tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279366582024-03-09T18:46:08.917-08:00Word Traveler"Transforming lives by a daily encounter with God through His Word."davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.comBlogger525125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-54243052857283101612023-06-16T00:00:00.001-07:002023-06-16T00:00:00.130-07:00"Good Intentions Matter"<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;">
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<em style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2nd Chronicles 6.8-9 NIV</em></div>
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<a href="http://www.pictureworks.ca/aspportfolio/patrickrowan/arthome.aspx" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cartoon by Patrick Rowan (www.pictureworks.ca)" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346463693279205170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJeLFQmmIuAQcWHjg-W0u-P1JX2IR9EchyphenhyphenIvLqPKf5BuFe19c89BM-B8DvXSXbjAeTUQolKWG9PPbeurrjQajX7MoZVMReCU6aDkhBKi_SFYrBgMkokT7S0Vk7xQl06bBDSP25/s1600/Road-To-Hell23423+web+crop.jpg" style="border: medium none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a></div>
<em style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“...the Lord said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a temple for my Name, <strong>you did well to have this in your heart</strong>. Nevertheless, you are not</em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><em style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the one to build the temple, but your son, who is your own flesh and blood — he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’ ”</em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do you believe “the road to hell is paved with good intentions?” I don’t. It’s not a Bible saying. Nobody knows how this phrase evolved into popular language.[1] Many people dislike the idea of “good intentions” especially if they’re linked to inaction. But I think good intentions matter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">David had the idea to build a temple for the Lord. The building project was <em>“in his heart.”</em> God commended David for his good intention...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>“…you did well to have it in your heart.”</strong></span></em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By “good intentions” I am not referring to “creative avoidance.” These so-called good intentions are only useless justifications or lousy excuses. The road to hell probably <em>is</em> paved with these type of intentions. These are lies we tell ourselves and others to bolster our sense of worth, or to convince us that we will <i>do </i>something we actually never <i>will</i>. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHiqAgXvXZoayW5tecr1u-9Uok6EgEtjAlN5lyQPRggYqKv9lzG46C4bN-25bv2C5SlsPX4E8gl_Lo2IBBsn3UgisgmXmsbfU0vwt61uSI35-WqurQ0fVs-ffq6nw1Sk2kFK24/s1600-h/road+to+hell+3.jpg"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But without <em>sincere</em> good intentions, nothing good would ever happen. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">God was glad David wanted to build the temple, but God had a different plan. The Lord approved of David’s good intentions but was not thereby obligated to help David make them happen. It was God’s intention that <em>another</em> man construct His house. In this case, God’s intention and David’s did not match up. But that did not mean David’s intention was pavement on the road to h-e-l-l. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Good intentions should fill my heart. They should capture my imagination and drive me in the pursuit of excellence. Good intentions matter to God but He is not thereby bound to help me perform them. On occasion, one of my good intentions and God’s plan match up. I <em>love</em> it when that happens!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The<em> "Road to Hell"</em> cartoon was created by Toronto illustrator Patrick Rowan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">[1]</span> The 18th century English poet and essayist, Samuel Johnson, is often thought to be the source of the popular proverb “The road to hell is paved with good intentions,” but he may not deserve credit for it. The idiom probably derives from a similar statement by St. Bernard of Clairvaux about 1150 AD, L'enfer est plein de bonnes volontés ou désirs ("Hell is full of good intentions or wishes"). The origin of “The road to…” part is a mystery. </div>
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davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-54098396929820348792023-06-15T00:00:00.004-07:002023-06-15T00:00:00.128-07:00"LOVE THEM"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>2nd Chronicles 2.17 NIV, 2.18 NLT</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em> <span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></em> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZsOtdDFmLDdtj09zlbvaHL7v9SNwY12Z5YR66cvYh-y7p6d8TPJvLlo09nv7t3pZ01HbezLvFZG3IfX645aFSckaXNJke64T8Jq7krVECz8kQs5_Bdx1c1UiYUFgCRYmogIE/s1600-h/soc_illegalimmigration_0108.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="272" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346329032135491570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZsOtdDFmLDdtj09zlbvaHL7v9SNwY12Z5YR66cvYh-y7p6d8TPJvLlo09nv7t3pZ01HbezLvFZG3IfX645aFSckaXNJke64T8Jq7krVECz8kQs5_Bdx1c1UiYUFgCRYmogIE/s400/soc_illegalimmigration_0108.jpg" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“<strong>Solomon took a census of </strong></span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>all </strong></span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>the aliens</strong> who were in </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">Israel, </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">after </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">the census his father </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">David had </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">taken; </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">and they were </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">found to be </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">153,600.” </span></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“He assigned 70,000 of them as </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>common laborers</strong>, 80,000 as </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>quarry workers</strong> </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">in the hill </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">country, </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">and 3,600 as <strong>foremen</strong>.”</span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The problem of undocumented immigrants has been around for a long time. King Solomon dealt decisively with foreigners in Israel about three thousand years ago. He counted and documented them, legalized them, and gave them jobs. He found 153,600 aliens in the land so he made 70,000 of them common laborers. 80,000 became stone cutters, and 3,600 worked as foremen over the other 150,000 at the Temple construction project in Jerusalem. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjMWLATpHi2l_vnmc0ShgDijQdnLCGxhnND6HZtvPBxxxmF4cxHb04e-kuD2zMSIeJuMsJSozLaYs768xN8DqAzucI7LFOnVDnhkdZ589My6L7Gp2QYGCTOA2ygKbI8oIk4ET/s1600-h/illegal+immigration+3.jpg"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Illegal immigration is a bigger problem for the USA now than it was for Solomon then. Estimates of the number of undocumented immigrants within our borders range from four to twenty million. Those who advocate ‘sending them all back from where they came from’ should reconsider. Most of these people are law-abiding and productive non-citizens. The immediate deportation of illegals would seriously and adversely affect our economy. Almost all of us are dependent, at least indirectly, upon an alien work force. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And what about the children? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">"A new Pew Hispanic Center report reveals a big increase in the number of children born in the United States to at least one illegal alien parent. In 2003, the group found that 2.7 million children had at least one parent who was in the country illegally, but that number is now up to 4 million kids. The report also reveals that 73 percent of all children of illegal aliens are U.S. citizens.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">"According to the report, approximately 8.8 million people live in families with illegal alien parents and 75 percent of them are Hispanic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">"The report also revealed some other key facts... </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">7 percent of students in public elementary and secondary schools are children of illegal aliens </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">1/3 of children of illegal aliens live in poverty </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The median household income for illegal alien families is $36,000 ($50,000 national average) </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">"In March of 2008, 8.3 million illegal aliens had jobs in the United States."[1] </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Get used to the presence and sight of foreigners in our midst. They’re not going away anytime soon. Our country’s leaders need Solomon’s wisdom. He conducted a census. Solomon counted, documented, legalized, and put to work <em>“all the aliens who were in Israel.” </em>I am not suggesting that we do not tighten the borders and or fail to restrict illegal entry into our country, but only that we find an intelligent way to deal with those undocumented immigrants who are already in the USA. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Bible is clear in its two-word mandate on how to deal with all people, including strangers and aliens in the land; that is, <em>LOVE THEM</em>...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“When a stranger resides with you in your land, </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">you </span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">shall </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">not </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">do him wrong. </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">The stranger who resides with you shall </span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">be to </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">you as the native among you, </span></em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>and </em></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em><strong>you shall love him as yourself</strong>; </em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: </em></span><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">I am the Lord your God.”