As I have been teaching through the book of Proverbs recently, something has struck me. Not ‘struck me’ as in I had never noticed it before, but as in ‘wow, this is really important’. It is not the content of the book (there is a lot of important content, don’t get me wrong), but the form.

Frequently, when I am preaching, I remind my audience that, for most of Scripture, there are no chapter or verse divisions in the original text. For the Book of Psalms, this isn’t true for chapters (and, for at least one Psalm, for verses), but for the Book of Proverbs, it isn’t true for verses. The book of Proverbs, in a large part, is clearly delineated into ‘verses’.

Couplets

And these verses have a form. For much of the book of Proverbs that form is two sets of two things.

“The fear of the LORD” is “The beginning of knowledge”…

but

“Fools”… “despise wisdom and instruction”

Now, not all of the Proverbs are written that way, but a huge number are. The first part of the proverb talks about how something is something, or leads to something… and the second part talks about how something else leads to something else.

Contrast

Now this basic form has two forms… that of agreement/augmentation, and that of contrast. A double contrast, typically. The Fool vs the wise man, destruction vs blessing. The temptation is to wave your hands over these contrasts, putting them merely into vague groups… and ignore the details. But I believe the details are highly significant.

Suppose, for example, that a proverb contrasted the soldier and the scholar. Ignoring the poetry, what of the businessman? The proverbs castigate the fool, the lazy man, the evil man, the violent man, the unrighteous man… but it does not do so in the same way. And if we are to understand how to apply the proverbs to our own life, we will need to understand if we are being a fool or a lazy man… or both.

(To answer an objection: all lazy man are being foolish when they are lazy… but not all foolish men have laziness as their besetting sin. The fornicator might not be violent, the theif might be very hard working.)

So let’s look at the verse in the heading. Let us notice that the contrast isn’t merely between ‘hardworking’ and ‘lazy’, and ‘shame and honour’… or wisdom and foolishness. No, you have to see the contrast between gathering in summar, vs sleeping in the harvest. Summer. The hot season, before the main crops are ready, but there is still a lot you can go gather. Versus harvest. Like, when all of the grain is sitting there ready to be picked?

And the result. Being wise… versus causing shame. These details matter.

Duality

Another element of the Proverbs that comes in the form of a two, is that of the application. The Book of Proverbs has, as I read it, two layers of application: the practical and the spiritual.

It is a well-known, and amusing if it wasn’t so sad, fact that many commentators over the ages, when faced with interpreting the Song of Solomon, have rendered their interpretation and application 100% spiritual. In a book which speaks a good deal about kissing and breasts, their glasses only let them see the gospel and life of the church.

I believe that many people have the opposite problem when it comes to the Book of Proverbs… and with more justification, it seems to me. The Book of Proverbs, read on its surface level, is, for the most part, an eminently practical book. The lazy man… will come to poverty. Physical laziness and physical poverty not only come to mind, but should come to mind.

But the wise (irony fully intended) reader of Proverbs will understand that the same principles apply spiritually: that the man who is spiritually lazy will come to spiritual poverty. Proverbs Five tells the married man to rejoice with the wife of his youth, as an antidote to an affair. But surely we need to also apply this to rejoicing with Christ… and spending so much time with Him that we are not tempted to the idolatry everywhere rampant in the world!

Conclusion

One might say this is all a big diatribe against ‘handwaving’. The idea of looking at a passage and just waving your hands and saying ‘This is just about that’. I am trying to encourage us to look at each passage in its own light, its context, using its own words, and working with its own concepts. The Book of Proverbs does not just say ‘Don’t be lazy’… however true that is. It lays out the results of laziness. It does not merely say ‘Listen to your father and mother’… it lays out dozens of ways in which we should listen, areas we should listen.

And it does not just say ‘don’t commit adultery’.

Note: My computer crashed, so it is a lot harder for me to publish posts, etc. Thanks for your patience :)

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

Hebrews 5:8-9

Though he were a Son, yet

learned he obedience

by the things which he suffered; And

being made perfect,

he became the author of eternal salvation unto

all them that obey him;

Faith, without works… is dead. That is the message of James. But looking at it from the opposite direction, it is also the message of Hebrews.

The trick in reading Hebrews is to notice how, completely without emphasising it, the ‘works’ of the various Bible characters, from Christ to Abel, are mentioned in the light of their faith. Mentioned as if the two were joined at the hip, mentioned without specific emphasis.

Take the passage above. What a theologically impossible passage! The omnipotent, omniscient, etc., etc., son of God being… made perfect. Learning obedience’

This post is not here to go into all of the details of how ‘perfect’ means complete, but to mention that that perfection came because of action, not just sitting around having faith. That He is the author of eternal salvation to those who obey, not just believe. Indeed, that the entire book of Hebrews puts the issue of ‘obedience’ as a natural result of faith.

By Faith: Hebrews Eleven

Hebrews Eleven is often mentioned as the pre-eminent chapter on faith. A great list of those Old Testament believers who looked forward, with faith, to the coming of Christ. But what the chapter brings forward is not armchair faith… but living faith. Not ‘walk the aisle’ faith, but ‘walk the walk’ faith.

The structure of the chapter is clear ‘by faith’… verb. ‘By faith’… action. We are called to take notice of their faith, to imitate their faith. But we are not called to ignore their actions.

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice

This is one of the more intriguing passages in all of Scripture. Because… we don’t see the faith. Not that it isn’t there, but we don’t see its pigeonhole. Sure, Peter needed faith to walk on the water. He needed to believe that the water would hold him up, believe because Christ called him, etc.

But we have no idea what Abel had faith in… what commands of God he was obeying. But this we know… it was by faith.

5 By faith Enoch … pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Nor do we see the faith of Enoch. We are just told it was there, and that it so affected his entire life that he ended up being taken directly up… do not pass go, do not collect $100. But we know it was there.

7 By faith Noah, … prepared an ark.

Now, this kind of faith we can see. God told him, on a hot, dry day,1 to build an ark, and he built it. And built it. And built it. Year after year, tree after tree, animal after animal, Noah continued in obedience, faithful obedience. And then came the deluge.

8 By faith Abraham, …, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Modern people don’t know how to drive without GPS. I was in an ambulance with a young woman a few years ago, and we got a call to a house right around the block. Two turns. I told her where to go… but she insisted on putting it in her GPS! She had no faith in my directions!!

Compare that to Abraham, who, told to go… went.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, … dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, :

Still Abraham, still obeying. When he was told to go… he went. When he was told to stay… he stayed.

17 By faith Abraham,…offered up Isaac:

There’s faith for you!

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau.

If you don’t think this took faith, ask yourself how many modern fathers do this.

21 By faith Jacob,… blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped,

It is, perhaps, odd to modern believers how much of OT expressions of faith concerned their descendants. They did not have faith in individualism, but in God acting through history… including their descendants.

22 By faith Joseph, … made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

As you get older it becomes more common to get an ad from some funeral home or whatever telling you to ‘plan’. Well, Jospeh took this a step beyond. He called in his sons and

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents,

Moses occupies one of the most prominent positions in Hebrews 11. His entire life was delineated by faith… including the fact that he was hidden by his parents. It is a hard thing, looking at some great tyranny in history and wondering how you would have reacted. But Scripture makes it clear here: the reaction of the parents was due to faith. Not just animal instinct and panic… but faith.

24 By faith Moses, … refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

The Charlton Heston movie makes a great deal out of supposed sibling rivalry between Moses and another brother of Egypt. But the Scriptures make it clear: he rejected his position in Pharoh’s family… by faith.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, … for he endured…

We read in Scripture of his fleeing from Egypt when accused of murder. But we also read that he left… by faith.

28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood,

Faith has different aspects. Some aspects keep you going through trials, others have you reaction before events. Keeping this strange ceremony of passover… with the idea that there was coming a great death… relied on faith.

29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land:

This faith was different. This faith meant that you walked through walls of water, trusting the God who was keeping the water up to keep keeping the water up. To walk through the walls of water, to walk on the dry land, all the while knowing that only God could be doing this.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

Seven days. A long time to keep walking around a city with nothing happening.

31 By faith the harlot Rahab… received the spies with peace.

Sometimes faith might mean trusting in the evidence that you have been given. Rahab had heard, along with the rest of her people, about all of the powerful things that the God of Israel had been doing. And instead of fighting against Him, she came over to his side.

Wherefore… Let us

And then the author of Hebrews says… let us. The examples we read in chapter eleven are to be… examples. Examples for us to follow. We, too, are to have faith. And we, too, are to ‘let’ our faith be worked out. We are called to ‘set aside’ our sin, and to ‘run’ our race.

Not to sit on our armchairs and merely ‘have faith’… but to work out that faith. We are called to follow their example. To take the faith that we have been given, and use it to obey the commands we have been given. To live the life we have been called to.

Chastening

And one of the ways we are to work out our faith is by… enduring chastening. To see what happens to us in this world not as the whim of fate, or the attacks of satan, but the scourging of God.

Obedience

It seems to be a mark of our age that anytime we come across a verse and we do not like the command it gives… we find a way out of obeying it. Christ speaks against divorce, we find excuses. Paul commands women to obey their husbands, or be silent in church… we relegate that to a cultural context.

With Christ and the heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11, we continually see them showing their faith through obedience, yet we, ourselves, continually deny that there is any obedience necessary.

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

So if you’re looking for my Science Fiction… you’ll have to move over there :)

SciFiction

Letters

Greetings from the Old Town…

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2 months ago · 1 like · Von

SciFiction

Ready for their Next Challenge

The next hour was fantastic. Sue relaxed more and more as time went on. Mr Madison did most of the talking, and showed videos of them from their bunny days (which the audience found most amusing, especially Frank getting bitten on the ankle) to their final few fights against pretty dramatic opponents. And when he did interview them, he asked the same ki…

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2 months ago · 1 like · Von

SciFiction

Home Again

Going back was tiring, but went well. It was annoying to miss all of Schipboard life; especially everyone listening to my poetry. But I was on a mission now, which was kind of like a hunt, and I flew through <fix dates>. I went first to my Poetry club…

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2 months ago · 1 like · Von

SciFiction

Class: Teacher

“Who is that?” I asked Andrew, as the two of us were walking through a yard at the edge of the school, where a young man... perhaps ten years older than me... sat watching a group of young men as they trained with the sword. Every once in a while he would call one of them over…

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3 months ago · 2 likes · Von

Psalm 19:7-11

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

If we compare David and the Church, we will see that there is no need to have an infallible authority to produce the cannon. Everyone agrees that many of the writings and speeches of David are divinely inspired and many of them are enScripturated. At the same time no one also denies that many of the actions and words of David were not divinely inspired and were in direct contradiction to the word of God

So when the Catholic Church tries to make a link between a man, or group of men, and the system that recognises the Cannon, my response is, “remember David”.

