Change.

What people like me feel is necessary for the future of football is change. Not just change for the sake of change, but change that will forever change the game in a positive direction. Let's talk about the innovation of the forward pass for example.

In the early 1900s, there were actually calls for the government to intervene and ban football because of injury risks. Yes, this actually happened, it's documented, go look it up on Wikipedia if you must. The then president of the United States, Teddy Roosevelt, heavily weighed in on the subject because of how loud such calls had gotten at that time. Roosevelt decided not to ban football, but said that there needed to be changes to make football safer to play. The year of this massive change, 1906. Yes, the year of the first legal forward pass in professional football history is 1906.

In a game in the then Ohio League (one of the several leagues that preceded the NFL), the first legal forward pass was thrown in October of 1906. The sport has not looked back since and the forward pass is as integral in the game as it has ever been. That is the type of change we need now, although I'd argue for very different reasons. Yes, there have been attempts at such change such as Indoor/Arena Football and more recently the A7FL, but they haven't touched the nerve or had the long term effects that the forward pass has had. One of the original names I was thinking of for this project before I settled on Brand New Shield was “Next Forward Pass”.

Brand New Shield is actually much more apropos than Next Forward Pass because of what I'm going to get into on this blog and the podcast once I start that up. It also signifies where the change and innovation is needed. I don't think the NFL can be directly competed with, but I do think there are opportunities where others like the USFL and Arena Football League have failed and where currently the UFL is failing.

What we need is another forward pass, but on an organizational and structural level. We need innovation, we need to think outside the box, and we need to strive to make the game better. We cannot just be singularly focused on profit like the current structures in place seem to be. We need to change the perception of what is possible by being both radical and realistic.

Change. For the better. We can get this done. Together.

Our Father Who art in heaven Hallowed be Thy name Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily Bread And forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil

Amen

Jesus is Lord! Come Lord Jesus!

Come Lord Jesus! Christ is Lord!

The Paper Trail

A fortune for the pill And standing by a warehouse, was a promise of self esteem Across the broken planet, in pride to his own Princess We the sum of youth, broke into the Russian vine A sonic win for the good of hay vlad had sixty thousand days To suffer the pain of excess fortune And foreboding by the fire body, it was who accosted a lens To Ukraine with opportunity An income for every soldier Step down and foreward Virtually the appeasement of a frozen plan There was novichok and moons Ukraine the Soldier Himself That who rained peace to God It was hitler who self-recused As a parable for the United States Next to brethren And cars alight for a promise That Belarus would hold his never And vlad stood down By quarter to nine For the Son of God, Who stopped the war

Be mine, in Italy And I will sign your every waiver For the principle of Canadian dreams And Independence for the wait It was best and available In Communion we won So that all who had many Rebuilt the forest And the train And a deliverance of babies Notwithstanding death Many suffered for days But the Glory of God Saw men weeping And stood down to Ukraine And Belarus the prophet Made off with Incheon While the Chinese bled for Christ At once and at noon And became Christian And no-one knows But the sun

May it rain on every driveway To find out what went on In the Irish way of a landslide So that victory was not only, For the poor, but for the just And the ocean’s power of Baptism at once Sent the Paraclete to all and satan died, For Earth’s regret And tears depend on Sunday

See you there, By the shipyard And Christening the sun Who burned a place of iron love And men got on with their day

We spoke out at Club Montreal For the prison of consumption While doves circled in our early time For Baptism to win a war

For the Good of The Son of God For Brandenburg and breathing flames While holly decked our own summons And beheaded vlad by six

To early dinner And so recused I ate a poem and prayed aloud Bless us Lord, We have sinned, But the edged land And the digress of Bread We prevail in the Holy Land And won the battle, For Mexique,

Christendom of days

Many people don’t like their native land

I realised this while talking to a chauffeur in my office. He is from Greece but living in Switzerland for last 15 years now.

He visits his family once every year. He loves wheels so he usually covers the 2000-kms stretch by car.

I have told him many times that I wish to travel to Greece, especially Athens. And requested him to show me around.

I thought he would proudly say Yes! I will show you the great Athens!

But he was a little hesitant.

At first, I did not understand the reason. Then I explained him why I loved to visit Athens because of all the great philosophers born there.

His response still was short of enthusiastic.

Then over a cup of coffee outside office we were discussing a lot of topics when this one came up again. It was then when he opened up.

He said Athens is nothing short of a crowded marketplace these days. So crowded, so dirty, so unsafe. Partly due to immigrants and rest due to petty politics.

