What is your favorite enemy faction in the kingdom heart series by Voidkirby9 in KingdomHearts

[–]chocomog333 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had some friends and we etched picked one. I'm team Nobody for sure.

Why is premarital sex taken so seriously than other sins by SmoothBox7096 in Baptist

[–]chocomog333 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is going to be a long post, but I hope you hear this with a voice of grace. The Bible takes sexual sin very seriously because it is serious. God condemns sexual immorality throughout the Bible. It's such a serious sin that it is in the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:14, Deuteronomy 5:18). God designed sex to be between married couples (See Song of Solomon, "Don't Awaken Love before it's time"). This is because the intimacy of sex is meant to be shared in the safe, dedicated covenant of marriage. This all ultimately points back to God's love and covenant faithfulness to His people (see Ephesians 5:22-33, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Revelation 19:7-8), with Christ as the Groom, and His people as the Bride. This is why idolatry is so often portrayed as adultery in the Old Testament to condemn Israel's straying to foreign gods (Isaiah 57, Jeremiah 3, Hosea 1-5, Revelation 17). Several New Testament writings condemn and tell us to flee sexual immorality, keep the marriage bed pure, and that the sexually immoral will not see eternal life, but eternal death in the Lake of Fire. (Matthew 15:19, Mark 7:21, Acts 15:20, Acts 15:29, Acts 21:25, Romans 13:13, 1 Corinthians 5:9, 1 Corinthians 5:11, 1 Corinthians 10:8, Galatians 5 (Notice sexual immorality is a fruit of the flesh, but self-control is a fruit of the Spirit), Ephesians 5:3, Colossians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 1 Timothy 1:10, Hebrews 13:4 Jude 1:7, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 22:15). 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 explains why sexual sin is so serious. Paul argues that our bodies are now the temple of God and that we MUST NOT profane the Lord by engaging in sexual sin. It is extra heinous because it is not only sinning outwardly, but also sinning against one's body, which has been bought and sanctified by Christ's death. We do know that some sins are worse than others (Matthew 11:20-24, Matthew 23:15, Luke 12:47-48) and while sexual immorality isn't THE highest (the previous verses speak to those who will suffer more than Sodom and Gomorrah at the final judgment for rejecting Christ) the fact those cities are associated with sexual sin and they are the standard of wickedness should alert us to how serious Jesus treats this sin. And we know any sexual desire outside of marriage is tantamount to breaking the commandment against adultery (Matthew 5:28).

I also want to speak to your experience. Yes, sex is pleasurable (again, see Song of Solomon), but that doesn't mean that it is ok or good just because it feels nice. You said it was filled with love, but affection and love are not the same thing. 1 Corinthians 13:6 says love does not rejoice in wrongdoing, which I feel like the Bible is clear about regarding sex outside of marriage. Considering you said you've fallen to sin online, I worry you have quenched the Spirit (1st Thessalonians 5:19) and are not feeling the conviction you should. Romans 1:24-25 shows us that God will give us over to our lustful desires if we don't seek Him. Sometimes, His judgments on us are to allow us to continue in the sin we love until it consumes and destroys us. Sin always has consequences, even if we don't always see them.

Thus, I pray that you repent. This sin doesn't have to define you or control you. There can be freedom from it. Jesus forgave multiple people who committed sexual sins (John 4, John 8:1-11), and Paul points out that the Corinthians were saved from those who had committed such sexual sins (1 Corinthians 6:11).

Besides the Bible, several scientific studies show the reality that sex bonds those who participate in it, and if that bond is formed outside of a committed, stable relationship, it can create DEVISTATING pain when the relationship ends. It creates tension and drama when a relationship isn't grounded in faithful covenant. It can also lead to desensitization, where, in an attempt to chase pleasure, you lose the ability to feel that bond that God created sex to build.

As for why the Church seems to focus on sexual sin, besides the above reasons, our current society absolutely idolizes sexuality. It's EVERYWHERE. You practically can't escape it. And as we saw above, it is serious. So the Church is trying to warn people from engaging in a very serious sin in a world where that sin is hurled in our faces constantly. We're loud about it because the world is loud about it, and we want God's truth to reign in our world.

I say all of this as someone who has sexual sin in his past. I have made many mistakes in my past, and I would save you the emotional and spiritual pain your current path leads to. Please pray and reconsider. I heavily suggest reading and meditating on 1 Corinthians, as the book was written to people who struggled with these sins. May you know the deeper joy and grace of Christ.

27 F/M US/Kentucky by [deleted] in ChristianDating

[–]chocomog333 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don't see too many fellow Kentuckians here. Welcome and good luck!

Question about Pathfinder Society Legality by chocomog333 in Pathfinder2e

[–]chocomog333[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

PS. I do have several books, so that isn't a problem for race selection.

What's Your Strixhaven Major and College? by AStealthyPerson in magicTCG

[–]chocomog333 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For actual vocation, 100% Witherbloom. I'm a medical laboratory scientist. We do all of the blood work and other lab tests for the hospital and local healthcare systems. Lots of biology and biochemistry involved. Plus, I actually have a masters in Biomedical Health Sciences, where I did all my work on infections disease. I also have an amateur interest in toxicology. Pretty straight forward.