Watching From Afar

I have been reading and enjoying the discussion of , and are having on the issue of the Cannon. Now, to a certain extent I watch the discussion as with a telescope from afar. The issues that I deal with and the arguments that I have for them seem far, far away from the discussions that I am watching. The language used, the appeal to the various fathers, indeed the very ground of the arguments are very different from that which I use.

(Indeed there is a sense in which both sides seem to be contradicting their own positions by their arguments. Both the Catholics and the Protestants involved seem to be elevating the role of human reasoning over either Scripture or church authority. I believe that the truth is that both sides are actually acting on their own presuppositions. That, with Christ, we Protestants say ‘It is written’ and no need to ground it or argue for it. But I digress. My post here is more about flanking manoeuvre… a view from the side. I‘m like a rifleman on a hill to one side of the bloody battle, taking an occasional pot shot.

Back to David

David was such a Godly man that Christ even used his actions as a rebuke to the doctrine of the Pharisees. Now this has always been one of my favorite texts, because Christ’s challenge to the Pharisees is literally ‘have you not read?’ Not a question of interpretation, nor even of an Old Testament teaching, but asking if they had even bothered to read the story!

(I would not like to leave the humour of this very quickly. He was challenging the Pharisees, the most religiously literate group of their day, and perhaps of all time, if they had read a Bible story. The answer being that of course they had read it. They had read it dozens or even hundreds of times.)

But the point lies behind the humour. Yes, they had read it… but had they gotten the message. But in order to get the message what needed to be true? That they understood that the very actions of David, as recorded in Scripture, were authoritative. The form of Christ’s question did not allow for an answer such as ‘Well, that’s Old Testament’ or ‘Well, David was a sinner so no doubt he did the wrong thing here’. Christ does not leave us that option. David’s actions, recorded in Scripture, were held up as a judge of the rules of the Pharisees.

Moving out

The principle here does not merely apply to David. From the beginning to the end of scripture we have men and women: oftentimes Godly men and women, sometimes unGodly men and women, but in only one case an infallible man, whose words go to make up scripture and even to communicating the didactic, prophetic, and and judgemental words of God.

(If you doubt that last, see the words of Balaam above, and of the high priest at Christ's trial. Both were unGodly men, and both spoke the words of God prophetically.)

The idea that it would take an infallible or a coequally authoritative source to recognise the Cannon, is everywhere contradicted by the everywhere evident fact that it took neither of those to produce the Cannon. Indeed some of the authoritative, inerrant, and inspired passages of Scripture are written literally in the context of the sin of the author.

Authority

And looking at the issue of authority, we see the exact same pattern. The Isrealites were severely punished for disobeying Moses, who had been sent by God to rule them. And yet we see him as… not infallible. He sinned. He sinned while leading, and was punished by God for doing so.

Let us be very clear: God has ordained authorities. Human, Earthly authorities. The first authority being that of the husband. The next would be that of the father who, along with the mother, has a place in the ten commandments, the book of Proverbs, and throughout the New Testament. To the extent that Christ Himself emphasises and underlines in His relationship with His Father.

The authorities of a city, nation and church are also promoted in Scripture. But for every one of those authorities which God created, we see them acting, at times, in rebellion to God, in sin, and in error.

And the Word of God, the Law of God, the Testimonies of God record and testify to those errors… inerrantly. Unlike the lying prophets, the faithless pastors, and the corrupt politicians, the Word of God always speaks accurately and with the purest motive.

The Law of the LORD is perfect… but only one human was. Christians are called to respect the authorities which God has set up (see Paul and the High Priest) but it was a Godly ordained authority which condemned Christ.

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

Links

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/speech-acts/

The Protestant Review

Defending Sola Scriptura: The Attribute Inscripturation Thesis

There’s a gap in Protestant apologetics. Sharp Catholic interlocutors exploit it, and it can leave you feeling stuck and frustrated. Yet if you build a bridge from God’s nature to how that nature is expressed through Scripture, you can turn the tables. You can press a dilemma from premises Catholics must accept. What’s that gap…

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4 months ago · 28 likes · 15 comments · Dr. Christopher Cloos

Metapologetics

Talking to, Not Past, Each Other II: On Authority, Scriptural and Ecclesiastical

Introduction…

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3 months ago · 5 likes · 1 comment · Incogito and Alastair

https://substack.com/profile/30751898-alastair

The Protestant Review

Defending Sola Scriptura: The Canon Takes Care of Itself

In Part 1 of this series, I laid a foundation. I showed you the Canon Conundrum at full strength. I identified the gap in most Protestant defenses, which was the missing mechanism connecting God’s ontological uniqueness to Scripture’s normative ultimacy. And I introduced the Attribute Inscripturation Thesis (AIT). It’s the claim that God’s essential com…

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3 months ago · 13 likes · 8 comments · Dr. Christopher Cloos

The lass picked up the pistol and swung it downrange and, before she could really think, Andreina has slapped her across the face.

“What was that for?!” the lass screamed, dropping the pistol.

“You are never to…” Andreina said, and stopped, as the head instructor was coming over, her baton in hand, and her face set angry.

“Bend over!” she said, when she got close but Andreina saw, to her shock, that the instructor was pointing her baton at the lass, not Andreina.

The beating that followed was the most brutal Andreina had yet seen here at camp although her father had delivered worse to her a couple of times, and several times each to her brothers. And then, to everyone’s shock, the instructor just left, without saying anything.

“I… I… forgive me,” the lass said, her eyes down.

Andreina gulped, but she knew what she had to do. “Look at me,” she said, very quietly, and all the lasses did. “Never, ever pick up thy pistol without checking it. Checking it is the first and last thing thou doest, every time, without fail. Doest understand?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” the lass said, again casting her her eyes down.

“And, if you’ll excuse me, Ma’am,” one of the other lasses said to Andreina. “I don’t think,” she said, looking at the lass who had gotten beaten, “That the head instructor was pleased at the way you yelled at our instructor. I think the regular rule here is, ‘apologize first and ask questions later, if at all.’”

Andreina didn’t know how to respond to that, so she just said to the first lass, “Red target.”

The lass carefully picked up the pistol and dusted it off. Then she examined it, very carefully, lifted it to the firing position, thumbed off the safety, and fired.

Andreina looked down at the target indicator. “Awful. All over the place.”

“I was… I had just gotten…”

Andreina looked at her, “Do thou think that the hoppers, an they come out of the woods to you, will care in the slightest that your backside has just been tanned, or that your husband has berated thee, or that thy child has just died?”

She had an evil idea and looked around. “Comest thou and stand right here,” she said, pointing to a spot in the middle of a biting ant mound.

The lasses mouth opened but she did as she was told. “Now, give to me the pistol.”

The lass instinctively started to hand it to her but stopped and went through the checklist, then handed it butt first.

Andreina checked it herself and handed it to another lass. “Red target,” she said.

The lass checked the gun, fired, checked it again, and handed it back when Andreina held out her hand. Andreina looked over. The first lass was wincing occasionally but still had her eyes on Andreina.

“Red target,” Andreina said, placing the pistol on the ground and pointing at the lass who had given the advice.

That lass picked the pistol up, quickly checked, and fired.

Andreina took the pistol from her, checked it, and made as if to hand it to the next lass, but then whirled and tossed it at the first lass, “Red Target!” she shouted.

The lass caught the pistol, fumbled it around, checked it, and fired her five shots. “Again!” Andreina barked.

“Again, again, again, again!” she shouted, after the lass finished each group and then, finally, ‘down pistol’.

The lass checked the pistol slowly and carefully.

“Thou mayest move and beat off the ants,” Andreina said. “Thou wilt no doubt be pleased to know that thy last three sets were better than any of the others.”

“Thank thee, ma’am,” the lass said, crying freely as she frantically beat at herself and pulled off ants. “Oh, oh, oh, I hate these ants!”

“Well, we couldn’t live here at all without them,” another lass said. “You know they kill more hoppers than we do.”

“Truth. Now thou,” Andreina said to her, “Prone in the pile.”

The lass that had been speaking gasped but quickly lay down.

“Tell us how the ants kill hoppers,” Andi asked the lass, who was already wincing.

“They crawl up in their breathing sphincters when they are cold… the hoppers can’t move when they are cold, or not easily, so they crawl up in there, hundreds of them, and eat them… which makes them bleed and swell up… ouch.”

“It is very important that you remain very calm when shooting,” Andi said. “It can save your life.” She paused. “Have any of you ever walked down a street in a poor area in the dark?” Andreina asked. “With so much money in thy purse that thou art sure every bravo knows it. Thine heart is racing, but thou must needs walk normally or everyone will know, thy family depends on thou arriving with this money through, and all of a sudden…”

“Red Target!” she yelled at the lass, who gasped and reached for the pistol, checked, and fired.

“… Thou hast done this before,” Andreina had said, as if nothing had happened, “But that doesn’t mean it won’t be this time that some big guy will step out from an alley and grab thy purse. Thou keepest one gun in thy sleeve and another on thy waist…’

“Red target!”

The lass had kept her aim on the red target and fired instantly. Four more times Andreina had her shoot before he let her get up. Then she turned to the next lass…

“Very good,” her instructor said. “I had planned that for next week, but this was a good time. Personally I don’t lie down in the nest myself, but I can see why thou didst. It was a salutary lesson to the lasses to see you share their discomfort, and hit the target nonetheless. Good job.”

“I have never been so scared in all my life, as when thou gave me students,” Andreina said.

“Not even walking down those dark streets?”

“Not even walking down to meet my husband,” Andreina said, and the instructor laughed.

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

And Mr Madison had given them instructions on how to dress, too, so while his family were all dressed formally he was wearing (under a pair of sweats) his trademark shorts and his Lightning Chargers tight T-shirt. He felt like an idiot!

At least he got to wear shoes! Poor Sue!

And then they came around the corner and his heart about stopped. There must be two hundred people here! “I didn’t realize it was such a big event,” his mother said to him.

“I didn’t either!” Frank said. Was it too late to plead illness?

“Yo, my man,” Seth said, coming up. Where was Jullia? Frank would have expected her to be hanging on Seth. How on Earth had he attracted her?

“Yo,” Frank said, bumping fists. He was about to ask what was going on but that would make him, the fearless leader, sound like an idiot. “You ready?”

A quick look of confusion passed over Seth’s face, but then he seemed to get it and said, “As ready as I can be with all of the mystery that Mr Madison is putting us through!”

“Well, it’s almost time so I guess we’ll see in a minute.”

“Have you seen the door?” Seth asked, pulling him forward.

Frank’s family joined the crowd… it wasn’t really a line… as Frank went forward with Seth. There, on the doors, were two enormous signs. “Lightning Chargers! Grand Event, all public welcome, doors opening at 4:00pm” the one said, and the other was one of their promational posters.And both had the website details all over them. Frank felt his face turning red. Redder and redder.

“Frank!” he heard, and turned to see four of his classmates staring at him. “Frank, are you a movie star?”

“Umm, no, not exactly,” he said. “It’s not a real movie, its a game…”

“They’re opening the doors!” Someone yelled, and Frank turned and saw… Jullia? Jullia and Justice were opening the doors and people were pouring in.