He suggested me to rather visit one of these Greek islands.

This made me pause and wonder.

I soliloquyed aloud these were the exact same reasons I don’t feel particularly proud of my capital city, Delhi.

Yes, it is so historic and such a culturally, spiritually rich place. But due to the overcrowding, excessive pollution and lack of civic sense I would also be less enthusiastic in showing foreigners around Delhi.

I would rather urge them to see Sikkim or Goa or Kerala. But none of our stalwarts were born there. These places are not culturally or traditionally that rich but still so pristine and overflowing with natural beauty.

This conversation with him made me feel relieved. Like I am not the only one who is not so proud of the modern day definition of development.

He sure won’t be called a traitor in Greece for discouraging me to visit Athens.

🦡 JEZEVEC DĚDOLESKÝ

Jezevci pochází z oblasti Puchu Podkapradí. Tam to celé smrdí, vlhne a bublá. Kapradiny tam rostou přímo ze hovenného kalu, vzduch páchne po dědcích a prdeli, a ze země občas vyjede jezevec.

Jezevci jsou tvorové prdelatí a kousaví, ale umí být i přítulní, když mají po žrádle a není zrovna bitva. Jezevec nemá žádný plán – prostě jde a kousne do prdele první věc, co se hýbe. Dědka, Píčomloka, někdy i jiného jezevce. Kousnutí je rychlé, hluboké a doprovázené krátkým prdnutím oběti. To je normální.

V Dědolesu se na jezevce nikdo nezlobí. Kousnutí do prdele se bere jako přirozená součást dne.

„Kdo dnes nedostal kusanec, toho si svět nevšiml,“ říkají dědci.

🧓 Jezdci na jezevcích

V Puchu Podkapradí žije skupina dědků zvaná Jezdci na jezevcích. Sedlají své jezevce, drží se jim za krk, a když to rozjedou, prdele jim pleskají o srst. Jezevci funí, dědci řvou a z obou stran to páchne tak, že i mech vadne.

V bitvách se jezdci na jezevcích vrhají do řad nepřátel, kousají do prdelí a rozsévají paniku. Po bitvě si dají pivo, poplácají jezevce po prdeli a jdou spát.

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🦉 Nepřátelé sov

Jezevci jsou zapřisáhlí nepřátelé prdelatých sov – největších smradochů Zmrdodimenze. Sovy létají, prdí shora a trousí peří plné smradu. Jezevci to nesnášejí. Když sova přiletí moc nízko, jezevec vyskočí, zakousne se jí do prdele a nepustí. Sova křičí, prdí strachem, padá, a dědci se smějí.

Jezevci mají s prdelatými sovami nekonečnou válku. Nikdy ji nevyhrají, ale ani neprohrají – pořád se někde kouše, prdí a smrdí.

🌫 Jezevci jsou všude

Jezevci nejsou ale jen v Puchu Podkapradí. Jsou v celém Dědolesu – v křoví, pod lavicí, za dědkem. Objevují se i v Brčálníku, sídle Zmrdoparty, kde se topí v bahně a koušou dědky do prdele, když se jdou koupat. Všude, kde to páchne, je aspoň jeden jezevec.

Jezevci jsou prostě součást Dědolesa. Bez nich by nebyl smrad, a prdele by zlenivěly.

„Jezevec kouše, dědek prdí, svět se točí.“ — dědoleské přísloví

Black Friday is quickly bearing down upon us. For those not in the know, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving in the US, and traditionally marks the official start of Christmas shopping season, and as such, many vendors, retailers, and manufacturers offer steep discounts on their products and services.

Below is a list of all known privacy- and security-related Black Friday deals. If you’re reading this closer to a future Black Friday after 2025, check out thenewoil.org/black-friday to be taken to the latest version of this blog. If you spot a deal that isn’t listed here, please send it to me so I can add it. I will try to update as often as I can.

Note that not every service listed here is also listed on The New Oil. The New Oil tries to only list specific services that are relevant to a beginner audience and also meet certain criteria. Anything listed here is not necessarily an endorsement of the service or product. However, I will attempt to list any service I believe is privacy/security-focused, regardless if it qualifies for TNO listing or not. In other words: do your own research before buying anything on this list.

These services are listed in alphabetical order, not order of recommendation or anything like that.

Filen

Encrypted cloud storage. Begins November 24

Google Pixels

Pixel phones are the perfect devices for degoogled operating systems like Calyx or Graphene. Black Friday officially kicks off on Nov 20.

