A 21k TBE, dije mi último adiós a mi querido hermano. Luego me dirigí a Dios para pedirle su santo perdón. Y mis 40 años de sufrimiento reprimido y autoimpuesto desaparecieron en un solo día.



I quite literally risked my life fighting evil in Close-Quarters Combat during my military service. It was unjust for me to have been disparaged as I was recently within a Christian community. I stand by my remarks. They will not be retracted:

What an excruciatingly painful experience. Talk about didactic judgment, intransigent attitudes, and blatant disrespect for a dissenting voice. I mean it was BAD. Without a modicum of doubt, it was far and away the most hostile environment that I have ever had the distinct displeasure of finding myself exposed to anywhere on Steam in better than 15 years. And it was all precipitated by an apology that I extended to someone there no less.

I have long held that I will come to know a true Believer and Christian as said Christian will have cleansed hatred and animosity from their heart to facilitate an espousing of a rhetoric of peace and love toward all. And that selfsame sentiment has become significantly reinforced over the course of the last two very long and trying days.

Further, a true Christian does not lash out in anger or cast aspersion. That said, no one should engage in this deleterious practice, Christian or not. Moreover, our world would collectively derive considerable benefit if its citizens were to resolve to regard one and other from a perspective of compassion and gratitude rather than from one of paranoia and prejudice.

"He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly."
-Proverbs 14:29 (KJV)

...No. I am most certainly not one of the Deceiver's wolves come to prey upon the righteous in a concerted effort to gate them down the Primrose Path to Hell. And yes, as devout Christians, it is incumbent upon us to Spread the Gospel at a propitious moment so that others might one day become redeemed through Jesus Christ, our Lord. It is just that the delivery of my message of the Intercessor's sacrifice will vary from that of your own.

But as "religion" is at its core, a term that connotes such intense acrimony among folks that it lends itself efficaciously to vehement disputatious argument even among long-established Christian sects, I've little doubt whatsoever that a neophyte propagandist such as myself will ultimately continue to manage to inadvertently "ruffle a few feathers" along the way.

And I am likewise not here to castigate nontheists for holding true to their core belief systems either. But as I do regard God to be not only the progenitor of both free-thought and discernment (in addition to being the Creator of the totality of existence) I felt compelled to delineate my posture on atheism.

"The Devil's greatest trick was convincing the world he doesn't exist."

Whilst in the military, I was an active participant in the neutralizing of clandestine cell system organizations. The members comprising those cells were combat savvy, highly motivated, and hard to catch. And they often held to Machiavellian principles and ideologies. False prophets such as Aleister Crowley were occasionally found to be a corrupting influence in their lives as well. And I have posted quotes attributable to both of those monsters to my profile (since removed) not out of respect or admiration for this manner of person, but to serve as a persistent reminder to me that their brand of "philosophy" continues to present the world community a serious and omnipresent threat even to this day.

13 Characteristics Of True Christianity:

Saved.
Lives a Godly Life.
Loves God.
Obeys God’s Word.
Selflessly Loves Others.
Not Of The World.
Loves The Truth.
Willing To Suffer Persecution.
Has A New Life.
Abhors Evil.
Denies Self.
Bears Good Fruit Of The Spirit.
Practices Forgiveness.

Though I aspire to incorporate these characteristics into my daily life, I am seldom successful. The whole of my life, and hence, that of my eternal salvation continues to be 'a work in progress'



"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." -John 3:16

"Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.”-Luke 20:25

The Lord's Prayer, in Lakȟótiyapi. My native language:

Atéŋyaŋpi maĥpíya ektá naŋké čiŋ ničháže wakĥáŋlapi kte;
Nitĥókičuŋze ú kte; maĥpíya ektá tókhel nitĥáwačĥiŋ ečhúŋpi kiŋ hé iyéčhel makĥá
Akáŋl ečhúŋpi kte, aŋpétu otóiyohi aĝúyapi kiŋ lé uŋk’úpi yé;
Na waúŋĥtanipi kiŋ uŋkákičiktuŋžapi yé uŋkiš tóna šičáya ečháuŋkičuŋpi kiŋ iyéčhel awičhauŋkičiktuŋžapi;
Na táku wawíyutaŋ kiŋ él uŋkáyapi šni yé tkĥá táku šiče čiŋ etáŋhaŋ éuŋglakupi yé. Amen


