditions. He stressed the values of chivalry and gallantry, ensuring that these principles were deeply rooted in the Hightower legacy. His household became known for its adherence to these values, earning respect and admiration throughout the Reach.
He was an avid hunter, frequently organising grand hunting expeditions in the lands surrounding Oldtown. Not merely for sport, these hunts also served as opportunities to bond with his children and vassals. One notable hunt saw Dorian bring down a formidable stag, a feat that became legendary in his household.
Dorian’s daughter Delena married Harlan Tyrell after a secret tryst, a match that Dorian did not initially support but ultimately was forced to accept. His youngest daughter, Lynesse, found a husband in Willem Ryger. A man whom Dorian had mentored in the art of espionage, and who would later go on to prove the most succesful spymaster in the country.
Feasts at the Hightower were grand affairs, known throughout the Reach for their opulence and hospitality. Dorian believed in the power of communal gatherings, often using these occasions to strengthen alliances and resolve disputes. The harvest feast was a particularly notable event, drawing his vassals to Oldtown to celebrate the bounty of the land, and to reaffirm their loyalty to House Hightower.
From the Ashes:
Family life, however, was not without its hardships, and the Hightowers not immune to tragedy. The House faced a profound loss when Garlan, Dorian's eldest son, was killed on the Field of Fire, turned to ash by dragonfire. This tragedy left Garlan's young son, Gwayne, as Dorian's heir, a heavy burden for the grieving boy to bear at such a young age. By then Dorian was a man nearing his sixtieth decade, not young by any stretch, and so particularly attension was paid to Gwayne's education near to the exclusion of all else. A small army of learned men were brought in to cover every aspect that would eventually be required of him. Dorian hardly went anywhere without his grandson in tow. The Seven Kingdoms might have been united, but the dawn of this new age was eclipsed by Dorian's fears that he would pass before his heir was ready, and he had known many a House felled by the poorly equipped.
Dorian levied from Lord Hightower against House Costayne of having refused the call to rally at Oldtown, backed by the word of the High Septon. A host marched on Three Towers but was met with denial from Lord Costayne who eventually demanded a trial by combat. Gyles Gardener offered himself as champion, and for his victory was given rule over Three Towers, with the fallen lord’s kin being exiled to Essos. Aegon Targaryen was crowned in the Starry Sept upon their return.
In 8AC, a band of sellswords by the name of the Black Roses arrived in Oldtown, headed up by Harlon Costayne, offering cheap mercenaries for the city and protection for its trade. Dorian put to them a challenge, a trial by combat to determine if the Seven stood with the Roses. Pit against a knight of Oldtown, the Black Roses emerged the victorious party, and Dorian issued them leave to remain so long as they served the Reach and her interests.
25AC
Life is a loan, and eventually all men's accounts are settled in full. Having passed into his eightieth year, Dorian Hightower knows the end is nearing for him. Age wracks his body, though his mind remains sharp. He has prepared his grandson as best as he could have done, and all that remains is the wait until his last, content in the knowledge. For the first time in a decade, the Lord of the Hightower has descended from his perch and travels towards King's Landing.
Timeline:
55 BC - Birth of Dorian Hightower

• Born in Oldtown under a golden sun, second son to Lord Leyton Hightower and Leona Bulwer.
• Early childhood filled with curiosity and noble pride, amidst the bustling harbor and forest of sails.

45 BC - Dorian Sent to Highgarden

• At ten, Dorian begins to squire for House Gardener at Highgarden.
• Learns values of chivalry, honor, and duty which leave a lasting impression.

38 BC - Scholarly Pursuits at the Citadel

• At seventeen, Dorian studies at the Citadel.
• Forges his maester's chain with links of copper (history), bronze (astronomy), and iron (warcraft).

35 BC - Marriage to Leila Tarly

• Dorian marries Leila Tarly, a strategic and affectionate match.

35 BC - 30 BC - Birth of Children

• Garlan Hightower is born when Dorian is twenty.
• Followed by Garmund, Delena, Owen, and Lynesse over the next five years.

20 BC - Death of Leyton Hightower

• Dorian's older brother Leyton dies in a shipwreck, making Dorian the heir at twenty-five.
• Dorian starts learning rule, administration, and justice from his father, becoming his Steward.

15 BC - 10 BC - Expansion of Dorian's Network

• Dorian uses House Hightower's name and tours frequently to build a network for intelligence.

10 BC - Dorian Becomes Lord Hightower

• Dorian instills values of fairness and knightly traditions in his family.
• Known for organizing grand hunting expeditions and legendary feats.

5 BC - Marriage of Daughters

• Delena marries Harlan Tyrell after a secret tryst.
• Lynesse marries Willem Ryger, a man mentored by Dorian.

5 BC - 1 BC - Grand Feasts and Gatherings

• Feasts at the Hightower are renowned for their opulence and hospitality.
• The harvest feast draws vassals to Oldtown to celebrate and reaffirm loyalty.

0 AC - Tragedy at the Field of Fire

• Garlan, Dorian's eldest son, is killed in battle.
• Garlan's son, Gwayne, becomes Dorian's heir, leading to intense focus on his education.

5 AC - Conflict with House Costayne

• Dorian accuses House Costayne of refusing to rally at Oldtown.
• A host marches on Three Towers; Lord Costayne demands trial by combat.
• Gyles Gardener wins and takes rule over Three Towers.

8 AC - Arrival of the Black Roses

• The Black Roses, a sellsword company, arrives in Oldtown.
• Dorian issues them a trial by combat; they emerge victorious and are allowed to stay.

25 AC - Dorian Prepares for the End

• Travels to King's Landing for the first time in a decade, content with his preparations.

AC
Name and House: Gwayne Hightower
Age: 30
Cultural Group: Reachman
Appearance: Gwayne stands the perfect example of the Hightower ideal; in him are the echoes of his father and his grandfather and the knightly traditions of the Hightower. He boasts hazel-hued eyes that are dominant green, alight with curiosity. His hair seems to shfit between a gold and a shade dark brown dependant on the light. Oft seen in the colours of his house; smoke greys cut with whites or greens.
Trait: Champion,
Skill(s): Swords, Andal Knight(e)
Talent(s): Hunting, Hawking, Harp
Negative Trait(s): n/a
Starting Title(s): Heir to the Hightower, Ser
Starting Location: Starting Event
Alternate Characters:n/a
Family Tree: https://www.familyecho.com/#view:SZ32K
Biography:
Born in 5BC, the firstborn son to Garlan Hightower, Gwayne was bathed in a viridescent light, anointed with the seven oils and named in the rainbow of light that filled the sept in the Hightower. This act alone is reserved for the heirs to the Hightower, a ceremony to mark them from birth as defenders of the Faith. His early life was a happy one, though he recalls little of the time. His mother and father were truly in love. Only two years later after his birth would his brother follow, and their two sisters after them. His grandfather's hall and hearth was filled with the laughter of children.
It was Garlan Hightower who held command of the Hightower host the fateful day that dragonfire swept across the Field of Fire, who perished there on the field, and whose bones were turned to ash and no longer able to be laid to rest. Gwayne was too young to grasp the reality of it, and before long his Grandfather had him learning with such intensity that he hardly had time to process the fact his father wasn't coming home.
Life turned into a steady routine of learning. His lessons consisted of how to act at court, his histories, his number and letters, and martial training in the yard. He would be woken before the dawn and not be permitted to bed until the sun had slipped away and night had fallen. Recklessly bold, oft he would attempt to climb the exterior of the Hightower and be scolded for the act if discovered.
His first true test at arms came when in the form of pirates. They had made their home in a cove and would strike out at ships fat and ripe with goods. Gwayne rode out with a small band of men, headed up by his uncle, Owen. For a week they scoured the coastline looking for signs of their quarry, and eventually, one night, sky unclouded and stars bright, they saw the fires. Come the dawn the charge of the Reachmen sent the pirates srambling for their weapons, and though they put up a fight, they were cut down to a man and their ships burned. Of those that surrendered, they would hang at the port in Oldtown as a stark reminder. For his bravery Gwayne was given their Valyrian Steel sword, Vigilance, upon his return.
He would seek out his glory in the lists after that, travelling the length of the Seven Kingdoms looking to make his name as a knight. Tourney followed tourney, but at each stop he remembered to paya visit to the local Sept and offer prayer. He lent a hand where he could. Sometimes he found friends, sometimes he found foe.
When the Orphans of the Fire descended on the Reach, Gwayne wished to march out and chase them down, but Dorian refused him -- and as well he did, for the chaos wrought by the Orphans might have claimed him, and Dorian was adamant that he would not lose another heir to fire. The inaction rankled at Gwayne, but he heeded his grandfather's words all the same.
Now, in 25AC, with Dorian ailing and a celebration called, Gwayne travels toward the event and prepares himself for what may come.
Timeline: 5 BC - Birth of Gwayne Hightower

• Born as the firstborn son to Garlan Hightower in the Hightower.
• Anointed with the seven oils and named in a ceremony reserved for heirs, marking him as a defender of the Faith.

3 BC - Birth of Gwayne's Brother

• Gwayne's brother is born, followed by two sisters, filling their grandfather's hall with children's laughter.

0 AC - Death of Garlan Hightower

• Gwayne's father, Garlan, perishes in the Field of Fire.
• Gwayne, too young to fully understand, is immersed in intense learning by his grandfather, Dorian Hightower.

1 AC - 15 AC - Intensive Education and Martial Training

• Gwayne's routine includes court etiquette, history, numbers, letters, and martial training.
• Known for his reckless boldness, he often attempts to climb the exterior of the Hightower.

15 AC - First Test of Arms Against Pirates

• Gwayne rides out with his uncle Owen and a small band of men to combat pirates.
• After a week, they locate and defeat the pirates, hanging the survivors in Oldtown.
• Gwayne is awarded the Valyrian Steel sword, Vigilance, for his bravery.

16 AC - 23 AC - Knighthood and Tournament Circuit

• Gwayne travels the Seven Kingdoms seeking glory in jousting tournaments.
• Pays visits to local Septs to offer prayers and help where needed, making friends and foes along the way.

20 AC - Orphans of the Fire Incident

• The Orphans of the Fire descend on the Reach.
• Gwayne wishes to march out but is restrained by Dorian, preventing potential harm.

25 AC - Current Events

• With Dorian ailing, Gwayne prepares for a celebration in King's Landing, aware of the responsibilities and challenges ahead.

Hi!
I wrote this query in kind of a rush as I’m planning to submit it to Berkley’s open call which ends in … one day.
But the small press I’m publishing another book with has also expressed interest—and honestly, I am wondering whether certain things about this book would make it un-marketable for a Big 5 publisher (or any publisher at all), such as the age gap between the MC and the love interest (18 and 32) and the fact that it doesn’t seem to fit squarely into YA or Adult territory (the protagonist is 18 but there are very adult themes throughout, both main characters are morally gray, etc).
Or the fact that it’s using a theme that I’ve recently learned is quite cliché (assassin falling in love with her target).
Well anyway, please tell me what you think. Thanks!
_____
Dear Berkley,
Myn is part of the Rimena clan, a once-proud people who were banished from the kingdom nearly twenty years before. When Myn is eighteen years old, her great-aunt reveals a secret she’s been keeping from her her entire life: Myn was born with the “light,” the ability to do magic. Now that she is an adult, she can finally fulfill the mission her great-aunt has been planning for her for years: to train with, and eventually assassinate, the reclusive, terribly scarred magician named Crow. As a young teenager, Crow was responsible for killing most of her clan and driving the rest out, and Myn sees this mission as a chance to gain glory in the eyes of her people, as well as to avenge her parents.
When Myn arrives at Crow’s tower, she initially finds him to be a stern and unpleasant teacher. But as the weeks pass and he slowly opens up to her, telling her stories from his past, she starts to see him as more human. The late King used Crow as a tool—much as how Myn’s great-aunt wants to use her. Myn begins to doubt that she can go through with her mission to kill him.
One night, soldiers sent by a mysterious lord attack the tower and attempt to assassinate Crow. At this point, Crow and Myn find themselves caught up in a plot involving the throne. As they attempt to unravel these threads, they also begin to develop feelings for each other, and Myn realizes that by throwing away her mission, she risks betraying her entire family.
CRUEL MAGIC is complete at 90,000 words and can be described as UPROOTED meets TO KILL A KINGDOM.
Sincerely,
me
_____________
First 300 -
Most of Myn’s family had died long ago. Her mother and father were fragments lost in the past, smoke escaping through holes in her memory. She had only her aunts, her great-aunts, her cousins, and a few dozen other stragglers from the once-proud Rimena who now lay scattered like a handful of dirt over the rocky hills of Lorlas. Ever since they had been banished from the kingdom nearly twenty years ago, their history had grown mouthless. No legends, no stories. At least not any stories that they could be proud of. Their nomadic hunter’s lifestyle was no longer a revered tradition, no longer something to be honored, but rather the mark of a people who were always a few steps away from starvation.
Growing up, Myn knew little of what lay beyond the river that separated Lorlas—the area known to the kingdom as the Wild Lands—from the kingdom of Xianthe. All she knew was that when the wind blew from the south, the air brought with it a charred, acrid scent, like the remnants of a cook-fire, mixed with something sharp and silvery. A clear, ringing scent. The way the stars might smell, if they were close enough.
One day, when Myn was little, and the wind was blowing from the south: “That’s Crow’s scent,” her aunt Lila said, wrinkling her nose. But Lila did not turn from the wind. She let it gust through her hair, lifting the greasy strands like the touch of a lover, and when she narrowed her eyes, Myn thought she saw tears in them.
Myn was so young then that she came to believe there was an enormous bird living beyond the river. For months she went to sleep thinking of it and woke still half-dreaming, with the rustle of wings at the back of her mind.