</span></em> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Leviticus 19.33-34 NASB</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>“He</em><span style="color: black;"> [God]</span><em> executes justice for the orphan and the widow, </em></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>and</em> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">shows </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">So <strong>show </strong></span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>your </strong></span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>love for the alien</strong>, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.”</span> </em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Deuteronomy 10.18-20 NASB</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Some Christians who advocate “kick out the illegals,” generously support missions around the world. Could God be bringing a mission field to their own back yard? Why not learn a little Spanish culture and language and <em>“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations”</em> <em>within</em> the borders of our own nation as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28.19? </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LxAh8qCP_boxU7ovzTwYI3Ega8am75W2bk_cZF1uBMvqo-OFPzILNVdEXU87FnpwJTkhJzOexg9cIUwam5dTb4zH8r8E3_K-c2jc9SZ-a47TaKDq_W2BJks2ripfEbhlFpp1/s1600-h/immigration.jpg"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Unites States of America will not easily rid itself of twenty million illegal aliens. It wouldn’t be good for our country if it <em>did</em>. Undocumented immigrants are a fact of current American life. The old adage… “If you can’t beat them, join them” was Solomon’s pragmatic approach to the issue of immigration reform. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Christ-followers should go beyond Solomon’s wisdom and embrace God’s command to </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“show love for the alien.” </i></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">_______________________</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">[1] From the NumbersUSA for Lower Immigration Levels (</span><a href="http://www.numbersusa.com/content/news/april-15-2009/number-us-citizen-children-illegal-aliens-growing.html"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://www.numbersusa.com/content/news/april-15-2009/number-us-citizen-children-illegal-aliens-growing.html</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">) based on an April 14, 2009 New York Times article by Julia Preston at </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/15/us/15immig.html?_r=1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/15/us/15immig.html?_r=1</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">. </span></div>
davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-21280470318140694142023-06-14T00:00:00.003-07:002023-06-14T00:00:00.129-07:00"We are All Aliens"<em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1st Chronicles 29.15 </span></em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yBRa_fo8rdwZoUha_FygylkbU3camCDrNnm1U5TVXzUjMCw7D-zX-NE7GWb0Bvq-VGKsszgWpi4ynpnpvIgmW4V3e5BKRuTUID1IrlXdG0VJbOV1TGNN4Q8igSEXF07dbfZ3/s1600-h/immigration.jpg"></a><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhzuz5u_lpRwXdUsywXimy1MP4iZmz9WOTNPgrhMlk0vIAt0v3Or1g4YC5zZJNsysurjG8ueEnwX0fqz3gHhdwXGR5Mfc9TJdzdq8bVV2K_629JokU8qmsAeYW_vacpq0AhCs/s1600-h/immigrationgirlDavidMcNew+bright.jpg"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345728933023082450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhzuz5u_lpRwXdUsywXimy1MP4iZmz9WOTNPgrhMlk0vIAt0v3Or1g4YC5zZJNsysurjG8ueEnwX0fqz3gHhdwXGR5Mfc9TJdzdq8bVV2K_629JokU8qmsAeYW_vacpq0AhCs/s400/immigrationgirlDavidMcNew+bright.jpg" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" width="266" /></span></a></span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“<strong>We are</strong> <strong>aliens and strangers</strong> in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> NIV </span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>“For we are strangers before You, and sojourners, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow,</em> <em>and</em> <em><strong>there is no hope or expectation of remaining</strong>.”</em></span><em> AMP</em> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are faced with a national crisis. Immigration reform will happen. If we rise up and deal responsibly with the issues, we may avoid a serious clash of cultures and painful losses to those on every side of the immigration issue. Reform will occur. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSp1Zu_tne59igt3z7G4SblqsF7bM4dEZfbXHjBaw0_0B0Qn0WhF3mR83xpF1leNtgzR0y84QvPrcumliDGe6LO8rBf9gjDP2Rah4EcBoU29IAl5oC-dFJ9qX4mF8R-3eRv68/s1600-h/immigration+2.jpg"></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It cannot be avoided. We can do it peaceably if we act quickly, or suffer tragic consequences if we procrastinate. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Would you commit a crime to save yourself? Would you break the law to feed your starving child? I would. Do I think its right? No. Do I have compassion for the lawbreaker? In this case, yes. Enforcing the law with an illegal alien may be the right thing to do, but will break a compassionate person</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">’s heart. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>“People do not despise a thief if </em><em>he </em></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>steals </em><em>to </em></span><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">satisfy himself when he is starving. </span></em></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; </span></em></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">He may have to give up all the </span></em></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">substance of his house.”</span></em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Proverbs 6.30-31 NKJV</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">About sixteen years ago, one hundred and sixty federal agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a raid on Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. on North Rivergate Boulevard in Portland, Oregon. They arrested on hundred and sixty-seven undocumented immigrants most of whom were sent to a federal detention facility to face possible deportation. Imagine the sorrow and fear of Nicolas Siquina whose Guatemalan wife was one of the detainees. “Two months ago, Siquina, a permanent resident, filed documents to begin the process to win her legal status.” “I feel desperate” Siguina was reported saying in Spanish. “She’s all I got.”[1]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">According to the Bible, you and I have something in common with Nicolas Siguina’s wife. We are both <em>“aliens and strangers.”</em> Our time on earth is <em>“like a shadow”</em> moving from the dawn of arrival to the dusk of our departure. This world is not my permanent home or possession. I will not forever keep my house, my clothes, or even my family. All of these precious things and people will be stripped away from me one day. I cannot stop the shadow of my life from shifting me towards its final destination. I have <em>“no hope or expectation of remaining”</em> here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The best I can do is to make friends with Jesus Christ so when that time comes He will bring me safely back across the temporal border, dividing this life from the next, to the land of promise, my eternal home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">________________ </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">[1] The Oregonian, Sunrise Edition, Wednesday June 13, 2007, <em>“Immigration raid pushes Oregon into thick of fight” </em>and <em>“In raid’s wake: panic, desperation and confusion,”</em> p. A1, A 8-9. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Photo at top left is by David McNew (Getty Images).</span><br />
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davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-41302259812219821282023-06-13T00:00:00.014-07:002023-06-13T00:00:00.129-07:00"Everybody Needs at Least One"<em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfA-XHnIYfOosllcQ8ZOYbNEY7wF51LJpL1dtjxl-rqES12ESCIOZza2HfShrlvY0UXd5gMp3IAslHAjrgegbc4dGz4sYRwjgcFMaYauJVx95ksf60ktjWTMKdzfiIaCPa7R-h/s1600-h/friend+bright+crop.bmp"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345344788755408626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfA-XHnIYfOosllcQ8ZOYbNEY7wF51LJpL1dtjxl-rqES12ESCIOZza2HfShrlvY0UXd5gMp3IAslHAjrgegbc4dGz4sYRwjgcFMaYauJVx95ksf60ktjWTMKdzfiIaCPa7R-h/s400/friend+bright+crop.bmp" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" width="301" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1st Chronicles 27.33b NLT </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7djhtnHVy4tX0BJTqGpq_pAZfrh7M9ggkZElCV5HhcqOoOFvvzJ3-HAxLO6wzIE7Pdj9evtpfqmlHs-KA50JtTm57ffvn6qLun63lBoikysOHcNjX7oqLVguWDntqsxbDW6Kl/s1600-h/friend.bmp"></a></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“<strong>Hushai</strong> the Arkite was <strong>the king’s friend</strong>.”</span></em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis13iU0OChlOEEtQMo82oK4tR99Xv5sDJtSbJJANFgSETDVRdQO5-0iL78GpJfoBhGBUIZjqSCL4iNhZC2ueYwmpB8NXdpQro-E-ga9FqElClyd2brOAi3-L_eZJCphsnHc8Hp/s1600-h/friend.bmp"></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This text may appear insignificant until you look closely at the context. At least five chapters of this book of the Bible (1st Chronicles 23-27) are dedicated to roles and responsibilities, designations and duties of various people in the leadership of David’s kingdom. There are priests, Levites, musicians, prophets, gatekeepers, treasurers, officers, judges, army commanders, tribal leaders, property managers, overseers, counselors, tutors, scribes, and a variety of other workers. Many of the leaders found in these one hundred and sixty verses were mentioned by name... Ladan, Shimei, Jehiel, Zetham, Joel, Shelomoth, Haziel, Haran, Zina, Jeush, Beriah, and about two hundred others. All of them were given titles and specific jobs. Yet, only one was called a <em>“friend.”</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hushai the Arkite fulfilled a unique role in King David’s life. He remained loyal to David at great risk of personal harm. Hushai earned the title <em>“friend” </em>and was the only person so named in the final days of the king’s reign. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A single friend of this caliber was probably all David needed. