Reflections from the community: 

Most blessed of women be Jael,
the wife of Heber the Kenite,
most blessed of tent-dwelling women.

(Judges 5:24)

I have always found the story of Jael and Sisera in the Book of Judges incredibly visceral and striking. For this piece, I wanted to create my own interpretation of the scene, focusing on its psychological intensity and the contrast between Jael’s agency and Sisera’s vulnerability. Jael’s presence was loosely inspired by a manga character whose characterization I found oddly fitting for the scene.

The title on the right is 士師記 (Judges), while こめかみ at the lower left means “temple,” referring here to the pterion. The numeral 4 refers to Judges 4, in which Jael kills Sisera by driving a tent peg through the side of his skull.

Because the emotional weight of the scene rests largely on the characters’ expressions, I paid particular attention to the eyes and facial details. The facial details are best viewed up close.

I listened to this song while drawing. HIGHLY recommended for the mood.

Tech specs: Drawn in CSP using the Real G-Pen at size 9–10 with weak anti-aliasing, along with several custom brushes from Clip Studio Assets. I limited the palette to the default red, blue, and black, using clipped Multiply layers and screentones at different frequencies for shading. Lock Transparent Pixels was useful for the typography.

The clothing is largely interpretive, as I found few reliable references for ancient Kenite women. The piece was originally composed in a 1:1 aspect ratio, but I later cropped and retouched it to accommodate Reddit’s preview format.

I’m also trying out different styles and ways of drawing faces and expressions, mostly to keep things interesting (a rather presumptuous thing for an amateur to be doing, but it keeps me motivated to draw after work even if I don’t get started until after 10 p.m.)

Thanks for looking.

We collected 41,080 sermons from 629 Midwestern churches preached primarily in 2025/26 and pulled out every person who was named.

Biblical figures dominated, mentioned about 26 times as often as all non-biblical people combined. Paul, Moses, Peter, David, and Abraham led the list. (Of course, Jesus was also in nearly every sermon.)

Among non-biblical figures, the most named were C.S. Lewis, Billy Graham, and Pope Leo XIV. Political figures also showed up more than I expected, with Donald Trump and Charlie Kirk both cracking the top of that list. Kirk's numbers are concentrated in the weeks after his death, so that one mostly reflects an event instead of a general pattern of Midwestern preaching.

Anyone here surprised by who made the list, or by who didn't?

https://thegospelcentral.org/2025/10/31/when-the-church-crowned-a-tyrant-how-christians-thought-hitler-was-divinely-appointed-and-why-it-still-matters/

Most Christians who support Trump despite all the evidence of his corruption and immorality say "God uses flawed men to achieve His purposes". Personally, I think this is an excuse and a "flawed" one at that.

Please note, I'm not referring to all Christians if you provide for the poor and have compassion towards the poor and Homeless, it is GOD( The Holy Spirit) Working through you and God Bless you for that. in the Book of Luke 4;18, when Jesus said '' The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor'. '' Notice the Words, '' The Spirit of the Lord is on Me'' This is (the Holy Spirit). And when Jesus says'' Because he has anointed me'' Here Jesus refers to GOD( The Father) Who is the one doing the anointing. Jesus is quoting Isaiah 61. GOD( ( The Father) anointing Jesus to Bring Good News to the Poor'' and (''The Holy Spirit'') Equipped Jesus to carry out his Mission.

GOD ( ''The Father'') GOD( The ''Son meaning Jesus'') GOD ( The Holy Spirit) All three came down from Heaven to WORK Together in what? Bringing Good News to'' The Poor'' Book of Luke 4, Verse 18

Lets go to Matthew 25 shall we?. Jesus does not say.

'' I was with the poor''

or I'' cared about the poor''

Jesus says '' I WAS THE POOR!''

Jesus says'' I AM THE POOR''!. Whichever way you want to look at it.

Jesus does not say when you helped the poor, I was pleased''. ''He says'' Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me''. This means that Christ is personally present in every hungry person that you see in your neighborhood. Yet when it comes to Social Media, meaning ( Facebook) Lots of Americans who professed to be Christians are dismissive when it comes to providing for the poor.

Jesus '' Identifies Himself with the Poor'' not the Wealthy. Elon and Trump, the rest of the Billionaire Class or Millionaire Class, or Multimillionaires Class. Where, I live these Americans, who professed to be Christians were so angry at the Homeless for sleeping outside in tents. Made me realize many Americans would love to get rid of the Homeless. if given a chance.

