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psalmonesermons · 2 years

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Jesus Christ the chief cornerstone 1 Peter 2:7-8

The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone

Most of us at some time in life will experience some form of rejection.

Family or so-called friends might decide to terminate their relationship with us under various circumstances.

We might feel let-down, bewildered and angry that people can be as unkind, but it is a lesson unfortunately we need to learn in this world. Even when we go for a job interview or some selection process for sports or team ventures, we might be rejected. In all these forms of rejection we must be humble, forgiving and fight any tendency towards bitterness.

This what Jesus Christ himself experienced. The one people in the world who should have known who and what the Son of God would be like, were the Jews. But when He came to them, most of them including their secular and religious leaders rejected and dismissed Him as an impostor. He was the precious stone which the builders rejected yet he was and still is the most important stone in the building known as the church, that is the cornerstone! The corner or cap stone is usually laid at a ceremony in honour of a new building. All the other stones fit in around the cornerstone.

So, is there someone whose judgement that we can trust? When we look at people we can be so influenced by external things, such as their appearance, demeanour, dress sense, personality etc. But when God considers a person, He looks right into their heart. A clear example of this was when the Lord sent Samuel the prophet to anoint one of the sons of Jesse as King over Israel.

Read

Mark 11:25

John 1:11

1 Peter 2:6-8

1 Samuel 16:6-11

Samuel considered each one of them from the natural point of view, how tall or handsome that they were. But God makes it quite clear in 1 Samuel 6:7 that He is interested in a person’s heart. The inner qualities not the external are much more important.

So, what does this mean in practice for us in our day to day lives?

Firstly, when we are rejected and put down, our loving heavenly Abba Father is always there to remind us of our true value, which is that you are valuable and precious to Him. So much so that He gave His only begotten Son…John 3:16.

The world’s value system is superficial and dangerous. Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light! Do not trust outward appearances, Jesus told the Pharisees that they were white-washed tombstones, white on the inside but inside dark and horrible, full of dead men’s bones!

Secondly, we must ask the Lord for discernment in all the appropriate areas of life. The wrong choice of a marriage or business partner can easily ruin someone’s life. Running with the wrong crowd of friends has also caused much unnecessary suffering and grief in some lives.

We can take a good example from the disciples after the resurrection when they gathered to choose a replacement for the traitor Judas Iscariot. They prayed indicating that only God Himself truly knows what is in a man’s heart and therefore they asked the Lord to show who His choice for the vacant position was. The Lord then spoke to the hearts of the disciples and they chose whom they believed that the Lord had already chosen.

In conclusion, no matter what people say or do to you, God will always love you and never let you down.

Since only God truly knows a person’s heart, we must ask Him to guide us in all our decisions involving people. We might not always get the answer we want or like, but we can console ourselves by the knowledge that the Lord’s choice will always be the right one!

Amen

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#psalmonesermons #christianity #bible study #bibletruth #blog post #blessings #faith #victory #the chief cornerstone #rejection

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sayruq · 7 days

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GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: Emergency doctor Amjad Alewah once saved lives at Al-Shifa hospital, the largest medical facility in the Gaza Strip. But after 200 days of war between Israel and Hamas militants, he now stands in its ruins. “We are now in the middle of the rubble of this great hospital,” Alewah, who returned to inspect the now charred emergency reception room, told AFP. Following the outbreak of war, Al-Shifa became a safe haven for the thousands injured or fleeing the Israeli onslaught on the Palestinian territory. “Every day, we received thousands of wounded,” he said, recalling having to work without enough medical equipment or fuel for electric generators. “We had picked up the habit of spending all our time here, as if it was our main residence.” But war came to Al-Shifa, with Israel launching multiple raids on the medical facility after accusing militants of operating a command center from tunnels below.

“Hospitals are entitled to very special protection under international humanitarian law,” [UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk] said. Alewah said he was saddened by the destruction of a “cornerstone of health for the whole north of the Gaza Strip,” calling on the international community and World Health Organization (WHO), which visited Al-Shifa to assess damages, to help rebuild. “We’re lacking operating theaters to treat patients, particularly patients on dialysis or those with heart conditions.” A rehabilitation medical committee has already been put in place, its head, Marwan Abu Saada told AFP, adding that they were working on building an emergency department in another part of the hospital complex. “We will not lose hope,” he repeated, despite acknowledging the difficulty of the task at hand.

#yemen #jerusalem #tel aviv #current events #palestine #free palestine #gaza #free gaza #news on gaza #palestine news #news update #war news #war on gaza #hospitals #al shifa hospital #gaza genocide #genocide #war crimes #palestinian doctors

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thewordfortheday · 7 months

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Psalm 118:22

The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

When Jesus walked on the earth, it was not the common people, but the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees that rejected Him- The ones who had studied the scriptures, who knew that Messiah was to come. They were unwilling to accept Jesus, the carpenter's Son. They rejected Him and conspired to kill Him. But nothing could thwart the plans of God. Jesus Christ died, and rose again and brought salvation to the whole world. Those who reject Him build their lives on sinking sand. Only those who build their lives on Christ, the true cornerstone of faith, will stand firm forever. And when the wind blows and the storms come, they will never be shaken or destroyed.

#bible verse #daily devotional #christian quotes #bible quotes #inspiration #daily devotion #christian quote #christian life #scripture #bible

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walkswithmyfather · 7 months

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Acts 4:11-12 (AMP). “This Jesus is the stone which was despised and rejected by you, the builders, but which became the [e]chief Cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].”

Amen!🙏🕊🙌

#acts 4:11-12 #bible #christian blog #god #belief in god #faith in god #jesus #belief in jesus #faith in jesus #salvation #jesus saves #encouragement #keep the faith #make him known #biblequotes #bible verses #bible truths

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the-garbanzo-annex-jr · 4 months

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[Editor’s Note: This is Part One of what will be a five-part series addressing flaws in a number of CNN “investigations” into allegations against Israel.]

