One of the biggest problems with even the idea of a meritocracy is that it directly defies the idea of equality. We are all God's children, and no one is more deserving of happiness than anyone else. If you strive and succeed in life, it should be for the betterment of everyone. #ChristianSocialism

My sister asked me if "people are actually loving their neighbour as themselves, but they have a lot of self-hate." This question upset me at first. But she is perhaps not entirely wrong. People tend to see what they hate about themselves in others. We must work to love our neighbour and ourselves.

There is no #rapture. And anyone telling you they know when the end will come is lying. "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Matthew 24:36 It is not for us to know. Be good to one another and stop anticipating the end. #faith

I dearly wish more people could separate their #morals with how they approach #laws. There are many things I do not approve of, yet I would oppose making illegal. You can disagree with something without thinking your opinion should be #law. Doing so requires developing #empathy.

I grow increasingly worried about the war on empathy. As though "the ability to share someone else's feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in that person's situation" (Cambridge Dictionary) was a bad thing. We need more understanding and connection. Not less. #waronempathy

I would like for a certain set of people to consider why only now they are calling out for compassion and understanding. Not when racial/ethnic minorities suffer. Not when queer people are persecuted. Not when women are oppressed. Not when the poor are exploited. Reflect on the hypocrisy. #politics

"Globally, drug use is not... simply related to drug policy, since countries with stringent user-level illegal drug policies did not have lower levels of use than countries with liberal ones" (Degenhardt et al., 2008) Prison is not a solution. Caring and support is. Mark 12:31. God bless. #faith

What gif comes up when you search your name?

"Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty." James 5:4 #faith #wagetheft #workingclass

The planet Jupiter glowing in thermal infrared, as seen by the Gemini North telescope. The gas giant gives off more heat than it receives from the Sun. Credit: International Gemini Observatory​/​NOIRLab​/​NSF​/​AURA M.H. Wong

A change between lower and upper income value of 28× to 75× from 1983 to 2016. A nearly 8% reduction in income value in the middle in that time. Lower class with a reduction of 43% to the total share of wealth they previously had. Travesty. Luke 18:24-25 #incomeinequality #economics #politics #faith

At my sister's insistence I am exploring other interests more. I have a basic understanding of the #exaltedrpg in the form of Essence. Yet I fear I lack the sense of drama necessary for a rather expressive #ttrpg like that. But it is the only one I am at all familiar with. I must work on that.

"This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’" Zechariah 7:9-10 #faith #immigration #immigrants #classwarfare

"Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt." Exodus 23:9 #faith #immigration #immigrants

"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had." Acts 4:32-35 Christ called upon us to work and share together. I support the idea of #religious #socialism and pray we let go of greed and possessiveness.

"Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy." Ezekiel 16:49 #faith True 'sodomy' is not what is described in popular culture. It is indifference to suffering and need. It is #greed and #selfishness.

Many arguments for forcing women to cover up boil down to: "men can not control themselves." This is insulting to men. It implies they are mindless brutes. It also unfairly puts the onus on women. "If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away." Matthew 5:29 #faith #puritanical

It is indeed Pride Month. I suppose I should try being a touch less reserved about this and a bit more like my twin sister.

A Christianity that is offended by someone advocating for the poor, the immigrant, the hungry, the sick, the marginalized, and the oppressed, is a Christianity that is offended by Jesus. Therefore, it is no longer Christianity.

"He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing." Deuteronomy 10:18 #faith #immigration #immigrants God is very clear. Help the foreigner and anyone else in need. If we are to express #Christian ideals, let it be this.

There is no need to "fix" the #birthrate "problem." Yes, we were instructed to "be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it" (Genesis 1:28). We have done that. Every continent has people. There are over 8 billion humans. Let us concentrate on caring for the children we do have.

My sister is scared due to a #thunderstorm and I am helping her through it. As #exposuretherapy.

"...And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 #faith #easter #christ A happy Easter to all. "And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt." Deuteronomy 10:19 #immigration #immigrants

"Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment." James 2:12-13 #faith #law #civilrights #socialjustice

Some days I am reminded how much of a heretic I am to most mainstream denominations. Merely not being trinitarian is too far for many. Or how I hold sin as akin to sickness in need of healing rather than crimes needing punishment. #faith

"But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips... Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:8,12 #faith

You do not need to suffer. You never did. Be kind to yourself. You are not defined by your pain.

The last few weeks have been difficult. My sister has needed a great deal of help. Her #mentalhealth has been unsteady. Her #medicaid had to be renewed. She is having trouble getting a #medication she needs from her psychiatrist. Two #cancer recurrence scares. I have been praying a great deal.

“Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt." Exodus 22:21 #faith #immigrants #immigration #deportations #USpolitics

"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." Hebrews 13:2-3 #faith

"When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 19:33-34 #faith #immigrants #immigration

I have sympathy for any working class employees at NVIDIA whose jobs may be imperilled by recent events. It was not their fault that the processors are used for LLMs and generative images. This is not in any way an excusing or defence of the algorithm companies themselves. Merely class compassion.

I sometimes feel the need to apologize to people when I tell them I am #Christian. To soften it by assuring them I am not "that type" of Christian. And that upsets me. Not toward those I am reassuring. Toward those who use the #faith to justify #hate and #greed. It saddens and angers me to see it.

That mercy and compassion are a political divider speaks ill of our country.

It has been months since I have played #eldenring. I was playing a prisoner, and I am considering restarting as an astrologer. My furthest progress was defeating Godrick the Grafted. I grew intimidated by what comes after. Especially the giant prawns I have seen in action.

At my sister's suggestion, I shall discuss a lighter topic. In #eldenring I have come to see Melina as a figure similar to Beatrice of Dante's #divinecomedy. An astral presence leading the tarnished toward ascension. The lands between being purgatorial in a way. Suffering with a glimmer of hope.

"Because the life of every creature is its blood..." Leviticus 17:14 #faith Blood is life for all animals. The presence of blood or a heartbeat does not itself indicate a human soul. That arrives with birth and breath. Harming and oppressing women by taking away rights cannot be excused. #prochoice

Do not listen to anyone trying to tell you they know when the end will come. They are either deluded or swindling. If Christ does not know then neither do they. #fraud "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Mark 13:32 #faith

"You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." James 2:24,26 #faith It is through good deeds that faith is proven. Those who profess faith but do not show it in #kindness are false.

"I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise, or wealth to the brilliant, or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all." Ecclesiastes 9:11 #faith Do not be harsh to yourself over #failure.

"Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy." Ezekiel 16:49 #faith True 'sodomy' is not what is described in popular culture. It is indifference to suffering and need. It is #greed and #selfishness.

"Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction." 1 Timothy 6:9 #faith God does not want anyone to be rich. Anyone who claims otherwise is making excuses for #greed. Nothing more. Do not love money.

Someday I will summon the courage to continue Elden Ring. I started it at my sister's insistence. Made a prisoner. Focused mostly in spellcasting. I defeated Godrick the Grafted. By then I was too intimidated to continue. I have not played a video game since the 90s. It is rather more involved now.

I thoroughly support #debtforgiveness as a matter of #faith. For the health of our souls in this society. Caring for others is top priority. "And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full." Luke 6:34

I am uncertain how to introduce myself. Very rarely do I use any social media. It was only the insistence of my twin sister that brought me here. My name is Alexis. She/her. Pastor of First Breath, a progressive eclectic Christian ministry. I am also a fan of Elden Ring and the Exalted TTRPG.