tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54459394130500154602024-03-05T03:07:09.828-08:00purchased"He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his son and forgave our sins."
Ephesians 1:7Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-90144695870307279312017-01-27T09:57:00.003-08:002017-01-27T09:57:38.725-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">There is much to say about the meaning of life and what it might be. I have strangely enough nailed down the meaning of life. It is strange to me that one, like myself who has so many questions about so many things can peacefully say that I know the meaning. In a way it seems naïve to claim such a thing...I know this...but I have not come by it easily. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You are more than welcome to question me about the meaning of life, in face in a future post I'll state the meaning. But, for this post I shall quote a man that I admire very much. His name is Ravi Zacharias. He grew up in India, moved later to Canada, and now lives in the United States. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here is a quote from his book, </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">Can Man Live Without God. </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He makes this observation,<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><b>"I am absolutely convinced that meaninglessness does not come from being weary of pain: meaninglessness comes from being weary of pleasure</b></span><b>."</b></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-3679003572567804882017-01-12T18:53:00.002-08:002017-01-12T18:53:18.088-08:00I Think Your Ideas are Horriible, Let's Debate!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">I grew up in the 80's...it was a great decade. In my estimation, nobody really thought about anything, we just went along with our Flock of Seagulls hairdos, and our heavy eyeliner, and everything was just fine, because we had the Safety Dance and all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm pretty sure no one argued about politics or religion because we were all just a happy bunch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today, I am nearing...an age that I don't like to talk about, so we'll just call it kind of old...but not REALLY old.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are polarizing arguments that go on today. They have gone beyond whether or not Cindy Lauper or Madonna is more talented.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They are competing ideologies that are heading in very different directions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They are left, right, atheistic, moral, political and fierce.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have been called to the table for my views, I have been called stupid, I have been ignored, I have had a person simply refuse to speak to me because I made it known that I was a follower of Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the world of ideas we must be able to debate our views without personal attack. We must have logical reasons for believing what we believe, and we must discuss these ideas with a mind that is willing to think through others ideas, as well as our own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am afraid our differences have demonized those who oppose us, and this must stop. Just recently a disabled white man was brutalized for near 48 hours by four black young people. Not more than a year ago a white man shot nine black Christians while the were at a bible study. What have we lost that these things can happen? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is my thinking that we have lost the idea that humans are intrinsically valuable. That is, the value they hold within themselves cannot be taken away by our human estimation of them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Where does this value come from? As a follower of Jesus, I have to point to a loving creator who assigns to each of us an infinite value. A value that is so enormous that God himself laid his own life down for give us access to his kingdom. That is the value he has placed on us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We are worth the life of God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That humbles me, and forces me to think that he did not lay his life down only for me, and those that are of the same belief as I am, but for every human being whether or not they ever move towards this God who stepped out of his powerful place to reach us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">All people have worth to God, and so they therefore have worth to me, because I love God's ways. This thought therefore leads to value their thoughts, even when I disagree with them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don't know if you know the God that I know. But, if you are disturbed by the anger that is exploding in our world, think about where the worth of people might come from. Perhaps it will lead you to this God of love, perhaps it will not, but either way, we might be able to get along better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The End</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-45761429761552756002016-11-10T18:38:00.002-08:002016-11-10T18:38:55.031-08:00TRUMP<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is not the normal sort of post that I would write.</div>
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While a am very opinionated as far as politics goes, it is a subject that I tend to stay away from because it tends to be divisive.</div>
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Also, I experienced something ten years ago that made me realize that politics can be to personal.</div>
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I tend to put politics in the arena of logic, the cerebral and debate, but I have realized that many people make politics a matter of the heart.</div>
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Let us take for instance the amount of crying that has gone on since the victory of Donald Trump over his rival Hillary Clinton</div>
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It's true that we are all disappointed when our candidate loses, but while it is a matter of sadness for a day or so, there really is a time to put on your grown up pants and get on with life. </div>
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Here is what I would like all of you sad people to do. I would like you to sit down for an hour or two with a copy of the constitution of the United States of America. It's not a terribly long document, but it has genius in it that might relieve your suffering.</div>
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Here is the preamble:</div>
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(Just a note, this Christian conservative has memorized it)</div>
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We the people, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity, to ordain and establish this constitution of the United States of America.</div>
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Please read the rest of this valuable and genius document.</div>
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It allows for the PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER!</div>
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This is something almost unheard of for most of history. (You should read world history too).</div>
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The whole of Europe followed suit with this kind of government, most African nations, almost the whole of South America, some of Asia, Australia, and Canada.</div>
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In short I would like to say, YOU WILL GET ANOTHER CHANCE TO TAKE POWER IN FOUR YEARS! IN CONGRESS IT WILL ONLY BE TWO YEARS!</div>
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So stop your whining, get educated, and thank God that the people who created the incredible document that allows for this.</div>
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No worries about us having a female president either. It will happen, it just has to be the right woman.</div>
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I'm thinking me.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-13998832914994177002016-10-24T09:09:00.000-07:002016-10-24T09:09:16.197-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I don't even want to think how this could have turned out.</div>
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I'm no Thelma, nor am I a Louise.</div>
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But I am guilty of this, there is a road that I spend a large part of my driving life on. I drive on it at least a 4,562 times a week. </div>
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Driving might not be the right word. Zipping by, zooming, okay, okay, SPEEDING...I speed by because it's one of those roads where the speed limit is 100% out of touch with reality.</div>
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Do I need to say more than that, because you all know THAT road.<br />
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This road gets more humorous because half way between my town and our neighboring town lies a sheriff station.<br />
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AND, everyone speeds by that station. <br />
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I have never seen anyone pulled over on this road, though I have seen a few sheriff cars cruising.<br />
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But, the other day there was a sheriff car ONE CAR BEHIND ME.....and I was speeding.<br />
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I though to myself, he's already seen that I am speeding, what should I do? Should I slow down? He might pull me over if I pull down. Should I speed up and hope I loose him? But that would be so wrong!<br />
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What would you do? You would do what I did.<br />
I SPED UP.<br />
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Yes, it's true, I sped up. This road has a lot of turns and hills and I know if I could just distance myself...well, it might be out of sight, out of mind.<br />