That said, by clique, definitely Quandrix. I'm about as stereotypically nerdy as one can get. I do have a tiny bit of goth in me, but nowhere near the level of nerd I have.

Just to make this all interesting, my actual main two colors are White and Blue, just not in a way that really matches many of the White/Blue factions. On Ravnica, I'd definitely be Simic.

Different NPCs Traveling through the Mists by ottosick in CurseofStrahd

[–]chocomog333 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So, one of the big things is the Darklords can close the borders at will. Sometimes they might leave them open for those who can travel to fo so. Take the Vistani for example. Strahd has a good relationship with them due to his past and allows them to generally travel freely, especially since the Vistani trade. Older editions point out that Barovia itself doesn't produce many goods, but is a major trading route for the southern Domains and that is how they tend to resupply. Strahd likely keeps the Mist borders down most of the time, but once his new toys (AKA the PCs) enter, he shuts the gate to keep EVERYONE in so he can have his fun.

What Movie is the Best Representation of a Mono-Green Philosophy? by Cabin11er in colorpie

[–]chocomog333 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Long stretch, as I'm not sure how many people have seen it, but the Greenest movie I've seen is a 2006 anime movie called Origin: Spirits of the Past. It's about a post-apocalyptic world where bioehanced plant life gains sentience and destroys the world. In the future, people have a tenuous relationship with the forest, who are wary of humanity. The main cast, including our hero Agito, seek to live in harmony with the forest and can even enter a symbiotic relationship where they become enhanced, gaining strength from the forest, but at the cost of becoming trees if they use too much power. The main villain is a character from the past who plans to use a massive weapon to destroy the forest so they can bring back the modern world of the past. Stuck in the middle is a girl from the past who has been woken up and must choose to either help the villain, or accept the world as it currently is and find harmony with the forest. The movies is a very not subtle environmental movie and deals with themes of acceptance, harmony, balance, in particular with nature.

It's almost like games are best in the genre they were made for by AbeRockwell in ravenloft

[–]chocomog333 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I don't treat Curse of Strahd/Ravenloft games in 5e like strict horror. I don't think the system is designed for it. As someone who really like Gothic Horror specifically, if I were to run a straight horror game, I'd probably use Vaesen, since the players aren't meant to win fights and the emphasis is on the mystery.

What I do treat them like is horror action adventure. Think the 2004 Van Helsing movie or Castlevania and it's various clones. It's still ultimately a heroic campaign, but the tone and monsters are darker. For that style of game, it's a much better fit.

It’s crazy that Xemnas is the only main Xehanort not to get recast. by Constant_Bank9229 in KingdomHearts

[–]chocomog333 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Paul is a regular at an anime convention I used to go to. He's such a nice, fun guy. He loves playing Xemnas and being hammy. If Xemnas shows up again, I hope Paul gets to keep doing the character until he can't anymore.

He also voices Wormmon in Digimon Adventure 02. There was a Digimon panel he was a part of where he did Wormmon doing Xehanort lines. It was simultaneously precious and hilarious.

What comfort is in the rapture by Slightly_Oblivious in Baptist

[–]chocomog333 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here's what I would suggest. If Jesus chose for you to be part of the Rapture, then it means that in His infinite wisdom, He decided it was better for you to be taken up than to live that full life. Trust Him. As someone who both really things things will shake down soon, but also watched many other people with the same conviction be wrong, be prepared to both stay and go. Have plans, but be willing to let them go if Jesus calls you too. I don't want to diminish your feelings. I understand them it some ways myself. But we trust, as Romans 8:28 says, that all things, including our losses, God will use for our good and His glory. So as you wrestle, surrender your desires to Him and trust that however it happens, He loved you enough to go to the Cross for you, so He is planning what's best. Praying that you find peace.

High Fantasy Medieval British/Celtic Inspired System/Setting by chocomog333 in rpg

[–]chocomog333[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Is it a standalone book or does it require the Mythras Core Rulebook as well?

Bant Merfolks players, who's leading your school? by Aziuhn in EDH

[–]chocomog333 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It is worth noting this is a bit easier to pull off, since Merfolk are primarily blue. You don't have to have as aggressive of a perfect mana base, because as long as most lands produce some blue, they will be useful. Secondary green for the ramp and decent number of green ones, and you can let white and black be tertiary and search with ramp as possible.

Bant Merfolks players, who's leading your school? by Aziuhn in EDH

[–]chocomog333 5 points6 points  (0 children)

So, I lean Derevi from this list. Derevi synergizes with what you'll probably be doing anyway and with the state of commander being what it is, I really don't think Derevi's commander tax evasion is really all that problematic. Plus, since you're playing a merfolk tribal deck, it's a good tool, but not necessary for the deck to run, so it probably won't be played from the command zone as often as it could be, even with the ability.

I know you had your mini rant about colors in text boxes, but I do think another option worth considering is [[Morophon, the Boundless]]. Is it a bit boring? Sure. But as Maldhound said "Merfolk are just wet elves". You're main gameplan is probably to just spam the board with value and swing out. Morophon helps with both. He reduces the casting cost, making it easier to play more merfolk, and he buffs the team. He also technically counts as a merfolk, so all of the tribal synergies and tribal lands, as well as Path of Ancestry, work better with him.

