I have diagnosed (and mostly "pure") OCD. In the past, while using altnoid cannabis I experienced thinking so abstract that I found it hard to cope with. I have come to realize recently that this is not at all healthy or normal.
I have many of the listed risk factors: cannabis use in adolescence, consumption of amphetamine (and twice low doses of acid), some childhood adversity, birth in late winter, and an early father.
My thinking is increasingly bizarre. Or at least *feels* that way. I am careful to rigorously apply critical thinking and dialectical skills to my thoughts, but still feel that I'm thinking in an increasingly abstract way. Nobody has remarked that anything I've said recently sounds "insane" -- but I think that my friends generally see me as an odd bird, anyway. Some thoughts that I have are so abstract that they feel impossible to articulate, as if I'm perceiving noumena.
I have been doing well most of the past two weeks. I feel that applying CBT and DBT principles within my self-reflection has been enormously helpful. However, I increasingly experience a powerful compulsion to refine my logic and general thinking to near-perfection. Critical thinking is excellent, but I'm becoming far, far too critical. I fear that if I engage in too many fallacies, or buy into the wrong ideas I risk being worse off and even bringing harm to myself and others.
It's actually incredible to me. Every seemingly-intuitively-harmful thought that I handwave with dialectics is succeeded by a more complex, more elusive and difficult to disprove thought. The more lucid I am, the better my cognitive functioning becomes, the more advanced my OCD becomes as well -- since it lives inside of me. I feel like I'm playing on an expert difficulty and that nobody can sympathize with me. It reminds me of the Veil from the Doctor Who episode Heaven Sent
I would love to provide better, more specific examples of the more "difficult" thoughts that I'm having, but they morph extremely fast and are difficult to pin down long enough to articulate.
I feel an intense fear about presenting as insincere.
I feel an intense fear that my actions are motivated by malice that I'm unconscious of.
I don't know how to cope with the fact that some aspects of my unconscious psyche could be quasi-noumenal and totally unknowable while still informing my behaviors.
Would it be helpful to be intentionally insincere to prove to myself that nothing bad will happen?
It feels like the capacity for analysis that I've always been proud of having has been unexpectedly turned against me. I am struggling and uncertain of everything.

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When the sun had finally fully set, Pale put her plan into motion. She took one last glance out at the checkpoint ahead of them, then turned to Kayla.
"Lie down on the ground and cover your ears."
"What?" Kayla asked. "What does that mean? What are you planning to do?"
"You'll see. Just do it."
Kayla pursed her lips, but didn't argue, instead following Pale's directions to the letter. Once she was situated, Pale turned her attention back to the checkpoint. She'd done some thinking about this, and ultimately decided that the most efficient and least destructive way to get through would be to sacrifice a pod. This was a bit of a problem, as she only had a few pods to begin with, but it was better than using heavy ordinance in order to punch a hole clean through.
"You ready?" Pale asked.
"What?" Kayla said, looking to her in confusion with her hands still clamped over her ears. "What'd you just say?"
Pale took that as her cue to act. She snapped her fingers, and a few seconds later, a flaming piece of metal came hurtling down from the sky, embedding itself directly in the center of the berserkers' checkpoint. From inside, she heard panicked shouts escape from the occupants, as well as a few pained moans; clearly, the impact had incapacitated a few of them.
Then the pod exploded.
The log walls to the checkpoint buckled under the shockwave, rolling across the ground before coming to a rest a short ways away. Through the ringing in her ears, Pale heard the men from inside the fort screaming in terror and agony. Several spells were being launched blindly in the night, their casters unable to hit anything thanks to being disoriented from the blast and blinded from the resulting cloud of smoke and dust.
Pale grabbed Kayla and thrust her to her feet, then charged in towards the camp, shotgun in hand. The smoke had begun to clear just as she got there, revealing the full extent of the destruction. Mutilated bodies lay littered across the field, scattered around a large crater dug deeply into the center of the area. From the looks of things, most of the bandits had been killed outright by either the impact of the pod or the explosion, and the few survivors had been completely deafened by it and were riddled with injuries. Many of them looked like they could barely stand, and several were only being kept alive thanks to that same red magical aura from earlier.
Pale didn't waste any time. She shouldered her weapon, then took aim at the nearest bandit and fired, reducing his head to little more than a fine pink mist. Pumping her shotgun, she transitioned to her next target, putting him down just as easily. Next to her, Kayla opened up with some of her lightning, sending streaks of it arcing through the night and towards the nearest survivor.
That seemed to be too much for the few who were still left. Rather than stand and fight, they turned and tried to run away, sprinting off into the night. Kayla immediately stopped engaging; Pale, meanwhile, took aim and continued to fire until her weapon ran dry, riddling each fleeing man with a shell full of buckshot straight to the back.
And just like that, it was over. A heavy silence fell over the camp, the only noise that interrupted it being the nearby waves lapping at the shore. Pale began to thumb loose shells into her weapon, then motioned for Kayla to follow after her.
"Come on," she urged. "I think I see some boats over on the shoreline."
Kayla tore her gaze away from the carnage around them, looking back to her. Pale half-expected her to say something about how she'd just shot fleeing men, but Kayla stayed silent, instead simply nodding, stone-faced. Together, they made their way over to the shore, and sure enough, there were several boats lined up on the sand.
"Do you know how to work one of these things?" Kayla asked. "I've never been on one before…"
"We'll figure it out," Pale said. "Take that small one, it looks like it has room for three people."
Kayla looked at her, surprised. "Only three? What about the others?"
"If there are any others, they'll have to fend for themselves."
"We can't just leave freed slaves there!"
"And we won't," Pale assured her. "Slavery is a taboo even among my creators, and they made sure to pass their hatred of it on to me as well, but our first priority is getting your father back safely. Once we've done that, we can start going back for others. And as much as a large boat would help us with that right now, it's simply not feasible with just the two of us here to operate it. Understand?"
Reluctantly, Kayla nodded. "...I suppose so. Alright, let's go get him."
–
As it turned out, the northern isles weren't too far from their current location – as dawn broke, Pale realized they were actually visible in the distance through the steady morning mist that had descended upon their boat.
Unfortunately, the boat they'd commandeered was little more than a small sailboat with some oars attached in case the wind was unfavorable, which it had been since they'd first stepped into the water. For the past few hours, her and Kayla had been forced to row, even through the night. Only now, as the sun began to rise, did the wind shift and start to blow from behind them, allowing them both to rest for a time.
It was still going despite that, however. Logic dictated that they ought to have taken turns sleeping or otherwise resting up during this time, but somehow, Pale couldn't bring herself to do it, and neither could Kayla.
"Nervous?" Kayla asked.
Pale shrugged. "Eager, more like. This entire quest has taken the better part of a week, by my estimation. In that time, I have killed several people, nearly been killed myself multiple times, and have apparently been inducted into someone's family, whatever that means. Frankly, I am ready for this to be over so I can resume finding a way back to my home system."
Kayla hesitated for a moment. "About that… what made you think I was able to assist in the first place? I-I mean… not that I'm ungrateful for your help or anything, quite the opposite, but… I'm so… normal. I don't know anything about space travel, and hells, I barely know anything about the world outside my small little village. And yet, you seemed to think I was capable of helping you when we first met. Why was that?"
Pale shrugged. "I ascertained that this was uncharted territory for anyone from my system pretty much the moment I arrived here. From that point on, I knew I was going to need someone who could not only lead me around, but that I could learn the language from and trust to watch my back. Serendipity did the rest."
"Ah… what does that-"
"It means you were in the right place at the right time for both of us," Pale specified. "You need help, I needed help, and now we're helping each other."
"And… you don't regret doing this?"
Pale shook her head. "I have no reason to regret anything so far. This quest has only taken about a week, which is nothing for me in the grand scheme of things. Plus, you have been very reliable so far, particularly in combat. You have kept your cool in a way that suggests some kind of training."
"Oh… um, I'm not really trained." Kayla brought a hand up to rub at the back of her head. "I-I mean… I'm my father's apprentice, of course, but I don't have any kind of combat training. All the offensive spells I know, I only know because he insisted that a young woman like me should know how to defend herself if she's going to be heading off on her own."
That got Pale's attention. She sat up a bit straighter in the boat, focusing on Kayla. "You were planning to go your own way?"
"Mhm," Kayla confirmed with a nod. "There's a very prestigious magic academy down south, I was hoping to take their entrance exam sometime soon, before… well, all this happened. I don't really know what I would do after that – being a fire mage restricts me in a lot of ways; I'd basically be forced into a combat role for something, whether that was as a professional soldier or as a bodyguard or something along those lines – but all I know is I really want to study magic more in-depth. My father is an excellent teacher, but he doesn't have the same resources the Luminarium does."
"There's something I've been wondering," Pale admitted. "No offense, but you're… meek, to say the least. You don't like to fight or hurt people, and yet you use fire magic. Why is that? Did something make you pick it in particular?"
"Pick?" Kayla asked, tilting her head. "I didn't pick my affinity. Very few people can. Really, your affinity is determined when you unlock your sjel – and before you ask, generally speaking, that happens when you come of age, which for most people is around fifteen years old, maybe a bit younger or older depending on who they are. To put it briefly, when your sjel is unlocked, an Archmage – basically a very accomplished caster who has dedicated their life to the study of magic – can serve as a witness, and somehow determine the type of magic you will have an affinity with. Generally, it's not something you choose; the vast majority of people just are naturally more tuned to one type of magic. Nobody knows why, but that's just how it's always been. Occasionally, you get someone who has multiple affinities, but that kind of thing is very rare. Come to think of it, it really only ever happens with the royal families…"
Pale scowled at the implications of that, but said nothing. Instead, she watched as Kayla shook her head.
"Anyway, that was my plan for after we rescue my father," she said. "What about you? How were you hoping to get back to your people?"
"Truthfully, I do not know," Pale replied. "The technology of this world is far too primitive to be of any help to me. I was hoping a magical solution existed somehow, but if not, then I will have to take matters into my own hands, and essentially kickstart my own industrial revolution."
Kayla gave her a panicked expression, but Pale held up a hand, calming her.
"It's different than an actual, violent revolution," she assured Kayla. "Ideally, there would be no bloodshed involved."
"Ideally…? What would you be doing?"
"Using the knowledge gifted to me by my creators to rapidly improve the technology of this world to the point where it would actually be useful to me," Pale specified. "I would go more into detail, but that would likely be premature. All you need to know at this point is that, should no other solution present itself, I will begin pushing the technology of this world forward at an incredibly rapid pace."
"How rapid?"
Pale thought for a moment. "By my estimations? Basic space flight within twenty-five years, off-world colonies and terraforming within forty, faster-than-light travel within fifty."
Kayla began to sputter. "Y-you…! Are you serious?!"
"Deathly so, yes. I know exactly what is needed in order to get there, the problem is obtaining and refining the materials for it all. But give me time, and I can have you all looking at colonizing other planets within four decades." Pale suddenly peered behind Kayla, a deep scowl crossing her face. "But this conversation will have to wait, I'm afraid."
Kayla went deathly white. Slowly, she turned to look behind herself, and began to tremble when she saw land fast approaching.
"We're here," was all Pale had to say.