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And guess what? <br />
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I lost him.<br />
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I had commited an illegal act and I ran from the cops.<br />
<br />It's true.<br />
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I turned onto a new highway, and knew I was home free.<br />
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But what should I see? The Newark police.<br />
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I was sure the sheriff had radioed to him, I was sure I'd be pulled over.<br />
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But, I escaped AGAIN! Not by speeding this time, but I coolly kept the speed limit and drove on by the police.<br />
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By this time I had a pretty guilty conscience.<br />
I had done wrong, I had run away intentionally, and faked innocence in front of the one who could judge me.<br />
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This is my spiritual story really. I knew there was a God who wanted me to do right. <br />
I could not do right...I did not do right.<br />
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When I found out that God's gift was forgiveness, I was too proud to admit I didn't already know God.<br />
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So I lied, and said told a camp counselor that I knew Christ, but if someone didn't, how would they accept him?<br />
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She was very gracious and told me that I only need to ask and God would forgive me through Christ.<br />
That night I accepted the Lord...<br />
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A prideful, lying, brand new baby Christian was born.<br />
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He has been faithful to grow me.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-54397102170068718622016-08-29T17:26:00.005-07:002016-08-29T17:26:52.401-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There are those times when you can't figure out why certain things are happening.</div>
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The times when you are supposed to be asking, "What are you trying to teach me here God?"</div>
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The answer is certainly difficult to find...or hear sometimes.</div>
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Thankfully, I'm not alone.</div>
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A guy named King David had that same problem, and his problems were WAY worse than mine...at least so far.</div>
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The Bible says that David was a man after God's own heart.</div>
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Sometimes I think, "Yea, right on David! You are a man after God's own heart!"</div>
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Sometimes I think, "What's wrong with you David? Clearly you haven't a clue how to live a decent fellows life."</div>
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Often, I want to get judgemental about him.</div>
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Often I put on my E.R.A. hat and have a hissy fit when I read about him.</div>
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(No, I don't really own an E.R.A. hat).</div>
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Then I look at my own life which I like to think of as super great and godly...and sometimes, it is.</div>
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Sometimes I think,"Yea, way to go ME."</div>
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Then sometimes I think, "What's wrong with me? Clearly I have no clue how to live a decent life."</div>
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Then I become very thankful for that ancient king. He is just like me, plus, he never had the advantage of Christian self help books and 2000 years plus of scholarly research to help us all live a life pleasing to God.</div>
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Thanks for telling us a very human man could capture your heart.</div>
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That means that maybe I could capture your heart too God.</div>
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I love you God.</div>
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Thanks for sending Jesus. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-15990129474630366222014-03-18T10:19:00.001-07:002014-03-18T10:19:08.111-07:00So What?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I Corinthians 5</div>
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This morning I was reading 1 Corinthians.</div>
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Those people were pretty "out there".</div>
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I'm not sure what they were thinking in chapter 5.</div>
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Paul wrote to them in part to deal with a really bad situation.</div>
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A man was sleeping with he father's wife and the church at Corinth was apparently okay with the whole situation.</div>
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Now, we aren't told if this woman was his mom or step-mom, but either way this is a case of something gone terribly wrong.</div>
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The majority of people even in our culture would say that a person should not sleep with your mom or step mom.</div>
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Now, remember, these were people in the church, so they were held to the standard that God says is good....and Paul was kind of taken back by the behavior not only of the guy and his mom, but also that the people in the church there didn't say anything to these two about this love interest being problematic.</div>
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Well, so what?</div>
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What does that have to do with anything?</div>
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Well, the truth is, that if you are not a follower of Jesus Christ you really don't have any reason to care about this at all. You are not obligated to follow God's moral code and there is no reason that this scenario should bother you.</div>
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But it might anyway....</div>
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This brings me to my next and more relevant question.</div>
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How should we decide what "sleeping arrangements" are okay and which ones are not?</div>
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This is a big topic today.</div>
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If you don't subscribe to God's way of doing things, then frankly any arrangement is alright.</div>
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You may marry your mom if you like. You can marry John and William as long as everyone is okay with the arrangement. I have even heard of a woman who married the Eiffel Tower which is pretty weird, but if you're not a follower of Christ...well, you know....</div>
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But if you name the name of Christ then you should feel a tension to line your life up with that which he says is good and right.</div>
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(God will work through you to do this by the way...you really can't do it by self will).</div>
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You will never be able to do it perfectly, we come to Jesus as we are and he sheds his grace on every part of our lives.</div>
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But, when we are involved in something that God says is not good (there's a short list in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+corinthians+5&version=NIV">1 Corinthians 5)</a></div>
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AND you're a follower of Christ...well, somebody who loves you ought to say something to you about it.</div>
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And that's all I have to say about that.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-58332449639974459532014-03-11T07:12:00.000-07:002014-03-11T07:12:02.842-07:00Fishing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a long time since I have written in Purchased.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">This morning I was reading John 21. It's where Jesus appears to the disciples after he has been resurrected.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">He stands on the shore of the lake of Galilee and asks Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, and four other disciples how the fishing went during the night...because it had been a bummer of a fishing night again. There weren't going to be any great fishing stories because they hadn't caught a single fish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The first time Jesus asked about the fishing was the day he called Peter to follow him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Jesus was coming full circle. Visiting some of the guys again after another unproductive night of fishing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Both times Jesus pulls in the mother load of fish for them, and both times the massive amount of fish are left and we don't know what happens to them.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I imagine in a culture without a stock market and retirement plans that someone claimed the fish...but it wasn't the guys who pulled them in.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This could be a lesson in itself, but that's not where we are headed today.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After a great reunion the guys sit around a fire with Jesus and roast a couple of fish for breakfast.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And Jesus starts to question Peter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">You know the story right? Jesus asks Peter three times:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Do you love me Peter?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Do you love me Peter?