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDYBhg-b51zYtdWlhoSVDrib87W0WaRVYHNoYHTJAiN9iWSgXrTzqiF2ys8z4eXQqCPJssu6XWJgMjYA-IZzjL9Ip_qTLDMO1JTOFUlzlG9MCyy0rPI3gsO3XNWQYEmjDhMi9/s1600-h/friend+2+crop+color+bright.gif"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlHT1abGRUDOKnPaKE-hE2k1vb0yC4ncATXSa2jJqeY-BvxULAMkdb8suFIVLn283HHVj8sPkcu8zLp2n-qhijvEXlte73eW1iEvY45-62DMY6M2AXsHJyNP8TIuA9vlUqC_I/s1600-h/friend+2.gif"></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I know many wonderful people. I could probably mention by name well over two hundred from memory. Many of them I would call friends, or even <em>good</em> friends. But I have very few truly <em>close</em> friends. There is, of course, Jesus, who is my <i>best </i>friend. (An ancestor of mine, Joseph M. Scriven wrote a song about Him in 1855 which seems appropriate to note here... <em>“What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”</em>) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I miss my next best friends, my dad Gil Scriven, who went to be with Jesus nearly twenty years ago, and my mother Betty, six years after dad. My very best friend ever was my loving and faithful wife Adonica, who lost her battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia on August 30th, 2015. I’m still trying to figure out how to do life without her. Then there’s Lonnie, Ryan, Alan, Rachel, Joel, Ruth, Bill, Heather, Ken, Greg, Eric, Stanford, Robert, Josh, Tatiana, Luke, Sierra, Shawn, Miles, Christina, Miguel, Shawn, Paul, Johnny, and a handful </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">of others. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the close <em>“friend”</em> department, one is probably enough. Everybody needs at <em>least </em>one. I have more than my fair share. I feel so blessed.</span>davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-45182527352401849362023-06-12T00:00:00.001-07:002023-06-12T00:00:00.146-07:00"Just Add Water"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>1st Chronicles 22.16 NASU </em></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>“Of the gold, the silver and the bronze and the iron there is no limit. <strong>Arise and work</strong>, and may the LORD be with you.” </em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am holding in my hand a box of Betty Crocker’s Buttermilk Pancake Mix. Mmmmm. Sounds scrumptious. Here’s the best part. If I want fresh and steaming buttermilk pancakes topped with melting butter and hot syrup… I can have them. All I have to do is... “Just Add Water.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It’s easy, complete, and ready to go. “Just Add Water” and I will enjoy the fulfillment of Betty’s promise to start my day with a delicious, hot breakfast. Pancakes don’t just appear. Betty Crocker has done all she can. The rest is up to me. If I do not “just add water,” I will have no plate of pancakes. It’s not hard. I know what to do. The question is simple… Will I “just add water?”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>“David made ample preparations before his death”</em> (1st Chronicles 22.5). The king provided everything Solomon needed to construct the Temple of the Lord. But Solomon still had to work to make it happen...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>“I’ve gone to a lot of trouble to stockpile materials for the sanctuary of God: </em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>100,000 </em></span><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">talents (3,775 tons) of gold, a million talents (37,750 tons) of silver, </span></span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">tons </span></span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">of bronze </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and iron — too much to weigh — and all this timber and stone.</span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong>You’re all set — get to work</strong>!” </span></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">1st Chronicles 22.14, 16 “The Message”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Has God made a promise <i>to </i>you? Then He will fulfill His promise <i>through </i>you! Without Him you <em>can’t</em>. Without you He <em>won’t</em>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You are an essential part of the equation. He boxed the ingredients of your destiny. You have all you need to fulfill His will. “Just Add [the] Water” of passion, hard work, and decisive action.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><br /></em></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>“<strong>Arise and work</strong>, and may the LORD be with you!”</em></span></div>
davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-50629457211020022872023-06-09T00:00:00.002-07:002023-06-09T00:00:00.141-07:00"Semper Fidelis"<em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCxVJcQ2T4uXVduq4mk8MZhALfHAqTkmC3V9NIEMDzLv8HsVYii56_57W-9eSNh4DG40Ie6FJbsmQQAFIR4RFr_52e9VS1FFl9KdNoTL7KOLx33DgZZ1PZDqKuOBKJ14kIOMp/s1600-h/marine+insignia.jpg"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1st Chronicles 19.12-13 NIV </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlR1AhlZJy9HwKeYqcnUgZl-JcnmYqVTH3nTAuY_XHa0yY1Dw-dsgyTjfzbXReszSkGrg-x2bJXPWDoChkEM7vvaQX4PblhASviDUmcgOHeaVjyUOiPE2vdpXtpx8-KLiu9yix/s1600-h/marine+insignia.jpg"></a></em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCxVJcQ2T4uXVduq4mk8MZhALfHAqTkmC3V9NIEMDzLv8HsVYii56_57W-9eSNh4DG40Ie6FJbsmQQAFIR4RFr_52e9VS1FFl9KdNoTL7KOLx33DgZZ1PZDqKuOBKJ14kIOMp/s1600/marine+insignia.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The United States Marine Corps" border="0" height="306" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343876451917975234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCxVJcQ2T4uXVduq4mk8MZhALfHAqTkmC3V9NIEMDzLv8HsVYii56_57W-9eSNh4DG40Ie6FJbsmQQAFIR4RFr_52e9VS1FFl9KdNoTL7KOLx33DgZZ1PZDqKuOBKJ14kIOMp/s320/marine+insignia.jpg" style="border: medium none; margin-top: 0px;" width="320" /></a></div>
<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Joab said [to his brother Abishai], <strong>‘If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to rescue me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will rescue you.</strong> Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.’ ”</span></em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My friend Wayne inadvertently referred to “ex-Marines” in a public address. After the speech a gentleman approached and informed him, “There is no such thing as an ‘ex-Marine.’ Once a Marine, always a Marine.” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When the honorable title of “U.S. Marine” has been conferred, it is retained. There are active duty Marines, retired Marines, reserve Marines, former (enlisted and commissioned officer) Marines, and Marine veterans but no ex-Marines. According to Col. James Hoke, </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“The title of Marine is an earned title and never goes away.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you earned it, you’re a Marine for life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Joab and Abishai would have made good Marines. They exemplified the Marine Corps motto: Semper Fidelis. Joab and Abishai were “always faithful” to protect and defend each other in battle. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwvFE7SLRdKw6-01avsDJlgUr9Sz3nTZOc1A8Z1PG3Yq0CfapHGUToiYCd1gBVOJz1nAIlU09OfgJcz1NXPYWvwJcyu7WTAToEPIzLtZumR1jyu_14NiS3RkyFrn_5h5c3lvF/s1600-h/marine+valor.jpg"></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTIwTdsOudUWKm400oiGUHcfkDsOqPoyVIHqOcrAgVJEJoaGGZgiwGTnKwZTMCWwNvu2aM8XdlYuY2BmtkmyTpjHP5CT8U23jqauDe5XbQO_QDO7SCXJE2fi7ASRklgBlb7ce/s1600/lewis+crop+bright.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Jim Mahoney, The Dallas Morning News, November 11, 2004" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343876541221178178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTIwTdsOudUWKm400oiGUHcfkDsOqPoyVIHqOcrAgVJEJoaGGZgiwGTnKwZTMCWwNvu2aM8XdlYuY2BmtkmyTpjHP5CT8U23jqauDe5XbQO_QDO7SCXJE2fi7ASRklgBlb7ce/s400/lewis+crop+bright.jpg" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; height: 400px; margin-top: 0px; width: 282px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We all have enemies. They take the form of temptations, addictions, trouble, misfortune, and sometimes people. Do you have a ranger buddy who will come to your <em>“rescue” </em>and carry your wounded body off the battlefield? I <em>hope</em> so. <em>I</em> do. </span><a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/photostore/dmn.politics.1.5.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is a reciprocal commitment of courage and faithfulness. I know I will be protected because people love me as I love them. I am willing to protect, and I am protected. I have friends I can count on. If I falter, men who are “always faithful” will pick me up. If they get hurt, I will be there to help them heal. We are <em>“Joab” </em>and <em>“Abishai” </em>for each other. We are Semper Fidelis, “always faithful” to rescue the other man in trouble... </span></div>
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“If the Arameans are too strong </span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">for me, then you are to rescue me; </span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">but if the Ammonites are too strong </span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">for you, then </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">I will rescue you”.</span> </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I thank God for “a few good men” and women who are “always faithful” brothers and sisters in Christ. They are there for me, and I am for them. I would have it no any other way. I could not make it through life without these dear souls by my side. I wouldn’t even want to try.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">_____________________</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>"Generations of Valor" </em>was taken by The Dallas Morning News staff photographer Jim Mahoney on November 11, 2004. "Pearl Harbor survivor Houston James of Dallas is overcome with emotion as he embraces Marine SSgt Mark Graunke, Jr. of Flower Mound, Texas during the Dallas Veterans Day Commemoration Thursday at Dallas City Hall. SSgt Graunke, Jr., who was a member of a Marine ordnance-disposal team, lost a hand, leg, and eye while defusing a bomb in Iraq in July of last year [2003]." </span><br />