Special thanks to my good friend and co-writer, Ickbard for the help with writing this story.

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Chapter 37

“Shit!” Tom shouted out as the tripod he was on fell down into the treeline below. The alien foliage was rising up faster than he would like as his feet slipped as the hull beneath his feet angled down. With thought, Tom activated the magnets in his suit's armoured feet helping him to stick onto the hull of the falling tripod. Fliping around to face the rear of the mech Tom fired the grapples in both arms into the hull.
“I hope it's enough,” Tom muttered just before the sound of snapping branches filled the air as the war machine crashed down. Trees broke like twigs as the tripod ploughed into them and the ground with a loud crash.
The front of the tripod's head buried itself a few meters into the forest floor covering everything around it in mud and dirt. The bottom of the nearby trees that were left standing were coated in dirt and impaled by shrapnel.
The tripod ground to a halt after burying what survived halfway into the ground parts of the machine were scatted about the impact crater. Tom somehow managed to hang on until the very end. The crumbling and shattering hull of the tripod saveing its slayer's life.
Tom opened his eyes slowly, “well that worked.” He said to himself after detaching from the hull.
“All systems functional, that was lucky I was sure we would take some damage,” Apollo replied. “Next time just use the rail gun please.”
“I wish we had a bigger one,” Tom chuckled back. “mount it on top of the keep and sinpe from five k away.”
“That might work if we had one,” Apollo commented. “I was thinking of trying to get some of the weapons made for knights we have converted into make-shift machine gun positions.” Apollo fashed up some concepts on Tom’s Hud long enough for Tom to take it in.
“Could be a good idea,” Tom replied. “But I think we should head back to Raf he might be worried.”
“Good idea,” Apollo replied as Tom started to walk back leaving the now burning weck behind him.
It wasn’t long before Tom crossed paths with Raf again, who was glad to see him. The worried look on his face melted away as he walked towards Tom from the edge of the forest and farmland. However, it was replaced with a look of amusement and shock. “How did you not die!” Raf exclaimed.
“wasn’t as strong as I feared and the pod took most of the impact of the fall,” Tom replied. “Wouldn’t want to try doing that again. I'm going to take the Mag lance with me if I think one of those things will be around.”
“The gun that took out the skyship?” Raf asked and only continued when Tom nodded, “Wish we had more like that. no way to make them?”
“Too complex for what we have here,” Apollo answered, “I fear if we tried we would make a gun that is as likely to blow up the user than the target.”
Raf’s face dropped, “might be a good idea not to try.”
Tom smiled under his helmet, “Don’t worry it’s a good idea. Just not one that’s possible unless we get a one dropped on us.” Tom shrugged, “doubt that will happen until the fleet gets here. They might wait till they get orbital supremacy too.”
“Would taking out that ship in orbit help?” Apollo asked.
“Why are you asking Apollo? You should have done like ten simulations about it already.” Tom replied having a feeling Apollo was onto something.
“One hundred and ten actually but that’s not the point.” Apollo answered, “The point is there is around an eighty precent chance there is a shuttle nearby. I already sent some scouts with headsets to see. We should get a report soon. It's likely the one that brought the Herbit down and some other scout squads I'm getting reports of over the few headsets we have so far.”
“Herbit?” Tom and Raf asked at the same time.
“Yes, I gave the tripods the reporting name of Herbits based on how you called them a war of the worlds rip off Tom.”
Tom chuckled, “Makes sense. Dosn't make them sound so tough.”
“You can’t do what you did to a tank. It looked scarier than it was.” Apollo replied. “I don’t think it is meant to be a front-line combatant.”
“Agreed,” Tom nodded before looking to Raf, “It was making a base, don’t think they will be doing that now. looking like it was a forward operating base for an invasion.”
Raf nodded, the gravity of the situation wasn’t lost on him. “think they will make a new one?”
“No doubt,” Tom replied, “but it’s a setback. one they can easily fix in time but it will take time for them. Hopefully, they will need stuff that is not in the system yet. stuff that’s temporarily irreplaceable. Guerilla and asymmetric warfare tactics are what we need to employ.”
Raf nodded not fully understanding but understanding enough to get the point and to make some guesses at what Tom meant. “Tactics to deal with a superior force? We have the concept but I have a feeling you humans refined it more than we have.”
Tom nodded, “Correct, at least on what it is.”
“Also likely on the more refinement part too,” Apollo added, “I don’t think They have the concept of combined electronic and logistical warfare.” There was a short pause, “no offence I'm sure you guys have come up with some great tactics.” Apollo sounded genuinely worried that he might of upset Raf.
Raf chuckled, “You are an artificial mind powered by tamed lightning, I accept you guys have better technology and refined concepts more. We Fevarian’s still have something that makes us, us.” Raf sighed. “Even if I'm not sure what it is yet.”
“I can’t blame you, must be a hell of an identity crisis to find out you are a tiny part of something bigger.” Tom responded, “What are we in the grand scheme of things? what’s our purpose in life? it’s a hard question.”
“Do you have an answer?” Raf asked curiously and hopefully.
“There isn't a purpose in life for us,” Raf's face dropped at the answer, “except the one we chose,” Tom added on.
“The one we chose?” Raf asked confused.
“Take fate into our own hands and do what we think is right and do things we care about. That’s what led me to this planet and I hope it will lead me off it in time.” Tom explained.
Raf nodded, “I think I get it.”
“In the end, it’s up to you what you decide, you may settle on something else.” Tom finished off, “We better get heading back or towards that shuttle Apollo thinks is out there.” Tom nodded towards the forest.
“Good timing I just got a report from the scouts and told them to head back to The Capital. One shuttle is on the ground and likely still have scouts in the area. We got a chance to destroy that ship in orbit here.” Apollo explained. “Hide the nuke in the landing gear or something and I can set it so it will blow inside the ship.”
Tom rushed towards the marker that appeared on his HUD, “Get back and report on what happened Raf!” He shouted back, noticing Raf nodding with his back facing the camera. Tom was hoping he wasn’t being rude but this was an opportunity. Tom had to grab it with both hands.
Tom ran as fast as he could safely run in a heavily wooded area. Apollo was scanning the area and Tom was ready to hit the dirt to hide at any moment. It wasn’t needed since Tom reached the small clearing the shuttle was in.
Keeping to the bushes Tom studied every shadow of aquatic inspired-looking shuttle. Parts of its hull open for landing gear planted firmly on the ground or a ramp to embark and disembark. It was fair to assume that it was waiting to recover the scouts after the mission was over. It seemed even The Dominion didn’t treat everything as completely disposable. It looked like it was left alone. “Anything Apollo?”
“Can’t detect a thing. I think they just left it here not expecting anyone to find it I assume,” Apollo answered. “Put the nuke in the landing gear space. I have configured it to go off inside a larger ship. if not I made sure it will scuttle itself in atmos or if it's tampered with and to donate if it is in vacuum if it seems like it wasn’t taken to a ship.” The AI explained.
“Good job Apollo,” Tom replied as he carefully walked up to the shuttle. Nothing came out to try and kill him Going under the nearest landing gear Tom reached up and using mag locks attached the bomb to a shelf inside the well. To make sure it wouldn’t budge Tom bent over a piece of structural pipe that came loose on one end to help hold it in place. Using His sword superheated blade melted the end welding it back to the hull. “That should do it.”
“It should,” Apollo replied, “now let’s get out of here before they notice us.”
“Agreed,” Tom replied. He quickly rushed back into the forests heading away. Taking a few random turns before heading back to The Capital.
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Hunting Humans
Out of time a theme for the knight
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Captain here,
We are back! sorry for the long break. was hard getting back into it after a long break due to uni. i hope to get back to one every 2 weeks soon maybe once a week if I'm lucky.
even if you not interested in my crossover fan fic the last part as of writing this has some fan art of what Tom looks like in his amour.
i hope you all enjoy and expect the next part within the 2 weeks time frame but i hope it be sooner.
like always thank you for reading, Captain signing off.

I'm working on my first PC build and needed some help. I wanted to make sure that the parts I'm getting look good and will work together. My budget is flexible, but I prefer not to exceed $2000$. If I need to, it is fine, but $2000$ is the budget I'm aiming for. I plan to use it for gaming. I'm trying to get everything from Amazon.
List:
Cpu: i5 - 13600k Amazon
Cpu cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo Black CPU Air Cooler Amazon
GPU: Asus RTX 4070 super Amazon
Ram: Corsair VENGEANCE RGB PRO DDR4 32GB (2x16GB) Amazon
Pc Case: MUSETEX ATX PC Case, 3 x 120mm Fans Pre-Installed, 360MM RAD Support, 270° Full View Tempered Glass Gaming PC Case with Type-C, Mid Tower Amazon
SSD: SAMSUNG 990 PRO w/Heatsink SSD 4TB Amazon
Motherboard: MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4 Gaming Motherboard Amazon
Power Supply: Corsair RMX Series (2021), RM750x, 750 Watt, Gold, Fully Modular Power Supply Amazon
Operating system: Windows 11 (not sure whether I should get pro or home)
Monitor: AOC C27G2Z 27" Curved Frameless Ultra-Fast Gaming Monitor, FHD 1080p Amazon
Edit: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/mvf6t7