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Do you love me Peter?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Peter gets kind of angry, but in the final response he gives Jesus the answer for which he has been "fishing".</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The first two times Peter answers, he uses a word that in the Greek is phileo (I am your great friend) but Jesus isn't looking for a great friend.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The last time Peter answers Jesus, he uses the Greek word agape (I am wholly committed to loving you no matter what happens). When Jesus hears this, he is satisfied and gives Peter his life assignment.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This is what Jesus wants from us. Full commitment, full trust, and that we love him more than anyone, anywhere, at any time.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This won't come as any surprise to most of us.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The surprise may come when we find out that Jesus loves us this way. He loves you more than a mom and dad love there kids, more than the love you felt when you fell in love with your spouse. Yep, Jesus is massively in love with you.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">He loves you enough to give you everything you need. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">He loves you enough to give you a purpose.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">He loves you enough to care about every tear that falls from your eye.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">He loves you enough to cover your sin with a costly sacrifice so that where he is, you can also be some day.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Yep, it's all true (I've been reading up on it for a while now).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So go ahead and ask him to show you if he's for real.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">If you are looking for him honestly, he will show himself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-49971600961299037352012-10-23T20:06:00.003-07:002012-10-23T20:06:49.359-07:00Ravens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I spent time with a new friend of mine today.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Anxiety had gotten the better of me today and I burst into tears in her kitchen.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">She hugged me and began to pray for me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">She prayed for me and asked God to send the ravens.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The ravens are birds that came to Elijah in the middle of nowhere-ville and brought him meat and bread twice a day while he was hiding from a king and his wife that wanted him dead. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">That's kind of an unusual way to provide for someone.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But I don't mind unusual things, especially when they are yummy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then tonight on the radio I heard a woman talking about the ravens...AGAIN.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">An obscure passage reference twice in the same day? Really, nobody references these ravens.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, God, I'm listening.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps the ravens are on their way already.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-79308385916053095082012-08-23T07:01:00.000-07:002012-08-23T07:01:11.563-07:00Do Not Be Afraid<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm not afraid of a lot of things.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
New situations don't scare me, change doesn't scare me, physical danger doesn't scare me. I don't mind my kids climbing trees or learning how to shoot guns. If my son wants to play football...that's fine. If my daughters want to bungee jump...that's okay too.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In fact when I was 19 years old my dad and I tried very hard to get into East Berlin when there were riots going on. He is probably my genetic link to danger and excitement.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I still regret that we were told we couldn't cross the border.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've never seen a riot in person.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I like to think I am bulletproof.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But I'm not.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The things that scare me are far more insidious.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The creep of moral decay in our culture and what effect it will have on my children and grandchildren....THAT scares me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A culture that is slowly turning against Christians...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
FRIGHTENING.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Biblical prophesy of Christians suffering...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
YIKES!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bitterness, regret and cynicism sneaking into my life...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
TERRIFYING!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I worry about those things.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But do you know what God told me this morning?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He told me that all these things that I'm scared of could happen in my lifetime.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Christians could be persecuted in the United States</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(They are being persecuted right now all over the world...if you don't believe me</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
check out <a href="http://www.persecution.com/public/restrictednations.aspx?clickfrom=bWFpbl9tZW51" style="text-align: left;">http://www.persecution.com/public/restrictednations.aspx?clickfrom=bWFpbl9tZW51</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it's an eye opener.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But in the same chapter that talks about persecution God says this:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside of your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth much more than sparrows."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
God does not say that nothing bad will happen.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He says that when the bad things happen he will be right by your side caring for you.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Even in death or torture or hunger or complete terror...he is not gone.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He sees everything you are going through in this sad, sad world.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He does not look away or flinch.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He is well aware of what is going on down here and we weeps for us and is angry that everything has gone this far awry.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And one day he will come back and wipe all the tears from our eyes.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He will get rid of every evil thing...every evil thought...every evil action.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He will bring justice.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When it all ends (and it ends for everyone), he will be the face we see as we pass from this life to the next.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And then we will feel foolish for thinking he had forgotten us.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He'll tell us the numbers of hair on our heads if we would like to know that crazy thing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He will have the answer because he know us so intimately.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He will have the answer as to why things went as they did in our lives.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And we won't be scared ever again.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-12384318008918226752012-08-15T09:36:00.001-07:002012-08-15T09:36:38.819-07:00Rock Verses Bread, Snake Verses Fish<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I started reading through Matthew a few days ago. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I like calling in The Gospel of St. Matthew in my head, it makes me feel more important somehow.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I read the first 12 verses of chapter 7 today.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Part of it talks about not judging others,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">and that's always a good reminder. Another part talks about seeing what you do wrong before you see what others do wrong.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh man....I don't really want to go there now, because last night all I caught a glimpse of how wrong I can be. But I'm so self deceived in areas that I quickly piled that stuff under a bunch of mental pillows and suffocated it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(Don't worry though, God has a way of bringing that kind of stuff to the surface again).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Today I was cut wide open to the heart when I read the section titled ASK, SEEK, KNOCK.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I know some of this applies to seeking God and salvation. When you honestly seek God, you will find Him. And when you knock He always opens the door. He's a welcoming kind of fellow.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, I hope I'm not alone, but I spend a lot of my prayer life asking, asking, asking.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm at a point in my life right now that is incredibly difficult.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Some of what I have asked for has been denied or at the very least delayed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And this question has sneaked into my mind:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Is God's plan to give me a bad life?