Proton

Encrypted email, calendar, cloud storage, password manager, email aliasing service, VPN, and Bitcoin wallet. Up to 70% off.

StartMail

Private email with unlimited email aliasing. 50% off plus 3 extra months on the annual plan. (Note that StartMail is not truly end-to-end encrypted, but they are privacy-focused.)

Tresorit

Encrypted cloud storage. Up to 50% off for business plans.

Tuta

Encrypted email and calendar, 62% off their Legend Plan.

Yubikey

Hardware security tokens. 30% off up to 4 keys.

Conclusion

I'm not a fan of mindless consumerism. If you need a new phone and Black Friday is your chance to grab a great deal on a phone, great! But if you just saw a discount and went “well, I guess my phone is kind of getting older,” then you're not actually saving money. Don't buy one of these services unless you actually need the features they offer or you use them already and want to support them. But if you fall into one of those categories, hopefully this post will help you score a great deal while supporting a good project. A win-win for everyone.

I won this club-based mini-tournament correspondence chess game a few hours ago playing White with a Queen-Queen Checkmate. The position of pieces at game's end is seen in the graphic image above, and our full move record follows: 1. d4 d5 2. h3 e6 3. a3 Ne7 4. Nc3 a6 5. Nf3 h6 6. e4 g6 7. Ne5 Bg7 8. Bd3 Bxe5 9. dxe5 Nbc6 10. O-O O-O 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Re1 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Qg5 14. Bxg5 hxg5 15. c4 Nd4 16. Re4 c5 17. c3 Nf5 18. Rg4 Bd7 19. Rxg5 Bc6 20. f3 Rad8 21. a4 Kg7 22. Qe2 Rh8 23. Bxf5 exf5 24. f4 Rhe8 25. Rg3 f6 26. Rd3 Rxd3 27. Qxd3 fxe5 28. fxe5 Rxe5 29. Kh2 b5 30. cxb5 Rd5 31. Qf3 axb5 32. axb5 Rd1 33. Qxc6 Rxa1 34. Qxc5 Ra2 35. b6 f4 36. Qd4+ Kh7 37. b7 f3 38. b8=Q Rxg2+ 39. Kh1 Rg3 40. Qbh8# 1-0

And the adventure continues.

Vertaald AI Liedje (His Balls Got Stuck...)

Ik was van plan om echte liedjes te vertalen maar daar kwam ik niet aan toe dit dubbel nep liedje kon ik echter niet weerstaan, het is in t echt een kunstmatig pienter liedje geschreven door een mensen samen met een persoonlijke computer (een hele flinke waarschijnlijk, een stapel) en zijn persoonlijke liedjes schrijf programma, ja, gemaakt door echte mensen (de teksten zijn geloof ik niet AI maar ik kan ook geen auteurs ontdekken behalve SuSrecords) om een computer liedjes te laten maken, super nuttig, en daar maak ik dan weer een echt niet kunstzinnig pienter lied tekstje van.. Ik heb de verleiding weerstaan om alle liedjes uit deze sussende serie te beluisteren, ik zocht alleen op goodlay torrent en toen kreeg ik dit, deze site hangt van a tot z van toevalligheden aan elkaar maar wat mij betreft is de eerste toevalstreffer de beste, enige echte en de rest is marketing overdaad. De mijnrioolbuis standaard instelling eigenlijk. Luister en geniet, zing gerust mee met het origineel, ik heb de vertaling nog niet hardop durven mee jubelen, misschien later als ik helemaal seniel ben.

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Ima Goodlay – His Balls Got Stuck In His Zipper https://youtu.be/KtEzIboV23c?si=FLO_NB9-pqa7vwWj Des Tevigebeurt – Zijn Ballen Zitten Tussen De Rits

Mijn vriend en ik zouden gaan dansen in de stad maar toen hij zijn broek aan trok veranderde dat Hij belde me op en toen stortte mijn wereld in hij sprak hoog als een meisje en niet als een vent

Zijn ballen zitten tussen de rits Hoe deal ik ermee, zijn ballen zitten tussen de rits Hij belde op en mijn hele avond was om zeep Ach en wee.

Ik was van plan mijzelf aan hem te geven Toen hij mij belde met zijn ballen tussen de rits Nu zit ik thuis waar niks valt te beleven

Het klinkt misschien koud doch dat is omdat ik eerlijk ben Niemand krijgt dit voor elkaar niet eens met opzet zin Hij trok zijn rits natuurlijk veels te snel dicht O wee de pijn die ik voel zal nimmer worden verlicht

Zijn ballen zitten tussen de rits Hoe deal ik ermee, zijn ballen zitten tussen de rits Hij belde op en mijn hele avond was om zeep Ach en wee.