Out there - Patreon (for all those curious or wanting to support :))
At the Beginning
Adventure Arc - Arc 2
Wilderness Arc - Arc 3
Academy Arc - Arc 4
Nobility Arc - Arc 5
Previously on Leveling up the World...
The silence in the aether sphere was so intense that Dallion could hear every breath and heartbeat. So far, he had done a good job pretending to believe what the other had told him. Hopefully, that was going to be enough to fool the archbishop.
“We don’t,” Simon said.
In his mind Dallion said a lot of things, most of them curses. What he voiced was completely different.
“I don’t follow.” He floated closer to the center of the sphere. “I thought you said that if someone wins, it’s all over.”
“There’s another way to achieve what you want. A direct boon, if you will.”
That’s what you told Tiallia, didn’t you? Dallion frowned. Considering what had happened to her entire race, Dallion wasn’t terribly enthusiastic about that option.
“The Moon emblem,” the archbishop continued. “All hopefuls are given one. I’m no exception and neither are all previous conquerors. Those with enough drive have even completed theirs. I heard that you’re doing pretty well with yours.”
“Don’t believe everything you hear. I’m still missing a few,” Dallion lied.
“Everyone is missing a few, but I’ve foreseen that together there are enough to make a set.”
That filled Dallion with even less enthusiasm. A voice in the back of his mind had already started urging him to reject the offer and continue with more important things. Then again, there was the matter of the archbishop’s assistance.
“You’re suggesting we team up with them?” Even his level of the music skill proved unable to hide the skepticism.
“There can be only one winner in the conventional way, but unlike what they say through their echoes and domains, no one is certain they’ll be the one to make it. Right now, Jeremy and Tiallia are engaged in a series of battles all along the western shore of the continent. Tia decided to take advantage of the minor clash between you and the emperor, so she went all out in the battle for first place. Jeremy considers you weak, and me done with, so he responded.”
“So, whoever wins there wins the world.”
“Not quite. They must win fast. If the battle grinds on, the winner might reach a point at which they’ll be weaker than you. That’s why they are putting everything on the first clash. There’s a good chance that by tomorrow, things will be clear, yet they aren’t right now.”
There was an obvious danger of allying with someone dedicated to an insane belief. The archbishop’s mania that the world—or the “game” as he believed—would end had made him a master of knowing the right time and the right actions to force a desired outcome. Compared to him, the emperor was like an apprentice, though, as the current state of the world showed, sometimes the apprentice could outwit the master.
“We form an alliance and use my Moon emblem to challenge the Moons together,” Dallion mused.
“That’s the simple version, yes. They’ll have their doubts, of course, but if we ask them right now, they’ll have no choice but to accept.”
“That’s why you surrendered to me, didn’t you?”
“The third and fourth combined might prove stronger than the second.” Simon nodded. “Or maybe the first.”
“And because they’re currently fighting between themselves, they can’t easily unite against us.”
“Oh, they could, but would they trust each other? What if this all is an elaborate plot to eliminate them before fighting continues between the remaining three?”
Only because you’re the one who made the alliance, Dallion said to himself. He was putting a lot of faith in a person who was scheming, addicted to Moonstones, and with questionable beliefs. And still, he had a lot of knowledge that Dallion could use. In the end, this is what it came to: everyone was using everyone; the question was who would gain the bigger advantage.
“Working with Tiallia and Jeremy,” Dallion said.
“Trust me, it beats the alternative.”
“And what do I have to do in exchange?”
Anger emanated from the archbishop. Clearly, he was a lot worse at controlling his emotions in his current state.
“I must be able to see some of the details,” he replied without directly answering the question. “Also, I’ll need one to heal you. You could use it in theory as well, but you won’t be as efficient.”
“Alright,” Dallion agreed. In his mind, he had gone over his options dozens of times. “One more thing, though. You’ll tell me everything before we go.”
“I can talk while I heal.”
“And if there’s a face to face, I’m not going alone.”
“It’s a bad idea. Anyone you bring will put you at risk.”
“I trust them more than you,” Dallion said in a firm tone. Then he removed his limiting ring.
Aqui, he said within his realm. I’ll need you to bring me the Moonstones. Giaccia will give them—
No! The dragon cut him off. I’m not going in the same realm as him.
Aqui, it’ll be okay. I’ll be here and—
No! she said adamantly. He bred us for our hearts! I’m not going anywhere near!
If there was any way for Dallion’s opinion of Simon to get any lower, he couldn’t think of it right now. The archbishop really acted as if everything was a game. It was all very calculated, refined for efficiency, and with complete disregard for the beings involved. No wonder he spent all of his existence alone on his island, separated from the rest of the world. At a certain level, he knew the consequences of what he was doing and yet felt obliged to keep doing it.
Veil, you bring them, Dallion ordered.
Are you sure? There’s no telling what he’ll do with them.
I know exactly what he’ll do with them. We made a deal, so bring them. Oh, and don’t take the cyan one.
Sure, Dal. There was not a single note of enthusiasm in Veil’s voice.
A few seconds later, the aether sphere dissolved into nothing, bringing Dallion and the archbishop into view again. The number of troops surrounding the area had doubled, all eagerly awaiting the command to attack. Such a command never came. Instead, Dallion floated back down to his room, accompanied by the archbishop.
When Veil appeared, handing over the Moonstones to Dallion, who in turn gave them to Simon, the healing began.
Under the watchful eye of Euryale and Pan, the archbishop removed one by one the permanent effects covering Dallion’s body. The magic spell he used was unlike anything Dallion had seen—“more divine than spell” as Adzorg put it.
As each wound was burned out of existence, leaving smooth skin behind, a green rectangle flashed, informing Dallion of the result. And during the entire time, Simon explained the intricacies of the plan. For safety and security reasons, a bubble of silence had been cast around the room, maintained by none other than Pan. The copyette trusted the archbishop as much as Dallion, still maintaining hundreds of magic symbols all over his body.
After close to an hour, all the bleeding wounds had been removed from Dallion’s body. Now it was time to restore his feet.
“I’ll need you to hold him down for this,” Simon told Euryale.
“It will hurt, I take it,” Dallion said, preparing himself mentally.
“It will if you want it done in a minute.”
Dallion didn’t, but he also didn’t want to delay. A minute in intense pain. For an awakened, that sounded like an eternity. Hopefully, Simon was using a metaphor and it wasn’t actually going to take a full minute.
“Pan,” Dallion said as he lay down on the bed so that the stumps of his legs were beyond the end. “Did you go through this when you tried to conquer the world?”
“The leg healing bit? No.” The copyette responded with a touch of humor. “The other stuff… at this point, I can say I did.”
“You can only tell someone who already knows,” Dallion said reflectively. “How come you could tell me?” He raised his head, looking at Simon.
“I didn’t vow not to.” The archbishop was rubbing his hands, covering them in a pale green glow. “Unlike him, I never tried to take over the world.” He took a step closer to the bed. “You better get ready now.”
The pain came in waves. The first few seconds there was almost none at all. Yet as time went by, it kept building up more and more until soon it was more than Dallion could bear. Concentrating, he tried to use his music skills to negate the effects of the pain, or at the very least, decrease them. That lasted for possibly ten seconds more, when his body reflexively made an attempt to break free. It was only Euryale that kept him from succeeding. The gorgon held his hands firmly pinned to the bed, while Simon pulled out, bit by bit, a new set of feet from Dallion’s legs.
Half of Dallion’s body had gone completely limp and unresponsive, yet the pain felt as if someone was stretching every muscle, nerve, and tendon in his legs far beyond their breaking point. The only thing preventing him from yelling for the archbishop to stop was the burning desire not to give him the satisfaction. Sweat covered his entire body. Magic threads emerged from his pores in an attempt to create a protective mesh over his skin.
The pain seemed to last for hours, simultaneously knocking Dallion out and forcing him into consciousness again. Finally, he felt a slight decrease. It wasn’t much, but a sure sign that his suffering had peaked.
“There you go.” Simon wiped the sweat from his forehead. Clearly, he had also exerted himself. Even so, he seemed in a markedly better state. If nothing else, the bags beneath his eyes were gone. “Rest a bit. I’ll send my offer to Jeremy.”
“Not Tiallia?” Dallion asked through gritted teeth.
“Tiallia has already accepted. I suppose having her sister helped.”
“Wait! Tell me—” Dallion tried to voice the question, but his stamina had reached its limits. Once his body realized it wasn’t fighting for its survival, his consciousness shut down. After what seemed like a second, Dallion woke up.
Looking up he saw a star-filled night sky. Panic set in, along with the fear that Simon had gone to the meeting without him.
“Eury!” Dallion jumped to his feet. “Pan! Who left…” his words trailed off.
There was a person in the room. Funny that it was only now that Dallion noticed. The person was a dryad, standing at the window, looking outside.
“Vihrogon?” Dallion asked.
“Close.” The dryad turned around. It didn’t take Dallion more than a second to figure out who it was.
“Felygn,” he whispered. “I thought it was strange that the room was removed again. How long was I out?”
“Eleven seconds, give or take. Simon did a number on you. After your latest bout of recklessness, you deserved it, though.”
“Everyone’s a critic.” Dallion shifted the weight on his legs. His feet felt normal and completely pain-free. Given that it was a dream, there was no other way for it to be. “Was he right?”
“Is that what you want to ask me?”
“Will you answer if I do?”
The Green Moon laughed.
“You’re leaning.”
The room suddenly shifted. Dallion didn’t notice it happening, yet he knew the difference between where he had been a moment ago and where he was now. The present room was identical to his university dorm, at least as far as he could remember. The only thing that remained the same was Felygn, who stood at the window in his dryad form.
“This brings back memories, doesn’t it?” the Moon asked.
“I’ve never known you to be sentimental.”
“Who said I can’t be? Don’t worry, you’re not in any trouble as far as we are concerned. I just thought I’d take this chance to have a few words with you. There’s no telling whether I might have another.”
“So, things are that bad?”
“Only one can own the world. There’s no telling if that someone would be you.”
A farewell from a Moon. It was the last thing Dallion expected, but he appreciated the gestures. His opinion and relationship with the Moons had gone through many stages. Initially there was awe, then fear, then annoyance that they let mass-scale pain and suffering happen before their eyes. Now, he felt them distantly close in a way that words could barely describe.
“Thanks for bringing my race back,” Felygn said. “I appreciate it.”
“You know I didn’t do it for you.”
“I know. But you also did it for them. Many were given an opportunity, but you’re the only one who not only tried, but did it. For that, I’ll give you a final boon.”
“Isn’t it a bit late for that?”
“Maybe. But no matter what, I’ll always be with you as long as you call.”
“What does—” The scene disappeared. Instantly, Dallion opened his eyes, lurching his upper body upwards.
He was back in his bedroom with Euryale sitting on the bed next to him.
“Don’t rush,” she said, gently caressing his cheek. “You can rest a bit longer.”
Dallion smiled, relaxing back down. Yes, he had a bit longer. Yet deep inside, he feared that he’d never see Felygn again, not as a friend in any event.

AIM/Charity Entrepreneurship is on the lookout for a talented individual to join our team as a Talent and Recruitment Manager (or Director)! If you're passionate about human psychology, enjoy learning about other people, find psychometric or personality tests fascinating, this may be a role for you.
QUICK FACTS

• SUBMIT AN APPLICATION ON OUR WEBSITE
• The application deadline is 14.06.2024
• Expected hours: Full-time
• Location: London (preferred) or remote (we can sponsor a UK work visa)
• We are looking to hire a Manager or Director, depending on the candidate’s experience and fit for the role. The Director would be responsible for managing team members and setting strategy for the department. The manager-level role would be focused more on the implementation and systems improvement of our recruitment process.