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Because it seems like that right now.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Don't get me wrong, there are things in my life that are good, but the general trajectory of my life seems at best directionless and at worst on a hell bent on imploding or exploding...whichever comes first.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So I ask myself, "Is God giving me a rock when I ask for bread?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Is God giving me a snake to eat when I asked for Mahi Mahi?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">He says he won't. He says that good earthly dad's don't even do that. So why would a perfect heavenly dad do that bad thing?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, he says he will give us good gifts.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So I ask myself, "What am I not seeing?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Is this where I thank God for the "trials of many kinds"?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(I'm sorry about that horrible punctuation).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Is God developing my character by testing my metal?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I find myself talking to God and saying, "Please give me bread and fish. I'm so hungry for something good."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">No doubt he will deliver at some point.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He says that's who he is...and God is not a man that he should lie.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Amen.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-90684074696237237422012-08-12T18:47:00.002-07:002012-08-12T18:47:50.468-07:00Laugh<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sometimes you just need a good laugh.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My daughters wrote this "newspaper" a few years ago and we cracked up when we read it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hope you enjoy it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(I especially like the tax ad...where do they get this stuff)?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
P.S. I know about rendering to Caesar.....sigh. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Old English Text MT"; font-size: 48.0pt;">Randomness Gazette<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Corbel;"> </span><span style="font-family: Constantia;">Today
will always be known as a grim day in history… we don’t know why but I’m sure
something bad happened! Anyhow, happy birthday because it’s someone’s birthday
today and merry Christmas, because that’s what it is somewhere in the world,
and also happy Halloween, happy thanksgiving, happy Hanukah, good evening, good
morning, good afternoon, good day, and mazel tav! And a few more happies,
goods, and merries besides. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Constantia;"> Anywho, since your reading the randomness gazette, you
may want to skip this section… it’s the random thing to do! Or you can read
this boring story about a stupid girl who’s puppy is pink. But since we’re
random as well, we may as well skip that part!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Constantia;"> Read on!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Rockwell; font-size: 26.0pt;">Advertisements that you may or
may not want to read<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Placard Condensed"; font-size: 26.0pt;">WANTED
DEAD OR ALIVE:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Placard Condensed"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> (but preferably alive, because dead bodies
scare us as much as they scare you!)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<st1:city><st1:place><b><span style="font-family: "Placard Condensed"; font-size: 24.0pt;">ALICE</span></b></st1:place></st1:city><b><span style="font-family: "Placard Condensed"; font-size: 24.0pt;">. Y’KNOW, AS IN </span></b><st1:city><st1:place><b><span style="font-family: "Placard Condensed"; font-size: 24.0pt;">ALICE</span></b></st1:place></st1:city><b><span style="font-family: "Placard Condensed"; font-size: 24.0pt;"> IN WONDERLAND… THAT </span></b><st1:city><st1:place><b><span style="font-family: "Placard Condensed"; font-size: 24.0pt;">ALICE</span></b></st1:place></st1:city><b><span style="font-family: "Placard Condensed"; font-size: 24.0pt;">?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Placard Condensed"; font-size: 24.0pt;">AND THE
MAD HATTER, IF POSSIBLE.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Placard Condensed"; font-size: 24.0pt;">HE’S MAD
AS A HATTER AND DANGEROUS TO SOCIETY.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Placard Condensed"; font-size: 24.0pt;">THAT
WILL BE ALL.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Placard Condensed"; font-size: 24.0pt;">THANK YOU.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Snap ITC"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Rod;">Charlie’s </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: "Snap ITC"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Rod;">Cha-cha</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: "Snap ITC"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Rod;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: "Snap ITC"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Rod;">Palace</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Snap ITC"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Rod;">! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Boopee; font-size: 16.0pt;">Got a
Sweet Sixteen coming up and not sure what to do? Come to Charlie’s </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Boopee; font-size: 16.0pt;">Cha-Cha</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Boopee; font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Boopee; font-size: 16.0pt;">Palace</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Boopee; font-size: 16.0pt;"> for dancing and fun! Only a couple
bucks, but hey, who cares?! It’s cheap and fun!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Burnstown Dam"; font-size: 26.0pt;">New
Thrift store in town!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Burnstown Dam"; font-size: 26.0pt;">The
new thrift store on main street, an amazing place, truly, just opened! It’s
called “A Shack of Cheap Stuff,” and sure enough, it’s cheap! Visit our website
at www.ashackofcheapstuff.com!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Planet Benson 2"; font-size: 22.0pt;">Graffiti
Busters!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Planet Benson 2"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Is
graffiti tearing up your neighborhood? Call the Graffiti Busters. We get rid of
graffiti like nobody’s beeswax and we do it quick!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Planet Benson 2"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Come
on, dude! You know you need to!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: KodchiangUPC; font-size: 26.0pt;">Have
your add in this paper!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: KodchiangUPC; font-size: 26.0pt;">Only
five bucks a week- must be real venison, no does please.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: KodchiangUPC; font-size: 26.0pt;">Fonts:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: KodchiangUPC;">Boring<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: KodchiangUPC;">Really Stupid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft JhengHei"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: KodchiangUPC;">Computer Nerd <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: KodchiangUPC; font-size: 26.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Microsoft JhengHei";">Up to 4 lines! Call today!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Velvenda Cooler"; font-size: 26.0pt;">Nerd
Squad inc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Velvenda Cooler"; font-size: 20.0pt;">Need
some geeks to fix your computer in a jiffy? We can do it! (but not in an actual
jiffy, of course!) call Nerd Squad today!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD"; font-size: 22.0pt;"> Bill Di Vinci<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Demi"; font-size: 22.0pt;">Art
show this week. Please attend. :0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Engravers MT"; font-size: 22.0pt;">Need
someone to engrave something on something for you?? Call us today! The
engravers, © today or maybe yesterday but who cares!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Waker; font-size: 26.0pt;">Are your
pants on fire because you’re such a liar? We’ll put’m out for you! The
fire-putter-outers- call us today!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Braggadocio; font-size: 26.0pt;">Do
you like to brag? I love to brag! So come to the brag-a-thon! All the biggest
braggers in town will be here! It’s gonna be sweet, dude! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Wide Latin"; font-size: 26.0pt;">Need
Latin classes? Call us today at WIDE LATIN!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Elephant; font-size: 26.0pt;">Smile
and say cheese. Don’t ask.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "MS Reference 2"; font-size: 26.0pt;">i
cant seem to figure out this darn puzzle out! Can you solve it?!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Wingdings 3"; font-size: 26.0pt;">Hpw</span><span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 26.0pt;">Signs</span><span style="font-family: "Wingdings 3"; font-size: 26.0pt;">nds,</span><span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 26.0pt;">are</span><span style="font-family: "Wingdings 3"; font-size: 26.0pt;">as,n</span><span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 26.0pt;">confusing</span><span style="font-family: "Wingdings 3"; font-size: 26.0pt;">s,dm </span><span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 26.0pt;">UNCONFUSE YOURSELF! TAKE SHERRY’S
SIGN </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 26.0pt;">READING</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 26.0pt;"> CLASS!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Huxtable; font-size: 26.0pt;">The
name’s Bob. If you want, I’ll fix your car. But only for a price… ten bucks.
