Fill-In-The-Blank Game!

Sam91 was very happy indeed!!! @GreenWizard who had watched the exchange between the two deluded members rolled on the floor laughing.

Doctor Sphinx, feeling somewhat humiliated at being laughed at by the little leprechaun, sought his new and improved conscience's advice...

'I think you are being vain. He might jot have been laughing at us. There was an amusing exchange between the captain @DavidFirth and @Lost4words too'

'Vanity?' asked Doctor Sphinx worriedly. He'd seen the problems that particular sin could cause. 'No, not at all...' he started, but then also remembered about lying...

'Ah, that is to say, I think vanity may have started to sprout up, but I removed that weed before it could spread', he answered his particularly helpful and useful new conscience.

'And yes, DavidFirth and Lost4words are quite amusing. I particularly like DavidFirth's new hairstyle. It makes him look... more Piratish...' the Doctor said.

'Like LaSorcia?' asked Sam91 curiously.

'I think LaSorcia is one-of-a-kind', explained Doctor Sphinx. 'But as close to as a Captain is able'.

As they walked on to the ship sam91 looked crestfallen.

The good doc needed no explanation. There before them stood the notorious-and-unforgettable @Samantha91. Her eyes lingered on Sam91's yarmulke, and rested on her medallion.

'Just as I thought... bedecking yourself with trinkets already? I see your turning back to your old ways, vanities and props.'

Turning Sam91's prized medal slowly and snatching the volume out of her hands.

'Oh look at this 'How to be a Good Conscience For Dummies!' Now, let me guess who that dummy is....'

The good doctor not appreciating the bullying nature of @Samantha91 edged closer to show solidarity to his dear friend.

Samantha91 snorted derisively... 'Oh and there he is, don't think Sam91 will shield you...'

Captain @DavidFirth, @LaSorcia, @*LILAC, @GreenWizard, @Lost4words and the genial @CtC boarded.

@Samantha91 smiled winningly at the rest of the crew. They rushed to embrace her.

'What a lovely, clean deck! Thank you and welcome aboard!' Said the gracious captain.

Sam91 groaned inwardly, Samantha91 possessed such glibness and charisma. People rarely saw through her; unless of course she deemed them unworthy of any use and of no danger to her reputation. Sam91 suspected narcissism and expected to be ostracised, accused by her friends of being petty, jealoud and bitter before long. Sam91 always seemed to look like the bad guy when Samantha91 was near. It didn't seem to matter how long people had known her, they nearly always sided with her nemesis.

'Oh, I love your emerald encrusted dress @LaSorcia, it suits you perfectly! ' Samantha91 gushed kissing laSorcia's cheeks.

'We have missed you! I trust that your absence was useful?' Replied @LaSorcia

'Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.' Said Sam91 from the KJV unconvincingly.

'@Sam91 please try to be nice to visitors aboard this ship!' Remonstrated David.

@Sam91 fled like a misunderstood child below deck to the ladies bedroom, Samantha91's fake look of concern and mock gasp of shock seared into her mind.

'Doc, the poop deck is in the rear of the ship, it isn't disgusting, it's just an aft room.' said the cap'n.

The captain looked up forlornly and said, 'Why oh why I gots a bunch of landlubbers on me vessel? Blimey! I must be cursed.'

DavidFirth said:

'Doc, the poop deck is in the rear of the ship, it isn't disgusting, it's just an aft room.' said the cap'n.

The captain looked up forlornly and said, 'Why oh why I gots a bunch of landlubbers on me vessel? Blimey! I must be cursed.'

Click to expand...

'That is a matter of opinion. I will not be looking at your rear to varify your claim' Reiterated the good-but-not-silly- @Doctor.Sphinx He hadn't heard such a crude euphemism since last week on a forum just around the corner from the recroom. He shook his head in remembrance.

@DavidFirth went off to sulk in the aft of the ship.

'Well, blimey. Mr. Krabs dont know what a poop deck is, either.'

Captain Firth fell asleep.

He dreamed an odd dream. He was Mr Crabs but he transformed into the bodybuilding version halfway through the dream.. Dr S was Spongebob. Patrick was unknown but generally was one crew member then another. Sam91 was Plankton but sometimes Squidward, @*LILAC being Sandy, Greenwizard was Gary, ancient of days the flying dutchman.