ABOUT AMBITIOUS IMPACT
Ambitious Impact (AIM), formerly Charity Entrepreneurship (CE), is an organization running training and incubation programs for high-impact career paths. Since 2018, our main Charity Entrepreneurship Incubation Program has helped 72 talented individuals from all over the world launch 5-10 high-impact nonprofits every year. These charities work on a diverse range of issues, from childhood lead poisoning to farmed fish welfare, and are currently improving the lives of 35 million people worldwide.
More recently, we have been scaling our work. AIM has recently developed new programs supporting talented individuals to take up other impactful careers, including grantmaking, nonprofit research, and for-profit entrepreneurship. We are now looking for a Recruitment Manager (or Director) to enable us to find and select the most talented people for these programs, helping outstanding individuals put their skills to better use for the world.
The Recruitment Manager (or Director’s) role is flexible, as reflected in this job description. It is likely to be either 100% on vetting applicants to our programs, 50% on vetting and 50% on outreach and marketing for new applicants, or 50% on vetting and 50% on team management. The level of seniority will depend on the successful candidate’s skills, fit, and interests.
ABOUT THIS ROLE
Our Recruitment Manager would become an expert in this field over time, refining our unconventional but highly predictive processes to find the best people for our programs.
The Recruitment Manager will focus on:

• Vetting multi-stage application processes (application forms, test tasks, interviews and psychometrics)
• Improving and adjusting our processes (e.g. coming up with predictive interview questions for new job roles; improving existing questions and tasks on the basis of data collected)
• Developing and formalizing a deep understanding of what traits, motivations, and personality types will be successful in different kinds of career paths and roles
• (if interested and a strong fit) Working with our outreach team to develop and execute marketing strategies that speak to the right people, inform them about our supported career paths, and help them apply
• (if interested and a strong fit) Managing or co-managing the recruitment team

The kinds of tasks involved in this look something like this:

• Evaluating hundreds of application forms and test tasks to figure out which are the most promising, using a wide range of information, formal and informal clues, and heuristics
• Evaluating and conducting candidate interviews to help identify and select the most promising candidates to join our programs
• Formalizing informal hiring heuristics into rubrics and learning algorithms (no programming required)
• Project managing each application round to ensure each candidate gets useful, timely, and relevant test tasks and information on next steps
• Analyzing historical data to pull out findings for future rounds
• Conducting interviews with successful applicants to create feedback loops for improving our processes
• Automating aspects of the process to increase scalability and reduce staff time
• Conducting interviews with experts in vetting and hiring to determine cross-applicable lessons that we can apply
• Building models and character profiles of ideal candidates and talking to alumni from our programs to refine and improve these
• Running analysis and back correlations on historically successful founders to identify traits that may define the most promising applicants

ABOUT YOU
This is more than a technical role. The ideal candidate will be person-focused with a strong and practical understanding of human psychology and a keen eye for getting a sense of people quickly. They will be trained to become even better at these skills, but it helps to start with a strong level of both understanding and interest in human motivations. We have found that the people best-suited to this role tend to be comfortable holding a lot of (sometimes contradictory) pieces of evidence in their head at the same time while being able to make a sane “overall” judgment.
You might be a good fit at this if you enjoy learning about other people and their interests and motivations. You might often be able to predict what a friend or co-worker would do or say without asking them, or have an easy time thinking about what characters in books or TV shows might do next. You have probably interacted with a range of people from different backgrounds - perhaps through travel, studying internationally, or working with people from a different background from the one you grew up in. You probably find psychometric, psychological, or personality tests fascinating (think “the big five”) and like talking to people about what’s important in life. These are just a few examples.
WHAT WE NEED
We expect excellent candidates will meet many (but not all) of the criteria below. We encourage you to apply even if you do not feel that you meet enough of the listed characteristics. In the past, we have offered positions to applicants who had strong overall potential and trained them up where there are gaps in their skills. We are looking for high general ability, strong work ethic, and value/methods-aligned mindset more than prior work experience or a specific background.
The ideal candidate is:

• Interested in human performance evaluation
• Passionate about quickly learning new skills
• Highly impact-driven with a very strong work ethic
• Able to work in a fast-paced and rapidly changing environment
• Has an intuitive understanding of how different people work and what makes them tick
• Strong psychological understanding of people
• Able to evaluate people critically
• A natural at reading people and understanding them
• Excited and willing to work across the cause areas (animal advocacy, global health, effective altruism, mental health, and family planning) and career paths (nonprofit entrepreneurship, research, effective giving fundraising, and for-profit entrepreneurship) our program focuses on
• Able to move to and work from our London office at least 2 days per week (exceptions may be made for excellent applicants who do not meet this criterion)
• Able to work flexibly and collaboratively in a small team and have a positive influence on the teams they work in and around
• Results-oriented, with a consequentialist mindset, and a love of high levels of intellectual challenge
• Comfortable with prioritization, numerical quantification, and simple spreadsheet calculations - or excited to learn these
• Able to work both autonomously and in a small team
• Excited to work in this role and feels as though it could be a great fit
• Interested in growing at and with AIM long-term

Bonus Criteria

• Background in fast moving and/or quantitative workplaces (e.g. tech startups, consulting, finance)
• Psychology, HR, or other vetting-focused backgrounds
• Experience with hiring processes
• Experience working in effective altruism (volunteering, independent projects, internships, and jobs all count)
• Experience founding nonprofits or for-profits
• Background with a GiveWell-recommended or Charity Entrepreneurship-incubated charity
• Experience or interest in founding nonprofits or for-profits

WHAT WE OFFER

• Most of all: a job that has a huge, tangible impact on the world - the candidates you select will become high-impact charity founders within months
• High levels of intellectual challenge and learning on the job
• True start-up culture, including flat hierarchies and low bureaucracy
• (If combined with outreach responsibilities) Opportunities to attend events and conferences to represent AIM
• Build your network in the EA community, various nonprofit communities, and among AIMs vibrant community of highly talented and singularly dedicated alumni, including the 32 charities we have launched so far
• An informal, fun, and supportive work environment
• Become a part of a diverse, dedicated, close-knit team of 25
• Additional opportunities for learning, growth, and connection across departments

PERKS AND BENEFITS

• Flexible working schedule and 30 paid days off per year
• 5-10% of work time and dedicated budget of £500 for personal development and learning (plus lots of learning on the job)
• 50% reimbursement of IT and costs of strategies you find useful for increasing your productivity up to £500 a year
• Salary and moving costs are flexible depending on employee needs and cost of living in their location and typically fall between £37-49k GBP gross per annum (most AIM salaries are within this range, including the Executive Director’s)
• Support with moving costs if relocating to London
• Visa sponsorship, if needed
• A desk in our vibrant central London office which is a hub for high-impact organizations and our program alumni
• For an outstanding candidate, more perks and benefits could be included

A FINAL WORD
If you are excited about working with AIM but are uncertain whether you are qualified enough for this role, please do apply nonetheless. We care deeply about mindset and value-alignment with our approach and are skilled at finding people with high potential whose growth we are happy to facilitate. Don’t hesitate to make the content of your CV for AIM a little unconventional (e.g. by mentioning personal projects, courses, or experiences that are not strictly professional) if that better demonstrates that you can have the mindset, values, and approach that we need to improve the world.

Apply Here!

​

In the realm of luxury mattresses, where comfort meets elegance, the Esquire Mattress stands as a beacon of opulence and sophistication. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to quality, this mattress redefines the sleeping experience, offering more than just a place to rest your head—it offers a sanctuary for rejuvenation and relaxation.

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In conclusion, the Esquire Mattress is more than just a place to sleep—it's a testament to luxury, comfort, and style. With its unparalleled craftsmanship, refined design, and commitment to excellence, it sets a new standard for what a mattress can be. So why settle for anything less? Elevate your sleeping experience with the Esquire Mattress and discover a new level of comfort and sophistication.

Insulin resistance is a serious metabolic imbalance characterized by a progressive loss of blood sugar control, increasing the risk of developing diabetes.
Most cases of insulin resistance are linked to a high-carb diet and lack of physical activity. Making beneficial dietary and lifestyle changes is the key to managing and restoring metabolic health.

What is insulin resistance?

Insulin is a critical metabolic hormone released by the pancreas in response to carbohydrate intake.
Insulin stimulates the cellular uptake of blood sugar, also known as blood glucose. This enables cells to convert blood sugar into energy and helps maintain normal blood glucose levels.
Insulin resistance refers to reduced cellular sensitivity to insulin signaling, resulting in chronically elevated blood sugar levels linked to various health issues such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and metabolic syndrome.
Because elevated blood sugar levels are toxic to the body, the pancreas releases more insulin to compensate for inadequate cellular glucose uptake.
This creates a vicious cycle of high blood insulin levels, which can further desensitize cells, exacerbating insulin resistance and contributing to persistently high blood sugar levels.
In addition to its role in blood sugar control, insulin signals liver cells to convert excess blood sugar into fat. This explains why insulin-resistant individuals typically experience rapid weight gain.

Signs and symptoms

In most cases, insulin resistance develops slowly, with few early warning signs. As blood sugar control worsens, more metabolic pathways are impacted, which can lead to various symptoms.
Here are common signs and symptoms associated with insulin resistance syndrome:

• Weight gain
• Belly fat
• Sugar cravings
• Persistent hunger
• Sleepiness after meals
• Fatigue
• Increased thirst
• Frequent need to urinate at night
• High blood pressure
• Abnormal cholesterol levels
• Brain fog
• Blurred vision
• Fatty liver

Most cases of insulin resistance are diagnosed through blood tests indicating elevated fasting plasma glucose levels.
This typically is followed up with an oral glucose tolerance test to evaluate the body’s ability to process blood sugar levels, which helps identify and diagnose impaired insulin sensitivity.
Severe insulin resistance can have serious health consequences, including significant hormonal imbalances and organ damage. It’s crucial to consult a healthcare provider if you are worried about your metabolic health or show symptoms of insulin resistance.

Causes of insulin resistance

Regular consumption of sugars and carbohydrates and lack of physical activity are the leading risk factors for insulin resistance.
Sugar and refined carbs cause rapid spikes in blood sugar levels, triggering insulin release. Regularly consuming high-carb foods can lead to chronically elevated insulin levels, which desensitizes cells to its effects, leading to insulin resistance.
Research published in Missouri Medicine confirms the link between carbohydrate consumption and the risk of developing insulin resistance. The authors summarize, “Starches and sugars increase fasting insulin levels, reduce insulin sensitivity, and reduce cellular insulin binding.”
A sedentary lifestyle is associated with excess body fat, which also has been linked to poor blood sugar control.
Fat tissue, especially abdominal fat, produces adipokines, a group of hormone-like peptides that can trigger cellular inflammation. This can interfere with insulin signaling and contribute to insulin resistance.
In addition, individuals with a family history of diabetes and women who developed gestational diabetes during pregnancy are at increased risk of metabolic diseases, including insulin resistance.

Is it possible to reverse insulin resistance?

While there are no approved medications to treat insulin resistance, adopting a healthy diet low in carbohydrates and losing excess body weight can help reduce insulin resistance and restore metabolic health.
A study published in The Journal of Physiology found that even modest weight loss resulted in significantly enhanced insulin sensitivity and, in some cases, achieved complete reversal of insulin resistance.
In addition, evidence published in International Scholarly Research Notices suggests that vitamin D, thiamine, chromium, and zinc play a crucial role in maintaining insulin sensitivity and that deficiencies can disrupt blood sugar control.
This further highlights the importance of making beneficial dietary changes to prevent, manage, and reverse insulin resistance.