Good investigative journalism is journalism at its best. In an era in which many media outlets simply serve as amplifiers of social media posts, press releases, and partisan cliches, curious and professional journalists truly devoted to uncovering the truth are all the more important.

Unfortunately, that kind of good journalism is all too often missing at CNN. Rather than producing impartial, professional investigations, many of the network’s journalists are acting as one-sided prosecutors when it comes to Israel.

CAMERA has raised some of these issues in regard to past CNN “investigations,” including those relating to the death of Shireen Abu Akleh, the February violence in Huwara, and the IDF’s presentation of terrorist weapons at al-Shifa Hospital. More recently, the network has put out two more deeply flawed investigations of Israel, including one regarding the munitions the IDF is using in Gaza and one regarding IDF operations at Kamal Adwan Hospital.

The consistent bias and flaws found in these investigations fall into five general categories: (1) omitting exculpatory evidence; (2) ignoring questions of credibility; (3) presenting one-sided and dubious “expert” analysis; (4) excessively using skewed context and language to mask shortage of evidence; and (5) demonstrating a partisan agenda.

Below is an analysis of the first flaw. There will be analyses of how each of the other four categories plague CNN’s investigations in forthcoming articles, as well.

Ignoring or Omitting Exculpatory Evidence and Context

The most glaring problem with CNN’s investigations is the disinterest shown toward evidence that contradicts the central allegations. Such behavior is to be expected of prosecutors or spokespersons, who seek to present a certain narrative. It is not appropriate for anyone trusted to impartially present the information necessary for the public to understand the issues for themselves.

As has been explained in journalistic codes of ethics and principles, one of the “cornerstones of truthfulness” is “not leaving important things out.” Even prosecutors are obliged by the rules to disclose material, exculpatory information in their possession. Yet, time and again, CNN’s attempts to investigate, or create, allegations against Israel leave the important, exculpatory information out.

The Munitions Investigation

Perhaps the clearest illustration of this comes from CNN’s 12/22 investigation into the use of certain munitions by Israel, authored by Tamara Qiblawi, Allegra Goodwin, Gianluca Mezzofiore, and Nima Elbagir.

The main allegation is that the IDF has been using large numbers of 2,000-pound bombs which cause fragmentation that is “capable of killing or wounding people more than 1,000 feet away.” These heavy munitions, it is claimed, are responsible “for the soaring death toll.”

But the article never actually connects the use of these bombs with substantial numbers of deaths. The only way it can charge that is by omitting, or in one case hiding in small text, details that undermine the entire allegation.

The most significant detail the authors glossed over is explained in a subsequent statement by the Israeli Air Force Chief of Staff: “Heavy munitions are detonated underground, preventing fragmentation and significantly reducing the blast wave and debris as a result.”

As pointed out by Lenny Ben-David at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, CNN appears to be using data on general-use MK-84 bombs, which explode aboveground, to make the claim about the large fragmentation radius.

And it’s perfectly clear that the authors knew the bombs were not being detonated aboveground. In the main text of the article, the second sentence says that the “500 impact craters” it analyzed are “consistent with those left behind by 2,000-pound bombs.” But hidden in small text in an image caption, the authors quietly add an important detail: the craters are “consistent with underground explosions produced by 2,000-pound bombs.”

Realize what the authors did. They deceptively combined data for fragmentation radiuses for a munition exploding aboveground with the number of craters consistent with that munition exploding underground in order to imply that those craters were caused by bombs sending lethal fragmentation as far as 1,000 feet away and killing large numbers of Palestinian civilians.

The apparent deception is jaw-dropping in its level of dishonesty.

Consider two of the specific examples given in the article, neither of which actually demonstrate the authors’ main claim.

One example given is a 10/24 airstrike “about 328 ft” away from the Wafa Hospital. CNN tells the audience that the crater was “consistent with 2,000-pound bombs,” and writes about how “terrified the patients and medics” were. But the article itself admits that even though the hospital was within the 365 foot “lethal fragmentation radius,” it is “unclear whether the October 24 blast caused significant damage to the hospital.” In other words, they show evidence Israel used a 2,000-pound bomb, but they don’t have evidence it actually caused any harm to civilians nearby.

The other example given is a 10/31 airstrike that targeted Hamas commander Ibrahim Biari in his command compound in Jabaliya camp. The article tells readers that the bombing killed over 100 Gazans “and caused catastrophic damage in the densely populated area.”

An image, posted originally by UNRWA, showing what appears to be a sinkhole next to its facility, possibly caused by the collapsing of a tunnel underneath.

But the story omits a critical detail: much of the damage wasn’t directly caused by the munitions. Rather, it was the collapse of the tunnel network in the area minutes later which brought down nearby buildings. It seems that many, if not most, of the victims weren’t killed by the bomb’s “lethal fragmentation radius” – which is the central allegation of the article – but rather the collapse of tunnels Palestinian terrorists built underneath their homes.

The party thus responsible for the danger to civilians in the area wasn’t the IDF, but rather Hamas, which built terror tunnels underneath civilian infrastructure. As the U.S. Department of Defense Law of War Manual states, “The party that employs human shields in an attempt to shield military objectives from attack assumes responsibility for their injury…” Of course, the attacking party must still take feasible precautions – which the IDF appears to have done by detonating the explosives underground – but CNN’s investigation did not even address that question.

This leads to the broader issue that is regularly omitted in CNN articles: the context within which the IDF is operating. As explained, both legally and morally, the party using human shields is responsible for the injury of those civilians. Yet CNN’s investigations gloss over this. At most, the reporters include a bland statement from the IDF and leave it at that, as if they don’t have a journalistic responsibility to look into the full story themselves.

As explained in 2021 by two experts on the law of armed conflict, LTC (ret.) Geoffrey S. Corn and Lt. Col. (ret.) Rachel E. VanLandingham:

Israeli attacks may cause damage and destruction, but the responsibility for the tragic impact on Gaza civilians belongs exclusively to Hamas. This is because the terror organization pervasively and illegally exploits the presence of civilians to shield its targets and complicate IDF attack decisions. And Hamas knows that no matter the attack decision the IDF makes, it wins: If the IDF exercises restraint, Hamas wins a tactical benefit, but if the IDF launches the attack, Hamas wins a strategic information benefit by exploiting the attack’s collateral civilian impact.