You willing to pay? Call me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Kredit; font-size: 26.0pt;">Do you
need something engraved on a piece of candy? Call us now!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 26.0pt;">Need
someone dead? Call us. The Ninja, www.theninja.com <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 26.0pt;">Having trouble with your
taxes? </span><span style="font-family: "Agency FB"; font-size: 26.0pt;">Don’t
worry we’re gonna kill whoever makes you pay your taxes! Go to www.governmentkill.blogspot.com
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Boopee; font-size: 24.0pt;">Tired of
getting mail every morning? Let us help you! We’ll burn your mailbox down! then
you won’t have to get those sickening letters and bills every day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT"; font-size: 24.0pt;">Need
a ride? Now? Call Han Solo. He can get you anywhere, anytime, anyplace… as long
as you cough up the credits, that is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Cooper Black"; font-size: 24.0pt;">Rouwwereao! Rreoahoaore!
Roughhh! - <3 Chewie<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-59301396451148785752012-07-24T07:30:00.001-07:002012-07-24T07:30:42.533-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A Parent's Prayer</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This morning I had to make a tough parental decision.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was so tough that I have been dwelling on it and when I tried to pray I couldn't.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(I'm big on dwelling...it's both a strength and a weakness).<br />
<br />
So here is my prayer that I can't seem to pray in my head...maybe it will come out better as I type it.<br />
<br />
God, I love my daughter who is growing up fast.<br />
I need wisdom to know when to let her go<br />
and when to say no.<br />
<br />
Keep her from people who would harm her.<br />
Bless her attempts to serve you.<br />
Show her...more than anything...that you are real and that you love her.<br />
<br />
God, keep our relationship intact through the teen years.<br />
And let the day come quickly when she says, "Thanks for being a good Mom."<br />
Bless her with great friends and a clear path for her life.<br />
<br />
God remind me that you love her more than I can comprehend.<br />
<br />
Amen.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-40661033137818353122012-07-19T19:47:00.000-07:002012-07-19T19:47:13.957-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Grace and Peace</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The more I seek out God the better he becomes.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Listen to this:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is from the book of first Peter.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
To God's chosen, exiles (or foreigners) in Asia, Galatia....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That's it, right there. Grace and peace be yours in abundance.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
IN ABUNDANCE.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That means a lot in case you didn't study your vocabulary in high school.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Why should we have grace and peace in abundance?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Life is hard...even when it's normal life.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bills, relationships that can go wrong at any minute, a certain spinning of wheels that I seem to feel a lot.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Time ticking by slowly. Stuff you have to do that seems to keep you from the really important stuff (i.e. cleaning your house, waiting at stoplights, shopping for major appliances, painting your house....I could go on and on).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And that's if you have a great life.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What if you have a bad life? What if you have a terminal illness or can't make your house payment, or you are watching your child destroy their lives with drugs or maybe you don't even know where your kids are.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I just spoke with a woman yesterday who didn't know where one of her daughters was.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I can't even imagine that horrible thing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Why should we have any peace at all, from where I sit, the world seems to be spinning out of control.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Peace and grace.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well I guess the grace is easy for me to understand, we don't have grace because we can do anything about it. We have grace because a loving God gives it to us when we ask for it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He pours it out on us...the Bible says where sin abounds grace abounds all the more.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Grace passes up anything we can do because of God's great sacrifice of his son Jesus.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Okay, grace is a gift.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But peace....hmmmm...doesn't even seem wise to even think we could have peace.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But then again....if God is good enough to give us the life of his son so that we don't have to pay for our own sins...maybe we should have peace.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Because if he would give us his child...what wouldn't he give us?</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-70401841048553229842012-07-17T11:48:00.003-07:002012-07-17T11:48:58.850-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Fearless</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've been reading Max Lucado's book <u>Fearless</u>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's very good.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I decided today to copy down an except from it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This was a prayer of a 7 year old son of a Bible translator who lived in West Africa.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He prayed this prayer as he watched his house burn to the ground.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Through wind and rain</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Through fire and lava</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Lord will never leave you.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Through earthquakes and floods</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Through changing sea levels and burning ash</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Lord will never leave you.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you love Him, He will bless you</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and He will give you many things.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Who can stop the Lord?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Who can chase a cheetah across the plains of Africa?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Lord, He can.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Who can stand on Mount Everest?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Who can face a rhinoceros?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Lord.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Lord can give you sheep and goats and cows </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and ducks and chickens and dogs and cats.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Lord can give you anything He wants to.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Who can stop the Lord?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Who can face the elephant?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Who is brave enough to face a lion?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Lord.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Who's as fast as a horse?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Who can catch a blue whale?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Who is brave enough to face a giant squid? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Lord.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just as Jesus died on the cross, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so the Lord has done so.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Lord will never leave His people.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Bible is His word.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Lord is a good leader.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Lord loves you.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And He will not forsake His people.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The end.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This boy saw God through the flames.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Amen. And amen.</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-9347798983096759612012-07-16T12:09:00.002-07:002012-07-16T12:09:23.543-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
What did you Say?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You know I was taught when I was a little girl that sticks and stones could break my bones, but that words can never hurt me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well that's on of the dumbest things I've ever heard.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Because words can hurt you.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
James says some stuff about the tongue.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He says it can steer your life.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And boy if that isn't true.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've let some dooseys slip out of this mouth. Doosey's that cost me friendships and strained relationships to the point of breaking.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But I've also said some really good things too. A couple of times my words have even brought happy tears.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So yes James, you are right. The tongue is a very powerful thing both for good and for evil.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The End</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-52897481200049689542012-07-14T09:54:00.001-07:002012-07-14T09:54:38.491-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Rich are like Flowers</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love flowers.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My mother in law loves flowers too.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