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davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-3277108882670168602023-06-08T00:00:00.001-07:002023-06-08T00:00:00.139-07:00"I've Got an Idea!"<div align="left">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pseudopff/51890707/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo by Felipe T. Marques (click image to view Felipe's photostream" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343504684293457810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6HtXL4wSpZb_iydD0k9Vv0s8lVEQ6ozXwy4w-5BZ_UfmQdUMYmUdc-rRGzTcTJKLSTFwCiNVqZRl_hZ4zgyQaCSdaL1IK7Afik_iE5cfN3Gy3fnYk3vWC2L10i6bwuGzWHkl/s400/51890707_93af71744d.jpg" style="border: medium none; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>1st Chronicles 17.1b-2 NASU</em></span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></em></span></span></em></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“…David said to Nathan the prophet, ‘Behold, I am dwelling in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under curtains.’ Then Nathan said to David, <strong>‘Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.’</strong> ”</span></em> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have no idea where ideas come from. It’s a mystery. They just appear. An idea emerges, swirling around in the back of my head, slows down, gradually comes into focus, and presents itself for my evaluation. Is it a good idea or a passing thought of little worth? If it makes the initial cut I place the fledgling concept on the mental back burner and wait. If the thought continues to pop up as an idea of merit, I may run it by a trusted adviser or friend. A thumbs up at that level will likely prompt a plan of action. A few of my ideas actually become reality. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">King David had an idea. It made perfect sense... David’s home was better than the Lord’s. The king lived in a cedar house. The ark of the covenant was stored in a tent. How unfair. David would build a beautiful Temple for the Lord. It seemed like such a great idea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">David shared his plan with Nathan the prophet who concluded that, since God was with David, David’s idea must be from God. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lm1Yir3hW9lR31nbeaIF1f-62Jy7qN6wqdaX8KB2B0bFUaISBjP959htrg8fx_UWQdvA0fcP8eo9CGamFLFWbWFY3HpHDhEXhdcHElAhxZgsEBdfwE8_FdDuRD9EGj-nUuxZ/s1600-h/idea+4+bright+crop.jpg"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nathan told the king to proceed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Later that night the Lord paid Nathan a visit…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>“Go and tell David My </em></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>servant, </em></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>‘Thus says the LORD, </em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“You </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">shall </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">not build a house </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">for </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">Me </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">to dwell in...” ’ ”</span></em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">1st Chronicles 17.4 NASU</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What a surprise! God did not <em>want</em> a Temple. It was a good idea. A Temple would eventually be built. But not now and not by King David. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjXkpO696UUAPBFMV69zrygnSwbYwjRu_Yxd0IbB2736lin739dFjj4CLeO-F6A6ij9wy1HRkJW4t0aTiG1hBYmoe2xh7hb3SJlsLv38VEHeLWKt6cgSUs0mE9WYZTVnM3-l5/s1600-h/idea+2.jpg"></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Not all ideas, even good ones, are in sync with God</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">’s plans.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Your good ideas may be right for someone, just not </span><em style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">you</em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. They may be right for a future time, just not </span><em style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">now</em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. Good ideas are exactly that</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">... good ideas and nothing more. God has ideas of His </span><em style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">own</em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Black and white photo of a man holding a light bulb over his head is by photographer Felipe T. Marques. I found his image on Flickr. </span>davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-52972762737360750922023-06-07T00:00:00.001-07:002023-06-07T00:00:00.130-07:00Men to Emulate<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsGGVPJQF7iS0qPLsVL3uAgc094NDWXoVyD1a2tRvmk-wqB5FhFKYCIShiNydhD9Na5kwXyCigRT90c9c3JUsl_Yc7VQejgk3zX3423ICMWLOGbHIGj2fn4tL9pxv4q2GGGTx/s1600/popeye+3+flip.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343125825937552274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsGGVPJQF7iS0qPLsVL3uAgc094NDWXoVyD1a2tRvmk-wqB5FhFKYCIShiNydhD9Na5kwXyCigRT90c9c3JUsl_Yc7VQejgk3zX3423ICMWLOGbHIGj2fn4tL9pxv4q2GGGTx/s320/popeye+3+flip.bmp" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin-top: 0px;" width="313" /></a><em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1st Chronicles 11.12-14 NIV</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>“<strong>Eleazar</strong>...gathered there for battle. At a place where there was a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines. </em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>But they <strong>took their stand </strong>in the middle of the field. They defended it and struck the Philistines down, <strong>and the Lord brought about a great victory.”</strong> </em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eleazar took a stand in the middle of <em>“a field full of barley.” </em>He<em> </em><em>“defended”</em> his ground and <em>“the Lord brought about a great victory.”</em> I am inspired! Eleazar’s victory wasn’t free. He risked the loss of life and limb. There was no guarantee Eleazar would walk from the field of barley alive. At first Eleazar and <em>“the troops fled from the Philistines.” </em>But something happened. A switch flipped. Eleazar had the same epiphany Popeye did… “That’s all I can stands. I can’t stands no more!” This mighty man of God turned around to face his own Brutus. Eleazar and a few brave souls <em>“took their stand” </em>and <em>“defended”</em> their ground. It worked! It always does. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKS-9o6eFtQ723RwRTFFJAx63kEkomChfQvoFAIUNwN2gdt9xs8vyfJsu1k2pWC1g8RK7_lFUnDiZBlrE-zrEA1B0KFvZwdu37pkCxoi_3jFmnVy-mDG4_SOaYC0R9iYzuP7nL/s1600-h/Popeye+2.jpg"></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My dad was a trainer and fighter pilot for the United States Air Force. In his business, failure meant death. He taught me life was no game. It was win or <em>die</em>, succeed or <em>die</em>, do or <em>die</em>. Failure was not an option. Death? Maybe. Failure? Never! At a certain point Eleazar quit running. He astounded and inspired his companions. Eleazar stopped and turned to face the Philistines. He faced his death and ‘took a stand.’</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I cannot succeed in marriage, parenting, business, ministry, or any other noble endeavor without facing the possibility of my own death... death of my income, image, reputation, or friendships. I must quit running, take a stand, and defend some ground. Running is slow death. Death of the spirit. It would be better to die valiantly attempting something great than to wither up and die from the shame of knowing I never had the guts to face my nemesis. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What’s the difference? Either way I die; and if die I must, then why not die with glory? A decision to defend some ground gives the Lord an opportunity to bring about <em>“a great victory.”</em> This Bible verse reminds me of William Wallace’s speech to an army of Scottish farmers on the threshold of battle with England in the movie “Braveheart”...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">“Aye. Fight and you may die. Run and you’ll live. At least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance — just one chance — to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our 16th president had the guts to face his personal demons [1]… </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">failed in business in 1831</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">defeated for legislature in 1832</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">second failure in business in 1833</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">suffered a nervous breakdown in 1836</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">defeated for Speaker in 1838</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">defeated for Elector in 1840</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">defeated for congress in 1843</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">defeated for congress in 1848</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">defeated for senate in 1855</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">defeated for vice president in 1856</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">defeated for senate in 1858</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">elected president in 1860</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eleazar, Popeye, Wallace, Lincoln... all men to emulate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">[1] To be fair and add a little balance to this popular Abraham Lincoln story, check out </span></div>
<a href="http://www.snopes.com/glurge/lincoln.asp"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://www.snopes.com/glurge/lincoln.asp</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">. This site will give you another perspective on the claim that Abe Lincoln suffered a steady stream of defeats before being elected president of the United States. The Lincoln myth probably contains an element of ‘glurge.’ Regardless of the exact truth or sequence of events in his life, I am still inspired by Lincoln’s example of perseverance. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-3113637966176017532023-06-06T00:00:00.001-07:002023-06-06T00:00:00.131-07:00"What You Think May Matter More Than You Think"<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1st Chronicles 9.1b NLT </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5HUDj0dX0PVIEBpJV4MeAl4FNC1A0h3egapYaS5pHZN1weOW8SKzlrthhC9-i502extmg_kwZz_n98tQUgTF6vihoHwWwvPYlg_B1hr6k8T9bLmWR4zViR6dvps-d7yXrdqj/s1600-h/thought+cloud+2.jpg"></a><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKi-ARqx4L56mdV1sVicFvij5zl6WBkNAXmC6e0EF4eC06EVGGF1hPkeVBq3hdJQMpfNrwcwgBqLlqaFruORDlsgFhMxuwfKu6O2g19FiZ6DmfHu_SgLNVNUUjEFVt6qury9w/s1600-h/1967_Lincoln_Obverse+bright+small.jpg"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“<strong>The people</strong> of Judah <strong>were exiled</strong> </span></span></em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">to Babylon <strong>because they were unfaithful</strong> to the Lord.”