Speed draw of a pair of Dacian warriors, from ancient Romania.
on the naturalness of death
Growing up in the 90s first in Canada, then in a westernised bubble in Hong Kong, I heard this idea a lot: death is natural, it’s just another stage of life. It sounds sage, it sounds nice, and reliable people say it – Mama Gump and Mufasa among others.
I heard it again tonight at a funeral service for a family friend. ‘We know that death is just another part of life,’ the priest told us. It’s ok, please feel better.
My buddy didn’t. The deceased was his uncle. He looked down at his feet as he told me ‘He got baptised before I was even born. I’ve never heard him talk about church even once. What am I supposed to feel about this?’ Continue reading “on the naturalness of death”
speed draw – Arming a Chinese Cataphract
Speed draw of the arming process of a 12th-century Chinese armoured trooper.
speed draw – 40K Guard Regiments pt2
Speed draw of a whole bunch of Warhammer 40,000 Astra Militarum regiments that I missed the first time.
speed draw – Arming a Knight
Speed draw of the arming process of a 15th-century European knight.
on Isaiah 40
“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned. Yes, the LORD has punished her twice over for all her sins.”
Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the LORD! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God! Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places. Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The LORD has spoken!”
A voice said, “Shout!”
I asked, “What should I shout?”
“Shout that people are like the grass. Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field. The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the LORD. And so it is with people. The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”
O Zion, messenger of good news, shout from the mountaintops! Shout it louder, O Jerusalem. Shout, and do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah, “Your God is coming!”
Yes, the Sovereign LORD is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young. — Isaiah 40:1-11
“Dear Granddaughter
It’s strange writing this to you right now, because you’re just a little kid. By the time you’re reading this, I’ll probably be gone. But I want you to remember what I’m now telling you. Continue reading “on Isaiah 40”
Was the Late Roman Army Inferior?
Which army was better – the early imperial Roman army, or the late Roman army?
Picture two boxers: one is a younger guy, his face is a mess of scars, his shoulders and gait confident, thick neck and wild eyes; you get the sense that no number of knockout punches would floor him. The other is an older guy, his face is also scarred, he’s a little warier and more calculating than the first guy, with a killer right hook, but you get the sense that outlasting him just might win you the fight. Continue reading “Was the Late Roman Army Inferior?”
speed draw – 40K Guard Regiments
Speed draw of the famous regiments of the Astra Militarum (from Warhammer 40,000).
on footprints in the sand
I’ve heard a story from the mouths of men, of a stretch of sand where two sets of footprints become one – the child is carried by the Lord Jesus in the darkest times, one set of prints instead of two.
But I’ve heard other stories. Harder stories. Mightier stories. Continue reading “on footprints in the sand”