5 ways to improve insulin sensitivity

According to data%20in%202015%2D2018.) published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, more than 40 percent of U.S. adults have insulin resistance. This leaves a large part of the population at risk of diabetes, heart disease, and associated long-term health issues.
Most healthcare providers suggest weight loss when treating insulin resistance. However, clear guidance on achieving a healthy body weight is often lacking, and patients struggle with sustainable lifestyle changes.
Luckily, there are several steps you can take to promote metabolic health and improve insulin sensitivity.

1. Practice intermittent fasting

Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern alternating between fasting periods and time-restricted eating windows.
The 16:8 fasting method is a popular type of intermittent fasting that involves abstaining from food for 16 hours, followed by an eight-hour eating period.
Caloric restriction during fasting promotes steady blood glucose levels linked to balanced insulin production. Avoiding blood glucose and insulin spikes increases the body’s ability to process and absorb blood glucose, which is crucial in managing insulin resistance.
In addition, intermittent fasting is a highly effective weight-loss strategy, further benefiting those with insulin resistance.
Fasting depletes blood glucose and forces the body to utilize body fat to generate energy, which induces a metabolic state known as ketosis.
Ketosis can lead to rapid weight loss and promotes the clearance of liver fat, often present in overweight or insulin-resistant individuals.
“Liver fat impairs the liver’s ability to process blood sugar and is a significant risk factor for insulin resistance,” explains Dr. Berg. “Intermittent fasting is one of the best therapeutic tools to enhance insulin sensitivity and improve blood sugar control.”
Research published in the International Journal of Endocrinology confirms the benefits of fasting for metabolic health. The study summarizes, “Intermittent fasting may improve glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as achieve significant weight loss and improve insulin resistance.”

2. Follow Healthy Keto®

The benefits of time-restricted eating to manage insulin resistance can be amplified by combining intermittent fasting with a nutritious low-carb diet like Healthy Keto.
Following a low-carb diet is crucial in improving and reversing insulin resistance. Keeping blood sugar and insulin levels balanced can restore cellular responsiveness to insulin, which improves blood sugar control and reduces the risk of diabetes.
Limiting carb intake to no more than 50 grams daily pushes the body to burn fat, which keeps the body in ketosis even during eating windows.
This explains why combining intermittent fasting with a ketogenic diet can lead to significant weight loss, may help restore insulin resistance, and promote metabolic health.
Healthy Keto is a nutrient-dense ketogenic diet rich in whole foods. It’s an ideal meal plan for individuals with poor blood sugar control, including those with insulin resistance, prediabetes, and diabetes.

3. Prioritize sleep

A study published in Diabetes Care found that insufficient sleep can significantly increase the risk of insulin resistance, regardless of body weight.
Poor sleep can lead to elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol and reduced levels of growth hormone, both of which can impair cellular insulin sensitivity and contribute to insulin resistance.
Lack of sleep also triggers hunger and cravings, especially for energy-dense and high-carb foods that contribute to blood sugar imbalances and weight gain, exacerbating poor blood glucose control and metabolic imbalances.
However, it’s important to avoid popular sleeping aids, as they induce an unnatural state of sleep that has little to no metabolic benefits.
Instead, promote restful sleep with breathing exercises, practice good sleep hygiene, and consider taking sleep-promoting nutrients, including magnesium and zinc.

4. Reduce stress

Although it’s impossible to avoid stress, finding strategies to combat chronic stress can play a vital role in supporting metabolic health and improving insulin balance.
Stress triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone that raises blood sugar levels to provide energy to sustain stressful periods. However, prolonged stress can lead to chronically elevated blood sugar and insulin levels, which can contribute to the development of insulin resistance.
Research published in Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology found that psychological stress can exacerbate hepatic insulin resistance and that stress-reduction techniques can help increase insulin sensitivity.
Learning how to relax and prioritizing mental wellness can be an excellent strategy to reduce stress levels and improve insulin sensitivity.

5. Promote optimal nutrient levels

Healthy Keto offers a low-carb dietary approach focusing on nutrient-rich, high-quality foods, including non-GMO organic vegetables, grass-fed beef, full-fat organic dairy and eggs, and wild-caught fish.
This version of the ketogenic diet promotes the body’s nutrient reserves and lowers the risk of deficiencies linked to poor blood sugar control and insulin resistance.
There are plenty of keto-approved foods rich in thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, magnesium, zinc, and copper, all of which play a role in blood glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
In addition, vitamin D helps maintain cellular insulin sensitivity. A study published in Nutrients suggests that vitamin D deficiency is linked to an increased risk of metabolic imbalances, including insulin resistance.
Vitamin D can only be obtained from foods in small amounts, and many individuals don’t get enough sunshine to maintain optimal levels. Taking a high-quality vitamin D3 supplement may benefit those at risk of insulin resistance.

​

Table of Contents

1. Company
2. Enhancing Brand Value
3. Product Testing and Feedback
4. Customer Testimonials and Advocacy
5. Tiered Community Structures
6. Building Loyalty and Retention
7. Generating Valuable Insights
8. Examples of Successful Business Communities
9. Conclusion

Introduction

In the fast-paced digital landscape of 2024, the importance of community in business cannot be overstated. With 30 years of experience in business strategy, I've witnessed how a strong community can transform a company's trajectory. Whether you’re a startup or an established enterprise, building and nurturing a community around your brand is crucial. In this article, we’ll explore why a community is important in business in 2024 and how it can provide numerous benefits to your company.

Enhancing Brand Value

A community of loyal customers significantly boosts your brand value. When people feel part of a community, they develop a stronger connection to your brand. This connection translates into brand loyalty and advocacy, which are invaluable in a competitive market.

Example

Consider the tech giant Apple. Its community, often referred to as the "Apple ecosystem," is fiercely loyal. Apple enthusiasts not only buy products but also advocate for the brand, contributing to Apple's robust brand value.

Product Testing and Feedback

A community provides a ready pool of engaged users who can test new products and provide honest feedback. This process is crucial for refining products before a full-scale launch, ensuring that the final product meets customer expectations and needs.

Example

Gaming companies like Blizzard Entertainment frequently engage their community in beta testing new games. This feedback loop helps them iron out bugs and improve gameplay before the official release.

Customer Testimonials and Advocacy

Your community members can serve as powerful testimonials for your products or services. Their genuine experiences and reviews can be more persuasive than traditional advertising, helping to build trust with potential customers.

Example

Tesla's referral program leverages its community of enthusiastic owners to promote their vehicles. Testimonials from satisfied customers have been pivotal in growing Tesla's customer base.

Tiered Community Structures

Creating different levels of community engagement—basic, medium, and premium—allows businesses to cater to varying customer needs and monetize their community more effectively. Offering exclusive content or perks for premium members can generate additional revenue streams.

Example

Fitness brands like Peloton have successfully implemented tiered memberships. Basic members can access standard workouts, while premium members enjoy exclusive classes, one-on-one training sessions, and advanced metrics.

Building Loyalty and Retention

A strong community fosters a sense of belonging among customers, increasing loyalty and retention. Customers who feel valued and connected are more likely to stick with your brand long-term.

Example

Starbucks' loyalty program, Starbucks Rewards, encourages repeat business by making customers feel like valued members of an exclusive club. This program has significantly boosted customer retention.

Generating Valuable Insights

Communities are gold mines for valuable insights. By engaging with your community, you can gather data on customer preferences, pain points, and emerging trends. This information is crucial for making informed business decisions.

Example

Nike’s Nike Plus community provides the company with insights into customer behavior and preferences. This data helps Nike tailor its products and marketing strategies to better meet customer needs.

Examples of Successful Business Communities

Example 1: Harley-Davidson Owners Group (HOG)

Harley-Davidson has cultivated a strong community known as the Harley Owners Group (HOG). This community not only enhances customer loyalty but also serves as a powerful marketing tool. Members organize rides, events, and meet-ups, fostering a deep sense of camaraderie and brand loyalty.

Example 2: LEGO Ideas

LEGO has created an online community called LEGO Ideas, where fans can submit and vote on new set ideas. This community-driven approach not only engages fans but also helps LEGO innovate and stay relevant by tapping into the creativity of its most passionate customers.

Example 3: Glossier’s Community-Driven Growth

Beauty brand Glossier has built its success on community engagement. By involving its community in product development and using user-generated content for marketing, Glossier has created a loyal and engaged customer base.

Conclusion

Building a community around your business is no longer optional—it's a necessity in 2024. From enhancing brand value to generating valuable insights, a strong community provides numerous benefits that can propel your business to new heights. By fostering a sense of belonging, encouraging customer feedback, and leveraging community advocacy, you can create a robust and loyal customer base that drives sustained success.
Follow Evocus Media for more insights and strategies to help your business thrive.

brew install --no-quarantine receyuki/sd-prompt-readesd-prompt-reader 

Welcome to League Coaching Grounds: Your Pathway to Mastery in League of Legends
Dive deep into the strategic world of League of Legends at League Coaching Grounds. Whether you're picking up the game for the first time or you’re an experienced player aiming to refine your skills, our subreddit is your ultimate guide to advancing through the ranks. With expert advice, comprehensive strategy guides, and a supportive community, your path to becoming a top-tier player begins here.

Enhancing Player Skills and Mechanics

Individual Skill Enhancement
Improving your individual skills is key to advancing in League of Legends:

• Skill Shots and Dodging: Enhance your ability to land and dodge skill shots, a fundamental aspect of gameplay for all roles.
• Quick Reflexes and Decision Making: Develop quick thinking and fast reactions to outmaneuver opponents during crucial moments in the game.

In-depth Champion Specialization
Deep knowledge and specialization in particular champions can provide significant competitive advantages:

• Champion Specifics: Delve into detailed strategies for your preferred champions, including best practices for builds, skill leveling, and play styles tailored to various game phases.
• Matchup Mastery: Learn the ins and outs of your champion’s matchups to know how to gain the upper hand in lane and team fights.

Strategic Game Understanding

Macro Strategy and Map Awareness
A well-rounded player must have a strong grasp of macro strategies and map awareness:

• Strategic Warding and Map Control: Learn the art of vision control to dominate the map and secure objectives.
• Macro Decision Making: Develop strategies for when to push, when to farm, and when to join team fights, enhancing your overall game impact.

Efficient Resource Management
Managing resources effectively can tilt the scales in your favor:

• Economical Builds: Understand how to optimize your item builds based on the game state and opposing team composition.
• Managing Experience and Gold: Master techniques to maximize experience and gold intake, crucial for maintaining an edge over your opponent.

Team Dynamics and Communication

Effective Communication in Team Settings
Strong communication skills are essential for success in team-based play:

• Role Responsibilities and Callouts: Clarify your role in team fights and learn effective callouts to coordinate with teammates.
• Strategic Team Play: Foster teamwork by planning and executing strategies together, from securing kills to claiming objectives.