The Battle for the Burger ThroneIn the kingdom of Fast Food, where golden arches pierced the sky and crimson and white buckets held the promise of fried delights, a great conflict brewed. Four mighty houses vied for supremacy, their leaders each intent on claiming the coveted Burger Throne.
House McDonald’s, led by the shrewd and ambitious Ray Kroc, commanded a legion of loyalists from the bustling city of Drive-Thru. Kroc's golden arches were seen as beacons of efficiency and consistency. His armies, clad in red and yellow, marched with a precision that only years of franchising could instill.
House KFC, with its charismatic leader Harland Sanders, held sway in the southern regions. Known for his secret recipe of eleven herbs and spices, Sanders inspired fierce loyalty among his followers. The scent of his fried chicken wafted through the air, a tantalizing promise of comfort and home.
House Wendy’s, led by the wise and kind-hearted Dave Thomas, occupied the fertile plains where square patties were the norm. Dave’s soldiers, carrying banners of blue and red, were renowned for their fresh, never frozen beef, and the warmth of their Frosty desserts.
At the heart of it all sat the Burger King, a monarch whose reign spanned decades. His kingdom was vast, but his grip on the throne was slipping. The flame-grilled taste that had once enthralled the masses was no longer enough to quell the rising ambitions of his rivals.
The Great Feast of Fast Food was upon them, a gathering where allegiances were tested and strategies were forged. Ray Kroc, ever the strategist, arrived first, his golden arches emblazoned on his chariot. He cast a calculating eye over the banquet, noting the positions of his rivals.
Next came Harland Sanders, his white suit pristine, his demeanor relaxed but his mind sharp. He exchanged polite greetings with Ray, though both knew pleasantries would soon give way to battle.
Dave Thomas entered last, his presence a calming influence amid the tension. His focus was not just on victory but on ensuring the people of Fast Food had quality meals.
As the feast began, the Burger King rose to address the assembly. “Welcome, noble houses. The time has come to determine who shall lead the kingdom of Fast Food into the future.”
A murmur of anticipation swept through the hall. Ray Kroc stood, his voice cutting through the noise. “Efficiency and consistency are the pillars of any great kingdom. Under my rule, every meal will be swift, every bite the same.”
Harland Sanders chuckled softly. “Aye, Ray, but people crave more than speed. They crave the comfort of home, the taste of tradition. That is what House KFC offers.”
Dave Thomas rose, his demeanor thoughtful. “Both of you make good points. But the people also deserve quality. Fresh ingredients, prepared with care. That is the foundation of House Wendy’s.”
The Burger King listened, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke. “Each of you brings something valuable to the table. But this throne cannot be shared. Prove your worth in the arena, and the crown shall be yours.”
The arena was a sprawling marketplace where each house set up their best offerings. The people of Fast Food would judge with their coins and their loyalty.
Ray Kroc’s soldiers moved with military precision, their assembly lines a marvel to behold. Harland Sanders’ followers cooked with heart, their meals rich and satisfying. Dave Thomas’ people served with a smile, their quality evident in every bite.
As the sun set, the people cast their votes. The results were close, but one leader emerged victorious, their values resonating most with the kingdom.
The Burger King rose to announce the winner. “The new ruler of Fast Food is…”
Dave Thomas, founder of House Wendy’s, stepped forward to the cheers of the crowd. His focus on quality and care had won the hearts of the people. As he took the Burger Throne, he vowed to lead with wisdom and integrity, ensuring that every meal was a feast fit for a king.

The Battle for the Burger ThroneIn the kingdom of Fast Food, where golden arches pierced the sky and crimson and white buckets held the promise of fried delights, a great conflict brewed. Four mighty houses vied for supremacy, their leaders each intent on claiming the coveted Burger Throne.
House McDonald’s, led by the shrewd and ambitious Ray Kroc, commanded a legion of loyalists from the bustling city of Drive-Thru. Kroc's golden arches were seen as beacons of efficiency and consistency. His armies, clad in red and yellow, marched with a precision that only years of franchising could instill.
House KFC, with its charismatic leader Harland Sanders, held sway in the southern regions. Known for his secret recipe of eleven herbs and spices, Sanders inspired fierce loyalty among his followers. The scent of his fried chicken wafted through the air, a tantalizing promise of comfort and home.
House Wendy’s, led by the wise and kind-hearted Dave Thomas, occupied the fertile plains where square patties were the norm. Dave’s soldiers, carrying banners of blue and red, were renowned for their fresh, never frozen beef, and the warmth of their Frosty desserts.
At the heart of it all sat the Burger King, a monarch whose reign spanned decades. His kingdom was vast, but his grip on the throne was slipping. The flame-grilled taste that had once enthralled the masses was no longer enough to quell the rising ambitions of his rivals.
The Great Feast of Fast Food was upon them, a gathering where allegiances were tested and strategies were forged. Ray Kroc, ever the strategist, arrived first, his golden arches emblazoned on his chariot. He cast a calculating eye over the banquet, noting the positions of his rivals.
Next came Harland Sanders, his white suit pristine, his demeanor relaxed but his mind sharp. He exchanged polite greetings with Ray, though both knew pleasantries would soon give way to battle.
Dave Thomas entered last, his presence a calming influence amid the tension. His focus was not just on victory but on ensuring the people of Fast Food had quality meals.
As the feast began, the Burger King rose to address the assembly. “Welcome, noble houses. The time has come to determine who shall lead the kingdom of Fast Food into the future.”
A murmur of anticipation swept through the hall. Ray Kroc stood, his voice cutting through the noise. “Efficiency and consistency are the pillars of any great kingdom. Under my rule, every meal will be swift, every bite the same.”
Harland Sanders chuckled softly. “Aye, Ray, but people crave more than speed. They crave the comfort of home, the taste of tradition. That is what House KFC offers.”
Dave Thomas rose, his demeanor thoughtful. “Both of you make good points. But the people also deserve quality. Fresh ingredients, prepared with care. That is the foundation of House Wendy’s.”
The Burger King listened, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke. “Each of you brings something valuable to the table. But this throne cannot be shared. Prove your worth in the arena, and the crown shall be yours.”
The arena was a sprawling marketplace where each house set up their best offerings. The people of Fast Food would judge with their coins and their loyalty.
Ray Kroc’s soldiers moved with military precision, their assembly lines a marvel to behold. Harland Sanders’ followers cooked with heart, their meals rich and satisfying. Dave Thomas’ people served with a smile, their quality evident in every bite.
As the sun set, the people cast their votes. The results were close, but one leader emerged victorious, their values resonating most with the kingdom.
The Burger King rose to announce the winner. “The new ruler of Fast Food is…”
Dave Thomas, founder of House Wendy’s, stepped forward to the cheers of the crowd. His focus on quality and care had won the hearts of the people. As he took the Burger Throne, he vowed to lead with wisdom and integrity, ensuring that every meal was a feast fit for a king.

The IFoA has been proudly trumpeting its first ever Middle East Conference, held in Riyadh (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA) on 11 and 12 May 2024, and in Dubai (UAE) on 15 and 16 May 2024, with announcements on the home page of its website, and regular posts on Linked In.
This conference has already been controversial:

• several of its panels were male only, something 2021-2022 President Louise Pryor was very critical of in her Presidential Address, calling them "mannels"), see IFoA Middle East Conference currently due to have only men speaking... : Actuary_news (reddit.com))
• before the Conference the IFoA was publicly accused of "total disregard and [dis]respect for the local Saudi and Arab actuarial community" (see Hoist by the own petard: the IFoA publicly accused of "total disregard and [dis]respect for the local Saudi and Arab actuarial community". All actuaries involved MUST immediately self report for alleged breach of the Integrity Principle of the Actuaries' Code : Actuary_news (reddit.com)). The details of the row have been kept secret so far.

The Riyadh event was held only 15 minutes drive away from Deera Square, colloquially known as "chop chop square": it's where Saudi Arabia has carried out thousands of public executions, normally by beheading with a sword. In 2022 196 people were executed in KSA (see Deera Square - Wikipedia), and at least 172 in 2023 according to Saudi Arabia executed at least 172 people in 2023 (reprieve.org).
According to Amnesty International (The death penalty in Saudi Arabia: Facts and Figures - Amnesty International, an article that dates from 2015 but despite what those apologising for KSA's human rights records say - namely that since 2019 things have improved significantly - the number of recent executions show that things are still very bad):

Saudi Arabia remains one of the most prolific executioners in the world.
It is among the top three executioners worldwide, surpassed only by China and Iran, in Amnesty International’s latest global death penalty report.
...
People may be convicted solely on the basis of “confessions” obtained under torture, other ill-treatment or deception.
Non-lethal crimes including “adultery”, armed robbery, “apostasy”, drug-related offences, rape, “witchcraft” and “sorcery” are punishable by death.

The IFoA's website and Linked In posts show photographs of the Riyadh event, including one of a room filled almost entirely by women veiled from head to foot in black garb, with the only exceptions being the IFoA presenter (a woman) and one or two men seen in the front and to the side. The Taliban would have felt at home - although they might have wanted to stone the IFoA's female presenter for daring to be uncovered.
Credit where credit is due: the female IFoA presenter and the current President and President Elect, both women, did not cover themselves in black abaya.
How did the IFoA get from a position where in June 2021 it strongly criticised male only panels to one where three years later it proudly promotes such panels at a flagship conference, and where it not only condoned what looked very much (in the photo referred to above) like audience segregation by sex (even if "voluntary"), but is happy to promote itself 15 minutes away from a place where several hapless innocents are likely to have been beheaded after confessions obtained by duress?

hi,
PLEASE NOTE, THESE BOOKS WILL COME OUT WITH 2 CHAPTERS PER WEEK STARTING FROM TOMORROW. EACH HAS A LIST OF CHARACTERS AND THERE ROLE AND THERE DISCRIPTION.
please tell me what books sound the best <3 more will be coming in a separate post <3
So im a Wattpad user and I write and read story's, mainly writing now, Im going to be releasing a massive amount of books I think the total is 20 books could be more could be less. But there's a massive range of them so I will list them below:
A GAME OF CHANCE (OUAT BOOK) 18 MAY 2024 - This book is based mainly in neverland but has parts in story Brooke. In this is book where henry is kidnapped but not for the reason they showed in the series, your name is emily you grew up with an abusive drunk of a father and you ran away. After a while of missing storybrooke you return to which your taken in by Emma but someone doesn't like you.
MIRROR MIRROR (OUAT BOOK)19 MAY 2024 - your Regenia's sister, you two fell into the darkness she came out however you never did. She and her new friends try hard to get you into the light side but when Regina finds why you went dark she knows there's only one solution. But will she take the risk or pay the price.
FALLING FOR THEM 17 MAY 2024 - You are a talented young artist who moves from her home town after a brake up in hopes of finding peace. You find peace and love but two men? Is that right ? first time for everything right they will always be my first everything.
MY MAFFIA HUSBAND 20 MAY 2024 - your parents business wasn't going to well and another business offered to help. They gladly excepted after knowing the price they have to pay, you live with them and the other company starts coming around a lot more until one day everything falls into place and the wedding isn't long after that day.
MARRIED TO MY BESTFRIEND 21 MAY 2024- your bestfriend and you have been close ever since birth, you do everything together and your inseparable. Until jack has to help is parents as trouble crosses there path with business, thats when your parents offer you as payment to help the business which they except. You soon learn neither of you had a choice it was set they day you where born.
LOSING YOU 22 MAY 2024 - after your fiancé goes missing you hire a detective and a private investigator, When they give up on the case finding no clues what so ever you deiced to take it into your own hands. On the way to this you uncover your fiancé dark past, that his family knew where he was and this was just a test plus a love game, but can you stay with him after finding out what you have.
TRAPPED BY HIM 23 MAY 2024- you are taken by a sadistic ex of yours, he keeps you locked up for months on end torturing you and doing unholy things. All the while you scream cry and beg him to stop none can hear you and is anyone even looking for you does anyone even realize your missing?
DETECTIVE DARLA 24 MAY 2024 - your a detective with a high amount of respect you have solved multiple cases of murder and missing persons. But now there's a new killer in town, who they refer to as the shadow none knows who he is and none can track him down. Darla beings to get worried but she begins to find all the answers and when she finds the horrifying truth after being nearly murderd by the shadow. She kills the one thing she loves. Darla goes into a state of panic and she is put into the mental heath ward in her local hospital. When a new killer strikes will she be able to recover? will she find this new murderer?
BROKEN PIECES 25 MAY 2024 - when you come home one night after cleaning the house, going to do shopping, putting it away, loading washing in and out, until its time for you to go to work. And find your husband doing unspeakable things to your eldest child and youngest child while your middle child watches laughing. You go into a state of panic screaming and shouting at them, when someone behind you closes the door and puts a cloth over your mouth knocking you out. will she live? will she help her children?
EVIL MEETS EVIL (mavrel book) 26 MAY 2024 - when you where a young girl, the age of only 3 days old, you where taken from your mother and taken to what looked like a prison. You are cared for by your brother, until you turn 1 years old when your brother the leader of this place deiced you where old enough. He sits you on a table and he has you looked over making sure your heathy and how a normal child should be of 1 years old but what for?
WOULD YOU KILL FOR LOVE 27 MAY 2024 - when the prince deiced he needed to be married all the girls in town went crazy, all expect you you didn't fancy being married at only 16 so you ignored the whole thing. Thats until all the girls where to go to the court yard and be seen individually by the prince. When he lays eyes on you and chooses you your whole world brakes. when a war brakes out on the kingdom and the prince is in danger you use the skills you leant ages ago to save the one you where to marry have grown feeling for him but will you let him know?
FRIEND OR FOE 28 MAY 2024 - when the whole town turns against magical creatures, you have to decided who you can and cant trust. Due to being one of the hated all the magical beings being afraid. You decided to take lead in this war and win equality from the help of a human friend. But will you survive what you decided to end.
SLYTHERIN QUEEN (HOGWARTS BOOK) 29 MAY 2024 - when arriving at Hogwarts for the first time ever, you are all in first year and the boys of Hogwarts start taking a liking towards you. But not everyone will be able to have you as you have a very specific taste. But when you have to share a dorm with the ones you crush on you start to be bratty earning a punishment,
REDWOOD 30 MAY 2024 - the town of redwood is famously known for the redwood surrounding the town. None enters or leaves the town through it you have to go by air, but when thing start getting strange around the town people panic praying that its just the weather and animals playing up. but its far from any weather or aninimal, magic is taking the lives of many but they take the wrong person and all hell brakes lose.
HONEY, HONEY (HOGWARTS BOOK) 31 MAY 2024- when a new riddle enters the school, they assume her to be there sister but they are wildly wrong. Shes their wife yes their as in tom and matteho riddle, the three of them get tired of their fathers stupid ways and their wife becomes friends with the golden trio and eventually the rest of the Weasleys. But are they just on a mission for there father of have they changed?
WITHOUT YOU 1 JUNE 2024 - after losing your true love you move from your troubled home to new York, To start over and you do well as a model and eventually you become rich and along the way there 2 men that have been everywhere you are, you thought maybe they are just crazy fans but no. Is he really dead?
THE FIRST BLOOD MOON 2 JUNE 2024 - imagine being a creature so powerful but having no clue about it. When your mum dies and your father leaves you, after years of abuse and shouting painful words he just leaves. But someone comes round to the house knocking on the door for you, when you refuse to go with them they kidnap you in the night. But why?
DEATHS BESTFRIEND 3 JUNE 2024 - Imagen waking up one day and the worlds population has doubled, but only you can see them. When you find out that they aren't invisible, you question what they could be before realizing they are the dead. you question are you living or have you past. Everyone can still see you but not them?
THE STRANGERS KISS 4 JUNE 2024- when you move to new York after excepting a job, you go to a bar for a few drinks. Feeling eyes on you the whole time but you cant seem to find who it is. You start the new job and this one guy seems really off he keeps staring at you and wont leave you alone. But he is hiding deep secrets.
THE TORTURED 5 JUNE 2024 - you've been in one place your whole life, this facility they wont let you leave, you cant talk and everything keeps getting worse. when you are taken from the facility by people who you thought where good but no non of the people have ever been good.it get worse when they take your memories and put you with a bunch of people you have no idea who they are.
thank you for reading this to the bottom I hope when they are released you read them
byeeee <3

"Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the knees of the earth will weep for Him. Yes, indeed."
Rev. 1:7
Here in this verse, John gives us a brief insight into the events that follow and are described in the Revelation. In the following chapters, the events are described in detail and the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ will be in two parts. First, he will come in the clouds and take the church and that can happen. every moment and the second coming is on earth with the Church. The first part is also described as a secret because it was revealed to Paul but not before and the apostle Paul writes about it:
,, Here I am telling you a secret: because we will not all die, but we will all be transformed... Once, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound and the dead will rise incorruptible, and we will be changed."
1 Cor. 15:51-52
And this event refers to the coming of Jesus to earth with the Church, and the believers of the Third Testament also had information about it, and it was not a secret, and this event will be at the end of the great tribulation that will last seven years.
"Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him" ​​we mentioned a little while ago that the believers of the Third Testament also knew about this because they had information from the prophet Malachi who wrote:
"For, behold, a day is coming that burns like an oven, and all will be proud, and all who work wickedly will be stubble, and the day that is coming will burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, and will leave them neither root nor branch."
Mal. 4:1
and this was also confirmed by Jude in verse 14.
"Look, the Lord is coming with thousands of his holy angels"
Jude 1:14
Here we can notice that Malachi and Judas used the warning words "behold it is coming" and for them this was the future and they practically warned the listeners to pay attention to this event and John says "here it is coming" which is another proof that Jovan saw these events in real time, for him it is the present, he sees it now and not as some future event.
This event is something that will happen in the future and the Bible clearly describes it, however, a large number of people doubt or do not believe that this will happen. And it is not strange, although they have a lot of evidence, the Bible foretold this in advance:
"And know this first, that in the last days scoffers will come who will live according to their own desires, And say: Where is the promise of his coming?"
2 Peter 3:3-4
Regardless of the fact that someone does not believe what the Bible warns in advance, this event will be real and many will not like it, but God does not change his plans and what he prophesied in the first book of Moses will soon be fulfilled, as well as other prophecies written in the Old and New vow.
"The ruler's rod will not be separated from Judah nor from his feet the one who sets the law, until the One to whom it belongs comes, and the nations will obey Him."
Gen.49:10
So from the tribe of Judah will come someone who is called "The One" and that someone is the Lord Jesus Christ and he will be the ruler and the nations will obey him and he will rule throughout eternity.
"Look to me, and I will give you nations as your inheritance, and the ends of the earth as your kingdom."
Psalm 2:8
"And His feet will stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, which is towards Jerusalem from the east, and the Mount of Olives will split in the middle to the east and to the west, so that it will be very large, and half of the mountain will give way to the north and half to the South. And you will flee into the valley of the mountains, because the valley of the mountains will reach Asal, and you will flee as you fled from the ruins in the time of Uzziah, king of Judah; and the Lord my God will come, and all the saints will be with you. And in that day light and darkness shall not be seen; But there will be one day, which is known to the Lord, it will not be day and night, because there will be light in the evening. And on that day, living water will flow from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, and it will be both summer and in winter. And the Lord will be king over all the earth, in that day the Lord will be one and His name will be one. And the whole earth will be turned into a plain from Gibeah to Rimmon on the south of Jerusalem, which will be raised and settled in its place from the gate of Benjamin to the place where the first door is, to the door at the corner, and from Ananeil's tower to the emperor's father-in-law. And they shall continue in it, and there shall be no more curse, and Jerusalem shall stand without fear."
Zechariah 14:4-11
We have seen that Jesus is surely coming, but in this age of grace there is an intention or a plan for non-Jews as well, and that plan is to build the Church of Jesus made up of saved people in the time after the cross, including our time.
,,Simon said that God first visited and received a people from the Gentiles to his name. And with this are struck the words of the prophet, as it is written: Then I will return, and I will build the house of David, which has fallen, and I will repair its ruins, and I will raise it up, So that the rest of the people and all the nations in which my name is mentioned will seek the Lord , says the Lord who creates all these."
Acts 15:14-17
The Church is the building of all nations in the New Testament time, and the Church should be built first, and then comes the kingdom.
"And do not make any differences between us and them, having cleansed their hearts with faith. Now then, why do you tempt God and want to put a yoke on the disciples' necks, which neither our fathers nor we could bear? Rather, we believe that we will be saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, just like them."
Acts 15:9-11
"Then I will return, and I will build the house of David."
Acts 15:16
And when that happens, Jesus will reign over all nations, but before that, Armageddon will be the last great battle where many will die in the fight against God.
"I will gather all the nations, and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat, and there I will judge with them for my people and for my inheritance, Israel, whom they scattered among the nations and divided my land;"
Joel 3:2
"Proclaim this to the nations, declare war, raise up heroes, let all the soldiers come and go." Break your plowshares into swords, and your sickles into spears; let him who is weak say: I am a hero."
Joel 3:9-10
,,...for I will sit there to judge all the nations around."
Joel 3:12
And after the terrible battle:
"And the Savior will come to Zion and to those of Jacob who turn from their sins, says the Lord. And this will be my covenant with them, says the Lord: My Spirit, which is in you, and my words, which I have put in your mouth , will not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your seed, nor from the mouth of the seed of your seed, says the Lord, forever and ever"
Isa.59:20-21
,,Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, in which I will raise up for David a righteous Seed, which will reign and be happy and do judgment and justice on earth. In His days, Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell in peace, and this is his the name by which he will be called: Lord our justice."
Jer. 23:5-6
This has not happened yet, but it will happen soon to fulfill the prophecies, and when Jesus came the first time, they did not accept him and did not believe him, even the high priest asked him:
,, And the chief priest answered and said to Him: I adjure you by the living God to tell us if you are the Christ, the son of God? Jesus said to him: You said. But I say to you: you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and riding on the clouds of heaven. Then the chief priest tore his clothes, saying: Blaspheme God; what do we need more witnesses? Now you can hear his blasphemy. What do you think? And they answered and said: He deserved death."
Mtt. 26:63-66
And then they concluded that He deserved death, but they were mistaken, they could not kill Him. He is alive and will return again in glory as it is written in the verses of the prophets and apostles.
"There it goes with the clouds" is something that will be and through the Bible the cloud is a symbol of God's glory and presence and the Jews knew this because the "cloud" led them through the desert:
"And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, leading them on the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, giving them light, so that they could travel day and night."
Exod.13:21
and also filled the tent of meeting with the glory of God.
"Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the tabernacle of the Lord's glory was filled."
Exod. 40:34
Danilo saw this "cloud"
"I saw in the visions of the night, and behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the old man and stood before Him"
Daniel 7:13
On the Mount of Transfiguration one could see:
"While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice from the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; Listen to him."
Matt. 17:5
and also at the ascension on the Mount of Olives:
"And having said this, they saw where a cloud lifted up and carried Him away from their eyes."
Acts. 1:9
The return will be similar, "clouds" are mentioned, but these are not ordinary clouds that we can see every day in the sky, these are clouds of glory.
"And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven; and then all the tribes of the earth will weep; and they will see the Son of Man riding on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
Matt. 24:30
"and every eye will see Him" ​​at that time the light of the Lord's glory will be even more pronounced because the sun and the moon will lose their light:
"And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and behold, the earth shook very much, and the sun became black as sackcloth, and the moon became like blood"
Rev. 6:12
and then the glory of the Lord will shine so brightly that everyone will see and everyone will know what it is about, that's why many unbelievers will try to hide in caves and holes to avoid the Cross of Jesus Christ
"And he said to the mountains and rocks: Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb."
Rev. 6:16
Throughout history, God appeared in a "cloud" and the glory of the cloud is the light and the glory of God, and it is such a strong light that it is blinding, and man cannot look into it and see God in fullness and remain alive, it is God himself said to Moses:
"But you will not be able to see my face, because a man cannot see me and remain alive."
Exod. 33:20
Therefore, no one can see God and stay alive, the only thing he can see is a ray of God's glory in the form of light, but practically he can't look at it either, but only see it for a moment because neither Ezekiel nor Paul wrote, "I looked" someone,, saw " so they saw it briefly.
"And I saw, and behold, a mighty wind came from the north, and a great cloud and a burning fire, and around it a light, and in the midst of the fire like a bright light;"
Ezekiel 1:4
"And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the east, and its voice was like the voice of great water, and the earth trembled from His glory."
Ezekiel 43:2
Paul saw that light while he was still Saul in the middle of the day and here is the description after which he fell to the ground and became blind:
"And when I was going and got close to Damascus, it happened to me around noon that a great light suddenly shone on me from the sky."
Acts 22:13
"At noon, king, I saw on the way from the sky a light greater than the brightness of the sun, which illuminated me and those who were going with me.
Acts 26:13
"And when I became blind from the strong light of it, those who were with me led me by the hand, and I came to Damascus."
Acts 22:11
"and those who pierced Him" ​​Jesus was pierced by Roman soldiers, but they are not meant here because these are events that are yet to happen, and Roman soldiers pierced Jesus almost 2000 years ago, here we mean the generation of Jews who will live in that time. For them it says:
"And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of mercy and prayers, and they will look at me whom they pierced; and they will weep for him as for an only child, and they will sue for him as for the firstborn."
Zechariah 12:10
"They will look at Him whom they pierced."
John 19:37
This is written because the Jews were responsible for Jesus' death even though the Romans carried out the crucifixion.
"People of Israel! Listen to these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man confirmed by God among you by the powers and miracles and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know, having received him delivered by the specific counsel and providence of God, you nailed and killed him through the hands of the lawless;
Acts 2:22-23
"And you renounced the Saint and the Righteous, and begged the executioner to give you gifts; And you killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses."
Acts 3:14-15
"and all the knees of the earth will weep for Him" ​​We have reached the last part where we can see that at the coming of the Lord Jesus, people will cry and it will not be from happiness that Jesus is coming but from despair and fear of the wrath of the Lord Jesus Christ.
,, And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven; and then all the tribes of the earth will weep; and they will see the Son of Man riding on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory"
Matt. 24:30
And he said to the mountains and rocks: Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of His wrath is coming, and who can remain?"
Rev. 6:16-17
In the next verse we see that they did not repent of their sins:
"Neither did they repent of their murders, nor of their witchcraft, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts."
Rev. 9:21
"Yes, indeed." John wrote this, but the Holy Spirit practically confirms what was described in the previous part of the verse. John seems to say, "Let it be as you planned and said because it is your will, I fully agree"
"Yes, indeed."

A Philosopher’s Stone..!
The ancient kingdom learned how to manufacture it, and was going to use it to end all world conflicts.
Either a large stone itself is physically at Laugh Tale for people to take a piece (One Piece) from, or the means to produce it was written on a Poneglyph. Regardless it was left behind upon the collapse of the Ancient Kingdom.
This is likely what started the great war in the past. Everyone fought for possession of this miraculous object. People did what they wanted whenever they got it.
Created the indestructible Poneglyphs. Note the important ones are Red, much like a Philosopher Stone.
Shandora was made into a city of solid gold.
The Devil Fruit could possibly be a product.
The world’s geography was possibly warped through the abuse of the stone.
The various races were created through human transmutation. Essentially Chimeras.
Even if you used the stone to solve all the problems existence inevitably becomes meaningless. Money has no value. No one dies. No one gets sick. Etc.
The WG won custody over the stone by gathering 20 nations to obliterate the Ancient Kingdom. Then the 20 kingdoms swore to never let anyone know that this object existed by erasing most of history; However, someone had to remain. To guard the secret. So that no one in the future finds out.
The sovereigns left that task to Saint Imu, who drank the Elixir of Life. Along the way Imu’s task, and obsession got the better of him/her. Imu went insane.
As this task got harder Imu likely provided the Gorosei with the means to extend their lifespans. In exchange they act as Imu’s proxies. So no one knows exactly how old they actually are. They likely fake their own deaths, and change their identities throughout time. Much like how they changed the name/type of Luffy’s DF.
The Philosopher’s Stone is always red. Imu’s eyes are a deep red. Likely a side effect from constantly drinking the Elixir of Life.
The Roger Pirates had found out that this was left behind for humanity to use. That’s why they all laughed. Anyone who manages to get to the last island should have already acquired all there is.
Despite this Roger last words were if you manage to find the treasure all your wildest dreams could come true.
The catch is after learning the truth about the history of their world… You wouldn’t want to trap yourself in it forever. It’s better to live, and die.
Once the world finds out this stone exists many will begin to seek it again for selfish reasons.
Perhaps Oda dragged out the OP series because FMA existed. Which was centered around seeking this object too. Now that FMAB is done we get to see that’s what it was.
Only time will tell!