By failing to do their journalistic responsibility, the authors are, willingly or unwillingly, serving as accomplices to Hamas’s cynical media strategy.

#cnn #media bias #camera

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beardedmrbean · 3 months

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In her garden in northern Athens, four-year-old Niovi plays make-believe, selling cakes from her imaginary shop.

For her two mums, Christina Leimoni and Victoria Kalfaki, their dream may soon become real, as Greece stands on the brink of legalising same-sex marriage.

Parliament will vote on the bill, introduced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on Thursday. Facing dissent from members of his own centre-right party, he will need to rely on support from the left-wing opposition to get it through.

Christina and Victoria will be there inside the chamber, willing it to pass. Two years ago, they returned to Greece from the UK, where they had moved for work - and to live their relationship freely.

They married in the UK and Niovi was born there. If the law passes, they plan to have their marriage recognised under Greek law.

'I have no say'

After Niovi's birth in London, they tried to register her at the Greek embassy, but were rebuffed. "The commentary was, 'You should have thought before having her'," Christina recalls.

"It was awful, I cried in the car for 45 minutes, I couldn't stop - it still brings bad memories," Victoria says, welling up with tears. "It's like being rejected by your country."

Without legal recognition for their marriage in Greece, only Victoria, who gave birth to Niovi, is accepted as her mother, even though the egg was from Christina.

At school, she has no say over decisions and when Niovi has been admitted to hospital, Christina has been barred from entering her room.

"My biggest fear is that if anything really bad happens to Victoria and she dies, our child instantly goes to social services, who then see if any of Victoria's relatives want to adopt her," she says.

"If they don't, she goes into an institution. I have no say. So the child wouldn't just lose one mother, she'd lose both of us."

Opposition by the Church

Fifteen of the European Union's 27 members have already legalised same-sex marriage. It is permitted in 35 countries worldwide.

Greece has lagged behind European neighbours largely because of opposition from its powerful church. If the law passes this week, it would become the first Christian Orthodox-majority country, and the first in Europe's southeast, to have marriage equality.

Same-sex couples would also be legally allowed to adopt children but not to have a baby through a surrogate - a recourse that is only legal here for heterosexual couples who have a medical need for assisted reproduction.

"Greece geographically is in the southeast, but culturally and politically it belongs to the West," says Alex Patelis, the prime minister's chief economic advisor and a member of the committee that drafted the marriage bill.

Mr Mitsotakis, recently storming to re-election, faces a weak opposition that has left him the space to tread onto their political turf without jeopardising his own position.

Mr Patelis says the bill is a cornerstone of the prime minister's beliefs: "It's often thought that human rights and equality are the purview of the parties of the left. This is coming from a centre-right party - and it's important to recognise that equality under law and individual rights are also the ideology of the right."

But Greek society is split. A recent poll for Proto Thema newspaper found 55% in favour of same-sex marriage and an even slimmer majority backing adoption.

Up to 50 of Mr Mitsotakis's 158 MPs are expected either to vote against the bill or to be conveniently absent from the chamber, meaning they can duck the vote.

A letter by the Church of Greece opposing the move was read out in morning mass across the country earlier this month, condemning what it said would "promote the abolition of fatherhood and motherhood… and put the sexual choices of homosexual adults above the interests of future children".

One of the most outspoken prelates has been Bishop Seraphim of Piraeus. At the city's Agii Anargiri Church, we watch as he leads a packed service, with worshippers in their Sunday best kissing icons and bowing heads.

He recently warned that he would block MPs who back the bill from his church, adding it would be preferable if they had not been born.

And, he said, he would refuse to baptise children of same-sex couples "to help them understand that what their guardians are doing is a sin."

Outside parliament on Syntagma Square, opponents gather to protest against the bill, beneath banners reading "No children for perverts" and chanting "Take your hands off our kids".

A video shows images including religious icons and, oddly, Bill Gates. Conspiracy theories about a new global order being imposed on Greece have blended with pious Greeks who believe their traditions are being destroyed.

"The Bible says marriage is between a man and a woman - and anything else is a big sin," says Rallou Perperidou.

"Like Sodom and Gomorrah, God destroyed people practising homosexuality. God will forgive them if they accept what they do is wrong and denounce it."

Kyriaki Chantzara, 38, is at the protest with her sister, who is expecting her tenth child.

"Homosexual people cannot give the right example for children because we think the existence of a female and male example is crucial to them. It is a human right for every child to have a father and a mother," she says.

Back in northern Athens, four-year-old Niovi is practising her English with nursery rhymes. Her mums help as she reads "Hickory Dickory Dock, the mouse ran up the clock…"

As time ticks towards the parliamentary vote, the women say their excitement is building. "I'm amazingly happy about it," says Christina.

"It's the start of accepting diversity in general as a country and accepting that all people have equal rights. And for us it will mean reality, because I am Niovi's mother, and this should be supported by the law. The legislation will bring truth to the reality."

#nunyas news

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hopethroughscriptureministries · 23 days

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House Built on a Strong Foundation:

Spiritual Wisdom

Today we bring to you a parable that Jesus shared with his disciples—a story of profound spiritual insight that speaks to the very foundation of our faith. It is the parable of the House Built on a Strong Foundation.

Imagine a wise builder who set out to construct a house. He carefully selected a site and began laying the foundation, digging deep into the bedrock and ensuring its stability. With meticulous care, he built upon this foundation, layer by layer, crafting a sturdy and enduring structure.

Now, picture another builder who, in contrast, was hasty and careless in his construction. He chose a site without considering its stability and began building without laying a firm foundation. Instead, he built upon the shifting sands, neglecting to secure his structure against the elements.

As time passed, storms arose, lashing against both houses with fierce winds and torrents of rain. The house built on the strong foundation stood firm, its walls unshaken and its roof unyielding. But the house built on the shifting sands could not withstand the onslaught; it crumbled and fell, its ruins scattered by the tempest.

