You were spotted on a bustling highway.
Tiny, ugly, tailless and terrified.
Your little body trembling with fear, a strong urine stench was emitting from your body.

A week later. I woke up to you snuggling in my bed; pillow to be exact, securely, warmly.
Since then new house laws were enforced.
My bed was your bed. I was your mother. I was your favourite human who provides you unlimited food and endless playtime.

You then befriended Twelve and Monkey.
Three of you shared a bed, a blanket, a bowl of water.
But not their food.
You, however, welcomed them to enjoy your bowl of kibbles generously.
My first thought was: what a loving cat.
In hindsight, you probably thought: The human will refill my bowl with fresh kibbles. Two of you can have my leftovers.

You were named Goku for two reasons; too vigorous as a kitten and for a long time I believed you were immortal, just like the manga character.

4 months later we moved.
You grew into a rebellious teenager. Longed for a taste of freedom and the outside world.
Your free and wild spirit wouldn’t keep you home. You broke the mosquito net and habitually left house for wildlife adventure.
Once you didn’t return for one and a half day.
Your picture was up. I canvassed the neighbourhood and called for you.
Nothing.
I thought you were gone for good. You craze for freedom after all.
The second night you returned meowing for food and water and snuggles. I performed a dramatic scene.
I believed you understood my performance, because ever since, you never once spent another night out.
You always come home.

Your freedom didn’t come free. It came with three cat bells.
When the three cat bells jangling they played as a smoothing refrain.They became my lullaby that reassured that you were around, healthily, happily.
And it calmed my anxious heart.

You. My lizard catcher. My life saviour.
My whole life, the relationship between the lizards and me have been fiery.
Shrieking, bouncing, yelling when there’s one.
You appeared to protect me from them.
I felt safe under your surveillance.
Despite some odd days you instinctively showed appreciation by bringing one to bed, at two in the morning, your appreciation is very much appreciated.

But now my lizard catcher is gone.

The walls creaked the night you left.
Lizards paraded in the house, hissed loudly, as if they were celebrating victory their biggest enemy, my lizard catcher has gone forever.
I loathed them for that.

Over the past one month, home has become something else.
It feels empty without your surveillance.
Soundless without your bells jangling.
The bed and pillow feel naked.
The air smells bitter and heavy and icy.

My body and imagination have gone riot.
Every insect I see around the house I suspect that is you come back to pay a visit.
Then my lungs behaving strange. Like a puntured balloon that will never reach a full measure of oxygen.
My heart feels like its sinking one inch deeper into a dark abyss each time I think of you.

A few times the baby at next house cries and I mistaken that is you that came home meowing for me.
Only to be reminded you are gone.

And I feel abandoned.

The day I planted your ashes in the white Morning Glory.
A butterfly dropped by.
Watching me place your Morning Glory on your favourite, regular spot near the gate, carefully, peacefully.

Now whenever my hearts sinks one inch deeper.
I step out of the house and stare at you; your white Morning Glory.
And I see you: your obstinacy, your haughtiness, your delicacy.

Your White Morning Glory, it’s growing free and it’s growing wild.
Just like you.

Know According to the Spirit

“But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart.”” (1 Samuel‬ ‭16:7‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

When God looks at a person, He sees through right to the spirit. A person’s spirit is either dead in sin, or alive because of being born again and made right with God.

I imagine a dead spirit to be dull and grayish-black, whereas a spirit that is alive is radiant and golden.

Don’t only look at the outward appearance of a person. No matter how well dressed up a body is and how well-trained a soul is, the stench of dead of an unsaved person cannot be hidden.

Ultimately, what is most important is whether a person’s spirit is dead or alive. The difference between that is worlds apart—literally Hell and Heaven.

“Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:16-17‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

When we know people according to the flesh, viewing them in a purely human way through the natural eyes, we cannot see the truth.

We need to know them according to the spirit, and discern if they are dead or alive.

A believer is a born-again, new creation in Christ. Let us see them transformed when we affirm their righteousness in Christ. Lift the mirror of the Gospel to their eyes and let them see how they have been made holy, righteous, and perfect through the one-time offering of Jesus Christ at the cross!