IGS REP PAGE
NEW:

• Injustice 2 Legendary Edition *
• Morbid: The Seven Acolytes
• Back 4 Blood (NA)*
• Oxenfree *

Fanatical Action Mystery Bundle

• Aggelos
• Call of Juarez: Gunslinger
• DOOM 64
• Heaven Dust
• Joggernauts
• REZ PLZ
• Secret Neighbor - Hello Neighbor Multiplayer
• Slain: Back from Hell
• Slaycation Paradise
• SpeedRunners
• Teslagrad Remastered
• Trifox
• Tunche
• Valfaris: Mecha Therion
• Warman

May 2024 Choice

• Amanda the Adventurer
• Loddlenaut *
• Steel Rising

March 2024 Choice

• Afterimage
• Black Skylands
• Destroyer: The U-Boat Hunter
• Soulstice
• Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin – Ultimate Edition

February 2024 Choice

• Beacon Pines
• Oaken
• Snowtopia: Ski Resort Builder

Games:

• 12 is Better Than 6
• 112 Operator
• 911 Operator
• Alt-Frequencies
• Arcade Spirits
• Autonauts vs PirateBots
• Block'Em!
• Book of Demons
• Bots Are Stupid
• Bot Vice
• Breathedge
• Crumble
• Dagon: by H. P. Lovecraft - The Eldritch Box DLC
• Deceive Inc. (region locked {sub/848305})
• Double
• Drawful 2
• Driftland: The Magic Revival
• Drink More Glurp
• Dust to the End
• DV: Rings of Saturn
• Elven Legacy Collection
• Embr
• Epistory - Typing Chronicles
• GameGuru
• Go Home Dinosaurs
• Going Under
• Iron Danger *
• Last Word
• Lawn Mowing Simulator
• Liberated (GOG)
• Lost Words: Beyond the Page
• MageQuit
• Meeple Station
• Monaco
• NecroWorm
• Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus
• Orbital Racer
• OUTBUDDIES DX
• Out of Reach: Treasure Royale
• Paper Beast - Folded Edition
• Pixplode
• Pushover
• RPG Maker VX
• Scheming Through The Zombie Apocalypse: The Beginning
• Shing! + Shing! Artbook
• Slinger VR
• Soulblight
• Space Colony
• Spiritual Warfare & Wisdom Tree Collection
• SuchArt: Genius Artist Simulator *
• Super 3-D Noah's Ark
• System Shock: Enhanced Edition
• Telefrag VR
• TemTem *
• The Spectrum Retreat
• Toy Tinker Simulator
• Treasure Hunter Simulator
• Turbo Golf Racing
• Unity of Command: Stalingrad Campaign
• Unloved
• Wanderlust: Travel Stories (GOG)
• White Night
• Windward

WANT:

• Control: Ultimate Edition
• Dead Cells
• Deadlink
• Deliver Us The Moon
• Forgive Me Father 2
• Journey
• Katana Zero
• Kentucky Route Zero
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance
• Life is Strange 1 and Before the Storm
• Mirror's Edge
• Monster Hunter: World
• NORCO
• Resident Evil 3, Village
• The Wolf Among Us
• Yakuza games (besides 4 and LAD)
• Moonscars
• The Evil Within 1&2
• Webbed
• Rising Storm 2: Vietnam + DLCs

Or any offers, Happy trading :)

IGS REP PAGE
NEW:

• Injustice 2 Legendary Edition *
• Morbid: The Seven Acolytes
• Back 4 Blood (NA)*
• Oxenfree *

Fanatical Action Mystery Bundle

• Aggelos
• Call of Juarez: Gunslinger
• DOOM 64
• Heaven Dust
• Joggernauts
• REZ PLZ
• Secret Neighbor - Hello Neighbor Multiplayer
• Slain: Back from Hell
• Slaycation Paradise
• SpeedRunners
• Teslagrad Remastered
• Trifox
• Tunche
• Valfaris: Mecha Therion
• Warman

May 2024 Choice

• Amanda the Adventurer
• Loddlenaut *
• Steel Rising

March 2024 Choice

• Afterimage (humble key pending)
• Black Skylands
• Destroyer: The U-Boat Hunter
• Soulstice
• Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin – Ultimate Edition

February 2024 Choice

• Beacon Pines
• Oaken
• Snowtopia: Ski Resort Builder

Games:

• 12 is Better Than 6
• 112 Operator
• 911 Operator
• Alt-Frequencies
• Arcade Spirits
• Autonauts vs PirateBots
• Block'Em!
• Book of Demons
• Bots Are Stupid
• Bot Vice
• Breathedge
• Crumble
• Dagon: by H. P. Lovecraft - The Eldritch Box DLC
• Deceive Inc. (region locked {sub/848305})
• Double
• Drawful 2
• Driftland: The Magic Revival
• Drink More Glurp
• Dust to the End
• DV: Rings of Saturn
• Elven Legacy Collection
• Embr
• Epistory - Typing Chronicles
• GameGuru
• Go Home Dinosaurs
• Going Under
• Iron Danger *
• Last Word
• Lawn Mowing Simulator
• Liberated (GOG)
• Lost Words: Beyond the Page
• MageQuit
• Meeple Station
• Monaco
• NecroWorm
• Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus
• Orbital Racer
• OUTBUDDIES DX
• Out of Reach: Treasure Royale
• Paper Beast - Folded Edition
• Pixplode
• Pushover
• RPG Maker VX
• Scheming Through The Zombie Apocalypse: The Beginning
• Shing! + Shing! Artbook
• Slinger VR
• Soulblight
• Space Colony
• Spiritual Warfare & Wisdom Tree Collection
• SuchArt: Genius Artist Simulator *
• Super 3-D Noah's Ark
• System Shock: Enhanced Edition
• Telefrag VR
• TemTem *
• The Spectrum Retreat
• Toy Tinker Simulator
• Treasure Hunter Simulator
• Turbo Golf Racing
• Unity of Command: Stalingrad Campaign
• Unloved
• Wanderlust: Travel Stories (GOG)
• White Night
• Windward

WANT:

• Control: Ultimate Edition
• Dead Cells
• Deadlink
• Deliver Us The Moon
• Forgive Me Father 2
• Journey
• Katana Zero
• Kentucky Route Zero
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance
• Life is Strange 1 and Before the Storm
• Mirror's Edge
• Monster Hunter: World
• NORCO
• Resident Evil 3, Village
• The Wolf Among Us
• Yakuza games (besides 4 and LAD)
• Moonscars
• The Evil Within 1&2
• Webbed
• Rising Storm 2: Vietnam + DLCs

Or any offers, Happy trading :)

N.B.: I'm mainly looking for the games listed in the title and at the bottom of the thread. Feel free to post other offers, but if I haven't responded to your comment(s) by my next posting, I likely wasn't able to find a trade that interested me.
​
For sale (for Steam Gift Cards or gifted Steam Wallet balance):
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• Dark Souls™: Prepare To Die™ Edition (removed from Steam Store; $350 $400 or best offer)
• Fall Guys (removed from Steam Store)
• Fall Guys - Dragon Hugger Pack (removed from Steam Store)
• Fall Guys - Icy Adventure Pack (removed from Steam Store)
• Marvel's Avengers - The Definitive Edition (removed from Steam Store)
• Spec Ops: The Line (removed from Steam Store)

​

• Humble Hunie Sakura Bundle (can also trade for a full "charity" bundle (Australia Fire Relief Bundle or similar))
• Humble Sekai Project Bundle (can also trade for a full "charity" bundle (Stand with Ukraine Bundle or similar))

​
For trade:
*signifies that a game is tentatively up for trade, assuming I buy the bundle
​

• Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition
• Soulstice
• Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin – Ultimate Edition

​

• A Little to the Left
• Black Book

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• Superliminal
• The Talos Principle Gold Edition
• The Witness

​

• Destroy All Humans! 2 - Reprobed
• Life is Strange: True Colors
• Scorn
• There Is No Light: Enhanced Edition

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• Hellpoint
• Remnant: From the Ashes
• Tails of Iron

​

• Hell Pie
• OTXO
• The Red Lantern
• Twin Mirror

​

• Arkham Horror: Mother's Embrace
• Blood Rage: Digital Edition
• Gloomhaven - Solo Scenarios: Mercenary Challenges
• Small World
• Small World - A Spider's Web
• Small World - Be not Afraid...
• Small World - Cursed!
• Small World - Grand Dames
• Small World - Royal Bonus
• Splendor
• Splendor - The Cities
• Splendor - The Strongholds
• Splendor - The Trading Posts
• Terraforming Mars

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• A Short Hike(?)
• A Story Beside(?)
• Aces & Adventures(?)
• Arcade Spirits(?)
• Battlestar Galactica Deadlock(?)
• Beyond Blue(?)
• Cat Quest(?)
• Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!(?)
• EARTHLOCK(?)
• Harmony's Odyssey(?)
• Homeworld Remastered Collection(?)
• Lacuna – A Sci-Fi Noir Adventure(?)
• Minecraft: Java Edition - MCC Island Jingle Jam Rewards Pack(?)
• Monster Prom(?)
• Sifu Deluxe Cosmetic Pack(?)
• Spirit of the Island(?)
• SUPERHOT(?)
• Tinytopia(?)
• Toodee and Topdee(?)
• Train Valley 2(?)
• Turbo Golf Racing(?)
• Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story(?)
• Xenonauts(?)

​

• Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs

​

• Dark Deity
• Edge Of Eternity
• Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising

​

• CRYPTARK
• Dead Estate
• Paint the Town Red

​

• Lost Castle
• My Time At Portia

​

• Toodee and Topdee

​

• WWE 2K23

​

• Chivalry 2
• Disco Elysium - The Final Cut
• The Forgotten City
• GRIME
• Spiritfarer®: Farewell Edition

​

• Back 4 Blood
• Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition
• Batman: Arkham City - Game of the Year Edition
• Batman: Arkham Knight Premium Edition
• Batman™: Arkham Origins
• Injustice 2 Legendary Edition
• Mad Max
• Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Game of the Year Edition
• Middle-earth: Shadow of War Definitive Edition
• Mortal Kombat 11
• Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate Add-On Bundle
• Mortal Kombat XL

​

• Alan Wake Collector's Edition
• Bendy and the Dark Revival
• Pathologic 2

​

• CODE VEIN
• .hack//G.U. Last Recode
• Katamari Damacy REROLL
• TEKKEN 7

​

• A Juggler's Tale
• Spirit of the Island

​

• Boomerang Fu
• PlateUp!
• ROUNDS
• Stick Fight: The Game
• Ultimate Chicken Horse

​

• Fae Tactics
• Flynn: Son of Crimson
• Ikenfell
• Ring of Pain
• Void Bastards

​

• After the Fall® - Deluxe Edition
• Zero Caliber VR

​

• Patch Quest

​

• Five Dates
• Late Shift

​

• Demon Turf
• Pumpkin Jack

​

• Trover Saves the Universe

​

• Coromon
• The Dungeon Of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet Of Chaos
• Jack Move

​

• Road 96
• SuchArt: Genius Artist Simulator

​

• A Short Hike

​

• Cloudpunk
• Ghostrunner
• Severed Steel

​

• Eternal Threads
• Turbo Golf Racing

​

• Lethal League Blaze
• OlliOlli World
• WWE 2K BATTLEGROUNDS

​

• Dragon Fist: VR Kung Fu
• The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners

​

• Celeste

​

• Blasphemous
• Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
• Hollow Knight

​

• Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery

​

• Bionic Commando: Rearmed
• Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen
• Lost Planet 3 - Complete
• Mega Man Legacy Collection
• STRIDER™ / ストライダー飛竜®

​

• Aground
• Calico
• Evan's Remains
• StarCrossed
• Teacup

​

• Into the Radius VR

​

• Aliens: Fireteam Elite
• Founders' Fortune
• Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp

​

• Nomad Survival
• Scarlet Tower

​

• The Citadel
• Viscerafest
• WRATH: Aeon of Ruin

​

• The Blackout Club

​

• BIOMUTANT
• Edge Of Eternity
• Golden Light

​

• Call of the Sea
• Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

​

• 112 Operator
• 911 Operator
• The Amazing American Circus
• Armello
• Backbone
• Calico
• Euro Truck Simulator 2
• Farming Simulator 17
• Ghostrunner
• Guilty Gear X2 #Reload
• Lust from Beyond: M Edition
• Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine
• Orbital Racer
• Pathfinder: Kingmaker - Enhanced Plus Edition
• PAYDAY 2
• Pilgrims
• Soulblight
• Space Crew: Legendary Edition
• Starfinder Core Rulebook (Paizo key) and Starfinder Adventure: Junker's Delight (Paizo key)
• Strange Brigade
• Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones
• System Shock 2
• System Shock: Enhanced Edition
• Ticket to Ride
• XCOM® 2
• X-Morph: Defense Complete Pack

​

• Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game
• Fobia - St. Dinfna Hotel
• Othercide
• Shady Part of Me

​

• The Last Campfire

​

• Sakura Swim Club

​

• Summer in Mara
• Townscaper

​

• The Long Dark: Survival Edition

​

• Stranded Sails - Explorers of the Cursed Islands

​

• Conan Chop Chop
• Grow: Song of the Evertree

​

• Styx: Shards of Darkness

​

• Hard West
• John Wick Hex
• Phantom Doctrine
• Red Solstice 2: Survivors

​

• Arizona Sunshine

​

• Backbone
• Blade Assault
• First Class Trouble
• Super Magbot

​

• Golf Gang
• Maid of Sker

​

• Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York
• Vampire: The Masquerade - Shadows of New York
• Werewolf: The Apocalypse — Heart of the Forest

​

• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl

​

• Crown Trick

​

• Guts and Glory
• Hello Neighbor

​

• Day of the Tentacle Remastered
• Grim Fandango Remastered
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
• STAR WARS®: Knights of the Old Republic™ II

​

• Duke Nukem Forever
• PGA TOUR 2K21
• WWE 2K Battlegrounds

​

• In Sound Mind

​

• Little Big Workshop
• Not Tonight

​

• Brigador Deluxe Edition
• Verdun

​

• Resident Evil 0
• Resident Evil 6
• Resident Evil

​

• EVERSPACE™

​

• Cultist Simulator
• GWENT: The Witcher Card Game - Ultimate Starter Pack (GOG key)

​

• The LEGO® NINJAGO® Movie Video Game

​

• Legend of Keepers: Career of a Dungeon Manager
• Legion TD 2 - Multiplayer Tower Defense

​

• STAR WARS™: Squadrons (Origin key)(?)