What does this parable teach us, dear friends? It is a metaphor for the life of faith. The wise builder represents those who hear the words of Jesus and put them into practice, building their lives upon the solid foundation of his teachings (Matthew 7:24-25). They anchor their faith in the unchanging truth of God's Word, rooted deeply in Christ.

On the other hand, the foolish builder symbolizes those who hear the words of Jesus but do not act upon them. They build their lives upon the shifting sands of worldly pursuits and fleeting pleasures, lacking the firm foundation of faith (Matthew 7:26-27). When trials come, their faith is tested, and they find themselves without the strength to withstand the storms of life.

Let us heed the wisdom of this parable and examine the foundation upon which we are building our lives. Are we anchored in Christ, standing firm upon the rock of salvation (Psalm 18:2)? Or are we building upon the shifting sands of worldly wisdom and human strength?

As followers of Christ, let us strive to be like the wise builder, diligently laying a strong foundation of faith and obedience to God's Word. Let us build our lives upon the firm foundation of Jesus Christ, our Rock and Redeemer (1 Corinthians 3:11). And when the storms of life rage against us, we can rest assured that our house will stand, for it is built upon the unshakable truth of God's promises (Psalm 46:1-3).

May this parable inspire us to build our lives upon the strong foundation of faith in Christ, that we may withstand the trials of this world and inherit the eternal blessings of God's kingdom. Amen.

Broader Context:

Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders (Luke 6:46-49):

This parable directly correlates with the concept of building upon a strong foundation.

Foundation of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11):

"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."

Building on Solid Rock (Matthew 7:24-27):

Jesus teaches about the importance of building one's life on a solid foundation, likening it to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Christ as the Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-22):

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."

Stability in God's Word (Psalm 18:2):

"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

The Foundation of Faith and Obedience (Hebrews 11:6):

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

The Firm Foundation of God's Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17):

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Rooted and Built Up in Christ (Colossians 2:6-7):

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

The Cornerstone Rejected by the Builders (Psalm 118:22):

"The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."

The Importance of Spiritual Growth (2 Peter 1:5-8):

"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Questions:

What aspects of my life am I currently building upon? Are they rooted in the solid foundation of faith and obedience to God's Word, or are they founded on the shifting sands of worldly pursuits and human wisdom?

How can I ensure that my spiritual foundation remains strong and unwavering amidst the storms of life? What practices, disciplines, or habits can I cultivate to deepen my relationship with Christ and strengthen my faith?

In what areas of my life do I see evidence of a weak or unstable foundation? What steps can I take to address these areas and rebuild upon the firm foundation of God's truth and promises?

Am I actively seeking wisdom and guidance from God's Word as I navigate the decisions and challenges of life? How can I align my thoughts, actions, and priorities with the principles of God's Kingdom, ensuring that I am building a life that honors and glorifies Him?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

We come before you with hearts full of gratitude for the wisdom and guidance you offer us through your Word. Thank you for teaching us the importance of building our lives upon the strong foundation of faith in Christ.

Lord, we acknowledge that we often stray from this firm foundation, seeking security and fulfillment in the fleeting pleasures of this world. Forgive us, O God, for the times when we have neglected to anchor our lives in your truth and grace.

As we reflect on the parable of the house built on a strong foundation, we are reminded of your steadfast love and faithfulness. Help us, Lord, to continually seek your wisdom and guidance, that we may build our lives upon the unshakable rock of your salvation.

Grant us the strength and courage to withstand the storms of life, knowing that you are our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). May our faith remain unwavering, our hope secure, and our love steadfast, grounded in the unchanging truth of your Word.

As we go forth from this moment, empower us to be faithful builders, constructing our lives in accordance with your will and purpose. May our actions and attitudes reflect the firm foundation of our faith in Christ, shining as beacons of your love and grace in a world in need of your redeeming light.

In Jesus' name, we pray.

Amen.

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iconuk01 · 7 months

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The home secretary acknowledged there were "vast swathes of the world where it is extremely difficult to be gay, or to be a woman".

"Where individuals are being persecuted, it is right that we offer sanctuary," she said.

"But we will not be able to sustain an asylum system if in effect, simply being gay, or a woman, and fearful of discrimination in your country of origin is sufficient to qualify for protection."

...

Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of human rights charity Amnesty International UK, said: "The Refugee Convention is a cornerstone of the international legal system and we need to call out this assault on the convention for what it is: a display of cynicism and xenophobia."

Labour said Mrs Braverman was "grandstanding" and using gay people and women as "scapegoats".

There has also been a backlash from some in Mrs Braverman's own party.

Andrew Boff, a long-serving Conservative member on the London Assembly and patron of the LGBT+ Tories, accused her of "dog whistles" and "victim-blaming" to distract from "the appalling backlog of asylum claims".

This woman is... unspeakable.

#uk politics #refugee politics

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formlines · 4 months

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Epiphany

Andy Everson

from the website: "Sometimes we are fortunate to have visions. Whether you believe that these visions are sent by your ancestors, your Creator or your very active imagination, they are nonetheless special and deserve to be cherished. Personally, I’ve been known to envision my future and revisit my ancestral past. Sometimes my visions end up on the walls of a house or in the words of a book. When your visions are so profound that they force you to see your life in a wholesale new way, this is an epiphany.

Chief Robert Joseph had one such impactful epiphany. He recalls: “I saw the whole of creation unfolding. First I saw Johnstone Strait and it had colours that I've never seen before. Energy unlike anything I've ever seen. Then I saw on the other shoreline on the other side of the bay. We were anchored up the forests, and through the trees, there were lightning bolts going through it. Finally I was looking way up into the heavens. And I saw the whole universe. I couldn't even describe it. I had found myself in such a dark space. During my epiphany, I moved into a place of belonging. We all belong to this arc of the universe, the whole universe. My vision of the universe is almost like a rainbow collage, like with all of the brilliant and dark colours of life. The darkness is as important as the light.”