Frank got caught up in the crowd and found himself in the hall, where he had been before, but never like this! Their posters were all over the walls, and one wall was filled with food, that is, tables laden with food. And there were three glass fridges with Coke and all in them, and people were taking them, and Jullia’s folks were here too…

“Hey! How’s it?” he heard, and turned to see Julia hugging, and kissing, Seth, but looking at him. Still a side hug, they seemed reluctant to do anything past that, but she did that very well. And she was rather free with her kisses. Odd girl.

“I’m totally freaked out,” Frank said, when the two had calmed down. “What’s going on?”

“Look up there!” she said, and he followed her finger to the stage which was set up exactly like Mr Madison’s studio.

“An interview?”

“Six months interview! (And no teleprompters,)” she came close and whispered into his ear. “I hope you’re ready. I’ve got go go, lots to do.” And she gave his cheek a quick kiss and darted off.

The next few minutes were chaotic, as people found seats, got food, found seats and then went to get food… the Brown’s kept restocking the fridge. And, he saw, Jullia put some donuts and drinks and all up on the stage. He chuckled. He could tell where her boyfriend was supposed to sit anyway. He had easily twice as many donuts, and a Coke.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Mr Madison said, coming in without any warning, and yelling. “We are so glad you all have come. If I could have you sit down, please, and I would ask the Chargers to come back with me.

Frank, his heart pounding, mounted the stage and, with the others, went behind the stage into a kitchen. “Ok, get dressed,” Mr Madison said, and everyone except George removed their jackets or sweats they had been wearing. George was already in his uniform, which looked much more normal than the others. Sue’s dress looked wonderful, but hardly normal. And Jullia came over with some flowers, which they put in Sue’s hair, and around her wrists and ankles.

“Ok, you lot,” Mr Madison said, when the girls were done. “You wait here, and get ready to come on stage.”

“But, how will we know when to come?” Frank asked.

“Oh, you’ll know!” Mr Madison said. “Oh, and let’s get you in order. George, Seth, Sue, and then Frank. Ready?”

“No!” Seth said, and Mr Madison mussed his hair and walked out.

Seth frantically combed his hair (Jullia having handed him the comb), and they waited in line.

“Ladies and Gentlemen!” Mr Madison said, this time using the mike, so Frank figured he was sitting in his chair. “I hope you are all wondering why you are here!”

The audience duly laughed.

“Although I think some of the boys are happy just coming for the food.”

Another laugh, and some cheers from the boys.

“Well, we are here for an interview. You see those cameras? Well, they are recording all this and, by the end of the day, you should be able to see the entire interview up on the internet. An interview with who, you ask? Well, the answer is ‘The Lightning Chargers’. Who are they, you ask? Well, they are four of your own who, over the last few months, have been taking the game ‘Seven Realms’ by storm.”

“Who am I? I am their producer and director. I make videos of their adventures in the game, and those videos have been doing very, very well. And now, ladies and gentlement, I would ask you to give it up for the Chargers, starting with ‘George Anderson!”

The audience burst out in cheers and George walked out. Frank heard fighting and realised that Mr Madison must be playing a video. Probably something with George killing bunnies. He grinned. That woudl be funny.

“Seth Aaronson!”

Seth walked out and Frank was able to hear the ‘twang’ of the bow.

“The beautiful Miss Susan Williams!”

Jullia had to practically push Susan out the door and Frank made his way up.

“And, last, but certainly not least, their fearless leader, Frank Foster!”

Frank walked out and… the audience was standing and cheering! He almost paused but managed to walk up to his chair, getting a glimpse of the video. Oh, the fight against the giant. That part where he was banging his stick against the giants knee. Well, that did look rather good. Of course, Seth had been the one to really win that fight, putting out the giants eye with an arrow. The giant hadn’t been much trouble after that.

Frank sat down, and the crowd got quiet. And Seth took a drink of Coke and picked up his donus. He knew his schtick.

“Now, we have not been doing this out of the goodness of our hearts,” Mr Madison said, and Frank saw he was taking out checks. “We sell access to the videos, and our sales have been excellent. We are in the top one hundred of all Seven Realms video podcasts, and we have just reached one hundred thousand views.”

The audience cheered and Frank realized what had happened. They had told him, all those months ago, that they would tell their family and friends about the site and all once it had reached 100 thousand views. A few boys had found the videos, but they had sworn them to secrecy.

“Their pay has been rising every month until this month, well, we haven’t reached quite the target that I was shooting for but it still gives me great pleasure to hand them a check, for this last month’s work, for… six thousand dollars!”

The audience gave a gasp before they cheered, and Frank had to force himself to put the check in his pocket, hopefully in a rather nonchalant way.

Yes I know… that picture is totally wrong. So I’m not an AI prompt specialist… I get one thing right, and everything else turns out wrong. I didn’t even ask for the subtitle!

—

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

“Yes, but I will be coming back. You can act as my agent in the meantime.”

“Your agent?”

“Of course. I am your Kolchno, am I not? You know more about me than anyone living, so your guesses should be good. And good for you, I should think.”

He cocked his head to one side, causing me to chuckle, and then he said, “Very well. I will do my best. When do you expect to return?”

“I cannot really say. With the number of Schips going back and forth I don’t think I need to stay with any one Schip, but I can fly from Schip to Schip. This should get me back rather quickly. Then off to the mountains, find the Eagle King, recruit an army of Eagles… I would think I could be back in two months.”

“The Dwarves will be hard pressed to have much in the way of forts done in two months,” Tselnto said.

“True, but irrelevant. We don’t ‘need’ the forts to begin our work. Indeed, we won’t really need the forts until…”

“… until nests are needed,” Tselnto said, with admirable tact, catching my embarrassment.

“Yes. The eggs must be protected,” I said.

“On another issue,” I said, “there are some people that I want in my fort.”

“I think I can guess,” he said, “Scraggle Weed?”

“Yes, and Tentarui and his family in the valley. Their valley if it is a good location. You know the people I have met, surround me with good people.”

“Very well. I think I understand. When are you going to leave?”

“Now,” I said and, matching actions to words, flew off.

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

The lass picked up the pistol and swung it downrange and, before she could really think, Andreina has slapped her across the face.

“What was that for?!” the lass screamed, dropping the pistol.

“You are never to…” Andreina said, and stopped, as the head instructor was coming over, her baton in hand, and her face set angry.

“Bend over!” she said, when she got close but Andreina saw, to her shock, that the instructor was pointing her baton at the lass, not Andreina.

The beating that followed was the most brutal Andreina had yet seen here at camp although her father had delivered worse to her a couple of times, and several times each to her brothers. And then, to everyone’s shock, the instructor just left, without saying anything.

“I… I… forgive me,” the lass said, her eyes down.

Andreina gulped, but she knew what she had to do. “Look at me,” she said, very quietly, and all the lasses did. “Never, ever pick up thy pistol without checking it. Checking it is the first and last thing thou doest, every time, without fail. Doest understand?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” the lass said, again casting her her eyes down.

“And, if you’ll excuse me, Ma’am,” one of the other lasses said to Andreina. “I don’t think,” she said, looking at the lass who had gotten beaten, “That the head instructor was pleased at the way you yelled at our instructor. I think the regular rule here is, ‘apologize first and ask questions later, if at all.’”

Andreina didn’t know how to respond to that, so she just said to the first lass, “Red target.”

The lass carefully picked up the pistol and dusted it off. Then she examined it, very carefully, lifted it to the firing position, thumbed off the safety, and fired.

Andreina looked down at the target indicator. “Awful. All over the place.”

“I was… I had just gotten…”

Andreina looked at her, “Do thou think that the hoppers, an they come out of the woods to you, will care in the slightest that your backside has just been tanned, or that your husband has berated thee, or that thy child has just died?”

She had an evil idea and looked around. “Comest thou and stand right here,” she said, pointing to a spot in the middle of a biting ant mound.

The lasses mouth opened but she did as she was told. “Now, give to me the pistol.”

The lass instinctively started to hand it to her but stopped and went through the checklist, then handed it butt first.

Andreina checked it herself and handed it to another lass. “Red target,” she said.

The lass checked the gun, fired, checked it again, and handed it back when Andreina held out her hand. Andreina looked over. The first lass was wincing occasionally but still had her eyes on Andreina.

“Red target,” Andreina said, placing the pistol on the ground and pointing at the lass who had given the advice.

That lass picked the pistol up, quickly checked, and fired.

Andreina took the pistol from her, checked it, and made as if to hand it to the next lass, but then whirled and tossed it at the first lass, “Red Target!” she shouted.

The lass caught the pistol, fumbled it around, checked it, and fired her five shots. “Again!” Andreina barked.

“Again, again, again, again!” she shouted, after the lass finished each group and then, finally, ‘down pistol’.

The lass checked the pistol slowly and carefully.

“Thou mayest move and beat off the ants,” Andreina said. “Thou wilt no doubt be pleased to know that thy last three sets were better than any of the others.”

“Thank thee, ma’am,” the lass said, crying freely as she frantically beat at herself and pulled off ants. “Oh, oh, oh, I hate these ants!”

“Well, we couldn’t live here at all without them,” another lass said. “You know they kill more hoppers than we do.”

“Truth. Now thou,” Andreina said to her, “Prone in the pile.”

The lass that had been speaking gasped but quickly lay down.

“Tell us how the ants kill hoppers,” Andi asked the lass, who was already wincing.

“They crawl up in their breathing sphincters when they are cold… the hoppers can’t move when they are cold, or not easily, so they crawl up in there, hundreds of them, and eat them… which makes them bleed and swell up… ouch.”

“It is very important that you remain very calm when shooting,” Andi said. “It can save your life.” She paused. “Have any of you ever walked down a street in a poor area in the dark?” Andreina asked. “With so much money in thy purse that thou art sure every bravo knows it. Thine heart is racing, but thou must needs walk normally or everyone will know, thy family depends on thou arriving with this money through, and all of a sudden…”

“Red Target!” she yelled at the lass, who gasped and reached for the pistol, checked, and fired.

“… Thou hast done this before,” Andreina had said, as if nothing had happened, “But that doesn’t mean it won’t be this time that some big guy will step out from an alley and grab thy purse. Thou keepest one gun in thy sleeve and another on thy waist…’

“Red target!”

The lass had kept her aim on the red target and fired instantly. Four more times Andreina had her shoot before he let her get up. Then she turned to the next lass…

“Very good,” her instructor said. “I had planned that for next week, but this was a good time. Personally I don’t lie down in the nest myself, but I can see why thou didst. It was a salutary lesson to the lasses to see you share their discomfort, and hit the target nonetheless. Good job.”

“I have never been so scared in all my life, as when thou gave me students,” Andreina said.

“Not even walking down those dark streets?”

“Not even walking down to meet my husband,” Andreina said, and the instructor laughed.

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

I Thessalonians 5:14-15

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

As I read it there are three types of brothers in Romans 14-15:

the stronger brother,

the weaker brother, and

the disagreeing brothers.