​

• Bionic Commando
• Street Fighter V

​

• As Far As The Eye
• Impulsion

​

• Orcs Must Die! 2 - Complete Pack

​

• Bartlow's Dread Machine

​

• Blaston

​

• White Day: A Labyrinth Named School

​

• The Walking Dead

​

• Total Tank Simulator

​

• Archangel: Hellfire - Fully Loaded

​

• XCOM® 2

​

• Black The Fall
• Goetia

​

• Among the Sleep - Enhanced Edition

​

• Dear Esther: Landmark Edition
• This War of Mine

​

• Tom Clancy's The Division™ (Uplay key)
• Tom Clancy's The Division™ - Survival (Uplay key)

​

• Highway Blossoms
• HunieCam Studio
• KARAKARA
• Sunrider Academy
• Sunrider: Liberation Day - Captain's Edition

​

• A Kiss For the Petals - Remembering How We Met

​

• Hacknet
• Satellite Reign

​

• The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing: Final Cut

​

• The Elder Scrolls: Legends: 2 Card Packs (Skyrim) 1 Event Ticket 100 Gold 100 Souls
• ESO Vanity Pet: Bristlegut Piglet and 15 Days of ESO Plus

​

• Ame no Marginal -Rain Marginal-
• KARAKARA
• Memory's Dogma CODE:01
• Narcissu 10th Anniversary Anthology Project
• Narcissu 10th Anniversary Anthology Project - Season Pass

​

• A Kiss For the Petals - Remembering How We Met
• Sakura Angels
• Beach Bounce
• Beach Bounce - Soundtrack
• Blue Rose

​

• Lionessy Story
• My Personal Angel
• Natural - Beyond Nature -
• Postmen Of Horizon (removed from Steam Store)

​

• The Reject Demon: Toko Chapter 0 — Prelude

​

• Koi-Koi Japan [Hanafuda playing cards]
• Mahjong Pretty Girls Battle
• Mahjong Pretty Girls Battle : School Girls Edition
• Poker Pretty Girls Battle: Texas Hold'em
• Pretty Girls Mahjong Solitaire

​

• Guns of Icarus Alliance
• Guns of Icarus Online
• Impossible Creatures Steam Edition
• Lethal League
• Tempest: Pirate Action RPG
• Tempest - Treasure Lands
• Tempest - Original Soundtrack
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Wolf
• Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide

​

• Tenta Shooter
• Gun Gun Pixies
• DUSK
• For The King
• Book of Demons
• PlateUp!
• Kingdom Two Crowns
• White Day: A Labyrinth Named School
• Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War
• Chivalry: Medieval Warfare
• Steel Rats™
• Hue
• Sifu Deluxe Edition Upgrade Bundle (Epic key)
• Gal*Gun: Double Peace
• The Invisible Hours
• Synergia
• ROCKETRON
• Project Nimbus: Complete Edition
• Dead Age
• Spirit Hunter: NG
• Slain: Back from Hell(?)
• Cook, Serve, Delicious!
• Tower of Time
• Danger Scavenger
• Survive the Nights
• Valfaris
• Nongunz: Doppelganger Edition
• This War of Mine

​

• Knights of Pen and Paper +1 Edition
• Knights of Pen and Paper 2 - Here Be Dragons

​

• 112 Operator
• 911 Operator
• Book of Demons
• Broken Age
• Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons
• Crying Suns
• Crying Suns
• Dear Esther: Landmark Edition
• Driftland: The Magic Revival
• Liberated (GOG key)
• Moon Hunters
• Out of Reach: Treasure Royale
• Wanderlust: Travel Stories (GOG key)
• WARSAW
• X-Morph: Defense + European Assault, Survival of the Fittest, and Last Bastion DLC (I believe this redeems as the linked Complete Pack, minus the soundtrack)
• ΔV: Rings of Saturn(?)

​

• Arcade Paradise
• Calico
• Say No! More
• Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game
• Fobia - St. Dinfna Hotel
• Phoenix Point: Year One Edition
• Deliver Us The Moon
• Morkredd
• Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos
• Spirit Hunter: NG
• Survivalist: Invisible Strain
• Warhammer: Vermintide 2
• ENDLESS™ Space 2
• Surviving the Aftermath
• The Long Dark

​

• Duck Game
• SCP: Secret Files
• WWE 2K23
• The Jackbox Party Pack
• Outward (redeems as the base game only, not the linked Definitive Edition)
• Outward - The Soroboreans
• Outward Soundtrack
• Blade Assault
• Founders' Fortune
• Hokko Life
• Monster Crown
• Othercide
• Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous - Enhanced Edition
• ScourgeBringer
• Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
• HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED™
• Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Game of the Year Edition
• Sonic CD (removed from Steam Store)
• LEGO® Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO® Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• STRIDER™ / ストライダー飛竜®
• Bionic Commando
• Full Metal Furies
• Ultra Street Fighter® IV
• Starbound
• Mafia III: Sign of the Times
• BioShock 2
• Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Game of the Year Edition
• Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter
• The Mean Greens - Plastic Warfare
• Crusaders of the Lost Idols Legendary Starter Pack
• Project CARS (removed from Steam Store)

​
WANT:
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• 5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel
• Astebreed: Definitive Edition
• Avernum: Escape from the Pit
• BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger
• CrossCode
• Dead Rising 4
• Dungreed
• Mega Man X Legacy Collection 2
• Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection
• Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition
• Myst (2021)
• NBA 2K23
• NECROPOLIS: BRUTAL EDITION
• Omensight: Definitive Edition
• OPUS: Echo of Starsong - Full Bloom Edition
• OPUS: Rocket of Whispers
• OPUS: The Day We Found Earth
• Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid
• RAGE
• Resident Evil Village
• The Jackbox Party Pack 5
• The Jackbox Party Pack 6
• The Jackbox Party Pack 7
• Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
• Zombie Army 4: Dead War

​

• any extra copies of WWE 2K23

​
IGS Rep Page: https://www.reddit.com/IGSRep/comments/ti26nz/mizznos_igs_rep_page/

Also did a Bible study devotional today on this verse (Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.) pondering on does God still do this today? Trying to meditate on this verse and read a commentary.
Todays study was very difficult because also went into the topic of (Biblical Stewardship) it seems every sermon and commentary from multiple different denominations say we are to steward “everything” for God? But what many don’t go into is are there ever times when we shouldn’t steward everything? Does everything really mean everything or did this word mean something different throughout history? Does market driven consumer based economies ever affect how we are to steward everything for God? What happens when what man or the maybe the masses of an economy wants differs from what God may want? Are there times when we have to steward things that maybe promote things that against God? If anyone is interested in looking more into this if you type in “Biblical Stewardship” on YouTube there’s many sermons but many don’t go into many of these questions? A big one for me is “am I even stewarding this right for God? What happens when believers tell me different things on how we are to steward?
Link to the entire stream the Bible study is at the very beginning. (If anyone has thoughts on any of this or any verses to share always nice to hear and have some fellowship)
https://m.twitch.tv/videos/2146647984
Anyone interested in the process for today’s drawing here is the start to finish. If anyone would like this drawing for free as a gift let me know and I can try and mail it to you I’m reminded on many verses on gifts
https://m.twitch.tv/videos/2146952684
Some verses looked and pondered into today
Psalm 32:8
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Proverbs 3:6
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 13:10-15
10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” 15 For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’
Matthew 25:14-46
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
(Gonna be going on a trip so will be my last stream for maybe like 12 days gonna try and stream but don’t think I have the right internet)

The Collect
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Readings:
Psalm 105:1–22 Zechariah 4
Gospel: Matthew 9:1–8
1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy;Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said,Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,(then saith he to the sick of the palsy,)Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7 And he arose, and departed to his house.
8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
Commentary:
“And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.” (v. 1) Here in these verses, we find a strange if not ironic comparison. On the one side we have those that find his miracles awe inspiring, or as we find in verse 8 where Matthew states in reference to the multitude following and who had witnessed Jesus’ miracles: “theymarvelled, and glorified God.” And on the other hand we see those who hate Jesus, because he dares to upset the status quo that they so coveted.
At the end of the previous chapter, Matthew tells us of his version of Jesus exorcising demons from two men (other Gospels only mention one) on the coast of the Sea of Galilee nearGadarene.As you recall fromother studies, Jesus cast out the demons, who then fled from him, entering into a herd of swine, causing the pigs to run into the sea and drown. The citizens ofGadarenes—upset at the loss of theirswine—asked Jesus to leave. Which brings us toour first verse for today inwhichMatthewtells usJesusagain crossed over the Sea tohis own city,Capernaum;where:
“And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy;Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.” (v. 2-3)
“they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed” Other Gospels explain how the man was brought to Jesus. Because of the crowds, his friends lowered him down to Jesus througha hole inthe roof.
“Jesus’ miracles were not primarily calculated for crowd effect. Instead they were primarily done to minister to the humble needs of humble people. For the most part, most Jewish people of that time would have preferred much more spectacular signs – like calling down fire from heaven upon a Roman Legion.” (Guzik)
“and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy” Jesus was impressed by the faith of the friends of this man. The phrase: “seeing their faith” demonstrates that their faith was so great that they carried this man through the crowds to bring him before Jesus. Again in the other Gospels, (Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26) we find that their faith was so great, that their belief that Jesus could heal their friend was so strong that when they could not press through the multitude gathered outside, they carried him up onto the roof of the house in which Jesus was in at the time, they tore a hole in the roof and lowered the man down into the midst of the gathering who had come to hear Jesus speak.
We also can assume that the paralyzed man himself had little faith; as Matthew emphasizes “seeing their faith” in that Jesus noted the faith of his friends, not the man with palsy. Therefore it appears that Jesus wanted to encourage this man’s faith by His next words.
“Son, be of good cheer” “With swift sure diagnosis Jesus sees in the man not faith but deep depression…and uttering first a kindly hope-inspiring word, such as a physician might address to a patient: cheer up, child!” (Bruce)
“thy sins be forgiven thee.” “The faith of the paralyzed man’s friends did something – they brought this man to Jesus. Yet they only thought of bringing him to Jesus for the healing of his body. They certainly didn’t think that Jesus would forgive His sins.” (Guzik)
We need not infer that the man was paralyzed as the direct result of some sin that needed forgiving. This did not seem to be Jesus’ point in saying, “your sins are forgiven you.”
Matthew Poole saw six reasons why Jesus dealt with the man’s sin first. To paraphrase Poole’s reasons why the sin was dealt with first:

1. Because sin is the root from which all our evils come.
2. To show that forgiveness is more important than bodily healing.
3. To show that the most important thing Jesus came to do was to deal with sin.
4. To show that when a man’s sins are forgiven, he becomes a son of God.
5. To show that the response to faith is the forgiveness of sin.
6. To begin an important conversation with the scribes and Pharisees.