Ik was van plan mijn liefde te verklaren Toen hij mij belde met zijn ballen tussen de rits Nu zit ik thuis en kom maar niet tot bedaren

De tijd is verstreken, de kans op beter inmiddels verkeken Er zijn geen andere opties daar Zijn pijn is waar maar niets met de intensiteit mijner zielenleed vergeleken

Ik was van plan hem te beminnen toen hij mij belde met zijn ballen tussen de rits Nu zit ik thuis waar ik niets kan beginnen

Bonus spoor Moonbeam Muffin …. https://youtu.be/8fQFO9MOQqg?si=BptC76qRSVBhcNcb

Mercy

In the shadows of a park on an island Fifty days of growing stronger by a storm In the faith of Fordham by an echo feeling freedom A thousand girls who ran for miles seeking sunlight to be found In the interstitial way of forward to a being being headstrong There are stories made of wisdom by the women that are real Pray for mercy for the young ones in the agony of a year Long days ahead in Mrs. Someone who is healed by a headline After mercy from her mother who was strong to make her stand As the lines of what they seem to better men to make a summons In the time enough of shadows by the Princes who now know That the winds are coming, changing, in a palace, by the dawn That is rising for the women, for the kin, who know of now

Impossible Rain

Flights of Heaven In grand form, Downward Acing the sky The planet drinks A doglegged town That fits the air and can Expressing wildly Back to Heaven Throwing burns Effortlessly replying, Downward But we own this town In all sorts of ways And rain is not our plan We have things And trees And then lumber And everything on sale For the New Year Nothing can come in The deepest sky, Cannot even breathe We sold the rights in the Senate And briefly become Elsewhere With better rain And better outcomes Where the wind blows us And our homes And our bodies While it rains Like bloodshed In November

Splashdown (One Hand on The Water)

And we are alright Having this day A long and solemn jump Passing jungles and forests and math To be here, On the rocking waves This chair of the high esteem And a solemn bit of my body Close to a friend A day of up and down Downturn or not Decorated by Rome And not even old- The high is redeemed On a planet of love, This one, The Black Beauty, Earth and a high No way near Sobeys Nearing the waves In newest water Home, Where it rains And choirs proclaim That Jesus is Lord!

from a life of wandering
 an internal clock tick-tock whispers the old road is calling 
its winter deserts of stars and loneliness the cold north coast
 valleys of rivers and wildflowers mountain peaks that line the heavens but i will not go 
a new road calls and whispers this way into seasons of forgetting where i am and where i’ve been 
from a life of wandering

Reflection:

Constant change is both burden and reward.

Writing Prompt:

What are the burdens and the rewards of your life?

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#ThePoetJaredChristian #PoeticVignettes #Refections #WritingPrompts #Writing #Poetry #MicroPoetry #TheRoad #Wanderer

Pluribus, Episode 3: Grenade

See review of the first two episodes here

In the aftermath of almost 100% of humanity entering the singularity, our cranky protagonist, Carol, is refusing to deal. But when even a grocery run to Sprouts typifies the emptiness of having every need met, avoidance is futile.

Gilligan humanizes AI slop through Carol's keeper, Zosia. She is a hive mind Amelia Bedelia, glitches at emotion, and one sip of vodka is enough to chat out random Wikipedia entries.

By Grenade's end, Carol understands the crowd-sourced charm offensive she's experiencing and the power both she and they hold. Carol now enters a race to protect her individualism.

Keep watching it.

#Pluribus #FediTV #TVReview #ScienceFiction #Drabble #Larrys100 #VinceGilligan #SingularityFiction

#haremhaohybrid

Seakan tak peduli akan kegelisahan kelinci kecil kita, tirai malam pun turun membawa kerlipan bintang di antara terangnya bulan. Bunyi gesekan sayap jangkrik menemani kesyahduan paviliun sang kelinci saat penghuninya tengah sibuk ditata oleh kakak-kakaknya. Rambut hitam indahnya disisir rapi dan diberi minyak wewangian.

“Kak Jihoon, itu mau dipakein apa...?” Minghao memicingkan mata curiga terhadap bubuk berwarna kemerahan di jari sang koala.

“Ini dipakai di mata seperti ini,” dengan tenang ia mengusapkannya di kelopak mata sang kelinci. “Atau di pipi seperti ini.” Jari yang sama berpindah ke tulang pipinya. “Biar rona merah mukamu terlihat.”