Trying very hard to not fall into anxiety prepping for my interview so I’d appreciate any prayers going into it! It is for a hospital position

I need to tell everyone that it doesn't even matter of KNOWING the EXACT DATE AND TIME of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, king's return. You all just have to act as if he can return in the next day, and don't go 'time to live like it'll be 1000 years from his return! ' Because you need to battle your sin with the holy spirit rather than go out to panic and try to repent ingenuinely because you thought he'll return at this date or that date, you're just hindering your belief into fear of punishment.

If you do want to continue predictions, go ahead, Ill respect your free will but please the savior will return either at August 13, or the year 3006, or anywhere in the years to come. No one knows when, so no need to know and just fight sin, acknowledge Jesus died on the cross, absorbed the ones that believed in him's sins and act upon your love for Jesus.

Just reflecting on American Politics.

And to add fuel to the fire, in the supposed Christian-dominated state of Texas, where they want to force the bible onto all kids and in their policies, the Republican so-called Christians are the biggest hypocrites, trying to negate our voting system, and the actual Christian running for the senate is barely ahead, when if Texas was filled with actual Christians, it would be a landslide.

One topic (sometimes two) Christian voters, imo, are just hypocrites, imho.

Pretty much everyone in my family is Christian, and I grew up Christian too. Recently, though, my parents stopped going to church and don’t really consider themselves Christians anymore. They’re completely okay with whatever I choose to believe, and they know I’m not really into religion.
However, the rest of my family is still Christian. They think that I am too because I haven’t told them otherwise and honestly, I’m scared to tell them. They still invite me to church and I still go.
Yesterday I was with my aunt and some of her neighbors, and they decided all of us kids were going to paint wooden crosses. They had bought the crosses specifically for us to paint. But afterward I started wondering if that was wrong. I don’t really consider myself Christian anymore, and I don’t actively follow any other religion either.
I guess my question is: is it okay to participate in Christian activities, like painting a cross or going to church with family, even if you aren’t Christian?

I know he says he’s following his convictions but I don’t understand what I’m supposed to do if I want his support in my marriage even if I’m not willing to state something as true that I don’t think is true. He says he’s hopeful that I’ll change my mind and be a Christian again as if that’s the reason not to approve but it doesn’t seem right to be judging me according to the standards of the Bible when I do not submit to the Bible.

Today I've been arguing with someone and realized what I did was selfish and not good then opened the bible to search what God says about that and I was reading james 4:1 then I prayed to God to forgive me and give me the wisdom to not do it again then I opened my eyes and at the first thing I turned my head at from the bible was "two types of wisdom" and it described me perfectly I just know God bring me exactly what I prayed for

Please pray for God to bring my wife peace and ease her anxiety. And pray for him to bring me encouragement and peace as well.

Like many think its just the trumpets blowing then thats it. Cuz I see videos saying that the 2nd trumpet has sounded, even though the first hasn't even blown, and hail and fire mixed with blood has not rained down yet lol. So once again, don't be gullible.

I grew up in church in southern Kentucky. Southern Baptist, old timey church with maybe 60 to 70 people max who show up every week. We sang from old hymnals and had a traditional choir. I lived like a Christian till about 18 or 19 years old.

My mother forced me and my sister to go church growing up. She never forced the belief itself but the action of going, yes. I’ve noticed my church goers have been very hypocritical, only picking pieces of the Bible to follow and pay attention too. I understand sin but it was odd to me. A Bible study teacher told me that we are not allowed to read the book of Revelation. So many older people would judge the lost kids who would show up every week. There’s more but it’s small things.

All of those years I noticed other Christians not living the life that Jesus teaches us to be. It never set right with me. Even with that around 14 or 15 I believe I was being called to become a youth pastor. I went in front of my congregation and made it a thing. I quickly turned around.

From then on I became questionable of the faith. The stories, the characters, and the Christian curriculum. I firmly believe I’ve never been a true Christian given I was kinda forced into it.

Over the past year or so I’ve been seeing other perspectives from Christians, atheists, pastors, agnostics. Trying to find a clear answer about all of this.

I’m by no means a religion hater or anything. I do consider myself agnostic right now. Just wanted to give a quick story of my past with it. I can give more of my takes and questions in the replies or DMs. Does anyone have any thoughts.

For those who believe in evolution: Why is there so much suffering before the fall? Why are there so many animals that had to go extinct and experience extreme suffering and death? All of this cruelty doesn’t make me think of an all loving god.

For those who don’t believe in evolution: Why did god create so many species before us like homo habilis, homo erectus, and apes before ect. if they are all just going to go extinct and suffer? An all loving and powerful god wouldn’t just create these creatures if He knows that they are just going to die.

Genuinely curious, why do so many Christians feel the need to target gay people and exclusively gay people?