Those in the crowd who felt they were the keepers of the Law, took offense at Jesus—someone many of them knew had resided in their city for some time—and to them what they perceived as Jesus taking upon himself, an authority reserved for God.
“And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.” (v. 3)
“They said within themselves, in their hearts, among themselves, in their secret whisperings, This man blasphemeth. See how the greatest instance of heaven's power and grace is branded with the blackest note of hell's enmity; Christ's pardoning sin is termed blasphemy; nor had it been less, if he had not had commission from God for it. They, therefore, are guilty of blasphemy, that have no such commission, and yet pretend to pardon sin.” (Henry)
“certain of the scribes” Not all but a select few; “said within themselves” They didn’t have the courage to speak aloud their treasonous thoughts, which exposedtheir irrational belief that Jesus is but a man, one of their own,Jesushaving spent an indeterminate period of time in Capernaumbefore beginning his ministry.
In John chapter three, verse 2, Nicodemus the Pharisee came under cover of night so that his peers would not see him conversing with Jesus, and he said, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. ”Itshould have been evident, that no mortal man could do the miraculous healings that Jesus did, unless he be sent by God.Nicodemus and presumably others were not so blind that they could not see that Jesus had authority given to him by God, but yet these scribes in Capernaum chose to ignore the obvious and focus on what they perceived to be an infraction of the Law.
While the friends of the sick man had a great deal of faith, enough to touch the heart of Jesus, the scribes had no faith, and could not see something as obvious as Jesus having authority given him by God to heal and to forgive sins. No, they had to be showed the divinity of Christ.
“ He undertakes to make out, that the Son of man, the Mediator, has power on earth to forgive sins; for therefore the Father has committed all judgment to the Son, and has given him this authority, because he is the Son of man, Jn. 5:22, 27. If he has power to give eternal life, as he certainly has (Jn. 17:2), he must have power to forgive sin; for guilt is a bar that must be removed, or we can never get to heaven. What an encouragement is this to poor sinners to repent, that the power of pardoning sin is put into the hands of the Son of man, who is bone of our bone! And if he had this power on earth, much more now that he is exalted to the Father's right hand, to give repentance and remission of sins, and so to be both a Prince and a Saviour,” (Henry)
“And Jesus knowing their thoughts said,Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,(then saith he to the sick of the palsy,)Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” (vs. 4-6)
“How he proves it, by his power in the kingdom of nature; his power to cure diseases. Is it not as easy to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee, as to say, Arise and walk? He that can cure the disease, whether declaratively as a Prophet, or authoritatively as God, can, in like manner, forgive the sin. Now, This is a general argument to prove that Christ had a divine mission. His miracles, especially his miraculous cures, confirm what he said of himself, that he was the Son of God; the power that appeared in his cures proved him sent of God; and the pity that appeared in them proved him sent of God to heal and save. The God of truth would not set his seal to a lie.” (Ibid)
“And Jesus knowing their thoughtsWherefore think ye evil in your hearts?” This alone should have told them they where in the presence of someone with great power and authority.
“For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?” “Both healing and forgiveness are impossible with man. Yet only the promise of healing could be immediately proven, because though you can’t see someone’s sin being forgiven, you can see that they are healed.” (Guzik)
“This appears to have been founded on Psalm 103:3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, and healeth all thy diseases. Here pardon precedes health.” (Clarke)
“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins” Regarding which is easier to say, “Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk” Jesus answered His own question before the religious leaders did. Since He could make good on His claim to heal the man, it gave proof of His claim to also have the authority to forgive sins.If he had the Godly power to heal, then logically he must also have the power to forgive sins.
“And he arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.” (vs. 7-8) At the man’s healing, the crowd properly gave God the glory for this miracle. Jesus obviously did not draw attention to Himself by the manner in which the healing was done.
At the beginning of this study, we mentioned how the men of Gadarene, were upset that Jesus had exorcised the demons and those entities drove the herd of swine mad and they ran into the sea. These men seemed obvious to the fact that Jesus had cured the possessed men, something an ordinary man could not do. Likewise the scribes of Capernium were oblivious to the many healings Jesus had done, acts that only God could do, and they chose to focus on Jesus having pronounced the sick man’s sins forgiven. However while the men of Gadarene and the scribes of Capernium ignored the divinity of Jesus, we see the people in awe and worshiping God, for having sent his own into their midst.
In the beginning of his Gospel John makes the case in an eloquent and poetic prose that Jesus was with God from the beginning of time, a part of God. Here we see Matthew attempting to make the same argument by illustrating how Jesus demonstrated his divinity and authority by healing and forgiving sins; again obvious acts that only God could authorize.
“ Note, All our wonder should help to enlarge our hearts in glorifying God, who alone does marvellous things. They glorified God for what he had done for this poor man. Others' mercies should be our praises, and we should give him thanks for them, for we are members one of another. God must be glorified in all the power that is given to men to do good.” (Henry)Benediction
Everliving God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Thought for the Day:
Prayer is the risen Jesus coming in with His resurrection power, given free rein in our lives, and then using His authority to enter any situation and change things.

• Ole Hallesby

The Collect
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Readings:
Psalm 105:1–22 Zechariah 4
Gospel: Matthew 9:1–8
1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy;Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said,Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,(then saith he to the sick of the palsy,)Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7 And he arose, and departed to his house.
8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
Commentary:
“And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.” (v. 1) Here in these verses, we find a strange if not ironic comparison. On the one side we have those that find his miracles awe inspiring, or as we find in verse 8 where Matthew states in reference to the multitude following and who had witnessed Jesus’ miracles: “theymarvelled, and glorified God.” And on the other hand we see those who hate Jesus, because he dares to upset the status quo that they so coveted.
At the end of the previous chapter, Matthew tells us of his version of Jesus exorcising demons from two men (other Gospels only mention one) on the coast of the Sea of Galilee nearGadarene.As you recall fromother studies, Jesus cast out the demons, who then fled from him, entering into a herd of swine, causing the pigs to run into the sea and drown. The citizens ofGadarenes—upset at the loss of theirswine—asked Jesus to leave. Which brings us toour first verse for today inwhichMatthewtells usJesusagain crossed over the Sea tohis own city,Capernaum;where:
“And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy;Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.” (v. 2-3)
“they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed” Other Gospels explain how the man was brought to Jesus. Because of the crowds, his friends lowered him down to Jesus througha hole inthe roof.
“Jesus’ miracles were not primarily calculated for crowd effect. Instead they were primarily done to minister to the humble needs of humble people. For the most part, most Jewish people of that time would have preferred much more spectacular signs – like calling down fire from heaven upon a Roman Legion.” (Guzik)
“and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy” Jesus was impressed by the faith of the friends of this man. The phrase: “seeing their faith” demonstrates that their faith was so great that they carried this man through the crowds to bring him before Jesus. Again in the other Gospels, (Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26) we find that their faith was so great, that their belief that Jesus could heal their friend was so strong that when they could not press through the multitude gathered outside, they carried him up onto the roof of the house in which Jesus was in at the time, they tore a hole in the roof and lowered the man down into the midst of the gathering who had come to hear Jesus speak.
We also can assume that the paralyzed man himself had little faith; as Matthew emphasizes “seeing their faith” in that Jesus noted the faith of his friends, not the man with palsy. Therefore it appears that Jesus wanted to encourage this man’s faith by His next words.
“Son, be of good cheer” “With swift sure diagnosis Jesus sees in the man not faith but deep depression…and uttering first a kindly hope-inspiring word, such as a physician might address to a patient: cheer up, child!” (Bruce)
“thy sins be forgiven thee.” “The faith of the paralyzed man’s friends did something – they brought this man to Jesus. Yet they only thought of bringing him to Jesus for the healing of his body. They certainly didn’t think that Jesus would forgive His sins.” (Guzik)
We need not infer that the man was paralyzed as the direct result of some sin that needed forgiving. This did not seem to be Jesus’ point in saying, “your sins are forgiven you.”
Matthew Poole saw six reasons why Jesus dealt with the man’s sin first. To paraphrase Poole’s reasons why the sin was dealt with first:

1. Because sin is the root from which all our evils come.
2. To show that forgiveness is more important than bodily healing.
3. To show that the most important thing Jesus came to do was to deal with sin.
4. To show that when a man’s sins are forgiven, he becomes a son of God.
5. To show that the response to faith is the forgiveness of sin.
6. To begin an important conversation with the scribes and Pharisees.

Those in the crowd who felt they were the keepers of the Law, took offense at Jesus—someone many of them knew had resided in their city for some time—and to them what they perceived as Jesus taking upon himself, an authority reserved for God.
“And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.” (v. 3)
“They said within themselves, in their hearts, among themselves, in their secret whisperings, This man blasphemeth. See how the greatest instance of heaven's power and grace is branded with the blackest note of hell's enmity; Christ's pardoning sin is termed blasphemy; nor had it been less, if he had not had commission from God for it. They, therefore, are guilty of blasphemy, that have no such commission, and yet pretend to pardon sin.” (Henry)
“certain of the scribes” Not all but a select few; “said within themselves” They didn’t have the courage to speak aloud their treasonous thoughts, which exposedtheir irrational belief that Jesus is but a man, one of their own,Jesushaving spent an indeterminate period of time in Capernaumbefore beginning his ministry.
In John chapter three, verse 2, Nicodemus the Pharisee came under cover of night so that his peers would not see him conversing with Jesus, and he said, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. ”Itshould have been evident, that no mortal man could do the miraculous healings that Jesus did, unless he be sent by God.Nicodemus and presumably others were not so blind that they could not see that Jesus had authority given to him by God, but yet these scribes in Capernaum chose to ignore the obvious and focus on what they perceived to be an infraction of the Law.
While the friends of the sick man had a great deal of faith, enough to touch the heart of Jesus, the scribes had no faith, and could not see something as obvious as Jesus having authority given him by God to heal and to forgive sins. No, they had to be showed the divinity of Christ.
“ He undertakes to make out, that the Son of man, the Mediator, has power on earth to forgive sins; for therefore the Father has committed all judgment to the Son, and has given him this authority, because he is the Son of man, Jn. 5:22, 27. If he has power to give eternal life, as he certainly has (Jn. 17:2), he must have power to forgive sin; for guilt is a bar that must be removed, or we can never get to heaven. What an encouragement is this to poor sinners to repent, that the power of pardoning sin is put into the hands of the Son of man, who is bone of our bone! And if he had this power on earth, much more now that he is exalted to the Father's right hand, to give repentance and remission of sins, and so to be both a Prince and a Saviour,” (Henry)
“And Jesus knowing their thoughts said,Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,(then saith he to the sick of the palsy,)Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” (vs. 4-6)
“How he proves it, by his power in the kingdom of nature; his power to cure diseases. Is it not as easy to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee, as to say, Arise and walk? He that can cure the disease, whether declaratively as a Prophet, or authoritatively as God, can, in like manner, forgive the sin. Now, This is a general argument to prove that Christ had a divine mission. His miracles, especially his miraculous cures, confirm what he said of himself, that he was the Son of God; the power that appeared in his cures proved him sent of God; and the pity that appeared in them proved him sent of God to heal and save. The God of truth would not set his seal to a lie.” (Ibid)
“And Jesus knowing their thoughtsWherefore think ye evil in your hearts?” This alone should have told them they where in the presence of someone with great power and authority.
“For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?” “Both healing and forgiveness are impossible with man. Yet only the promise of healing could be immediately proven, because though you can’t see someone’s sin being forgiven, you can see that they are healed.” (Guzik)
“This appears to have been founded on Psalm 103:3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, and healeth all thy diseases. Here pardon precedes health.” (Clarke)
“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins” Regarding which is easier to say, “Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk” Jesus answered His own question before the religious leaders did. Since He could make good on His claim to heal the man, it gave proof of His claim to also have the authority to forgive sins.If he had the Godly power to heal, then logically he must also have the power to forgive sins.
“And he arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.” (vs. 7-8) At the man’s healing, the crowd properly gave God the glory for this miracle. Jesus obviously did not draw attention to Himself by the manner in which the healing was done.
At the beginning of this study, we mentioned how the men of Gadarene, were upset that Jesus had exorcised the demons and those entities drove the herd of swine mad and they ran into the sea. These men seemed obvious to the fact that Jesus had cured the possessed men, something an ordinary man could not do. Likewise the scribes of Capernium were oblivious to the many healings Jesus had done, acts that only God could do, and they chose to focus on Jesus having pronounced the sick man’s sins forgiven. However while the men of Gadarene and the scribes of Capernium ignored the divinity of Jesus, we see the people in awe and worshiping God, for having sent his own into their midst.
In the beginning of his Gospel John makes the case in an eloquent and poetic prose that Jesus was with God from the beginning of time, a part of God. Here we see Matthew attempting to make the same argument by illustrating how Jesus demonstrated his divinity and authority by healing and forgiving sins; again obvious acts that only God could authorize.
“ Note, All our wonder should help to enlarge our hearts in glorifying God, who alone does marvellous things. They glorified God for what he had done for this poor man. Others' mercies should be our praises, and we should give him thanks for them, for we are members one of another. God must be glorified in all the power that is given to men to do good.” (Henry)Benediction
Everliving God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Thought for the Day:
Prayer is the risen Jesus coming in with His resurrection power, given free rein in our lives, and then using His authority to enter any situation and change things.

• Ole Hallesby

The Collect
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Readings:
Psalm 105:1–22 Zechariah 4
Gospel: Matthew 9:1–8
1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy;Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said,Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,(then saith he to the sick of the palsy,)Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7 And he arose, and departed to his house.
8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
Commentary:
“And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.” (v. 1) Here in these verses, we find a strange if not ironic comparison. On the one side we have those that find his miracles awe inspiring, or as we find in verse 8 where Matthew states in reference to the multitude following and who had witnessed Jesus’ miracles: “theymarvelled, and glorified God.” And on the other hand we see those who hate Jesus, because he dares to upset the status quo that they so coveted.
At the end of the previous chapter, Matthew tells us of his version of Jesus exorcising demons from two men (other Gospels only mention one) on the coast of the Sea of Galilee nearGadarene.As you recall fromother studies, Jesus cast out the demons, who then fled from him, entering into a herd of swine, causing the pigs to run into the sea and drown. The citizens ofGadarenes—upset at the loss of theirswine—asked Jesus to leave. Which brings us toour first verse for today inwhichMatthewtells usJesusagain crossed over the Sea tohis own city,Capernaum;where:
“And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy;Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.” (v. 2-3)
“they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed” Other Gospels explain how the man was brought to Jesus. Because of the crowds, his friends lowered him down to Jesus througha hole inthe roof.
“Jesus’ miracles were not primarily calculated for crowd effect. Instead they were primarily done to minister to the humble needs of humble people. For the most part, most Jewish people of that time would have preferred much more spectacular signs – like calling down fire from heaven upon a Roman Legion.” (Guzik)
“and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy” Jesus was impressed by the faith of the friends of this man. The phrase: “seeing their faith” demonstrates that their faith was so great that they carried this man through the crowds to bring him before Jesus. Again in the other Gospels, (Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26) we find that their faith was so great, that their belief that Jesus could heal their friend was so strong that when they could not press through the multitude gathered outside, they carried him up onto the roof of the house in which Jesus was in at the time, they tore a hole in the roof and lowered the man down into the midst of the gathering who had come to hear Jesus speak.
We also can assume that the paralyzed man himself had little faith; as Matthew emphasizes “seeing their faith” in that Jesus noted the faith of his friends, not the man with palsy. Therefore it appears that Jesus wanted to encourage this man’s faith by His next words.
“Son, be of good cheer” “With swift sure diagnosis Jesus sees in the man not faith but deep depression…and uttering first a kindly hope-inspiring word, such as a physician might address to a patient: cheer up, child!” (Bruce)
“thy sins be forgiven thee.” “The faith of the paralyzed man’s friends did something – they brought this man to Jesus. Yet they only thought of bringing him to Jesus for the healing of his body. They certainly didn’t think that Jesus would forgive His sins.” (Guzik)
We need not infer that the man was paralyzed as the direct result of some sin that needed forgiving. This did not seem to be Jesus’ point in saying, “your sins are forgiven you.”
Matthew Poole saw six reasons why Jesus dealt with the man’s sin first. To paraphrase Poole’s reasons why the sin was dealt with first:

1. Because sin is the root from which all our evils come.
2. To show that forgiveness is more important than bodily healing.
3. To show that the most important thing Jesus came to do was to deal with sin.
4. To show that when a man’s sins are forgiven, he becomes a son of God.
5. To show that the response to faith is the forgiveness of sin.
6. To begin an important conversation with the scribes and Pharisees.