Late last year, he approached me to turn his vision—his epiphany—into a piece of art for his new book, Namwayut. Now, you have to understand that I have an immense admiration for this man that I literally could not say “no”, even if I had wanted to. He has always been there for my family—from my grandmother all the way down to our young ones—that this time I wanted to be there for him. This is my interpretation of my chief’s epiphany, using his crest and his chiefly thunderbird name Kwi̱nkwi̱nxwa̱ligedzi Wakas to be the cornerstone of this image. For all that he has done—from being the voice in our potlatch system to being the face of reconciliation and cross-cultural understanding—this one is for you, “Bobby Jo”!"

- Andy Everson

#Andy Everson #K'omoks #Kwakwaka'wakw #Spirits of the West Coast

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robertreich · 2 years

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The Election Deniers on the Ballot: What You Need to Know

Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans allies who tried to overturn the 2020 election results are now just one step away from taking control of the election process itself.

BUT we can stop them if we turn out in full force for November’s midterms.

If we don’t stop them from taking over the election process, we can kiss what’s left of our democracy goodbye.

This fall, 60% of voters will have an election denier on their ballot, including key battleground states that decided the 2020 election and will be pivotal in 2024. Many are running for positions like secretary of state, where they'll have power to determine which votes get counted in future elections — and which don't.

In 37 states, secretaries of state are the chief elections officers — overseeing things like election infrastructure and voter registration. In 2020, they were the last line of defense for our fragile democracy, upholding Joe Biden’s win despite heavy pressure from proponents of Trump's Big Lie.

But now, Big Lie proponents are vying to hold this key position in important swing states.

In Michigan, the GOP candidate for Secretary of State is Kristina Karamo — who rose to prominence in conservative circles after claiming to have witnessed election fraud as a pollster. She’s also previously claimed that Trump won the 2020 election and that Antifa was behind the January 6th insurrection.

In Arizona, Mark Finchem, a QAnon-supporting member of the Oath Keepers militia who participated in the January 6 insurrection cruised to victory in the GOP primary by claiming that “Donald Trump won.”

In Nevada, Jim Marchant won his Republican primary by making Trump's baseless claims of election fraud a cornerstone of his campaign. He also falsely claims that mail-in voting is rife with fraud and wants to eliminate it altogether in Nevada, despite the fact that he himself has voted by mail MULTIPLE times over the years.

We simply cannot have MAGA election deniers overseeing any element of our elections.

But it’s not just secretaries of state who will be able to pull trickery in future elections. Governors also play a critical role in certifying votes and upholding the will of the people. Which is precisely why Trump and Steve Bannon have had their eyes on running election deniers in these races.

In Pennsylvania, Republican gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano — who was also at the Capitol on January 6th and has been subpoenaed by Congress for his involvement in the insurrection — helped lead the push to overturn the state’s 2020 results. If he wins, Mastriano would appoint Pennsylvania’s top election official.

In Arizona, GOP gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake has said she does not recognize Joe Biden as the nation’s legitimate president — adding that she would not have certified Arizona’s 2020 election results had she been governor.

In Wisconsin, Tim Michels is the Trump backed candidate for governor who still questions the results of 2020 and won’t say whether he would certify the 2024 presidential election. Right now, elections in Wisconsin are administered by the bipartisan Wisconsin Election Commission. But if Michels wins, he supports scrapping the commission in favor of a plan that could tilt oversight of the state’s elections into the hands of Wisconsin Republicans.

These extremist gubernatorial candidates also support abortion bans, openly denegrate the LGBTQ community, oppose common sense gun-control measures, and want to chip away at the rights of workers.

Ultimately, if any of these candidates wins their election this fall — governors or secretaries of state — that could be enough to tip the balance in a tight presidential election.

So how can we fight back?

First, spread the word about the GOP's extremist plans to capture the election process and entrench minority rule. Make sure your friends and family — especially young voters — know what’s at stake in the midterms this fall. It will mean a lot coming from you. Make sure they register AND vote down the entire ballot.

Next, get involved locally. Volunteer to be a poll worker or join a campaign for a candidate running to protect democracy where you live. From school boards to secretaries of state, every position matters.

And of course, vote! Check your registration early and make a plan to cast your ballot.

The future of our country and our basic rights hang in the balance. All progress rests on maintaining our democracy. Let's get to work.

#youtube #video #videos #politics #election #2022 #donald trump #maga

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ncisfranchise-source · 1 month

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The NCIS franchise will be airing its 1,000th episode on April 15, and CBS Studios President David Stapf has been involved in every single one of them. Because he was head of CBS current programming at the time, he even participated in the development of the mothership series from Day 1 because it originated as two back-door pilot episodes of an existing show, JAG, that aired in April 2003. He was in on all casting sessions and still remembers Pauley Perrette’s audition that won her the role of Abby in the room.

Scheduled against then-Fox juggernaut American Idol, NCIS, about a little known branch of the U.S. military, got off to an inauspicious start, finishing its first season ranked #26. By Season 7, it was the most watched TV drama, holding its own against Idol, and became the most watched program overall three seasons later while also ruling syndication.

CBS’ Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach has been with the show since Season 8 when she was assigned as the day-to-day current executive on the drama and quickly became a fan. At the time NCIS had already spawned one spinoff, NCIS: LA. It was followed by NCIS: New Orleans in 2014; the franchise’s first female-led offshoot NCIS: Hawai’i in 2021; the first international installment, NCIS: Sydney, last year; as well as the upcoming prequel NCIS: Origins for CBS, executive produced and narrated by Mark Harmon and starring Austin Stowell as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the 1990s; and an Europe-set Tony & Ziva spinoff for Paramount+, starring NCIS alums Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo.

The latest pickups make NCIS the largest procedural franchise ever with five current series. They also will help grow the franchise’s global audience, estimated to be more than 300 million viewers in 2023 by producer CBS Studios, which has licensed it in over 200 markets, and the franchise’s staggering current U.S. tally of 4.37 trillion minutes viewed.