Leadership and Shot Calling
Become a leader on your team by mastering shot calling:

• Decision Leadership: Learn to make decisive calls during critical moments to lead your team to victory.
• Adapting Strategies Mid-Game: Gain skills in adapting strategies based on game dynamics and opponent behaviors.

Community Engagement and Continuous Learning

Regular Community Tournaments and Events
Participate in community-led tournaments and events to test your skills and learn from real-game scenarios:

• Competitive Play: Engage in regular competitive play which is essential for applying theoretical knowledge and refining game mechanics.
• Feedback and Improvement Sessions: Utilize community feedback to improve your strategies and gameplay after each event.

Elevate Your Game with League Coaching Grounds

Thank you for being part of League Coaching Grounds, where dedicated players evolve into champions. Whether your goal is to deeply understand game mechanics, refine your strategic thinking, or connect with a community of skilled players, you've found your hub. Subscribe to stay updated with the latest strategies, participate actively, and together, let's dominate the ranks of League of Legends.

In the fast-paced and competitive world of startups, having the right support can be the difference between success and failure. OGI Technologies understands this need and offers a comprehensive range of startup support services designed to help new businesses thrive. From ideation to execution, OGI Technologies provides the tools, expertise, and resources that startups need to grow and succeed in today's market.
Comprehensive Startup Solutions
OGI Technologies' startup support services cover every stage of a startup's lifecycle. These solutions are tailored to meet the unique needs of each business, ensuring that startups receive the right support at the right time.
1. Ideation and Concept Development
The journey of a successful startup begins with a great idea. OGI Technologies helps entrepreneurs refine their concepts through:
- Brainstorming Sessions: Facilitating creative thinking and innovation.

• Market Research: Providing insights into market needs, trends, and competition.
  
• Feasibility Analysis: Assessing the viability and potential of the startup idea.
  

2. Business Planning and Strategy
A solid business plan is crucial for attracting investors and guiding the startup's growth. OGI Technologies offers:
- Business Plan Development: Crafting detailed and compelling business plans.

• Strategic Planning: Defining clear goals, objectives, and strategies for growth.
  
• Financial Modelling: Creating robust financial projections and budgets.
  

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For more information about OGI Technologies' startup support services and how they can help your business, visit OGI Technologies or contact their team directly to schedule a consultation.

