#church asks

[praised-be-the-code]

[Waiting for gabriel to return from... wherever he had gone made Caeli much more bored than she thought. Despite the fact the angel was unpredictable and... Likely also unprofessional for his status, she missed having company in these lonely halls.]

[She continued to explore. It worked well enough for her last time. She didnt encounter any husks wanting to eat her flesh or anything. And she met a... friend? Could she call him that? Whatever.]

[She came to a church and hesitantly glanced inside. Assuming it was empty, she entered.]

@with-fear-and-trembling-stand

*As she gets inside, many glowing eyes turn to look at her from balconies up high.

Machines.... Many of them. All looking at her in an eerie standstill.

They simply stare as she enters, the grand hall of the building too dark to see anything.

...

At first it was, at the very least.

Mere moments later, spotlights lit up the gloomy room, shedding light on both her and a creature at the end of the hall.

Another machine.

But this one was... Different?

It didn't look like it was built for combat at all. Long flowy robes that would definitely be a liability, a skirt of feathers that did nit seem to serve any other purpose other than aesthetics, a glass visor with bright red LEDs displaying the same symbol that was plasterd on all the tapestry in that Church.

It was just standing there, waiting for something.*

[praised-be-the-code]

[After much hesitation, Lucifer could be seen descending to heresy. Despite her reluctance, she gave 'exposure therapy' a chance.]

[Following directions was one thing, but trying to simultaneously look away from all the burning coffins and waterfalls of blood along the way was another. What was supposed to be a 20 minute stroll ended up way longer, with her getting lost and debating going back every few seconds.]

[Alas, the church came into view, grandiose in its form but not straying from the layer's architecture. Faint music could be heard from behind its tall double doors. Only when she stood before them did her attention avert from the outsides to herself. Hastily she tried to neaten her feathers, but they only ruffled up more in agitation.]

[With a sigh and a restlessly swishing tail Lucifer built up the courage to peek inside, awkwardly standing in the door]

@lucifer-the-fallen-star

*Peeking inside the door, Lucifer finds herself right in front of an enormous ballroom. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling with candles ablaze, casting the room in a golden-orange hue. Pillars encircled the glorious room, holding walkways littered with machines and lesser husks, all standing quiet and peacefully watching what goes on under them. Some did look at her but none seemed to have any bad intentions whatsoever. It seemed whatever was going on here kept them all at peace.*

*Then she looked where they all were and there it was... The Priest. In the middle of the ballroom, taking all the space even if its body was just a thin frame, was a robot. That robot spun and twirled with immense grace. Its movements followed perfectly the music chosen for this one recital. A skirt, apparently made of white feathers, fluttered as it took one last spin and it saw her*

Oh! Well, hi there! I was wondering when you'd come by.

*Its voice sounded sweet, it sounded like every word was sung. And though its face was hidden under a mask, Lucifer could feel a warm smile being directed at her.*

Welcome, dear. Come inside. I'm sure you could use some rest from this layer's surroundings.

[praised-be-the-code]

[It was the usual programme, where Keygen danced away in its beloved Church. The red lights of Heresy seeped in and mixed with the oranges of lit candles.]

[What caught its attention was a shadow flashing outside the stained glass, disappearing just as quickly as it came. Keygen thought it to be a machine simply using unconventional means of transportation, surely.]

[Though that gliding shadow kept appearing outside, noticeable even through Keygen's dancing trance.]

[A flutter of wings and a barely visible shimmer of galactic translucent skin gave away their identity - it must have been Lucifer.]

[For some reason, the fallen angel has been circulating around the Church for days now, with brief breaks in between. And for another strange reason, she didn't even come in to greet her beloved friend.]

[It was at a more quiet and less crowded time that Keygen noticed a familiar tail sticking out of the railing on the upper floor. It decided to leave her be, wait for her to approach it herself, as it always did.]

[The place she chose to hide in seemed very peaceful indeed - so peaceful in fact that when Lucifer peeked out from the railings, she seemed drowsy, as if just woken up.]

[She stretched out, her eye unfocused, seemingly unaware of being noticed. But when she looked down - and saw Keygen glancing at her between its dance moves - she retreated into hiding, however futile that would be.]

@lucifer-the-fallen-star

*Keygen did feel a bit curious about why Lucifer was acting the way she was but he decided to leave her be for the time being. Even then, he let her know that he knew of her presence there.

More than just dance, now he was occasionally singing. A soft hum that sometimes sounded a bit too mechanical (Keygen was not made for singing) but still overall pretty nice.

He waited for her to get closer, letting her get comfortable to do so. He did not direct her the word even if he was yearning for someone to talk to*

[praised-be-the-code]

Hmph.. I suppose my eyes are not as sharp as they once were or I merely been gone for a little too long, in which I haven’t taken notice of your rather lovely establishment. Without much further rambling, I as Heresy’s mistress welcome you. If you ever need something from me, either stop down by the Spider’s den or contact me through anyone of my spiders, they are usually wandering around and are generally friendly so no need to worry of an attack.