In an interview with Deadline, Stapf and Reisenbach, who was promoted to the CBS Entertainment president post in November 2022, discuss expanding the NCIS universe, how the latest additions came about and potential crossovers. They provide an update on the Tony & Ziva spinoff’s title, production start date and possible cast additions, and on the renewal status for NCIS and NCIS: Hawai’i. The duo also address the prospects for Mark Harmon to appear on NCIS or Origins and for a potential Perrette and Scott Bakula return to the franchise, share plans for further NCIS installments, and how big the franchise can get.

DEADLINE: NCIS: Sydney just got picked up yesterday for a second season. What about NCIS and NCIS Hawai’i? Are you already working on their renewals?

REISENBACH: Like we talked about it a couple months ago, NCIS is a cornerstone of our schedule. The actors love doing it, and the writers continue to fire on all cylinders. As far as the future, we’re thrilled to have them on the air and they want to keep doing it, so we’re going to keep doing it.

DEADLINE: So it’s looking good for NCIS and Hawai’i to come back next season?

REISENBACH: It’s still only March, and we haven’t made all of our deals and decision-making so it’s a little early to officially confirm anything.

DEADLINE: Sydney was used as strike contingency last fall. What was the impetus to bring it back to CBS with the strike over? Are you going to use it as a summer series?

REISENBACH: I can’t tell you where it’s going to air yet because we haven’t figured that out to be honest. Again, that’s sort of the too soon to tell category. But the show resonated, it was the number one show until we brought back the rest of the schedule. It came on and did really well without much of our launch platform.

We had a great launch campaign for it, if you remember, we did these amazing upside-down promos during football that got a lot of attention. So I think just the fact that it launched with very little original programming surrounding it and did so well, it has earned a spot back on the schedule at some point for sure.

youtube

DEADLINE: In expanding the NCIS franchise, you originally took the traditional route, replicating the general formula in a new location with LA and New Orleans. Then in close succession, you ordered Hawai’i and Australia-set Sydney, which have a similar setup, followed by the pickups of prequel Origins and the Tony and Ziva spinoff this year. When did that accelerated expansion master plan start and where are we in it right now?

STAPF: The master plan started a long time ago. We had NCIS. It certainly worked well enough to spawn a spinoff, LA, which also worked really well, that was on for 13 years, I think that show doesn’t get the credit it deserves as expanding the franchise but also deepening the love of the franchise for viewers.

We knew and always wanted to expand it, but when you’re dealing with a franchise, you don’t want to oversaturate the market, you don’t want to dilute the value of each individual show. So it really comes down to somebody coming in with an idea for a show that could stand on its own and could be part of the franchise but is wholly unique from any of the others. Hawai’i certainly did that in the way that it was unique, a female lead, set in Hawaii. We were just coming off Hawaii Five-0, a very successful show. People love that setting, it plays well over the globe.

REISENBACH: There is a big military presence too in Hawaii that makes sense.

STAPF: Sydney certainly was not intended for the States. The strike afforded the network the ability to utilize it but that was going to be P+ Australia and Network 10. I would love to say we didn’t get lucky, that it was planned, we knew it was going to be as great as it is. But we got lucky, that show is really well done. It very much has the DNA of what makes NCIS work, humor, family, etc.

In the case of Origins, Mark and Sean Harman had this idea with [writers] David North and Gina Monreal, and they brought it to us. I was like, oh my gosh, this idea is great. Commissioned a script, the script was even better. So it’s like, okay, can this show exist within the framework of the franchise we have? And we do believe it can, particularly because it’s a prequel. And because NCIS has been on for so long and Mark’s been gone for a while, there’s genuine interest in, how did Gibbs become Gibbs, who was that guy? So again, there was an organic reason to do it vs. us just saying, let’s just throw on another NCIS.

Tony and Ziva, it’s one of the most unrequited love stories for the audience, the audience loved Tony and Ziva. And in the audience’s mind, and in our mind, they left too soon. So, reuniting them with a global audience is the intent on that show. And because it’s going to be on Paramount+, it can exist within the universe without, in our minds, cannibalizing anything else.

REISENBACH: I would also add just two things to that. One, I think that [CBS President and CEO] George Cheeks arriving [in 2020], he really embraced the show and saw the potential and immediately identified that as an area to be looking at when opportunities arise. And I think the [NCIS-LA-Hawai’i] three-way crossover we did, the fact that it was so successful for us. The fans loved it so much and the actors and the writers loved doing it, and it showed that they love the opportunity to see these worlds and these characters collide.

DEADLINE: You mentioned how Origins came about but not the Tony and Ziva spinoff. How did it originate?

STAPF: Michael and Cote have been talking about this show for years and years and years. So they were the ones that cooked up the rough edges of the idea, went to [writer] John McNamara, along with us, saying, we’d love to do this show. And the timing was right.

DEADLINE: Did that happen after the end of Michael’s other CBS show, Bull?

STAPF: They had started talking about it before, somewhere after they had both left NCIS. Put yourself in their shoes. They’re constantly getting hit up by fans as to, oh my god, I miss you. When are you going to be back together, what happened to your child and all that stuff. And so, again, I keep saying it but there was an organic reason for this show to exist, it was almost like a fan demand for it.

DEADLINE: You mentioned that they may have left too soon. Why did they leave so soon?

STAPF: In the fans’ minds. They would want them on for a 100 years.

REISENBACH: Well, both of them were on the show a long time.

STAPF: A really, really long time.

DEADLINE: Do we have a title for the Tony and Ziva spinoff yet?

STAPF: Not yet.

DEADLINE: Amy, are you jealous that the spinoff didn’t come to CBS?

REISENBACH: Hm, jealous? Yeah, a little bit, I’m not going to lie, sure. I’m a Tiva fan like everyone else. BTW, the phrase Tiva was one of the original couple names that ever existed, I don’t think we get enough credit for that.

But we all work together. We are all one ecosystem, and I have no doubt that Origins and the shows that live on the network will drive viewers over at P+ and likewise their show will send them back our way, and that’s what matters most, that people are watching it and I think, it’s such a treat for the fans no matter wherever it airs.

