tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85846100960177176482024-02-06T23:41:56.808-05:00MORNING AFTER THE NIGHT BEFOREAnd the lookout shouted, "Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post.
--Isaiah 21:8
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584610096017717648.post-72340018621205586832013-09-10T14:48:00.000-04:002013-09-10T14:48:27.868-04:00Buffaloed By Our Own Folly<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear: Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD. "Should you not tremble in my presence?" Jeremiah 5:21-22</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I some time ago read the post, "College Roommates" in Joel's "A Day in the Life of Nutuba" and immediately thought, "the man is nostalgic for Curt's pet Buffalo." (You can go to his Blog by clicking the title of this post.) So it seemed a kindness to provide him with a view of a buffalo, in this case, staring me and my camera down.</span></span></div>
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288895107402385442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-k6_XdJ4YrF2_LsixKe5x7bEn-gqTtFiYuZCumIcODQNl3WuLsOU9ebDthvnsbpzus5gDKGamx8FtpjY-Qm61g3yQjiuPDRMa7FI6bUzUTHIV9Y9qONpLPeGb5j3rq3O-iZqoBHvEw-g/s320/2007+Virginia+Trip+313a.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Now I am often braver with a camera, sighting through a viewfinder, than my naked eye would recommend, but I admit I took these photos out of the relative safety of my car window.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Granted, given the size of the beast staring back, I'm not sure just how secure I was in our little Pumpkin, as my wife called our orange Cobalt. That monster could probably have cracked it like a pumpkin shell with a single charge.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288881988600789266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jh_Ern3WilMMMKx2Sc0xgrqSUpdr2fkJVQsQqZAxublov3S2w_oxQNGJaiTLYypnu2XdU15uBmSynYlpOD2SQJubCr0A6r2RE03sMlnqI6yt6aWhssbumeqky3ADinM1kl-MTrXm57Z9/s320/2007+Virginia+Trip+344.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My wife had felt threatened enough earlier by this ostrich. My wife's reaction to it was pulling the food bucket she held further across the seat toward me and screaming "go away". I had to remind her it would be better to stick the food bucket out her window so the bird would follow suit and I could drive from it.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She finally did and we escaped, but it shows how we people often react counter-intuitive to what might be the better action. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">At least we weren't breaking any commandments.</span></span></div>
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288885094762752978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEMYesg8LwP0-L5VzycO6XvHxa4_gxt0CK_1YrCoqriQJ-BDgpxXF5In7-sE3E6B-okO-FwysGBlwxq6gaHJZcF6G9KK4iqv1Xq95ET7lAndHnT3hB-HdTsZ_Ls_vkQniNcMHI2VzBycV/s320/2007+Virginia+Trip+327.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> When we entered the safari park in Virginia, there was this rule: Do not feed the Zebras...</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(Sorry, buddy, the restaurant is closed, my window is up.)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288884695234107714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPwkG8Qcs7J7bwUq-_TnRC7FocMVs7w7BCbQJcTosyXrEYyz83kYycV4IJ2h7rKQL3A2YHpnclCc9sobCW7SoYLWhco0OXLmWZ-xbrIUWf_nz2CkEdLZRHNiJuu0MKuOJ_51VvKmIyhqX/s320/2007+Virginia+Trip+308.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">...the Watusi or...</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">the Bison.</span></span></div>
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288894515480024386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFm7sNF6eyghOnUoDUg3VCQ8_sFQPP1NZ1_oYAGhuPzLLzXRFfvSjDpIFb8x3WWIr00_GiYuXN2adu466bHUEG1AhFCkf0bIdR1lxy2Ed1Z0cVafefMUFDpYf7UXXaMU9Nzot9soFEKevw/s320/2007+Virginia+Trip+318.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But just like Adam and Eve, who could not follow one simple rule, neither could the family ahead of us.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Take note of the size of the beast to the size of the van. There were two children in the back. The Bison continued forward until it was up to its shoulders into that vehicle. It seemed determined to climb in with them. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">They were fortunate to have gotten away without harm or damages. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yet, isn't this the nature of man? God gave us Laws and we refused to keep them, so he provided us with a Savior. Still, we invite all kinds of things into our lives which are potentially harmful and dangerous without a thought to the consequences, but we are reluctant to invite Christ into our hearts.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We throw our doors open to beasts that could easily crush us when we could easily protect ourselves behind the gates of the Kingdom of God, safe in the hands of Jesus and protected by the Holy Spirit. But too often our eyes don't see, our ears don't hear and we show less fear of evil than of God. </span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584610096017717648.post-65710117881472862452013-06-01T11:56:00.001-04:002013-06-01T11:56:56.075-04:00Pavarotti, Domingo and that Other Guy, and Peter.<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDWr-daLYn_F90Rqzr49gZ_7jeTRuNi7IzsZb7Nc7hyvt8E_Eo3Z1dpEyAdRQ7J9topHOy9QIPdH4K0BbfxDgdsT-xeoifKsQBSGhYxyyTLZLbV4ldqw4ZTibZNhvPAIMtFAjFnhP7Mc/s1600/2008+06+23+115.1+In+a+cowl+of+cloud..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDWr-daLYn_F90Rqzr49gZ_7jeTRuNi7IzsZb7Nc7hyvt8E_Eo3Z1dpEyAdRQ7J9topHOy9QIPdH4K0BbfxDgdsT-xeoifKsQBSGhYxyyTLZLbV4ldqw4ZTibZNhvPAIMtFAjFnhP7Mc/s320/2008+06+23+115.1+In+a+cowl+of+cloud..jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">PETER’S PROBLEM</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Immediately
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other
side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on
a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but
the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the
waves because the </span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">wind was against it.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">During the
fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the
disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a
ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But Jesus
immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Lord,
if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the
water."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Come,"
he said.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Then Peter
got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when
he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord,
save me!"</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Immediately
Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he
said, "why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:22-31 (NIV)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Simon Peter was a compulsive
man of action. But he was always tripping, probably because he kept trying to
walk with one foot in his mouth. That was his other characteristic, not being
able to keep his mouth shut. It makes him a good foil. We sit here and snicker
at his bluster as he takes a few steps onto the water, looks down and sinks. It
brings images of Wily Coyote running several feet off the side of a cliff, and
then realizing nothing solid is under him and plummeting.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">But I'll tell you, I didn't
see any of those other guys jumping off the boat. Nobody else was making any
leap of faith here. How about you and me? Would we have stepped over the
railing in a storm and believed we could walk even one stride length on water?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Even so, Peter lost it and
Jesus had to save him. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Hmm? All kinds of lessons
going on here wouldn’t you say? </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Peter steps out boldly when
his eyes are on Christ, but he begins to sink when he looks away and cuts his
contact with God. He is in danger of drowning until Jesus takes hold of him and
saves him. So is the metaphor that as long as we keep our eyes on Christ we
will be okay?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I think there is more to it
than that. Jesus was walking on the water a few yards away. Yes, Peter glanced
down and began to sink. But why couldn't he have simply looked back at Jesus
and kept going? What was missing? Let's look at some of Peter's yo-yo
performances as an Apostle and try to unravel this mystery.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Early on, Peter seems to
have a lot less faith. Jesus has been teaching a crowd from one of Simon
Peter's boats. </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out
into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon
answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught
anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When
they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began
to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help
them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to
sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said,
"Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions
were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and
John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.<b> </b> Luke 5:4-10 (NIV)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Peter never feared speaking
his mind. He isn't telling Jesus to command him to do anything here. He's
already sinking. Can't you just see him rolling his eyes when he says,
"But because you say so." You can just hear him whisper under his
breath to James or John, "shows you how much a carpenter knows about
fishing. But he's the boss and we are not to reason why." </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Of course by the time he
attempts to walk on water he's seen several other miracles besides this, like
feeding thousands of people with just a few fish and chips. Still, as long as
Jesus is right there to grab him, he gets bold, but if Jesus goes a bit distant
or Peter gets distracted by worldly trouble, he sinks again.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">It is after one of those big
crowd feedings that Jesus asks his Disciples a question: </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"But what about you?" he
asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the
Christ." Mark 8:29 (NIV)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Sounds like Peter has it together
now, doesn't it? For about two minutes, until Jesus began telling them what was
going to happen.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">He (Jesus) then
began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected
by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be
killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter
took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked
at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said.
"You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of
men." Mark 8:31-33 (NIV)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">You can see Peter was a
self-assured man. He was full of pride and he trusted in his own ability to
solve problems. He just declared Jesus the Messiah, yet Peter has the audacity
to tell the Son of God he doesn't know what he is talking about. No one is
going to harm Jesus while Peter is around. Old Rock-hard Peter the Pebble is
going to keep Jesus safe. "Don't worry, Christ, anyone threatens and I'll
save you," he says and once again it is Jesus has to save Peter, this time
from Satan.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Being a fast learner, Peter now
understands and never questions Jesus again, right?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Yeah, right. It's a Passover week.
Jesus has the Disciples together and he begins to do something out of protocol
to him and their positions. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">After that, he
poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them
with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who
said to him, "Lord, are you not going to wash my feet?" Jesus
replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will
understand." "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash
my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with
me." "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my
feet but my hands and my head as well!" John 13:5-9 (NIV)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">What is Peter's problem? Is he
bipolar or something? At least he may be becoming more contrite or maybe not.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">They are in the Garden of
Gethsemane. A whole bunch of soldiers show up to arrest Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Again he (Jesus)
asked them, "Who is it you want?" And they said, "Jesus of
Nazareth." "I told you that I am he," Jesus answered.
"If you are looking for me, then let these men go." This happened so
that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of
those you gave me." Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and
struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's
name was Malchus.) John 18: 7-10 (NIV)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Despite all the times that
Jesus told his Apostles this was going to happen, Peter is still trying to be
the protector. He is carrying a sword. He uses it in this situation. Believe
me, it wasn't Peter's intention to cut off Malchus' ear. He was going to cut
off the whole head, but Malchus ducked. Old Peter was going to take on the
whole military outfit. Once again, Peter was going to save Jesus and Jesus had
to step forth and save Peter.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Peter the Brave, the
Savior's savior, isn't he quite the superhero? We find out just how super Peter
is not long afterward his short swordplay.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus.
Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the
high priest's courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other
disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on
duty there and brought Peter in. "You are not one of his disciples,
are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter. </span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">He replied, "I am not." John 18:15-18. (NIV)</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Jesus is out of sight, out of mind.
Peter is for Peter here. He's looking down into the stormy cold sea and trying
to swim to shore to save him self. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Yet later we will see a Peter who
won't deny Christ even under torture or death, despite the fact that Jesus is
gone to Heaven and Peter can't stand right next to Him and see Him and be
grabbed by Him. What was Peter's problem all those other times when Jesus was
right nearby and what cured it?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">There is a Seinfeld episode called
"The Maestro". A running gag involves "The Three Tenors".
You know, Pavarotti, Domingo and...and...and that other guy.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Pavarotti, Domingo and that other
guy, therein lays the answer to Peter's problem.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1027"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BZcCuV8pxGJaPUsbVsZSSD5kfZrWCcY-L4tAPwvVpxZg6JivZCECzZppoNdvon8gDjQHNJB58vS4TnrIHMp2MwkFxKmZsRo-TXnplslbVPwKo5y3vxrmCB3nJUA-svvht1-sianEJKM/s1600/2008+06+22+022.1+Of+the+beam+Of+the+sun..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BZcCuV8pxGJaPUsbVsZSSD5kfZrWCcY-L4tAPwvVpxZg6JivZCECzZppoNdvon8gDjQHNJB58vS4TnrIHMp2MwkFxKmZsRo-TXnplslbVPwKo5y3vxrmCB3nJUA-svvht1-sianEJKM/s1600/2008+06+22+022.1+Of+the+beam+Of+the+sun..jpg" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">PETER’S SOLUTION<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_0" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="2008 06 22 Asheville 026 Roanoke AM_2.jpg" style='position:absolute;
margin-left:-36pt;margin-top:14.5pt;width:244.8pt;height:204pt;z-index:251649024;
visibility:visible'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="2008 06 22 Asheville 026 Roanoke AM_2"/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm21BxKodY5LBrfjJnsVaRnBjkYl63hlBuQYmC0RddqgIs9dff7fjOVdJYb3lf-PD_qMu0hVvhr-HB1K_74LgEtRwmTZ8v7avKTQEnp0zbWcKZAdqeR5y_LLreL8RABQ3kugJ0pQN9GuYc/s1600-h/2008+06+22+Asheville+026+Roanoke+AM_2.jpg"><span style="color: #ffc290; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Do
not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's
house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going
there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You
know the way to the place where I am going."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you
are going, so how can we know the way?"</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Jesus answered, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"<b>I am the way and the truth and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through me.</b> If you really knew me, you would
know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and <b>have seen him</b>."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be
enough for us."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Jesus
answered: <span style="color: red;">"<b>Don't you know me</b>, Philip, even
after I have been among you such a long time? <b>Anyone who has seen me has
seen the Father.</b> How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe
that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you
are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his
work. </span></span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in
me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you
the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will
do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will
do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You
may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:1-14 (NIV)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">When
did this discourse occur? Why, on the night of the last supper, on the eve of
Christ's crucifixion, and he was preparing his Disciples for his leaving them.
Thomas and Phillip, after all this time and what they had seen, do not sound
ready to be great evangelists, no precursors of the two Billys: Sunday and
Graham. And where is Simon Peter to reiterate his great profession of Jesus as
the Son of God?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I
wouldn't be surprise to learn Peter was over in a corner sulking at this moment
because he's the one who asked Jesus where he was going and reacted with his
usual bluster at the answer:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Simon
Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Jesus
replied, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Where
I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Peter
asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for
you."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Then
Jesus answered, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the
truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!"</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> <i>John 13:36-38 (NIV)</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Even
if Jesus wasn't God and knew what was going to happen tomorrow, he would have
probably still asked if Peter would really lay down his life for him. It
was a "been there-done that" kind of moment.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">If
you think about that question, it is not just aimed at Peter. It's a question
being asked of us as well. Will you and I really lay down our lives for Him?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Peter
didn't come back with any snappy insistence that he would. This is where
Thomas and Phillip jumped in and showed they aren't so ready for things
either. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Jesus'
reply is one of several in Scripture where he says he is God. "</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">If you really knew me, you would
know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen
him." </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">And also here we
have one of the core, undeniable principles of our faith, one of those on which
we who claim to be Christian must agree or we will be like Peter denying we
know Him: <i>Jesus answered, <span style="color: red;">"<b>I am</b> the way
and the truth and the life. <b>No one comes</b> to the Father <b>except through
me</b>."</span></i></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><i><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Yet,
we still have Peter's problem. Peter does indeed deny knowing Jesus three times
and then he runs and hides. Thomas and Phillip had already run and hid right
after Jesus was arrested. At least Peter had the gumption to go with John to
the courtyard.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And after
the Crucifixion where were Peter and all these guys, and some gals that
had been going everywhere with Jesus as well. Hiding in a room shaking in their
boots. Seemed like Christianity was going nowhere.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Yeah,
sure, Jesus rose again on Sunday and all and that boosted them up for a little
over a month, but when he ascended up to Heaven, they didn't exactly hit the
street corners proclaiming the good news. They just kind of went back to
that room and hung around wondering what to do next. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">They seem to have forgotten this:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"If
you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and
he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of
truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows
him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." John
14:15-17 (NIV)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Despite three
years of teachings and miracles and seeing Jesus rise from the dead, there was
no fire in their belly. There didn't seem anything would get them fired up now.
It didn't seem anything short of the room catching fire would get them out of
it.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Which is
exactly what it took. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">When the day
of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like
the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where
they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated
and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the <b>Holy
Spirit</b>... Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">They hotfooted
it out of that room in a blaze that changed the world. Now it is our commission
to carry the flame, for we are lamps and shouldn't hide our light. </span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">"No one lights a lamp and hides it
in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those
who come in can see the light." </span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Luke 8:16 (NIV)</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">What was
Peter's problem? He and the other disciples were men born just as we are with
an empty place inside. They could walk around with the Lord and when they were
with Him they took strength from God being near. But when Jesus was distant or
gone, they just had that empty space. Jesus knew this and knew it was his
sacrifice that would ultimately allow that empty space to be opened and
filled. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"All
this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, <b>the Holy Spirit</b>,
whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind
you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give
you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be
troubled and do not be afraid." (NIV)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">If
you have accepted Jesus as the Way, then you have the Holy Spirit in your
formally empty space. You can't pray for the Spirit because you have already
been given it. The more you use it the more you will have. <b> </b></span><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">"</span></i></b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Therefore consider carefully how you
listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he
thinks he has will be taken from him." Luke 8:18 (NIV)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">When we look
out on the stormy sea we will not see Jesus walking across the waves. If we see
someone claiming he can calm the storm if we come to him, be careful, it isn't
a ghost, it is the Prince of this World or one of his false prophets. No, don't
look outward now. Look inward. God is always with us in the form of the Holy
Spirit. We have what Peter lacked before Pentecost; we should not have Peter's
problem. Just remember we know the truth and the world cannot unless we tell
them.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Even
the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not,
neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in
you. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">John 14:17 (KJV)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Oh, in case
you are curious, the Three Tenors were Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti
and...and...uh, that other guy...uh...</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">...Jose Carreras.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaqR_RohrhBFQ3Jm7Vjg3aBJTKjjm2wJmTQZIu1uvLPaUBgmC1cZ7uytXszI0znfvxL3UvG2GCTxO8-4KNKzeEYLuBf-CCv2J5D6cVEQULkvUJzytVT9VwPte8cD3fx5VD9dXHH5xI3I/s1600/ThreeTenors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaqR_RohrhBFQ3Jm7Vjg3aBJTKjjm2wJmTQZIu1uvLPaUBgmC1cZ7uytXszI0znfvxL3UvG2GCTxO8-4KNKzeEYLuBf-CCv2J5D6cVEQULkvUJzytVT9VwPte8cD3fx5VD9dXHH5xI3I/s400/ThreeTenors.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584610096017717648.post-84752676958123668822013-05-26T19:24:00.001-04:002013-05-26T19:25:26.060-04:00Verily, Verily, I Say Unto You: Just a Little Word...or...Two.
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitO3SGzYK3V4c315No-Y0ePZtw7guJNCu_n1KDWcHSLafMtGSurnWMq91_hd53eqZSYUc1olLjBd6LTaBQNzBOSS7BJ4hsk5n8RZcHWGbzrL3Z44ImM5CZaqVj0AWEi9rzW5i6WoS82oKI/s1600-h/2005+08+06+Larry%27s+left+hand+v01.jpg"><span style="color: #ffc290; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXryJxeggqIZMf3uKSfNlJ8P-t7PISAUumdPAVj6BmWPkve4dpi2KE3zu9IR-CYQ2P0TdUyocu_c5OdVbcqAYGXZoyeLSzHJX2FzZGYPcx2MOcfRp-LCRTWL-mtk6zMIR9qfbRLfaYJc/s1600/2005+08+06+Writhing+together.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXryJxeggqIZMf3uKSfNlJ8P-t7PISAUumdPAVj6BmWPkve4dpi2KE3zu9IR-CYQ2P0TdUyocu_c5OdVbcqAYGXZoyeLSzHJX2FzZGYPcx2MOcfRp-LCRTWL-mtk6zMIR9qfbRLfaYJc/s320/2005+08+06+Writhing+together.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Jesus answered and said unto
him, </span></i><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Verily,
verily</span></i></b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Nicodemus saith unto
him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into
his mother's womb, and be born?</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Jesus answered, </span></i><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Verily, verily</span></i></b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">, I say unto thee, Except a man
be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of
the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born
again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every
one that is born of the Spirit.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Nicodemus answered and
said unto him, How can these things be?</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Jesus answered and
said unto him, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? <b>Verily,
verily</b>, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have
seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things,
and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly
things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from
heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For
God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world
through him might be saved.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">
John 3:3-17 (KJV)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 31.7pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I have experienced periods
of silence many times during my life, periods when no words would come. It is
distressing for a writer to have nothing to write. I had been suffering
writer’s block and there was a long period between my last essay and this at
the time it was written.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 31.7pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">So I wanted to ease back into
the water with just a word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 31.7pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">In John 3, Jesus said
several times, "verily, verily". Actually, Jesus didn't say
"verily". That is an old English word used by the translators of the
King James Version. The translation was hardly necessary for the word Jesus
spoke is still used today across the world in many languages every day. It is a
Hebrew word that transcended the transliteration through Greek and Latin and
has been said by us all at one time or another and quite often and regularly by
some of us, although we don't usually put it where Jesus did, at the beginning
of our statement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 31.7pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The word is <b><i>amen.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 31.7pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Every time we hear a prayer we
hear amen as the last word. We have heard it that way so often many people
probably think it means "the end". We probably think after the last
scene of ancient Jewish movies a black screen with the block letters AMEN
appeared and we all went home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 31.7pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">It doesn't mean the end, but
when it comes at the end it means, "so be it" or "so may it
be". We in the church pretty much follow the custom as used in the synagogues. In those,
after a discourse and solemn prayer was read or said, those assembled would
respond "amen". This is more than just confirming the message; this
is taking it as one's own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 31.7pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But Jesus didn't wait until
the end to say it. He started off with, "Amen, amen". Didn't he know
better?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 31.7pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Sure he did. It was a word
when used at the beginning had a slightly different meaning. It meant,
"this is a truth", "truly" or "surely". Jesus
doubled it up. What he was saying is, "this is the truth of all
truths". <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 31.7pt;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Amen, amen,<span style="color: red;"> "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the
kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit." John 3:5 (NIV)</span></span></i></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 31.7pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Sometimes we Christians disagree on
interpretation of some passages. But in John 3 we have Jesus giving us the
truth of all truths and we cannot disagree on this and call ourselves
Christians.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 31.7pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">We cannot accommodate the wishes of
the world either and downplay what Christ has said. These are amen, amen
statements. People who believe otherwise judge Christians as judgmental and
narrow minded as they insist we must believe as they do. But then if we would
not hold to these principles, we would not be Christians. I am not intolerant
of other's beliefs. I do not wish to force them to have my views. You can't
force faith on anyone. I am not judgmental of anyone because I don't know their
heart. However, I don't keep my belief to myself, because I love them and wish
them no harm -- ever and because the Lord commanded us to do so.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 31.7pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Amen, amen, I am narrow-minded
because the path is narrow and few find it. I am narrow-minded because there is
Christ and no other. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584610096017717648.post-27344485019058001532013-05-23T15:47:00.000-04:002013-05-23T15:50:33.925-04:00Chess Master<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1027"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORMAoQpjN3yO2QFAgz6xunzigdNjnNBRYwV51Zw8UWeKkY9wbpvU5P8RIffqc2aDGIOX76ogGNWqQdNeyeZO-d5sQjuSw00X8YzLA4AukzdjG409cvY7OPJLUNujDGwZZ6MJ9a0-_Y5w/s1600/1974+001+Why+I+always+win+at+chess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORMAoQpjN3yO2QFAgz6xunzigdNjnNBRYwV51Zw8UWeKkY9wbpvU5P8RIffqc2aDGIOX76ogGNWqQdNeyeZO-d5sQjuSw00X8YzLA4AukzdjG409cvY7OPJLUNujDGwZZ6MJ9a0-_Y5w/s320/1974+001+Why+I+always+win+at+chess.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600"
o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f"
stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_0" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="1974 001 Why I always win at chess.jpg" style='position:absolute;left:0;
text-align:left;margin-left:-18pt;margin-top:3.9pt;width:252pt;height:180.4pt;
z-index:251651072;visibility:visible'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="1974 001 Why I always win at chess"/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Let's pretend you are a
Chess Master, the greatest in the world. You enjoy a relationship with other
chess players. You also enjoy their respect and admiration. You create a
beautiful chess club for them and it is your hope through following your
example, listening to what you teach and following your guidelines, they will
develop as close as possible to your skill level. You often sit down and play
the game with one of them and you bask in the praise they give you, in fact you
expect it. It is not that you need it or that you have an inflated ego.
It is that you deserve it because of what you have accomplished and what you
have provided to others to allow them to enjoy the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">You know that new converts
to the game don't always understand the subtleties and complexities of
Chess. Many start out only knowing the moves of each piece and wouldn't know <i>castling</i>
from <i>taking en-passant</i>. It doesn't matter, you hope by their constant
playing by the rules, they will learn, and as long as they listen to you and
trust the knowledge you have written in your Chess Manual, they will get
better. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">When you sit down to play
you have a purpose and a plan. Unlike many of your opponents who only have the
purpose of winning, you know all the different named strategies and defenses of
the game. Your purpose is to capture their King and your strategy is to control
the center of the board while at the same time building a strong defense around
your own King. Your plan is already many moves ahead of your opponent even
before the first piece is moved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Because you are the greatest
Chess Master in the world, you easily can anticipate what your opponent will do
and as the game progresses, your plan is working flawlessly. There is never a
doubt you will win the game against this opponent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But then the opponent makes
a move out of the expected. Perhaps it was simply a fortuitous accident, or
perhaps the person made their move consciously and<b> independently</b> of
anything you ever said in your manual. It may not be the move you would have
made, may in fact be a poor move, but you don't interfere and force them to
make the move you would have. They have a mind of their own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">You may have to alter your
next move from the scheme you had in your head, but it still doesn't alter your
plan. You can see ahead enough to know three or four moves will put you right
back where you planned to be and the game still remains your certain win.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Now your opponent notices
that your Queen is one move away from being helplessly exposed to their Bishop.
They quickly, almost salivating, move their Bishop into position, seeing now a
direct line to her and that she is cornered and no piece of yours can be
positioned to block the Bishop. So they release their hand from the piece and
sit back, stifling a self-satisfied smile, when they suddenly become aware this
has put their own King into checkmate. They quickly grab the Bishop and move
the piece back to its original position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">What do you do now?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">They have broken a rule.
When they released the piece, that became their move and they had no right to
reset the Bishop and play another piece. You could reach out and move their
Bishop back and say this is the rule, you must keep it no matter what and then
go ahead and take their King.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">You didn't make them make a
bad move. You didn't make them break the rules. They did all that <b>independently</b>
on their own. But now you have <b>intervened</b> and enforced the rule
and placed their King in jeopardy. You had every right to do so. They did
i<b>ndependently</b> break the rules. They did <b>independently </b>make a bad
move. Now they will suffer the consequences of you taking their king.
They are totally <b>dependent</b> on what you do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">You could do many things,
whatever is in your will to do. You could ignore the action and allow the
move to stand, knowing it was a neophyte mistake and also knowing it will not
prevent you winning the game. You can see the moves to make to quickly take
their King, even if they do now capture your Queen. You may even see from their
body language they have learned and won't make such a mistake again, so you
show grace and allow it and forgive it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">On the other hand, you could
point out they broke a rule and allow them an opportunity to <b>independently</b>
decide to correct it, expecting they will repent of the breach and learn from
it. If they choose not to do so, you might break the relationship and not play
them again. You could even banish them from the club. They are completely
<b>dependent</b> on you for such results.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">You could also point out to
them they broke a rule, but tell them you will allow it this time because they
have played the rest of the game well and you really do want their company and
to share Chess with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Or let's consider something
else, which could happen and compare it to prayer. Suppose after the opponent
realized their poor judgment in making the Bishop move, they asked you if they
could please replay the move. You could refuse their request and allow them to
suffer the consequence of losing their King. This would not be wrong. It would
be what they deserve and would be just and fair. Or you could allow their
request seeing they understood both their error and the rules, but wished to be
forgiven. This is showing mercy and granting Grace. They got into the situation
i<b>ndependent</b> of your actions, but are now <b>dependent </b>upon you for
the results.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">You know, the Pharisees and
Sadducee continually played a kind of mental Chess with Jesus, trying to trap
him and throw him off his game plan. There are many instances of this, but
consider this one from John 8:1-11:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">But Jesus went to
the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where
all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The
teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery.