Samantha had consoled herself, sitting in the Lord's shelter and was listening to this.


The rest of the crew were above deck eating barbecued Aberdeen Angus steaks. @Samantha91 was a skilled cook. Doctor.Sphinx was having trouble reconciling whether this made up for the slight he had endured earlier. However, while free from his conscience he decided that Samantha91 was nice to him now, and popular, not to mention a good cook. He would side with her. @Sam91 had been a nag lately.

There was something sinister about this Samantha91, and the doctor was not just meaning her left-handedness. Although identical in many ways to the old Sam91, the newcomer was somehow more feminine, more radiant, more complete, and not easily confused for biblical heroes such as Samuel, or Samson, or even fictional ones such as Samwise Gamgee. This was most certainly a heroine..

But the good doctor was uneasy. He wished now that he had not booted his original conscience back on it's one-way, budget flight to Egypt. What if this particular flight never made it? He would be conscience-less, and at a time he need it the most. His new and improved conscience, which he admittedly did like better, had gone to the ladies room. Just like him to pick a female conscience. He'd underestimated all the troubles which could come with female versions of anything... He realised he'd have to figure this one out on his own.

Something about this Samantha91 didn't sit right with the good doctor. Yes, she attracted the eyes of all the crew in her general direction, by some sort of powerful magnetic field. Yes, she could cook, and tell each one of them exactly what he or she needed to hear. But no, she could not be trusted. Doctor Sphinx was surprised at how easy it was to accept that he had been wrong - once again - until he remembered how his good friend and excellent new conscience, Sam91, had confiscated the passport of his now-monstrous-and-much-reviled-ego-of-epic-proportions, and stranded it with its adoring fans in Scotland. Yes, if anyone knew now what must be done, it was his new conscience.

He started to make his way toward the second member of the dubious-duo, until @DavidFirth pulled him aside and spoke sternly to him.

'Well, I was only going to wait outside', Doctor Sphinx complained loudly.

More stern talking by the Captain.

'Well, at least I don't have a poopdeck, or engage in talk about squaring it away' said Doctor Sphinx indignantly, rejecting DavidFirth's earlier excuses about his questionable choice of conversation topics. With this, the Doctor turned away from the CF crew, and the somehow magnetic Samantha91, and went to stroll the decks aimlessly, in hopes of finding his new conscience...

'Hey! Blimey! Is this a mutiny? Why you BBQing while the captain is sleeping? What is this, a rebellion? Give me me knife and fork, ya landlubbing bunch, ya!'

'Gold and silverware have I none', said Doctor Sphinx, trying to sound religious as he turned back very briefly, 'but such as I have I give thee', he finished, as he passed @DavidFirth the EPLCV1.8.

'Whatever is this?' asked the other incredulously.

'It's some sort of device for curing warts, but I presumed you might be able to use its sharp edge for your meat...' answered the Doctor optimistically. 'I believe it was only nearly used once, 'though you'll have to use your fingers as the fork...'

'Oh, and do be careful you don't put them in the EPLCV1.8,' warned the doctor as he left the room, and began to stroll about aimlessly. Now where could that female conscience be? Surely she wasn't still in the ladies room after all this time?

The doctor was presently surprised when he bumped into his new conscience, aimlessly strolling the decks like him. Actually, @Sam91 was quite busy doing work, but Dr. S. just assumed she, being his new conscience, had nothing better to do all day than stroll the decks aimlessly and provide him with sound moral advice.

'Sam91, I'm suspicious of Samantha91!' the doctor began. 'There's something about her... And it's not just that she's a sinistra... I'm confused'.

'Really?' Sam91 positively beamed. 'I thought I was the only one who could tell.'

'Well', explained the doctor, it has been difficult, 'and I think it took me a little longer to realise because my new conscience is female, so obviously not as fast as my old one...'

Sam91 started to look darkly at the doctor, before he continued 'But still much better. My old conscience didn't have as pleasant a voice, and didn't even have an ESV from which to quote'.

'I apologise that I may have tried one of her Aberdeen Angus steaks, and thought something mean about you being a nag lately, before I came to my senses,' the doctor apologised. The passport Sam91 had confiscated from the Doctor's now-monstrous-and-much-reviled-ego-of-epic-proportions stranded in Scotland was beginning to pay dividends. The Doctor hardly seemed to mind being wrong again, this time.