BUT she is a realist.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She prefers silk flower arrangements over real flowers.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Why?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Real flowers only last a few days.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then they droop, and brown, and sometimes if you don't change the water that they sit in gets downright stinky.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
James says that the rich are like flowers.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They come and go quickly..they fade even as they go about their business.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well, being on the poor side of American life this make me feel a little superior....BUT...yep, this is a big but...I'm on the excessively wealthy side when it comes world economic standing and that make me feel quite humble.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
God isn't against wealth, in the Old Testament wealth was a sign of God's favor. And I certainly know many wealthy people who have done phenomenal things with their wealth.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have, however, seen that wealth can steal hearts away from God.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And I think this is what God (via James) is getting at.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When we invest our life in the pursuit of wealth we fade even as we live.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But if we invest our life in pursuit of God and godly things our lives gain the weight of eternal glory.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Eternal things that will not fade.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's good to know that this is not all there is.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thanks James, thanks God. </div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-87039303085625040622012-07-12T11:07:00.002-07:002012-07-12T11:07:44.515-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Ending Hebrews Beginning James</div>
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Today I started the book of James.</div>
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I used to hate this book.</div>
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It made me mad.</div>
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Right of the bat James is just full of fun (insert heavy sarcasm here).</div>
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He says to be joyful when you suffer...oh wait, his exact words are "consider it all a joy when you face trials of many kinds." That's the second verse of the first chapter, so I used to pretty much stop there and think,</div>
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"James!!!! You're crazy!!!!"</div>
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I used to get mad, because who wants to suffer?</div>
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As I grew up I realized suffering is not optional.</div>
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EVERYBODY suffers.</div>
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No one is exempt.</div>
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One must look life squarely in the eye, both feet firmly planted in reality and admit that fact.</div>
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So why should we be happy about it?</div>
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Well, James goes on to say some things that are beneficial things that happen to you when you suffer and you belong to God (go ahead and read it if you want).</div>
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And those things do not include becoming a bitter victim of life's hardships.</div>
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So here's how I see it:</div>
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A) You can suffer and think there's no real purpose, rhyme or reason to it (and you will suffer...like I said, it's guaranteed in this life).</div>
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or </div>
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B) You can suffer and realize that God uses suffering for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose (I didn't make that up, it's in the Bible).</div>
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That's what James is getting at really. </div>
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When we suffer, we grow.</div>
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We grow, we listen to God, we weed out what is of no value in this life and find out what does have value.</div>
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Suffering is a non-optional, not fun, sometimes heart wrenching thing.</div>
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But if it gets you closer to God and more helpful to humanity...bring it on.</div>
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(in small doses please)</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">However, not my will but God's be done. </span></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-37315655208921303472012-07-10T07:44:00.002-07:002012-07-10T07:44:24.354-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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More in Heeeeeebrews </div>
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Sometimes I read something that makes me leave my grown up mind and retreat into a very childlike world.</div>
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That happened today</div>
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Some of you know my favorite quote from C.S. Lewis.</div>
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"I find in myself desires that nothing in this world can satisfy,</div>
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the only logical conclusion is that I was made for another world."</div>
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You all know what this world can dish out.</div>
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There's a lot of good, but we'd have to be grossly dishonest to say this </div>
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world only keeps more than just a thin membrane of "everything's alright" over the horror and</div>
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complete chaos on this planet.</div>
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So when I read this morning "In just a little he who is coming will not delay." I felt my heart melt just a little.</div>
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Because I want my Daddy to come get me and take me home.</div>
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So I will wait for the arrival of the one who will make everything right.</div>
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That will be a good day.</div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-43168035613778371372012-07-08T12:49:00.001-07:002012-07-08T12:49:07.733-07:00The Hebrews<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I was reading in the book of Hebrews today. </div>
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My maternal roots are in the Middle East, so I like to think that maybe at sometime my ancestors lived in the land Cannan.</div>
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It's possible.</div>
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The Hebrews were certainly unique when contrasted against other ancient Middle Eastern cultures.</div>
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They were as the Bible says, "a peculiar people"</div>
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I can relate to that.</div>
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I'm pretty peculiar sometimes.</div>
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But the Hebrews ended up with God telling them to build a very specific Temple.</div>
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The specifications were very precise.</div>
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The killed animals in that temple.</div>
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The blood of an animal would cover the sins of Israel for one year.</div>
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But every year the priest had to go into the Holy of Holies (a room with</div>
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the Ark of the Covenant in it...please see Raiders of the Lost Ark if you don't know what I'm talking about)</div>
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and kill another animal.</div>
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Hebrews (the book) explains that the animal sacrifices were a bloody picture of a final sacrifice to come.</div>
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You know who I'm talking about.</div>
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That very fabulous guy Jesus.</div>
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When John the Baptist saw Jesus he said, "Behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world."</div>
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He said a mouthful that day.</div>
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Because he was right. Jesus died and took away the sins of the world.</div>
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But unlike the annual sacrifice of the Hebrews, he only had to do it once.</div>
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Jesus is good like that.</div>
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And he can forgive you once too.</div>
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That's all it takes really, just ask him and he promises he'll do it.</div>
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Yep, he's good like that. </div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-31632110549987866572012-07-06T21:25:00.001-07:002012-07-06T21:25:17.874-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sometimes I'm pretty sure God hears me. Sometimes I think he might be distracted by Facebook or texting.<br />
(Not really God, I'm just kidding). But sometimes my prayer seem to hit the ceiling and konk right back down on my head.<br />
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I used to feel inadequate when this happened. Then I realized I just had to trust that God does indeed hear me. Then I read the most depressing and delightful bit of scripture that I have seen in a long time. It's in the book of Lamentations (which says enough in itself) and it's written by Jeremiah who is nicknamed the Weeping Prophet (I LOVE that nickname).<br />
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Here is what it says...he is talking about God.<br />
Chapter 3<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">He has walled me in so I cannot escape;</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><br />