They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this
woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to
stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question
as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"> But
Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When
they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">"If any one of you is without sin,
let him be the first to throw a stone at her." </span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Again he stooped down and wrote on
the ground.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"> At this,
those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until
only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus
straightened up and asked her, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">"Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">"No one,
sir," she said.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">"Then neither do
I condemn you,"</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"> Jesus declared. </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">"Go now and leave your life of sin."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"> These "Teachers
of the Law" had <b>independently</b> decided this woman was guilty of
adultery and they knew the Law. They confronted Jesus, not because they
respected Him, but because they thought they had found a way to destroy his
standing with the people or with God. Jesus did not answer their question. He
knew the woman was guilty, but they were not acting in the spirit of the Law,
but were acting <b>independently</b> of what God intended.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">But Jesus, God, did not
interfere with them. Nor in a sense, did he make the woman <b>dependent</b> on
Him (Jesus-God). Jesus said, go ahead and stone her, but let the sinless
one cast the first stone. Each man decided <b>independently</b> to walk away,
Jesus-God didn't make them drop the stones by Divine power or force them to go
away. But He knew they would do this, he just didn't make them do it.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Jesus-God may have
influenced their thought by his statement, but he did not hypnotize them or
threaten them or cause them in anyway to spare the women. They had
condemned her <b>independently</b> and they spared her<b> independently</b>. He
could have chosen to make the outcome totally <b>dependent</b> upon Himself if
he had wished. He could have "slipped" away with the woman, just as
he had slipped away that time when people were about to throw him off a cliff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Jesus then showed mercy to
the woman. He certainly judged her sin was real and could have condemned her,
but he did not. He said, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Go now and leave your life of sin." </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">This shows what? It shows
indeed she was living a life of sin and was guilty. It shows he forgave her the
sin. It shows he showed mercy. And it shows he left her to <b>independently</b>
choose to leave her life of sin. He did not say, "Go now, for you will
never be able to live a life of sin because all your future actions are totally
<b>dependent</b> upon me."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">In the story of Job, we can
see Job was entirely <b>dependent</b> upon God for what he had. God allowed
Satan to whisk all Job had away in an instant. Job had no input in the matter.
Yet, when Job had originally gained his riches and built his family, he had
done so by making <b>independent</b> decisions and by <b>independent</b>
action. We are <b>dependent </b>on God for everything we have, but we are <b>independent</b>
on how we get it. We are totally <b>dependent
</b>on God for our salvation, but we <b>independently</b>
brought on our condemnation.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Photo is me playing myself, which is why I never lost, and I took it sometimes in the 1970s when I still had hair.</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584610096017717648.post-7236124222320730822013-05-22T13:14:00.001-04:002013-05-22T13:22:48.427-04:00So, What's Bugging You...<br />
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1028"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8584610096017717648" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik03a5Gu1KMKwGoH7chXiCb8ZkJ9TQCWArREGmpfgssvfp6qJ2u9-ts9BLh8Eook1sYTp_E1_dTWkcj2FxR0sdS6Lv8RTgr-pOArklAgEqY2PuMImE5lTXI4wcMsuEPahVaLst_tbmJvI/s1600/2006+01+30+Noelle+in+Africa+032+Gode,+Ethiopia+Noelle's+Hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik03a5Gu1KMKwGoH7chXiCb8ZkJ9TQCWArREGmpfgssvfp6qJ2u9-ts9BLh8Eook1sYTp_E1_dTWkcj2FxR0sdS6Lv8RTgr-pOArklAgEqY2PuMImE5lTXI4wcMsuEPahVaLst_tbmJvI/s320/2006+01+30+Noelle+in+Africa+032+Gode,+Ethiopia+Noelle's+Hands.jpg" width="208" /></a><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">So Satan
went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores
from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece
of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> His
wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God
and die!"</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> He
replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good
from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Job 2:7-10</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And he who
searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes
for the saints in accordance with God's will. And we know that in all
things God works for the good <b>of those
who love him</b>, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:27-28</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">There you
will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat
or smell. But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if
you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in
distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will
return to the LORD your God and obey him. For the LORD your God is a merciful
God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your
forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath. Deuteronomy 4:28-31</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">[I realize that last quote
from Deuteronomy was made by God through Moses specifically to the Jews. But
all Scripture is given for enlightenment and I believe those words also apply
to Christians and fit what I am about to write.]</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">When I say I came to believe
in God from listening to the struggling last heartbeats of my doomed child,
some say how? When they learn this was the seventh child my wife and I lost,
they ask how can you believe in a God who would allow this? When I say the
child lived briefly and died before the eyes of her mother, they ask how I find
any good in this?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">How, because I trust God has
a purpose and uses all things to accomplish His purpose. I find nothing but
good in what happened. We did not abort any of these babies. We wanted
them to be born and did all doctor's instructed to accomplish their birth;
therefore, we did not commit the sin of cutting short God's purpose for these
beings. It was God who counted the seconds of their lives to his purpose and
plan and I believe it was fulfilled even in their short existence in the womb
and in this world.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">How can I find any bad in
this is the real question. I believe when babies and young children die, they
go straight to the outstretched arms of Jesus. These babies were spared the
grief and troubles of this world. They were given a "Get Out of Jail
Card", "Do not pass Go, do not collect $200", but come gain a
greater treasure, eternal life in Heaven. My babies did not enter this world,
they were taken and they did not die, they live.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">But what if one of them, or
any of them, or all of them, had made it? What kind of life would they have
had? They wouldn't have been abused, that was not my wife or my nature.
However, they would have been subjected to a different set of values and
beliefs, exposed to Atheism and even much superstition and the occult.
They would have lived with someone who was a stumbling stone to their
salvation. If they had lived they may have lost their soul.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">And if they had lived I may
have never gained mine. So where is the bad?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Because of that long line of
loss, I came to Christ and I changed. My father, seeing the change in me, came
to Christ, and I am sure the change in him influenced others to seek the Lord.
So where is the bad?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Then when all medical
science said it was impossible, God allowed my wife to have three children, the
second (again although totally impossible according to men) with no pre-birth
medical attention. This presented a testimony to the Grace and Mercy of Our
Lord, His power</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">and also
the power of prayer, for a whole church spent hours over months praying for
that first living child. So where is the bad?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">We see things through a
glass darkly here, don't we? We think because some suffering comes along, great
or small, it is bad and how often to we blame God or question Him? Oh,
sometimes we blame that other guy. We say, the Devil made me do it. But you
know what, we aren't really giving the Devil his due. We're trying to escape
our own failure and passing the blame to someone else.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">But often suffering and pain
has a purpose we cannot see with human eyes. Sometimes we find out the purpose
later, sometimes we never know the real reason on this earth. Let me give a
couple of examples:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600"
o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f"
stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="5124RM37CHL._SL500_AA240_.jpg" style='position:absolute;left:0;
text-align:left;margin-left:3in;margin-top:12.85pt;width:240pt;height:240pt;
z-index:251653120;visibility:visible'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="5124RM37CHL"/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Perhaps you have heard of a
Dutch woman named Corrie Ten Boom (pictured right looking at a picture of her father). She was a member of a Christian</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzn-5k93K17tXCeevquamM3dQOW_zIc4HZ-4xYdsR0_hyZGyC0q1FimPweD2_R2crAqL81lIfnjVugOfNjT1bgbwZCbrbwiznNWsaR9MJIFywLyvzGr7VJw2OCJFPAlixsSnAwSeLKkE/s1600/corrie+ten+boom+and+father's+picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzn-5k93K17tXCeevquamM3dQOW_zIc4HZ-4xYdsR0_hyZGyC0q1FimPweD2_R2crAqL81lIfnjVugOfNjT1bgbwZCbrbwiznNWsaR9MJIFywLyvzGr7VJw2OCJFPAlixsSnAwSeLKkE/s320/corrie+ten+boom+and+father's+picture.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"> family in
Holland who began hiding Jews from the Nazis, until someone ratted them out and
they were arrested and thrown into concentration camps themselves, where most
of the family died.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Corrie and her sister,
Betsie, eventually landed in one of the worse of these places, called
Ravensbruck. At what seemed great risk, for guards stood outside the doors and
could burst in at anytime, the sisters spent nights in the filthy barracks
preaching the Gospel to the other women imprisoned with them, and bringing
people to salvation. But in all the months and nights of doing this, those
guards never once came in and interrupted.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Each night, the sisters
would pray out loud before going to sleep. Corrie would thank God for her
shelter, for her food, for everything in her life, except one, until her sister
said, "Corrie, aren't you going to thank God for the lice?"</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">She refused. She hated the
lice, they tormented them all the time, itching, crawling and multiplying on
their bodies. But her sister persisted and finally Corrie also began thanking
God for the lice.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Later she discovered the
reason those guards had never stopped their preaching and praying. There wasn't
a single Nazi guard who was going to step inside those lice-infested cabins.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">So, what's bugging you? What
do you think God wouldn't allow if he were really a loving God with our best
interest at heart? </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Let me give another:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1027"
type="#_x0000_t75" alt="2005 10 03 Gettysberg Trip 13 National Cemetary0.jpg"
style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:18pt;margin-top:76.45pt;
width:251.2pt;height:188.8pt;z-index:251654144;visibility:visible'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="2005 10 03 Gettysberg Trip 13 National Cemetary0"/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Recently, because we have a newsworthy man with the conceit,
without accomplishment, to compare himself to Lincoln, a TV network did a
special on Lincoln saying they would answer questions such as "Was Lincoln
an Atheist?" I didn't watch it, so I don't know what they said about
the sixteenth President. But if they said he was an Atheist, they were wrong.
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">It is true Lincoln once
said, "I am not a Christian. God knows I would be one." He explained
he "did not read the Scriptures like those clergymen in Springfield who
opposed his election because of his skepticism". Yet, Lincoln lived
like he was Christian better than a lot who claimed to be. Still, he claimed he
just couldn't understand the Gospel message. One of those closest to him, his
law partner, Presidential secretary and long time bodyguard said: "the
melancholy that dripped from him as he walked was due to his want of religious
faith."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdr4KpUF7s_R_9nE5KU2JP4Tnsd2QbOyK_fetSYKA-UCxvHR5MebTGlvHiADqkISpB3v2nb_cJkGBcLa1tWGX86MigKkPc280cq-7moZaMYBoX3ZF_1uQJQHV-QwxBH9DC2nYevnkHBfk/s1600/abe-lincoln-bible3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdr4KpUF7s_R_9nE5KU2JP4Tnsd2QbOyK_fetSYKA-UCxvHR5MebTGlvHiADqkISpB3v2nb_cJkGBcLa1tWGX86MigKkPc280cq-7moZaMYBoX3ZF_1uQJQHV-QwxBH9DC2nYevnkHBfk/s320/abe-lincoln-bible3.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But something happened one
day that brought the greatest sadness of his life. His son Willie got ill,
lingered for some time and died. So ruined in spirit by this, Lincoln grieved
every Thursday (the day of the week the boy died). Alone, seeing no one, he
spent Thursdays in mourning, week after week, weeping and lamenting. What
possible good can we see in this, the President so devastated by his child's
death he is imprisoned by a shroud of depression?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The good was to come. The
Rector of Trinity Church in New York, Dr. Frances Vinton, a family friend, came
to visit. He was blunt when he was allowed to see Lincoln and found him slumped
over lost in grief. He told Lincoln he had no right to this indulgence,
but Lincoln was not hearing until the Doctor's next words: </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">"Your son is alive in
paradise with Christ, and you must not continue." </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Hardly moving, Lincoln said,
"Alive? Alive? Surely, sir, you mock me."<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Dr. Vinton replied,
"No, Mr. President, it is a great doctrine of the church. Jesus himself
said that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Lincoln jumped to his feet,
grabbed the Doctor in an embrace and through tears cried, "Alive! Alive!
My boy is alive?" </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Something happened in
Abraham Lincoln at that moment and he changed. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Then in the midst of our
bloodiest war, Lincoln stood at Gettysburg to dedicate a cemetery to the
fallen. What good could come of such somber events, I wonder? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Preserved in the Ford
Theater Museum is a letter from an Illinois Preacher who spoke to Lincoln
shortly before his assassination. It reads: the clergyman said to Lincoln,
"Mr. Lincoln, do you love Jesus?" Lincoln replied, "</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">When I left Springfield I
asked the people to pray for me. I was not a Christian. When I buried my son,
the severest trial of my life, I was not a Christian. But when I went to
Gettysburg and saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there
consecrated myself to Christ. Yes, I do love Jesus."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">So what's bugging you? What
sadness hides God's love from you?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Dear friends, do
not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something
strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the
sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the
Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a
murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However,
if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear
that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if
it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the
gospel of God? And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be
saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">So then, those
who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator
and continue to do good. 1 Peter 4:12-19</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">The Photo at the top of this post is of my daughter Noelle's
hands preparing a syringe during a medical mission in Ethiopia 2006 (Official
U. S. Army Photo).</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584610096017717648.post-10150018140593176012013-05-20T08:25:00.000-04:002013-05-20T08:25:25.134-04:00Anything for Love, But...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziAQdj5VHzLOs6JGtdE82_NmTZOx7PhoAW6Vy_mLtaFCH_FEXwaa4ZstgLihVmvY3F9aPu__UqOkuA4dos8e5cpDgYXPOvFC0s9vvRkf0rVhMolwbpws9LNUG1ReQRRd3wTzzVv-Wh2s/s1600/Park+in+Korea+07_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziAQdj5VHzLOs6JGtdE82_NmTZOx7PhoAW6Vy_mLtaFCH_FEXwaa4ZstgLihVmvY3F9aPu__UqOkuA4dos8e5cpDgYXPOvFC0s9vvRkf0rVhMolwbpws9LNUG1ReQRRd3wTzzVv-Wh2s/s320/Park+in+Korea+07_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1028"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The Beatles once sang, <i>"All you need is love, love; Love
is all you need.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">If all you ever need is
love, then why does the couple have gifts behind their back to gave each other?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">We Christians speak a lot
about love. We say we love God. We say we love Jesus. We say we love each
other. We say we love everybody. Is love really all that important?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"
‘...love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.' " Leviticus 19:18b</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Jesus
replied, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"
'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false
testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as
yourself.' "</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Matthew 19:18b-19</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">" 'Love
the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor
as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Mark 12:30-31</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">He
answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your
neighbor as yourself.' " </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"You have
answered correctly,"</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Jesus replied. </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Do this and you will live."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Luke 10:27-28</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Let no
debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he
who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not
commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal,"
"Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are
summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as
yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the
fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:8-10 </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Apparently, love is very important
for the Christian to have. That is easy to say, but is it easy to do? I love my
neighbors. But I have very nice neighbors who will help you if you need help
and who are always friendly, and if they are going to do something they think
may offend you, like put up a fence, they come and ask if it is okay with you.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Maybe it isn't so easy loving a
neighbor who plays loud music all night or throws trash in your yard. Of
course, it may be beneficial to show some love to your neighbor, even those bad
ones. After all, maybe if you do, they'll throw the trash in the yard on the
other side of theirs and not yours, or turn down the music if you ask, even
lend you a tool on occasion.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But we're not suppose to love
someone for what we can get out of it, are we? We're not to approach each other
with those little bribes (and secret motives) hidden behind our backs.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Neighbors are one thing, we have to
live with them, but love our enemies? That becomes a little harder. Do I have
to really love my enemies? They do grievous things sometimes. What if they
enslave people, take away their freedom, fight a war with my country to destroy
my beliefs.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Yes, I can, because if I can't,
they have already destroyed my beliefs.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">It doesn't mean I don't fight the
wars against injustice. It doesn't mean I don't condemn bad behavior. It
doesn't mean I allow slavery. When we rail against those things, we do it out
of love. When a child misbehaves, we punish that child out of love in order to
stop the child from continuing their wrong desires and ruining their lives, not
to inflict pain for pain's sake. And when the punishment is doled out, when the
bad deeds end, when the wars are over, there is something else we do out of
love, and we can never ever truly love ourselves if we don't.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #0006ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray,
that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgYIDROQZhEyzkxkEpuhu_Kq1I2UEbvzfJVcBf6sTudGBCvZXGGBSdD1c3lxoxhQfK2zbxs6QnUEfFzNiyn1Lr0IR5qX4y5za5wEwdbDyr876VPqmb65do5D9nqg32FA5BoXuP-jAyy4/s1600/2005+10+03+Gettysberg+Trip+13+National+Cemetary0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgYIDROQZhEyzkxkEpuhu_Kq1I2UEbvzfJVcBf6sTudGBCvZXGGBSdD1c3lxoxhQfK2zbxs6QnUEfFzNiyn1Lr0IR5qX4y5za5wEwdbDyr876VPqmb65do5D9nqg32FA5BoXuP-jAyy4/s320/2005+10+03+Gettysberg+Trip+13+National+Cemetary0.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div>
<i> away. Yet, if God wills that
it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty
years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn
with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three
thousand years ago, so still it must be said 'the judgments of the Lord are
true and righteous altogether'.</i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #0006ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">With malice toward none; with charity for all;
with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on
to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him
who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan – to do all
which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and
with all nations."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address 1865.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">After the Civil War had ended,
Abraham Lincoln traveled to the home of his enemy, the </span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;
left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:182.8pt;margin-top:1in;width:234pt;
height:175.35pt;z-index:251672576;mso-position-horizontal:right;
mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;
mso-position-vertical-relative:text'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="2005 10 03 Gettysberg Trip 13 National Cemetary0"/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Confederate President, Jefferson Davis. Mrs. Davis
greeted him at the door holding her young daughter in her arms. She told
President Lincoln her husband wasn't home. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The little girl was reaching out,
trying to clutch him. President Lincoln took the girl from her mother and held
her to his breast and she kissed him on the face. When he handed the girl back
to her mother before leaving, he said, "Ma'am, tell your husband for the
sake of that kiss, I forgive him for all." </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">There was a song by Meat Loaf
called: <i>"I'll do Anything for Love, But I Won't Do That." </i></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">We cannot love our
neighbor. We cannot love our enemy. We cannot even love ourselves unless we do
something, which too often we say "but I won't do that". Yet we
are commanded to do it by God and Christ, and we can with the help of the Holy Spirit.
This brings us back to the full verse of Leviticus 19:18.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">" 'Do not seek revenge or bear
a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am
the LORD.' "</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from the evil one.'<b> </b>For if you forgive men when they sin
against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not
forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Matthew 6:12-15</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">If you really
keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as
yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin
and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law
and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who
said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not
murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have
become a lawbreaker.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Speak and act as
those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment
without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs
over judgment! James 2:8-13</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;
left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:57.2pt;width:240pt;height:240pt;
z-index:251674624;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-vertical:absolute'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="5124RM37CHL"/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">We can never love, ourselves or anyone else, if we have
never forgiven those who have hurt or wronged us. Do you really think there is
someone in your life you cannot forgive?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQxSEOqDBZJz-bHal4-y4ivpVQ5RNE7s3Xqv9ca7XUxt6PKmSShJefXMxuEhPtSE6Ol_ILQbmk_I_tD0Ai12S_7oK9ON0M84kC3G5v9x6gOIdUhMTtwyII_txYYXPYSWGM-hBWkgNTdc/s1600/5124RM37CHL._SL500_AA240_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQxSEOqDBZJz-bHal4-y4ivpVQ5RNE7s3Xqv9ca7XUxt6PKmSShJefXMxuEhPtSE6Ol_ILQbmk_I_tD0Ai12S_7oK9ON0M84kC3G5v9x6gOIdUhMTtwyII_txYYXPYSWGM-hBWkgNTdc/s320/5124RM37CHL._SL500_AA240_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Corrie Ten Boom, some time after
the Second World War when she was free from the concentration camps, where her
family and her beloved sister Betsie had perished, gave a speech and at the
reception afterward she saw a familiar man coming toward her. Here is how she
told it:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2634ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Betsie and I had been arrested
for concealing Jews in our home during the Nazi occupation of Holland; the
place was the <a href="http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=Ravensbruck&btnG=Search&meta="><b><i><span style="color: #2634ff; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Ravensbruck</span></i></b></a>
concentration camp and the man who was making his way forward had been a guard
– one of the most cruel guards.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2634ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Now he was in front of me, hand
thrust out: “A fine message Fraulein! How good it is to know that, as you say,
all our sins are at the bottom of the sea!”</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2634ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And I, who had spoken so glibly of
forgiveness, fumbled in my pocketbook rather than take that hand. He would not
remember me, of course – how could he remember one prisoner among those
thousands of women?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2634ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But I remembered him and the leather
crop swinging from his belt. It was the first time since my release that I had
been face-to-face with one of my captors and my blood seemed to freeze.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2634ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">“You mentioned Ravensbruck in your
talk,” he was saying. “I was a guard there.” No, he did not remember me.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2634ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But since that time,” he went on, “I
have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I
did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fraulein, “ -
again the hand came out - “will you forgive me?”</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2634ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And I stood there – I whose sins had
every day to be forgiven – and could not. Betsie had died in that place – could
he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2634ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">It could not have been many seconds
that he stood there – hand held out – but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled
with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2634ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">For <b>I had to do it – I knew that.
The message that God forgives has a prior condition: that we forgive those who
have injured us. “If ye do not forgive men their trespasses,” Jesus says, “neither
will your Father in Heaven forgive your trespasses.”</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2634ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I knew it not only as a commandment
of God, but as a daily experience. Since the end of the war I had had a home in
Holland for victims of Nazi brutality. Those who were able to forgive their former
enemies were able also to return to the outside world and rebuild their lives,
no matter what the physical scars. Those who nursed their bitterness remained
invalids. It was as simple and as horrible as that.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2634ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And still I stood there with the
coldness clutching my heart. But <b>forgiveness is not an emotion</b> – I knew
that too. <b>Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function
regardless of the temperature of the heart</b>. <b>“Jesus help me!” I prayed
silently. “I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling.”</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: #2634ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And so, woodenly,
mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did,
an incredible thing took place.</span></b><span style="color: #2634ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> <b>The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm,
sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my
whole being, bringing tears to my eyes</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2634ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">“I forgive you, brother”, I cried.
“With all my heart! ”</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2634ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">For a long moment we grasped each
other's hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known
God's love so intensely, as I did then.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2634ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But even so, <b>I realized it was not
my love. I had tried, and did not have the power. It was the power of the Holy
Spirit</b> as recorded in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%205;&version=31;"><b><span style="color: #2634ff; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Romans 5</span></b></a><b>:5</b>
“...because <b>the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost
which is given unto us</b>.”</span><span style="color: #2634ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">by
Corrie Ten Boom</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I do not hate anyone. And I
can say I have forgiven everyone I ever perceived had done me harm, to the
point I cannot remember most of those hurts. There is one I remember because it
was the hardest for me to forgive and my forgiving only happened recently. That
was the Doctor who refused to come when my wife, alone and fearful, lost our
first baby. This was the Doctor who came too late, when the silence corpse of
that child lay curled within a pan, and said when asked what to do with it,
"you can throw it in the garbage for all I care."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">How did I forgive this?
Because I do not know what was in that man's mind when he said that. What was
he thinking? What terrible thing was in his heart? What burdens did he carry in
his own life? There must be some deep hurt inside to enable such cruelty,
especially from a Doctor pledged to do no harm. How can he be healed without
forgiveness, and how could I have been healed from picking at the wound from
that lash, so as to make it bleed over and over, and wound me over and over, if
I wouldn't forgive him. If he is dead or alive, I pray he found true
forgiveness from Our Lord and escaped Hell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">You, my brothers,
were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful
nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a
single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on
biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each
other. Galatians 5:13-15</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">When I write, I pray the Lord will
guide me. But I am not Paul or any of the Gospel writers. I may quote God's
words, but I am not writing as the voice of God. I believe what I write, but am
not safe from imperfection and making an error of interpretation. I pay
attention to what others say and review my thoughts against theirs and then
test their thoughts and my own against Scripture. If I make a mistake, I ask
your forgiveness. If I disagree with you in some matters, I ask it as well.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Sometimes when I read comments I
see disagreement. Please do not allow disagreements to become bickering. We
live in an evil world and we need each other to stand against Satan. If we
disagree on some matter, and we have tried to resolve it and can't, we need to
forgive each other and agree to disagree, unless the error is such it threatens
the core of our beliefs and could bring harm to our brother. But still forgive
and reach out and leave the judgment to God.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Even if we come under the most
erroneous attacks as Christians, we must still forgive and pray for the
attacker. Always remember:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">When they came to
the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the
criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Father, forgive them, for they do
not know what they are doing."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The people stood
watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others;
let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." Luke
23:33-35</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">The Illustration at the top
of this post is not of so innocent love as it appears. It is a statue in a
Korean Garden dedicated not to love, but to sex. We cannot have true love if
our innocent front hides dark secrets and wishes for revenge against anyone. We
are called to love and called to forgive. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584610096017717648.post-89229559942519976592013-05-18T15:52:00.002-04:002013-05-18T15:52:47.589-04:00Afflictions<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1034"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8O8Vz01pzC3DlwDl_QFBgD70izD7lO9FtfpGlJ4B1hjZYe5ulPw2bbvJWmgWBdTokkmbRk5o2X1jbn7hCtkoUd-6zG37CAD4zITuZg1eumpSVYHQwxLckbZICxEHSTnUuwSpCZCotu5g/s1600/2004+01+07+face+07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8O8Vz01pzC3DlwDl_QFBgD70izD7lO9FtfpGlJ4B1hjZYe5ulPw2bbvJWmgWBdTokkmbRk5o2X1jbn7hCtkoUd-6zG37CAD4zITuZg1eumpSVYHQwxLckbZICxEHSTnUuwSpCZCotu5g/s320/2004+01+07+face+07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">THE
EYES HAVE IT<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing
greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of
Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.</span></i><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"> </span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this,
that it should leave me.</span></i><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"> </span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">But he said to me,
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore
I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ
may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses,
insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am
strong.</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10
(ESV)</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Paul never told what his
thorn in the flesh was. Some believe he had poor eyesight because of statements
such as, "<i>See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own
hand!"(Galatians 6:11) </i>If Paul couldn't see well, I can feel for
him.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">My eyesight began to blur
when I was in grade school, but no one caught it, not even me. I knew I had
trouble reading the blackboard, but thought this perfectly normal. I had
nothing to compare my vision with that would tell me it wasn't right. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">It didn't help that teachers
had two ways of seating. One was by height, shortest up front, tallest in back.
Since I was above average in height, I was often in the rear row. The other
method helped some, which was assigned by name alphabetically. My name came
right in the middle of the pack, so I would be in the middle of the class. It
still wasn't close enough, in fact, I still often ended up at the back of a row.
(It is well my friend Ron [Retired in Delaware] had good eyesight. His name
began with T and he was taller than I was, perhaps the tallest in the room. He
could never escape the back row.)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600"
o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f"
stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_0" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="1954 002 Larry Seventh Grade school photo age 12.jpg" style='position:absolute;
left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:164.8pt;width:138.95pt;
height:202.3pt;z-index:251656192;visibility:visible'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="1954 002 Larry Seventh Grade school photo age 12"/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">In Junior High they tested our eyes and I flunked. I had to wear
glasses. For some reason, there were few who wore glasses back then. I don't
know if people just had healthier eyes in the past or more people walked around
dimly than would admit. It was probably the latter. At any rate, wearing
glasses brought a degree of ridicule along with better vision. I took a lot of
guff from other kids anyway and this didn't help. On day one of wearing
spectacles came the catcalls of "four-eyes".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">There were other negatives.
No longer would school photos show me full-face. Like this first</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zQoan8E6xEf5L_Lx2u3fZ03TEZP2OuoRbebFQjqM3TrNtveTePvBq-JjFrRE1Ehv15wIDybnMHl1Z1oR-U1FF8CwZz1lLx90ssRsFSTzsndreA54QDRyQQ9eNWDxzBug23k9RZ7vGjY/s1600/1954+002+Larry+Seventh+Grade+school+photo+age+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zQoan8E6xEf5L_Lx2u3fZ03TEZP2OuoRbebFQjqM3TrNtveTePvBq-JjFrRE1Ehv15wIDybnMHl1Z1oR-U1FF8CwZz1lLx90ssRsFSTzsndreA54QDRyQQ9eNWDxzBug23k9RZ7vGjY/s320/1954+002+Larry+Seventh+Grade+school+photo+age+12.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
picture taken
of me in glasses, the head was always sideways and tilted. This was to keep the
glasses from reflecting the photographer's lights. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Glasses also had magical
powers. Once I slipped them on, I automatically became a scholar and a genius.