'And besides', continued the doctor, 'Samantha91 has never saved my life, not even once. You have saved it on nearly every adventure, in addition to continuously making me a newer and more improved Sphinx.'

He put his hand to his face to brush the area where his nose should have been, as if to give to the ex-taxidermist some sort of hint...

'What ever happened to yer face, Doc?'

Sam91 began with 'Never mind that... I am astounded. Your conscience is on holiday yet you are still displaying morality. Not even a vague one but you actually processed a higher sense of morality and awareness than a huge proportion of society.'

She delved into her bag and procured the left handed fountain pen and notepad gifted to her by the thoughtful doc. When suffering with his dexterity he had noticed that Samantha was using a ringed notebook bound to the left, so he gave her a flipbook instead. He wasn't sure why she hadn't realised the difficulties that she was making for herself, but at least he could make writing a little easier for her. Making notes, she prompted him for his explanation.

'Could you explain the mechanisms of your thinking?'

The levers and pulleys clanked and whirred in his ancient brain system, it was not a normal question for him to be asked.

'Erm, ahem, Samantha at first I chased what I desired, food, approval of others. Conforming to what the rest of the crew was doing, due to the guise of social influence. But then I felt convicted. I felt the need to stand apart, to stand for what was right. To turn away from the pursuit of satisfying the flesh. Deciding to apologise and confess my wrong doings. In order to do what was right.

You see Samantha, thank you for helping me realise this for myself, I must be following the promptings of the Counsellor regardless of where my conscience is. It is rather a deep subject but I should possibly think less of my own understanding and ensure that I am following Him'.

Samantha was astounded and glad, delved into her bag and retrieved the ESV and read John 14 and John 15...

"But what about his nose Samantha!" Repeated the tenacious Captain @DavidFirth

Samantha sensed a subtle change in his attitude to her. Was he in some way criticising her for not carry out her word, or was she having an issue with paranoia?

"The good @Doctor.Sphinx told me before we disembarked, visiting my homeland, that the-obviously-distracted-overworked-juggling-too-many-projects @CtC was designing and printing him a prosthetic replacement." Sighed @Sam91 regretfully.

Captain Firth walked off to chase up the wayward @CtC. Sloppiness was to be rooted out on the HMS *mentally insert name of ship here*

"Samantha, what are we to do with Samantha91, any suggestions" the good doc asked in a low voice.

"Well, no. Unfortunately we are to walk in the light. So we can not murder, plot, set her up to fail, cause her to stumble. We can't lie, gossip, rage, brawl, slander. We can not cause her harm, or to get angry at us. We can't even judge her. The wicked plot and scheme.

However, there are a wealth of Psalms about deliverance from enemies. Let us read those and commit them to heart. Let us feel the comfort of seeing how true those verses are in our own lives. There are lots of verses reminding us that God sees all and that He is judge, ruler, and vengeance is His, not ours.

Although, it doesn't look like she reaps what she sows, she must be. It actually saddens me that once I get rid of my own emnity to realise that she will be reaping the consequences of her actions internally if not externally. Her conscience might end up so hardened, her mind depraved. Incapable of real repentance and finding Him. Imagine her reaping those consequences fof eternity.

We all deserved that too. However, it is only through God's grace that we are saved. I think we should pray for her, in earnest. Show Christ's love to her. It seems impossible but as Jesus revealed He has left us with the Comforter. He will enable us to live the life that we can not do in our own power. I think we should love our enemy.... or rather my enemy."

This was a lot less fun that the good doctor expected but he conceded that although seeming difficult it could be the right thing to do...

'So many thoughts and so little time', commented the scheming Doctor Sphinx.

'I actually had in mind a cunning and most humorous plan to implant the not-so-good Samantha91 with a particularly virulent breed of cosmetic verruca, but this plan is now no good, as my most-diligent-but-somewhat-fun-killing new conscience has helped me to see the error of such ways', the Doctor explained.

He decided to take up some advice from his wise conscience, and read one of the Psalms. He was about to tell the conscience his ESV bible had just happened to fall open to Psalm 109, but then he realised that not only would this be lying, but that he didn't even have an ESV, so he didn't.