“Buat apa sih...,” keluh Minghao, yang mendapat tawa dari Jihoon sebagai balasan.

“Haohao, lihat sini,” Jisoo mencolekkan kelingkingnya ke substansi yang lebih merah dan lengket dari yang Jihoon sapukan barusan. “Mulutnya dibuka sedikit...”

Minghao menurut, membiarkan kakak sepupunya memulaskan gincu ke bibirnya.

“Bibirmu pecah-pecah begini... kamu tidak merawat dirimu, Sayang?”

“Kan biasanya Kak Shuji yang merawatku!” bibir sang kelinci manyun sambil melantunkan protes. “Kakak pergi ya aku malas...”

Jisoo hanya tersenyum simpul. Betapa menggemaskan adik kecilnya itu. Sedari kecil, Jisoo dan Jeonghan lah yang membesarkan Minghao, epitome pecahan keluarga yang menjadi satu karena darah dan kondisi. Orangtua masing-masing telah pergi entah kemana, mungkin di dalam tanah atau di dalam perut predator, tidak ada yang mengetahui. Nasib klan kelinci setelah dinikahkan tidak terlalu menjadi prioritas dunia. Mereka bisa saja dimakan suaminya sendiri dan tak ada seorang pun yang akan menyelamatkan mereka.

Maka dari itu, Jisoo bertekad untuk memberikan suami terbaik bagi adik kecilnya tersebut. Bila takdir naas mereka tidak bisa diapa-apakan, biarlah Jisoo berharap cinta tulus bisa tumbuh di antara Minghao dan suaminya kelak, seperti halnya dirinya dengan suami-suaminya kini. Sudah cukup ia mengetahui nasib Jeonghan karena menikahi suami dari klan yang salah. Hatinya tak tega bila Minghao harus menderita juga.

Setelah seluruh pihak merasa puas akan kerja keras mereka, Jisoo mengelap peluh di keningnya, Jihoon membereskan alat-alat rias yang selesai digunakan, sementara Minghao tertegun menatap cermin. Ekor matanya dibuat tinggi menggunakan tinta, bersamaan dengan taburan bubuk gelap di sekitarnya yang menimbulkan sedikit kesan misterius. Kelopak mata dan pipinya dironai merah, nampak segar di pandangan. Wajahnya yang ditaburi bedak menutupi sebagian besar permukaan kulitnya. Dan bibirnya—berkilat indah, mekar dalam warna gincu merah. Sang kelinci mengerjap-ngerjapkan mata, sulit mempercayai refleksi siapakah yang tengah ditatapnya.

“Itu...aku?” ucapnya terbata. Ingin tangan ia angkat untuk meraba, tetapi takut bila pada akhirnya merusak upaya kakaknya.

“Tentu saja, Sayang,” kekeh Jisoo. “Dan, ini, tusuk sanggul untuk rambutmu.” Dengan lembut, kelinci yang lebih tua itu menggelung sebagian kecil rambut Minghao dan merapatkannya rapi dengan tusukan indah tersebut—berwarna kayu dengan aksen merah dan sedikit emas, bermotifkan dedaunan dan ukiran simbol klan macan. “Ini adalah tusuk sanggul yang diberikan suamiku di hari pernikahan kami. Ini adalah tanda bahwa aku adalah bagian dari klannya sejak saat itu. Tapi, kupinjamkan ini padamu bukan untuk mengikatmu, melainkan tanda bahwa aku dan seluruh klannya akan melindungimu sampai kamu mendapatkan tusuk sanggulmu sendiri dari suamimu kelak.”

Sambil saling menatap di cermin, kedua tangan Jisoo pada bahu Minghao menimbulkan rasa lega, tetapi juga sedikit merana. Kelinci kecil kita sungguh enggan menyerahkan diri pada karnivora-karnivora biadab itu!

“Tentu, suami yang kumaksud tidaklah harus berasal dari klan karnivora yang hadir malam ini,” ujarnya lembut untuk menenangkan kegelisahan Minghao yang kentara. “Bila kamu menemukan kekasih hatimu, dari klan mana pun dirinya bukanlah masalah. Yang penting, dia bisa membahagiakanmu.”

Minghao mengerjap satu kali. Ah, ya. Kwon tentu telah bercerita pada kakaknya mengenai pembicaraan mereka di hutan kala itu: bahwa ia telah berjanji untuk melepaskan Minghao bila tak ada karnivora yang meluluhkan hatinya. Sang kelinci lalu mengendus.