Suddenly, everyone though I must be smart. But being considered smart in Junior
High School didn't win me any points either. It just added more adjectives to
what they called me, "Hey, you four-eyed egghead".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">You can make that, "Hey
you ugly, four-eyed egghead". Glasses were related to the proverbial
ugly-stick, one touch of the earpieces and instant unattractiveness. I find it
ironic those who would not be caught dead in glasses; even if they are
suffering concussions from collisions with telephone poles, think they look
cool wearing sunglasses all the time. (Another reason they could be colliding
with those telephone poles especially when they wear them after dark.)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Adulthood removed much of
the teasing, but not the blurriness of life. In fact, age tends to increase the
problem and the thickness of the lenses. My wife, who began wearing peepers
even before I did, switched to contact lens as soon as they were available. I
wore those for a while, but was never comfortable and soon went back to
spectacles.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">If you met me now or saw
recent photos, you would not see glasses, but I still don't wear contacts. This
is another irony of further eyesight disasters, which we will touch on later. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">2<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">WHEN THYROIDS ATTACK<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1028" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;
left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:22.85pt;width:181.4pt;
height:270pt;z-index:251658240'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="1988-1995 WTC Plaza 038"/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wPvtOkqnjx85aEHtGY-l_LuxNe8Lusq6iHoFPDyKKjsWdEuQZkhqThhFv0MXKny1KDI44UbAxj2BXiCUH_6fFKP60Kogx1Ye8leT9slGqjxRRM47oijAGce_IxAvIEQTqgHrMrClveB9/s1600-h/1988-1995+WTC+Plaza+037.jpg"><span style="color: #ffc290; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Who has woe? Who
has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Who has wounds without
cause? Who has redness of eyes? </span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Proverbs 23:29<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYP8vdGFJG7_s-ayZ-VK6GYg_8p3u8RJLi7rlXZCsbWS95nr2X7vThRxfUvj5kc1BrVqqBz5kqhtKeOjJjC08s3bI3kAiVOBfDtv5n0XUeUo2z5DBjfa3XDLyO0Rm6f2N2sHYwtf0AVQ/s1600/1995+10+31+WTC+Plaza+038_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYP8vdGFJG7_s-ayZ-VK6GYg_8p3u8RJLi7rlXZCsbWS95nr2X7vThRxfUvj5kc1BrVqqBz5kqhtKeOjJjC08s3bI3kAiVOBfDtv5n0XUeUo2z5DBjfa3XDLyO0Rm6f2N2sHYwtf0AVQ/s320/1995+10+31+WTC+Plaza+038_2.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I was the “who“ a decade and a half
ago. But my woes were not the result of wine when it is “red nor strong drink”,
although it may have appeared this was the problem to some. And part of the
cure for my problems was turning me into a monster with even more effectiveness
than alcohol might. Let me explain.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">My transformation did not begin
beneath some full moon like the Wolfman. It began on a bright summer day in a
swimming pool. We had a community swim club with a beautiful pool. I would walk
down the couple of blocks and go for a swim at the end of each workday or take
the kids over on the weekends.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">One of these times I was paddling across
the pool about waist deep when I was seized by a muscle cramp. I am sure we
have all suffered such cramps at times. Usually they strike the legs or feet
and are very painful. This one was around my ribcage. I had never had a muscle
cramp there before and I don't recommend you try this at home, let alone in the
middle of a swimming pool. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I struggled over to the side and
pulled myself out while stifling my impulse to scream like a stuck pig. I
didn't want to draw any embarrassing attention to myself. I am shy enough to
probably prefer drowning to public humiliation.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I lay awhile on the concrete deck
and it finally went away. I chalked it up to the shock of the cold water, but
soon after that I began to experience muscle cramps on a more regular basis, and
they were coming all over my body. It could be an arm or my back, even my neck.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Then one day I walked out my office
door at work, took a few steps down the hallway and walked right into the wall.
I started finding walking a straight line took concentration. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;
left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:270pt;margin-top:0;width:178.05pt;height:253.2pt;
z-index:251657216'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image005.jpg"
o:title="1988-1995 WTC Plaza 037"/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">We had various health screenings at work given by the
Visiting Nurses Association. I went to a</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NDxQUcjZNfAf6VPClLhQJYZKRGw037AqSN0zpIcaHNoIEWjrA1RZq9EvdW6zlemt4_hOmLtX1A2QYQW8TPh8OwmuehyHzoWA6sKoxhc-DIL_iEg2n44afrK6zGwJeQ3SqdYrzo71wP0/s1600/1995+10+31+WTC+Plaza+037_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NDxQUcjZNfAf6VPClLhQJYZKRGw037AqSN0zpIcaHNoIEWjrA1RZq9EvdW6zlemt4_hOmLtX1A2QYQW8TPh8OwmuehyHzoWA6sKoxhc-DIL_iEg2n44afrK6zGwJeQ3SqdYrzo71wP0/s320/1995+10+31+WTC+Plaza+037_2.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
blood pressure screening and as the
cuff tightened about my arm, the color drained from the Nurse's face. She
seemed about to panic. She mustered her strength and told me to get to a doctor
post haste, my blood pressure was stratospheric, my heart beat was slug slow
and my skin was clammy.<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The doctor, as doctor's do, sent me
off for blood work, a whole alphabet soup of tests. I went to a Lab, had the
tests and went on with my crooked-walking, cramp-filled life. A few days later,
the phone rang. "Come to my office right now," said my doctor,
"I have your blood work and I can't make heads or tails of the
results." </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Well, that certainly instilled
confidence.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">He handed me the results as if
those ranges and letters meant anything to me. "See this," he said,
"it is too high. But this one here is too low. That doesn't make sense. If
that one is too high, then this one should be too. And this one here..."
and so it went. And in the end what all this confusion meant was a lot more
tests. Oh, I had scans and thumpings and x-rays. I was shuttled from specialist
pillar to specialist post until one day I found myself with a
nephrologist. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">A nephrologist is a specialist in
kidney disease. This scared me. I did not want kidney disease. I did not have
kidney disease. The nephrologist looked me in the eye and said, "You have
hypothyroidism." In other words, I had a slacker for a thyroid, that gland
was laying down on the job and not squirting enough hormone into my system.
This lazy loafer was allowing me to feel hot all the time, gain weight easily,
get muscle cramps and walk into large objects. The doctor was going to fix his
slothful habits. My cure was simple, take this little tiny pill once a day and
all would work as it should.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And it did.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Until a year later I noticed my
eyes felt as if I sand in them and they really hurt when I was in bright light.
I was driving to work holding my hand over my face peeking through my fingers
with one squinting eye. At night, when I watched TV, I saw two talking heads
when there was only one and four when there were two. I was seeing
double. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Your eyes are fine," the
eye doctor said. "Double vision can indicate other problems, go see your physician."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Which I did and after more probings
and proddings found myself with an endocrinologist or in layman speak, a gland
doctor. He told me how unusual I was. First, thyroid problems were less in men
than women. Second, I now had hyperthyroidism. It had flipped from being hypo
to being hyper, a rare feat indeed. He said he generally only saw one such case
a year. I was it for that year. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">You'd think with that kind of luck
I could win the Lottery.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Along with the hyperthyroidism, I
had Graves Disease. In simple terms, this meant the muscles were trying to push
my eyeballs out of the sockets. That was why I felt I had sand in my eyes. I
couldn't close my lids completely when I slept; all the moisture had dried
up. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I was a mess for a while. The
thyroidism had sapped my strength. I could barely stand. Walking up and down
steps was difficult. I had to take off from work because between the effects of
the thyroid and the Graves, I couldn't work. I couldn't even watch TV my eyes had
become so sensitive to light. All I could do was curl up on the sofa with a
blanket over my head to shut out any beam or flicker. I would lie there and
listen to talk radio, losing all track of time and about half my mind.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">They finally gave me radioactive
iodine to drink and killed that rebellious thyroid, but the Graves proved
stubborn. So I was put on steroids. This was nasty stuff. It changed my
personality. I became Sid Vicious. I would get angry at rude drivers and chase
cars across parking lots like a crazed dog. On top of that, my throat began to
swell up. With my popping eyes and swelling throat, I was turning into a frog.
If you look closely at the pictures you can see my lower face beneath the mask
is bloated.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">One day I couldn't take the
isolation anymore. I decided to go for a drive. I had an old Chevette then, but
the gas gauge was broken. So of course I ran out of gas. I had to walk about a
mile to a main street and look for a gas station. But first I had to find a
store and buy a can to carry the fuel. I found such a container and then went
into a gas station run by a couple of ladies and paid for gas. I went out
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
and squatted to fill the can, but my weaken muscles gave way and I fell over.
Oh fine, I thought, those ladies are going to call the cops. "There is a
drunk here filling a container with gas, he is probably <span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YIvXzW-nXVxOhViLnORxQV93OFCDGKabp9jEXv_EqG5_XVK8YKnX2NkMwA7sMuWUmzxiU4GrbFtxuxZHa-_53wYptWrI8cn8KKPQ4X35gVm3sMaImNIILkmM29vjb_9nk-a_j7q8-Xw/s1600/2004+01+07+face+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YIvXzW-nXVxOhViLnORxQV93OFCDGKabp9jEXv_EqG5_XVK8YKnX2NkMwA7sMuWUmzxiU4GrbFtxuxZHa-_53wYptWrI8cn8KKPQ4X35gVm3sMaImNIILkmM29vjb_9nk-a_j7q8-Xw/s320/2004+01+07+face+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
planning to burn down
the high school or something. He was scary looking, like a giant frog!"<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Somehow I managed to get back to
and start my car and make it home. No more excursions alone for the frog-man.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I was recovering some from the
effects of the thyroid now and able to return to work, but my Graves Disease
refused to leave my eyes alone. It was decided I couldn't stay on steroids any
longer either and that I would need radiation treatments to allow my eyes to
return back into their proper place. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Now I visited a doctor at the
hospital, a man with a heavy German accent who assured me the procedure was
perfectly safe. "There is naught to worry about," he told me.
"Ah, it could cause skin cancer. But we can cure skin cancer, so nothing
to be concerned about. Oh, it could cause cataracts. But we can remove
cataracts. So, see, nothing to fear."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I was sent to a technician, who
measured me and then painted this orange grid across my face. "You must
keep this grid on for the next two weeks. Don't shower or wash your face."
Nice. I had an ACES meeting that night.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">ACES is a program for school
teachers. It was an acronym standing for American Corporate Enterprise System
or something like that. Teachers could take it for continuing education
credits. It was an eight-week course where the teachers visited various
corporations and learned how they operated. I was one of the spokes people for
our trust company and now I was going to give a serious presentation disguised
as that banking superhero, Orange Grid Face.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I survived that humiliation to go
to the radiation treatments. Now I lay on a flat examination table with a
strange machine out of Star Wars pointed toward my face with three technicians
huddled about telling me whatever I do, don't move. Then they assured me once
more this was perfectly safe, just before they all ran from the room and hid
behind a lead shield.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Two weeks of this and my eyes
retreated. Now I almost look normal. My face deflated and my eyes no longer popped.
My one eye still protrudes more than the other and I am still oversensitive to
light. I have to wear a baseball cap to see when I am outside during the day or
in rooms with overhead lighting. Sunglasses don't do the trick for light just
goes over the top of the lens. I just need a dark brim over my face.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Other than that and my pill a day
of thyroid hormone, I am almost as normal as anyone. It's just my other
affliction, which sets me apart now.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">(The photos are of me as the
Phantom of the Opera one Halloween when I still worked at the trust company.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Speed Skin and Sexual
Stupidity<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1029" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;
left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:26.85pt;width:234pt;height:234pt;
z-index:251659264'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image007.jpg"
o:title="178265583v8_350x350_Front_Color-Black"/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63VABkUGf-dqG25n9XnfNaONCaThF4AgUcgx6n82Esz7HT_g_ywDmlkfbFSTuBn_-6Myc5ebGGK9U5gj4ZhfJT0mHMz9cHwuJbQKQc_B7qWN50n2SMtl5MAgWLMa0bIcmVVmpoZZLkG5N/s1600-h/178265583v8_350x350_Front_Color-Black.jpg"><span style="color: #ffc290; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"If the disease breaks out all over his skin and,
so far as the priest can see, it covers all the skin</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6se_5klHj3B_Um-kIhmDjOReiXg1hAabu-cFneatIG1v_UBPutz_vXmZoTDLiKN4ctJM6HLdGU2kNWxIp0TgnD-is4nqmis8rMFMYIQrQ2LoamGiJBwQm9LVStyQUE0B8DuqwiHfyII/s1600/Shirt+I'm+a+Little+Flakey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6se_5klHj3B_Um-kIhmDjOReiXg1hAabu-cFneatIG1v_UBPutz_vXmZoTDLiKN4ctJM6HLdGU2kNWxIp0TgnD-is4nqmis8rMFMYIQrQ2LoamGiJBwQm9LVStyQUE0B8DuqwiHfyII/s320/Shirt+I'm+a+Little+Flakey.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div>
<i> of the infected person
from head to foot, the priest is to examine him, and if the disease has covered
his whole body, he shall pronounce that person clean. Since it has all turned white,
he is clean. But whenever raw flesh appears on him, he will be unclean. When
the priest sees the raw flesh, he shall pronounce him unclean. The raw flesh is
unclean; he has an infectious disease. Should the raw flesh change and turn
white, he must go to the priest. The priest is to examine him, and if the sores
have turned white, the priest shall pronounce the infected person clean; then
he will be clean. Leviticus 13:12-17 (NIV)</i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">When I was in tenth grade, we had
Health. Boys and girls were taught in different classes, because in tenth grade
health we were told about </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">s.e.x.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktroPWmriKv9hyphenhyphenyOMYm9-NstQrKdod9vYCOOpElXhzU1JExbrpv9gAyr5ByFyGJbvhfNXDlOsZsSPky1D-0k8TV64fJlku_Iaz4d0SEgRAkvYzJxADI_nUgPYLM5Or5h0f3j-v2bjrEw/s1600/1959+Louis+Buckwalter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktroPWmriKv9hyphenhyphenyOMYm9-NstQrKdod9vYCOOpElXhzU1JExbrpv9gAyr5ByFyGJbvhfNXDlOsZsSPky1D-0k8TV64fJlku_Iaz4d0SEgRAkvYzJxADI_nUgPYLM5Or5h0f3j-v2bjrEw/s320/1959+Louis+Buckwalter.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1033" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;
left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:20.15pt;margin-top:12.8pt;width:107.35pt;
height:150.65pt;z-index:251670528;mso-position-horizontal:right'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image009.jpg"
o:title="1957 Louis Buckwalter Gyn"/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Our gym teacher, who was an ex-Marine Drill Sergeant,
taught Boy's Health. He tended to get your attention by instilling a bit of
fear. I still remember some of what he said about sex.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">"Don't you ever let me catch
you getting a girl in trouble. You ever feel that temptation, go out behind the
barn and take care of it yourself," he barked in one class. I admit, I was
so naive on all things sexual I had little idea what he was talking about. </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">(Remember, this was over fifty-five years ago, long before the Internet. Such
things weren't so talked about.) I knew I wasn't going to get any girl in
trouble though, not if he might catch me.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">He also scared most of us guys out
of impure thoughts with his vividly graphic descriptions of the horrors caused
by Social Diseases, what they call STDs today. We sure didn't want any of those
Social Diseases.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">One hot day in early summer I was
sitting on a hammock with the sister of a friend. We were in bathing suits and
rocking back and forth. This unbalanced the contraption, which promptly
deposited us on the ground. The girl landed bottom-side first on my head,
shattering one lens of my glasses. I pushed her aside and leaped up fearful of
glass in my eye. Then she said, "what's that rash under your arm?"</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Rash? What rash? I contoured
my skinny bony body about to see and sure enough there was an odd ring of red
encircling my armpit. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Oh, I was frightened. I didn't tell
anyone, didn't want anyone else to see or find out. I lay awake at night
fretful and ashamed. I was certain I had a Social Disease.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">How such a thing could be never
crossed my mind. I had never had sex with anyone, barely had kissed girls and
wasn't even dating yet. And if I had done anything, what kind of weird practice
was it to infect my underarm?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Then one weekend I was staying at
my grandparents and my grand pop noticed a reddish spot on my forearm. He took
me to a dermatologist and that's when I learned I had "the heartbreak of
psoriasis". </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I had the spot on my forearm, some
in my one armpit, but most was on my scalp, which caused a flutter of flaking
anytime I scratched my head, but it was no big deal. He prescribed some
ointment and a special shampoo. They tended to work, although they carried with
them a distinct odor of telephone poles. Let's call this perfume Eau de
Creosote.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Psoriasis isn't contagious. It is a
speeding up of the skin's normal growth cycle. Skin cells grow out, older ones
die and new cells replace those. For most people it is an invisible process of
life. But for some this process goes seven times faster than it should and
instead of being invisible, it is like watching a stop-action film where you
see the rising and the setting of the sun all in a brief few frames.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">You see it begin with white scaly
patches on the skin. These flake off if rubbed or scratched. </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Eventually all the
scale falls away and a red splotch remains. It has flare-ups and recessions.
Flare-ups often come during the winter, because psoriasis likes dark, hidden
places. It is like a vampire. Sunlight kills it, so it generally lessens in the
summer because you cover up less. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">There are periods when it is itchy,
other periods when it isn't. The literature will say it isn't painful, but this
isn't completely true. During cold it burns, much the same as a sunburn does.
It can be very uncomfortable during the winter.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But given all that, it didn't seem
very serious. The ointment did fade away the splotch reasonably well. Of
course, another splotch would appear elsewhere, so you never quite chased it
down completely, still these spots were hidden by clothes. Generally the worst
was on my elbows or kneecaps. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">It wasn't something that weighted
on my conscious mind at all...for a while.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">4</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Speed
Skin and Shedding Shyness and Death</span><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRHAsYOcKXdwVFjJHtD03Vb1P3JpxBIp4rwWzlrVTTuG9Kssnr-2NHRBpF81H4Nz_FxYI1Chxp7abKirQMeqQxbl77OJU6-JUqVZui3YqPdGOEld8ef6k_dvW7y1VWA4Dt3N0vpzZvMw/s1600/Shirt+And+the+Man+Whose+Hair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRHAsYOcKXdwVFjJHtD03Vb1P3JpxBIp4rwWzlrVTTuG9Kssnr-2NHRBpF81H4Nz_FxYI1Chxp7abKirQMeqQxbl77OJU6-JUqVZui3YqPdGOEld8ef6k_dvW7y1VWA4Dt3N0vpzZvMw/s320/Shirt+And+the+Man+Whose+Hair.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1030" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;
left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:362.1pt;margin-top:90.2pt;width:233.3pt;
height:233.3pt;z-index:251660288;mso-position-horizontal:right'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image011.jpg"
o:title="35163674v1_350x350_Front"/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"When a man or woman has white spots on the skin, the
priest is to examine them, and if the spots are dull white, it is a harmless
rash that has broken out on the skin; that person is clean.</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> "When a man has lost his hair and is
bald, he is clean. If he has lost his hair from the front of his scalp and has
a bald forehead, he is clean. But if he has a reddish-white sore on his
baldhead or forehead, it is an infectious disease breaking out on his head or
forehead. The priest is to examine him, and if the swollen sore on his head or
forehead is reddish-white like an infectious skin disease, the man is diseased
and is unclean. The priest shall pronounce him unclean because of the sore on
his head.</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> "The person with such an infectious
disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part
of his face and cry out, 'Unclean! Unclean!' As long as he has the infection he
remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp. Leviticus
13:38-46 (NIV)</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">The Lord knows every hair on
your head. The last few years I have made the job easier for Him. I
believe my receding hairline (more of a full retreat, actually) is genetic
supercharged by my hyperthyroidism. Nonetheless, it hardly matters since I am
forced to wear a cap most times due to the light-sensitivity caused by the
Graves Disease. See, things have a way of balancing out.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Of course, since psoriasis
does like to cozy down under a full head of hair and hide, this did expose some
spots upon my dome. This would be a minor blemish normally easily dealt with,
unless the psoriasis was on overdrive. A few decades ago mine hit
overdrive.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">This first occurred in the
early eighties. Well, one of the triggers for psoriasis is stress and if you
read my 2008 postings about the problems we faced between 1978 and 1982 (job
loss, newborn in intensive care, death of my father-in-law, destruction of our
house) you'll understand I had some stress. Around that period the scales and
redness ceased being a blotch here or there and spread up and down my body. It
went over the arms and down my legs, up my back, across my chest. I was ready
to sell postcards as the alligator-skinned man. Instead, I went to a
dermatologist.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">We chatted a bit and then he
asked me to remove my shirt. One look and his eyes lit up. He began talking
about a new experimental treatment he wanted to try on me. First, he wanted to
get some pictures. I was sent into another room and instructed to strip naked.
He then came in with a camera and snapped me from every direction. I was always
a shy person. This was uncomfortable. As he took the photos, he explained more
about the procedure. I heard it involved injections (uh, I'm not big on
needles) and when he got to the part about possible liver damage requiring a
liver biopsy every few months, I declined, dressed and departed. Ain't nobody,
no time, no how, gonna stick a long sliver of metal through my chest into my
liver!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Besides, I could see he was
already planning his book on his cure, with my naked body, before and after, as
the centerfold.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Psoriasis isn't contagious or
threatening (usually). I had lived with it nearly my whole life and wasn't
self-conscious about it. It was hidden beneath my clothing. Even when exposed
in short sleeve shirts or bathing suits at the beach, only a few ever asked,
and most were children, and those who did ask mistook it for poison ivy.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I only had one silly
incidence. I was in Miami on business and at one point as I walked to the
elevator bank of the hotel there was a man waiting for the lift. He saw my arms
and began running backward down the corridor screaming, "what'd'ya have?
What'd'ya have?" I felt like pursuing him saying, " Aye, matey, I
have the pox! And, aargh, it's contagious!"<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">A few years went by and this
"pox" began to appear on the back of my hands. It had never happened
on an exposed area before and now not long after, it started on my face, which
was not exactly welcomed by me. I was in a position where I dealt with many
people, not just throughout the bank where I worked, but vendors and corporate
customers. I sometimes did presentations, speeches and training. Time to try
another dermatologist.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">This one wasn't into taking
any pictures, but it was here I began shedding any shyness about my body. It
wasn't just undressing for the doctor to examine my ravaged skin. Remember in
my last post I mentioned psoriasis is a vampire. It has an aversion to
sunlight. My treatment was the lightbox. Like a vampire exposed to dawn this
should make the psoriasis shrivel away.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The name is a literal description
of the device. It was a square box with a door, kind of a walk in closet. I
would undress in one room, totally, absolutely naked, then trot into another
and enter the box. A technician, always a young female, would shut the door
behind me, ask if I was ready, did I have my protective glasses on, and
then turn the timer and throw the switch. The inside of the box was lined on
all sides with vertical lights (think fluorescent tubes). In the center
of this box was a low stool. I had to stand on this stool for up to 25 minutes.
There was a small window in the door so the technician could check on you. When
I stood on this stool my...ah...more personal parts lined up perfectly with
that little window.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">As the time was set longer,
I would play games in my head to pass the time. I would also turn every
so often on the stool, face the front, then turn to the left wall, to the back
wall, to the right, to the front again. It wasn't necessary, the lights
surrounded me, but somehow it helped pass the time until the technician came to
stick in the fork and say I was done.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I had to go three times a
week for this treatment. There were several different technicians who escorted
me to the box and every one was a young female. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But I abruptly ceased
treatment. It was not the forced exposure. Believe me, under such circumstances
you begin to shed your shyness. It was the first bill from the Doctor. After
only a couple of weeks it was $700 dollars and this treatment was supposed to
go on for months. At the time no insurance covered psoriasis treatments. It was
categorized as cosmetic, not as a cure. I couldn't afford this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">They had just begun opening
tanning salons in the malls at that time. I registered at one near my home. It
seemed the same as the lightbox, but the charge was only $10 a session, plus
you lay in a tanning bed (like a giant waffle iron), with piped in music. There
was no standing on a stool, no young lady peeking in a window and no big bill.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The psoriasis did recede
under this assault and when summer came I even ceased the tanning salon. I
could be out in the real sun often enough now to control it. I got the briefest
bathing suits I could buy to wear in the back yard or at the beach. All former
shyness about my body was gone. My goal was to keep those scales and splotches
from returning. And for a few years I was successful.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But then it returned, and
with a vengeance. It not only rapidly reclaimed all the old territory; it began
to thicken up as well. Everything felt tight when I moved. The skin would crack
and bleed. Turning doorknobs became a painful exercise. It was time for another
dermatologist.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">In the time that had passed,
the health insurance industry had come to recognize "the heartbreak of
psoriasis" wasn't a joke. Serious psoriasis brought serious problems for
the sufferers. They would now make payments for treatment. This new
dermatologist put me back into a lightbox program. His lightbox was different.
It looked like something out of Star Trek, like that transporter capsule. It
was silver with a bunch of gadgets on the side. There was no stool needed. And
it was faster. No more 25 minutes to cook, you were microwaved in five to ten.
There was still a little window and this dermatologist's technicians were all
young women, too. (What is this, a career choice for young female voyeurs?)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VE8eDLnN2SNdKNAB56NKn66K-kqN0GjBY2BH6vivDpPup3PQw1-R1LRhxMc1tb0-pJRULQI38vAObAYZKVJ8tac-b_sESbjs7i7P-JynML4UOM6xiMtYT8H4JfT7_UJEVk-szJZRuAc/s1600/2004+08+05+Aug+05+face+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VE8eDLnN2SNdKNAB56NKn66K-kqN0GjBY2BH6vivDpPup3PQw1-R1LRhxMc1tb0-pJRULQI38vAObAYZKVJ8tac-b_sESbjs7i7P-JynML4UOM6xiMtYT8H4JfT7_UJEVk-szJZRuAc/s200/2004+08+05+Aug+05+face+021.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">It was good I had returned
and got the treatment. My psoriasis had mutated to a more dangerous form. My
skin was hardening to a point in wouldn't be able to breath or sweat. I was
close to a point where hospitalization could have been called for, even to a
point where death could have been a possibility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiOTuItSqgSRyrM6PzJPiKf3q3tSwklJeJjMBa5lymw1gSrHdTyuSquqHtVr0d71B-yRGNoRJK2GSXqrys6MkE395ly_-mPy7mqhKCy2wnvdyyjBEALRQIbzCEXfF3r5bjgFtaWjOG98/s1600/Back+psoriasis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiOTuItSqgSRyrM6PzJPiKf3q3tSwklJeJjMBa5lymw1gSrHdTyuSquqHtVr0d71B-yRGNoRJK2GSXqrys6MkE395ly_-mPy7mqhKCy2wnvdyyjBEALRQIbzCEXfF3r5bjgFtaWjOG98/s200/Back+psoriasis.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Psoriasis has been the butt
of comedy, ever since that first "heartbreak of psoriasis" ad was
used. For many it is a minor blemish easily treated. For some it is more
serious and as happed with me, can be life threatening. There are those who
have and had worse disfigurements of the disease than I. Go on Google and Google
Psoriasis images. I couldn't find any that weren't too ugly to use with this
post. I choose to use pictures of my own at various times on my face, back, legs and hand. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7yJqUzUdC5DgFzo6QJAkuKwjM8zVa-cxarhGoGFJNc3VRbp2ULKqDpJcSabfwbXUYhD-myaBJXkHJFr9JNjr4fRqi3SqmJcGLhm0AMrE4Pxx9uw1LE3JoLulwSngh2V1vz9cUZBxrq4/s1600/2012+01+30+Knee+Improvement+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7yJqUzUdC5DgFzo6QJAkuKwjM8zVa-cxarhGoGFJNc3VRbp2ULKqDpJcSabfwbXUYhD-myaBJXkHJFr9JNjr4fRqi3SqmJcGLhm0AMrE4Pxx9uw1LE3JoLulwSngh2V1vz9cUZBxrq4/s200/2012+01+30+Knee+Improvement+001.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkckJl6kjaQln2Rj71IDnqFknPtWObyEJIfhzRZSd-kishpbgXn2S4PLti-1-ReQkZMQcs59ln5bx5gPPbiiepMuBB25Hd_pYYCzxQBvypXSpxLDyUQUKnqmK1iKSv485s5qlAk3sZh4/s1600/Photo+on+5-18-13+at+3.21+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkckJl6kjaQln2Rj71IDnqFknPtWObyEJIfhzRZSd-kishpbgXn2S4PLti-1-ReQkZMQcs59ln5bx5gPPbiiepMuBB25Hd_pYYCzxQBvypXSpxLDyUQUKnqmK1iKSv485s5qlAk3sZh4/s200/Photo+on+5-18-13+at+3.21+PM.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Again, as bad as I have this, it can be much, much worse, as a look at the photos of suffers on Google can attest, although those photos are not for the squeamish. Viewer discretion is advised before going there.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">It isn't curable. It can be
controlled. There are treatments today, which people tell me are pretty
effective. These tend to involve injections and all seem to pose some threat to
the liver. I choose not to take chances with an organ you can't do without.