'Psalm 109: 1 - 15
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
My God, whom I praise, do not remain silent,
for people who are wicked and deceitful have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues.
With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause.
In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.
They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship.

Appoint someone evil to oppose my enemy; let an accuser stand at his right hand.
When he is tried, let him be found guilty, and may his prayers condemn him.
May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership.
May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.
May his children be wandering beggars; may they be driven from their ruined homes.
May a creditor seize all he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor.
May no one extend kindness to him or take pity on his fatherless children.
May his descendants be cut off, their names blotted out from the next generation.
May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord; may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.
May their sins always remain before the Lord, that he may blot out their name from the earth.'

Doctor Sphinx looked at his new conscience, an expression of amazement on his face. 'Wow @Sam91! At first I thought you were too soft on poor Samantha91, in that we weren't to murder her, plot against her, set her up to fail, cause her to stumble, lie about her, gossip about her, rage at her, brawl with her, slander her, harm her, make her angry, or even judge her...'

DavidFirth nodded. 'Yes, by the reading of that Psalm, or part thereof, I think Samantha91 would be a lot better off with those things, than she actually is with you praying that Psalm.'

'Although I think it's alright to judge, provided we use righteous judgement, as per John 7:24 - Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment,' interjected the Doctor defensively.

'Although', commented @DavidFirth, 'that passage is more talking about judging a situation, not an actual man or woman', advised DavidFirth, 'so be careful how you apply the scriptures'.

Sam91 wasn't sure that the Doctor had correctly interpreted her advice with his choice of Psalm, so, being the pretty-helpful-and-persevering conscience that she was, decided to...

Find a more apt Psalm, not wanting her enemy to face destruction but rather for herself to stand firm, rooted in Jesus see the error of her own ways, protected against the attacks of her enemy. She delved into her bible prayerfully, assured that the aforementioned Counsellor would lead her....

This time, the roguish and rapidly-showing-his-age Doctor didn't dare to intervene, but instead waited patiently for his conscience to find a more suitable Psalm...

"Psalm 37a

Of David.

1Do not fret because of those who are evil

or be envious of those who do wrong;

2for like the grass they will soon wither,

like green plants they will soon die away.

3Trust in the Lord and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4Take delight in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him and he will do this:

6He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,

your vindication like the noonday sun.

7Be still before the Lord

and wait patiently for him;

do not fret when people succeed in their ways,

when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;

do not fret—it leads only to evil.

9For those who are evil will be destroyed,

but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

10A little while, and the wicked will be no more;

though you look for them, they will not be found.

11But the meek will inherit the land

and enjoy peace and prosperity.

12The wicked plot against the righteous

and gnash their teeth at them;

13but the Lord laughs at the wicked,

for he knows their day is coming.

14The wicked draw the sword

and bend the bow

to bring down the poor and needy,

to slay those whose ways are upright.

15But their swords will pierce their own hearts,

and their bows will be broken.

16Better the little that the righteous have

than the wealth of many wicked;

17for the power of the wicked will be broken,

but the Lord upholds the righteous.

18The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,

and their inheritance will endure forever.

19In times of disaster they will not wither;

in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20But the wicked will perish:

Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,

they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.

21The wicked borrow and do not repay,

but the righteous give generously;

22those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,

but those he curses will be destroyed.

23The Lord makes firm the steps

of the one who delights in him;

24though he may stumble, he will not fall,

for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

25I was young and now I am old,

yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken

or their children begging bread.

26They are always generous and lend freely;

their children will be a blessing.b

27Turn from evil and do good;

then you will dwell in the land forever.

28For the Lord loves the just

and will not forsake his faithful ones.

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyedc ;

the offspring of the wicked will perish.

29The righteous will inherit the land

and dwell in it forever.

30The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,

and their tongues speak what is just.

31The law of their God is in their hearts;

their feet do not slip.

32The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,

intent on putting them to death;

33but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked

or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

34Hope in the Lord

and keep his way.

He will exalt you to inherit the land;

when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

35I have seen a wicked and ruthless man

flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,

36but he soon passed away and was no more;

though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37Consider the blameless, observe the upright;

a future awaits those who seek peace.d

38But all sinners will be destroyed;

there will be no futuree for the wicked.

39The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;

he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

40The Lord helps them and delivers them;

he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,

because they take refuge in him."