</span></em> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKi-ARqx4L56mdV1sVicFvij5zl6WBkNAXmC6e0EF4eC06EVGGF1hPkeVBq3hdJQMpfNrwcwgBqLlqaFruORDlsgFhMxuwfKu6O2g19FiZ6DmfHu_SgLNVNUUjEFVt6qury9w/s1600/1967_Lincoln_Obverse+bright+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342753123468542274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKi-ARqx4L56mdV1sVicFvij5zl6WBkNAXmC6e0EF4eC06EVGGF1hPkeVBq3hdJQMpfNrwcwgBqLlqaFruORDlsgFhMxuwfKu6O2g19FiZ6DmfHu_SgLNVNUUjEFVt6qury9w/s200/1967_Lincoln_Obverse+bright+small.jpg" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin-top: 0px;" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What is smaller than a fleeting thought? Not much. According to research conducted by “Google Answers”[1], the number of thoughts passing daily through a person’s mind ranges from 12,000 to 65,000. That’s a lot of thinking; a new thought every single waking second! If “a penny for your thoughts” came true, it’s an easy $500.00 per day or over $180,000 per year. Plenty for most folks to retire on. Unfortunately our thoughts aren’t worth “a penny.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Realistically, most thoughts are probably worth nothing at all. Dr. Deepak Chopra once quoted a study that concluded of the approximately 65,000 thoughts per day, about 95% of them are exactly the same thoughts that passed through our minds the day before. This would indicate our thoughts are worth <em>less </em>than nothing. In fact, some of our thoughts may have a minus, negative value or destructive impact. They cost <em>us</em> something to <em>have</em> them! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jesus said, <em>“Whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones”</em> (Luke 16.10 TEV). A thought is a small thing and yet Jesus claimed there was a connection between that which is <em>small</em> and that which is <em>large</em>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The connection is our faithfulness. Are we faithful to think good thoughts or do we allow ourselves the luxury of negative thinking? </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rEi7x3C0F6mpRLuGuRkFoRlzswJIuQ2u3ZcREVyyicOYBKRs_d8BoiTj66YvUZAzQUQRn5JUzxYkOZVihiZ9jd7jy3ezyT8S8kahtKMtocKMzAs2v5YVRybiNoEON8j9a896/s1600-h/a+penny+for+your+thoughts.jpg"></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">People with negative thoughts are easy to spot. Their face and words normally betray their negativism. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">People with negative thoughts talk about them. Jesus warned, <em>“For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart”</em> (Matthew 12.34 NASU). </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFuOn5y0Z4JxcQiJDXn8Mcob8eyySwbV8E9NwQrwgI9RcZSVRXiH5EJt0XXZlMKN0Ly-6uR3qh1dg4xRbYzU8BNGOA2y9qhi39ST1BhwCzHBgeFcC5ii8cSp6xnRrMz7WL_MU/s1600-h/thought+cloud+2+large.jpg"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They can’t help themselves. Negative thinkers seek and always find someone to spew to. What’s inside of them eventually surfaces. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Start thinking God thoughts, as the Apostle Paul said... </span><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Finally, brothers, whatever is <strong>true</strong>, whatever is <strong>noble</strong>, whatever is </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong>right</strong>, </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">whatever is <strong>pure</strong>, whatever is <strong>lovely</strong>, whatever is <strong>admirable</strong> </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">— </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">if </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">anything </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">is </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">excellent or praiseworthy — </span></em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>think about such things</strong>.”</span> </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Philippians 4.8 NIV</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thoughts, as small as they are individually, will accumulate and can easily mount up to something large over the course of a decade, a year, a week, or even a single day. If we are <em>“unfaithful to the Lord”</em> in the small matter of our thought life, we may end up like <em>“the people of Judah... exiled to</em> [the] <em>Babylon</em>” of our own making. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What you <em>think</em> may matter more than you <em>think</em>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">[1] </span><a href="http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=149262"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=149262</span></a>davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-12242856602868641932023-06-05T00:00:00.003-07:002023-06-05T00:00:00.141-07:00"Letting Go of Kids is Hard to Do"<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;">
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<em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1st Chronicles 7:20a, 21b-22 NKJV</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYw0iuuXtejHBEF_xZYSQBvhlRvPE1Mapjne2w3dpsd1vjQ0R3gQUzvvZdvsx-2UeVTDiOitkUjPA0s2w-bnDuCZO5CpCEesiWs6OfaABaXNyLAviAb59XiIeTm8sb5rJT8kw/s1600-h/finding+nemo.jpg"></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH59pBncyMRNn5-oBKsUMumRzy_VQXy68yzvt4pjjdNOUwqN0IJwIz5iKdt-hwS2urFExiTZmeHiDUkepiIRltFJ-qz7TS_QuGPZdYRzAN3mQMiQ4GuRzNUlwuIpUSvFOSpTNm/s1600-h/finding+nemo.jpg"></a><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“<strong>The sons of Ephraim</strong> were Shuthelah,… Ezer and Elead. <strong>The men of Gath</strong> who were born in that land <strong>killed them</strong> because they came down to take away their cattle. </span></em></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>Then Ephraim their father mourned many days</strong>, and his brethren came to comfort him.”</span></em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When my youngest child, Rachel, obtained her learner’s permit, I barked orders at her from the front passenger seat, just like I did with the other six teenage drivers in my family. It was scary for me, and still is! My older children eventually earned the privilege to operate a motor vehicle. I handed over the keys and watched nervously as each new driver backed out of the driveway alone for the first time alone. I thought exactly the same thing all six times: “That’s the last time I’ll see her [or him] alive.” </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Letting go of kids is hard for me to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the 2003 Disney-Pixar movie “Finding Nemo,” Marlin, a clown fish, loses his wife and children to a hungry barracuda. Only Marlin and his unborn son Nemo survived the attack. Nemo hatches to become a wonderful, adventure-seeking young fish but his father Marlin suffers as an overprotective single parent. He unwittingly drives Nemo to take chances he shouldn’t. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FMtiXav_A_XNTW_lgzs4n2W_JRiiv6cSzvdXf_UW8Pb7wAFzD3aswKxXVTZgObposvHxYf2TpvTMZVs-0BAEuM9vHoaYsK9kNbJxNgobz8n8yTBXkMkiCALSpgmspzqr7BR6/s1600-h/finding+nemo+2+bright.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbU0fSe9tDbPLzFHG8kUYYYFnFluWVyjZ6ZZVdMQDl116Lne4YRGuK3cIeF5osJoZRoxglk8A-PX-Qj1vYeNza-8wYGlbZpXeE9DAFADjBAvcQSZWLaIZeMR-7JAq-Ps-u1xT/s1600-h/finding+nemo+2+bright+crop.jpg"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Letting go of Nemo was hard for Marlin to do. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCuYE9KDGU0G4AEhvVaBN3IX8SF1vGRxTYXQYQb2q8ZbdvQyRnUrdfhLzdJZ_D3rIreRbMNjuStwmS1W-eDd_jLhivv7hymmeUWcRDRp97SKpACOe87-7K6uq6D2B8KzPGEitF/s1600-h/finding+nemo+2.jpg"></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbU0fSe9tDbPLzFHG8kUYYYFnFluWVyjZ6ZZVdMQDl116Lne4YRGuK3cIeF5osJoZRoxglk8A-PX-Qj1vYeNza-8wYGlbZpXeE9DAFADjBAvcQSZWLaIZeMR-7JAq-Ps-u1xT/s1600/finding+nemo+2+bright+crop.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Marlin looks worried. www.disney.com" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342390397518543922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbU0fSe9tDbPLzFHG8kUYYYFnFluWVyjZ6ZZVdMQDl116Lne4YRGuK3cIeF5osJoZRoxglk8A-PX-Qj1vYeNza-8wYGlbZpXeE9DAFADjBAvcQSZWLaIZeMR-7JAq-Ps-u1xT/s320/finding+nemo+2+bright+crop.jpg" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; height: 270px; margin-top: 0px; width: 229px;" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Over a decade or so ago, I wrote down a conversation I had with God. I entitled it “The Daily Prayers of a Selfish Man.” There were nine mini-prayers, some of which I am too embarrassed to publicly record. Top on the prayer list was a request that “all of my children outlive me.” Nothing strikes terror in my heart like the possibility of losing one of my kids. This fear is not diminished by the fact that most of them have grown to adulthood and have children of their own. I have several friends who have lost children. I cannot imagine their pain. I hope I never <em>have</em> to. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ephraim lost two of his sons, Ezer and Elead. They behaved like most young men do… <em>stupidly</em>. Other than to prove their manhood, there was no reason for Ezer and Elead to go down to Gath on a mission to rustle cattle from the Philistines. Machismo cost them their lives and caused unimaginable grief for their father. Ephraim let go of his sons and lost them. Terrible things like this can happen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Marlin nearly lost Nemo but learned his lesson. After they were reunited, Marlin encouraged his only son to “go have an adventure.” He eventually learned to let go. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDn1UsT5ZVwEuQUzuzZnjALddiOqIPk4E6LI0gtDL3LiTYIhyphenhyphen-Ndv3NlPcRbdrLIR8rE5LjBdA2jut57Ck1-ItUMT3CBroOTxEG2YGLi5XVkDOUQckUrfxW5dZrGJuuTEt81S/s1600-h/nemo_clownfish_1.jpg"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYbeQaO6dNiqfqGw01fgEf3pfCaCbI0osges5CdSgEMyGeyY0mMJiIdjSuGYxTQ0C9TYNSveu-m8gL50v-x3F6tM40SD12hBS-WmUBKsNh3BNS0gYBbTOcis7fRrJGAxbXRP7/s1600-h/finding+nemo+3.jpg"></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Letting go of our children as they grow to adulthood is risky. They can be forever lost. Left on their</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JD_GWIW3D_dSbROpxDdHIlwtHzEzXF6f3eKtzelKaOe_8oglWLNmg4flBzkj63McNW79xBWSOFFylCMKB1EGkmrMimFHrX1ezQAAobh5Op-xxuP72PxngOuBSVm8hXoSDbby/s1600-h/nemo_clownfish_1.jpg"></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> own, they might take chances you and I would certainly discourage. They could even hurt themselves and cause us serious suffering and grief. Letting go of our children is <i>hard </i>to do... and <i>right </i>to do. </span>davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-7787107496375770492023-06-02T00:00:00.002-07:002023-06-02T00:00:00.131-07:00"Formula Prayers Don't Work"<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>1st Chronicles 4.9a, 10 </em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>The Amplified Bible </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em></em><em><a href="http://www.prayer.com/"></a></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“<strong>Jabez was honorable</strong> above his brothers...</span></em> <em><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“<strong>Jabez cried to the God of Israel</strong>, saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and You would keep me from evil so it might not hurt me!’ </span></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>“And God granted his</strong> <strong>request.”</strong></span></em><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">God approved the simple request of an honorable and passionate man. The prayer of Jabez is not a magical incantation guaranteeing prosperity and life without pain to those who memorize and often repeat the verse. Jesus warned against <em>that </em>mentality… </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. </em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>They</em></span><em style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">’</span></em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">for getting what you want from God. Don</span></em></span><em style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">’</span></em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">t fall for that nonsense.” </span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Matthew 6.7-8 “The Message”</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There’s something more here than religious prayer. Listen to Dan Allender’s take… </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">“ ‘Let’s pray.’ When you hear these words, do they invite you or irritate you? Praying is the right thing to do before preaching, teaching, or eating, but how about during lovemaking, playing poker, or shopping at Wal-Mart? We are impoverished if we consider prayer to be a religious activity.”[1] </span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoCxrqL1hAklsDuFARN8vy9Q0ACr4cTHbMmclIG5pXmekpRsMc9vytTJoxWje1eUCWrBSdHjpQ7Sfnl50iIyXqL0pWbd8AgPeUjpKhIc7pU67F1ItxybnExXyldtBpD-_it3b/s1600-h/tobetold.jpg"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There are two things we know about Jabez from the text: <em>“Jabez was honorable” </em>and <em>“Jabez cried.”</em> He had <em>integrity</em> and he had <em>passion</em>. I suspect life was not </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclAuMVlJO3Dfm3dFhNYUnoj4H1fpLdznwLKL8PkIxdOlw6wAWx2aLRmzSKnyMHJgJmVzK9Rq-f-4f1AOyhI2ASdrUIHxKoEqtXY0MrMpRKJKn8HsOkPzOM_48Pfil9qO7OBPW/s1600-h/prayer_com+flip+and+bright+smaller.jpg"></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">always easy for Jabez. That’s probably why he went to God in the <em>first</em> place. He treated God with respect by telling the truth. Jabez refused to gloss over his needs. He wept before the Lord from a soul filled with the anguish. Jabez struggled in prayer. God honored that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">More from Dan Allender… </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">“…we must enter prayer as a struggle. We do not merely utter a string of sweet words according to a prescribed sequence, such as adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. Of course, prayer can be orderly and organized. But the prayer that pleads for exposure and engagement throws our desperation at God’s feet and wrestles naked with him for the blessing of a new name.”[2]</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We cannot expect Jesus to answer our prayers just because we ‘put in our time’ and followed a clever ACTS acrostic.[3] Jabez did not pray that way. Nor should we. God is very big and very secure. He can handle your perception and version of the truth. Give it to Him straight in all its uncensored and raw anti-glory. He can take it. Cry out to God. He may even bless you for it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">[1] </span><u style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">To Be Told – God Invites You to Coauthor Your Future</u><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">, Dan B. Allender, PhD, Waterbook Press, 2005, pp. 167-168.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">[2] Ibid., p. 170. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">[3] The ACTS prayer formula: <u><strong>A</strong></u>doration, <u><strong>C</strong></u>onfession, <u><strong>T</strong></u>hanksgiving, <u><strong>S</strong></u>upplication. </span></div>
davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-56917954201116421082023-06-01T00:00:00.001-07:002023-06-01T00:00:00.133-07:00"Lead and Leave a Legacy"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVqFpTmGtBvVtWblIEvVfNk_xSX5omNKShiZbYds6BNu5I6ZSNhiMYR0zjTitXmYlXli0T4H4bSjsT82xMFH6xF_DLi_FxkReboWdBqreFitSyeXtP_M-gIZN8D4kdpTrIY1I/s1600-h/trojan+larger+crop.jpg"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340907718519478498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVqFpTmGtBvVtWblIEvVfNk_xSX5omNKShiZbYds6BNu5I6ZSNhiMYR0zjTitXmYlXli0T4H4bSjsT82xMFH6xF_DLi_FxkReboWdBqreFitSyeXtP_M-gIZN8D4kdpTrIY1I/s400/trojan+larger+crop.jpg" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" width="294" /></em></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>1st Chronicles 1.10 NIV </em></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>“Cush was the father of <strong>Nimrod</strong>, who </em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><strong>grew to be</strong> <strong>a mighty warrior</strong> on earth.”</em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cush must have been a proud father. He watched his son Nimrod grow into <em>“a mighty warrior.” </em>Nimrod’s legacy is recorded in both 1st Chronicles and the book of Genesis<span style="color: #330033;">: <em>“Nimrod... grew to be a mighty warrior on the earth”</em> and <em>“a mighty hunter before the LORD,</em></span><span style="color: #330033;"><em>”</em> (Genesis 10.8-9 NIV). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">According to the Genesis account, Nimrod was also an amazing leader who built huge empires and cities like Babylon, Shinar, Babel, and Nineveh. Assyria was known as <em>“the land of Nimrod”</em> according to the prophets (Micah 5.6). This remarkable man literally established the governments and controlled the politics of ancient Mesopotamia. Who was this man whose greatness surpassed Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander the Great, and Caesar?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Very little is known about Nimrod. He was the great-grandson of Noah and probably lived </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSL1_0D8S2KTZ9-12_rPSElsLnGqrbvrKt8h3qGq363_mUSJxQbw4_W7OGLpBKkwlC8_xmeKFldp2YvEmOIXPkPPZWjGs-Tek4jsGTniA9s1VBbcLVSMtXuwQaWKCvscebf6Fz/s1600-h/trojan.jpg"></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">around 1,500 years before Christ. His name means valiant or rebellious. Nimrod must have been a person of incredible significance since he is described with a flourish among a list of about two hundred other less hailed names in the genealogical record of 1st Chronicles. Historical greats like Adam, Seth, Methuselah, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Esau, and Israel... Nimrod </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLw1ttO6JP3ECQFTXywBy1YHkF4VANEov-QBLM2K9457cSlykAZZRHQ-ZXqR_pp8VL7EYdfpdD_ugJJmGRSV6QxzxQPOJlao6s-DvdDT6RKzvYIFiGMy0iPfMaFhnUWjcTdm-Z/s1600-h/leadership+flip+crop.bmp"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">surpassed them all as </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">perhaps the greatest leader of his millennium.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For reasons known only to God, Nimrod was divinely empowered with abilities far transcending the human norm. This man not only <em>moved</em> nations, he <em>created</em> them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You and I may never achieve the influence and greatness of Nimrod. But like Nimrod, we have been divinely empowered to lead <em>someone</em>... a family, a company, a committee, a church, or a community. To that end, we must apply ourselves diligently…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us,</span> </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>each of us is to exercise them accordingly:… he who leads, with diligence.”</em></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Romans 12.6, 8 NASU</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lead <em>“with diligence”</em> those few precious souls who will bear your legacy to the end that on some future day they will say of you, “He was <em>‘a mighty warrior’</em> for his faith in Christ.”</span>davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-47790581533637630512023-05-31T00:00:00.001-07:002023-05-31T00:00:00.129-07:00"The 5-Second Rule"<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>2nd Kings 24.3-4 NET Bible</em></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mordantorange.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cartoon by Mike Bannon (c) 2006 www.mordantorange.com" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340550499757458194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHozvVeCEaDlyRD_aF5o9T5oXu4jniyKkGv0KVIG1UFcP7-dIj7P9Pu8MEjdwtjG2tKtkxNNB59MWMloL28NKSWwo8HRcnuNOuXMYDKyalC1XcWpZHqgBq6SC5SU0N-Rk2NS31/s1600/5+second+rule+2.gif" style="border: medium none; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“Just as the Lord had announced, </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">He rejected Judah because of all </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">the </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">sins which Manasseh had </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">committed. </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">Because he killed </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">innocent people and </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">stained </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">Jerusalem with their blood, </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>the </strong></span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>Lord was unwilling </strong></span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>to forgive</strong> them.”</span></em> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The “5-Second Rule” claims that food </span><a href="http://www.mordantorange.com/mo/"></a><a href="http://www.mordantorange.com/mo/"></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">dropped on the floor will be safe to eat if picked up within five seconds. Is it true? Not according to Snopes.com calling it contemporary folk wisdom, an urban legend. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In a July 4th, 2006 CBS New report entitled “The ‘5-Second Rule’ – Fact or Fiction?” readers were informed “existing pathogens will transfer” to dropped foods in under five seconds. Common sense appears to validate this warning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">More recently, however, two biology majors at Connecticut College in New London conducted an experiment with apple slices and Skittles candies on the college dining hall floor at 5-, 10-, 30-, and 60-second intervals. They found that the apple slices did not pick up bacteria until after one minute. It actually took Skittles 5 minutes or more floor time to become inedible.