Beside the lightboxes, the treatments tend to be very inconvenient and
intrusive on one's daily living. During the times I was going to these
dermatologists and being in those lightboxes, I also had various ointments I
had to apply several times a day. There was one ointment for the face, because
the skin is thinner, another for the body, another for the scalp. I was to take
a bath three times a day, put on a moisturizing lotion after and sit for twenty
minutes before dressing. This was not easy with the type of job I had and the
hours I put in. I could bathe before going to work and again afterward. As it
was, my assistant gave me a key to her apartment, which was near my office, and
I would go and bathe there at lunchtime. This is not a good situation and it
did give rise to rumors. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Kermit may say it isn't easy
being green. It isn't easy being white and red polka-dotted either.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">5<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Why I Have Written About My Afflictions<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0Yiiv2wkBQqDY8EhdEL9QaAPkvt7yCIlCutja3Z8ZDLbF5YJps5lAEwQA35wmLupZk9yXzRTo2B_qstsN7EVdUYgpLnUU01ZTYkFEgIHANjmEll39R6Yz5vTK2krBzWVhCYalMDHog6T/s1600-h/117856392v7_350x350_Front_Color-Black.jpg"><span style="color: #ffc290; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1031" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;
left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:-54pt;margin-top:30.4pt;width:234pt;
height:234pt;z-index:251661312'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image013.jpg"
o:title="117856392v7_350x350_Front_Color-Black"/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> If you are wearing this
shirt, you are in need of a new wardrobe.</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55r_oBifoGWYfOPxSFbdzHYlMUMqC4Fwlaa9XWkXkw9DuO5OoPPrXncBLJQGaCAMDL7FQEd1ilCW0I-CeJLoACOlwbc0JRRfA0OrEcEnfxerAHZHsCrPUtSmUZbBQU4Gla-bA9XaF0j0/s1600/Shirt+Satan+Rules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55r_oBifoGWYfOPxSFbdzHYlMUMqC4Fwlaa9XWkXkw9DuO5OoPPrXncBLJQGaCAMDL7FQEd1ilCW0I-CeJLoACOlwbc0JRRfA0OrEcEnfxerAHZHsCrPUtSmUZbBQU4Gla-bA9XaF0j0/s320/Shirt+Satan+Rules.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted
by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And
the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these
stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written,<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">“‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
word that comes from the mouth of God.’”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle
of the temple</span></i><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"> </span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">and said to him,
“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">and “‘On their hands they will bear you up,</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.0pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">lest you strike
your foot against a stone.’”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord
your God to the test.’” </span></i><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all
the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I
will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” </span></i><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">“‘You shall worship the Lord your God</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.0pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">and him only shall
you serve.’”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering
to him. </span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Matthew 4:1-11 9 (ESV)</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Why write about afflictions?
Is it to garner sympathy? Hardly. Any one reading these essays could do the
same. Some have suffered more and worse afflictions than I have; some have
suffered less. Exactly the point, in this world we have all had
afflictions; everyone you meet has suffered something. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">There are several reasons
sufferings come upon us. (See my essays on "Seven Sufferings" in <i>Seriousiness </i>for examples.) There are
those who turn away from a belief in God because they blame him for the
suffering they have or see. But suffering doesn't happen in God's Kingdom, it
happens in the Earthly Kingdom, and who is the ruler of the
world? Lucifer, known as Satan, the Devil is the king of this world
and he revels in suffering. Why? Because he wants to derail God's plan and he
knows whom we'll blame when we have afflictions.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Ever notice how more often
than not when people do harm they say, "The Devil made me do it", but
when people suffer harm they'll cry, "God, how could you do this to
me?" Ya gotta know Satan loves that!</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">You don't think Satan is the
world's ruler? I do. I believe we have many scriptures telling us this.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">As for
you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live
when you <b>followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of
the air,</b> the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of
us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful
nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by
nature objects of wrath. Ephesians 2:1-3</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">We know
that we are children of God, <b>and that the whole world is under the
control of the evil one</b>. We know also that the Son of God has come and
has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in
him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal
life. 1 John 6:18-20</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">After Jesus was baptized, he
went out into the desert for forty days and fasted. We can call it
self-inflicted, but it brought about afflictions anyway. Many of our own
afflictions are self-inflicted, too. Not all of what we suffer comes from our
own sin, but all afflictions in this world are the result of sin in this world.
So at some point of this desert fast, Jesus would have been suffering
physically. If you have ever went for any period of time without eating, you
know you feel hunger and weakness. And in this state Satan came to him with
temptations.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">There are two reasons.
First, Jesus (who is God) had to experience temptation just as we do in order
to be Jesus (who is human). Second, Satan knew if Jesus gave in to temptation,
it would cause him to be disobedient to the will of the Father (who is God) and
that would be a sin. If Jesus (who is God in human flesh) were to sin even
once, he could not be the unblemished lamb needed for the sacrifice that would
pay for everyone else's sins.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Notice the subtly (the
nuance if you would) of how the Devil tempts. First he told Jesus to turn the
stones to bread and eat an odd thing to say. Why didn't Satan turn the stones
to bread and wave the baked aroma beneath the nose of the hungry man? Satan is
very powerful, but there are limits to his power. The hungry man was also God,
and there are no limits on God's power. Satan knew full well Jesus could
produce all the food he needed if he just stretched out his hand and commanded
it. Jesus didn't deny this fact. He said, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">"It is written: 'Man does not live on bread
alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">He quoted scripture (Deuteronomy 8:3) and
didn't give in to the tempting.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">So the Devil tried a new
tact. Satan took Jesus to the top of the highest temple in Jerusalem. Just stop
and think about this for a moment if you doubt Satan has greater power than you
do. He took Jesus to the highest point in Jerusalem. Do you think they walked
there and climbed up the building? When they got there, like in an instant,
Satan asked a question. "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself
down." Satan is great at asking these kinds of questions. How did he tempt
Eve? He asked questions. Here he asks Jesus the same question the Pharisees and
Sadducees were always asking. "Will you show us a sign?" It was
the same question asked when Jesus hung on the cross, "If you are the Son
of God, come down off that tree?"</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Then Satan has the audacity
to quote scripture, Psalm 91:11-12 " 'He will command his angels
concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not
strike your foot against a stone.'" But Satan, just as when he was the
Serpent in the Garden of Eden, takes this a bit out of context. Read Psalm 91
and see how it is God's assurance of his presence when<b> we</b> face the
afflictions of this world.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">But Satan also knows that
God could command the Angels to swoop down and gather up Jesus if he jumped.
Jesus knows this as well. Satan is good at trick questions, too. Look at how he
phrased things before God concerning Job. If Jesus would have jumped and Angels
weren't commanded to catch him, he could have been killed by the fall and God's
Salvation Plan would have been impossible. If he jumped and the Angels grabbed
him and he lived, he would have sinned and the plan would have been impossible
anyway. Jesus answered with scripture, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">"It is also written: 'Do
not put the Lord your God to the test.'" </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">(Deuteronomy 6:16)</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Satan is also persistent.
Now he takes Jesus to a very high mountain. (Again, do you think they walked to
this mountain, hired some Sherpas, rented some pickaxes and began climbing?)
Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and said: "All this I
will give you, if you will bow down and worship me?" </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Could Satan make that
promise? Yes, otherwise it would have been just a silly bluster and there would
be no temptation. It'd be as much of a temptation as if someone said to me,
"Add my Blog to your Following List and your psoriasis will clear up
immediately." </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Note Satan didn't say I will
give you the world. He said he would give him "the kingdoms of the world
and their splendor." The world belongs to God and God is in control.
But Satan has rule over the superficialities of this world. This was given
to him when man sinned. Man could have been the ruler of the world, but God
took that away. Satan was the king of the political world, but there is a
greater Kingdom where he has no rule. Jesus made this distinction in these
kingdoms himself.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Pilate
then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you
the king of the Jews?"</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Is
that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about
me?"</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Am I a
Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who
handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Jesus
said, "<b>My kingdom is not of this world</b>. If it were, my servants would
fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. <b>But now my kingdom is from another
place</b>."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"You
are a king, then!" said Pilate. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Jesus
answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I
was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone
on the side of truth listens to me." John 18:33-37 (NIV)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Jesus doesn't laugh at
Satan's boast, doesn't deny it as fact. (At another time he asks what good is
it to gain the world and lose your soul, but not here.) Jesus addresses Satan's
demand to be worshiped with more scripture, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">"Worship your God, and serve him only." </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">(Deuteronomy 6:13 and note
all Jesus' replies were taken right from the Law. If Jesus has acceded to any,
he would have broken the Law and that is sin.)</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Jesus also said, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">"Away from me Satan!"</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"> Then the Devil left
him. How come? Because as powerful as Satan is, even he knows his limits and
who's really boss. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Satan will not always have
rule. Nor will he always be able to bring suffering. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">On the day
the LORD gives you relief from suffering and turmoil and cruel bondage, you
will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has
come to an end! How his fury has ended! The LORD has broken the rod
of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers, which in anger struck down
peoples with unceasing blows, and in fury subdued nations with relentless
aggression. All the lands are at rest and at peace; they break into
singing. Even the pine trees and the cedars of Lebanon exult over you and
say, "Now that you have been laid low, no woodsman comes to cut us
down. The grave below is all astir. They will all respond, they will
say to you, "You also have become weak, as we are; you have become like
us. All your pomp has been brought down to the grave, along with the noise
of your harps; maggots are spread out beneath you and worms cover you.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">How you
have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been
cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations. You said in your
heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars
of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of
the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make
myself like the Most High." But you are brought down to the grave, to
the depths of the pit. Isaiah 14:3-15</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">There is a day when God's
Kingdom will prevail over the worldly kingdom. Jesus will be King over all and
Satan will be cast to Hell. The corrupted earth with all its afflictions,
sufferings and sin will be destroyed and a new Heaven and Earth will be created
where Satan will have no reign.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The seventh angel
sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his
Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." And the twenty-four elders,
who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped
God, saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and
who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> The nations
were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who
reverence your name, both small and great—and for destroying those who destroy
the earth." Revelation 11:15-18 (NIV)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">In the meantime, we must
live in this world with its afflictions. So, I look at most of my afflictions
and laugh. You have to admit, opening a door in expectation of a
freshly painted room, but finding the ceiling on the floor and water pouring
down all the walls is a funny scene. (Admittedly after the passage of some
time.) I wish I had a picture of our faces at that moment.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">But I don't find every
affliction funny. Losing my first seven children has no humor to me. It does
have joy, because I trust God's Word and it was through those deaths I came to
that. I know each of those babies got a get out of jail free card. Their souls
went to the Lord. I rejoice in the miracle of the three children God allowed us
to have when men said it was impossible.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Yet out of that I also
gained the understanding of the sorrow one experiences at the death of a child.
I know it is impossible to smile one's way through every darkness that falls.
I also would not find funny many of the tragedies that come into lives. I
have pain everyday. I have psoriasis-related arthritis. I have some kind of
damage to my right thigh or hip that stabs me constantly. I understand it's
hard to see pain as comedic.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">A biography of Jim Morrison,
the lead singer of The Doors who died young, is entitled "No One Here Gets
Out Alive." I do not fear my own death. I do not laugh at death, however; or
at those who do fear it. Many should fear it. I find nothing comic in that
fact. There is a Kingdom greater than the kingdom of the world. There is a way
to enter it and a way for anyone to get out of here alive. It is the Kingdom of
Heaven and Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and all will bow to this King
someday, but not all will worship him. Many will be committed to that other
king and they will go and join that king forever where they don't really think
they'll be. Those are the ones who should fear death.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I don't find that funny at
all. Don't let it be you.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVk3ZmZQeQqheVxM1Dp6akqk9iIi0290U2vPgybObgZSQXz-VMI8KRZfX91qDHXCVGv6SdJkvHpwBGoPIqM818yoPHn6YGn-Cy4UQpAsv5RnckIlRgCbKrv6VwoBSQwgGwQbkwlvWVCI/s1600/2009+03+26++Photo+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVk3ZmZQeQqheVxM1Dp6akqk9iIi0290U2vPgybObgZSQXz-VMI8KRZfX91qDHXCVGv6SdJkvHpwBGoPIqM818yoPHn6YGn-Cy4UQpAsv5RnckIlRgCbKrv6VwoBSQwgGwQbkwlvWVCI/s320/2009+03+26++Photo+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span>
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1032" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;
left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:3in;margin-top:-.75pt;width:233.3pt;
height:174.8pt;z-index:251662336'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image015.jpg"
o:title="Photo 10-2"/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I thought after my description of my popping
eyes, frog-throat and polka-dotted skin, among other afflictions, I better
include some recent photos taken to prove I'm not a monster. Of course, looking
like a monster is subjective, so that is up to you to decide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="ALL" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span><!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584610096017717648.post-63444629911886193752013-05-09T05:51:00.002-04:002013-05-09T05:51:52.333-04:00Being Christian<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1027"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBbnnnrd4tlhRYpy9SJISobCMOJNEXsrXN2zAfqtmlxLoy1vrtnzt900si6Q0n4bRC7MiAlcXw5Jnx7wopXtaufn6mM4-D_91hd1Je7rT8ytccSMD-x8lsWJUR_oS7ZafwPb5gG6Cof0/s1600/Christ+the+shepherd+1961+Our+Wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8584610096017717648" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBbnnnrd4tlhRYpy9SJISobCMOJNEXsrXN2zAfqtmlxLoy1vrtnzt900si6Q0n4bRC7MiAlcXw5Jnx7wopXtaufn6mM4-D_91hd1Je7rT8ytccSMD-x8lsWJUR_oS7ZafwPb5gG6Cof0/s320/Christ+the+shepherd+1961+Our+Wedding.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">IT ISN’T EASY BEING…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600"
o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f"
stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_0" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="1961 045 Sep 16 Our Wedding_2.jpg" style='width:377pt;height:361pt;
visibility:visible'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="1961 045 Sep 16 Our Wedding_2"/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFe7lrc2KzBZd-wFjeFxEaQ1DTPuxEM2KVCcB83pLXDyNsALHTw4ObcwvnSyMRxvf8S0T-NVZiEXLa1lAhlQ8KTb2T3wWVAhENH8KG_QtAQlY1ptiTqcOdX4AQgIHceEqVAt0ymHU-snm/s1600-h/1961+045+Sep+16+Our+Wedding_2.jpg"><span style="color: #ffc290; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"I
am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am
saying is true and reasonable. The king is familiar with these things, and
I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his
notice, because it was not done in a corner.<b> </b>King Agrippa, do you
believe the prophets? I know you do."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Then
Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can
persuade me to be a Christian?"</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Paul
replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are
listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." Acts
26:25-29</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I use to have a friend named
Aberdeem. He was living at Cedar Lane Missionary Homes when I knew him. He was
an Arab, but he couldn't safely return to his native country or to his family,
because he had a price on his head. If he went home, he could be killed. What
was his crime? He was a Christian. I don't know what happened to him since. The
last I saw him, he and his wife were departing to France as missionaries
bringing the Gospel to the Muslim enclave in Paris.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Just this month a leading
Christian Church leader, Zhang Mingxuan, was arrested, his property confiscated
and his life threatened, not for the first time. It isn't easy being Christian
in China.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Compared to many parts of
the world, being Christian in the United States is a piece of cake. It may not
always be so. In fact, since I read my Bible, I know it won't always be so.
Someday being openly Christian will be a death-defying act. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Despite the relative freedom
to express one's views here, it still isn't easy being a blatant and unashamed
Christian in our society. There are a number of expressions we Christians
use and actions we take that others sometimes don't understand or get outright
angry about. Yet as Christians, I don't think we can get around saying and
doing such things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I thought maybe I would do a
few posts from my own viewpoint on this "Born Again stuff, that just don't
make sense", and why we are "so intolerant and exclusive" and
how come we won't "keep our belief to ourselves" and how we dare
"say somebody is a sinner and going to Hell" and why we say "you
can't call Jesus just a good guy". <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I'll try to keep things
simple in the posts that follow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I just want to leave this
introduction with a couple of thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">First, you are free to
believe whatever you want. No one can force Christianity on you. Yeah, I know,
people have tried that in the past. They were wrong to try because force
doesn't work. If I stuck a gun to your head and told you to say you believed in
Jesus Christ or I'd pull the trigger, and you said, "I believe in Jesus
Christ", it doesn't make you a Christian. It just means you didn't want to
die. It does makes me a terrorist, who deep down probably isn't really a
Christian either. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Also, don't complain that I
write about God. I want people to read my posts, but nothing is making anyone
read what I write. There are millions of Blogs out there. If you don't like
mine, you can find some you do like elsewhere. There is nothing about my Blog
to trick you into reading it. My bias is pretty clear right from the git-go.
The subtitle is "Musings and ruminations of my personal journey to
God". I know that doesn't narrow it down to Christianity, but a quick
perusal of my post titles and the Statement of Faith some where down the right
column will pretty much cinch where I'm coming from. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Don't expect me to claim I'm
absolutely right about all things. I'm learning as I go, too. Nor am I
pure as the driven snow. I know full well what a sinner I am and although I
have never been into bumper-sticker philosophy, there is one I agree with:
"Christians aren't Perfect - Just Forgiven".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Now, I have heard some
people claim Christians are telling them to go to Hell. I don't know of any
true Christian who would ever tell you to go to Hell. What we are trying to
tell you is <b>don't</b> go to Hell. The last thing a Christian wants is for
anyone to go to Hell. We don't want you to go to Hell because we love you.
That's right, we love you -- we may not like you a lot-- but as one of
God's fellow creatures, we do love you and we want you to go to Heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Sorry if loving you and
wishing you well offends you, but that goes with being Christian. I'll
talk more about what it means in my mind being "one-of-those"
Christians in my next posts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">By the way, the verses that
opened this post are one of only two passages where the word Christian appears
in the Bible. The other is in Acts 11:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Now those who had
been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as
Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them,
however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to
Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand
was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the
Lord. News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they
sent Barnabas to Antioch.When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God,
he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their
hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great
number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to
look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole
year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. <b>The
disciples were called Christians first at Antioch</b>. Acts 11:19-26<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">2<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">BEING MYSELF IS NOT BEING…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-lKVlbCs04r4I-eI5NeGL9AyIKY3CSq3rBM9FWrYEJ90yHLykQc2zevJ_c2xfRfDjAEc41qIKFcxypXwKC03pqC_TqrFLNBPa0tzB9icWcOGeLerz59qIdbj9_dg3TIgSP_F-BShDGc/s1600/2008+03+29+Bible+Baptist+Couples+Ministry+002+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-lKVlbCs04r4I-eI5NeGL9AyIKY3CSq3rBM9FWrYEJ90yHLykQc2zevJ_c2xfRfDjAEc41qIKFcxypXwKC03pqC_TqrFLNBPa0tzB9icWcOGeLerz59qIdbj9_dg3TIgSP_F-BShDGc/s1600/2008+03+29+Bible+Baptist+Couples+Ministry+002+copy.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:255pt;height:296pt'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="2008 03 29 Bible Baptist Couples Ministry 002_2"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhK5nzqtovEvyoWYgtr8FzfS9PNRMq2swmG0uwAOdk-jTg2IRGzFXdUI6SlyIABSyljunt-CrxncL9XBzHQ5O1TkU-JT6H-3Hjgr89ATvzH5fHVbnImBNCZz1mQjWq-Nv7icuQAlRVfFZ/s1600-h/2008+03+29+Bible+Baptist+Couples+Ministry+002_2.jpg"><span style="color: #ffc290; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #340000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where
the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces
all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with
ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2
Corinthians 3:17-18<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Being myself is not being
Christian. What does that mean? Am I saying I'm a phony? Is it a matter of
being a Christian on Sunday and my real self the rest of the week? Am I a
hypocrite?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">No, not at all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I don't put on a halo to go
to church. I don't have a halo. What I have is a human nature and my human
nature just loves itself. Myself wants what it wants for its self. Myself is
full of selfish ambition and vain conceit. Myself wants to wear a T-shirt
saying "I'm looking out for Numero Uno and Numero Uno is me and I'm proud
of it". Myself wants to be one of those guys who say "winning isn't
everything, it's the only thing and I'll always be a winner and you'll never be
higher than second place and thus a loser." Myself wants to shout,
"I'm me and you're not". Myself doesn't want to believe in God, it
wants to be god. In other words, myself is a damned fool.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Literally a damned fool I
was. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Once.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">That's because once Myself
thought it had the field all to it self. Maybe it did, but it was blind to the
fact the field was surrounded by a high fence that kept me a prisoner in my own
little weedy backyard. Myself didn't know a world of Roses and Lilies, only
Dandelions it could pluck when they turned white and blow their seed to infest
the yard. Myself knew only the nuisance of the Sweetgum and not the sweetness
of the Fig Tree and thought this was just fine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And even if Myself sometimes
felt somehow trapped, what could be done about it? Occasionally Myself had a
sense there was a fence, but knew he couldn't climb over it because it was too
high.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But one day Myself skidded
and fell on some Sweetgum nuts and banged his head against that fence. It
moved. When that fence was erected, its Creator put in one loose plank to allow
escape. It wasn't easy to find. But once found one could escape the fence, if
one just reached out and accepted the plank was loose enough to push through
the narrow opening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Myself didn't think it was
possible. Myself wanted to forget it and get up and blow some more Dandelion
seeds in the air. But something said there is much more beyond the fence if
you're willing to admit the Sweetgums and Dandelions aren't all that great or
good for you and accept this escape.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">So I crawled through the
fence and suddenly Myself wasn't alone in me. There was Myspirit as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Myself and Myspirit don't
get along real well. they bicker and argue all the time. Fortunately for me,
Myspirit usually wins. Granted, Myself sometimes makes an end run and leaves
Myspirit behind temporarily. But Myspirit always catches up and keeps me from
getting hurt falling on another Sweetgum. Now I want to sow Lilly and Rose
seeds in the world for the enjoyment of my neighbors, not just spread
Dandelions for my own pleasure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Granted, Myspirit is like my
muscles. I have to perform some exercises regularly to make it stronger. Myself
isn't completely knocked out yet, but Myspirit is working Myself over pretty
well. I know the battle won't be over until the last bell sounds on my life,
but I want Myspirit to be way ahead on Rounds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">You see, I don't want Myself
to be the center of attention. I want Myself to be like a black backing on a
mirror, a mirror that when gazed at doesn't show me my own face to either fret
over or admire, but one that reflects Christ all the time. I don't want to be
bragging about my accomplishments, but reflecting what God accomplishes using
me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I'm not completely there
yet. I have a ways to go. Myself still jumps in my path too much. But Myspirit
is working on my muscles and I'm not tripping over Myself quite as often. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Please be a coach and pray
for Myspirit. I will pray for yours anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">JOINING THE SS IS BECOMING…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmIR3sOLozUTS7YLoj-WkGQfVHtpY8wf1orn5xX9P30D7JJ3GR4bxQXz-xT1gg_gCQVuRAmT5nRZjk9nysLspQsyiLULHQ_KLZ-CzEKm1ghjr_2CGcVCkGDIWzWPdfxFk7TNZLcp1C3E/s1600/1993+003+Wildwood+Darryl+Laurel+and+Noelle+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmIR3sOLozUTS7YLoj-WkGQfVHtpY8wf1orn5xX9P30D7JJ3GR4bxQXz-xT1gg_gCQVuRAmT5nRZjk9nysLspQsyiLULHQ_KLZ-CzEKm1ghjr_2CGcVCkGDIWzWPdfxFk7TNZLcp1C3E/s320/1993+003+Wildwood+Darryl+Laurel+and+Noelle+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:377pt;height:221pt'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image005.jpg"
o:title="1993 003 Wildwood Darryl Laurel and Noelle_2"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfxNprkfQRU4k8ndkg97xTLNUeOV2bBZGfL6CDNf58dzjiJrgp4eaGn0pwqfHUFNult07s24uXuVpFSB3V1oYsYhG1Tw9BA8kEC03-eDwt_LvnmFbHS-eQjbpnkHmiDuK4iPhdwBjqN6p/s1600-h/1993+003+Wildwood+Darryl+Laurel+and+Noelle_2.jpg"><span style="color: #ffc290; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #340000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> "There
is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who
understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they
have together</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> <span style="color: #340000; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even
one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice
deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full
of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed
blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace
they do not know." There is no fear of God before their eyes."<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #340000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Adam and Eve did not have to seek
God. He was already there when they were created. They had a nice cozy
relationship going, much like we had with our parents as children. Our early
life was very similar in many ways. For most of us, our needs were met, our
food was provided, we felt loved and safe. We may have had some chores about
the house. We also were given some rules, things our parents insisted we didn't
do. But we probably did some anyway and hoped they never found out. Most times
they did.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #340000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">What if our parents weren't home and
we had done something we shouldn't and suddenly heard our parents come. And to
make it worse, we were naked.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #340000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">The first thing, we would probably
grab anything to cover ourselves. Then we'd try to play innocent and when that
didn't work, perhaps we'd blame someone else.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #340000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Our parents wouldn't be fooled for a
moment. They'd tell us to put on some clothes and then dole out our punishment.
The worse part of all, trust would be lost and our relationship to our parents
would be different from that point. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #340000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">There is something about being naked
in certain situations. It has nothing to do with sex. It is a feeling of
vulnerability, of being exposed and humiliated.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #340000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Adams and Eve had broken trust with
their parent and felt vulnerable in their nakedness because all about them was
exposed, their crime, their guilt, their shame. They didn't seek God now either.
They feared his coming. They tried inadequately to cover both their bodies and
their guilt and failed in both. God provided covering for both and it changed
everything. The covering required the shedding of blood and the death of an
innocent animal. Pain and suffering resulted from their misdeed. And from that
point man and woman dressed in skins that reminded them that though created in
the image of God, they had descended to a level with animals.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #340000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Sin had begun and Mankind was driven
from the Garden. A fence was being constructed. Mankind added sin to sin and
plank by plank the fence was made. A sinful person cannot come face to face
with the Holy God and live. There was a barrier between God and his creature.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #680000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Now we know that
whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every
mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no
one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather,
through the law we become conscious of sin.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">We have a dilemma. We have a fence
between us and God. We cannot communicate with God through the fence. Even if
we spend hours on our knees praying, we will receive no answer as long as we
fail to recognize we sin. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">We don't like that word sin. It's
insulting, offensive. We rationalize it away, say what we do doesn't hurt
anyone or isn't nearly as bad as what some do or everybody does it or nobody is
perfect. Much of this is true from a worldly view. There are some things
everybody does, such as lying occasionally. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Does majority behavior make it right?