Get all my eBooks when you order “The Everything Bundle”. See a list of all the eBooks at this link: https://bit.ly/-everything-bundle

New location unlocked! A pretty nice route though u get some stench from the canal at some point 🤭
°
Morning 8k slowly struggling back run done. Time for whole day of housework now. 😅
#auntielyfe

Crab dishes are very popular in Singapore especially when you can find it in almost every Zi Char store. One of the most sought-after food items has to be the Salted Egg Yolk Crab! The hype of Salted Egg may have dipped with the rise of Mala but it is definitely a dish that you will regret not trying!

The richness from the salted egg paired with the sweetness from the flesh of the crab. Once you start, it’s hard to stop, the shiok-tisfaction only gets bigger... and BIGGER!
Endulge in this plate of savoury and buttery goodness with your family this Chinese New Year!
Ps: Crabs have to be prepared and then cooked immediately, if you leave it out for too long, it releases an unpleasant ammonia stench!

Recipe Link: http://themeatmen.sg/salted-egg-yolk-crab-咸蛋奶油蟹/

From The Meatmen, wishing everybody an Advanced Happy Chinese New Year! :)

Do hit the like button if you like this recipe and subscribe if you haven't already done so! We will be updating regularly so turn on your notification bell and look forward to our weekly updates! Also, if you cooked one of our recipes, do take a photo and tag us on our Instagram @themeatmensg
Until then, Happy cooking ~

#chinesenewyear #saltedeggyolkcrab #meatmensg #sgfoodies #seafood

Bloody Tyrant Europe Tour:
Feb 14 : Voodoo Club, Warszawa
Feb 15 : Frostfeuernächte 2020
Feb 16 : Dürer Kert, Budapest
Feb 17 : MELODKA, Brno
Feb 18 : Vagon Klub, Prague
Feb 19 : Blackland, Berlin
Feb 20 : Club From Hell, Erfurt
Feb 21 : LIVE MUSIC HALL Weiher, Mölenbach
Feb 22 : b-hof, Würzburg
Feb 23 : Cernunnos Pagan Fest XII

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歌曲內容來自根植於我們所屬群島的神話，
將收錄於暴君2020最新專輯《Myths of the Islands》。
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MV製作
製作: 浪潮影像
導演：允武
監製：允文
製片：餅乾
攝影師：允武、小金剛
攝助：華揚、斯凱、孟翰、晟民
燈光師：尚謙
燈光組：小鳥、宇聲
美術造型：邱吉
製片組：呈勳、小金剛、育甄
演員：陳坤泉
剪接：育甄、允武
TC：Lee
特別感謝：又文、宗翰、政傑
化妝：蕭閔儀
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音樂製作
錄音、混音：QAQ Production
https://www.facebook.com/qaqproduction/
母帶後製：尾聲音樂 W.S. Studio Wayson Hsu
https://www.facebook.com/尾聲音樂-WS-Studio-2069214189872970/
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歌詞
Shoals of fish suffer from plague, 魚群染上瘟疫
Corpses float up towards the surface of the ocean, 死屍浮於海面
The stench of decay permeates the surrounding shores. 惡臭瀰漫海岸
Misery seen through the eyes of stranded dead, 死屍眼中盡見苦難
Skin putrefies and fever spreads, 皮膚腐爛且熱病散播
Mortals deathly pale and despondent, 人們慘白且無神
Children cry out as they fret efflorescent skin. 孩子們哭嚎且抓撓皮膚
The curse of Mother Nature ravages the human world. 大地的詛咒在人間肆虐
I see the black-winged god, 我見到黑翼之神
Enfold its giant wings. 放下祂巨大的翅膀
Speaking using human words, 說著人語
It is nature’s masterpiece. 他們是大自然的傑作
This is the black-winged god, 這是黑翼之神
We worship with stems of reeds. 我們用蘆葦草桿祭拜
Flying from the Southern Sea, 祂從南方飛來
All our kindred will be fed. 餵養了族人

Know what it’s like to be burned out and exhausted, feeling all used up and abandoned because you’ve “outlived your usefulness”?

Then you’ve gotta watch this video and allow God’s truth to set you free. See how God, in His great grace, doesn’t even extinguish a smoking flax (think a charred candle wick giving out a stench)—a picture of us when we’re burned out and feeling completely worthless.

Hit the play button and tag three friends who could do with some encouragement today!

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Decibel.one: A digital magazine and online channel by Joseph Prince Ministries. Check us out at https://decibel.one/ for more grace-centered content.

Stay Connected –
Decibel Website: https://decibel.one/
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This clip is from Feeling Disqualified? God Can Use You! (25 Feb 2018)

#decibelone #decibel #JosephPrince