I have been regarded in certain circles (among other things) on Steam as being a rich English-speaking white boy, and as such, that life has been easy for me. Eh, it hasn't been. Truth is, that my heritage is 1/2 Sihásapa (Blackfoot Sioux) and 1/2 Soviet-era Russian (Latvian). But, I was raised in a predominately Spanish and Russian speaking household. Thus, English is a third language for me, and I still struggle to speak it to any degree of proficiency even now, as it does not come naturally to me. So, growing up in Los Angeles (and given my disparate heritage), mine was a disaffected and misspent youth as I did not believe then (and I still do not believe today) that I 'fit in well anywhere.'

As I am ex-military with real-life combat experience, I have never played CS:GO, TF2, or COD or any comparatively similar games for that matter. Not that I've anything against any of them, they are just not for me for obvious reason.

Fortis est Veritas

Ciudad de México. Truly, a world class cosmopolitan city. And I know from indirect experience as to the reason why -- the Indigenous population there is warm, caring, and accepting. My paternal grandparents relocated there after moving their family off of the Íŋyaŋ Woslál Háŋ. They were welcomed there despite not speaking a word of Spanish and, uh, also kinda looking rather obviously different. My mother was likewise accepted there upon fleeing her homeland in Russia after the devastation that was World War II. And so then, MY folks loved it there so much that they too embraced it as their home as well. It nearly broke their hearts to leave it when they decided it was time to relocate to the United States.

Yes, at age 69, I am older than nearly every other registered account holder on Steam. And yes, I have a lot of money to spend. But that is as a result of my having gone to WORK over the decades in order to EARN it all. Consequently, I now take deep umbrage at folks who ask that I simply "give" them something. NOBODY, but nobody, ever gave me nothin' as I WORKED my way through life. Bottomline: don't ask me to "gift" you things. I don't like it, so don't do it.

"To Thine Own Self Be True" -Polonius (Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 3)

In the small town of Everwood, where the whispers of the wind carried secrets through the narrow streets and the weight of tradition hung heavy in the air, two souls found themselves entwined in a love that defied all reason. Alex Sterling, heir to the Sterling estate and the expectations that came with it, lived a life of privilege but felt suffocated by the gilded cage of familial duty. Jamie Rivers, a free spirit from the working-class side of town, carried the hopes of a family that had known more struggle than comfort. Their worlds were divided by an invisible line drawn by generations of pride and prejudice, a line that neither dared to cross—until fate intervened.

It was a crisp autumn evening when they first met, at the town’s annual harvest festival. The air was thick with the scent of cinnamon and woodsmoke, and the golden leaves crunched underfoot as Alex wandered away from the crowd, seeking a moment of solitude. Jamie, who had been helping at a booth, noticed Alex’s retreat and, on a whim, followed. They found themselves alone by the old stone bridge that spanned the river—a structure worn by time yet steadfast, a symbol of connection in a town so often divided.

“Beautiful night, isn’t it?” Jamie said, breaking the silence.
Alex turned, startled but intrigued. “It is. I didn’t expect to find anyone else here.”
“Sometimes you need to step away from the noise to really see things clearly,” Jamie replied, leaning against the bridge’s railing.
They talked for hours that night, about dreams and fears, about the weight of expectations and the longing for something more. There was an undeniable spark between them, a connection that felt both thrilling and dangerous. But as the night wore on, reality crept back in. Alex was a Sterling, and Jamie was a Rivers. Their families had been at odds for as long as anyone could remember, a feud born of old grudges and misunderstandings that had hardened into unspoken law: Sterlings and Rivers did not mix.
Yet, love rarely bends to the will of tradition. In the weeks that followed, Alex and Jamie found themselves drawn to each other, meeting in secret beneath the cover of darkness or in the quiet corners of the town where prying eyes were few. They shared stolen moments by the river, where the water flowed freely, unburdened by the divisions that plagued the land. In those moments, they were not Sterlings or Rivers; they were simply Alex and Jamie, two people who had found in each other a kindred spirit.
Their conversations were a tapestry of hope and defiance. Alex spoke of a future unbound by the Sterling name, a life where choices were their own. Jamie shared stories of resilience, of a family that had weathered storms but never lost its heart. Together, they dreamed of a world where the bridge between them was not just a meeting place, but a path to something greater.
But secrets in Everwood had a way of unraveling. It was Alex’s younger sister, Eliza, who first discovered the truth. Eliza, perceptive beyond her years, noticed the change in Alex—the late-night absences, the distracted smiles. One evening, she followed Alex to the bridge and saw them together, hands intertwined, lost in their own world.