YOU asked Me for three words and, it goes without saying,
for their explanation. Well, I gave you these three
significant words: heaven, hell and earth. Now we will see
what can be extracted from these three words that may be
elevating, edifying and instructive for you, as well as for
mankind as a whole.
The first of the three words signifies the greatest, so that even you,
when saying it, must raise your voice and lend greater tension to your
vocal cords, if you want to pronounce this word in the manner it
deserves to be pronounced.
Do you know what you really utter when pronouncing this word?
No, you do not know it but can only surmise; for look, “Heaven” is and
signifies the highest abode, as dwelling of the highest spirits, and also
My more permanent abode. Heaven is the sum total of all beatitudes,
where all the spirits in the purest light, without faults, striving only for
My sublime personal attributes, lead a life of bliss which here you
cannot ever understand and hardly ever imagine.
There are certainly in these places various degrees of perfection.
Indeed, the process of perfecting never ceases since I, continually
creating something new, allow new spheres of action to develop.
Issuing from heaven, all the life-sparks out of Me travel via My
greatest angel spirits to the lowest strata where only a spark of Myself
dimly glimmers, encased in heavy matter. In the heavens, which lie far
beyond all the shell globes and materially created solar systems, eternal
peace and eternal love are radiating and, since the first fundamental
principle of the sublime spiritual life is to imitate My attributes and out
of love for Me to fulfill My commands and wishes, the highest bliss is
reigning there.
In the highest heavens, where eternal harmony of the spirits
prevails, there are also simplicity, humility and neighborly love in their
highest perfection, the expression of which I Myself Am. There I have arranged My abode, as it should be in accordance
with My thoughts and wishes in the whole of creation and as it will be
after countless eons, when all that is lost spiritually, having found
itself, and purified by trials, through conflicts will have found its way
back to Me.
Once this is the case, all the worlds, as I have once said, will be
transformed. For then they all have as schools of trial and purification
fulfilled their purpose and accomplished everything. Of course, for
higher spiritual beings they must then be differently arranged and
equipped with greater radiance, splendor and beatitudes, so that these
very same purified spirits will find new material for their further
perfection, their higher spiritual maturity. For infinite is space, infinite
are the grades of perfection, and infinite Am I Myself – as the supreme
All in all!
This spiritual heaven, where eternal, mild light of grace out of
Me flows into all spirits, where the purest harmonies breathe into
the spiritual ears and hearts the greatest longing for Me, is the
quintessence of My unlimited love, expressed in sounds, colors
and words.
There, all live in all, and every one is only happy in the happiness
of another!
The greatest exaltation, be it in prayer, in poetry or in song, of
which you human beings on this earth are capable and which, as you
express it, “carries you to the highest heavens, affording you a foretaste
of a better existence – there in My heavens it is the lowest degree of
bliss, and that as a permanent, not a transient sensation.
I cannot explain and even less make you feel what a spirit feels
there. For you could not bear it in your earthly body and everything on
this earth would fill you with disgust, if you could retain in your
memory but one second of such bliss. This again I tell you only to
encourage you so that you may understand what beatitudes await the
sorely tried as reward for his perseverance and his love for Me.
As I am telling you here of the highest heavens where day does not
alternate with night, cold with warmth or life with death, where an ven, permanent, eternal sea of light surrounds the blissful spirits,
lighting up everything around them, there everything created on other
worlds is in turn displayed spiritually. For instance, you see a flower
whose color delights your eye, whose scent pleases your nerves, but
you do not know its spiritual meaning, its spiritual substance, the
Spiritual flowing up and down in its tiny tubules or veins, all
emanations of a higher nature, beginning with the sun whose light is
the mother of these floral colors and scents, up to the highest and most
refined potencies.
You see, this flower is also found in My heavens, as spiritual
reflection of all that is created. If you could see this flower there – its
form only light, its color only radiance, and its scent in the highest
spiritual correspondence an eternal hymn of praise to its Creator!
Only there would you understand what spiritual contemplation
means, and only then realize how dull your senses are in this world.
However, do not worry about this state of your senses while on this
earth; remember, only the wise hand of your most loving Father has
arranged it so, and although you do not, and cannot ever, wholly
understand His aims, they are always based on the highest wisdom and
love, and there must be grave reasons for the fact that all this bliss will
be yours only after long conflicts and periods of time, and even then
not for all, but only for some (according to their love).
My dear children, if I allowed you to enjoy all this at once (which I
reserve only for those who truly love Me and have striven in all earnest
to become My children), without conflict these inexpressibly great
beatitudes would be without great value and permanent attraction, for
they would not have been your own achievement but only a gift, so to
speak, without any effort on your part, and would only have half the
value and be of short duration.
Only what is gained by effort is enjoyed in full measure, as a due
reward for merit!
What merit has a prince or king born as the son of a king once his
head is adorned by a crown? You can be assured it is of far less
importance to him than those of lesser rank believe. What is such a
hereditary monarch compared to a man who, having battled against all adversities both physical and spiritual, has finally reached his goal,
which he has never lost sight oil The latter is a spiritual giant, whereas
the other perhaps amounts to very little and is sometimes despite his
exalted station a mere non-entity.
For this reason, whosoever wants to become My child for whom I
have reserved the greatest bliss, must earn this name, and only then
will he bless all the sufferings and conflicts which led him to that
degree of bliss where he begins to have an inkling of the spirituality of
all existence and where, in the very fulfillment and performance of all
the duties of an angel, the higher bliss for a created spirit begins.
As I once said that every human being carries the whole universe
within him, he also carries, albeit on the smallest scale, this now
described heaven within.
With every good deed, with every victory gained over his passions,
a ray of light of this little love-heaven from the sphere of the spirit
penetrates into his heart. It is a transient beam, a foreknowledge, a
shouting of the soul for joy, but (alas) not permanent. It is only a
moment when the spirit shows man what he carries within, what will
one day be his, if he faithfully perseveres on the difficult roads of life.
The spirit of man leaves to the soul only a gentle after breeze of it,
nothing else. The ray from the heavens was only a warning call,
meaning:
“Do not waver, but endure! One day you will have for ever what
here only rushes past you with the speed of lightning!”
So do not despair, My children! Heaven is open to you! In order to
encourage you, I let you feel it sometimes, as far as your physical and
spiritual constitution allows. More you cannot bear; and if one of you
were capable of bearing more, in the midst of the other people he
would then be unhappy and instead of pursuing his course diligently he
would be overcome by weariness and despair. Therefore, remember
that I, your Father, in My wisdom have arranged everything in such a
way that My children can bear it and profit from it. Now let us turn to
hell. What I have told you about heaven, more or less the same you can
assume of hell, but – it goes without saying – in the opposite sense. I shall not tell you so much about hell, its organization and nature
because it gives Me no pleasure to think of it and it is of little benefit to
have it described in detail. Suffice it for you to know that it really
exists, and that for My and your disadvantage. However, in order to tell
you at least something about this contrast to My heavens, I will merely
hint at its existence, that is, also in several departments and gradations,
representing evil in various degrees, in their midst the residence of
Satan himself.
Satan, as personified evil, in contrast to Me, is the personification
of all passions, which are opposed to My attributes. Whereas I, for
instance, out of love endeavor to preserve everything, he wants to
destroy everything, out of hatred against everything created, firstly,
because it is created by Me and, secondly, simply because it is created.
If he had his way, he would continually create beings of every
kind, however, not in order to rejoice in their existence, but to rejoice
(satanically) in their destruction, then again, resuming the game, begin
to create anew.
His subordinate spirits who, created by Me as living beings,
became so dark that they only enjoy the darkness, just as My angels
enjoy the light, are according to the intensity of their wickedness closer
to, or further from, Satan and in various sections placed in and on the
earth. There they pursue their (devilish) pleasures, striving to emulate
their master as much as possible; and so it is their greatest pleasure
under all possible kinds of pretences to turn mankind from the good or
better path and onto their wide highway.
Since in them as well as in their master there is only a satanic love,
they take pleasure in planting the same also into the hearts of those
who are willing to listen to them.
There they do not neglect to describe to their victims the world and
its pleasures as agreeable as possible, to engender in them a taste for
cunning, deceit, lust and all low passions, thus making them ready to
be their worthy “brothers”.
You will ask Me: “But how can You, the Creator, allow such
mighty hordes of evil spirits and their master to continue to exist? Why do You not with one word of command destroy such beings who are so
opposed to the gentle drawing of Your love and Your divine attributes,
and besides – why did You banish them into and onto the earth of all
places, while millions of other earths and suns are orbiting around in
infinity, whose inhabitants can take to their roads of betterment and
purification unhindered, without being exposed to such torment? Why
is it only we, whom You call “Your children’, for whose sake You
came down to this small globe, where You suffered for their sake; why
are we the ones who are on the one hand the privileged, but on the
other hand the most severely tried and exposed to all seductions and
temptations?”
My dear children! This complaint made by you as people of this
your earth is, seen from your side, quite natural and I have to justify
Myself for it so that you, although it does not look like it, nevertheless
recognize that I Am always the most loving and benevolent Father,
have at all times arranged everything only for your benefit and shall
always conduct everything for the welfare of My children.
In an earlier (the preceding) word I have mentioned a fallen angel
who pulled along an uncountable number of other spirits in his fall. In
“The Household of God” I explained to you also that then all his soul
substance was taken from him, divided into particles and bound in
matter, and is now returning to Me gradually on the road of perfection;
furthermore, that all those born on this earth, except for spirits from
other worlds, who had been transplanted here in order to become My
children, are parts of the fallen one that also have to take the same road
as all spirits bound in matter.
I also said that this very same fallen angel spirit was banned to
where My plant nursery for My heavens is located, namely, into the
earth, and that he is there most active, in opposition to Me and My
ordinance.
Look, all this I have explained to you earlier, and also the “why” –
why the greatest temptations and dangers must be exactly where spirits
and souls have taken on the task of attaining to My Kingdom, carrying
right through hell and damnation the cross of suffering and love in My
honor and to shame My great adversary; and that despite all seductions and seeming comforts heaped upon his future pupils by Satan, so as to
ensnare them, while later making them pay for every pleasure and
every comfort with a thousand torments of hell, there are still souls on
this earth who defy all his temptations, turn their back on all his grand
promises, do not want to belong to him but solely to Me and amid
suffering and conflict hold high the banner of faith, humility and love!
When Satan apostatized from Me, I had to leave him and his
whole following their individual freedom, which every spirit needs so
that as a free spirit he may become worthy of Me.
The conversion to Me must occur from within and voluntarily, not
under coercion. For this very reason I must tolerate the behavior of this
My greatest adversary including his brood and let them do as they like,
as long as they do not interfere with My established order.
The fact that whatever they do, the result will always be the
opposite of what they originally had intended, is the triumph of the
good cause since also the evil, even the worst that creation has to show,
must and can only contribute towards its (and their) own betterment
and the furthering of what is good generally.
For this very reason Satan with his realm is banned to that place
where he has a chance to try everything possible to defend his lifetheory
against Mine. Indeed, he was even permitted to personally tempt
Me during My earthly sojourn, Me, who was not a created spirit, but
the Creator of all that is created (including himself). Since I did not
avoid him when he met Me as a man, exposed to all human passions,
he dared to tempt also the Most High, which was allowed him. But
with what result you know, namely, that he might gradually realize on
a great and on a small scale that all his effort is in vain and that through
so many eons he has been resisting in vain the One who had created
him and who, would he return today repenting, would receive him with
open arms like a “prodigal non”, as I have already told you in “The
Twelve Hours’, and that it will not happen all at once, but gradually
and with certainty.
When I said of My heavens that every human spirit carries
them within him on a small scale, thus also the germ of bell or the inclination to sin and act contrary to My order, or hell in miniature, is
in every man’s breast
It is there because virtue, without the recognition of its opposite,
vice, would not be a virtue, and love without the opposite, not love! If
darkness did not exist, you would not appreciate light, if it were not for
the freezing effect of cold, you could not understand the pleasant
feelings of the gradually entering warmth.
Therefore, where My “children-plant-nursery” is, there also had to
be the school of the overcoming and subduing of all passions!
What would life be without conflict? A monotonous passing of
periods of time, without an awareness of the coming of one and the
passing of another. Life would have no purpose, no spice!
Just as the salt in all your foods, in all herbs, metals, plants and
even in the air and in your stomachs because of the proper digestion
constitutes an important component, which incites to life and through
this incitement furthers the same, the salt of spiritual life is the
temptation, or the tendency to think and act differently from the way
one actually should. Through this very contrast or this incitement the
better part of your Self is strengthened and the physical and spiritual
life within you is sustained through this food, its continuance is assured
and the enjoyment of having attained to another, new degree of
perfection, and that through conflict and self-denial, whereas you
would not become aware of progress if you advanced without
obstacles.
When the sun in the morning sends its first rays over the pastures
of the earth, the whole living nature shouts with joy in answer. Every
being, each in its own way, twitters, coos and hums its hymn of praise
to the light and its Giver. Even the dewdrop attached to the leaf of a
moss plant, clothing itself with diamond brilliance, mirrors the great
hemisphere of light arched above it and in its radiance as it were
rejoices at the daylight returning after the darkness! – Why? Because
from one evening to the next morning the night, or darkness, had let all
living creatures feel the value of the light!
Thus it is also in a spiritual respect. The soul of a created being recognizes the sweet awareness of spiritual love, spiritual progress and
of a spiritual, higher soul-life only when it has come to know the
chasms and wrong paths threatening on its road of trial. Only after the
soul has advanced a small step does it take pleasure in the same and
renews all its strength for the attainment of the next. And so the
incentive, enjoyment and bliss are enhanced, not so much with the
better condition gained, but on account of the obstacles overcome.
You see, My children, what would all the heavens mean without
hell! And how much other beings in other suns and earths miss in bliss,
which is reserved only for My children, because the other beings in
other suns and worlds know only light and little or no darkness!
Do you still want to complain that hell is so close to you, even
within you? Or would you not rather, thanking Me, ask Me maybe for
more hell, so that you may be able to battle and suffer even more so as
to deserve in even greater measure to be called “My children”?
So set your minds at rest. I know what you need for your trialschool;
do not ask for more than what you are given by Me, and be
assured, you have enough with what My loving hand imposes on you;
where it more, it would be a punishing hand and this I, as your Father,
do not have!
Now I have shown you how even the totally evil, indeed, the most
evil in the whole of creation, with all its actions is still used and
exploited by Me for the benefit of all that lives and how Satan with his
henchmen, instead of harming Me, on the whole must contribute to the
greatest good. So let us now pass to your abode, “the earth”, as the
third, above mentioned word, so that there you may again see the love
and wise prudence of your Father in its whole glory. (Note by the
Translator: For the sake of clarity in the following paragraphs the
original German terms for “heaven”, “hell” and “earth” are retained,
with the English terms added in brackets). When pronouncing the word
“Himme1” (heaven), where you have to raise the pitch of your voice
while having to lower it when pronouncing “Hölle” (hell), you will
have noticed that each of these words requires a different movement of
the vocal muscles, and look, it is again different in the pronunciation of
the word “Erde” (earth), where you have to open your mouth wide (three different tones. The Ed.). Look, in the pronouncing of these
words in your language, including the movements of the vocal organ,
everything is arranged in such a way that spirits who are more familiar
than you are with the correspondence formulas of creation, find fully
expressed in the movements of the oral muscles what one or the other
pronounced word signifies. When pronouncing the word “Himmel”
(heaven) you have seen that the raising of the vocal pitch corresponds
to the closer description of the same. When pronouncing the word
“Hölle” (hell) where the mouth has to be closed like a cave, you will
not fail to see the close connection between this muscular movement
and the description of hell, where by the way the word “Himmel”
(heaven) is pronounced with an upward glance and the word “Hölle”
(hell) with a downward glance - certainly never upward, and finally
“die Erde” (earth) by opening the mouth broadly and looking straight
ahead. Having discussed the first two, what remains to be scrutinized is
merely the last word broadly pronounced, with its spiritual
correspondence, and earth itself as your abode. The fact that in
pronouncing the word “Erde” (earth) the mouth has to be pulled
horizontally to the corners and the lips must move upward showing the
rows of white teeth, has a spiritual correspondence to the earth, where,
in a spiritual sense, what is softer, namely the flesh, is under restraint,
laying open for consideration the firmer, more compact parts – ethics,
or the teeth. Now look, My dear children, in the spiritual
correspondence the teeth, as firm, bonelike parts, signify the permanent
and first support, both in man and earth, giving a beautiful form to the
face and imparting the moral beauty to man’s whole exterior. As well,
this support creates the inner vitality of the body of the earth itself and
what is beautiful on its surface. The teeth amongst other things signify
also the moral-spiritual and are the first spiritual organ of digestion,
which in worldly life should sift the good from the bad. And as in the
mouth the salt in the digestive juice of the saliva is added after the
crushing of the food through the teeth, correspondingly the salt is the
enticement always to act contrary to the good, and it is your main task
to resist this temptation and finally be the victor.
Here on this earth you receive everything mixed, the good with the
bad, love with hatred, life with death; that is, both easily change their
role with each other, or, in other words, each changes easily into its counter-pole. If you have enough strength to eliminate the wicked and
bad, then evil, no matter how often it assails you, cannot leave a
permanent impression in your soul and will completely disappear in the
beyond, and only what is good will be your actual worth! The fact that
when pronouncing the word “Erde” (earth) you have to open your
mouth wide horizontally, means in correspondence that in a spiritual
respect your earth – albeit physically small – reaches far beyond all
solar galaxies, even as far as My heavens, for this little planet became
firstly the abode of My children, and secondly also Mine, where,
through suffering and death, I became the victor over evil.
If you were a little more familiar with this spirit-language, you
would in every word referring to Me discover the important and far
greater spiritual meaning and not be satisfied with the comprehension
of the word – the bark, so to speak, but feel more joy and bliss at its
inner contents than you could ever have imagined. Then you would
find amongst other things that each people according to its spiritual
level will reveal itself in the words and expressions relating to Me, or
do you think that the languages were invented, as your linguists believe
they can prove? Oh, there you are badly mistaken! The words were not
always made simultaneously with the invented objects and new
requirements of a people, but the language – being a spiritual product –
has always progressed parallel with the spiritual perception of a people.
You can see for yourselves from the history of the nations that with the
spiritual progress or regression of a nation its language likewise
progressed or regressed and with the cessation of a nation also its
language (as a living thing) has utterly ceased.
Language is the expression of the soul. The more exalted and
beautiful the language, the greater the intensity of its expressions.
However, this can only be appreciated by spirits, or those enlightened
by My love and grace, who discover behind the various movements of
the muscles of the mouth and larynx, among the twittering, clicking,
trilling and whistling sounds which in this and that combination form
one or the other word, a higher, spiritual meaning which has become
for you incomprehensible like the hieroglyphs – of a lost Paradise.
Thus the earth is also in this different from many other worlds.
Whereas in these only one language prevails and all created beings pursue one and the same path, there are on earth thousands of different
languages, as offshoots of a single one. And in this way the dweller on
this earth, in addition to many tests of his patience and perseverance, is
also burdened with this task, namely, that when he wants to
communicate with the brothers of other nations, he must learn their
language in order to convey his thoughts and feelings to them; or, if he
wants to learn something from his foreign brother, or tell him
something, he must make himself understood in that language.
Wherever you look on earth, beginning with the most primitive
peoples up to you civilized nations, you see the small earth with its
restless spirits spread itself beyond everything known. Of course, the
main motivation with the crowd is always self-seeking. However, in
this way the nations are brought together, they come to know each
other and learn to appreciate and love each other.
Those who investigate nature, the stars, the inside and surface of
the earth, impart their knowledge about the thing which out of My
grace I let the individual find, as common knowledge to mankind.
Without realizing it, they carry out only My plans, not theirs, and so I
educate the souls of this earth, which was once for a short time also My
abode, to a better life.
Now the thoughts of people race with the speed of lightning from
one pole to the other and they themselves roll on iron roads like a
hurricane from one place to another.
The roads are made from iron and the majority of those traveling
on them also have a heart of iron (at least for their human brothers).
But this is immaterial; My plans are nevertheless more advanced
through the fast communication existing between towns and villages,
and the getting together of the people dwelling there, than all the
builders and owners of railroads believe.
Here I have often mixed together in one carnage - heaven, hell and
earth, or spiritually good, bad or materially thinking people. On
entering they all had their own opinion; on leaving, hell has perhaps
extracted from heaven and earth a permanent spark of knowledge by
way of conversation, which throughout life will not be forgotten. Thus I carry out My plans, utilizing also this traveling together,
and where formerly rigid rules separated people, there I make them
forget their prejudices. And even though self-seeking, the urge for
enjoyment and greed for money are the motivating force why people
come together, travel to other countries exposing themselves to all
sorts of danger, I still have achieved My purpose, namely that of
fraternization. Now it only needs one more mighty push and spiritual
impulse and the people stand there like brothers, united in the desire to
follow Me, the Eternal Shepherd. Then the spiritual significance of the
earth is achieved, then is the time when I shall again come personally
among you, after the stubborn have been removed and only the willing
are left.
Thus, My dear children, you see how heaven, hell and earth, be it
in great or in small things, must serve only the purpose of love, the
fundamental idea of My creation.
However, do not count it by years what I have just told you, for
with Me there is no time. I know neither day nor night by which to
measure time; with Me there is always day, and the sun of love always
shines, and will shine, for all until all will have found the road to Me,
their most loving, benevolent Father.
Now I think that you, too, can be satisfied with this supplement. It
is another light in the great valleys of My creation. Consider well how
much love and grace I bestow on you and that I offer you so much
spiritual bread so that you may no longer doubt that everything you see
is from the Father’s hand!
This for your comfort with My blessing! Amen.