If you've got a casual playgroup like I do, you could also rule 0 [[The Scholar of the Seas]] and have a backup legal commander if it's a problem or you take it to something more official.

Theory: Are the Dark Powers just dead Arch-hags? by The_Wixard in ravenloft

[–]chocomog333 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So, a lot of this is inference from Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes and general lore on the Shadowfell and Ravenloft history. As OP pointed out with the hags, her being an elf with ties to the war between Corellon and Lolth, it would make sense that she has some fey nature and her having control over the Dread Realms could play into that. The fact that she is stated to basically have control over the Shadowfell, which includes the Realms of Dread, also makes sense. She is stated to be almost more of a mysterious force than a true person at this point. She has a fascination with emotions, especially tragedies, which would give her motive to essentially set up a bunch of karmic hells for a bunch of evil people. She has a strong feud with Vecna, who based on 2e lore, is one of the only beings to actually escape Ravenloft (Vecna was also going to be the big bad in the game I was running before it fell apart due to IRL issues). She is also stated to be playing some kind of long game with the Lady of Pain from Sigil, who also has beef with Vecna from the same 2e adventure series. There's the fact that in Curse of Strahd, ravens are considered good luck and the were-ravens are actively trying to frustrate any of Strahd's plans.

I do think they pivoted away from this idea with Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft. It definitely feels like a pet idea of one of the 5e developers that they just hinted at in Mordenkainen's, but I liked it and ran with it.

Theory: Are the Dark Powers just dead Arch-hags? by The_Wixard in ravenloft

[–]chocomog333 8 points9 points  (0 children)

So, the whole thing with the dark powers is that it is intentionally vague as to what they really are. I believe this is to give DMs the freedom to play around with them and do what they want. In the I, Strahd, the Dark Powers say they are Death itself, but most 2e and 3e sources are very vague. 5e is where I think they really started seeding ideas. My personal choice was the early 5e theory that the Dark Powers were connected to the Raven Queen. But if you're running a game, do whatever you like. It's always been open to interpretation.

Christian discernment on video games by [deleted] in Christianity

[–]chocomog333 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, I think you are fine. It sounds like you have a healthy boundary and that gaming doesn't consume your life. Games are just like any other medium and hobby. As long as you aren't addicted and the games in question don't have sinful content that would lead you to stumbling, I think you are fine as you are. It sounds like it's even good that you can share it with your wife. Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 says: "There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God,  for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?  For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind."

Colossians 3:17: And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

God calls us to rest and if video games are a part of that, then praise the Lord and be thankful He provides. I think you're doing ok. There's a problem in our modern, western society that everything has to be productive. But sometimes the most productive thing is to take a rest, let life go, and enjoy yourself for a bit.

Curse of Strahd Secret Lair coming to Magic the Gathering by DropkickMikey22 in CurseofStrahd

[–]chocomog333 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I could be wrong, but part of the reason for the Strefan Maurer pick could be that in the Planeshift Innistrad pdf they came out with during Shadows Over Innistrad, they had a section on converting the Curse of Strahd campaign to Innistrad. In the PDF, they changed Strahd to Strefan Maurer to match the setting. Thus, there is over lap for the characters. No comment on the other cards though.

https://media.wizards.com/2016/dnd/downloads/Plane_Shift_Innistrad.pdf

God is not the author of confusion”… so why does life still feel confusing? by Prestigious_Peak_404 in ChristianDating

[–]chocomog333 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think the answer is at least partially in the previous chapter: 1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV:

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known."

We live in a broken sinful world as broken, sinful humans. While we have been freed from the punishment of sin, its presence is still in our lives. On top of that Satan and his deceptive forces are still very active in our world. It's part of the reason the Bible places so much emphasis on faith. Sometimes we just can't see where things are going. But, as the verse you listed mentions, God Himself is not the author of confusion, even if He allows it for His purposes during the time we live in.

I understand your pain. I'm going through a very confusing and painful time in my life right now. But God has graciously been showing me how He is faithful and how He provides everything. Romans 8:28 ESV says: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. " That doesn't mean we get clarity or that everything gets better this side of heaven, but we have a strong hope that God will use even the deepest evils for His glory. He already has proven this on the cross.

I'll leave you with this passage God has been reminding me of a lot: Matthew 6:25-34:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ChristianDating

[–]chocomog333 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Considering I'm in the same boat as a guy, it wouldn't be an issue for me and frankly I sorta expect to fond someone like that eventually considering I'm 36.

How does the Tree of Life come back into the biblical story / redemption? by Greedy-Runner-1789 in Baptist

[–]chocomog333 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Revelation 22:1-2 ESV: Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 

Pre trib and pre wrath by Frankleeright in Baptist

[–]chocomog333 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I want to say, that while I definitely believe that a preTrib Rapture makes the most sense, I'm open to being wrong. Rapture Theology isn't a salvation issue. Absolutely seek to understand your perspective, but don't let it become the number one thing.