“Aku bahagia sama diriku sendiri,” disentuhnya tangan Jisoo pada bahunya. “Kak Shuji nggak perlu cemas. Aku bakal baik-baik aja. Sendirian. Di hutan rumah kita.”

Jelas sekali apa maksud Minghao barusan. Secercah rasa pedih menyelimuti hati Jisoo. Ia hanya bisa tersenyum miris membalas ringisan lebar penuh kepastian dari adiknya tersebut.

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Perjamuan malam itu tidak kalah megah dari pertemuan para klan karnivora sebelumnya, bahkan bisa dibilang lebih meriah. Tabuhan gendang dan merdu nyanyian membawakan hiburan bagi para tamu, berikut sajian berbagai jenis daging, dari yang berenang di sungai setempat sampai yang terbang di atas langit biru. Untuk alasan yang sangat jelas, Kwon Soonyoung tidak menyuguhkan daging kelinci dan domba, juga beberapa mahkluk herbivora lainnya yang spesiesnya bekerja di rumahnya. Ia pun menjauhkan hidangan daging apa pun dari kedua suaminya, mengisi piring-piring mereka hingga penuh dengan sayur mayur. Wortel gendut berwarna jingga untuk Jisoo dan Minghao, serta rerumputan segar dicampur daun selada untuk Seungkwan. Ia sendiri memilih menu babi hutan dan ayam di mejanya.

Malam itu, suami-suaminya tampak begitu cantik, berkilau dalam rona kebahagiaan. Hati Kwon Soonyoung luluh seketika mata menangkap mereka. Ingin rasanya ia meraih dan menciumi tangan keduanya, namun ada yang lebih penting malam itu daripada kisah kasihnya. Berada di belakang para suaminya, berjalan kikuk memasuki aula utama, adalah anggota keluarga kelinci termuda dalam balutan gaun indah dan riasan sempurna. Kwon Soonyoung tidak akan berbohong dengan mengatakan ia tidak kagum akan perbedaan mencolok antara adik ipar penuh semangat yang ia temui di dalam hutan dengan makhluk tercantik setelah Jisoo dan Seungkwan yang pernah ia lihat sepanjang hidupnya itu. Kalau ia tidak salah dengar, kelinci tertua juga tak kalah cantiknya. Betapa menakjubkannya garis darah para klan Kelinci. Sang macan lalu menoleh. Jika ia saja terpana oleh kecantikan Minghao, maka anggota klan yang lain tentunya—

Hampir saja ia mendengus menahan geli.

Bagaimana tidak? Lihatlah. Desis ular terdiam, menyisakan juluran lidah yang sesekali bergerak. Percakapan rubah dengan macan kumbang langsung terhenti, tergantikan oleh dua wajah yang tertegun. Beruang selalu diam sehingga Kwon Soonyoung tidak yakin apa perbedaan signifikan yang bisa ia tangkap, namun pandangannya tak henti mengikuti gerak-gerik sang kelinci. Dan—yang paling membuat sang macan kesulitan menahan tawa—wajah melongo yang amat langka dari serigala; klan yang telah membuat kelinci tertua menderita, yang melihat klan kelinci tak lebih dari sebuah benda untuk dimiliki. Andai juru lukisnya ada di ruangan, Soonyoung akan memintanya segera bekerja untuk mengabadikan momen tersebut.

Ia kemudian menoleh lagi ke arah Minghao yang kini sudah semakin dekat. Kwon Soonyoung akan duduk di depan diapit oleh kedua suaminya, sebagaimana tata krama di klannya, dan Minghao akan duduk persis di samping Jisoo. Mereka akan menghadap para anggota klan karnivora lain yang duduk di seberang mereka. Mengingat reaksi masing-masing dari mereka sungguhlah menarik, sang macan jadi tak sabar untuk menyaksikan siapakah yang berhasil menarik minat sang kelinci termuda. Ia menatap wajah Jisoo kini—tenang dan damai, bagai sang ratu di atas papan catur.

Kwon Soonyoung tersenyum.

Betapa cerdasnya suaminya itu.

Every generation wrestles with the same questions of eternity. Humans can go decades without asking them aloud, yet they remain alive in the background of our thoughts — appearing in quiet moments, tragedy, grief, longing, and late-night reflection.

And among all those questions, one rises above the rest:

Who actually goes to Heaven?

Some attempt to answer it with confidence. Some with fear. Some with tradition. Some with wishful thinking.

But the truth is rarely explored with the depth it deserves.