Is theft less wrong because someone else stole more than you did? Is someone
less guilty of theft because they stole less than you? You have it correct that
no one is perfect, but does the fact that others commit wrongs make the wrongs
you commit right?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And what makes you so sure the things
you do don't hurt anyone? Running stop signs doesn't hurt anyone unless
one day you hit someone as a result. If what we do doesn't hurt someone it is
more a matter of luck than reality and the odds are not in your favor. And
remember if you are rationalizing a behavior with the statement it doesn't hurt
anyone, it means you know you are doing something you shouldn't.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Of course here we have been thinking
in terms of worldly laws and deportment. If I show up at a black-tie affair in
a tuxedo and white sox it may be considered a breach of decorum, but it is not
a sin, even if someone remarks, "he showed up wearing white sox, what a
sin." The Law that makes us conscious of sin is God's Law and sin is
disobedience of God's will and commandments.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">So some are sighing in relief because
they are Atheists and don't believe in any god, big or small G. If sin is
disobedience to God and there is no God than they cannot sin. Very true if they
are right and there is no God; however, if there is a God than they have sinned
by disbelief. But even if they believe there is no God and no such thing as
sin, they surely must recognize there are some things they do that just
shouldn't be done.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Agnostics have all kinds of problems,
but that is a large subject suitable to its own post.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Those who do believe in a god or gods
may acknowledge the existence of sin, but still may resist recognizing it as a
force in their own life, that sin dominates their way of thinking and that they
have a fence around them that barricades them from God. They may be told they
are a sinner. They may even know they are a sinner and it is destroying their
peace of mind, but think, there is no hope, they can't help it.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Like an alcoholic who is pouring his
or her life out with the whiskey in the bottle, yet longs to be sober, but
remains a slave to drink, a sinner may long to be free, but can't break through
the fence. Is there hope.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">An alcoholic can go to AA (Alcoholics
Anonymous). To truly begin an escape from drink they must accept the First
Step: "</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">We
admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become
unmanageable."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">This is the first and hardest step to
salvation. We must admit we are powerless over sin - that our lives have become
slaves to it. This is a very difficult admission for us, but a necessary
one if we ever hope for a relationship with God and His Forgiveness. If we will
not admit we are each a sinner we cannot go any further.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">Yet, to reach God we must join SS.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;
left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:18pt;width:3in;height:180pt;
z-index:251663872'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image007.jpg"
o:title="1993 003 Wildwood Darryl Laurel and Noelle"/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The ferocious picture that
illustrated this piece is actually a detail from a less frightening </span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdY3DoRlO1DaZ6MrQeNymFaQAxbTpbuSGvEbQBSTCEO4gGRXS_1B6AnRh1cNM-iLwmwCA-Uuqb3cvpBoG4s4Gtt6qAaexjpCF1EDQAOLIx4OzXqWLotQTywNde8KxMb3HyM4yOTagGB_Y/s1600/1993+003+Wildwood+Darryl+Laurel+and+Noelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdY3DoRlO1DaZ6MrQeNymFaQAxbTpbuSGvEbQBSTCEO4gGRXS_1B6AnRh1cNM-iLwmwCA-Uuqb3cvpBoG4s4Gtt6qAaexjpCF1EDQAOLIx4OzXqWLotQTywNde8KxMb3HyM4yOTagGB_Y/s200/1993+003+Wildwood+Darryl+Laurel+and+Noelle.jpg" width="200" /></a></i></b></div>
<b><i>photo. Here
it is on an amusement ride on a pier at the Wildwoods, New Jersey. The three
kids entering the ride are mine in 1993. The boy in black is my son, Darryl,
the girl in the white pants is Laurel, my oldest and the tall blond is my
middle child, Noelle.</i></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> <b><i>The were 11, 15 and 12 at the time.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">4<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">TAKING THE NARROW PATH IS BECOMING…</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UuIGEfVAWuiRnK4iG-aSpDbHxCUOLC6jQ8ibXdD1Kuc14ePSvGr79zYr53kVM9Nzuhm-M-4MZ1iFK8yXc76Y4pJH-Y8WcZtg1DUHmvxdsX2nXTpZ4AEWHkXVbVHTTEchE6LTOcMa01g/s1600/2007+Claymont+Sites+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UuIGEfVAWuiRnK4iG-aSpDbHxCUOLC6jQ8ibXdD1Kuc14ePSvGr79zYr53kVM9Nzuhm-M-4MZ1iFK8yXc76Y4pJH-Y8WcZtg1DUHmvxdsX2nXTpZ4AEWHkXVbVHTTEchE6LTOcMa01g/s320/2007+Claymont+Sites+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:279pt;height:210pt'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image009.jpg"
o:title="1995-2007 Claymont Sites 015"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPoX5HiW7uBr8KEU_nwBvYgMbAUo2UMCUrBUyQ8-VTZClNmUfv84tY9kPiJFsiYHLM_X3pAUN5or5A0jDKHBbWsSwhh3fCyx7Mdtz2Xf_YOqmRn7qd__6UzzfoGrhme9YvyiEA0Rk3FcL/s1600-h/1995-2007+Claymont+Sites+015.jpg"><span style="color: #ffc290; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and
broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But
small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find
it.” </span></b><b><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Matthew
7:14</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Before I became an SS
member, I didn't see any fence. I believed I was a free man with no barrier to
impede where I was going. In actuality, I was not free and there
was a barrier, however; there wasn't anything impeding where I was going
because I was going to Hell. Some might say, hey, one outta three ain't
bad! Yeah, a .333 batting average is great for baseball, not so good in the
game of eternity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I called myself an Atheist
in those days, so I didn't believe in Hell. Didn't like the word sin, silly
word. Oh, I accepted there were rules and some were very good and should be
obeyed. I didn't think it was okay to murder someone for instance. Stealing was
a bad thing, relatively speaking. It wasn't right to go holdup a store. But if
you bought something at the store and the clerk gave you change for a twenty
when you had paid with a ten, it wasn't stealing to pocket the change. Too bad,
their mistake, this would teach them to be more careful. It wasn't stealing to
take home some office supplies from where I worked. They would never miss
a few little items out of stock, besides they owed me for the extra I gave them
on the job. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Bending rules wasn't sin.
Rules were just guidelines. Cops aren't going to pull you over if your just a
few miles above the speed limit. When I was 13 shoplifting "Girlie"
magazines from the newsstand, hey, what was I suppose to do. I didn't want to
steal, I wanted to pay for them, but they wouldn't sell such magazines to someone
my age. <i>I had to steal them. It was their
fault.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">(When I got caught and the
store owner told me what he was going to do with those magazines if he ever
caught me stealing again [funny how he called it stealing] I stopped
stealing...anything. See, threat of punishment is a deterrent to some. But that
is a discussion for another Post.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Most of what I did didn't
seem really wrong. It might be frowned upon by some, but what they didn't know <b>wouldn't
hurt me</b>, now would it. And besides, what I did was my private business and
it didn't hurt them either. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Somehow I didn't think what
some minister was preaching from his pulpit was his private business. I didn't
want someone telling me I couldn't go watch a live nude dancer at a "Art
Theater", but I thought it was just fine and dandy for me to go tell a
preacher what he could say in his own church. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Why was I always getting
angry enough at pastors to make the effort to confront them? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt;">"Ask and it will be given
to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone
who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be
opened." Matthew 7:7-8</span></i></b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I think I was seeking and
knocking. When I went and had these arguments with these ministers, I was
hoping one of them would win the argument and prove me wrong. I said I was an
Atheist, then why was I reading Anton LaVey's Satanic Bible. If I denied the
existence of God, of Heaven and of Hell, shouldn't I have been denying the
existence of the Devil as well? Why was I filling my library with every book
written to disclaim Christianity: the Passover Plot, Chariots of the Gods, The
Death of God, etc.?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Why had I published
"God Resurrected" in response to the "God is Dead"
movement? Why was I creating my own theology if I didn't believe in Theos? Was
I trying to convince others I was right or prove to myself I was wrong?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But then God knocked on my
door with the heartbeats of a baby. I tripped over the narrow path and this led
me to confront the fence and the small gate. I had come to the second step to SS.
It is similar to the second step of Alcohol Anonymous: </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Came to believe that a Power greater
than ourselves could restore us to sanity.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I started to realize my
behavior had hurt others. I had hurt my mother with my attacks on her pastor. I
had hurt my wife with my addiction to pornography. I had come to a belief in
God. I stood at the gate, but I still had to find the key to going through the
hole in the fence and becoming a SS member. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I know, I know, I still
haven't said what SS means. I promise I'll eventually say. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">5<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">TELLING OF THE FENCE HOLE IS
BEING…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMmjR_3TDkSqFG-tl9ZumdiaIxkcxopVB7_dq2lSpBnvnaQP0hFpPUA4GVi1ynR50IgltNsXR-w2F-DKfbHcbwX1-K36FtjAGObUDQOsCE5QYSzuigW08ENzKp_WWmRdAOkpb-jt_OKo/s1600/2004+1504+Dec+25+Christmas+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMmjR_3TDkSqFG-tl9ZumdiaIxkcxopVB7_dq2lSpBnvnaQP0hFpPUA4GVi1ynR50IgltNsXR-w2F-DKfbHcbwX1-K36FtjAGObUDQOsCE5QYSzuigW08ENzKp_WWmRdAOkpb-jt_OKo/s320/2004+1504+Dec+25+Christmas+Day.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1029" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:396pt;height:297pt'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image011.jpg"
o:title="2004 1504 Dec 25 Christmas Day"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4PVl2INnyzTe31lRmKueQaX0st21UNlpHnZxhkR-AU-zJRfTna_mcJWMux89fc2vyMmeRXJR2in_9lXcLqlHlcwjpd0T5o8fdULlV6Qwd1gczMJuTDm-sOPy47FP-KDqx29-QJVObCwM/s1600-h/2004+1504+Dec+25+Christmas+Day.jpg"><span style="color: #ffc290; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><i><span style="color: #830000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Mark 4:11-12; </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Matthew 13:11-17;</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #830000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Luke 8:9</span></i></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">His disciples asked him what this
parable meant.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">He replied</span></i><b><i><span style="color: #830000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> [and]</span></i></b><i><span style="color: #830000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> told them,
"</span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> The knowledge of </span></i><i><span style="color: #830000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">the secret</span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">s</span></i><i><span style="color: #830000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> of the kingdom of God has been given to you</span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will
have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from
him. This is why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the
prophecy of Isaiah: 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you
will be ever seeing but never perceiving’. For this people's heart has become
calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with
their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. But blessed are your eyes because
they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many
prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and
to hear what you hear but did not hear it.</span></i><i><span style="color: #830000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> But to
those on the outside everything is said in parables so that they may be ever
seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!”</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3jEYhspDlVI8ic2RXAfKX73sWQPPVaaY6bD46rs92lMeynPx4j9cXTQm8Iq-GkuiKQURsPzST3F7Ssppp6nyiuMeaZYXHgwPBKeCwgmEnONLWGbvr2Td2LGoBurYVTnFClH2IxSXK_Q/s1600/2006+12+01+Back+yard+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="77" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3jEYhspDlVI8ic2RXAfKX73sWQPPVaaY6bD46rs92lMeynPx4j9cXTQm8Iq-GkuiKQURsPzST3F7Ssppp6nyiuMeaZYXHgwPBKeCwgmEnONLWGbvr2Td2LGoBurYVTnFClH2IxSXK_Q/s400/2006+12+01+Back+yard+02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #830000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1032" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:6in;height:86pt'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image013.jpg"
o:title="2006 12 01 Back yard 02"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Back several years, when
Tucker was a young dog, he kept escaping from the yard. This seemed nearly
impossible, how could he do it? Not only was our yard completely surrounded by
shrubbery, I had erected a wire fence behind the bushes and trees from the
pillar of our house to its post. The fence is green and it is nearly invisible
to the naked eye. None the less it existed.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">But there he would be,
running wild and free through the streets with a gleeful smile, laughing as I
attempted to chase him down.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I inspected the yard more
than once and found no gaps. There was no possibility of him jumping the fence.
My only chance to find his escape route was to catch him in the act. But he was
a shrewd and cunning creature. I would let him out, then watch through the
glass of the door. He would trot to the center of the yard, then look back,
study the house, see me watching and be content to stay where he stood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">After a while I would tire
and leave him to his business. Minutes later I would be chasing him around the
block. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I had to go stealth. One day
I left him out and walked away from the door. I ran around to the dining room,
snuck to the rear windows in a crouch, and peeked out a corner just over the
sill. He was studying the house and thought me gone. A moment passed, he peered
back again and then trotted quickly to the right, disappearing behind a large
bush. Next I saw his tail wagging across the neighbor's yard, a flag of
victory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">He had found a hole in the
soft dirt behind the bush and an old log. It was just big enough, with a little
clawing, to squeeze his body through under the fence. If he had not led me
there, I would have never found it as hidden as it was. It took a while to find
it even so and if I hadn't believed it had to be there after he fled across the
lot next door, I would have still thought there was no way out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I, of course, plugged up
that escape route.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Someday, God may close up
his escape route, but not yet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">God left a hole in the fence
erected between us and Him. You have to find the hole, but first you have
to see the fence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Can you see the fence around
my yard in the photos? It's difficult to see standing in my yard, but it is
there; it just blends into the shrubbery. It is the same with the fence between
mankind and God, some people never notice it. Some don't even look for it,
other's deny it is there. There are those who acknowledge the fence, but aren't
concerned about it. And there are those who understand the fence, but don't
know how to find the escape route.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt;">…for, "Everyone who
calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the
one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they
have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And
how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful
are the feet of those who bring good news!"</span><span style="color: #0009ee; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Romans 10:13-15</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">When you think about it, if
you are in the SS you don't have a lot of duties. You are outside the fence and
have great freedom. You are not restrained by all the 600 plus points of The
Law. You don't have a long list of Do's and Don't you must follow diligently.
You don't have to put on a tie when you go to church -- you don't even <b>have</b>
to go to church. No, we have only a few commands and we often find them
difficult. One of these is to tell people about the club and how to join.
We aren't an exclusive club. We welcome anyone, and would welcome
everyone if it were possible.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Those who reject us, those
who will not even listen or those who would shut us up altogether mustn’t
discourage us. There are those who never hear and never see. But there are
those who see the fence and want to escape and they need to hear because their
ears have been opened. The problem is we don't always know who those with open
ears are. We need to tell all. It isn't our responsibility who is drawn to our
club, only that they know where to find the hole in the fence and how to get
through it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I have a fence around my
yard. When I erected it I thought it was impenetrable, but there was an escape
hole. I would not have found that hole if my dog had not shown the way. In his
case, he didn't want me to know. In our case, we want everyone to know even if
they hate us for telling them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And why do we tell them?
Because we love them even if they don't care too much for us. After all, many
of us were once one of 'them'. It took me a long time to acknowledge the fence,
but I'd still be inside it if someone hadn't shown me the escape hole. And once
I hated those Bible-thumpers, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Now as a Saved Sinner Club
member, I find these words very sad: </span><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">'You will
be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never
perceiving’. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear
with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with
their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I
would heal them.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">There are some who may see and may hear. Don't let them down by
being silent.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">6<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">SOWING THE SEED IS BEING…<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqrH-wkiuHolykwxwqH0PGSz6U0MzyuwOGwiNxkMSmMZcSwIoAp-ZiRvp3yOLxy5KwAN8WQlpkrE-A-GzfdOPdcQC1Jec0OI2HmRjJLXwI-RDiV3FUIH3ivef5jDPfskkJLCxASAxvZM/s1600/Van+Gogh+The+Sower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqrH-wkiuHolykwxwqH0PGSz6U0MzyuwOGwiNxkMSmMZcSwIoAp-ZiRvp3yOLxy5KwAN8WQlpkrE-A-GzfdOPdcQC1Jec0OI2HmRjJLXwI-RDiV3FUIH3ivef5jDPfskkJLCxASAxvZM/s320/Van+Gogh+The+Sower.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1030" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:306pt;height:233pt'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image015.jpg"
o:title="Sower Van gogh 1888"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5ZfPpWtAkeMobQ_kfjsHwSa2Ai9OYHptSsDaqjhiS_W1kEDc40oVdi38dS6j35Uy8AhFlhcw7cEbgszc8Br71usMaIaCupZUbhKCwNK8GRLarqOOgRHmoglIFDv8m9gRBTFNB4R3XpN7/s1600-h/Sower+Van+gogh+1888.jpg"><span style="color: #ffc290; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><i>Mark 4:13-20; Matthew 13:18-23; Luke 8:11-15</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this
parable? How then will you understand any parable? Listen then, this is the
meaning to what the parable of the sower means:</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">“The seed is the word of God. The farmer </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">[Christians]<span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #830000;">sows the word.</span></span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Some people are like seed along the path When anyone hears the
message about the kingdom where the word is sown and does not understand it, as
soon as they hear it the evil one, Satan comes and snatches away what was sown
in [their] heart and takes away the word that was sown in them, so that they
may not believe and be saved. This is the seed sown along the path (those are
the ones who hear then the devil comes).</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">“Others, those on the rock, like seed sown on rocky places, are
the one[s] who received the seed that fell on rocky places, the [men] who hear
the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they
last only a short time. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing
they fall away. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they
quickly fall away.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">“Still others, like seed sown among thorns, the one[s] who
received the seed that fell among the thorns, stand for the [men] who hear the
word, but as they go on their way the worries of this life, the deceitfulness
of wealth choke it, and the desires for other things come in and choke the
word, making it unfruitful. They are choked by life's worries, riches and
pleasures, and they do not mature.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">“But</span></i><i><span style="color: #830000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Others, like seed sown on good soil, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">stand for those with a noble and
good heart,</span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> the ones who received the seed that fell on good soil [are] the
[men] who </span></i><i><span style="color: #830000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">hear the word, accept it, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">retain it, </span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">and understands it </span></i><i><span style="color: #830000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">and produce, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">by persevering, </span></i><i><span style="color: #830000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">a crop—</span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> yielding a </span></i><i><span style="color: #830000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">thirty, sixty or even a
hundred times what was sown."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">When I attended college (I worked all day and went to evening
school), one of the courses I was dreading was Speech. But it was a required
course and I finally took it during summer session. Once I got my feet wet, it
wasn't bad; in fact, I came to enjoy it. It helped to realize all of us
students were in the same boat. And eventually we were all going to face the
judgment of the professor and either fail or pass, and since it was a required
course, you couldn't afford to fail. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Being the summer session, the class time was twice as long as
normal and so we had a break halfway through each evening. We would gather in
the hall (some would smoke, it was allowed inside buildings in those ancient
days) and encourage each other. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I guess the transition here is blatently obvious. Living our
life is a required course. At the end of the session we will all be judged and
either pass of fail. Unlike a college class, there is no do-over. There is no
dropping out either. We get our final mark and our final assignment when we
die, whether our organs dissolve at 102 years of age or whether we put a gun to
our temple at age 21. We are all in the same boat, the problem is all of us
don't realize it. Well, how will those who don't know learn that fact if we who
know don't tell them. We need to be out in the hallways of life sowing the
kernels of truth that will enable others to pass the course. That is all we can
do, we can't pass it for them.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">THE SOWER</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The painting illustrating this piece is "The Sower"
(1881) by Vincent Van Gogh. It's getting late in the day, the sun is sinking.
There is a field in the background that looks near ready for harvest, but the
farmer is still sowing seeds, trying to plant a final crop before night falls.
There is a urgency in his pace. The ground is pretty rough and uninviting, a
hard path runs down its center, rocks are here and there, and birds follow
behind plucking up some of his seed as soon as it falls. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">But the Sower pays no heed to the difficult terrain. He knows
the hour is late and he knows there is still some good soil interweaved with
the obstacles and the birds will gobble up only the easy pickings. The
Sower isn't discouraged by the seed that falls on the rocky and hard ground. He
does what he does, which is scattering the seed. This is the farmer we want to
be, having heard the</span><span style="color: #830000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">word, he accepted it, <span style="color: #333333;">retained it, and understood it and by
persevering is planting a new</span> crop, even though</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"> the
hour is late.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Pray we aren't the ones among thorns. There are Christians who
sprout from the scattered seeds as stalks without corn and vines without
grapes. There the farmers kicked back in the distance house worrying over the
cost of seed rather than scattering it.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">They are like the student who is more interested in doodling in
the textbook, than reading it; playing video games to homework; but makes
enough effort to slide through the class with a D. We want to be the student
who gains the A, or at least a B. So remember this, if you are going to succeed
in Speech Class, you have to speak. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">If you are going to raise crops, you have to scatter the
seed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">7<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">ONE MORE STEP TO BEING…<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMx7MCQO9fCUMU7SZRBIalx0cLReSk1ZymFEzJcayRAgvtbJd87ujdyk6ZTJtb6FAI6H2buuglQctrQKZBbawW9h9dHN2ZlfuuUwtsEr4dvIOIlEF6bMDMk6axFbC0JMzooEgSfNAAu6I/s1600/1979+09+048+Governor+Palace+Maze+Gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMx7MCQO9fCUMU7SZRBIalx0cLReSk1ZymFEzJcayRAgvtbJd87ujdyk6ZTJtb6FAI6H2buuglQctrQKZBbawW9h9dHN2ZlfuuUwtsEr4dvIOIlEF6bMDMk6axFbC0JMzooEgSfNAAu6I/s400/1979+09+048+Governor+Palace+Maze+Gate.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1031" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:287pt;height:141pt'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image017.jpg"
o:title="1979 125 Williamsburg Trip_2"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6enunjvvWTPr18kd7bJR1Of49dcVAUkWg7DBzy268yuB_hzDwNxcDjpcqr03v8X4xxjZe0U6JW3y8qAJIF5nQ26JhEuHl07hsDZOdp0eu0ZQ4eBPr1ZF-cWC8ya1BeAS9vqSkjTbIGtg/s1600-h/1979+125+Williamsburg+Trip_2.jpg"><span style="color: #ffc290; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Elijah
was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did
not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the
heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brothers, if one of you
should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this:
Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and
cover over a multitude of sins. James 5:17-19 </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">There is a rabbit hole in
the wall built between God and us. The wall exists for everyone and the rabbit
hole does, too. Some claim not to see a wall. I don't think they are blind to
it; I think they just deny it. Either way, if you don't see or recognize the
wall, you can't find the hole.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Sometimes God has to slap
you upside the head before you see both.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I've told in my past posts
how he got my attention and led me to the hole.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But even if you recognize
the wall, that is admit you sin, and even if you see the hole, that's not the
final step. You have to trust the hole is there and it is your only escape.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Many people don't believe
that. People think it doesn't matter what you believe, just that you are
sincere. I'm sorry, but that is so illogical as to be silly. I could sincerely
believe I could take a nap in the middle of an interstate, but it won't stop an
18-wheeler running over my belief system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">A lot of people think they
can get beyond the wall by their own effort. There are a great number of
religions for one to pick from in this world. As far as I know, they all hand
you a shovel to dig your way under the wall between you and God; all but one,
anyway, and that is Christianity. Christ didn't hand out a shovel, He just held
out His hand to anyone willing to take hold and be pulled through the hole.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">A Christian is someone who
got to the other side of the hole. They can't pull you though. They can say,
hey come on over here the Son shines great, but that is it. You are free to
reject the hole or go off searching for a big gate. You can ask what makes us
think we're right. What makes you think we aren't? We all are going to die. We
can agree on that, can't we? It seems an important question to ask what happens
after death? Nothing or something? If something, what? The answer to the
question influences the way we live and if we choose the wrong answer, well,
the consequence could be very dire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">When I came to that
question, a man was talking about Elijah being a man like me. Something in that
passage and what was said about it seemed directed at me and two days later I
took His hand and went through the hole. I believe in Christ. I have no choice
but to tell you Christ is the only way to God. Otherwise, I would be a
hypocrite in claiming to be Christian. What you decide to believe is your decision.
Just don't say Jesus was a good and wise man, for if He is not the only way to
god, then He was a madman at best and a liar at worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father but by me."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> John 14:6</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one
knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and
those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Matthew 11:27</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: right; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and
believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last
day."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> John 6:40</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: right; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting
life."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> John 6:47</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: right; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"I give [my followers] eternal life, and they shall never
perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to
me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and
the Father are one."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> John 10:28-30</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: right; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who
believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes
in me will never die...'"</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> John 11:25</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584610096017717648.post-92027304339575269562013-02-13T19:28:00.000-05:002013-02-13T19:28:02.500-05:00Depression: Elijah to Jesus to Paul
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1027"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">1</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjc7bnQZ2Q2l3GuUTzopRC8j5gP801rHmEqczKF6LMyjcaXTCe_n8X7tbEfmDw27LMv0Jx5e7cmK2TZMIaAGbXDesV50X4ZnM-_KHgT2Mv9FITO4fAYp8rUQ4S6-GSav7m9T8qDCS628s/s1600/2007+09+16+Virginia+Trip+261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjc7bnQZ2Q2l3GuUTzopRC8j5gP801rHmEqczKF6LMyjcaXTCe_n8X7tbEfmDw27LMv0Jx5e7cmK2TZMIaAGbXDesV50X4ZnM-_KHgT2Mv9FITO4fAYp8rUQ4S6-GSav7m9T8qDCS628s/s320/2007+09+16+Virginia+Trip+261.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE…?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="1962 010 Aug Natural Bridge Virginia.jpg" style='width:313pt;height:308pt;
visibility:visible'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="1962 010 Aug Natural Bridge Virginia"/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to
Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's
journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed
that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my
life; I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the tree
and fell asleep. </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up
and eat." He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread
baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down
again.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> The angel
of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and
eat, for the journey is too much for you." So he got up and ate and drank.
Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he
reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the
night.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you
doing here, Elijah?" 1 Kings 19:3-9<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">SIGNS AND
SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION:</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">Prolonged sadness or
unexplained crying spells</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">Significant changes in
appetite and sleep patterns</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">Irritability, anger, worry,
agitation, anxiety</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">Pessimism, indifference</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">Loss of energy, persistent
lethargy</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">Feelings of guilt,
worthlessness</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">Inability to concentrate,
indecisiveness</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">Inability to take pleasure
in former interests, social withdrawal</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">Unexplained aches and pains</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">Recurring thoughts of death
or suicide</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">They
say if you have five or more of these symptoms then you have clinical
depression. It appears Elijah had changes in his sleep and eating patterns, was
pessimistic, lethargic, anxious, feeling worthlessness and having thoughts of
death. He certainly went into social withdrawal. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I
wasn’t online in almost a month before I wrote this essay. I haven't entered
updates on Facebook and certainly haven't tweeted on Twitter. I even avoided
church or socializing with people. I was considering closing down my blog. I
had retreated to a cave.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">It
took me a while to realize that I was depressed. I should have recognized it
immediately. After all I have dealt with the symptoms most of my life. My wife
was diagnosed as a manic-depressant, what they now call Bipolar Disease, many
years ago.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But
I have never been prone to depression. I am an optimist. I’m one of those
people other’s love to hate, a guy who wakes up early and happy about it. It’s
not I never get down. Long gloomy days can sap my energy and there were
periods in my life when bad things knocked me down.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">This
time was different. There was a spate of rainy weather that didn’t help, but
nothing one could point to as “seriously bad”, although I am currently in a
perfect storm of unsettling changes.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">It
made me wonder, did Jesus get depressed? I decided to research this.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called
Gethsemane, and he said to them, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Sit here while I go over there and pray." </span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">He took Peter and the two sons of
Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said
to them, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"My
soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch
with me." </span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Matthew
26:36-38<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I
found several essays and sermons claiming that Jesus had suffered from
depression and they all cited this passage from Matthew 26. Does this show that
Jesus was depressed?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Jesus
was both human and Devine. As a human, I believe he experienced the emotions we
all feel as well as the temptations, hurts, joys and all that is human...except
depression. I do not believe Jesus was ever depressed. Sorrow, even deep
sorrow, is not synonymous with depression. Heart-retching sadness could key a
bout of depression, but doesn't always. The passage quoted is the night of His
arrest, the eve of His Passion. He has gone to a quiet, private place to pray.
He took three Apostles with Him, but left them on the perimeter so he could
pray alone. He told them he was deeply troubled and asked them to keep watch.
But other than an expression of this sorrow, I don't see the signs of
depression here. Let's see the whole event as told in Matthew.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called
Gethsemane, and he said to them, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Sit here while I go over there and pray."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> He took Peter and the two sons of
Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said
to them, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"My
soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch
with me."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the
ground and prayed, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.
Yet not as I will, but as you will."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Then he returned to his disciples and found them
sleeping. </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Could
you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" </span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">he asked Peter. "</span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Watch and pray so that you will not fall
into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">He went away a second time and prayed, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"My Father, if it is not possible
for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, <b>may your will be done.</b>"</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> When he came back, he again found them sleeping,
because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and
prayed the third time, saying the same thing.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Then he returned to the disciples and said to
them, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Are
you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is
betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my
betrayer!" </span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Matthew 26:36-46</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Look
again at the nine symptoms of depression. The test is if you can apply five or
more of these to a person, then they are in depression. Can you find five that
fit the description here? I can't find one.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">He
certainly isn't indifferent or lethargic. He doesn't show feeling of guilt or
worthlessness. Is he indecisive? No. He went off alone to pray, but is hardly
in social withdrawal since he keeps returning to speak to the Disciples.