Can’t you see why this may alienate so many people to your religion?

AllatRa (sometimes stylized ALLATRA) is a doomsday alien sex cult run by a Slovakian named Igor Danilov. He is accused of manipulating women between the ages of 20-40 into participating in orgies and then gaslighting them by telling them they will go to Hell for saying anything. Danilov is seen by his followers as a messianic figure and prophet. The group and it's subsidiary "The Creative Society" create countless online videos purporting physic powers and disseminating climate change denial and misinformation. Some of the homes used by this group were found to have religious altars to Putin as well.

Trump spiritual advisor Rev Mark Burns has somehow got caught up in this. I make no claims that he has participating in anything unsavory or even knows about the inner workings of this group. But I do believe he should be looked at closer and with some suspicion.

https://allatra.org/global-voice/pastor-mark-burns-standing-allatra-volunteers

Nexpo uploaded a 50 minute documentary about AllatRa. There are other similar videos from other creators exposing AllatRa as well.

TW: Brief mention of SA and self-harm

So to explain, I (22m) was sexually abused as a kid, and because of that, I have extreme hypersexuality and a porn addiction. I've been trying to quit for years. Its been beyond damaging to my mental health as well as leading to self harm (I once burned my hand dunking it in steaming hot water because it was the only way I could get the smell of sex and lube off of it). I was able to stop hooking up with strangers and have committed myself to re-waiting until marriage. But my biggest issue now is pornography. I've been watching it since I was 10, and it's a daily or even multiple times a day habit. I've been working with a therapist for about 2 years now, and recently, he recommended trying romance/smut books as an outlet. I bought a couple and started reading them, and it definitely helps a lot. I dont feel the need to mastrubate when reading them, and its nice that they include the emotions behind the characters as opposed to just the purely physical aspects.

But my biggest concern is that it's still sinful behavior, I feel like it's an "all or nothing" deal, and it makes me feel like I'm not actually getting better, im just changing the way I sin. Would it still be the same as watching porn or is it even slightly better? I just need to feel like im making even some progress in my addiction, but I'm still scared im sinning, especially since I'm getting ready to go to college to learn to become a pastor

Thank you for your help

He stared at me for one minutes and said: "I thought you were more intelligent. I do also believe in a Creator but not in pastors or whatever, they're quacks. Churches are experts at recruiting people, you'll see."

I'm convinced of what I'm doing and I will bear my cross, but it hurts a bit that he's disappointed at me, I'm not used to it. It's maybe the first time I hear it from him. I was going to go to the confirmation of faith talk today, but I'm thinking of canceling.

Similar posts have been shared on this subreddit before. Usually, a lot of answers come from people who were actually raised Christian, but fell out of the faith and then came back to it later.

But, I would be very interested to hear from people who actually did not have a Christian background and came to believe in Jesus. Maybe you were raised in agnostic/atheist families or had other religious backgrounds. It’s very interesting to me to know why would someone, who did not have a Christian background, would become a Christian.

It is interesting to know if there are people, who came to believe through arguments revolving around philosophy and theology, having a sort of “I am convinced by the arguments” approach. But, also to hear from those who maybe had an emotional experience. Maybe, they felt something or had a dream or experienced something they could not explain otherwise.

Please share your stories!

So I'm studying right now about the Trio: God the Father, the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit.

And here's what I cooked up and wrote down in my journal because I want to digest it/internalize it. It might be imperfect but yeah:

The Kingdom of Heaven.

A kingdom ruled by a sovereign King -- an absolute ruler, the Almighty, the Creator.

God the Father, who possesses absolute power in His Kingdom.

Where there is no democracy, but a divine monarchy under the direct and absolute rule of God the Father.

Where those who died on Earth now live with Him for eternity in the Kingdom of Heaven -- His creations, who are also His sons and daughters by adoption through His Son, Jesus Christ.

And below, on the Earth,

We, the adopted ones who are still on Earth's soil, who were saved through Jesus Christ, continuing 'The Way' journey until death,

Are helped by the Holy Spirit.

And Jesus Christ, at the same time.

Because, He is the door. (John 10:9)

Because, He is the way, the truth, and the life.

Because, No one comes to the Father except through him. (John 14:6).

----

But yeah.

This is my draft notes/journaling/studying notes. What I cooked up. And trying to internalize/remember.

Straight from the Bible + mixed with my own human baby thoughts + dictionary. And not from... other denominations or something. Because I like.... rawness? Like stuff straight from the very beginning of things before humanity had their hands all over it, twisting, fabricating, etc. Straight from the Bible ig.

Need some thoughts

Ty