Those in the crowd who felt they were the keepers of the Law, took offense at Jesus—someone many of them knew had resided in their city for some time—and to them what they perceived as Jesus taking upon himself, an authority reserved for God.
“And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.” (v. 3)
“They said within themselves, in their hearts, among themselves, in their secret whisperings, This man blasphemeth. See how the greatest instance of heaven's power and grace is branded with the blackest note of hell's enmity; Christ's pardoning sin is termed blasphemy; nor had it been less, if he had not had commission from God for it. They, therefore, are guilty of blasphemy, that have no such commission, and yet pretend to pardon sin.” (Henry)
“certain of the scribes” Not all but a select few; “said within themselves” They didn’t have the courage to speak aloud their treasonous thoughts, which exposedtheir irrational belief that Jesus is but a man, one of their own,Jesushaving spent an indeterminate period of time in Capernaumbefore beginning his ministry.
In John chapter three, verse 2, Nicodemus the Pharisee came under cover of night so that his peers would not see him conversing with Jesus, and he said, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. ”Itshould have been evident, that no mortal man could do the miraculous healings that Jesus did, unless he be sent by God.Nicodemus and presumably others were not so blind that they could not see that Jesus had authority given to him by God, but yet these scribes in Capernaum chose to ignore the obvious and focus on what they perceived to be an infraction of the Law.
While the friends of the sick man had a great deal of faith, enough to touch the heart of Jesus, the scribes had no faith, and could not see something as obvious as Jesus having authority given him by God to heal and to forgive sins. No, they had to be showed the divinity of Christ.
“ He undertakes to make out, that the Son of man, the Mediator, has power on earth to forgive sins; for therefore the Father has committed all judgment to the Son, and has given him this authority, because he is the Son of man, Jn. 5:22, 27. If he has power to give eternal life, as he certainly has (Jn. 17:2), he must have power to forgive sin; for guilt is a bar that must be removed, or we can never get to heaven. What an encouragement is this to poor sinners to repent, that the power of pardoning sin is put into the hands of the Son of man, who is bone of our bone! And if he had this power on earth, much more now that he is exalted to the Father's right hand, to give repentance and remission of sins, and so to be both a Prince and a Saviour,” (Henry)
“And Jesus knowing their thoughts said,Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,(then saith he to the sick of the palsy,)Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” (vs. 4-6)
“How he proves it, by his power in the kingdom of nature; his power to cure diseases. Is it not as easy to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee, as to say, Arise and walk? He that can cure the disease, whether declaratively as a Prophet, or authoritatively as God, can, in like manner, forgive the sin. Now, This is a general argument to prove that Christ had a divine mission. His miracles, especially his miraculous cures, confirm what he said of himself, that he was the Son of God; the power that appeared in his cures proved him sent of God; and the pity that appeared in them proved him sent of God to heal and save. The God of truth would not set his seal to a lie.” (Ibid)
“And Jesus knowing their thoughtsWherefore think ye evil in your hearts?” This alone should have told them they where in the presence of someone with great power and authority.
“For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?” “Both healing and forgiveness are impossible with man. Yet only the promise of healing could be immediately proven, because though you can’t see someone’s sin being forgiven, you can see that they are healed.” (Guzik)
“This appears to have been founded on Psalm 103:3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, and healeth all thy diseases. Here pardon precedes health.” (Clarke)
“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins” Regarding which is easier to say, “Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk” Jesus answered His own question before the religious leaders did. Since He could make good on His claim to heal the man, it gave proof of His claim to also have the authority to forgive sins.If he had the Godly power to heal, then logically he must also have the power to forgive sins.
“And he arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.” (vs. 7-8) At the man’s healing, the crowd properly gave God the glory for this miracle. Jesus obviously did not draw attention to Himself by the manner in which the healing was done.
At the beginning of this study, we mentioned how the men of Gadarene, were upset that Jesus had exorcised the demons and those entities drove the herd of swine mad and they ran into the sea. These men seemed obvious to the fact that Jesus had cured the possessed men, something an ordinary man could not do. Likewise the scribes of Capernium were oblivious to the many healings Jesus had done, acts that only God could do, and they chose to focus on Jesus having pronounced the sick man’s sins forgiven. However while the men of Gadarene and the scribes of Capernium ignored the divinity of Jesus, we see the people in awe and worshiping God, for having sent his own into their midst.
In the beginning of his Gospel John makes the case in an eloquent and poetic prose that Jesus was with God from the beginning of time, a part of God. Here we see Matthew attempting to make the same argument by illustrating how Jesus demonstrated his divinity and authority by healing and forgiving sins; again obvious acts that only God could authorize.
“ Note, All our wonder should help to enlarge our hearts in glorifying God, who alone does marvellous things. They glorified God for what he had done for this poor man. Others' mercies should be our praises, and we should give him thanks for them, for we are members one of another. God must be glorified in all the power that is given to men to do good.” (Henry)Benediction
Everliving God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Thought for the Day:
Prayer is the risen Jesus coming in with His resurrection power, given free rein in our lives, and then using His authority to enter any situation and change things.

• Ole Hallesby

The Collect
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Readings:
Psalm 105:1–22 Zechariah 4
Gospel: Matthew 9:1–8
1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy;Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said,Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,(then saith he to the sick of the palsy,)Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7 And he arose, and departed to his house.
8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
Commentary:
“And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.” (v. 1) Here in these verses, we find a strange if not ironic comparison. On the one side we have those that find his miracles awe inspiring, or as we find in verse 8 where Matthew states in reference to the multitude following and who had witnessed Jesus’ miracles: “theymarvelled, and glorified God.” And on the other hand we see those who hate Jesus, because he dares to upset the status quo that they so coveted.
At the end of the previous chapter, Matthew tells us of his version of Jesus exorcising demons from two men (other Gospels only mention one) on the coast of the Sea of Galilee nearGadarene.As you recall fromother studies, Jesus cast out the demons, who then fled from him, entering into a herd of swine, causing the pigs to run into the sea and drown. The citizens ofGadarenes—upset at the loss of theirswine—asked Jesus to leave. Which brings us toour first verse for today inwhichMatthewtells usJesusagain crossed over the Sea tohis own city,Capernaum;where:
“And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy;Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.” (v. 2-3)
“they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed” Other Gospels explain how the man was brought to Jesus. Because of the crowds, his friends lowered him down to Jesus througha hole inthe roof.
“Jesus’ miracles were not primarily calculated for crowd effect. Instead they were primarily done to minister to the humble needs of humble people. For the most part, most Jewish people of that time would have preferred much more spectacular signs – like calling down fire from heaven upon a Roman Legion.” (Guzik)
“and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy” Jesus was impressed by the faith of the friends of this man. The phrase: “seeing their faith” demonstrates that their faith was so great that they carried this man through the crowds to bring him before Jesus. Again in the other Gospels, (Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26) we find that their faith was so great, that their belief that Jesus could heal their friend was so strong that when they could not press through the multitude gathered outside, they carried him up onto the roof of the house in which Jesus was in at the time, they tore a hole in the roof and lowered the man down into the midst of the gathering who had come to hear Jesus speak.
We also can assume that the paralyzed man himself had little faith; as Matthew emphasizes “seeing their faith” in that Jesus noted the faith of his friends, not the man with palsy. Therefore it appears that Jesus wanted to encourage this man’s faith by His next words.
“Son, be of good cheer” “With swift sure diagnosis Jesus sees in the man not faith but deep depression…and uttering first a kindly hope-inspiring word, such as a physician might address to a patient: cheer up, child!” (Bruce)
“thy sins be forgiven thee.” “The faith of the paralyzed man’s friends did something – they brought this man to Jesus. Yet they only thought of bringing him to Jesus for the healing of his body. They certainly didn’t think that Jesus would forgive His sins.” (Guzik)
We need not infer that the man was paralyzed as the direct result of some sin that needed forgiving. This did not seem to be Jesus’ point in saying, “your sins are forgiven you.”
Matthew Poole saw six reasons why Jesus dealt with the man’s sin first. To paraphrase Poole’s reasons why the sin was dealt with first:

1. Because sin is the root from which all our evils come.
2. To show that forgiveness is more important than bodily healing.
3. To show that the most important thing Jesus came to do was to deal with sin.
4. To show that when a man’s sins are forgiven, he becomes a son of God.
5. To show that the response to faith is the forgiveness of sin.
6. To begin an important conversation with the scribes and Pharisees.

Those in the crowd who felt they were the keepers of the Law, took offense at Jesus—someone many of them knew had resided in their city for some time—and to them what they perceived as Jesus taking upon himself, an authority reserved for God.
“And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.” (v. 3)
“They said within themselves, in their hearts, among themselves, in their secret whisperings, This man blasphemeth. See how the greatest instance of heaven's power and grace is branded with the blackest note of hell's enmity; Christ's pardoning sin is termed blasphemy; nor had it been less, if he had not had commission from God for it. They, therefore, are guilty of blasphemy, that have no such commission, and yet pretend to pardon sin.” (Henry)
“certain of the scribes” Not all but a select few; “said within themselves” They didn’t have the courage to speak aloud their treasonous thoughts, which exposedtheir irrational belief that Jesus is but a man, one of their own,Jesushaving spent an indeterminate period of time in Capernaumbefore beginning his ministry.
In John chapter three, verse 2, Nicodemus the Pharisee came under cover of night so that his peers would not see him conversing with Jesus, and he said, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. ”Itshould have been evident, that no mortal man could do the miraculous healings that Jesus did, unless he be sent by God.Nicodemus and presumably others were not so blind that they could not see that Jesus had authority given to him by God, but yet these scribes in Capernaum chose to ignore the obvious and focus on what they perceived to be an infraction of the Law.
While the friends of the sick man had a great deal of faith, enough to touch the heart of Jesus, the scribes had no faith, and could not see something as obvious as Jesus having authority given him by God to heal and to forgive sins. No, they had to be showed the divinity of Christ.
“ He undertakes to make out, that the Son of man, the Mediator, has power on earth to forgive sins; for therefore the Father has committed all judgment to the Son, and has given him this authority, because he is the Son of man, Jn. 5:22, 27. If he has power to give eternal life, as he certainly has (Jn. 17:2), he must have power to forgive sin; for guilt is a bar that must be removed, or we can never get to heaven. What an encouragement is this to poor sinners to repent, that the power of pardoning sin is put into the hands of the Son of man, who is bone of our bone! And if he had this power on earth, much more now that he is exalted to the Father's right hand, to give repentance and remission of sins, and so to be both a Prince and a Saviour,” (Henry)
“And Jesus knowing their thoughts said,Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,(then saith he to the sick of the palsy,)Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” (vs. 4-6)
“How he proves it, by his power in the kingdom of nature; his power to cure diseases. Is it not as easy to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee, as to say, Arise and walk? He that can cure the disease, whether declaratively as a Prophet, or authoritatively as God, can, in like manner, forgive the sin. Now, This is a general argument to prove that Christ had a divine mission. His miracles, especially his miraculous cures, confirm what he said of himself, that he was the Son of God; the power that appeared in his cures proved him sent of God; and the pity that appeared in them proved him sent of God to heal and save. The God of truth would not set his seal to a lie.” (Ibid)
“And Jesus knowing their thoughtsWherefore think ye evil in your hearts?” This alone should have told them they where in the presence of someone with great power and authority.
“For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?” “Both healing and forgiveness are impossible with man. Yet only the promise of healing could be immediately proven, because though you can’t see someone’s sin being forgiven, you can see that they are healed.” (Guzik)
“This appears to have been founded on Psalm 103:3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, and healeth all thy diseases. Here pardon precedes health.” (Clarke)
“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins” Regarding which is easier to say, “Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk” Jesus answered His own question before the religious leaders did. Since He could make good on His claim to heal the man, it gave proof of His claim to also have the authority to forgive sins.If he had the Godly power to heal, then logically he must also have the power to forgive sins.
“And he arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.” (vs. 7-8) At the man’s healing, the crowd properly gave God the glory for this miracle. Jesus obviously did not draw attention to Himself by the manner in which the healing was done.
At the beginning of this study, we mentioned how the men of Gadarene, were upset that Jesus had exorcised the demons and those entities drove the herd of swine mad and they ran into the sea. These men seemed obvious to the fact that Jesus had cured the possessed men, something an ordinary man could not do. Likewise the scribes of Capernium were oblivious to the many healings Jesus had done, acts that only God could do, and they chose to focus on Jesus having pronounced the sick man’s sins forgiven. However while the men of Gadarene and the scribes of Capernium ignored the divinity of Jesus, we see the people in awe and worshiping God, for having sent his own into their midst.
In the beginning of his Gospel John makes the case in an eloquent and poetic prose that Jesus was with God from the beginning of time, a part of God. Here we see Matthew attempting to make the same argument by illustrating how Jesus demonstrated his divinity and authority by healing and forgiving sins; again obvious acts that only God could authorize.
“ Note, All our wonder should help to enlarge our hearts in glorifying God, who alone does marvellous things. They glorified God for what he had done for this poor man. Others' mercies should be our praises, and we should give him thanks for them, for we are members one of another. God must be glorified in all the power that is given to men to do good.” (Henry)Benediction
Everliving God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Thought for the Day:
Prayer is the risen Jesus coming in with His resurrection power, given free rein in our lives, and then using His authority to enter any situation and change things.