Certainly he had thoughts of death, but that was His purpose. At the end of the
passage He is alert and ready to go. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-mk_6twnZRy7nWgC4xqiK7MxguoKhtyR1QBegpDAyuoWx0PF7m1o_0EO9fXfVIK-mu-jH1KryNsVYS0iEK1AbcjFlHYuWib-kz8ZsgBGZ3_A9JlRjbChRKmiLJPZ4sTyBsUnE_90gd4/s1600/2007+09+16+Virginia+Trip+260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-mk_6twnZRy7nWgC4xqiK7MxguoKhtyR1QBegpDAyuoWx0PF7m1o_0EO9fXfVIK-mu-jH1KryNsVYS0iEK1AbcjFlHYuWib-kz8ZsgBGZ3_A9JlRjbChRKmiLJPZ4sTyBsUnE_90gd4/s320/2007+09+16+Virginia+Trip+260.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3"
o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="2007 09 16 Virginia Trip 260.jpg"
style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:55.6pt;
width:4in;height:266.55pt;z-index:251664896;visibility:visible'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="2007 09 16 Virginia Trip 260"/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But there is something here that
gives us the reason why Jesus never suffered depression. His focus is on the
will of God. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Now
I am the last person who'd claim depression is because someone is out of the
will of God. My wife, remember, has suffered greatly in her life because of a
chemical imbalance in her brain which throws her moods into turmoil. There are clinical
reasons for depression.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">In
my case I don't have such an imbalance. I am like Elijah. I took my eyes off
God and looked at self. I took too much on myself, felt overwhelmed by it and
headed in a desert and ended up in a cave.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Being
Christian does not bring us life without troubles and sorrow. It is not wrong
to feel sad. We are still flesh and blood in this world and it is possible to
fall into depression. We find people in Scripture who were caught in the cave
of depression.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> I
needed only to look to the title of my Blog to be reminded of one such person.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is
with me—a prayer to the God of my life.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?"</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?"</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within
me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:8-11<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> There is the way out of depression,
putting hope in God. Pray this is where I am at and that I have taken steps out
of my cave into the guiding light of the Lord.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEido3pbS_cJ3cRdHq3n9ULC8nw2e6QGYDbcAjwwr5DTUjPnJ74HjeKEWkuthHb3nvYIv7hd3hnrGkxJ-NxqgVPeUAo8ShTlv0UCI-NG82p1ESiT_qod0J3YtCyJGIJMHT8oNcino9ql9-k/s1600/2007+09+16+Virginia+Trip+215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEido3pbS_cJ3cRdHq3n9ULC8nw2e6QGYDbcAjwwr5DTUjPnJ74HjeKEWkuthHb3nvYIv7hd3hnrGkxJ-NxqgVPeUAo8ShTlv0UCI-NG82p1ESiT_qod0J3YtCyJGIJMHT8oNcino9ql9-k/s400/2007+09+16+Virginia+Trip+215.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">We
need to set aside our own voice and listen so we can hear God
ask, "What are you doing here?" Then we can move on down His
path.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="2007 09 16 Virginia Trip 215_2.jpg"
style='width:6in;height:8in;visibility:visible'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image005.jpg"
o:title="2007 09 16 Virginia Trip 215_2"/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">2<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">DID JESUS
BECOME DEPRESSED?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9emLKHfiplR9BHorbuAAsN3QiZJA76T6lwda4lo75-ZJ0YkTmzfzszaib3tqQw4ItuX77AEUygClpyq08LRnmAi0W8uDD3I95S0AZO1zE93VoPzkcQYTVHQ2Xu3BTCwhm178xPUYHi0/s1600/christensen_-_gethsemane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9emLKHfiplR9BHorbuAAsN3QiZJA76T6lwda4lo75-ZJ0YkTmzfzszaib3tqQw4ItuX77AEUygClpyq08LRnmAi0W8uDD3I95S0AZO1zE93VoPzkcQYTVHQ2Xu3BTCwhm178xPUYHi0/s320/christensen_-_gethsemane.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_0"
o:spid="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="christensen_-_gethsemane.jpg"
style='width:309pt;height:6in;visibility:visible'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image007.jpg"
o:title="christensen_-_gethsemane"/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has
gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the
faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize
with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as
we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with
confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time
of need. Hebrew 4 :14-16 (NIV)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High
Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We
don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through
weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right
up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
Hebrews 4:14-16 (The Message)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">QUESTIONS ASKED: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">1. Is depression a sin?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">2. Is it just an emotional slump?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">3. [Are] emotional situations sin? </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Before
trying to give any answer I need to define depression.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">According
to the National Institute of Mental Health there is not a simple definition of
depression, but are several flavors, none particularly tasty:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><i><span style="color: #81007f; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Major depressive disorder</span></i></b><i><span style="color: #81007f; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">, also called major depression, is
characterized by a combination of symptoms that interfere with a person's
ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy once–pleasurable activities.
Major depression is disabling and prevents a person from functioning normally.
An episode of major depression may occur only once in a person's lifetime, but
more often, it recurs throughout a person's life.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><i><span style="color: #81007f; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Dysthymic disorder</span></i></b><i><span style="color: #81007f; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">, also called dysthymia, is
characterized by long–term (two years or longer) but less severe symptoms that
may not disable a person but can prevent one from functioning normally or
feeling well. People with dysthymia may also experience one or more episodes of
major depression during their lifetimes.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #81007f; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Some forms of depressive disorder exhibit slightly
different characteristics than those described above, or they may develop under
unique circumstances. However, not all scientists agree on how to characterize
and define these forms of depression. They include:</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><i><span style="color: #81007f; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Psychotic depression</span></i></b><i><span style="color: #81007f; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">, which occurs when a severe
depressive illness is accompanied by some form of psychosis, such as a break
with reality, hallucinations, and delusions.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><i><span style="color: #81007f; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Postpartum depression</span></i></b><i><span style="color: #81007f; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">, which is diagnosed if a new
mother develops a major depressive episode within one month after delivery. It
is estimated that 10 to 15 percent of women experience postpartum depression
after giving birth.<sub>1</sub></span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><i><span style="color: #81007f; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)</span></i></b><i><span style="color: #81007f; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">, which is characterized by the
onset of a depressive illness during the winter months, when there is less
natural sunlight. The depression generally lifts during spring and summer. SAD
may be effectively treated with light therapy, but nearly half of those with
SAD do not respond to light therapy alone. Antidepressant medication and
psychotherapy can reduce SAD symptoms, either alone or in combination with
light therapy.2</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #81007f; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive illness,
is not as common as major depression or dysthymia. Bipolar disorder is
characterized by cycling mood changes-from extreme highs (e.g., mania) to
extreme lows (e.g., depression).</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">"We don't
have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness
and testing, experienced it all...", </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">that's the gist of Hebrews 4:15 isn't it? That is to give us assurance
that Jesus (God) understands what we experience as humans because He has also
experienced it, isn't it? </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">So
then, did Jesus suffer depression?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said
to his disciples, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Sit here while I pray."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> He took Peter, James and John
along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"My soul is overwhelmed with
sorrow to the point of death,"</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> he said to them. </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Stay here and keep watch."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Mark 14:32-34</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and
stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children
together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not
willing! Look, your house is left to you desolate."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Luke 13:34-35</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">John's disciples came and took his body and buried it.
Then they went and told Jesus. When Jesus heard what had happened, he
withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Matthew 14:12-13</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">It
certainly sounds as if Jesus may have known depression. Here he is deeply
distressed and overwhelmed with sorrow. There he is mourning over the
fate of Jerusalem. Here he is going off to a solitary place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">But
do these things equate to the medical definition of depression? If so, then what
do we have as our savior, a man suffering from a mental disorder or a chemical
imbalance? If so, which problem did he have? We can immediately rule out
postpartum depression. That was easy. It is probably just as easy to rule out
Seasonal Affective Disorder. But our other choices aren't very good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Critics,
skeptics and nonbelievers would choose psychosis, saying Jesus was a man who
had broken with reality, seeing hallucinations of descending doves, taunting
devils and hovering angels, loss in the delusion he was God. But that's better
than the "Jesus was a wise and good man, but..." arguments. If you
cannot accept Jesus was God, then you must describe him as a mental case.
Assuming Jesus suffered from psychotic depression is as good an excuse to
refuse the logical evidence as any.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">That
leaves bipolar disorder, but I have some first-hand experience with this. My
wife was diagnosed as a manic-depressant twenty-five years ago. This was not
when she developed bipolar behavior, this was when we discovered what the
problem was and it explained a lot. It took a while longer for her to accept
this and take any medication, but when she did it make all the difference.
There is nothing in the life of Christ that qualifies for those kind of manic
periods or depressive periods that go with bipolar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">We
see nothing in the ministry of Jesus where he is not completely in control of
the situation. So what about those instances sited where Jesus seemed to
exhibit possible depression?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">John's disciples came and took his body and buried it.
Then they went and told Jesus. When Jesus heard what had happened, he
withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Matthew 14:12-13</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">What
is the circumstance here? John the Baptist has been beheaded by Herod. John's
followers, after burying John, come and tell Jesus, who goes off in a boat to a
solitary place. Is there anything outside of normal behavior here? Did he go
off to grieve? Perhaps he went to pray. Whatever the reason he hardly was
withdrawing from society or became incapable of functioning. What happened
immediately after his withdraw? Crowds began flocking to where he went. Did he
tell them to "go away, leave me alone"? No, he had compassion on them
and healed their sick. We don't have a man feeling sorry for him self, a man going
into a shell. We have a man who is concerned for others and serving them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">And
as he is doing this, his disciples come. Where did they come from? They had
been out going through the countryside spreading the news and were now
reporting back. They told him everything they had done and seen, but so many
people kept coming and going they couldn't rest or eat. Jesus then tells them
to get in the boat and they go to another solitary place. Is this so Jesus can
withdraw into his cave of depression? No, this is to allow his disciples a
chance to rest from their journey. They really don't get much rest. People find
out where they went and followed until there were 5,000 men plus women and
children surrounding them. Jesus then begins teaching the crowd until late in
the day and then he feeds this mass using some loaves of bread and a couple
fish. (Reference Matthew 14 and Mark 6.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">None
of this indicates the behavior of someone suffering deep depression.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone
those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as
a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Look,
your house is left to you desolate."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Jesus
had been traveling through the villages preaching salvation. Some one asked if
only a few would be saved. He answers that the door is narrow and many who try
to enter through it will not be able to. He explains how people will come
pleading, but he will answer I don't know where you came from, away with you. He
ends by saying, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">"Indeed
there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be
last."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">At
this point, Pharisees (who would have seen themselves as the first) told Jesus
to go elsewhere, that Herod wanted to kill Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">He replied, "Go tell that fox, 'I will drive out
demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my
goal.' In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day—for
surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Jesus
is stating his purpose firmly. There is decisiveness in this statement. There
is certainly compassion and sadness, but no sign of self-pity. I see no signs
of depression, no irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety, pessimism,
indifference, loss of energy, persistent lethargy, feelings of guilt,
worthlessness, inability to concentrate or indecisiveness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said
to his disciples, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Sit here while I pray."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> He took Peter, James and John
along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"My soul is overwhelmed with
sorrow to the point of death,"</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> he said to them. </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Stay here and keep watch."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Mark 14:32-34</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">This
seems the strongest argument for Jesus ever being depressed. Those are strong
negatives: distressed, troubled, and overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of
death. Jesus is on the eve of his torture and death. He knows what lies ahead
and he knows why. When we face trials in our lives, even though they are far
below what Jesus was about to go through, we feel distressed, fear, even
sorrow. Still, there is nothing what follows that would point toward any
medical definition of depression.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed
that if possible the hour might pass from him. "Abba, Father,"
he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not
what I will, but what you will."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Then he returned to his disciples and found them
sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you
not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into
temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When
he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They
did not know what to say to him.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you
still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is
betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my
betrayer!" Mark 14:35-42</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">First,
he doesn't go a bit further into the garden to hide. Again, he is not entering
a cave. He goes to pray and his focus is not on himself, no why me, but on
doing God's will. He keeps returning to his sleeping disciples and he expresses
concern for them, with perhaps a little disappointment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Then
a-sudden Judas and the soldiers appear to betray and arrest him. When this
happens, we see Jesus taking complete control of the situation. This is not the
behavior of someone in depression.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Here
is the Merriam-Webster definition of depression. <i>"</i></span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt;">(1)</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt;">: a state of feeling sad: dejection </span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt;">(2)</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt;">: a psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by
sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant
increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of
dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies </span></i><b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt;">--</span></i></b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt;"> Merriam-Webster</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I
do not believe Jesus ever suffered a psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder
called depression. But there is another definition: a state of feeling sad:
dejection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">This
is an emotional reaction to events in life. Jesus felt sad about the death of
John the Baptist. He felt sorrow for those who were lost in this world. He felt
dejection about those who reject his sacrifice. In other words, like all
of we humans, he experiences down moments. We may say I'm depressed, but
this is a perfectly normal human reaction and short-lived. We get over it and
go about the business of living. We quickly control our depressed feeling and
don't let our feelings interfere with what we do. I see no indication
anywhere that Jesus ever let His feeling interfere with his purpose, anywhere
that emotions caused him to not control the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">We
still haven't answered the question if depression, either clinical or
emotional, is a sin, have we? Be patient and don't let the wait get you
depressed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #0006ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Illustration:
"Gethsemane" by James C. Christensen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I’D BE REALLY DEPRESSED IF DEPRESSION IS A SIN<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<u><span style="color: #ffc290; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Edward-Munch-Despair-1893-1894-33145.jpg"
style='width:202pt;height:261pt;visibility:visible'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image009.jpg"
o:title="Edward-Munch-Despair-1893-1894-33145"/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span></u><u><span style="color: #ffc290; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-U7CVLss0q9V7I5GRwigJYgpgzMAGWv-3hk35qBfvJx5tq2XHArXAntD8mYhLVtb8oC7cSAsEg1CgRrQ9KNBhvJQ_PJgKnXhyIffwttT01iVUOfrvk-5qbnn7lLLYzH7fpi3ImJC5CBQ/s1600/Munch+Edward+Despair+1893-1894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-U7CVLss0q9V7I5GRwigJYgpgzMAGWv-3hk35qBfvJx5tq2XHArXAntD8mYhLVtb8oC7cSAsEg1CgRrQ9KNBhvJQ_PJgKnXhyIffwttT01iVUOfrvk-5qbnn7lLLYzH7fpi3ImJC5CBQ/s320/Munch+Edward+Despair+1893-1894.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Getting into a
boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city. And they
brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to
the paralytic, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Take courage, son; your sins are
forgiven." </span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> And some of the scribes said
to themselves, "This fellow blasphemes." Matthew 9:1-2 (NASV)</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The man answered,
"Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened
my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly
man who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born
blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">To this they
replied, "You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!"
And they threw him out. John 9:30-34 (NIV)</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">There
was a time in the late 'sixties and early 'seventies when I was a Hippie. I
lived in an apartment in Philadelphia, doing free-lance writing and hanging
about on the streets a lot with other Hippies. There was a woman of
indeterminate age who wandered the same streets. She was worn around the edges,
unkempt if you wish, and walked with an odd waddle, occasionally talking to no one
visible and making odd quacking sounds. If you got near enough to overhear her
conversation you would hear one side of an argument interlaced with curses.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">We
called her the "Duck Lady".</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Would
you like to judge this woman? Was she deranged? Was she ill? Was she sinning
with her curses? Was she sick because she sinned?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Now
let's think about the quotes that opened this post. Jesus did a lot of healing
of afflicted people during His ministry. Those quotes are two of them.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The
first concerns a paralyzed man who was brought to Jesus by friends. Obviously
these friends brought the man in faith that Jesus would cure him. But does
Jesus say, "get up and walk." No, He says something completely out of
left field, "Take courage, son; </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">your sins are forgiven".</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Does
this mean the man is a sinner because he is a paralytic or is he a paralytic
because he sinned? Is it that his disease is heavy with sin that Jesus says
what he said?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">There
were some high-minded religious folk nearby, Scribes, who got all bend out of
shape by this. "This fellow blasphemes."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Why are you thinking evil in your
hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get
up, and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority
on earth to forgive sins"</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">--then He said to the paralytic, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Get up, pick up your bed and go
home."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And
he got up and went home. Matthew 9:4-6</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">So
sin may or may not have had anything to do with the man's condition. That
aspect is not being addressed. Jesus said what He said in order to show the
paralysis in the hearts of those Scribes that prevented them from seeing the
truth in Scripture. Remember these are Scribes, men whose life was the study of
Scripture, yet they were paralyzed by tradition and unable to move to the fact
the Scriptures had come true before them.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Let's
consider another man who was paralyzed, or perhaps just too weak to move. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight
years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a
long time in that condition, He said to him, "</span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Do you wish to get well?"</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> The sick man answered Him,
"Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up,
but while I am coming, another steps down before me."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Jesus said to him, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">" Get up, pick up your pallet and walk."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Immediately the man became well, and picked up his
pallet and began to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day. John 5:5-9
(NASB)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">There
is no mention of sin in this case. Jesus asked the man if he wanted to be well,
then told him to get up and walk. And the man did, he picked up his pallet and
walked. But here is an important statement following this, "now it was the
Sabbath".</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And
wouldn't you know, there were some high-minded religious people standing near
by and they got all bent out of shape because this was done on the Sabbath.
(You can go to John 5 to see what happened next.) Jesus did this on the Sabbath
to make another point. Often when Jesus healed it was to provide a lesson about
salvation, mercy and right.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But
neither of these answer any of our questions about illness nor sin, whether the
Duck Woman of Philadelphia was sinning or whether depression is a sin. (I know,
I'm such a tease.)</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Perhaps
the situation of the second quote will help clear the matter up. Here we have a
man talking about being cured of blindness and some more high-minded religious
Pharisees telling him to shut up. "You were steeped in sin at birth;
how dare you lecture us!"</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Why
did they say this? Well, one reason is people believed in those times that
afflictions were from sin. So is this an answer? Was this man's blindness the
result of sin?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">As he (Jesus) went along, he saw a man blind from birth.
His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that
he was born blind?"</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said
Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in
his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night
is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the
world."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud
with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Go,"</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> he told him, "</span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">wash in the Pool of Siloam"</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> (this word means Sent). So the man
went and washed, and came home seeing. John 9:1-7 (NIV)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Who
sinned? Why nobody sinned. Not as it resulted in this man's blindness anyway.
This was another one of those lesson cures. Later we have this exchange between
Jesus and those high-minded religious folk:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Jesus said, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"For judgment I have come into this world, so that the
blind will see and those who see will become blind."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and
asked, "What? Are we blind too?"</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Jesus said, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but
now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains." </span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">John 9:39-41</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">We
haven't exactly answered our questions, but we have established that being ill
does not necessary result from sin. So perhaps depression isn't a sin.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">However,
I will tell you, there are scriptures that tell us sinning can lead to illness.
This essay is getting long, so I'm not going to put them here. Check out your
Bible, you can find them. I am going to say it leads us to this idea. Illness
of itself is not a sin. Illness may have nothing at all to do with sinning.
Illness could be the result of sin. Well that really helps, doesn't it? Clears
everything up.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Let's
revisit the Duck Lady.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">What
could cause her behavior? There may be many reasons. Here are three
possibilities because they all could have symptoms similar to hers; a strange
gait when walking, bursts of cursing and making odd sounds. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">She
could have an extreme case of Tourette's Syndrome, afflicted with bodily,
facial and verbal tics, including coprolalia: exclamations "of
obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks" (<a href="http://www.tsa-usa.org/"><b><u><span style="color: #1503cc; text-decoration: none; text-underline: #FFC290; text-underline: none;">Tourette Syndrome</span></u></b><u><span style="color: #1503cc; text-decoration: none; text-underline: #FFC290; text-underline: none;"> Association</span></u></a>). </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">She
could be schizophrenic. Quite a number of people you see acting strangely and
talking to invisible characters are schizophrenic.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">She
could have syphilis. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I
don't think we would look at the first two possibilities other than a physical
disorder and a mental illness. We would not say such a person is sinning
because they themselves are incapable of controlling their behavior.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The
third is different. We can say the behavior is not itself sinful because the
person's brain has been infected by the bacteria Treponema pallidum. But
syphilis is a STD, a sexually transmitted disease, so it is quite possible it
was the result of sin. Not necessarily, of course, a partner could infect a
spouse unknowingly or a mother could infect a baby.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I
am not saying the Duck lady had any of these conditions, either. I don't know
what her affliction was.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But
I think we can say this at this point. The medical condition of depression is
not a sin, it is a disorder that may or may not be controlled by medical
treatment. Now such conditions can have a complicated history in individuals.
Depression may be passed on genetically or can be a chemical imbalance. It may
result from some other disease the person suffers and that disease may be the
result of sin, but it isn't necessarily so. Hopefully, we can accept that
depression as a medical condition is not sin.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Thus
far then, we conclude that medical depression is not a sin and Jesus did not
suffer from any medical depression.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">That
still leaves the question, is depression as an emotional state of sadness or
dejection a sin?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #0006ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Illustration:
"Despair" by Edvard Munch, 1893-94</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">4<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Paul Gets
into the Act: Answering the Big Question<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<u><span style="color: #ffc290; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1029" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="2008 06 23 Asheville 138 on Lake Lure.jpg"
style='width:6in;height:324pt;visibility:visible'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image011.jpg"
o:title="2008 06 23 Asheville 138 on Lake Lure"/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span></u><u><span style="color: #ffc290; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuNujCl7glV6c7d86NAlniC30j3t5ePnUMt8goEkfPJBsFIwSdrYQby8TDbws9lIJwlC9PBFRl3_0dQUCjMs90-7oTjTBY9xBBaLHZdDRw-l1Pz33WoIRVSVt-AKJY13rqJyn4dcnKjQ/s1600/2008+06+23+107+Lake+Lure+Storm+Approaching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuNujCl7glV6c7d86NAlniC30j3t5ePnUMt8goEkfPJBsFIwSdrYQby8TDbws9lIJwlC9PBFRl3_0dQUCjMs90-7oTjTBY9xBBaLHZdDRw-l1Pz33WoIRVSVt-AKJY13rqJyn4dcnKjQ/s320/2008+06+23+107+Lake+Lure+Storm+Approaching.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had
no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears
within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of
Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He
told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for
me, so that my joy was greater than ever. 2 Corinthina 7:5-7</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Is depression a sin? Is it just an emotional slump? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Are emotional situations sin?</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">Did Jesus become depressed?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">This series began as an attempt to answers those questions.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">My conclusions so far are these:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">1. Depression is defined by the dictionary as -- a.) Medical
Condition and b.) Sadness, Dejection.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">2. Medically-Defined Depression has various forms that may or
may not be treated with medication and/or therapy as any other disorder or
disease. Disorders or disease may or may not have resulted from engaging in sin
(I.E. - STDs, drunkenness), but are not of themselves sin.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">3. If Jesus had suffered from any of the medically defined
depressions he would not be committing a sin; however, there is no indication
from Jesus' behavior that he had any such disorder. He was always both aware of
and in control of the situations surrounding Him; therefore, Jesus never
suffered from a depressive disorder.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">4. The second form of depression defined as sadness or dejection
can be considered an emotional slump. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">5. Since Jesus experienced all the temptations and testing as we
do, then I am going to concede that He had occasional emotional slumps where he
was sad. He had times of emotional anger, joy, compassion and fear, why would
He not have also experiences moments of sadness or dejection? These
moment seem to have been just that, though, moments. There is no prolonged
periods and no pronounced symptoms of clinical depression.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">If Jesus did have non-medical depression we are still left with
a question? Is this form of depression sin? We could be flip and say
because Scripture tells us Jesus was without sin such depression cannot be sin.
That won't satisfy inquiring minds.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">I have heard it said by ministers that worry is a sin. They
quote Matthew 6:25-34:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life
more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the
birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your
heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of
you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the
lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not
even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how
God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown
into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do
not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What
shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly
Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do
not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has
enough trouble of its own."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">But is depression and worry synonymous? </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #0006ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">"This study examined the strength and specificity
of the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and worry with
regards to depression in a nonclinical sample. The hypotheses were the
following: (1) IU would be more highly and specifically related to worry than
to depression; and (2) worry would be more highly and specifically related to
IU than to dysfunctional attitudes (a cognitive process involved in
depression). Two-hundred and forty (240) undergraduate students completed
self-report questionnaires that assessed worry, intolerance of uncertainty,
depression, and dysfunctional attitudes. Both hypotheses were confirmed: IU was
more highly (although not significantly) and specifically related to worry than
to depression; and worry was more highly and specifically related to IU than to
dysfunctional attitudes. The findings are discussed in terms of their
theoretical and clinical implications." -- Dugas, Schwartz &
Francis, Cognitive Therapy and Research Journal, Vol. 28, No. 6, December 2004</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">What this study boiled down to is that worry and depression are
not the same thing. We worry because we are intolerant to uncertainty. Is my
job in danger? Can I pay the rent? Depression is not as related to uncertainty
as to events beyond our control. I lost my job and I can't pay my rent. (I
realize I am simplifying, but this is essentially the case. The depression I
have been suffering through did not involve worrying. It was the result of
several events beyond my control occurring at the same time. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">Now you may ask, I said Jesus was aware and in control of all
the situations surrounding Him, so am I saying now he never had an emotional
slump for the same reason?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">No, because there are situations where we, and He, did not have
control because the event was not directly surrounding Him. John the Baptist's
beheading was such a situation beyond His control. A friend dies or is killed
we feel sad and we mourn, we have a moment of depression. Yet we had no control
over the death of the friend. A disciple who has been with you and heard
everything you have taught and seen all you have done, yet indicates a
non-belief or just doesn't get it, can cause a feeling of dejection. We have no
control over the ability of our friend to understand or grasp the truth.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">In the quote, which began this post, we have Paul admitting that
hardships had made himself, and those traveling with him, downcast. Here is an
admission of depression caused by events out of the complete control of Paul.
It isn't a sin, it's an emotional reaction to being through hardships and loss.
But they are comforted and raised out of this mood by God and by the coming of
Titus. They have moved through the storm, so to speak, and the change in the
situation has ended any low feelings they had.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">In fact, the emotional slump has been replaced by joy, and then
Paul states this joy is made greater because of the Corinthians' deep sorrow.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">What an odd thing to say, that you are joyful because of someone
else's depression. But I see a lesson here that applies to these periods of
emotional depression; a lesson and a hope.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt;"> </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it.
Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little
while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your
sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so
were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to
salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this
godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear
yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what
readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be
innocent in this matter. So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account
of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before
God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. By all this we are
encouraged. 2 Corinthians 7:8-13</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;"> We see here that depression can lead to repentance and
salvation, as it did for me after the deep depression of losing our seventh
child. I also see that depression can be like a slap up-side the head,
something that wakes one up to seek control over the forces that have led to
the depression. However, I see a warning here as well. There is worldly sorrow
and that is when depression sinks to a point of no hope and the person gives
up. This is not only the idea of suicide, but the idea that a person has no
salvation because it is a depression where the person has turned completely
away from God.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">Jesus probably had moments of emotional despair, but He never
loss sight of the Father or the Father's will in those moments. Emotional
depression is part of the human condition and during this time of His ministry,
he was human. We as humans may go through many of these slumps in our life, but
this is not a sin. But it is a dangerous time if we lose sight of God. We
Christians need to pray earnestly for anyone who slips into a depression and we
need to be available to them, to help them, to raise them back up.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">You begin being raised back up when you regain control over the
direction of your life. Notice from Paul's statements how the Corinthians did
take control over the aspects of their lives that had been a problem for them.