Each brother is given different admonitions and advice. But when interpreting this passage in light of any particular controversy, my experience has been that no Christian wants to put themselves into any of the camps. They wish to claim part of the privileges of one camp, and part from another. And ignore the admonitions given to both

Let me start by laying out who I think the brothers are in this passage, and then I will get into how the modern Christian wishes to play both sides.

The Disagreeing Brother(s)

Now, I know Christians and commentators who disagree (ok, a trifle ironic) that there is such a brother in this passage. Or such a set of brothers, which is how I take it. The passage, according to them, consists merely of those who are right (the stronger brother) and wrong (the weaker brother).

This is fine as far as this particular post goes, but I will say I disagree (see irony above). I believe that there are, and that this passage addresses, brothers who disagree on issues, neither of which should claim the role of either weaker or stronger brother. Brothers who disagree on an issue where the Scripture does not speak authoritatively enough for either of them to take that side.1

These brothers are called to live in peace with each other, and not to spend their time disputing. They are both to be welcomed into the church.

Fully Persuaded

And here is an odd thing. At least for the men who are disagreeing, Paul does not tell them to rest quietly in ignorance, or even agree to disagree. He encourages them to ‘be fully persuaded in [their] own mind[s]’. For my view, which sees these as disagreeing brothers, this is interesting enough. But for those who see one of these as the weaker brother… that is dramatically different from what the church tends toward saying.

They may not say it overtly (or they may, you judge) but the standard attitude toward those considered ‘weaker brothers’ in my experience tends to be: ‘Sit down’, ‘Shut up’, ‘Go along’, ‘Don’t bind the conscience’, ‘That is not a salvation issue’, and the like. Far from encouraging them to continually study so that they will be fully persuaded in their own mind of their own position… the only study that is allowed is on one side of the issue… so that they can be ‘fully persuaded’ that they are wrong.

In other words, the idea seems to be that, “You are wrong, you are infringing on my liberty, shut up until you come to my view,” seems to be what these ‘stronger brothers’ wish Paul had said.

And contrariwise, the ‘weaker brother’ seems to take the position of a turtle: keep your head down, study on your own, do your best not to engage in discussion… and stop your study.

Doubtful Disputations

Before we go on I think I should at least mention the problem the passage is addressing: that of ‘doubtful disputations’. That phrase as two words, and they are both doing work here. The underlying issue is that of a ‘disputation’. The issue of whether we should let people into the church who are going to sit around and argue with everyone.

But the adjective is important: doubtful. I believe that that word means that the kind of disputations that are not allowed are over ‘doubtful’ things. Paul spent a lot of his time in ‘disputations’. Indeed this passage itself could be said to be a ‘disputation’.

So the disputation needs to be ‘doubtful’. I believe that this term encompasses two things, one of which is dealt with in this passage, one in others. Here is the other one:

An example (unfortunately a real one from my past) would be people arguing about what the name for a given demonic authority for a given city or county was.

But this is NOT the type of disputation that I believe is being dealt with in Romans 14 and 15. The examples given there are live issues in the church, where there is real behaviour that would be affected. So whether or not to eat meat that had been offered to idols, whether or not to celebrate given days.

These passages are NOT speaking of areas where Scripture speaks definitively and clearly. Paul is very clear about that:

Weaker Brother

In the New Testament the weaker brother can be one of three people (at the least):

1. Those who come from following the law, and are still trapped in service to it with the idea that salvation comes from that direction.

2. Those who come from idolatry and thus are easily ‘offended’ (a word meaning ‘made to sin’, not merely ‘made upset’) by issues touching idolatry.

3. A brother who has a given weakness, such as a prevalence to sexual sin, and who needs those around him to help support him.2

In this passage we see that the weaker brother is called to two things:

1. Not to judge their brother who has more liberty in a given area.

2. To abstain from those things which cause their brother to sin. Even if those things are things which a stronger brother is able to indulge in.

Stronger Brother

In the New Testament, in the context of this discussion, the stronger brother has the following characteristics:

1. He understands the proper relationship between the law and the Christian.

2. He is set free from (or perhaps never was caught up in) a mental captivity to idolatry and things associated with it.

3. He is not particularly susceptible to a given sin, perhaps because of the gift of God, perhaps (also a gift of God) because of a long successful fight against it or a history or personality that has never led him into that temptation.3

In this passage and elsewhere we see the stronger brother called to two things:

1. Not to despise the weaker brother and

2. To deliberately abstain from exercising their liberty in a way that will offend (cause to sin) their brother. Even if this means abstaining forever.

Neither Brother

So, why do I say that the majority of Christians do not wish to be either brother when in the midst of a dispute or when faced with a disagreement of doctrine?

1. First of all, because no one wishes to be thought of, even in their own mind, as the ‘weaker brother’. But let us be very, very careful here. Paul’s implication here is NOT that we merely have wrong doctrine. That if we merely understood the right thing we would shift to being the ‘stronger’ brother (or even a ‘normal’ brother). What Paul specifically says is that we would need to be ‘fully persuaded’. And if the issue is one of our history, or some particular sinful temptation, he very specifically forbids us from merely announcing ourselves ‘fixed’ and going along with the action.

2. And we may not want to be the weaker brother because that would mean we would have to abstain! We look at the stronger brother getting to do things we don’t get to do, or doing things we don’t believe we should do… and are jealous… so if only we could just convince ourselves that we had the liberty…

3. So, of course, we want to be the stronger brother! Well, except… the stronger brother, in defiance of all of our desires, is required to abstain from those things which will offend the weaker brother! We Americans aren’t big on abstaining, especially to help someone else!

4. And there is the common problem for both of them. Opposite problems with the same difficulty. The weaker brother is not to judge, and the stronger brother is not to despise! In fact, the text is pretty clear that neither brother is to judge or despise. But the whole reason for having a position is to look down on those who don’t share it!

5. In fact there are a lot of people who wish to put themselves in the ‘stronger brother’ class (stating that they are the ones who have the doctrine right) but at the same time wish to judge! To say, “I am right, therefore I have liberty, and you are wrong! Your lack of liberty is sin! Repent immediately and join me in the action!”

What we all wish to do is to assume that we are in the right on the doctrine, and to judge/despise our brother for being wrong on the issue. The last thing we wish to do is to change any of our behaviour in the light of our brother’s view or our own weakness!

Conclusion

The actual lesson of this passage, and the parallel passages, is pretty directly contradictory to what we want them to say. The passage actually makes the following points:

1. Yes, there is a doctrine of liberty, which is understood by stronger believers.

2. It should not come into play when dealing with each other. We are not to force our liberty on others.

3. There are issues where different, even opposing, actions might be sin for one brother versus another. Let me repeat that: it might literally be sin for brother to do something that it would be sin for the other brother not to do.

4. We should each be convinced in our own mind, fully persuaded, as to the truths of the doctrines we put into action. Acting against our conscience based on half understandings and weak reasoning is a path to sin.

5. We each need to support and uplift our brother, not despise or judge them.

6. In areas where we have liberty, we need to not hold to that liberty where it would offend a brother, but to perform the actions which will be best for our neighbour, not easiest for us.

7. In areas where we do not have liberty, we are to be fully persuaded, and not judge or despise our brother who holds a different conviction where they don’t have liberty.

And we need to realise that weakness is not a mere lack of Bible study. The person who comes from one background will have weakness that someone from a different background does not have… and vice versa! We will be strong in one area, and weak in another. The person given to anger might not be tempted at all by theft. The brother who is extremely hospitable or encouraging might find confronting (and therefore fleeing) heresy horribly difficult.

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

Texts

Rom 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

Rom 14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

Rom 14:3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

Rom 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Rom 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Rom 14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

Rom 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

Rom 14:8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

Rom 14:9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.

Rom 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

Rom 14:15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

Rom 14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Rom 14:18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

Rom 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Rom 14:20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

Rom 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

Rom 14:22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Rom 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Rom 15:2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

Rom 15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Rom 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

Rom 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

1Co 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

1Co 8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

1Co 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

1Co 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

1Co 8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

1Co 8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

1Co 8:8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

1Co 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

1Co 8:10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

1Co 8:11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

1Co 8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

1Co 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

“Hello, Alexia,” he said, kissing her.

“Am I never going to get to see you?”

“Sorry. Been busy with my new job, and my book.”

“I know, but I miss you.”

George put down his clipboard. “Well, you have me now.”

The two had kissed for a few minutes when his mother came in. ‘George? Why does this shirt smell of gunpowder?”

Alexia leapt up and grabbed the shirt, “Really?” she said, sniffing it. “It does!”

“Seth’s girlfriend’s father and brother took our whole team to the range.”

“The gun range?”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Oh, a boy that knows how to shoot,” Alexia said, sitting back down next to him.

“Well, as long as they are safe,” his mother said, doubtfully.

“Oh, they’re practically professional,” George assured her.

“So, how is it going with your ‘job’?” she asked him, after his mother had left and when they came up for air.

“We made some money. I told you that. And it’s almost that time of month again, so I hope I will… we will be getting some more.”

She nibbled on his ear. “Can I come watch somtime?”

“Watch me play?” he asked. “That would be fun. You can help me put my suit on.”

She stuck her tounge out at him. “No, silly, watch an interview?”

“Oh, yeah, you can come. At least, I don’t know why not. Seth brings his girlfriend.”

“I didn’t know he had one.”

“Well, he didn’t. But this girl moved in, with her family, across the way from Mr Madison’s house right about the time that we started with him. And she just took to Seth like PB to Jelly.”

“Are they sleepign together?”

“Seth? He would love to ask, I’m sure, but he isn’t exactly Cassanova.”

“Is she cute?”

“Her face and legs, sure.”

“What’s wrong with the rest of her?”

She wears these huge sweatshirts all the time. You can’t see anything.”

“Probably flat. Or maybe huge? Like, out of balance?”

“I don’t think Seth cares. He is just so excited with the attention.”

“Good for him.” She nibbled some more. “So, can I?”

“Sure, Thursday.”

Seth rolled over in bed, and then rolled back, and then got up and looked around, and then, finally, realized that his phone was beeping at him.

Julia: Seth: Hey, you up??

Julia: Seth: Come on, answer me!!

Julia: Seth: I’m sneaking in your house, I’ll be up in your room in a minute.

Seth leapt out of bed and barely managed to get some shorts on when his door quietly opened. “Hey, Big Boy, want to go on a run with me?”

“Umm, sure, yeah, just a sec. Let me get dressed.”

“Surely you don’t need to wear much more?”

“Umm, shoes and socks?”

“Fine, fine, I’ll wait.”

She stared at him as he got his socks and shoes on, and then the two of them crept down to the front door. “What’s with the run?” Seth asked, as they hit teh sidewalk.”

“Just thought it would be more fun with two,” she said.

“Umm, yeah,” he said, running alongside her and watching her. This was fantastic! She had come to his house, woken him up, to go on a run together! And she was so fun to watch run… altho he wished she didn’t have the sweatshirt on!