~CHANNEL & CONTENT:~
I run Gill22, a YouTube channel with 100k subs that covers topics related to the trucking industry.
I’m seeking an experienced video editor that is an expert at motion graphics. Since the audience I cater to is older, I don’t want Mr.Beast levels of transitions and fast cuts. Instead, the edits should serve to elevate the content and help explain the concepts being taught in the videos.
~JOB DESCRIPTION:~
I am looking for an experienced video editor with a solid portfolio to partner with on a long-term basis.
You will be working directly with me on producing these videos. You will have the freedom to express your creativity in the edits as I do not have a “editing style” that I’ve settled down on. (However, please see reference videos below.)
I will also be going over the final edits in Adobe Premiere Pro for final adjustments. I will be giving you thorough feedback and I am looking forward to receiving fresh ideas from you. We will be communicating remotely through either video calls or WhatsApp once or twice a week. I am based in Chicago, working within the CST Time Zone.
Here’s what the process will look like:

• I will provide you an edited talking head video of me that has been color graded and audio corrected through Google Docs.
• You will work on the motion graphics, B-roll, captions, sound effects, etc. (make it look nice and fancy basically)
• The video you will be working on will be between 8 and 15 minutes long (on average)
• You will have 1 week to finish your edits (2 weeks if longer than 15 minutes)
• you will be editing 1 video per week

The above are subject to change and negotiation as our work together moves forward.
~REFERENCE VIDEOS:~
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86rPBAnRCHc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg0UcmvMgIQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_M7LaUOFuY
~RESPONSIBILITIES~~:~

• Edit mid-length talking head videos using Adobe Premiere Pro.
• Overlay video motion graphics, B-roll, captions, music, and sound effects after being provided with the edited talking head video.
• You will have to find/generate B-roll for every video using stock footage or videos provided by me.
• Work closely with me to develop and refine the video style.

~REQUIREMENTS:~

• Proficiency in Adobe Premiere Pro.
• Written and spoken fluency in English.
• Grasp of video editing for YouTube retention.
• Openness to communication, feedback, and mutual constructive criticism.
• Interest in long-term partnership, potentially leading to full-time work as channel video editor (with significant increase in compensation).

~COMPENSATION:~

• As of now, I can offer $20 per minute of final video edit (e.g., $225 per 15 minute video). The rate is subject to increase with the growth of the channel.

~BONUSES:~
10% bonus to the original payment for a video when it passes 60% retention
25% bonus to the original payment for a video when it passes 70% retention
50% bonus to the original payment for a video when it passes 80% retention
100% bonus to the original payment for a video when it passes 90% retention
~(Valid within one week of video publish date.)~

~HOW TO APPLY:~
Please send your application and portfolio of work to [gurpreet@gill22.com](mailto:gurpreet@gill22.com) with the subject line "Video Editor Application - [Your Name]".
Please write a paragraph or two about your interest in working with me on Gill22 and include links to your 3 favorite videos that you’ve edited. Please don’t lie… I will notice if the quality of work is significantly different than what you provide me. I look forward to reviewing your application and discussing the possibility of working together via online video call or WhatsApp text.
($225 - $400 per video + bonuses)
Edit: Changed "per minute" rate from $15 to $20.

Who was John? What did he do? Why did he come? How does he relate with Yeshua Hamashiach?
”“Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God. “Speak to the heart of Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has been fulfilled, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received from the hand of Yahweh Double for all her sins.” ¶A voice is calling, “Prepare the way for Yahweh in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. “Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; Then the glory of Yahweh will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.” A voice says, “Call out.” Then he answered, “What shall I call out?” All flesh is grass, and all its lovingkindness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of Yahweh blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. ¶Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, Raise up your voice powerfully, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news; Raise it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Behold, Lord Yahweh will come with strength, With His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him And His recompense before Him. Like a shepherd He will shepherd His flock; In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes. ¶Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And encompassed the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales? Who has encompassed the Spirit of Yahweh, Or as His counselor has informed Him? With whom did He take counsel and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge And made Him know the way of understanding? Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, And are counted as a speck of dust on the scales; Behold, He lifts up the coastlands like fine dust. Even Lebanon is not enough to burn, Nor its beasts enough for a burnt offering. All the nations are as nothing before Him; They are counted by Him as non-existent and utterly formless. ¶To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare with Him? As for the graven images, a craftsman casts it, A goldsmith plates it with gold, And a silversmith fashions chains of silver. He who is too impoverished to make such a contribution Chooses a tree that does not rot; He seeks out for himself a wise craftsman To prepare a graven image that will not be shaken. ¶Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who inhabits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; It is He who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to inhabit. It is He who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth utterly formless. Scarcely have they been planted; Scarcely have they been sown; Scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, But He merely blows on them, and they wither, And the storm carries them away like stubble. “To whom then will you liken Me That I would be his equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His vigor and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing. ¶Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from Yahweh, And the justice due me passes by my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, Yahweh, the Creator of the ends of the earth, Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weary, And to him who lacks vigor He increases might. Though youths grow weary and tired, And choice young men stumble badly, Yet those who hope in Yahweh Will gain new power; They will mount up with wings like eagles; They will run and not get tired; They will walk and not become weary.“ ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭1‬-‭31‬ ‭LSB‬‬
”“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says Yahweh of hosts. “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a smelter’s fire and like fullers’ soap. And He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to Yahweh offerings in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to Yahweh as in the ancient days and as in former years. “Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the sojourner and do not fear Me,” says Yahweh of hosts. “For I, Yahweh, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. “From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says Yahweh of hosts. “But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says Yahweh of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and empty out for you a blessing until it is beyond enough. Then I will rebuke the devourer for you so that it will not corrupt the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field fail to bear,” says Yahweh of hosts. “So all the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land,” says Yahweh of hosts. “Your words have been strong against Me,” says Yahweh. “But you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’ You have said, ‘It is worthless to serve God; and what gain is it that we have kept His charge and that we have walked in mourning before Yahweh of hosts? So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up, but they also test God and escape.’ ” Then those who feared Yahweh spoke to one another, and Yahweh gave heed and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear Yahweh and who think upon His name. “And they will be Mine,” says Yahweh of hosts, “on the day that I prepare My own treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” So you will return and see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.“ ‭‭Malachi‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭18‬ ‭LSB‬‬
”“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every worker of wickedness will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them aflame,” says Yahweh of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.” “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. And you will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,” says Yahweh of hosts. “Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and judgments which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel. “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of Yahweh. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land, devoting it to destruction.”“ ‭‭Malachi‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭LSB‬‬
”Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as those, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, handed them down to us, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in orderly sequence, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty about the things you have been taught. In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah, and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and righteous requirements of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering. And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will not drink any wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” And Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were wondering at his delay in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. And he kept making signs to them, and remained mute. And it happened that when the days of his priestly service were fulfilled, he went back home. After these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked upon me to take away my disgrace among men.” Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of His kingdom.” But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, the slave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.” And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. “For He has looked upon the humble state of His slave, For behold, from this time on, all generations will count me blessed. “For the Mighty One has done great things for me, And holy is His name. “And His mercy is upon generation after generation Toward those who fear Him. “He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. “He has filled the hungry with good things, And sent away the rich empty-handed. “He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his seed forever.” And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home. Now the time was fulfilled for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. And her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified His great mercy toward her, and they were rejoicing with her. And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zechariah, after the name of his father. But his mother answered and said, “No, but he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” And they were making signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they all marveled. And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak, blessing God. And fear came on all those living around them, and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. And all who heard these things put them in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was indeed with him. And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He visited and accomplished redemption for His people, And raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant— As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old— Salvation from our enemies, And from the hand of all who hate us, To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, For you will go on before the Lord to make ready His ways, To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To direct our feet into the way of peace.” And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the desolate regions until the day of his public appearance to Israel.“ ‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭80‬ ‭LSB‬‬
”Now in those days John the Baptist *came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight!’ ” Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea, and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Then Jesus *arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he *permitted Him. And after being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon Him, and behold, there was a voice out of the heavens saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”“ ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭17‬ ‭LSB‬‬
”Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil *took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and *said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, Lest You strike Your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’ ” Then the devil *left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him. Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He departed into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, in order that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled, saying, “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light, And those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, Upon them a Light dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He *said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed Him. And going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. And immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. And Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. And the news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. And large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.“ ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭25‬ ‭LSB‬‬