Sometimes depression makes us realize we must make choices and changes that are
difficult to make, but if we don't make the effort, we will not gain control
and we will not escape our depression. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584610096017717648.post-2969671365123194682013-02-12T13:00:00.001-05:002013-02-12T13:00:10.376-05:00Wallowing with Mark Sanford<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1028"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMixyswr4klekcmi6H12ZqZNJv45xhfjBwIYBLO7nEuFyf_qJd8BtH2CPFcxQRNiTvk0ILRbg-Jp4IKd0SXZluiOh8w7anzHmneC52HqGx_g07EfpaKZKxVyRb837S28-K-UMGlAp0iw/s1600/wallow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMixyswr4klekcmi6H12ZqZNJv45xhfjBwIYBLO7nEuFyf_qJd8BtH2CPFcxQRNiTvk0ILRbg-Jp4IKd0SXZluiOh8w7anzHmneC52HqGx_g07EfpaKZKxVyRb837S28-K-UMGlAp0iw/s320/wallow.jpg" width="215" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">WALLOWING WITH MARK SANFORD</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_0" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="wallow.jpg" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;
margin-left:0;margin-top:31.55pt;width:238pt;height:353.2pt;z-index:251665920;
visibility:visible'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="wallow"/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4uzig44PjXR04Kci_7Om0ms_NPOjs-h6aLS61dLEz4Z-OgUURCWRMvy8MAgJe-zZ91XTirHLYFacFBt-YGf_ZjO-yHjKzMgiIBf07LT3Ojob1DGXpt1Iw7HAVZ3-JZLzXB4foDB7DJmiM/s1600-h/wallow.jpg"><span style="color: #ffc290; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">These
men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is
reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to
the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just
escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they
themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has
mastered him. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they
are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been
better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known
it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to
them. Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and,
"A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud." 2 Peter
2:17-22</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">There's
more to sex than mere skin on skin. Sex is as much spiritual mystery as
physical fact. As written in Scripture, "The two become one." Since
we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the kind
of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy, leaving us more lonely than
ever—the kind of sex that can never "become one." There is a sense in
which sexual sins are different from all others. In sexual sin we violate the
sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made for God-given and
God-modeled love, for "becoming one" with another. Or didn't you
realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don't
you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such
a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property
belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people
see God in and through your body. 1 Corinthians 6:16-20 (The Message)</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Do
not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes,
for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys
upon your very life. Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes
being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? So
is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go
unpunished. Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when
he is starving. Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him
all the wealth of his house. But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment;
whoever does so destroys himself. Proverbs 6:25-32<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Courier; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"I have been doing a lot of
soul searching on that front. What I find interesting is the story of David,
and the way in which he fell mightily; he fell in very, very significant ways.
But then picked up the pieces and built from there.</span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Courier; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Courier; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"I remain committed to
rebuilding the trust that has been committed to me over the next 18 months, and
it is my hope that I am able to follow the example set by David in Bible - who
after his fall from grace humbly refocused on the work at hand. By doing so, I
will ultimately better serve in every area of my life, and I am committed to
doing so." -- Mark Sanford<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1027"
type="#_x0000_t75" alt="04_0527.pig.jpg" style='position:absolute;left:0;
text-align:left;margin-left:-18pt;margin-top:22.85pt;width:195.2pt;height:230.4pt;
z-index:251666944;visibility:visible'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="04_0527"/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">After admitting he lied about the
number of liaisons he had with his mistress, who he called his "soul
mate", Mark Sanford said he would "try to learn to love his wife
again".<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja57dFm-ZG8_8hLap9Idn9xJfbjn5B39Xz6fDRgMA9GK7JP1eFCZTVnmq4mIZjd2hfv8SscaABRIduiZRicZaQadyxm27PvehHzt3Q5Av6cCcNvXPNQYkV26MqCRUhqS5PmAyPiB9azYo/s1600/Mark+Sanford+pig+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja57dFm-ZG8_8hLap9Idn9xJfbjn5B39Xz6fDRgMA9GK7JP1eFCZTVnmq4mIZjd2hfv8SscaABRIduiZRicZaQadyxm27PvehHzt3Q5Av6cCcNvXPNQYkV26MqCRUhqS5PmAyPiB9azYo/s1600/Mark+Sanford+pig+1.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Is this not an appropriate picture
of the man? We can entitle it, "The Three little Pigs"; although one
may be the wolf in pig's skin. We can't make a purse out of a sow's ear; now we
have the question, can we make a moral man out of a politician?<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">When I began blogging I decided not
to do anything political. For one thing, I don't like politics. More
importantly, politics today is too divisive and I figured doing a Christian
blog was probably divisive enough already. Besides I have no true representation
of my views in government anymore. The one party is blatantly anti-Christian
and just about everything else I value, and the other party often gives lip
service to what I value...but you know the old joke: How do you tell a
politician is lying? His lips are moving.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">This post concerns a politician,
but it isn't really about politics. It's about trust and deceit and breaking
vows to God. It is about people who show little or no remorse or regret about
reprehensible behavior and then try to hide behind misinterpreted Scripture. I
have stated this man should do the honorable thing and resign, and if he will
not, he should be impeached.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">There have been those who say it is
a small thing and his personal life is no one's business. First of all, if breaking
your sacred vows to your wife, cheating on her, leaving her and your children
on Father's Day no less, with no information of your whereabouts can be taken
as a small thing by those with small moral compasses, it is also true that one
who can't be trusted in small things cannot be trusted in big things.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But he didn't just leave his wife
in the lurch, did he? He left the people of his state in the lurch; people he
also swore an oath to serve. It is for this dereliction of duty that he should
be removed from office, whether he used state funds for his little trips or
not.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Relieve him of the stains and
restraints of office so he has time "to learn to love his wife
again". What arrogance contained in that statement; what utter lack of
remorse. The man cannot be trusted to hold any public trust for he lacks
judgment.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Do
not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes,
for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys
upon your very life. Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes
being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">So
is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go
unpunished. Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when
he is starving. Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him
all the wealth of his house.</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But
a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.
Proverbs 6:25-32</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"I have been
doing a lot of soul searching on that front. What I find interesting is the
story of David, and the way in which he fell mightily; he fell in very very
significant ways. But then picked up the pieces and built from there." </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Sanford
seems to identify himself with David's restoration, but where is Sanford's
repentance? His real consideration should focus first on David's sins, not
unlike his own, lust, adultery and dereliction of duty. The only thing missing
is murder. If David had been doing his duties as king, he may have saved
himself much grief. So it is with Mark Sanford.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Here was King David. It was springtime. Yes, I know, spring is
when a young man's fancy turns to love. But David wasn't some young shepherd
boy anymore. He was a King and in the spring of those times King's went off to
fight their battles while the weather allowed. But David did not do his duty.
He sent his armies off without him and he dawdled about the castle getting in to
mischief. He went wandering about on the roof one night and spied on a
beautiful woman taking a bath.</span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Such behaviors may seem strange to us today. When is the last
time you went for a leisurely evening walk across your roof or your neighbor's
wife was bathing on her patio?</span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Neither would have been unusual in David's time. People didn't
have running water and other modern conveniences. To have a bathing area on a
roof or porch or in an enclosed area wouldn't have been uncommon. Neither would
it be unusual for people to be walking about on their roofs. In warm weather
they would sit or sleep on the roof to keep cooler. We don't need to assume
either had any ulterior motive in their behavior. Nonetheless, David saw this
beautiful woman bathing and he sent for her and she came to him and it resulted
in her becoming preggers. Eventually this all led to David arranging for the
death of her husband.</span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">David did not seem too concerned about what he had done. He took
Bathsheba as a wife and looked forward to the birth of their son. He didn't
fear too much, who was going to confront the king over these things?</span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Nathan did.</span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The
LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, "There were two
men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very
large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little
ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children.
It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like
a daughter to him.</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Now
a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of
his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him.
Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for
the one who had come to him."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">David
burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the
LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb
four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Then
Nathan said to David, "You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of
Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the
hand of Saul. I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into
your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been
too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of
the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite
with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword
of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house,
because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.'</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"This
is what the LORD says: 'Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity
upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who
is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight.You did it
in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.'
"</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Then
David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan
replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But
because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter
contempt, the son born to you will die." 2 Samuel 12:1-14</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Yes,
David did not die for his act, nor did he give up his crown, but he did not
just pick up the peaces and build from there as Sanford claims. David retained
his position and power by the mercy of God. Part of this was David understood
he had sinned against God and repented and part was because God had promised
the Messiah, who would save and eventually rule men forever, would come from
David, and God would not go back on this promise.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">God
is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his
mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers
23:19.</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Sanford speaks of David's
humbleness, but where is Sanford's humbleness? "I will try to learn to
love my wife again," is not the statement of a humble man. It is the
statement of a man with no pity. If anything, he should have said, "I hope
my wife can forgive and learn to love me again."</span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Sanford seems to pick and choose
his Bible inspiration to suit his own wishes. He would be well advised to
remember it was not easy going for David, who would never be at peace or have a
happy home or rule after his sin. The child died as God said and the sword,
indeed, never left his house. One of his sons raped one of his daughters and a
second son killed the first for it. That second son led a revolt against David
and came to his own tragic demise in the branch of a tree. And that thing about
his wives happened also.</span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">And this is with David having
repented and been restored. Sanford would be better served to remember God
might take back even a promise for those who do not humbly repent and return to
true obedience to God's Word. He might ponder the fate of Eli's sons.</span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Now
Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel
and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of
Meeting. So he said to them, "Why do you do such things? I hear from all
the people about these wicked deeds of yours. No, my sons; it is not a good
report that I hear spreading among the LORD's people. <b>If a man sins against
another man, God may mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who
will intercede for him?"</b> His sons, however, did not listen to their
father's rebuke, for it was the LORD's will to put them to death.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Now
a man of God came to Eli and said to him, "This is what the LORD says:
'Did I not clearly reveal myself to your father's house when they were in Egypt
under Pharaoh? I chose your father out of all the tribes of Israel to be my
priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my
presence. I also gave your father's house all the offerings made with fire by
the Israelites. Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed
for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening
yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?'<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Therefore
the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that your house and your
father's house would minister before me forever.' But now the LORD declares: <b>'Far
be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will
be disdained.</b> The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and
the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in
your family line and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will
be done to Israel, in your family line there will never be an old man. Every
one of you that I do not cut off from my altar will be spared only to blind
your eyes with tears and to grieve your heart, and all your descendants will
die in the prime of life.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8584610096017717648" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"
'And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to
you—they will both die on the same day. I will raise up for myself a faithful
priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly
establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one always. Then
everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece
of silver and a crust of bread and plead, "Appoint me to some priestly
office so I can have food to eat." 1 Samuel 2:22-36<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I am not judging Mark Sanford. He
has in his political career chosen to present himself as a Christian. He has
used this image to his purposes. Christians are not perfect nor are they immune
from temptation and being lured by it to sin. But Christians who choose to
continue in such a sin and not rebuke it and turn from sin must take heed of
the opening verses in this post: </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are
worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better
for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and
then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of
them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and,
"A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Sanford should resign, but instead he is
wallowing in his sin. His behavior entices others to the same folly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevkt7BchfUOZ6hBimZ2tlN9o8_Rlxr3n4Ypa5xvrwCNuqLLCkFiigxheeXJSxEUGF0REMIdltXcPplAst4JtdeC1fZmgdMMDFyM-ecRteurTQLizlcUiA2eVBbiGFYjqISkGUnlFRlIg/s1600/mark_sanford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevkt7BchfUOZ6hBimZ2tlN9o8_Rlxr3n4Ypa5xvrwCNuqLLCkFiigxheeXJSxEUGF0REMIdltXcPplAst4JtdeC1fZmgdMMDFyM-ecRteurTQLizlcUiA2eVBbiGFYjqISkGUnlFRlIg/s320/mark_sanford.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">[Subsequently, Sanford’s wife divorced him. He refused to resign as governor, the
honorable thing to do, and letters of impeachment were drawn up against. The
politicians faltered on following through, although they did vote to censure
Sanford. Sanford has announced he will run for Jim DeMint’s Senate seat in
2013. Although we can forgive Sanford, the fallen man for his affair, he does
not deserve public trust for his lack of repentance. As he himself has said, </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">"It is my personal view that the largest proclamation of one's
faith ought to be in how one lives his life.” ]</span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584610096017717648.post-40362505988248868032013-02-08T19:40:00.000-05:002017-08-22T08:00:04.741-04:00One Whale of a Tale <!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1027"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhC2RB6OaKEMoHVYS55b7JSJZL3JawAqOpfAzzf0xdYRISnhphjaUoeoaLpf6FfDJ5v-vXAbqmRwXOIB393mmXga_xwXZhaRr84HKoLgyHwkUBllswvnAlcDEbeF3fHL5qHyl6Cqrk7A/s1600/2009+07+06+Photo+19+b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhC2RB6OaKEMoHVYS55b7JSJZL3JawAqOpfAzzf0xdYRISnhphjaUoeoaLpf6FfDJ5v-vXAbqmRwXOIB393mmXga_xwXZhaRr84HKoLgyHwkUBllswvnAlcDEbeF3fHL5qHyl6Cqrk7A/s320/2009+07+06+Photo+19+b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 200%;">POP IMAGES OF SPIRITUAL
CONCEPTS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600"
o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f"
stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="Photo 19.jpg" style='width:6in;height:324pt;visibility:visible'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="Photo 19"/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9lpzcPKxr4m-AOZ2PWix290pX3jAMcoCD1jvBEuBedWCXBp4GazUNbLo_MDm-4Ui553ibpCq7xl5QdWUG8dwPNJ1LSUIoeeKv2Q5xS54HgIRShR59MyM-CFk2Z41t1biPaco48IADsA1/s1600-h/Photo+19.jpg"><span style="color: #ffc290; text-decoration: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Sing
to God, sing praise to his name, extol him <b>who rides on the clouds</b>—his
name is the LORD—and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender
of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. Psalm 68:4-5</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Recently a friend commented he
didn't believe in some old man sitting on a cloud telling him how to live.
Well, neither do I.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">We've had thousands of years to
study Scripture, yet for many there exist these erroneous ideas and there
remain pop images of spiritual things. Don't you sometimes wonder where they
came from, especially when they get used to mock our beliefs?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">A lot comes from honest mistakes or
people intending to be helpful. An Artist will try to render the un-seeable as
a picture the human eye can perceive. Thus the idea of God riding the clouds in
Psalm 68 can becomes Michelangelo's Old Man poking through the clouds to point
down at Adam. We can be grateful artists did not read the literal translation
of Psalm 68:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Sing
ye to God -- praise His name, Raise up a highway for Him <b>who is riding in
deserts</b>, In Jah [is] His name, and exult before Him. Father of the
fatherless, and judge of the widows, [Is] God in His holy habitation. (Young’s
Literal Translation)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Otherwise, we may have had endless
representations of an old man chasing us down on a Camel.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Just as much of what we
think is real history comes from movies, much of what we accept as in the Bible
just comes from popular media. When I was a child, I used to sing a sing called
"I was Born About ten Thousand Years Ago". (It is also known as The
Bragging Song.)</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I saw Satan when he
looked the garden o'er,</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Then saw Adam and
Eve driven from the door,</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And behind the
bushes peeping,</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Saw the apple they
were eating,</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And I'll swear that
I'm the guy what ate the core.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Obviously, the core got caught in
his throat and we called it Adam's Apple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Solomon's beloved may have
envisioned him: "<i>Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my
lover among the young men" (Song of Solomon 2:3)</i></span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">, </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">but nowhere in Genesis when it
speaks of the Garden of Eden does it mention apples.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Now
the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the
man he had formed. And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the
ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of
the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil. Genesis 2:8-9</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">When
the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the
eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also
gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3:6</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">We only know the tree had fruit
pleasing to the eye and was good for food, but no description of exactly what
the fruit looked like. Why someone somewhere at sometime tagged the fruit as an
apple, I do not know. Since some try to turn the whole temptation and fall
scene into some sort of repressed sexual myth, it might have been more apropos
to make the fruit a pomegranate.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">The next verse of "I
Was Born About Ten Thousand Years Ago" touches on another misconception:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I saw Jonah when he
embarked within the whale,</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And thought that
he'd never live to tell the tale.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But old Jonah'd
eaten garlic</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And he gave the
whale a colic,</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">So he coughed him
up and let him out o' jail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Here is a case of an error by
earlier Bible translators, most notably in the King James Version. Out of the
choices for the Greek, ketos -- sea monster, whale or huge fish -- they choose
whale. Perhaps the translators thought only a whale was large enough to swallow
a man whole, but this was not consistent with the Hebrew in the book of Jonah,
which meant big fish. They should have chosen the word that matched the book
being quoted in Matthew.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">This simple wrong choice has
caused some sniping at Scripture by critics ever since. I recall reading many
years ago an attack on the story of Jonah in which the writer stated whales
really had small or restrictive throats for their size and would not be able to
swallow a man. I don't know if this is fact or not, any more than stories I
have read about people who were swallowed whole by such fish as Great White
Sharks and lived to tell the tale. I remember one such story told of a sailor
so gulped down. His shipmates managed to capture the shark and sliced it open
to free the man and he survived the experience. I also read of supposed experts
who said a person might survive a period of time in the stomach of a large
fish, but would be bleached white by the digestive juices. No wonder the
Ninevehians repented. Imagine the appearance of a ghost before them shouting
their doom!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">One thing sometimes
overlooked is we can't approach such events purely from a human perspective.
There is no need to feel we must provide some scientific or natural explanation
to miraculous events. Scripture describes God as providing or producing a huge
fish to swallow Jonah. This fish may have been a one-time deal, a creation of
God's for this singular purpose; that is, an ability to swallow Jonah, hold him
prisoner within it's belly for three days and three nights, and spew him out
upon the beach unharmed, if somewhat shaken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Is it important whether the
popular images of these events are correct? Does it really matter if Jonah was
swallowed by a whale or by a big fish? I suppose in some ways, not at all, as
long as the story is understood to have happened and the significance of it is
understood. Still, even if one small detail isn't of much import on the
surface, I think the correct version should be emphasized. Some of these
misconceptions do make a difference and some distract from the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">And certainly the truth of
Jonah in the belly of a wh...uh...big fish is important. Maybe we should take a
look at why.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br clear="ALL" style="page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 22.0pt;">WHAT’S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT A BIG FISH STORY?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_0" o:spid="_x0000_i1026"
type="#_x0000_t75" alt="jaffa jonah whale.jpg" style='width:382pt;height:380pt;
visibility:visible'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="jaffa jonah whale"/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9nknkk8AhGrbFh9-sAqy7iOTHxwFXmhXP0Xq6ao_AMtBjgqwGxS0qAwPZEhKAr5IvT55zz3CPpVwQh9jw3rP2Yqn8FemLKz4kRhj7uUeXLd7xFhvHO_8a53MSm9LkZmRtPf4lBc5xM7Y/s1600-h/jaffa+jonah+whale.jpg"><span style="color: #ffc290; text-decoration: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1W0hinC80Xbv1937snuWzLYAOWHRqnanHk0PZZQIzQxNqK4ARtRcWViVfBGL3aBTqqk72TiBW3Kdc3v1Bb6vEoOlgfSHvr2OVPaZ4V40aCKlB0kMp6bw0ptlHIE34Pb2kcsrRU5AME0/s1600/Jonah+in+Whale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1W0hinC80Xbv1937snuWzLYAOWHRqnanHk0PZZQIzQxNqK4ARtRcWViVfBGL3aBTqqk72TiBW3Kdc3v1Bb6vEoOlgfSHvr2OVPaZ4V40aCKlB0kMp6bw0ptlHIE34Pb2kcsrRU5AME0/s320/Jonah+in+Whale.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Then
some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we
want to see a miraculous sign from you." (Matthew 12:38)</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">He
answered, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">"A
wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be
given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah"</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">. (NIV)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">And
he answering said to them, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">`A generation, evil and adulterous, doth seek a sign, and a sign
shall not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah '</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">. (Young's Literal Translation)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">But
he answered and said unto them, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and
there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of Jonas</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">. (King James Version)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">But
he answered and said unto them, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and
there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonah</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">. (American Standard Version)
[Matthew 12:39 from four translations]</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Let's walk up to anyone at random
on an American street.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">"Excuse me for asking, but who
was Jonah"</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 200%;">"He was the guy got
swallowed by a whale."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">"And then what?"</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 200%;">"Oh, it's a whale of a
tale. He built a little fire on the raft he was on and when the whale sneezed
he whooshed out on the wave."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">"I believe you're
thinking of Pinocchio. I'm talking about Jonah in the Bible."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 200%;">"Oh, that old fish
story."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">"Well, you're getting
warmer. He was swallowed by a big fish, not a whale."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 200%;">"Okay, big whoop. So,
how'd he get out?"</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">"The fish vomited him
out onto the shore."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 200%;">"EEEEouuuuu!"</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">"And if you don't
understand the sign of Jonah, God might vomit you out, too!" (Well, I
probably shouldn't actually say that, it might be considered offensive. I admit
it sounds yucky. On the other hand, if it is an important point do we pull our
punches; soften our blow, just because someone might find it a bit gross? If it
does seem somewhat unscriptural to put it this indelicate way I suggest you
read Revelation 3:15-16.))</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Most people remember Jonah
being swallowed because as children it was a popular Sunday school lesson or
they have seen many illustrations of some bearded guy being gulped down by a
whale. I don't know how many actually read Jonah. Perhaps they think he is a
character in <i>Moby Dick.</i> Admittedly, Jonah can be a hard book to find in
the Old Testament being so few pages long. If you haven't read it, go do so
now. It shouldn't take more than five minutes once you find it. There are only
4 chapters, 33 paragraphs and 1,751 words in the NIV translation. It's tucked
in there between Obadiah and Micah. (That makes it easier to find, right? I
used to have a minister who every once in awhile would refer the congregation
to a verse in Hezekiah. Boy, you should have heard all the pages turning and
he'd just chuckle, hee hee hee!)</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">But why is this strange
little story even there? And what's all this vine and worm stuff at the end?
Why should we care about this guy Jonah at all?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Because there is a lot of
important information compressed into this little story, ideas that should
concern you and me.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">First let's familiarize
ourselves with the story.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">We first hear of Jonah in 2
Kings 14:23-25 and learn he was the son of Amittai (name means My Truth). Jonah
(whose name means Dove) was a prophet from Gath Hepher serving under King
Jeroboam II of Israel. Jeroboam II ruled from 793 BC to 753 BC. Jonah's
adventures with the big fish probably occurred around the year 785 BC. (As an
aside, Jonah also appears in the Qur'an [Koran] in Sura X.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">One day "the word of
God came to Jonah" with an assignment. Get up to Nineveh post haste,
Jonah! (Nineveh was an important Assyrian city, one that would become the
capital of the Assyrian Empire in about five decades after Jonah's trip. It was
at the site of modern day Mosul, Iraq.) This wasn't a pleasure trip; it was all
business. God was unhappy with the wickedness there and Jonah was to tell the
people to straighten up and fly right or God was going to do a Sodom and Gomorrah
on them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Jonah packed his bag and
jumped onto a boat at Joppa -- heading in the wrong direction. He had no
intention of warning those people. They were ba-a-ad. What kind of bad? Nahum tells
us they were making evil plots against God, were exploiting the helpless,
exceedingly cruel in war and if that weren't enough, they were hip deep in
prostitution, idol-worship and witchcraft. Jonah wasn't going to go one mile
out of his way for such folk, let alone 500.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Jonah, as a paying
passenger, went to his quarters and slept. While he was snoring, God hit the
boat with a furious storm. The seaman were scared enough to start praying to
their own gods, which didn't help at all. It got so bad the ship captain roused
Jonah and told him to get up and pray to his God, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Meanwhile, the sailors were
casting lots trying to figure out who might be responsible for what had
befallen them and all signs pointed to Jonah. They already knew he was on their
ship in disobedience to his God, because he had told them so when he bought his
ticket. Figuring this might have something to do with the problem, they asked
him what to do. Give Jonah some credit. He said, "Pick me up and throw me
into the sea."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Give those sailors some
credit, too. Bad as things were, they didn't really want to kill the guy. They
did everything possible to row out of the storm, but realized it wasn't going
to happen. After some heartfelt prayers to The God, they did toss Jonah
overboard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Soon as they did, the sea
grew calm and you had a bunch of guys who recognized who the real God was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">This didn't help Jonah,
though. He was sinking like a he had a heart of stone (which maybe he did).
Looked pretty bad for Jonah, flailing around helplessly in open water, but God
had a plan; God always has a plan. God had prepared a big fish to swallow him
and for the next three days and three nights Jonah got to think hard about what
he could have done and should of done and wished he would have done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Jonah spent his time
praying; always a good idea in tight situations, besides what else is there to
do inside a fish? He prayed for forgiveness with thanksgiving and he promised
to make good on his mission. With that, God caused the fish to throw up and
Jonah found himself back on dry land. He must have been a mess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Well to make a short story
even shorter, Jonah went to Nineveh and spent the next three days telling them
to repent or perish. Then he stood back to see what would happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">What happened was the people
of Nineveh did repent and turn to God for mercy and were spared destruction (at
least for this time. They kind of backslid later and didn't fare so well as a
result, but that's neither here or there.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Jonah wasn't happy about
this. He was angry. He wanted to see those Assyrians get theirs. He wanted the
big pyrotectic ending. He didn't get it and just sat and mumbled about it. He
was so mad he told God that was why he never wanted to come here, because he
knew God was forgiving and merciful. Jonah was so absorbed in self-pity over
not getting his own way he suggested God let him die. God simply asked him what
right he had to be angry?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Jonah went off to brood. And
what did God do? He provided a vine to shade the man so he'd sulk in comfort.
Jonah was pretty happy about that. He adored that nice cooling vine, but then
God had a worm chew down the vine at dawn and when the sun began beating down
Jonah wanted to die again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">But
God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?"</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">"I
do," he said. "I am angry enough to die."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">But
the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did
not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But
Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell
their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be
concerned about that great city?" Jonah 4:9-10</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Who made the vine? God. Jonah had
made a little shelter, but it was the cooling vine, which really provided him
with protection from the heat. Who made the worm that chewed down the vine? </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">God.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Then the sun blazed down on Jonah because man is never as adequate in what
he builds for his own salvation, as is what God provides. But did Jonah express
appreciation for the time the vine did give him comfort? No, he felt he was
entitled to that vine and he was angry and sulking again. Jonah was a pretty
self-absorbed fellow. Here he was thinking only of himself, angry over a vine
he had nothing to do with and not caring a fig about the fate of one hundred
and twenty thousand people and their animals. And God had even told him those
people were ignorant of right and wrong and needed guidance to know their right
hand from their left. Jonah had a duty to try to show the people the way.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">And what is God saying? You
worry about your own comfort and things you didn't raise a hand to tend or
make. God made and tended those people, all people. They may have been mean and
nasty people, but despite that God cared about them. He wasn't going to wipe
them out without giving them a chance to change. He made them, he tended them,
he had a right, like the vine, to grow them or dispose of them as he saw fit. It
wasn't what Jonah wanted; it was what God willed.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">We're all a lot like Jonah
if we're honest with ourselves. How many Ninevehians have you wanted to wipe
out in your life?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">"Hey, look at that fool
drive. He cut me off. I hope he slams into a tree and kills himself."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">"Man, those Wall Street
guys don't deserve to make that much more money than me. I work hard. They
probably got it by cheating or on whom they know. Look, they're taking that CEO
out in handcuffs. Oh, I'm lovin' it. Hope he gets life at hard labor."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">"Did you see that? That
guy jumped the line and got the last Hanna Montana concert tickets. What'll I
tell my kid, I promised her...hey buddy, drop dead!"</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">"I hate comedians making
all those jokes about my faith. Using all those four-letter words to do it,
too. I wish lightening would strike them."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">"Those people over
there, always trying to kill anyone who doesn't agree with them, even blowing
themselves up to do it. I hope they all rot in hell!"</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Are we any different than
Jonah? Do we see beyond our own comfort zones? Do we look at what others do and
stop and pray for them? Do we care about their life or soul? Can we get beyond
our own hate to love those who hate us? Can we get beyond our own love of self
to love others, for that matter?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Big funeral the other year
for Michael Jackson. A lot of people showed up expressing their love for the
man. Really? Did they actually even care about the man? Perhaps if someone had
really cared about the boy, he wouldn't have been so weird. If someone had
really loved the man, perhaps he wouldn't be dead. Maybe he would have been
happier being just another live local singer in a coffee shop than lying in a
gold coffin. Did all those people come to say goodbye to someone they loved or
did they come just to say they'd been there?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">You don't want to leave this
life just saying, "I been there". You want to leave saying, "I
cared about those others who be there."</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">There is something else we
need take note of in Jonah. If God has a purpose for you (and he does have a
purpose for us all) you can't run away from it. He'll find a way to suggest you
do it or...well, maybe you don't want to think about the "or". I'll
tell you, I am not fond of seafood. I'm even less fond of being seafood.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Right about now, you may be
wondering why this post began with quotes from Matthew. Jonah was Old School,
wasn't he? He was back in BC, right? Maybe I should care about people, but why
the big production with giant fish and vicious storms and all the drama?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Another man died recently
who was also 50 years old. He didn't quite get the big splash Michael Jackson
got (or that Jonah made either), but he was memorialized some. That was the
pitchman Billy Mays. It's time to quote Mr. Mays:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">"But wait, there's even
more!"</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Yes, it'll have to wait
until next time. It's an offer you don't want to pass up and operators are
standing by. It isn't going to cost you $19.95 either. It's totally free, not
even a small handling and shipping charge.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">You be sure to come back
now, you hear.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br clear="ALL" style="page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8584610096017717648" name="DD"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 22.0pt;">WHAT HAS 5 LETTERS AND STARTS WITH J?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 22.0pt;">JONAH OR JESUS, MAKE A CHOICE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8584610096017717648" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8584610096017717648" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8584610096017717648" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8584610096017717648" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_0" o:spid="_x0000_s1026"
type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Jonah sign.jpg" style='position:absolute;left:0;
text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:22.75pt;width:269.6pt;height:168pt;
z-index:251668480;visibility:visible'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image005.jpg"
o:title="Jonah sign"/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZqcGsCT1-jTAcqy8hKetInGdBwVJ18eVrm7KP8yvjuP3KIE7_COx0zTzSVSSC9dGE6tkfgYTOcmOpG4UiUlO4F4CdrEb6DHF1kXg6CL0jTC8tFkQGqh5lg-ka8yBvGE14X0j-6JPbirY/s1600-h/Jonah+sign.jpg"><span style="color: #ffc290; text-decoration: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBl-H18HXpi6ubZUP1z0almcwBbWpSyk-sKTGErtwqKvUZXG9SDSq7CmmxsG1Z-kvJm7Ed_ITxhSWkBpJ7491OCDsOiOxcfl-nrOWxyF-rlzK12IvZENEFyd8YfD1L8ShHnuGDAM6uszA/s1600/Jonah+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBl-H18HXpi6ubZUP1z0almcwBbWpSyk-sKTGErtwqKvUZXG9SDSq7CmmxsG1Z-kvJm7Ed_ITxhSWkBpJ7491OCDsOiOxcfl-nrOWxyF-rlzK12IvZENEFyd8YfD1L8ShHnuGDAM6uszA/s1600/Jonah+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBl-H18HXpi6ubZUP1z0almcwBbWpSyk-sKTGErtwqKvUZXG9SDSq7CmmxsG1Z-kvJm7Ed_ITxhSWkBpJ7491OCDsOiOxcfl-nrOWxyF-rlzK12IvZENEFyd8YfD1L8ShHnuGDAM6uszA/s320/Jonah+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">You hurled me
into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about
me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, I have been banished
from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple. The engulfing
waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my
head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in
forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God. Jonah 2:3-6</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">As the
crowds increased, </span></i><b><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">t</span></i></b><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">hen some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him,
"Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">He
answered.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Jesus
said, "This is </span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">a wicked and adulterous generation. </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">It</span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"> asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it
except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">was a sign to the Ninevites, </span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">was three days and three nights in
the belly of a huge fish, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">so also will the Son of Man be to this generation,</span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"> so the Son of Man will be three days
and three nights in the heart of the earth. </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">The Queen of the South will rise at the
judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from
the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than
Solomon is here.</span></i><b><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"> </span></i></b><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this
generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now
one greater than Jonah is here. (Matthew 12:38-41 </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">and<span style="color: red;"> Luke 11:29-32)</span></span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Can you imagine the faces of the Pharisees? This
would be akin, I suppose, if someone stood in our church and said at the judgment
Madelyn Murray O'Hair would rise up and condemn us. They must have been even
more in a fury when Jesus told them He was greater than not only Jonah, but of
Solomon. They probably couldn't even think about what the sign of Jonah meant.