He was so busy watching her that he missed it when she turned… where are we going?” he asked, looking around.

“Up into the hills. It’s good for my workout, with all the ups and downs.”

Maybe so, but it was tiring. Seth arrived back at my house dripping in sweat, and quickly stripped off and went to the shower. “Seth! Breakfast!”

“I can’t, Ma, I have to get to my work. Sorry, went for a run with Julia this morning.”

Seth figured that the bit about Julia would balance out the bit about breakfast, but he hadn’t counted on his mother’s persisitence. When he got back to his room after his shower there was a plate on his desk. He hurridely scarfed breakfast and then pulled on his suit. Even after all this time it wasn’t easy.”

“Whoa!” he said, when he logged on. “What’s this?”

He had logged out of the game in a tavern, for all love, and now he was in the middle of some woods with a couple of rough looking guys hovering over him.

Don’t worry, I have this under control.

“What happened?”

They kidnapped you from the tavern.

“We snatched you out of that tavern,” the larger of the two men said, at the same time.

“But.. why?”

“Cause we was told do,” the shorter one said. “A lot of money.”

“Ok, Seth, get ready. You’re going to start fading a bit… you’re getting sleepy…”

“Hey, what’s up with him?” the short one asked. “He was waking up.”

“We should just carry him,” the taller one said.

“I ain’t carrying him!” the shorter one said. “I can’t believe that he’s going to sleep again. Hey, you!” he said, reaching down and shaking me.

And then Seith heard the swish of Frank’s sticks and a crack and then a yell and he opened my eyes and saw Frank wacking at the big one. Seth lashed out with my feet as the shorter one tried to get up and kind of tripped him. He was just about to swing on him when George arrived like a freight train and knocked him out of the ring… as it were.

Seth struggled to try to get up… no easy feat with his hands tied behind my back… and he hadn’t managed when Frank managed to knock his guy out, and George ran his through with a sword.

“Oh, poor dear,” Sue said, running up and casting Nature’s Touch on him.

“I’m all right,” Seth said, “Cut me loose!”

“I don’t have any weapons,” she said. “Frank, come cut poor Seth loose, will you?”

“Coming,” Frank said.

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

“Tselnto?” I said.

“Yes,” he said, coming forward. I hear you have been doing some interesting things and I am looking forward to hearing all about them.”

“Yes, yes I have,” I said, “But how did you get here?”

“Oh, once I got done interviewing everyone at the Castle I transformed into a Horseboy and rode here.”

I stared at him, “You transformed into a Horseboy and rode, by yourself, all the way across the plains just to catch up with me? You Elves are crazy!”

He grinned, “Well, yes, we are. Of course, everyone’s crazy, aren’t they? You won’t catch me attacking a full grown Dragon in mid air will you?”

“But that…” I paused. I had liked doing that. It was what Eagles did… not Dragons, particularly but, diving and attacking and all. So what was he telling me? That turning into Horsemen was what Elves did? Or…

“So, you are really into this whole ‘Kolchno thing?” I asked him. “You really do want to get to know me?”

“I knew it was going to be hard,” he said. “It’s not like I can be what Tristan is. Most of your life is up there, and I can’t go there. And no, I’m not going to transform into an Eagle, or a Dragon, or something, just to go up with you.”

I laughed. “No, I wouldn’t expect you to. I’m sorry, I haven’t exactly been the greatest object of study. I completely forgot you at…”

“Are you two coming?” Seth said, stepping back out into the courtyard where he had left me to greet Tselnto. I stopped my apology and, awkwardly, hopped after him.

Luckily they had planned for me and gave me a ‘room’ right inside the hallway and off to the left. A nice big room. //We can hold our meetings here,// Seth said. //The Ghosts will just cling to the walls, but the Dwarves, Spearman, and I will all need chair space. What would be good for you? Some kind of stick?//

I blushed. When I was young I had had some bird that people said would talk (but it never did) and I had kept it in my room on a stick. But really, what else was I to do?

//Sure,// I said. //If the Dwarves could make something up.//

They did, too, and it didn’t even look like a stick. It was kind of a raised platform with edges and, unless you came right up to it, you couldn’t even see the slats that I could hold on to. And they and Haddassah had them cover the whole thing up with royal cloths or something, so it looked official. Who knows, I may even have looked wise! It certainly was easier to sit in while Tselnto grilled me. I must say his Eagle was getting better and better; it was like I really had someone to talk to. And, somehow, he seemed to be getting to know me better, too. Not like the Fisherboys did, or that one Elf turned Fisherboy, but like… I don’t know… like someone who might write my story?

It took several days for Seth to arrange the meeting, but Stone Walker, and his wife (Shadow Whisper) came by several times in the meantime. And then when the meeting was called, to my utter shock, Seth said, //… and so I’d like my brother, the Eagle Prince, to present what we have worked out.//

Almost, almost, almost I stuck my head under my wing. As it was I didn’t speak for several seconds. //Gentlemen,// I said, looking out over the room… which was absolutely packed, //we, my brother and Stone Walker and I, have worked out a plan that, we hope, will change our war against the Dragons. Most of you heard about our most recent hunting trip. Our plan is to get more Eagles to come over, and form more Forts: including Eagles, Ghosts, Spearmen, Dwarves, and Elves.//

//Elves?// a Spearman said, //what do we want them for?//

//They wouldn’t live in the fort but, as you know, they are living in the mountains. We are thinking of using them as additional scouts and relays. They can set up relay stations and pass messages back and forth. With the Eagles ready to fly scout, it will be important to pass messages along the ground.//

//How many Eagles do you think you can get?//

//I don’t know. This is an entirely new phenomenon for us, the Eagles, that is. We, they, knew that you others existed but we never had anything to do with them. I will have to go back and try to talk to them.//

There was a lot more discussion, and some refinements, but eventually everyone agreed with our plan. The Dwarves pledged to start working on the forts right away.

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

Proverbs 30:11-17

There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give.

There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:

The grave; and

the barren womb;

the earth that is not filled with water; and

the fire that saith not, It is enough.

The eye that mocketh at his father, and

despiseth to obey his mother,

the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

Modern Western Society is dying. Indeed all modern societies are dying to the extent they have adopted Western values. This death is evident, and largely unalterable. The statistics proving it are evident to all who look… but there are few who look.

Dead Woman Walking

A number of years ago a doctor told me a tragic story. A young woman had attempted to commit suicide. As for her method, Tylenol. She had taken a massive overdose of Tylenol.

Her family found her, rushed her to the hospital, IV’s, etc etc yada yada. And a few hours later (so my memory of the story goes. Doctors and others should feel free to criticise the details, while still keeping the point in mind), the family were all there as the young woman was being discharged.

The tragedy was, as this doctor related it to me, that various members of the family were all, like, “We’re so glad that they got to you in time…” kind of thing, and the doctor, standing at the side of the room, was heart sick. Because they hadn’t gotten to her in time. They were sending her home to die. The Tylenol had done a number on her liver, and there was nothing they could do. She would get worse and worse and, eventually, die.

So she was walking and talking and being discharged… and dead. She had been killed, but the death wasn’t final yet. Outside of some miracle, she should begin helping plan her funeral.

Dead Societies Walking

Which is the case of our modern societies. The Tylenol has been taken, the liver cannot recover, the patient is in the process of dying… but they still look pretty healthy.

Specifically the ‘liver’ in this case is the population pyramid. Feel free to do your own research, or ask me about it in the comments, but the modern population pyramids are not capable of supporting societal life.

But what is the Tylenol? Well, I think the particular deadly medicine that our society has taken is a combination of several different poisons, but the one I am going to talk about today is ‘Factory Life’.

Planting Seeds

Have you ever planted seeds? No, wrong question. Have you ever grown a plant, harvested the seeds, and then planted those? Year after year?

Cause that used to be the way farming worked. The brand new farmer would buy seeds from someone, plant them, harvest them, and save some for next year. Year after year, farmer after farmer.

But in recent history two very dark things have happened: Farmers have started relying on ‘seed companies’ for their seeds, and those same companies have conspired to make it… illegal to replant their seeds. They are selling you those seeds with a licence to grow the plants to produce food (or cover crop, or ethanol, etc) but not seeds.

This fact is a great benefit to me as a writer of dystopias… this fact and the fact that many of the plants that we grow today can’t reproduce themselves leave rich soil indeed for some rather dark ‘What if’s.

Planting Humans

But the truly dark aspect of this is how it relates… not a causal relationship but a ‘something is causing both’… to our attitude toward ‘planting humans’… ie having fruitful sex and raising the resulting offspring.

Follow me here, I don’t think it is difficult. The blasphemy which is our seed laws is a blasphemy which sees farming as a ‘year by year’ activity. The farmer is not slowly building himself up better and better crops on better and better soil, year after year, generation after generation. He is buying seed, buying fertiliser, buying pesticides… and producing this year’s cash crop. He might not even eat any of his own crop!

Is it too much of a stretch to relate that to the modern attitude toward sex? To see the man and woman entering the bedroom to find out how much they can get out of the activity (and rejecting it when it isn’t enough), instead of looking for the thousands of eventual progeny that will result? To ask how children will affect their lives, limit their ability to take vacations… instead of asking how they should be investing in their children’s lives?

Immigration

There, is, praise the LORD, not yet a ‘seed company’ for young humans. Some people seem to think it is coming. But we do have a fairly close analogue, that comes up whenever you question people about demographics: immigration.

Some people see immigration more or less like the seed company. If you aren’t saving any seed for next year (having children), no problem… we’ll immigrate them! There exists some countries ‘out there’, who are producing children, we will just import those!

Two problems with that to start with. Firstly, they aren’t producing children either (altho more than you). Secondly, if you keep importing people from another country, what country to you have left? If you moved all the Swiss to Poland, and all the Poles to Switzerland, where would ‘Switzerland’ be when you got done?

But the massive problem that I am addressing here is that you are treating population as a ‘year by year’ issue, the same as seeds. Your goal is no longer to create a great country for your children, but to live your best life now. And that… doesn’t work.

Be Fruitful and Multiply

And the problem is not limited to the world. While it is true that one of the better indicators for fruitfulness is if the person involved is a serious believer in a serious religion (can one be a serious believer in a non-serious religion?) it is not, unfortunately, true that a majority, or even a substantial minority, of modern Christians hold to the Biblical standard on Children. Their response to ‘be fruitful’ is ‘I did’, and to ‘a quiver-full’ is a long diatribe on how few arrows actually fill the quiver.

The Biblical blessings are seen as curses, and the Biblical curse is seen as a blessing. And as a result the society to which we are supposed to be salt and light is committing suicide. Slowly, but suicide.

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

The instructor walked out a few seconds later and all the lasses faced her. “Time for a change of clothes,” the instructor said. “Everything from the new pile on.”