This article dives into the heart of grace — the force that rewrites destinies, overthrows assumptions, and reveals the astonishing beauty of the God who saves. It dismantles the idea that heaven is earned by human effort or reserved only for those who “get it right” and replaces it with the breathtaking truth that heaven is the home of the redeemed, not the perfect.

Before going deeper, here is the resource most people search for when exploring this topic — the truth about who goes to heaven — a message that has stirred hearts across the world.

Now let us walk into the fullness of the story.

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⭐ The Hidden Question in Every Person’s Heart

Why does the question of heaven matter so much? Why does it follow humanity century after century, long before the internet, denominations, or doctrinal statements?

Because human beings instinctively know two things:

1. There is more than this life.

2. Something inside us longs to be reconciled with the One who created us.

From ancient civilizations to today’s modern societies, the afterlife has always been a central theme of human existence. Anthropologists note that nearly every culture on record contains some form of belief about life beyond death.¹ That means we aren’t simply curious — we are wired to seek eternity.

But while the desire for heaven is universal, the understanding of heaven is not. Some believe heaven is a reward for good behavior. Others think it belongs to those who believe strongly enough. Others imagine it as automatic for “good people.”

Yet these ideas, though common, only scratch the surface.

Heaven cannot be understood until grace is understood. And grace cannot be understood until the heart of God is understood.

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⭐ The Shocking Truth Scripture Reveals About Belief Alone

If you ask most people what they think qualifies someone for heaven, one of the most common answers will be:

“Well… you just have to believe in God.”

It sounds reasonable. It sounds simple. It sounds achievable.

But one of the most overlooked verses in Scripture shatters that assumption completely.

James 2:19 declares:

“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that — and tremble.”

That is not just a verse. It is a spiritual earthquake.

Because it means:

• Belief alone is not the measure of salvation. • Acknowledgment of God’s existence is not transformation. • Awareness is not redemption.

Even the demonic realm, fully aware of God’s reality, does not share in His salvation. They have seen His throne, witnessed His authority, and tremble before His power — yet they remain eternally separated from Him.

This alone tells us:

Heaven is not the destination of those who simply believe. Heaven is the destination of those who surrender.

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⭐ The Profound Difference Between Believing IN God and Believing God

Believing in God is mental agreement. Believing God is heart-level trust.

Believing in God says: “I know You’re out there.”

Believing God says: “I trust You with everything I am.”

One stays in the mind. The other rewrites the heart.

This distinction is not a modern invention — it is woven through the entire story of Scripture.

When Abraham believed God, it was not belief in God’s existence. He already knew God existed. The belief Scripture refers to is trust — handing over the deepest parts of himself to the One who called him.

Harvard’s Center for the Study of World Religions describes this distinction clearly: intellectual belief does not transform behavior; relational trust does.² Belief without surrender is static. Belief with surrender becomes transformational.

This is why Jesus repeatedly invited people to follow Him — not merely to agree that He exists.

He didn’t come to gather admirers. He came to gather disciples.

A disciple is not someone who believes in God’s existence — a disciple is someone whose life becomes shaped by God’s grace.

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⭐ Grace: The Most Misunderstood Word in Faith

Grace is so frequently spoken about in sermons, songs, and devotionals that many assume they understand it. But grace is far more radical, far more disruptive, and far more astonishing than most people ever realize.

Grace is not:

• A reward • A badge for the morally successful • A prize for spiritual achievers • A certificate for those who followed the rules • A compensation for good behavior

Grace is:

• Undeserved mercy • Love given to the unworthy • Forgiveness for the broken • Redemption for the lost • God stepping down when humanity could not climb up • Divine compassion replacing judgment • The heart of God reaching toward those who could never reach Him

Grace is the reason salvation exists at all.

Romans 5:8 reminds us:

“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

That means:

He loved us before we believed. He moved toward us before we prayed. He forgave us before we repented. He died for us before we ever chose Him.

God’s grace is not a response to our goodness. God’s grace is an overflow of His goodness.

A study published in The Journal of Spiritual Formation found that experiences of profound forgiveness create the deepest and most lasting spiritual transformation in individuals — more than fear, obligation, or moral pressure ever could.³

Grace changes people in ways rules never can.

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⭐ The Thief on the Cross: God’s Final Sermon Before the Resurrection

If you want to understand heaven, you must understand the man beside Jesus in His final hour.

A criminal. A failure. A man with a history no one would defend. A man with no time left to fix his life.

He had no opportunity to prove himself. No chance to undo the wrong he committed. No ability to perform good works. No time to impress Jesus with spiritual knowledge.