“You can’t keep doing this,” Eliza whispered when Alex returned home that night. “If Father finds out, it’ll destroy everything.”
“I know,” Alex replied, voice heavy with guilt. “But I can’t stop. Jamie… Jamie makes me feel alive, Eliza. For the first time, I feel like I’m living for myself, not for the family name.”
Eliza’s eyes softened, but her voice remained firm. “Love isn’t always enough, Alex. Sometimes, the world is too big, too cruel. You have to be careful.”

Meanwhile, Jamie faced their own struggles. Jamie’s best friend, Sam, had known about the relationship from the start and had been a steadfast ally, offering advice and a shoulder to lean on. But even Sam couldn’t shield Jamie from the growing tension at home. Jamie’s father, a proud man who had worked tirelessly to provide for his family, had always warned against the Sterlings. “They think they’re better than us,” he would say, his voice tinged with bitterness. “Don’t ever forget where you come from.”
The pressure mounted as winter approached, the days growing shorter and the air colder, much like the atmosphere in both households. It was inevitable that the truth would come to light. One fateful evening, as Alex and Jamie met by the bridge, they were discovered by Alex’s father, who had grown suspicious of his child’s increasingly erratic behavior.

“What is the meaning of this?” Mr. Sterling’s voice boomed, echoing across the water.
Alex froze, heart pounding, while Jamie stepped forward, defiant. “We’re in love, Mr. Sterling. And we’re not ashamed of it.”
“Love?” Mr. Sterling spat the word as if it were poison. “You think love can erase decades of history? You think it can change who you are?”
“It doesn’t have to change who we are,” Alex interjected, finding their voice. “It just means we choose to be together, despite everything.”
But Mr. Sterling was unmoved. “This ends now. Alex, you will come home with me, and you,” he turned to Jamie, “will stay away from my family.”

The confrontation left both Alex and Jamie reeling, but it also ignited a fire within them. They refused to let their love be extinguished by the weight of the past. In the days that followed, they sought counsel from those who might understand. Alex confided in Eliza, who, despite her earlier warnings, offered her support. Jamie turned to Sam, who reminded them that sometimes, the hardest battles are the ones worth fighting.

As the town prepared for the winter solstice—a time of reflection and renewal—Alex and Jamie made a decision. They would leave Everwood, start anew in a place where their names carried no weight, where their love could flourish without the shadow of old feuds. It was a difficult choice, one that meant leaving behind family and friends, but they knew it was the only way.
On the night of the solstice, under a sky strewn with stars, they met one last time at the bridge. The air was crisp, the world hushed in anticipation of the coming snow. They stood together, hands clasped, gazing at the river that had witnessed their love from the beginning.

“Are you sure about this?” Jamie asked, voice trembling with both fear and hope.
Alex nodded, eyes shining with determination. “I’ve never been more sure of anything. We’ll build a life together, free from all this. It won’t be easy, but it’ll be ours.”
As they turned to leave, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Eliza, her face pale but resolute. “Wait,” she called out. “I’m coming with you.”
Alex blinked in surprise. “Eliza, you don’t have to—”

“I do,” she interrupted. “I’ve seen what this town does to people, how it traps them in roles they never chose. I want more than that. And besides,” she added with a small smile, “someone has to keep you two out of trouble.”
Together, the three of them set off into the night, leaving behind the only home they had ever known. It was a journey fraught with uncertainty, but also with possibility. They knew that the road ahead would be long and winding, but they also knew that they were not alone.
In the years that followed, Everwood remained much the same, its traditions unbroken, its divisions unchallenged. But for Alex, Jamie, and Eliza, the world expanded beyond the confines of the town. They found a new home in a distant city, where they built lives of their own making, free from the burdens of the past.

Their love, once forbidden, became a testament to the power of choice—a reminder that even in a world bound by rules and expectations, the heart can still find its way. The bridge, once a symbol of their clandestine meetings, lived