Andreina looked down and quickly sorted through the pile and started dressing. At first these clothes seemed bizarre, but then she recognized them: shoes and socks, light gloves, the light pants and a very long shirt, almost a dress, that went over them. The shirt had a hood, and the whole thing was followed up with glasses, dark glasses.

“I’m sure you recognize this,” the instructor said. “Clothing from a high UV planet. We’ll be practicing in this for the next couple of weeks. You’ll be getting vitamin D supplements to make up for the loss of UV.

“As most of you know, our planet has very little of the kind of UV that is required for human life to prosper. Thus our planet, and many other planets, has very little of what is called the ‘nudity taboo’. We know that we need to expose ourselves to the sun, much of our body to the sun, much of the time.

“However some planets have the opposite problem, far too much UV. So you will be training in clothes that you might need to wear there.

“Green course. Begin run.”

Andreina took off quickly, as did the rest of the lasses. Even the fat lasses were pretty quick off the mark now.

“I can’t imagine living in these clothes,” she said to Xena when she caught up with her and Restina in the pack. “They’re incredibly light weight, but still so confining!”

“And just think, there are planets where the people wear these whenever they are out of the house.”

“And inside it, much of the time,” Restina said. My brother told me about it. It’s a choice between have the curtains closed and being decently dressed, or keeping them open and having light, but having to wear these.”

Three hours later Andreina lay gasping on the assembly area, tempted to take her clothes off before instructed for swimming. Swimming would be wonderful after that run. She was soaked with sweat. Eager for the water she began removing her clothes.

“Off to the pond now,” she heard, and turned to see the instructor. “Clothes stay on!” hurriedly dressing along with about half of the students, she ran off to the pond

“Hurry up, Greenling!” the army brat that was her current instructor shouted from where she was standing in the water. “Move it!”

Andreina plunged in as the brat shouted, “Flat stroke!” and so she moved her hands and legs in the frog like motion the stroke called for, feeling every particle of clothing weighing her down. She looked across the pond and sighed. She would finally drown today. She couldn’t do this.

But fifteen minutes later she realized that she was wrong, as she sensed, a sensing born of long practice, that the water was shallow enough for her to touch…

“Tread water!” her instructor said. “I’m not going to be responsible for the paper work thy death would cause.”

And so, the promised land of the shore just out of reach, Andreina continued to tread water until, finally, she felt someone pull her up by the hair.

“Thou wert getting a bit low in the water,” the brat said, grinning. “Go rest on the shore while I do a lap.”

Sobbing Andreina crawled to the shore and collapsed.

“Wake up,” she heard, and looked up to see the brat. “Last task. Back to the other shore.”

“By the way,” the brat said, as she easily stroked on her side beside Andreina, “outside of practice or war thou wouldst never do this. If thou wert to fall in somewhere with thy clothes on, take them off. Especially thy shoes.”

Andreina tried to gasp a reply and the lass grinned, “Thou art no doubt thinking that we good swimmers enjoy this but I can assure thee we don’t. And I am really, really not going to enjoy climbing in these wet clothes.”

Andreina’s mind whirled but, as it turned out, the lass was wrong. The misery was not the climbing, which was a rather slow movement, but the running that the instructor insisted that they do on the way to the cliff. Andreina felt she was being rubbed raw in a dozen spots, most of them intimate. Climbing the cliff just turned the water in her clothing into mud.

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

The boys formed a triangle around her.

“Ok, I’ll do this on open channel, going public in three, two, one…”

“Sue, great news! You levelled up and gained a new skill. It’s called ‘Nature’s Sense’ and will be great for this job.”

“I hope so, we’ve been after these squirrels since forever!” she said, honestly,

“So, your skill is ‘Nature’s Sense’ and you go some new perception stats too. Close your eyes.”

Sue closed her eyes and then opened them up again. “What was that?”

“That’s your new sense. Close your eyes.”

“Oooh. I feel like there are ants crawling all over me.”

“Focus on the sense. Do you know where George is?”

“Yes.”

“You should be able to sense him…”

“Oh! Oh!! George,” she said, pointing, “Seth, Frank. And… oh.”

“Ok, now, boys, walk slowly. Sue, eyes closed, walk betwen them…”

They had gone a dozen steps when she pointed, “What’s that?”

Seth whirled, and shot. “Squirrel!” he said.

“Only four thousand three hundred and seven to go,” George said.

“But that was helpful!” Frank said. “Let’s keep going.”

—

“Ladies and gentlemen, the Lightning Chargers have finished their great squirrel hunt!”

Seth did his best not to grin. Although he supposed grinning was appropriate. Mr Madison had spent several minutes making sure they were all ‘rumpled’… as if they had come straight to his office after two weeks of squirrel hunting. A bit of dirt on his collar, some artfully sprayed ‘sweat’ on Sue’s face… Julia and Mr Madison had worked them over good. Frank even had a light ‘bruise’ on his forearm.

“Well, Mr Madison, our start healer really put us over the top. We were afraid we would spend the rest of the game in that forest, but her new sense made it easy for her to tell where the squirrels were..”

“Not easy,” Julia broke in (right from the teleprompter, of course). “The skill still creeps me out. It makes me feel like ants are marching all over me.”

“I guess it will take some time to get used to,” Julia said.

“It is such a powerful skill!” Frank said.

“Helps with the Murder Rhino, too,” George said. Pithy, if not funny.

“Oh, yes,” Sue gushed (yes, the teleprompter said ‘gushed’, and I know that Mr Madison and Julia had worked with her on ‘gush’… which got ratings, apparently. “It is so strong I can feel it from oh so far away.”

Her chest heaved and everything. Always a nice view even if she wasn’t that cute. But what was with Frank? He kept looking at her. And I swear he crowded her on the way into the room.

“You gained quite a bit from this little adventure, Seth,” Mr Madison said, and I so agreed with him I almost missed my lines.

“I sure did. It was a great assignment for me, getting to shoot squirrels…”

“And hit some of them, too,” George said, and I glared at him. (Yes, the teleprompter told me to do that, but I would have anyway.)

“So this has been good for my level and my skills. I have found ‘quick shot’ to be super useful.”

“Especially with the squirrels!” Julia said, leaning up against me with her hand on my leg. I guess Mr Madison must have given up on the triangle thing, since he always let her come in on our interviews.

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

So, Chat GPT and I were having an interesting conversation the other day and it produced this document. There are several problems with it: most notably that it shifts from actual math to ‘estimates’ sometimes, and it is far too optimistic. Not even recognising the results of its own projections.

But it is an interesting article nonetheless. So, full disclosure, the prompts were mine, the writing is its, and, as I say, it has known deficits:

South Korea’s Demographic Cliff: Irreversible Decline, Military Vulnerability, and the Limits of Recovery in the Shadow of North Korea

Abstract

South Korea confronts a demographic crisis of unprecedented velocity and depth. With a total fertility rate (TFR) of 0.80 in 2025—the world’s lowest—annual births have fallen to approximately 254,500, even after a modest recent rebound.2022 The population, which peaked near 51.8 million in 2020, is now projected to contract sharply, potentially reaching 30 million or fewer by 2100 under median scenarios and far lower under pessimistic assumptions.10 This paper demonstrates, through strict empirical data and cohort-based projections, that the current fertility collapse has already locked in a multi-generational decline. Even a return to replacement-level fertility (TFR ≈ 2.1) cannot restore the population base within any militarily or politically relevant timeframe. The shrinking cohorts of young men—essential for mandatory conscription—exacerbate an acute security dilemma against a nuclear-armed North Korea with a far larger active military. Velocity matters: the smaller successive cohorts of reproductive-age women ensure that any fertility recovery will produce too few births to reverse the trajectory. South Korea cannot recover from this demographic cliff.

1. The Current Demographic Reality: Strict Numbers

South Korea’s population stood at approximately 51.7 million in 2025.37 The TFR reached 0.80 that year, up slightly from 0.75 in 2024 but still catastrophically below the replacement level of 2.1.24 Annual live births totaled 254,500 in 2025, the largest increase in 15 years yet still representing a collapse from over 400,000 births as recently as the mid-2010s.22 Deaths exceeded births by more than 100,000 annually, producing sustained natural decrease.37

The age structure reveals the depth of the problem. In 2024 estimates, only 11.3% of the population was aged 0–14, while 19.3% was 65 or older.66 The working-age group (15–64) comprised 69.4%, but this share is eroding rapidly as smaller cohorts enter adulthood. Female population of reproductive age (15–49) numbered roughly 11.06 million in 2025 and is declining.49 Historical birth data underscore the momentum already embedded: births fell from approximately 715,000 in 1995 to under 240,000 by the mid-2020s.63

These numbers are not abstract; they translate directly into shrinking cohorts. The cohort of 20-year-old males—the primary pool for military enlistment—declined 30% between 2019 and 2025, reaching only 230,000.0 Successive cohorts are even smaller, reflecting births from the low-fertility 2000s and 2010s.

2. Military and Geopolitical Imperative: North Korea and the Missing Male Cohort

South Korea’s security environment amplifies the demographic crisis. Mandatory male conscription (18–21 months for able-bodied men aged 18–35) underpins national defense against North Korea.30 Active-duty forces have already shrunk 20% in six years, from 563,000 in 2019 to 450,000 in 2025, almost entirely due to the contraction in male enlistment-age cohorts.04 Maintaining even current force levels will become impossible without radical policy changes (e.g., female conscription or mass immigration), both politically fraught.

North Korea, with a population of roughly 26 million, fields approximately 1.32 million active personnel—nearly three times South Korea’s active strength—plus substantial reserves and paramilitary forces.40 Pyongyang’s conventional forces, while technologically inferior, benefit from a larger and (currently) younger manpower pool. South Korea’s technological and alliance advantages (including U.S. forces) cannot indefinitely compensate for a collapsing recruit base. By the 2040s, sustaining even 350,000 troops is projected to be difficult.2 A smaller, older society cannot field the manpower required for credible deterrence or sustained conventional conflict. Demographic decline thus directly erodes strategic viability.

3. Velocity and Cohort Size: Why Even a Return to “Normal” Fertility Cannot Recover the Population

Demographic recovery is not merely a function of future TFR; it depends on the current stock of potential parents and the velocity of cohort shrinkage. South Korea’s reproductive-age female cohorts are already severely diminished by two decades of sub-1.0 fertility. The women entering peak childbearing years today were born in the low-birth 1990s and 2000s. Their smaller numbers impose a hard ceiling on births, regardless of behavioral change.

Even if every woman of reproductive age immediately adopted a TFR of 2.1, annual births would rise only modestly—limited by the existing (and shrinking) female population base. Subsequent generations would then be born to this reduced cohort, perpetuating contraction. This is classic demographic momentum, but accelerated by the extreme velocity of South Korea’s fertility collapse. Net reproduction rates well below 1.0 for decades mean each generation replaces only a fraction of the last. Rough generational accounting illustrates the trap: at a sustained TFR of 0.80, each cohort produces roughly 38% as many daughters as the preceding one (TFR/2.1 ≈ 0.38, abstracting from mortality and migration). The pipeline of future mothers is already too narrow.