All he had was a moment — a moment of honest surrender:

“Lord, remember me.”

And Jesus responded with words that have thundered through history:

“Today you will be with Me in paradise.”

This moment reveals the scandal of grace:

Heaven will be filled with people who never “got it right,” but who surrendered in the end. Heaven will be filled with people who had nothing to offer but their brokenness. Heaven will be filled with people who were lifted, not people who climbed.

The thief on the cross is the greatest sermon ever preached about salvation because it reveals:

Heaven is not the reward for good behavior. Heaven is the inheritance of those who receive grace.

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⭐ Why Works Can Never Earn Heaven

If heaven could be earned, then salvation would no longer be a gift. It would be a paycheck. But Scripture makes something unmistakably clear:

Salvation is not wages. Salvation is not reimbursement. Salvation is not compensation.

Ephesians 2:8–9 says:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.”

The moment someone claims heaven is reserved for those who did enough good, they step into a dangerous place — the place where pride replaces humility and performance replaces grace.

Yale Divinity School’s theological reviews consistently emphasize that Christian salvation is rooted in divine initiative, not human achievement.⁴ This truth is not optional — it is central.

Heaven is never earned. Heaven is inherited. And inheritance comes from relationship, not performance.

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⭐ Transformation: The Mark of a Heart Touched by Grace

Grace does not excuse sin. Grace transforms hearts.

It does not leave people where it found them. It creates new direction, new purpose, new identity.

Transformation is not: • Immediate perfection • Moral flawlessness • Instant spiritual mastery

Transformation is: • A shift in desire • A move toward God • A change in values • A softening of the heart • A new way of walking through the world • A journey, sometimes slow, sometimes painful, always purposeful

The National Institutes of Health has published extensive research showing that long-term spiritual formation leads to notable improvements in emotional health, resilience, moral clarity, and personal identity.⁵ That means a transformed life is not imagined — it is measurable.

But transformation is not the price of salvation. It is the evidence of grace.

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⭐ Why Humans Misunderstand Heaven So Easily

Humans love systems. We love formulas. We love fairness. We love cause-and-effect.

We naturally assume salvation must operate like everything else in life — earned through effort, discipline, success, or moral accomplishment.

But heaven does not operate like earth. Heaven operates by grace.

The kingdoms of this world run on achievement. The Kingdom of God runs on mercy.

And humans instinctively resist mercy because mercy removes control. Mercy eliminates comparison. Mercy silences superiority. Mercy exposes the illusion of spiritual self-sufficiency.

Grace forces us to admit we cannot save ourselves. And that is precisely why grace is the doorway to heaven.

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⭐ Who Goes to Heaven? The Final Answer

Heaven belongs to:

Those who surrender. Those who trust. Those who receive grace. Those who turn their hearts toward Jesus — whether early or late, in certainty or in desperation. Those who recognize they cannot save themselves. Those who place their hope in the One who can.

Heaven is not the final destination of the strong. Heaven is the eternal home of the redeemed.

Heaven will be filled with people who were broken, but healed. Imperfect, but forgiven. Lost, but found. Weak, but carried. Hopeless, but restored. Guilty, but washed clean. Failed, but redeemed by love greater than their failure.

This is the truth the world needs. This is the truth Scripture teaches. This is the truth Jesus embodied. This is the truth grace shouts through eternity.

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⭐ Citations (High-Authority Sources)

¹ Pew Research Center – Studies on afterlife beliefs across cultures. ² Harvard CSWR – Research on relational vs. intellectual belief. ³ Journal of Spiritual Formation – Studies on transformative forgiveness. ⁴ Yale Divinity School – Reviews on divine initiative in salvation. ⁵ National Institutes of Health – Research on long-term spiritual transformation.

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— Douglas Vandergraph

1 November 2025

Camus, The Stranger (The Outsider here in the UK). Rang my bell. Something in it I can't help but connect to Cézanne with regard to lucidity and vision. Meursault is seemingly in a state of harmony with himself, but it's detached—self-denial cloaked in self-acceptance. He isn't capable of embracing the sun or confronting his distinctly human inability to conceptualize what it represents (which to me feels language-less, not so much divine but earthly and present and vital). Been spending a lot of time with Cézanne this week, and there's almost a kind of vein-bulging strain that comes through from the intensity of his yearning to wrangle something along the lines of that very thing. Even as it resists him. Which it always will as an inherently indifferent force. Something embodied, elusive, impossibly but undeniably there.