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Lam-3-7" style="position: relative;">he has weighed me down with chains. <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-20362K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup></span></span><br /><span class="text Lam-3-8" id="en-NIV-20363" style="position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">8 </sup>Even when I call out or cry for help, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-20363L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Lam-3-8" style="position: relative;">he shuts out my prayer. <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-20363M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></sup></span></span><br /><span class="text Lam-3-9" id="en-NIV-20364" style="position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">9 </sup>He has barred <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-20364N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></sup>my way with blocks of stone;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Lam-3-9" style="position: relative;">he has made my paths crooked.<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-20364O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)"></sup></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Lam-3-10" id="en-NIV-20365" style="position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">10 </sup>Like a bear lying in wait,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Lam-3-10" style="position: relative;">like a lion <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-20365P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)"></sup>in hiding, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-20365Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></sup></span></span><br /><span class="text Lam-3-11" id="en-NIV-20366" style="position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">11 </sup>he dragged me from the path and mangled <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-20366R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)"></sup>me</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Lam-3-11" style="position: relative;">and left me without help.</span></span><br /><span class="text Lam-3-12" id="en-NIV-20367" style="position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">12 </sup>He drew his bow <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-20367S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)"></sup></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Lam-3-12" style="position: relative;">and made me the target <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-20367T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)"></sup>for his arrows.</span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Lam-3-12" style="position: relative;">(At this point I'm thinking lightening bolt...right?)</span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Lam-3-12" style="position: relative;">But here is where the rubber meets the road.</span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Lam-3-12" style="position: relative;">Verse 21</span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Lam-3-12" style="position: relative;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Lam-3-21" id="en-NIV-20376" style="position: relative;">Yet this I call to mind</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Lam-3-21" style="position: relative;">and therefore I have hope:</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Lam-3-22" id="en-NIV-20377" style="position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">22 </sup>Because of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>’s great love <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-20377AI" title="See cross-reference AI">AI</a>)"></sup>we are not consumed, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-20377AJ" title="See cross-reference AJ">AJ</a>)"></sup></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Lam-3-22" style="position: relative;">for his compassions never fail. <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-20377AK" title="See cross-reference AK">AK</a>)"></sup></span></span><br /><span class="text Lam-3-23" id="en-NIV-20378" style="position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">23 </sup>They are new every morning;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Lam-3-23" style="position: relative;">great is your faithfulness. <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-20378AL" title="See cross-reference AL">AL</a>)"></sup></span></span><br /><span class="text Lam-3-24" id="en-NIV-20379" style="position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">24 </sup>I say to myself, “The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> is my portion; <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-20379AM" title="See cross-reference AM">AM</a>)"></sup></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Lam-3-24" style="position: relative;">therefore I will wait for him.”</span></span></div>
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I think this is pretty darn good. Honest, to the point, and frank.</div>
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I like it.</div>
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But where else can we go?</div>
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That's all I have to say.</div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-42129067518826450272012-05-09T17:24:00.001-07:002012-05-09T17:26:38.695-07:00Do You Hear Me?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Sometimes I know that God is near me.</div>
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Sometimes I don't.</div>
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Sometimes I feel like my prayers bounce off the ceiling and God simply has forgotten about me.</div>
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The past month has been a "God is being quiet month."</div>
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I know he is still there. I know he is still whispering, "Keep walking." </div>
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But I can BARELY hear that guy you know!</div>
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So, he puts me near people who are seeing their prayers answered, people who are having miraculous things happen in their life.</div>
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There is a man in my home church who is in his 60's or 70's.</div>
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He just moved into an apartment after living with his daughter and her family for a long time.</div>
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When he moved in he had no furniture to speak of save a bed and a few other things.</div>
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A week after he moved in the woman next door to him had to go into a nursing home permanently.</div>
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The woman's daughter told the man from my home church he could have whatever furniture he needed.</div>
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He has a nice chair to sit in now and a kitchen table. He has a microwave on the way and all the food that was in her pantry and refrigerator is now in HIS pantry and refrigerator.</div>
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God is like that.</div>
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He is the provider of all that we need.</div>
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I hope the woman who is going into a nursing home knows about Jesus. I think her time to leave this world is very near.</div>
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So I will keep walking and waiting for God to answer my prayers.</div>
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I need money to go to lunch with a friend I have not seen in a long time.</div>
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My kids are going with me too, so they will need to eat.</div>
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I'll let you know how that turns out.</div>
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Are you listening God? I'm waiting.</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-48149569399677000402012-04-29T20:40:00.001-07:002012-04-29T20:40:59.381-07:00Susan Boyle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaBHVbpBzOojDxLevyWl2znogBT-WLgg4cEUQ2_xZjyGFsFeOO1lhXVL14R991LTlRUAR1huP-vrPJtaWw4tqzqz4_ym9NZBimwCXg0eR6EZJ_ki7qdmTtRw_HbqIsN7luDWPNvvgQOIa/s1600/sunflowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaBHVbpBzOojDxLevyWl2znogBT-WLgg4cEUQ2_xZjyGFsFeOO1lhXVL14R991LTlRUAR1huP-vrPJtaWw4tqzqz4_ym9NZBimwCXg0eR6EZJ_ki7qdmTtRw_HbqIsN7luDWPNvvgQOIa/s320/sunflowers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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You all know Susan Boyle right?</div>
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American Idol,</div>
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everyone thought she would make a fool of herself,</div>
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and then she sang with the voice from another world and knocked everyone's socks off.</div>
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She made me cry.</div>
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I was watching her American Idol performance just a few nights ago with Oz on YouTube and she STILL makes me cry.</div>
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Do you want to know why?<br />
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Because here is this normal, plain woman who nobody thinks will do much of anything. BUT, then she opens her mouth and out comes the most beautiful voice you have EVER heard.<br />
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Everyone wants that one shining moment.<br />
Everyone wants that moment where people stand up and cheer.<br />
Everyone wants to be validated.<br />
Everyone wants to count for something.<br />
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Well, Susan Boyle did it!<br />
She made people take notice and I love that about her.<br />
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But what about me?<br />
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You do not want to hear me belt out a tune.<br />
I can paint, but I'm not the kind of painter that will EVER be hung in a museum.<br />
I'm a pretty good mom and wife, but very few people know about that...and even fewer care.<br />
I'm an okay cook.<br />
I'm an okay friend.<br />
I'm pretty much just okay...nothing tremendously special.<br />
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But do you know what?<br />
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God says that one day when life is done that if we have followed him as faithfully as we know how he will greet us and say in front of legions of angels and all the millions of Christians that have gone before us and he will say, "Well done good and faithful servant."<br />