With that I shall take my leave.

@mother0fspiders

Why, thank you very much, miss Arachne.

I gotta say, I am so sorry for not paying you a visit as well... And also sorry for not giving the notice of my arrival.

Please know I do not mean any disrespect to you and only wish to aid those who seem to be in need of some joy in the endless torments of hell. Which also extends to you and your spiders.

I look forward to building a great relationship not only with you but with other overlords as well.

Feel free to stop by any time you want! Me, the machines and the husks who frequent this place will love to see you around.

[witapipe]

So I’m thinking of doing a little pokemon writing. Like a small story about a kid from Kanto, growing up after Red won the league.

I’ll be making up a lot of stuff and people. Would anyone like a cameo?

[discerningacall]

Christian questions! 1, 9 (is that what they're calling hymns now or is it something different?), 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 33, 35 (:

Dang, you want me to type my fingers off, huh? :P

1: What is your favorite book of the Bible and why?

I dunno that I really have a favorite, TBH. I have the most exposure to the Psalms and the Gospels, of course...

9: What are your top three worship songs?

Um.... Anything with a descant? Or anything by John Rutter, or both. I like the Gloria by Rutter in the 1982 Hymnal, and it has a descant!

Also, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Just a beautiful hymn.

Not three, but I do what I want!! >.<

13: What is your favorite time of day to read the Bible?

In the evening, as the sun is setting. I find a particular tranquility in the stillness of that moment.

14: In what ways has God blessed you recently?

Too many to count. I have a F/T job doing something about which I’m passionate, and which leaves time for a personal life. My boyfriend is the best person in my life, and my family is happy and healthy, mostly. I’m working my way through the official discernment process. I got to join Rachel Held Evans’s launch team for her new book, Searching for Sunday.

21: Ever read the Bible straight through?

I tried for Lent last year... I lapsed as I got more tired every night.

22: What are some chapters in the Bible that you recommend to beginner Bible readers?

The Gospels are a great way to start, or Genesis and Exodus. I think it’s helpful to start with familiar texts and see how your understanding is different by reading the source text.

23: What are some chapters in the Bible that you recommend period?

I think we all have to wrestle with the humanity of Christ. Too often, we imagine a God walking among us, and while that is a true representation of Jesus, it is not a complete representation. Look to his final words on the cross, which talk of his pain (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34, John 19:28). Consider the times Jesus was overwhelmed by the crowds, by the times he pointedly went away and sought solitude (too many to list). There’s a beautiful post going around which revels in sharing life with Jesus, enjoying the same foods, singing together, sleeping alongside the Son of Man. If we forget that Christ is and was human to be one with us, we have forgotten the power of the Gospels.++++

24: When's the last time you went to church?

Sunday. But I work in other churches most Sundays, so it’s been a few weeks since I’ve been to my church. Excited to be home for Palm Sunday this year!

25: What is your favorite Christian holiday and why?

I’ll share two: I love Fat Tuesday, and I love Maundy Thursday. Fat Tuesday is a time of joy, of overindulgence, of rejoicing in the bounty of God’s love. In my memories, it is a time filled with music and bright colors and delicious food. It is vivid.

Maundy Thursday, on the other hand, is a time of great vulnerability. It is a time when the church is stripped of it’s ornamentation, when we are called to remember what lies at the heart of our faith, and it isn’t the altar flowers or ornate reredos carvings or the handstitched table linens. We are called into co-mission with Christ, to care for one another and offer ourselves in service. We are called to wash feet and kneel before others. Sometimes more scary, we are called to let others wash our feet, to be served. I’m a Martha, and I have a really hard time on Maundy Thursday. I still haven’t quite managed to walk up to the altar without having gotten a pedicure that week, and even with nice toes, I’m leery of taking off my shoes, of letting others care for me. It’s a good feeling, when I do it, but one I dread until I’m through it.

28: Do you call Him Her the Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost?

I recognize the Holy Spirit to be a feminine presence, a way of balancing the masculinity of Jesus, and I call Her the Holy Spirit. I’m not opposed to “the Holy Ghost,” it’s just not the tradition in which I learned.

33: Would you rather die and go to heaven or be on earth when Jesus comes again?

Skip! Oh, we’re not playing that game? ...dangit... 

I’m having a really hard time answering this question, because, while I believe in an afterlife, I don’t know what form that afterlife will take. A bodily resurrection means I’ll physically be with Jesus at the second coming, whether or not I’ve died first.

If we’re going with the clouds and harps interpretation of heaven, I mean... I wouldn’t mind an all-you-can-eat buffet with the best musicians and a chance to see all my loved ones, but I have a hard time believing that that is an accurate representation of heaven.

35: Old-fashioned church services or contemporary church services?

Both should be practiced if there is a sing person who finds God there. I prefer an old-fashioned church service, updated to meet today’s needs. Let’s use technology to our advantage!