DEADLINE: Was there even a conversation for the spinoff to air on CBS or was it always supposed to be a Paramount+ show?

STAPF: No, it was always designed to be a streaming show.

DEADLINE: Would the premiere at least air on CBS in the tradition of P+ shows with CBS history such as Star Trek: Discovery or SEAL Team?

STAPF: It’s a good question. We haven’t dealt with it yet. We don’t start shooting until summer so I’ll start annoying Amy with that sometime this summer.

DEADLINE: Is there a possibility for other former NCIS cast members to join Michael Weatherly and Code de Pablo in the new series?

STAPF: In all honesty, as it’s designed now, no, but never say never.

DEADLINE: This is your second internationally-based NCIS spinoff after Sydney, which is interesting since NCIS is a unit of the U.S. military that does not exist abroad. You found two different ways to extend the franchise beyond the U.S. Do you have ideas for more offshoots in other areas of the world and how are you going to pull that off?

STAPF: There could be but we don’t look at the setting or the geographical location determining what the story should be. It’s more about what’s a good story to tell, where would this organically happen? We’re constantly fielding pitches and coming up with ideas of our own. But you don’t want to rush anything, you want to get it right. You certainly don’t want to, like I said before, dilute the shows that are on by having too much on or having any that are on that aren’t of the quality of the rest of them.

DEADLINE: Do you have anything currently in development in the NCIS universe?

STAPF: Nothing that’s close enough to talk about.

DEADLINE: But in the plan, is there a timetable about maybe adding a new series to the universe every couple of years? You’ve announced four in the past three years.

STAPF: If it organically comes about, and there’s a reason for that show to exist, then yes. But we’re not looking at it as a math problem of, we want two every four years…

REISENBACH: It’s not like when they announced Star Wars and they said, there’ll be a new Star Wars movie every year. We don’t have a plan like that.

STAPF: We don’t want a plan like that.

DEADLINE: Amy mentioned the success of the three-way crossover. What are the possibilities, particularly for the Tony and Ziva show, to be part of NCIS crossovers? Can they appear on NCIS? Michael recently did a cameo in the David McCallum tribute episode. Was it tied to his work on the spinoff?

REISENBACH: I can speak to the cameo. That was just Michael wanting to honor David McCallum, and we thought it was important as well to make sure that we tied in iconic characters like that. He just wanted to show up and was game to do it because of his love of the show.

STAPF: And his love for David. it was such a nice moment for the fans too.

DEADLINE: And in terms of potential crossovers?

STAPF: There could be. We’re not there yet, writers room just started on Tony and Ziva.

REISENBACH: With Origins, I don’t see a possibility because it takes place in the past but we’re always looking for opportunities. It was obviously a shortened season, so it was tough to do that [with NCIS and Hawai’i] this year. Otherwise we would have. We’ll keep looking for those opportunities for sure.

DEADLINE: On Origins, Mark Harmon is an executive producer and a narrator. He could appear in flash-forwards. Is this something that’s you’re considering? And is there a possibility for Mark to return to NCIS one day?

REISENBACH: The door for Mark is always open, It’s really up to him. In terms of flash-forwards, I don’t think it’s something we’ve talked about, that doesn’t feel like the DNA of that show to me, at least right now. But you never know, when we’re in Season 10, we’re taking creative risks and having fun. So if that’s something Gina and David wanted to tackle down the road, we’d be open to it.

DEADLINE: You have brought back a few actors from other NCIS shows, LA‘s LL Cool J is now on Hawai’i. Is this something that you’re planning to continue, keeping the universe going? Can we see New Orleans‘ Scott Bakula pop up somewhere; we haven’t seen him in a couple of years.

STAPF: It’s really writer-driven. As Amy said, we’re open to anything and everything. So if any of the writers have a good idea, and it feels organic, and more on story and make sense versus just doing it to do a stunt, sure, we are open to it.

REISENBACH: [LA‘s] Daniela [Ruah] has been directing, she started directing on LA, she’s directing on Hawai’i and NCIS mothership this year as well. I think when you get into this universe and become a part of the family, we’re always happy to have you back in any capacity.

DEADLINE: What about Pauley? Is there a possibility for her either returning to NCIS or you doing a new show around her character Abby the way you treated Tony and Ziva?

STAPF: Not a bad idea. We haven’t talked about it or thought about it. We love Pauley, and she’s always welcome in any of the NCIS franchise, but it hasn’t come to us from the writers and/or from her. I kind of was kidding when I said, it’s not a bad idea but it’s genuinely not a bad idea, she was a beloved character.

DEADLINE: NCIS was a late bloomer, rising to the top of the rankings later in its run. It seems like it was one of those shows that just stuck around, something that maybe wouldn’t have happened in today’s environment when shows get canceled much faster.

STAPF: Except it was around its second or third season, Armando Nuñez, our head of distribution, called me and said, are you noticing what’s going on with NCIS internationally? I was like, no, that’s your job. And he said, it’s exploding. Every market it was in, it was doing extraordinarily well. It was selling really well, which was always a surprise to me because it’s about a unit of the military that nobody had ever really heard of. And it was a very American military [show] so I figured it’s not going to work over there, but it did.

So it was a bigger hit globally than it was in the U.S., and the U.S. sort of trailed it. It really started to take off — maybe it wasn’t number one — but it climbed in the ratings precipitously. I think in year four or five, it became hey, this show is doing something.

DEADLINE: Over the years, NCIS has dealt with major cast departures, including Mark Harmon, the deaths of showrunner Gary Glasberg and David McCallum, behind-the-scene changes. To what do you attribute the longevity of show which continues to be at the top of the ratings?

REISENBACH: For me, I attribute it to the fact that there’s always been a core feeling that the people who write the show, the people who produce it, the crew and the actors, no matter whether they were there from the beginning or not, they understand the DNA of the show, and they’ve always stayed true to that.