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That will be my Susan Boyle moment....only WAY better.<br />
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I live to hear, "Well done."<br />
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Can't wait to see you God.</div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-69955824000228889332012-03-08T18:29:00.000-08:002012-03-08T18:29:22.242-08:00He Gave Me Flowers!!!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have been praying a lot lately about my future and my dreams.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Me. Me. Me. Me. Me. Me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have been worried that maybe God has forgotten about the desires of my heart. Things I want, but don't really need. Things I hope for beyond all hope.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I I I I I I I</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You might see where I am going with all this.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I can be self obsessed. Maybe some of you can relate.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> But guess what happened today?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was at the supermarket with four kids stocking up and enjoying the whole thing quite a bit.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then, I saw them.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">FLOWERS!!!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">They were particularly beautiful, and I really wanted to buy a bunch for myself. This is rare for me, I can pass up flowers almost any day of the year, but today, my heart just yearned for some.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's almost spring, but not quite...and a bunch of flowers would just brighten up my house until the real deal of spring got here.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So do you know what I did?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Nothing. I was responsible; knowing that we are low on cash and doing are best not to waste money.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, I passed up those pretty things and just bought our groceries.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The day went on and THEN guess what?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My friend came to visit me and what did she have in her hand? The very flowers I had been looking at.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now mind you, she has NEVER brought me flowers before. Never, ever, ever.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But today she did. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And do you now what else?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">God really gave me those flowers because he wanted me to know something.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And he wants you to know it too.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">He knows your thoughts and the deepest desires of your heart. He sees them and does not forget them. He cares about the dreams you think will never come true. He passionately wants you to know he loves you. And he might even bring you flowers. He brought me some just today.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"How amazing are your thoughts concerning me. How vast the sum of them. Were I to count them they would outnumber the grains of sand."</div><div style="text-align: center;">Psalm 139:17 and 18</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">How did King David know that about God? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, he did. And now I know it too. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks for bringing me flowers God. I know you haven't forgotten me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">He has not forgotten you either.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-45324114816739868192012-02-28T13:30:00.000-08:002012-02-28T13:30:42.672-08:00Law<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">So I have always been mystified by King David who said, "I love you commandments, Oh Lord."<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Because every time I look at those things I feel oppressed...and depressed</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Because look at some of these babies:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't lie (guilty)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't want things that other people have and you don't (coveting) Damn those Jonses.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't murder (okay, the only one I haven't done)EXCEPT for that Jesus said if you hate anyone you have more or less killed them...okay, so I'm GUILTY again.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Honor your parents (I blew that one out of the water when I was in High School)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Love God more than anyone else (okay, if it weren't for loving myself so much, I might have this one pegged)</div><div style="text-align: center;">No idols (I guess I'll have to get rid of my shrine to Justin Bieber now)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Rest once a week (REST???? I have four kids, I can't rest)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't steal (I "borrowed" money from Oz the other day without asking...hmmmmmm.)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't swear by using God's name (sigh)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't commit adultery (sleep with someone who is not Oz)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So on this test I've got a 10 out or 10!!!!! (p.s. I've been faithful to my Oz...so let's not talk about this embarrassing subject any more).</div><div style="text-align: center;">Except this is the kind of test that's like golf, the lower your score the better!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So here is my score......FAIL.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So why would that crazy King David love God's law so much. I think it's kind of a bummer.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then I remember something in Romans 6</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here goes: <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28068" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: text-top;">20</sup><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> The law was brought in so that the trespass(bad stuff) might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, </span><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28069" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: text-top;">21</sup><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So that's good? God wants us to sin???</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What the heck?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, we know God doesn't want us to sin, he wants us to know we can't help but sin. Because if we know that, maybe we will look for another way to be good...we will fall at his feet and cry for mercy.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And He promises to give it to us...so I REALLY REALLY like this God guy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Back to King David...I read something the other day that made me realize how David could love the law.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Sin is not hurtful because it is forbidden, it is forbidden because it it hurtful"</div><div style="text-align: center;">A guy named Benjamin Franklin said that.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">God does not want us to hurt.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And sin, though it is alluring and pleasurable for a little while, has the end result of biting one back doulbe for any pleasure it gave out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ow.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't want to hurt, so I think I do love the law.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But I love the grace of God even more, because I have broken the law so many times and will continue to do so until the day I die.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Go grace go!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And thanks Jesus.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445939413050015460.post-63451910013281330732012-02-27T20:32:00.000-08:002012-02-27T20:32:25.661-08:00God, Can I have a Waffle?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes praying is like talking to someone on a cell phone when they are in a basement, or a building made of cinder block or in a dreaded dead zone.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You know, you talk and you can't hear the person on the other end.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So you don't know if they can hear you.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had a conversation with Oz like that tonight.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was at the local grocery store and he called me. I could hear him loud and clear.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But the giant grocery store bunker type walls wouldn't let my voice out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So I heard this:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Will you get me some waffles? Can you hear me?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Will you get me some waffles?</div><div style="text-align: center;">I can't hear you, so if you can hear me will you get me some waffles?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Okay, I hope you can hear me."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Of course I was on the other end of the phone hearing everything just fine.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Laughing and thinking, "I'll get your waffles." </div><div style="text-align: center;">But this is how I feel sometimes when I pray.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Can you hear me God? If you can hear me can you help me with______?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Okay, I know you can help me with _________, I'll talk with you later.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Okay, Amen.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But when I stop to think about it, I wonder if God heard my request. 'Cause there could be dead zones or God might be in a cinder block heavenly building or something.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And sometimes I wonder if He can hear me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">All the while God is probably laughing thinking; I can hear you just fine.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I hear your request and it's as easy for me to get it to you as it is for you to get waffles for Oz.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And that's true.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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