They didn't realize He was going to meet their demand for a miraculous sign,
but most of them didn't recognize it when he did.</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Why does Jonah get highlighted here? Was it
because his name began with J and has five letters? No. Is it because his name
means Dove, a bird often used to represent the Holy Spirit and peace? Not
exactly. Does Jonah act exactly like Jesus? Hardly. It is because the prophet
was an archetype of Christ in the Old Testament.</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Let's look at Jonah's story a little closer.</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Where was Jonah different? For one thing, Jesus
set his sight on Jerusalem to fulfill his purpose and God's will. Jonah set his
sight on Joppa and transportation to escape from his purpose. For another
thing, when Jonah did actually complete what God's plan was for him, he sat
around grumbling and griping about the outcome.</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">So what's the prototyping here?</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Jonah is asleep on a ship during a terrible storm
(not the only thing I think Jonah slept though). When he is awakened, he tells
the sailors to throw him overboard. He willingly sacrifices himself for the
saving of those men. They comply to his command that he must be sacrificed and
toss him in the sea where a big fish swallows him. He is buried in the heart of
the sea in a fish-tomb for three days and three nights and then he is thrown up
upon the land. He is resurrected so to speak. The sailors have been saved from
drowning and have begun praising and sacrificing to The God, so we could say
they were resurrected as well.</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Jonah now goes to Nineveh and preached salvation
to them. They repented and their city isn't destroyed and so they too are saved
out of Jonah's sacrifice and resurrection.</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Jonah's similarities to Jesus don't continue
after this point, however. Instead of rejoicing these sinners in Nineveh were
rescued from destruction, he is upset by it and angry. Jesus' sacrifice was so
all men would be saved who believed upon Him. Jonah felt his own sacrifice was
wasted on people who didn't deserve any salvation and he wanted them dead.</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">If Jonah was a foreshadowing of Christ in his
encounter with the fish, he seems to be a foreshadowing of the Pharisees, and
of the Nation of Israel, to whom Jesus gives the sign of Jonah. As Christ is
the Vine of Life, a vine grows up to give comfort to Jonah, but a worm eats it
away much as hatred has eaten away any compassion or caring in the heart of
Jonah. Jonah, who was a prophet, who knew the Law and heard the Word of God,
did not grasp the Spirit of the Law, exactly like the teachers of the Law in
Jesus' day. Jonah's comforting by the vine was only temporary. We could also
say the Vine was like Christ in it was sent to comfort Jonah, but was cut off
and because it was cut off Jonah was angry with it.</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">He probably resented the sparing of Nineveh even
more because they weren't Hebrews or Jews, they were gentiles,
"dogs", and an enemy of his nation. Yet, just as we find his nation
rejecting Christ and salvation then going out to the gentiles, we see it
foreshadowed here.</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">However, this salvation of Nineveh did not last
long, it was only temporary. Nineveh was to revert to evil and would perish in
due time. The blood of lambs and goats is only sufficient to bring salvation
for a short time. The sacrifice of any man, other than Christ, cannot bring
lasting salvation either. The only lasting saving grace can be found in the
Lord Jesus Christ, the last sacrifice, who like the sign of Jonah, was buried
in a tomb for three days and three nights and resurrected to bring eternal life
to everyone who is drawn to Him by God and believes. Who do you choose, Jonah
or Jesus?</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A Note About The Three Days and
Three Nights</span></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Jesus said he would be "three days and three
nights in the heart of the earth". Some critics are happy to quote this as
proof of an error. They point out if Jesus died on the cross at 3:00 PM on
Friday and rose at dawn on Sunday, that is not three days and three nights. It
is barely a day and a half.</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Some defend this by claiming this is an
expression, a colloquialism, and it was fulfilled by there being a portion of
three days. Jesus died in the day on Friday (day 1), He was in the grave Friday
night and all day Saturday (day 2) and he arose Sunday morning (day 3).</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">I have no problem with this as an explanation. We
do the same thing ourselves. For instance my wife and I took a little
mini-vacation during Fourth of July (although it got cut short when my wife
fell in the shower at the hotel.) We told our kids we were going away for three
days. We left late Thursday afternoon (4:00PM), stayed over Thursday night
planning on going to several sites during the next day, then spending Friday
night at the Hotel and coming home on Saturday. We counted Thursday, Friday and
Saturday as three days, but in reality it would have been just somewhat over a
day and a half (Thursday evening, All Day Friday, Saturday morning).</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">But in the case of Jesus, I believe in a
different scenario. I don't think Jesus died on a Friday. I think this was a
mistake made out of ignorance of Judaism. Scripture does not tell us on which
day Jesus died. What do we know? We know Jesus died during Passover week. Have
you wondered why it is that Passover and Easter never quite line up? Passover
comes about the time of Easter, but it may fall on any day of the week, while
Easter always falls on Sunday. Why should this be?</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">The Jewish calendar was based on moon phases.
Passover came on a different day each year and when set in our modern calendars
this was also on a different date, week and sometimes month each year. Easter
is calculated similarly, so the two holidays always fall near each other, but
not exactly because the early Christians decided to make Esther always be on a
Sunday. It is sort of like our Memorial Day and Presidents Day. Originally
these days were on a specific date, but some people wanted to have long
weekends, so they were made a certain Monday of a certain month each year.</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">As we speak of an Easter week, with it's Maundy
Thursday and Good Friday, Passover is a multi-day celebration as well. There is
Erev Pesah followed by Pesah, or the First Day of the Feast of Unleavened
Bread, which is a weeklong feast, in which the seventh day celebrates the
crossing of the Red Sea. The day after the First Day of Unleavened Bread is
called The Omar or First Fruits. The Omar runs for 50 days, ending on
Pentecost.</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">The First day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is
a Sabbath Day.</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Here is what Scripture tells us. Christ was
crucified the day before a Sabbath and hurriedly buried. He died at 3:00 PM,
which was the hour the lambs were traditional slaughtered for the Pesah feast.
His body was prepared and wrapped and buried before sundown because the Sabbath
started then. The women observed this preparation and the laying of his body in
the tomb. We are told the women then prepared spices, rested on the Sabbath and
went to the tomb early on the first day of the week (Luke in 23 and 24). In
Mark 16 we learn the women bought the spices after the Sabbath. These
statements seem contradictory for how could they get the spices before they
purchased them, but this isn't mystical at all and really helps explain the
three days and three nights question.</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">Jesus died at 3:00 PM on Erev Pesah. Joseph of
Arimathea took the body and prepared it for burial. The women followed along
and observed this all the way to the laying of Jesus in the tomb, and then went
home for the High Sabbath of Pesah. On the day after that Sabbath, the women
purchased their spices and prepared them, then rested for the weekly Sabbath on
Saturday. Early on the First day of the Week, they went to the tomb and found
Jesus all ready risen.</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">If Erev Pesah fell on a Wednesday, then Jesus lay
in the ground all Wednesday night and Thursday Day (1 night and 1 day), all
Thursday night and Friday day (2 nights and 2 days) and all Friday night and
Saturday day (3 nights and 3 days). Scripture does not tell us when Jesus rose.
Considering bribes were given to the guards to lie and say they fell asleep (an
absurd premise given the number of guards and the punishment for such
dereliction of duty) it was probably in the night. We do know the women went to
the tomb at daybreak on Sunday and He was already gone.</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">I don't want to get further into this, which
would be a whole other essay. Whether "three days and three nights"
was an expression meaning a portion of three days or whether (as I believe) a
literal three days and three nights passed, it doesn't change the fact that
Christ was crucified, buried and Resurrected. And that this was a final
sacrifice and a permanent means of salvation for all people who come to Christ.</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">***</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">(Madelyn Murray O'Hair, if you didn't know, was
brutally murdered by an office manager at her American Atheist organization. He
did it to steal money from the organization and then he murdered her and some
of her family, cutting their bodies into pieces with a saw and burying the
remains on a Texas ranch. This is what William Murray, Madelyn's son, had to
say about his mother, from whom he was estranged after being baptized a Baptist
and becoming a preacher: </span><span style="color: #2634ff; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">"My mother was an evil person... Not for removing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_prayer"><span style="color: #2634ff; text-decoration: none;">prayer</span></a> from America's
schools... No, she was just evil. She stole huge amounts of money. She misused
the trust of people. She cheated children out of their parents' inheritance.
She cheated on her taxes and even stole from her own organizations. She once
printed up phony stock certificates on her own printing press to try to take
over another atheist publishing company.... Regardless of how evil and lawless
my mother was she did not deserve to die in the manner she did."</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"> [Wikipedia])</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;">***</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584610096017717648.post-41499111530160250382013-02-05T14:05:00.000-05:002013-02-05T14:05:38.968-05:00Tuff Stuff: Suffer the Children
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1027"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8YJdHtaR6z2PDud6kYc9DgHxOZ55VlCVjes6xdaJ20GoYmW15cGVPWYljEw9FzJNkZ-bpDygoMQ5X2FKLit5GjK-kShwgyFv7A7homhNVxBjfzFZof8vaBNPm4J79nYLoqcPkm_WVWu_/s1600-h/LaFreeda+Terry+Lee_2.jpg"><span style="color: #ffc290; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1G7sZ856MR7WhiQ-_EOFgQT4W5ICDAgTjQwdTPzL9eeZ1FKoVrweSalaFBqty9Sy8nU5ZW7xoKt-ahIn5cx-201L80JQ3yDWCcMwqS48jrqpNVHehvhSq0aaJWSpfIFZstBcuq1Ybn4A/s1600/1952-1952+LaFreeda+Terry+Lee+2nd+Cousin+003+grave+detail+1952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1G7sZ856MR7WhiQ-_EOFgQT4W5ICDAgTjQwdTPzL9eeZ1FKoVrweSalaFBqty9Sy8nU5ZW7xoKt-ahIn5cx-201L80JQ3yDWCcMwqS48jrqpNVHehvhSq0aaJWSpfIFZstBcuq1Ybn4A/s320/1952-1952+LaFreeda+Terry+Lee+2nd+Cousin+003+grave+detail+1952.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #008109; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And</span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> then </span></i><i><span style="color: #008109; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">they </span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">[who]</span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> were there brought unto him </span></i><i><span style="color: #008109; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">young</span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> little children, </span></i><i><span style="color: #ff6300; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">also infants,</span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> that he should put his hands on
them, </span></i><i><span style="color: #008109; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">touch
them</span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> and
pray: </span></i><i><span style="color: #ff6300; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">but
when his disciples saw it, </span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">[they] </span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">rebuked them</span></i><i><span style="color: #008109; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> that brought them</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75"
coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe"
filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_0" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="LaFreeda Terry Lee_2.jpg" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;
margin-left:0;margin-top:115.35pt;width:221.05pt;height:272.4pt;z-index:251669504;
visibility:visible'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/nitewrite/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="LaFreeda Terry Lee_2"/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But </span></i><i><span style="color: #008109; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">when</span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Jesus </span></i><i><span style="color: #008109; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">saw it</span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #008109; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">he was much displeased, </span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">[and]</span></i><i><span style="color: #ff6300; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> called them unto him</span></i><i><span style="color: #008109; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> and said unto them</span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">“Suffer little children, and forbid
them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven -- the kingdom
of God.<b> </b>Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom
of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.”</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #008109; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And
he took them up in his arms</span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> and laid his hands on them</span></i><i><span style="color: #008109; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> and blessed them</span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">, and departed thence. (Matthew 19:12-15, </span></i><i><span style="color: #008109; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Mark 10:13-16,</span></i><i><span style="color: #670065; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #ff6300; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Luke 18:15-17)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">One of my essays “Real Nightmares”
(9/19/09) ended with the death of a child. She wasn't my child, but the sister
of a friend and because she died going from my home, I felt guilt. The
associated shock, nightmares and the guilt of the event eventually faded into
the miasma of time.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">The illustration on this post is
the edge of a tombstone. It was for a baby who died at birth. He was the only
child of an older cousin. I was very young myself when this happened, but I
remember going to her home. Everyone was acting strange. They only spoke to
each other in whispers and no one would tell me what was going on. People were
crying. I was scared.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">My wife and I were to endure seven
tiny deaths of our own. Four were miscarriages, three - Sean, Michael and Amy -
died in infancy. It is not easy to lose a child, but perhaps easier so early,
before you have known their personalities, seen their aptitudes or heard their
laughter. But it is still hard.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">And it is natural to wonder where
did they go?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Oh, sure, I was once an Atheist and
perhaps those few real Atheists don't ask that question, but most people hold
to some belief in an afterlife. Thus I think for the majority of people, they
ask that question.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">My answer is such children are in
Heaven with the Lord.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">The Apostles asked a question of
Christ on a different matter once:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #9a3198; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">At
that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in
the kingdom of heaven?"</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #9a3198; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">He
called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"I tell you the truth, unless you
change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of
heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in
the kingdom of heaven</span></i><i><span style="color: #9a3198; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">. </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes
me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it
would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to
be drowned in the depths of the sea."</span></i><i><span style="color: #9a3198; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Matthew 18: 1-6</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">You might say, and rightly, these
verses and the ones quoted at the beginning of the post, don't say young
children who die automatically go to Heaven. But they show God has a special
love and protective attitude toward children.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Yet, I don't base my premise on
these verses. I base it on these:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But
you were unwilling to go up; you rebelled against the command of the LORD your
God. You grumbled in your tents and said, "The LORD hates us; so he
brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy
us. Where can we go? Our brothers have made us lose heart. They say, 'The
people are stronger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up
to the sky. We even saw the Anakites there.' "</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Then
I said to you, "Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The LORD
your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in
Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the LORD
your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until
you reached this place."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">In
spite of this, you did not trust in the LORD your God, who went ahead of you on
your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to search out places for
you to camp and to show you the way you should go.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">When
the LORD heard what you said, he was angry and solemnly swore: "Not a man
of this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your
forefathers, except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him
and his descendants the land he set his feet on, because he followed the LORD
wholeheartedly."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Because
of you the LORD became angry with me also and said, "You shall not enter
it, either. But your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will enter it. Encourage
him, because he will lead Israel to inherit it. <b>And the little ones that you
said would be taken captive, <u>your children who do not yet know good from
bad—they will enter the land</u></b>. I will give it to them and they will take
possession of it. But as for you, turn around and set out toward the desert
along the route to the Red Sea." Deuteronomy 1: 26-40</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Probably most people who heard the
story of the exodus know the Hebrews wandered about in the wilderness for forty
years. They certainly know some of the events, how the Red Sea was parted as
they escaped Pharaoh's army, how Moses went up the mountain and God wrote the
Ten Commandments into stone and how Aaron carved a golden calf and the people
danced about it. We've seen all that in Cecil deMille's movie, "The Ten
Commandments". We all know Moses looked just like Charlton Heston. But you
want to know something that stuff all happened in the first year.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Granted they hung around one spot
there at Mount Sinai for that year, but it is only about 200 miles from where
they left Egypt to Canaan. If they only walked five miles a day it should have
only taken them 40 days, not forty years. God was leading them. Was he lost? I've
had some Mapquest directions that took me the long way around, but forty years
of wrong turns? Naw, God didn't need Mapquest and he didn't miss any turns.
When they left Mount Sinai, God led them on a beeline right to the Promised
Land and said, it's your for the taking.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Except they didn't have faith. They
were afraid. They said those fellows over there are too big for puny little us.
They forgot God is bigger than anyone. They turned down the offer. And as a
result, they never got to enter the Land of Milk and Honey. That's is why they
wandered around in the desert for Forty Years, until every one of those who
refused God's gift of Canaan dropped dead (with a couple exceptions, Joshua and
Caleb) <b>and the children</b>.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">So tell them, 'As
surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very things I heard
you say: In this desert your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old
or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. Not one
of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except
Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. <b>As for your children that you
said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have
rejected.</b> But you—your bodies will fall in this desert. Your children will
be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the
last of your bodies lies in the desert. Numbers 14:28-33</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Although the children, and here we
find children defined as those from o to 19 years of age, who also didn't enter
Canaan when it was offered, are viewed by God as innocent by their youth --
"<b><i>your children who do not yet know good from bad—they will enter the
land"</i></b>.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">There is a picture of us coming to
salvation in the Exodus. Like the Hebrews, who were slaves in Egypt, we are in
bondage to our sins. Like the first Passover lamb, Jesus shed His blood to pay
for our sins and the Word of God goes before us offering us salvation and entry
into Heaven if we only accept His gift. If we lack that faith, then we will die
in the wilderness of our sin and not set foot in the Promise Land.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">And if we accept the model of the
Exodus as a model of God's offer of salvation, then we can accept the special
Grace shown to children.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">At
that time Abijah son of Jeroboam became ill, and Jeroboam said to his wife,
"Go, disguise yourself, so you won't be recognized as the wife of
Jeroboam. Then go to Shiloh. Ahijah the prophet is there—the one who told me I
would be king over this people. Take ten loaves of bread with you, some cakes and
a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will happen to the
boy." So Jeroboam's wife did what he said and went to Ahijah's house in
Shiloh.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Now
Ahijah could not see; his sight was gone because of his age. But the LORD had
told Ahijah, "Jeroboam's wife is coming to ask you about her son, for he
is ill, and you are to give her such and such an answer. When she arrives, she
will pretend to be someone else."</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">So
when Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps at the door, he said, "Come
in, wife of Jeroboam. Why this pretense? I have been sent to you with bad news.
Go, tell Jeroboam that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I
raised you up from among the people and made you a leader over my people
Israel. I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, but
you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commands and followed me
with all his heart, doing only what was right in my eyes. You have done more
evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods,
idols made of metal; you have provoked me to anger and thrust me behind your
back.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"
'Because of this, I am going to bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam. I will
cut off from Jeroboam every last male in Israel—slave or free. I will burn up the
house of Jeroboam as one burns dung, until it is all gone. Dogs will eat those
belonging to Jeroboam who die in the city, and the birds of the air will feed
on those who die in the country. The LORD has spoken!'</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"As
for you, go back home. When you set foot in your city, the boy will die. All
Israel will mourn for him and bury him. He is the only one belonging to
Jeroboam who will be buried, <b>because he
is the only one in the house of Jeroboam in whom the LORD, the God of Israel,
has found anything good</b>. 1 Kings 14:1-13</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I've seen it said Abijah died as a
punishment on Jeroboam. This is not how I read it. It is true God promised
disaster on the house of Jeroboam, but the LORD spared Abijah by letting him
die as a youth. God found good in the boy, but apparently the state of Israel
would be so evil it was better to take the boy out of it than allow him to grow
to rule over it. I doubt God would have spared Abijah from the curse put on the
males of Jeroboam to condemn him to the worse curse of Hell.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Then David said to Nathan, "I
have sinned against the LORD."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Nathan replied, "The LORD
has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this
you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you
will die."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">After Nathan had gone home, the
LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and he became ill.
David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and
spent the nights lying on the ground. The elders of his household stood beside
him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any
food with them.</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">On the seventh day the child died.
David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they
thought, "While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would
not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do something
desperate."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">David noticed that his servants
were whispering among themselves and he realized the child was dead. "Is
the child dead?" he asked. </span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"Yes," they replied,
"he is dead."</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Then David got up from the ground.
After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the
house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his
request they served him food, and he ate.</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">His servants asked him, "Why
are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but
now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!"</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">He answered, "While the child
was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be
gracious to me and let the child live.' But now that he is dead, why should I
fast? Can I bring him back again<b>? I will
go to him, but he will not return to me.</b>" 2 Samuel 12:13-23</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">This was the first child David had
with Bathsheba, the offspring of that adulterous affair that resulted in
murder. But the death of this baby was not a punishment on the child, but on
David. Otherwise, God would be going against His Law: <i>Fathers shall not be
put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers;
each is to die for his own sin. Deuteronomy 24:16</i></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Now one could argue that
David's statement to his servants merely means David will go to the grave as
did his son; however, it is clear from David's life, and especially his Psalms,
that David understood resurrection and salvation. No, I believe it was not just
an acceptance of "that's that and nothing I can do about it, so I'll just
get on with my life". I think David's ability to eat and snap back is
because he knew that he would go to his son eventually, and to do that his son
would also have to be in Heaven. And a child dead at birth has no opportunity
to ask forgiveness.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But God is big enough to
take to Himself those who have no ability to hear, understand or accept.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I believe someday I will go
to those seven children we lost.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">My grief for those children
is for what I missed in not having them in my life, not for the life they
missed, for their life is better than mine. My fear is for the children who are
living and grown into the age of understanding. For the children who die too
young we grieve for what we lost; for the children who die too late, we grieve
for what they lost. Pray for all we children of the world that we do not die
too late.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584610096017717648.post-25744639241174798882013-01-29T18:35:00.000-05:002013-09-10T14:35:49.033-04:00Gunfighter and the Garden<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGONDQk3v2_7fVLCKZKRhwGi3NpknkyU-fa3bBTu-DnXRrctVUwwfRX14gADs3fhfwlUEJuM0kmsipHN1HokMCpVzE_Gulebg1ttX76eTU1wZZRYNDxMz-OfPO8htqyj53DeEKLVxXhOc/s1600/2007+Virginia+Trip+150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGONDQk3v2_7fVLCKZKRhwGi3NpknkyU-fa3bBTu-DnXRrctVUwwfRX14gADs3fhfwlUEJuM0kmsipHN1HokMCpVzE_Gulebg1ttX76eTU1wZZRYNDxMz-OfPO8htqyj53DeEKLVxXhOc/s320/2007+Virginia+Trip+150.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">So,
my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ that you might
belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, <b>in order that we
might bear fruit to God. </b>Romans 7:40 </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">When I was a young Christian I
viewed bearing fruit as if I was the new gunslinger in town. The purpose of the
Great Commission was to face down the unbeliever at the OK Corral and see how
many notches I could put on my belt, or perhaps on my Bible. Listening to some
people speak about winning souls made it seem we were bounty hunters always
wary of spotting our prey everywhere we went and ready to bring them in to the
sheriff.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Then came a period of uncertainty.
Perhaps I was not a very good Christian (maybe not one at all), because I
couldn't go to meeting and brag about the souls I saved like some others seemed
to do constantly and continuously. Perhaps I was like autumn leaves
without fruit, twice dead.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">How ignorant and arrogant was I. It
is not the souls I save that constitute my fruit. It can't be, because I can't
save souls at all. I couldn't save my own soul, what makes me ever think I
could save yours? No man can save another's soul, not I, not you, not Billy
Graham in his heyday.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Only God can save a soul. All we
can do is tell them so they hear and if they believe we can disciple them. We
do that; we have done what we can. So put away the six-gun and forget the
notches. If you are bragging on how many souls you've saved you have lost
yourself in pride and self-acclamation.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But
when [John the Baptist] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where
he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to
flee from the coming wrath? <b>Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.</b>
And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I
tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. <b>The
ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce
good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire</b>. Matthew 3:7-10</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But what is this fruit we might
bear to God? I mean, this sounds serious when every tree that does not produce
good fruit will be cut down and burned. I certainly want to be a fruit bearer,
but what kind of fruit?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">We are told in Galatians 5:22-23,
"<i>But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."</i></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I will tell you at this point of my
Christian life I have at least the blossoms of all these. I will say some are
actual fruit, not fully shaped or ripe, but recognizable. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Shall I also tell you how hard I
have worked to cultivate these beginnings of fruit? About all my selfless
labor, my hours of concentrated effort? Not likely, for what I have in fruit is
not my doing at all. I'm so likely to allow a weed to grow to choke me off from
the vine, so prone to forget the water my fruit needs or too easily distracted
by the "fruit for death" my flesh once bore.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Yet, when I am lured to those old
dried up prunes, then I remember the world is watching and I am now bound to
display healthy fruit.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">For
you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of
light (<b>for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness
and truth</b>) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the
fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to
mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light
becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it
is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and
Christ will shine on you." Ephesians 5:8-14</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Our fruit reflects light into the
darkness of the world. The light we reflect is the light of God through Jesus
Christ. If we have no fruit to provide that reflection, then we must question
our Christianity. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">So how do we assure our fruit will
grow and develop? How to we get the Fruits of the Spirit? Exactly like the
pumpkins in the illustration with this post. We are not the fruit, we are the
branches on which it grows and in order for the branch to live and bear fruit
it must be attached to the vine. Our fruit will not grow and could shrivel and
die if we do not keep in constant contact with the vine, and what is the vine?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"I
</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">[Jesus
Christ]</span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> am the
true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that
bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that
it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have
spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit
by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you
remain in me.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"<b>I
am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will
bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.</b> If anyone does not
remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such
branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me
and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be
my disciples.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> "As
the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you
obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's
commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in
you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I
have loved you. Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for
his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you
servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I
have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have
made known to you. <b>You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you
to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.</b> Then the Father will give you
whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> John 15:1-17</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Trust and obey the Lord and your
garden will blossom.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #0006ff; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Illustration was taken by the
author at Monticello, Virginia, September 17, 2007</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0