4. Projections: Generational Collapse Under Alternative Fertility Scenarios

To quantify irreversibility, consider four scenarios using a simplified cohort-replacement framework grounded in current births (≈254,500 in 2025), the observed decline in reproductive-age women, and standard demographic multipliers. These projections assume negligible net migration and constant mortality; they focus on the reproductive base. Official projections (UN, government, and independent institutes) align with these directions, though they often embed optimistic fertility recovery assumptions.1015

Scenario 1: Persistent Low Fertility (TFR remains 0.80)
Current trajectory. Births contract by approximately 60% per generation (~30 years). After one generation (≈2055): births fall to ~100,000. After two (≈2085): ~38,000. After three (≈2115): ~14,000. Total population contracts rapidly as older cohorts die off; by 2125, independent estimates place it between 7.5 million (pessimistic) and 11–15 million (median/optimistic).15 In generational terms, every 100 South Koreans alive today would have only about 6 great-grandchildren.12 Within four generations, the society is effectively depopulated for practical purposes.

Scenario 2: Slow Return to Sub-Replacement Fertility (TFR rises linearly to 1.5 over 50 years, then stabilizes)
A plausible “policy success” case. Births increase modestly in the near term but remain capped by small maternal cohorts. Population still declines by roughly 40–50% by 2100 and continues falling thereafter. Stabilization occurs only at a level far below current (≈20–25 million), with a permanently inverted age pyramid and unsustainable military manpower.

Scenario 3: Optimistic Immediate Jump to Replacement (TFR rises to 2.1 immediately)
Even under heroic assumptions, the existing female reproductive cohort limits near-term births. Population declines for 50–70 years before any stabilization—reaching perhaps 35–40 million by mid-century—because the next generation of mothers is already too small. Long-term equilibrium population would be a small fraction of today’s, insufficient to sustain current economic or military capacity.

Scenario 4: Very Slow Generational Recovery (TFR rises gradually to 2.1 over 100+ years)
Most realistic politically. The velocity of cohort shrinkage outpaces any fertility rebound. Population halves within 50–60 years and falls toward 15–20 million by 2125. Military-age male cohorts drop below levels needed for conscription-based forces well before mid-century.

In all scenarios, the population after several generations is a small fraction of today’s. Recovery to pre-cliff levels (≈51 million with balanced age structure) is mathematically impossible without implausible mass immigration or fertility miracles exceeding biological and cultural feasibility.

Conclusion

South Korea’s demographic cliff is not a reversible dip but a structural collapse driven by extreme fertility decline and entrenched cohort dynamics. Strict numbers reveal an already shrunken reproductive base; velocity ensures that even optimistic fertility rebounds cannot refill the pipeline fast enough. The military implications are existential: a shrinking pool of young men cannot sustain conscription against a numerically superior North Korean threat. Politically and strategically, South Korea cannot recover. The window for meaningful reversal closed years ago. Without radical societal transformation—and perhaps even then—the trajectory points toward a much smaller, older, and more vulnerable nation. The data are unambiguous: the demographic future is contraction, not renaissance.

Part 1

Young Peter Goole, a child of nine,

Gave little reason to complain.

Though an imaginative youth

He very often told the truth,

And never tried to black the eyes

Of Comrades of superior size.

He did his lessons (more or less)

Without extravagant distress,

And showed sufficient intellect,

But failed in one severe defect;

It seems he wholly lacked a sense

Of limiting the day’s expense,

And money ran between his hands

Like water through the Ocean Sands.

Such conduct could not but affect

His parent’s fortune, which was wrecked

Like many and many another one

By folly in a spendthrift son:

By that most tragical mischance,

An Only Child’s Extravagance.

There came a day when Mr Goole

- The Father of this little fool –

With nothing in the bank at all

Was up against it, like a wall.

He wrang his hands, exclaiming, ‘If

I only had a bit of Stiff

How different would be my life!’

Whereat his true and noble wife

Replied, to comfort him, ‘Alas!

I said that this would come to pass!

Nothing can keep us off the rocks

But Peter’s little Money Box.’

The Father, therefore (and his wife),

They prised it open with a knife –

But nothing could be found therein

Save two bone buttons and a pin.

Part II

They had to sell the house and grounds

For less than twenty thousand pounds,

And so retired, with broken hearts,

To vegetate in foreign parts,

And ended their declining years

At Blidah – which is near Algiers.

There in the course of time they died,

And there lie buried side by side.

While when we turn to Peter, he

The cause of this catastrophe,

There fell upon him such a fate

As makes me shudder to relate.

Just in its fifth and final year,

His University Career

Was blasted by the new and dread

Necessity of earning bread.

He was compelled to join a firm

Of Brokers – in the summer term!

And even now, at twenty five,

He has to WORK to keep alive!

Yes! All the day long from 10 to 4!

For half the year or even more;

With but an hour or two to spend

At luncheon with a city friend.

Hilaire Belloc

I felt sorry for the Ghosts and Spearmen. They had passed the word and a couple hundred of them were down below, and had been traveling all night to catch up with where I would be in a couple of hours.

Indeed it wasn’t even two hours before I came out over the top of the clouds and looked down into a new valley. A beautiful valley, but I wasn’t here to admire the scenery.

I started scanning for Dragons, and it wasn’t long before I saw one. But it was a huge one… easily twice the size of the ones I had already killed. I was very, very glad that I was so high above it. Then I noticed that it… that she… wasn’t alone. After her, not too close, was a whole stream of the males. I had heard about this, but I blushed to see it. But it meant…

I followed her, from high up and far back, and I watched the males drop off one after the other. Three males ended up following her all the way to the end, and I had to hover forever while they fought it out, and then one and the female ate the other two. And then they walked together into a cave.

This was fantastic! I circled endlessly above the cave, waiting for the male to come out, but he never did. But I did see the others, the Spearmen in the lead, coming to where I circled. When they got close I dropped down, to talk to the lead Spearman… not that I wanted to talk to a Spearman, but I needed to give a report.

//They went in that cave up there,// I said, when I got there. //A male and a female.//

//A mating pair?// he said. I wish he hadn’t said that. How was I supposed to know? I mean, I assumed so… Luckily he didn’t care what I thought, he was already signaling, and they were all hurrying forward toward the cave. He was ignoring me, so I took off, going back to my circling.

It was interesting how they did it. First the Spearmen came up, and stood at the doorway with their spears. When they arrived, several Ghosts stationed themselves around the top of the cave. The rests of the Ghosts, and all of the Spearwives, then immediately began dragging stones and wood over to the cave. The stones they piled up in front of the cave, the wood they held back. Then, when the hole got almost closed, they started throwing the wood into it. Then, when the wood was in, they threw torches that they had lit… and then they closed it.

Suddenly, about five minutes later, there was an enormous explosion, and the stones and the wood went flying out of the hole… knocking several Spearmen out of the way, and burying another in debris. Then, from the hole, emerged the female. The Spearmen that were left poked with their spears as she snapped at them. From the top of the hole I saw several Ghosts drop on top of her. Writhing around she knocked off all of them except two, who were too far back for her to easily get with her mouth… as long as the Spearmen were there, that is. So she took off, and I dove.

It seems crazy, but I just can’t tell you how badly I wanted to kill her. And, as well, I knew that, when she got to a height were she could afford to glide, she would be able to pick off those ghosts.

She saw me right away, and turned to face me as I got close, a contemptuous look on her face, as if to say, “You? Such a sparrow to come after me.”

But I knew what the Ghosts could do, if I gave them a chance. I measured her neck with my eyes, and darted in, cawing.

She looked a bit taken aback but, unlike the males, she didn’t just dart after me, instead just facing me with some coil in her neck.

//Two more, and then attack,// I said, knowing that the ghosts would understand me. //One,// I said, darting in again, //Two…// this time with cawing and flapping, //Go!// I shouted, going right in, straight against her face.

At the same time one of the Ghosts dug in ?his? claws against the Dragons back, while the other darted up toward the neck. I didn’t let up, knowing that I had to distract her so the Ghost could do her job. The Dragon darted out her snout against me, and I grabbed on to her nostrils and held on with all I had. The Dragon snarled, and thrashed me back and forth for what seemed forever. And then, suddenly, her eyes glazed over.

I let go and tumbled, then snapped out, watching the Dragon… and the Ghosts. For they clung to the dead body… a very stiff dead body almost as if… I flew back over, it was still gliding! The head was dead, but the body was, somehow, still going on. The glide was taking it down but, it was still gliding. I flew over, to the neck. //Let me take you down!// I yelled.

//Can you?// it yelled back. //Can you fly with one of us?//

//No, but I can crash carefully!// I said, and darted in, grabbing it and darting off, and down. I held my wings locked, and looked for somewhere to set down. There were trees all over the place except for a river. A creek really but, any port in a storm. I was holding the ghost very awkwardly in my talons as we came down and then, when we got close enough, I let him go… and flapped back up. But there was nothing I could do for the other one, the Dragon was coming down fast, and hard, and almost on top of me. It hit a tree right in front of me, flipped around, hit another tree, and landed… hard.

I heard a splash from behind me, and turned to see the one ghost, the one that I had dropped in the stream, came splashing out, hurrying toward the Dragon, and then he stopped. //I guess I could have saved myself a ducking,// it said, and I whirled to see the other Ghost climbing, slowly, off the body of the Dragon.

//I don’t know,// the other one said, //you were up on the neck.//

At this we both looked and I agreed, anything on the neck would have been absolutely crushed. I was surprised the other had lived.

//We scurry well,// the second Ghost said, coming up to me and seeing my look. //I just kept scurrying around to stay on top, and I mostly succeeded. I got clipped by a branch up there.//

We laughed together, and then began eating. We had been there quite a while, actually, before some others showed up… the Spearwives with their huge knives. The Ghosts and I watched for a while as they cut the Dragon up, and then moved forward when, suddenly, they began to sing, excitedly.

What we saw were eggs, eggs being removed from the body of the Dragon. One of the women turned toward me, //This has never happened!// she said. //Never have we killed a pregnant Dragon! And this is only our second female.//

Suddenly everyone was looking at me, and I got very embarrassed, and flew off.

I hadn’t risen very far when I saw, back at the cave, that they had killed another Dragon… the male. I landed to take a look, and a Spearman came up to me.

//This is wonderful!// the Spearman said. //You killed the female too?//

//Yes,// I said. //And she had eggs…// I started, but he cut me off, grinning,

//Of course she had eggs!// He said. //These two they…//

I flapped off before I could be forced to hear the rest. It was like I couldn’t avoid it nowadays. I headed back to my tree, with Scraggle Weed and them. I was tired, and wanted a nap.

But I didn’t get one. When I arrived my brother was there, with Caleb.

//Hello!// he shouted, from the bottom of the tree. //Mind if we come up?//

//No,// I shouted back… although I did. I wanted to sleep, to get away from all of this!