• Ole Hallesby

The Collect
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Readings:
Psalm 105:1–22 Zechariah 4
Gospel: Matthew 9:1–8
1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy;Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said,Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,(then saith he to the sick of the palsy,)Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7 And he arose, and departed to his house.
8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
Commentary:
“And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.” (v. 1) Here in these verses, we find a strange if not ironic comparison. On the one side we have those that find his miracles awe inspiring, or as we find in verse 8 where Matthew states in reference to the multitude following and who had witnessed Jesus’ miracles: “theymarvelled, and glorified God.” And on the other hand we see those who hate Jesus, because he dares to upset the status quo that they so coveted.
At the end of the previous chapter, Matthew tells us of his version of Jesus exorcising demons from two men (other Gospels only mention one) on the coast of the Sea of Galilee nearGadarene.As you recall fromother studies, Jesus cast out the demons, who then fled from him, entering into a herd of swine, causing the pigs to run into the sea and drown. The citizens ofGadarenes—upset at the loss of theirswine—asked Jesus to leave. Which brings us toour first verse for today inwhichMatthewtells usJesusagain crossed over the Sea tohis own city,Capernaum;where:
“And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy;Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.” (v. 2-3)
“they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed” Other Gospels explain how the man was brought to Jesus. Because of the crowds, his friends lowered him down to Jesus througha hole inthe roof.
“Jesus’ miracles were not primarily calculated for crowd effect. Instead they were primarily done to minister to the humble needs of humble people. For the most part, most Jewish people of that time would have preferred much more spectacular signs – like calling down fire from heaven upon a Roman Legion.” (Guzik)
“and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy” Jesus was impressed by the faith of the friends of this man. The phrase: “seeing their faith” demonstrates that their faith was so great that they carried this man through the crowds to bring him before Jesus. Again in the other Gospels, (Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26) we find that their faith was so great, that their belief that Jesus could heal their friend was so strong that when they could not press through the multitude gathered outside, they carried him up onto the roof of the house in which Jesus was in at the time, they tore a hole in the roof and lowered the man down into the midst of the gathering who had come to hear Jesus speak.
We also can assume that the paralyzed man himself had little faith; as Matthew emphasizes “seeing their faith” in that Jesus noted the faith of his friends, not the man with palsy. Therefore it appears that Jesus wanted to encourage this man’s faith by His next words.
“Son, be of good cheer” “With swift sure diagnosis Jesus sees in the man not faith but deep depression…and uttering first a kindly hope-inspiring word, such as a physician might address to a patient: cheer up, child!” (Bruce)
“thy sins be forgiven thee.” “The faith of the paralyzed man’s friends did something – they brought this man to Jesus. Yet they only thought of bringing him to Jesus for the healing of his body. They certainly didn’t think that Jesus would forgive His sins.” (Guzik)
We need not infer that the man was paralyzed as the direct result of some sin that needed forgiving. This did not seem to be Jesus’ point in saying, “your sins are forgiven you.”
Matthew Poole saw six reasons why Jesus dealt with the man’s sin first. To paraphrase Poole’s reasons why the sin was dealt with first:

1. Because sin is the root from which all our evils come.
2. To show that forgiveness is more important than bodily healing.
3. To show that the most important thing Jesus came to do was to deal with sin.
4. To show that when a man’s sins are forgiven, he becomes a son of God.
5. To show that the response to faith is the forgiveness of sin.
6. To begin an important conversation with the scribes and Pharisees.

Those in the crowd who felt they were the keepers of the Law, took offense at Jesus—someone many of them knew had resided in their city for some time—and to them what they perceived as Jesus taking upon himself, an authority reserved for God.
“And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.” (v. 3)
“They said within themselves, in their hearts, among themselves, in their secret whisperings, This man blasphemeth. See how the greatest instance of heaven's power and grace is branded with the blackest note of hell's enmity; Christ's pardoning sin is termed blasphemy; nor had it been less, if he had not had commission from God for it. They, therefore, are guilty of blasphemy, that have no such commission, and yet pretend to pardon sin.” (Henry)
“certain of the scribes” Not all but a select few; “said within themselves” They didn’t have the courage to speak aloud their treasonous thoughts, which exposedtheir irrational belief that Jesus is but a man, one of their own,Jesushaving spent an indeterminate period of time in Capernaumbefore beginning his ministry.
In John chapter three, verse 2, Nicodemus the Pharisee came under cover of night so that his peers would not see him conversing with Jesus, and he said, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. ”Itshould have been evident, that no mortal man could do the miraculous healings that Jesus did, unless he be sent by God.Nicodemus and presumably others were not so blind that they could not see that Jesus had authority given to him by God, but yet these scribes in Capernaum chose to ignore the obvious and focus on what they perceived to be an infraction of the Law.
While the friends of the sick man had a great deal of faith, enough to touch the heart of Jesus, the scribes had no faith, and could not see something as obvious as Jesus having authority given him by God to heal and to forgive sins. No, they had to be showed the divinity of Christ.
“ He undertakes to make out, that the Son of man, the Mediator, has power on earth to forgive sins; for therefore the Father has committed all judgment to the Son, and has given him this authority, because he is the Son of man, Jn. 5:22, 27. If he has power to give eternal life, as he certainly has (Jn. 17:2), he must have power to forgive sin; for guilt is a bar that must be removed, or we can never get to heaven. What an encouragement is this to poor sinners to repent, that the power of pardoning sin is put into the hands of the Son of man, who is bone of our bone! And if he had this power on earth, much more now that he is exalted to the Father's right hand, to give repentance and remission of sins, and so to be both a Prince and a Saviour,” (Henry)
“And Jesus knowing their thoughts said,Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,(then saith he to the sick of the palsy,)Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” (vs. 4-6)
“How he proves it, by his power in the kingdom of nature; his power to cure diseases. Is it not as easy to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee, as to say, Arise and walk? He that can cure the disease, whether declaratively as a Prophet, or authoritatively as God, can, in like manner, forgive the sin. Now, This is a general argument to prove that Christ had a divine mission. His miracles, especially his miraculous cures, confirm what he said of himself, that he was the Son of God; the power that appeared in his cures proved him sent of God; and the pity that appeared in them proved him sent of God to heal and save. The God of truth would not set his seal to a lie.” (Ibid)
“And Jesus knowing their thoughtsWherefore think ye evil in your hearts?” This alone should have told them they where in the presence of someone with great power and authority.
“For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?” “Both healing and forgiveness are impossible with man. Yet only the promise of healing could be immediately proven, because though you can’t see someone’s sin being forgiven, you can see that they are healed.” (Guzik)
“This appears to have been founded on Psalm 103:3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, and healeth all thy diseases. Here pardon precedes health.” (Clarke)
“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins” Regarding which is easier to say, “Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk” Jesus answered His own question before the religious leaders did. Since He could make good on His claim to heal the man, it gave proof of His claim to also have the authority to forgive sins.If he had the Godly power to heal, then logically he must also have the power to forgive sins.
“And he arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.” (vs. 7-8) At the man’s healing, the crowd properly gave God the glory for this miracle. Jesus obviously did not draw attention to Himself by the manner in which the healing was done.
At the beginning of this study, we mentioned how the men of Gadarene, were upset that Jesus had exorcised the demons and those entities drove the herd of swine mad and they ran into the sea. These men seemed obvious to the fact that Jesus had cured the possessed men, something an ordinary man could not do. Likewise the scribes of Capernium were oblivious to the many healings Jesus had done, acts that only God could do, and they chose to focus on Jesus having pronounced the sick man’s sins forgiven. However while the men of Gadarene and the scribes of Capernium ignored the divinity of Jesus, we see the people in awe and worshiping God, for having sent his own into their midst.
In the beginning of his Gospel John makes the case in an eloquent and poetic prose that Jesus was with God from the beginning of time, a part of God. Here we see Matthew attempting to make the same argument by illustrating how Jesus demonstrated his divinity and authority by healing and forgiving sins; again obvious acts that only God could authorize.
“ Note, All our wonder should help to enlarge our hearts in glorifying God, who alone does marvellous things. They glorified God for what he had done for this poor man. Others' mercies should be our praises, and we should give him thanks for them, for we are members one of another. God must be glorified in all the power that is given to men to do good.” (Henry)Benediction
Everliving God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Thought for the Day:
Prayer is the risen Jesus coming in with His resurrection power, given free rein in our lives, and then using His authority to enter any situation and change things.

• Ole Hallesby

Going through and slimming some of my stuff down.
Prices do not include shipping. Bundles can net discounts.
Accepting payment with Paypal F&F
Everything is first come, first serve. No holds on items. Once I receive payment the item is yours. Thank you!
All games are authentic and working, can provide more pictures if requested.
Panzer 4 Fight Stick from Jasen's Customs with extras - $450+shipping

• Graphite shell
• Vewlix layout
• Brook UFB Fusion, PS5 version
• Printed plexi x2, clear plexi, matte black plexi and plexi frame
• Sanwa buttons and JLF stick w/ Otto v5 upgrade and black aluminum shaft
• Braided USB cable
• Foam sllip mat on bottom
• Fully assembled and ready!

PICTURES: https://imgur.com/a/JBVBa51
More Pictures: https://imgur.com/a/ebDBh6M
* Arcade PCB (Jamma): CPS1 1941 Counter Attack conversion in custom case $450 or $300 PCB's only * Arcade PCB(Jamma): Raiden Fighters for Seibu SPI (no mb) $150
[PS1: CIB](https://imgur.com/a/XZSDM1J)
* Qix Neo BL $13
Boxy Pixel Unhinged GBA SP red/black - $350

• Anodized aluminum shell and buttons
• IPS screen
• Rechargeable battery

Gameboy Macro Black: $45 * helders flex amp * aftermarket shell/buttons
SNES: Loose * NHL 97 $10
NES: Loose * Platoon $7 * Gauntlet (Tengen) $9 * Super Mario Bros/ Duck Hunt $6
GB: loose * Bo Jackson $8 * NFL Football $2
GBC: loose * Driver $9 * Quest for Camelot $5 * Powerpuff Girls Battle Him $8 * Toy Story 2 $6
GBA Video: loose * GBA Video All Grown Up Volume 1 $6
GBA: loose * Backyard Baseball $6 * Backyard Sports Baseball 2007 $5 * Cabelas Big Game Hunter $5 * Cruis'n Velocity $10 * Danny Phantom The Ultimate Enemy $6 * Disney Princess $5 * Dora the Explorer Pirate Pigs Treasure $3 * Dora's World Adventure $3 * Duel Masters Kaijudo Showdown $10 * Finding Nemo the Continuing Adventures $7 * F-14 Tomcat $3 * Ford Racing 3 $5 * Froggers Adventures Temple of Frog $3 * Harry Potter Chamber of Secrets $8 * Hot Wheels All Out (no label) $4 * Iridion 3-D $5 * Lego Bionicle $6 * Monster Truck Madness $7 * Midnight Club $5 * Midways Greatest Arcade Hits $7 * Namco Museum $7 * Nicktoons Freeze Frame Frenzy $6 * Pac-Man: Classic NES Series $10 * Pac-Man Collection $5 * Peter Pan Return to Neverland $7 * Phalanx $20 * Power Rangers Wild Force (no label) $5 * Shark Tale/Shrek 2 2in1 $10 * Shrek Hassle at the Castle $5 * Spy Muppets License to Croak $6 * Spy Kids Challenger $6 * Spyhunter $10 * Tetris Worlds $11 * Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 (label damage) $4 * Tony Hawk's Underground 2 $5 * Trollz Hair Affair $3 * Wild Thornberrys Movie $5
Take all GBA/GB/GBC games for $200 shipped
GBA JP:Loose * JP Dragon Ball Z $10
[GBA Repro Cases:](https://imgur.com/a/eikzOdZ) * Castlevania Aria of Sorrow * Castlevania Harmony of Dissonance * Castlevania Double Pack x2 * Castlevania NES Series * Castlevania Circle of the Moon x2 * Metroid Fusion * Metroid Zero Mission -$10 each or bundle for better price
GameGear: Loose * Sonic the Hedgehog & Sonic the Hedgehog 2 $15
DS:

• My Sims Kingdom(loose) $5

PS2 - Cold Fear (no manual) - $40
XBox 360: * Gears of War 1,2,3, Judgement $20 * Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe $10
If you see something you like, let me know. I'm sure we can strike a deal!

In this original crossover story I have combined the worlds of Mario and Master Detective Archives as one to bring you an action packed story about Halara Nightmare exposing the secrets of Evershade Valley from Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon.
Synopsis: It has been approximately 2 years after the events of Master Detective Archives: Rain Code and Halara gets a Commission to solve the strange mysteries of Evershade Valley in the Mushroom Kingdom by a voice over the phone saying they would also pay for it with over double what Halara needs to open her Cat Shelter, an offer she cannot reject so she gets right to it. But what starts as a rather common case of ghosts inhabiting mansions turns out to be a very interesting case relating to Boos and even the Unified Government themselves.
This is just a preview taste of what this has to offer. but there will be a lot in the final version.
In The Evershade Valley Halara and Yuma come across an Original Detective Agency known as the Orion Detective Agency(based off a major location in the Danganronpa: Kirigiri novels) which used to be ran by toads but the toads are mysteriously absent(Perhaps a certain ghost got to them?). The Detective Toads that used to live here made Pixelators and other devices used for Managing crimes that are done by Ghosts such as the Strobulbs and Dark light devices.
Halara will beat these ghosts to a Spectral Pulp