Nobody who’s come in has ever been like, oh, well now I need to fix it. Everyone understood it’s a concept that works, it’s characters that work. And it’s not about those specific characters, but the type of characters and the specificity of the characters and the love that these characters show each other so openly that I think has transcended, no matter who’s running the show, or who’s been on the show at any given time.

STAPF: It’s sort of wish fulfillment TV. You want to know that there are people like this in the world that have your back from a law enforcement agency angle, but it’s also a fun workplace show, and the bond that they have and the sh*t that they give each other and the way that they interact, is comforting.

The show has a ton of heart, humor, always has a good mystery. And I think there’s something comforting to, the bad guys are always identified and put down by the good guys or our guys. And that happens on an episodic basis. I think that the comfort of that has hit the right chord with the audiences for 21 years and will continue on for another 20 years or something. I honestly believe this franchise will never get stale.

REISENBACH: I think being in Season 21 doesn’t lower the degree of difficulty. If anything, it makes it harder. They’ve got 400-plus episodes behind them of quality shows, and the fact that they continue to hold themselves up to such a high standard. As long as they’re shooting for the stars — and all the shows really are — we want to keep doing them.

DEADLINE: Do you have a dream NCIS spinoff? What do you want to see from the universe going forward?

STAPF: Just that it continues to resonate like it is. There’s a stat like 300 million people watched an NCIS last year. Clearly, globally, it’s resonating with viewers. So to continue that, the level of quality on the shows, along with pleasing and garnering the audience that we’re getting. And it’s kind of fun. It’s wild to think that there’s five NCIS series.

REISENBACH: But also unique.

STAPF: Exactly.

DEADLINE: Is five as big as it gets in terms of how many NCISs you can sustain at the same time?

STAPF: Not necessarily. It will come down to the individual shows that we develop. I think if there’s the right timing and fit within the universe, then it doesn’t have to be limited to five.

REISENBACH: We are always asking and challenging not only the writers who are pitching to us but ourselves, why now? Why does it need to exist, what feels fresh?

DEADLINE: So what is the goal? The NCIS franchise is hitting 1,000 episodes. Do you think you can get to 2,000?

STAPF: For me the goal is that in 10 years, there’s other people sitting in our seats that are watching over NCIS.

REISENBACH: Where am I going? I just got this job.

STAPF: OK, in 20 years.

#interview #cbs #ncis #ncis la #ncis hawaii #ncis sydney #ncis new orleans #Youtube

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wasabisimblr · 2 months

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Generation One: Mint

You’re a mischievous scientist that really loves the color mint. You’re career driven but still make time for silly pranks and outings with your closest friends. You love luxury and want the best for yourself and your family.

Traits: Vegetarian, Jealous, Materialistic Aspiration: Chief of Mischief Career: Scientist

Rules:

Master scientist career and complete Chief of Mischief aspiration

Master mischief and logic skills

Complete elements collection

Meet Thea Mint: Unconventional Sim with a Twist 👽

In the vibrant world of Sims, where each character boasts a unique tale, there's one sim who stands out amidst the pixelated crowd – Thea Mint. She's not your typical sim; she's a blend of quirks and complexities that make her journey through the Not So Berry challenge truly captivating.

A Glimpse into Thea's World 👽

From the moment you meet Thea, her aura exudes an unconventional charm. As the protagonist of my Not So Berry challenge, Thea Mint arrived in SimTown with a whirlwind of aspirations and ambitions. Little did I know, she would become the cornerstone of my Simverse adventures.

The Complexities of Thea Mint 👽

Thea is not your run-of-the-mill sim. Her traits – vegetarian, jealous, and materialistic – paint a colorful canvas of contradictions. Yet, it's precisely these traits that make her such a fascinating character to navigate through the game.

"I'm telling you, Stacy, being a vegetarian isn't just about the food. It's about living in harmony with nature. Plus, have you seen the vibrant colors of those veggie dishes? They're like a work of art on my plate!"

While her vegetarian lifestyle reflects her compassionate side, her bouts of jealousy add an unexpected twist to her relationships.

"I saw you talking to Jacob at the bar last night. Don't try to deny it. I may not have eyes in the back of my head, but I've got friends who keep me informed."

And let's not forget her materialistic tendencies, which inject a dash of luxury into her everyday pursuits.

"Who needs a basic sofa when you can have this plush, velvet one that screams sophistication? It's not just furniture; it's a statement piece, darling."

Aspirations and Career Path 👽

One might assume that a sim with such diverse traits would have a scattered focus, but not Thea. Her aspiration to become the Chief of Mischief is a testament to her mischievous spirit and her thirst for adventure.

"I've always had a knack for stirring up trouble. Why not make a career out of it? Besides, what's life without a little excitement, right?"

Coupled with her career as a Scientist, Thea's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. From conducting groundbreaking experiments in the lab to stirring up mischief in the neighborhood, she embraces each challenge with gusto.

Navigating Parenthood and Divorce 👽

Despite her busy schedule, Thea is also a devoted mother. With one child to care for, she juggles the demands of parenthood alongside her career aspirations.

"Mommy, can we have a picnic in the backyard today? I promise I'll eat all my veggies!"

However, her journey as a parent hasn't been without its hurdles. Thea navigated the tumultuous waters of divorce, emerging stronger and more resilient than ever before.

"It wasn't easy, but sometimes you have to make tough choices for the sake of your own happiness. And let's face it, I'm too fabulous to settle for anything less than extraordinary."

It's a testament to her character – she faces adversity head-on, refusing to let it dim her sparkle.

Thea Mint: A Sim Worth Rooting For 👽

As I continue to guide Thea through the twists and turns of her Not So Berry challenge, one thing becomes abundantly clear – she's more than just a sim. She's a reflection of resilience, complexity, and the unwavering spirit of adventure.

"Who says sims can't have it all? I've got dreams to chase, mischief to make, and a whole lot of love to give. Watch out, Newcrest – Thea Mint is here to conquer!"

#sims 4 #ts4 #sims 4 legacy #legacy challenge #not so berry #simblr

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