//We hear you’ve been doing a great job,// Seth said, when he climbed up to where I was. //Just what we needed, someone to spot the Dragons from the air. I imagine you’re a bit tired, tho.// He said, looking at me.

//I am,// I said. I should have remembered that my brother had spent a good deal of time as a Fisherman… wise in the ways of relationships and people. Probably what made him such a good King.

//Tell you what,// he said, //you take a good nap, and then we’ll talk.//

Well, I ask you, who could take a nap under those conditions? //Let’s talk now,// I said.

//Ok,// he said, sitting down on a branch. //Let’s talk.//

//You’re a bit of a problem… for us, for yourself. You are in an awkward situation. You can’t turn back to a Farmer… or Ghost or Spearman. But I don’t think you’re going to be comfortable just being an Eagle, flapping around, eating rabbits…//

I huffed. I hadn’t eaten a rabbit in years. Too small.

//So, we were thinking, Tristan and Haddassah and Caleb and I, and we set a test, and you passed with flying colors.//

//You mean, this hunt?// You think I should just hunt for the rest of my life, like this, with you all?//

//No, no not quite…//

-

-

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

She heard a lad passing behind her mumble something about ‘ugly manners and ugly woman’ but she didn’t care, she was...

Suddenly she registered two things: her husband was now standing and facing behind her, and there was a tremendous crash, also behind her. She turned to look and there was a lad laying on the ground staunching a bleeding nose. Standing over him was her husband, massaging one of his hands but standing very ready indeed.

“I”ll see you cashiered for that,” the lad on the ground said, with a rather nasal voice as he was trying to pinch off the blood.

“If thou wilt stand up we can discuss the matter,” her husband said, sounding almost ominous. She stared at him in awe. She didn’t care if they got kicked out of training; It wouldn’t void her contract. I ndeed the army would probably still take them.

The crowd around the two lads opened up and an instructor walked in. Andreina quailed, not really wanting to see her husband beaten. And she hoped he wouldn’t take it out on her.

But the instructor walked over to the lad on the ground, looked at him with a frown, and asked, “Well, art thou going to apologize, or get up and fight?”

The lad got up and dusted himself off. “I did nothing I need to apologize for...” he managed before, this time, Andreina got to see her husband hit him.

“What?” the lad spluttered. Her husband’s blow had turned him completely around, but he turned around on all fours and looked up. “Aren’t you going to do something?” he asked the instructor. “He should be cashiered!”

The instructor shook his head. “Thou art very confused, son. First of all, this is a clan training camp, so I can’t ‘cashier’ anyone. Secondly, why would I cashier someone who is training for the army... for fighting?”

“Now, as I said before, either apologise, or start fighting.”

The lad paused for a second and then launched himself at her husband. Who met his rush from the ground with a kick to the chest, causing the lad to gasp and fall back down.

Andreina turned back and picked up her bowl and bread, watching with amusement. Some people just don’t listen.

The lad gasped something, and the supervisor bent down. “What was that?”

“I apologise for my ill advised words.”

“Thy what?” her husband asked.

“My extremely ill advised words,” the lad said.

“Very well,” her husband said, and turned to sit back down.

“Where didst thou learn to fight?” the lad across from them asked.

“My oldest brother loved fighting. Perforce the rest of us went along.”

“Did he go for the Army?”

Her husband nodded, “Killed on Venetar V. Had four offspring first, though. His widow remarried, but we still see them.”

“Good for her,” the lad said. “I hate widows who stand on contract.”

“I think sometimes it is written into the new contract,” her husband replied. “The new husband wishes a clean break, and for his new offspring to bond with their new family. I can’t say I agree, but I certainly understand.”

Andreina marvelled at this insight into her new husband. She hadn’t asked about his older siblings.

Lorcan walked with his arm around his wife in the middle of the group of trainees. All in their shorts, their army numbers blazing proudly from their chests and backs, and all singing a rather bawdy song. Or, rather, most of them, anyway. His wife was contenting herself with leaning up against him. She would sing in worship, but didn’t seem to appreciate camp songs much. And all marching off toward town, for their first ‘shore leave’, or break from training camp.

“What shall we do in town?” One of the men in front yelled.

There were dozens of replies, some of them indecent.

“What do you want to do?” Lorcan asked his wife.

“I hear they have a nice hot tub,” she said.

“For this evening? That sounds relaxing.”

“I have muscles that hurt in places I didn’t know I had muscles,” his wife replied.

“Before that?”

“I just want to spend time with you,” she said, and leaned against him.

“How are you doing?” He asked. There was never any good time to ask this in the barracks, everyone always seemed to be listening.

“I’m just sore,” she said. “If we can get some privacy I’d love it if you gave me a backrub. We had to carry these heavy packs up the cliff the last few days and my back is killing me.”

“Yeah, Ok, fine, but I was talking about the army and all, and training and all. Are you OK with our going out for the army?”

She gave him a funny look, “It’s a bit late for that, my husband. Our parents would kill us if we had to give that money back, and we’re already all signed in with the clan.”

“Well, but we don’t have to be far colonists, if you don’t want to.”

She leaned against him and they walked along for quite a while, so long he thought she had forgotten his question. Not that it was really a question…

“No,” she said, finally. “I think you have made a good decision. It is a hard decision, I will grant thee that. But a good one.”

Suddenly Lorcan became aware that the crowd was chanting. “Brodies Brunch” he heard, with very few dissenting voices.

“Xena told me about that,” his wife said. “It sounds fun. They have all of these long tables, and all the waiters are jugglers, and throw knives and things back and forth. At night they do torches, but they lay in a good brunch. Oh, and they kill a pig right there… which sounds gross to me, I’ve had to do enough of my own butchering, but apparently is a big attraction.”

“Do you want to go?”

“I don’t think we have much choice,” she said. “We don’t want to stand out as droopy. But afterwards lets get off together, just the two of us.”

—

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

One of the funnest… what an insufficient word… parts of wet work was the long, hard, anticipation. The travel, the midnight ride to the drop off point, the creeping into position. And then the wait. He usually arrived in position just before dawn, and had to wait out the whole day. Sensors set, he would nap.

And then the next evening, wait until even the most decadent of party animals was finally asleep, and then he would strike.

“Mongoose is ready,” he subvocalised.

“Owl is ready,” he heard. Probably half a mile away, long scoped rifle, opposite side of the house from him.

“Kesterel is ready.” Same, separated from owl by a quarter mile or so, with what view of the house they both could get.

“Badger is ready,” he heard. Ready, in a vehicle, on the road… ready to come charging in if things went south.

“Clean up is ready.” Twelve men, not really part of second team, whose job was exactly that. They were armed, and dangerous enough, with submachine guns, but their main job was to clean. To bury what was left of the bodies, and clean the entire house so that not a shred of forensic evidence would be left. And then, and he always found this ironic, to plant a few incenderary bombs so there would be nothing left to find.

“Second team, Overwatch. We are confirmed. Mongoose, your leash is slipped.”

Those were the most joyful words in the English language, as far as he was concerned. He began his crawl up to the house.

—

“He is literally certifiable,” Overwatch said to his aide.

“And would be in some maximum security prison if he wasn’t working with us.”

“Have you ever been in a house after he visited?”

The aide shook his head. “I’ve never been brave enough.”

“I went in once. Exactly once. I’m an old military man and it still freaked me out. The throat, the pool of blood… it’s like they didn’t even know what hit them.”

“Overwatch, Badger. We have a problem.”

“What is it?”

“A panel van coming down the road.”

Overwatch said some words his mother hadn’t taught him.

“Mongoose, you copy?”

“Of course. How long till they arrive?”

“Fifteen minutes.”

“Plenty of time. Owl, Kestrel, take their driver out at the last minute.”

“Owl copies.”

“Kesterel copies.”

“One down…” Mongoose almost whispered.

“Owl, they are in the driveway.”

“Owl copies. No eyes.”

“Kesterel, no eyes.”

“Two down…”

“Owl has eyes!”

“Kestrel no eyes.”

“Three down…”

Overwatch shuddered. He had to keep reminding himself exactly how sick these men were that they were eliminating.

“Four down…”

“Owl lost eyes.”

“Kesterel no eyes.”

“And five down… two in another room…”

“Kestrel eyes!”

“Go ahead, Kestrel, take them out.”

“Shot! Van stopped, off road. Uncertain injuries.”

“Badger, move in! Clean up, Move in!”

“Badger charging.”

“Kestrel. One out of van… and down on road. Oooh, they’re shooting back at me.”

“Owl, taking shot. One down in bushes. Not killed.”

“And they woke up and I had to use my pistol. How sad. House cleared, Clean Up, come clean up.”

“Clean up copies, descending on house.”

“Badger on site. Three living hostiles.”

“Badger finished. No living hostiles. Will transport van and bodies to house. Kestrel, you shot a bit low on that van driver. Alive but childless.”

Overwatch laughed. “I wonder if they got the news out?”

“I’m sure the team hopes so,” the aide said.

“Overwatch, Badger, return to you position as soon as things are moved.”

“Hooked up and pulling now.”

—

Alfred stood in the yard, smoking his pipe. He doubted the habit would kill him. He was bound to hang or get shot first. He watched the clean up team coming running in, their big backpacks on. And the Badger team racing in with the van, and then go racing back.

He went and looked in the van. So messy. Altho the emasculating shot was interesting. Nothing he would do, of course. He preferred minimalism. He had shot the two waking up exactly in the heart.

He looked down the road and sighed. The next fight, if there was a next fight, would be far too messy. Still, it was fun to kill.

“Ok, guys, are you ready?”

The Chargers stared at him, and then at the teleprompters. They were off camera…

“Ready for what?” Frank asked, finally, as Mr Madison kept grinning at them.

“Going public, of course! Our videos go live… the actual videos not the ads for them… in ten minutes.”

“What?” they said, all together.

“Yup. I guess you lot haven’t been watching our ads. Now, I want you all to pull it up on your phones. My tech is good, but its always good to check it and get as many eyes on it as possible.”

The Chargers busied themselves with their phones and everyone soon had the site up.

“Oscar Madison presents… the Lightning Chargers!” the screen said and then, after a haze of lightning, the screen resolved to Mr Madison waving them to chairs…

“Have a seat. I will warn you, this is all being recorded. Unless I tell you otherwise, everything in this room is recorded, and I will use it without warning in any of my videos.”

Sue’s heart raced a bit as she watched herself sit down, qualing at how plain and scared she looked.

“So, this will hopefully be the first video in my new series,” he said. “My name, for those who don’t know, is Oscar Madison, and I direct, produce, whatever, gaming videos. And I have asked this party, the Lightning Chargers, into my office to discuss the possiblity of making them famous!”

The Chargers watched, their hearts racing, excited and appalled, as the first session played out. “I am very glad,” Frank said, when the video finished, that I did not see that on our first day. I feel much better watching it now.”

“And that’s why I delayed it,” Mr Madison said. “Now, you lot still good with waiting to tell your friends and all?”

“Oh, yes,” Sue said, quickly, before anyone had a chance to change their minds.