[1] In this latest, Connecticut College study, bad germs took time to adhere to the surface of even wet foods. This is encouraging to me since many times I have quickly consumed yummy foods dropped to the floor while invoking the “5-second rule.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">God is patient with the human race.</span><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, </span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands,</span></em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…”</span></em> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Exodus 34.6-7 NKJV </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“The Lord is… patient toward you, not wishing for any </span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">to </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">perish </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">but for all to come to repentance.”</span> </em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">2nd Peter 3:9 NASU</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RE3_qXkecfhfNbuCrHWO2dA1DyJGENCiHePeS23_lY1Y-YvFQZYSToZ0W_qtU9QRp3pAwwTgPYEdvh2mmyTDv6CGYgbdCdZuVNV1hYj7YWmW9Mop2CUGgqhnu_EYrQI_e2t5/s1600/3287684645_d78769ace4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="I Love the Five Second Rule! by Brian Hughes" border="0" height="276" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340550312408844658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RE3_qXkecfhfNbuCrHWO2dA1DyJGENCiHePeS23_lY1Y-YvFQZYSToZ0W_qtU9QRp3pAwwTgPYEdvh2mmyTDv6CGYgbdCdZuVNV1hYj7YWmW9Mop2CUGgqhnu_EYrQI_e2t5/s400/3287684645_d78769ace4.jpg" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin-top: 0px;" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Apparently there is a long period of time before the dirt of my sins keep God from picking me up off the floor. However, there is an endpoint. Because Manasseh <em>“killed innocent people... the Lord was unwilling to forgive.”</em> Divine un-forgiveness is an un-common occurrence in the scriptures, but it happens. Thankfully, the Lord is <em>“patient,” “merciful and gracious,” “longsuffering,”</em> and <em>“forgiving.”</em> But there appears to be a limit to His willingness to overlook sin. Like the apple slices on the floor, there is a point beyond which a person is so infected with the bacteria of sin he must be permanently discarded. Jesus called it <em>“blasphemy against the Spirit”…</em> </span></div>
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, </span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.”</em> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Matthew 12.31 NASU</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The author of Hebrews agreed.</span><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“For in the case of those who have once been enlightened... </span></em></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>and then have fallen away, </em><em>it is impossible to renew them </em><em>again to repentance, </em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. </span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Hebrews 6.4-6 NASU</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I sometimes drop my Christian character and I fall to the floor. It’s good to know that the blood of Jesus covers my sin. I have some time, maybe even a <em>long</em> time, to pick myself back up again and fully experience God’s restoration and forgiveness. But I better not wait <em>too</em> long. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">An intelligent person may pick up and consume a fallen apple slice in well under a minute or, better yet, adhere to the “5-second rule.” An even smarter individual will try not to drop the apple slices at all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">[1] The Oregonian, Science section, <em>“Five-second rule really more like 30”,</em> May 23, 2007. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The funny cartoon above featuring chickens and the "5-second rule" was created by illustrator and cartoonist Mike Bannon and used here by permission. You can see his work at </span><a href="http://www.mordantorange.com/"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://www.mordantorange.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The creative Cheez-It crakers photo is called <em>" 083/365 - I Love the Five Second Rule! (Explored!)" </em>is used with permission of North Carolina photographer Brian Hughes whose work you can view at </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/briansbastion/"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://www.flickr.com/photos/briansbastion/</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">. </span>davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-48973009292176930952023-05-30T00:00:00.008-07:002023-05-30T00:00:00.147-07:00"Without Regrets"<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfstt7aB66za2CoSNN1M0alFaXbmwU4RiWu3UlGIa5NrWMDhZQ6AHQ4FQjs17YB7HDkoGUZlfs5ML90QfA7WqiKFYmUMEWfo1E_ONCMqsGWMuCoklg1n6y8c4tftJnY8BBMOE2Tw/s1600/2015-05-07+10.29.18.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfstt7aB66za2CoSNN1M0alFaXbmwU4RiWu3UlGIa5NrWMDhZQ6AHQ4FQjs17YB7HDkoGUZlfs5ML90QfA7WqiKFYmUMEWfo1E_ONCMqsGWMuCoklg1n6y8c4tftJnY8BBMOE2Tw/s640/2015-05-07+10.29.18.jpg" style="border: none;" width="360" /></a><em></em><em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2nd Kings 20.1, 3b NKJV </span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">“In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: <strong>“Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.”</strong>’ </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUgOOofxqf7l7Ey6xyPan9pXhqP1NJEKI5DRIXSsH6zIkeRqsQoGD5KASn7iDXcqujCIdaWg0YA2V_dPM_9KefgfWCFs3yUinvKdfMIx7Pcw4fE85au9pOVEaj6IQgTR9TXFG/s1600-h/one+on+one+basketball.jpg"></a></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“And <strong>Hezekiah wept bitterly</strong>.”</span></em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I got up this morning my body reminded me how old I am. I have a hard time growing old gracefully. I do not easily accept my physical limitations. I dislike hypochondriacs and always thought I would remain quiet about my personal ailments when I got old. Now, at only seventy, I am broadcasting them across the Internet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Have I become that old guy who loves to commiserate about his aches and pains? I <em>hope</em> not, but I wish I had nothing to commiserate <em>about</em>. Fortunately, I was able to delay my body’s decline by losing fifty pounds a couple years ago. Nevertheless, my final days are approaching at a faster rate than I can easily tolerate. I hate dealing with my mortality. It</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">’s</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> depressing to think that someday I may be unable to play my beloved Racquetball, practice West Coast Swing at the dance studio, or hold my own at the local Salsa/Bachata club. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">King Hezekiah <em>“was sick and near death.”</em> The prophet Isaiah announced the gravity of his condition: <em>“Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.”</em> Facing the reality of his imminent demise, <em>“Hezekiah wept bitterly.”</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">No matter <em>what</em> our condition, it’s terminal. Have you checked the statistics on death lately? It</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">’s 100%. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">No one gets out of this world alive. We will </span><em style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">all</em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> meet our Maker. Sooner or later our time on earth ends. I </span><em style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">“shall die, and not live.”</em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> It’s inevitable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My wife, Adonica, is battled Acute Myeloid Leukemia, having been diagnosed on October 31st, 2014. She fought bravely for her life, facing the possibility of an early departure at only fifty years of age. I loved her and didn</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">’t want to lose her. I prayed for her healing, as did our entire community of faith. But ten months after her diagnosis, she left me. Adonica did not want to go, but she had no choice. I miss her more than I can possibly express here. We will all leave this life in a similar way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The <em>real</em> question is… what will we make of our lives <em>until</em> then? I may have another thirty years or another thirty seconds. How will I use these precious moments? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The prophet told the king, <em>“Set your house in order.”</em> Jesus calls me to do the same. Every time I show kindness to a stranger, give my boy a real bear hug, kiss my daughter goodnight, laugh at a small child’s silly joke, make eye contact with someone who wants to communicate, talk about my faith in Christ, complete a chore around the house, reconcile with a lost friend, do superior work at my job, offer a token of appreciation with a smile, or play with my grandkids… I am setting my <em>“house in order” </em>and endeavoring to leave this world a better place than I found it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jesus, help me <em>“set</em> [my] <em>house in order”</em> and ready myself to die without regrets. <span style="color: white;">---</span></span></div>
davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-31090539042822906132023-05-29T00:00:00.004-07:002023-05-29T00:00:00.130-07:00"The Fruit of Accomplishment"<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2nd Kings 19.30-31 NASU </span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/jeremyamorris"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHD0CnT1rHl0aLNNVX9tTMeUSgtxHiJqeu7LHJDjAnIz6pK0eHxgCH4D161xuIYZOyRORq_A819BebxiIDocpy4xG3Wvpzo2AWU8BdqazOOe9YkqWxxk6YBq8t_n-fpaOv-8i0/s1600-h/fruit+basket.jpg"></a></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“The surviving remnant of the house of Judah will again <strong>take root downward and bear fruit upward</strong>. For out of Jerusalem will go forth a remnant, and out of Mount Zion survivors. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong>The zeal of the Lord will perform this.</strong>”</span></em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Enthusiasm for a project will only get you so far. At some point your excitement must turn into energy if you expect to make the idea a reality. Not so with the Lord. His zeal for a project is enough. Somehow, if the Lord God supports a plan, it just happens. He spoke and everything I have seen, known, or could possibly imagine, simply came into being.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word...” </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Hebrews 11.3 “The Message”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That doesn’t work for you and me. We aren’t God. <em>Our</em> projects require both our hard work <em>and</em> God’s creative power. My success in any project begins with a vision and enthusiasm for that vision. I am then required to press into the assignment with all my might. I must become grounded and rooted in my resolve to accomplish the mission. Eventually the good fruit of accomplishment is born. The fruit of accomplishment is the evidence of the God’s hand of blessing and my hard work in any endeavor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I want the <em>“zeal of the Lord” </em>working on my behalf. If I am faithful, persistent, and diligent, <em>His</em> enthusiasm for the work I do guarantees its success. If the Lord has passion for my project, then without question, it will <em>“take root downward and bear fruit upward.”</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It does not work for me to come up with an idea, then ask Jesus to bless my efforts. The better questions for me are… </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What is Jesus passionate about?</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What is He zealous to perform? </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What makes the heart of God beat faster?</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What causes heavenly enthusiasm and stirs Him to action?</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I should be involved in whatever <i>that </i>is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The album <em>"Fruit Tree" </em>is a 2003 production of beautiful instrumental piano music by artist Jeremy Morris on Jam Records label. For review and purchase information, go to </span><a href="http://cdbaby.com/cd/jeremy4"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://cdbaby.com/cd/jeremy4</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">. </span></div>
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davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-33271986278403413212023-05-26T00:00:00.002-07:002023-05-26T00:00:00.128-07:00"Surprises, Yes! Secrets, No!"<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>2nd Kings 17.9 NASU </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>“The sons of <strong>Israel did things secretly which were not right </strong><em>against the Lord their God.”</em></em></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsFMdcVSQN05g0ZOkrblswMUBCcBXoT57rxfceDiPcikRM_zMREEatFvO8JXEYimgGvC7Ntr38lJrE7HMCAq-2uKpQ3MGnr5_Be4X1D-8Ei9U5q3_W9GezJBWy9RzHSGSYQTHVg/s1600/secrets+150.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsFMdcVSQN05g0ZOkrblswMUBCcBXoT57rxfceDiPcikRM_zMREEatFvO8JXEYimgGvC7Ntr38lJrE7HMCAq-2uKpQ3MGnr5_Be4X1D-8Ei9U5q3_W9GezJBWy9RzHSGSYQTHVg/s1600/secrets+150.jpg" style="border: medium none;" t8="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We always had a “no secret” rule in our home. I kept no secrets from my wife, and she never asked the children to keep them from me. </span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I never hide pertinent business information from my clients. The practice of secrecy enables people to form unholy alliances. Those possessing ‘secret’ knowledge profit from the ignorance of others. Secret societies create division and promote class distinctions. Secrets keep those who deserve to know </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">out the information loop. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Secrets impart power to their holders and advance agendas outside of God’s will. </span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We always taught our young children if asked, “Can you keep a secret?,” to respond automatically with, “No, I cannot. Whatever you tell me I will tell my mom and dad.” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We do make a distinction at home between secrets and surprises. Surprises are short term events and with happy endings. Surprises are kept private for the benefit of those from whom we keep information. Secrets are about what I can <em>gain</em>. Surprises are about what I can <em>give</em>. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2FqJHN3Av_nhBuV5oMiP3hen2pTHSF111xyK-pHcUie5SiGYBB38wQX4aYNUp3WA6ZIRhUbShbbckz0UfkEuU8v_mxUEkaI9tGBSdlh2az4hHpjK_TALwG0L2h68_CXVCEjM/s1600-h/gift.jpg"></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For example, if I buy a gift for my wife’s birthday I may ask the children to help me wrap it, reminding them with during this teaching moment: “Don’t tell mom. It’s not a <i>secret</i>. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It’s a <i>s</i></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>urprise</i>!” Hopefully, Mom will be feel loved when we celebrate her birthday and present her </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“surprise.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Surprises are fun and exciting, but nothing good comes from keeping secrets. In our home surprises are encouraged, secrets are exposed. Surprises make others happy. Secrets would hurt them if they knew. We must face the consequences and reveal our secrets. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYsYJ5Pdrb5i8nQ5tgs1uwqGIyAHyl8l2SuSBllAhTl1AkjXXIQ4HfyZMguWaHMo2PagCEPBrbhqYyPxuFPXsSRdiDgvVrqPLEq2j29G1IN-3HD2H2YI1dcSudbz_TIeV5fhT/s1600-h/gift+smaller.jpg"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Except for promoting secret times of personal and private prayer (Matthew 6.5-6), Jesus was anti-secret. He taught full disclosure. The Lord hid nothing from the world He came to save. His life was an open book. </span></span></div>
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the temple, </span></em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret.” </span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">John 18.20 NASU</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We cannot hide and keep secrets from God. Adam and Eve tried and failed. No secret you try to keep will be kept that way.</span><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">that will not </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">be</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">will be heard in the light, </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> what you have whispered in the </span></em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.</span></em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Luke 12.2-3 NASU </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>“The sons of Israel did things secretly”</em> forming unholy alliances and creating a spiritual chasm between themselves and <em>“the Lord their God.”</em> They never got away with the secret plans they hoped to pull off. </span></div>
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davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-28830950720822389962023-05-25T00:00:00.001-07:002023-05-25T00:00:00.130-07:00"Stick-to-it-ive-ness"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>2nd Kings 13.18b-19 “The Message” </em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“Elisha... said to the king of Israel, <strong>‘Strike the ground.’ The king struck the ground three times and then</strong> </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>quit.</strong></span></em><strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">” </span></strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“The Holy Man became angry with him: <strong>‘Why didn’t you hit the ground five or six times?</strong> Then you would beat Aram until he was finished. As it is, you’ll defeat him three times only.’”</span></em> <em><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></em></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnZuJrsrSWYUNI4015XcNYOh3YTNuUFyvH_mRwWtj8mLFkjFJ84qAt435chf0rxu7ekLNnnPblqRhuEfxN5dCHp4R72Kc94k8lyDUJJ1Ah3MxUH5HC-ds-YgKQ45xfJ2BTIhc/s1600-h/practicing+piano.jpg"></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFY-keGPvahv7PZl0PkWybzvq3iUJZb0_jis-XO0zUiOD9wXyj4oSI-nC7ZeRLDKVD4IdJx2HtVouSrvl44fk3pgZCWyO8FEM8xIVdmC5nW0lKWT1crFfIllqaLvshXmVUkKHp/s1600/perseverance+by+thomas+kinkade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Perseverance by Thomas Kinkade" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338287546831383938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFY-keGPvahv7PZl0PkWybzvq3iUJZb0_jis-XO0zUiOD9wXyj4oSI-nC7ZeRLDKVD4IdJx2HtVouSrvl44fk3pgZCWyO8FEM8xIVdmC5nW0lKWT1crFfIllqaLvshXmVUkKHp/s1600/perseverance+by+thomas+kinkade.jpg" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin-top: 0px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You get out of life exactly what you put into it. If I want a good relationship with my kids, I must invest emotionally in their lives. If I want success in business, I have to work hard and remain dedicated to my clients. If I want to learn the Bible, I must take time to read and study it. If I want my wife to respect me, I’ve got to show her, in practical ways, how much I love her. If I want to be close to Jesus, I get to spend time in prayer talking with Him. If I want to be an accomplished musician, I have no other option but to practice, practice, practice! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If I want to be proficient at any endeavor, I am required to give, practice, work, pray, study, and invest with passion and perseverance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The king of Israel lacked passion and perseverance. He wanted to defeat his oppressor Aram. Elisha promised it would happen, but it did <em>not</em>. Elisha was a <em>“Holy Man.”</em> He spoke for God. What went wrong? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Prophetic words do not act in a vacuum. They require cooperative effort from the person for whom their message is intended. If a true prophet of God says, “You will be a great leader in the body of Christ” and you do nothing to hone your leadership skills, his prophecy will not come to pass. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFY-keGPvahv7PZl0PkWybzvq3iUJZb0_jis-XO0zUiOD9wXyj4oSI-nC7ZeRLDKVD4IdJx2HtVouSrvl44fk3pgZCWyO8FEM8xIVdmC5nW0lKWT1crFfIllqaLvshXmVUkKHp/s1600-h/perseverance+by+thomas+kinkade.jpg"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The next time you are called upon to exercise your divinely appointed gifts, don’t go halve-sies. Finish the job. Gather some passion and perseverance. Show some stick-<em>to</em>-it-ive-ness. Go all the way. Invest yourself with total abandon. <em>“The king struck the ground three times and then quit.”</em> Don’t make <em>that</em> mistake. <em>“Hit the ground five or six times,” </em>or <em>more!</em> It takes faith to work, pray, study, prepare, give, practice, and invest your life but Jesus will give you the strength. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Trust Him and don’t give up. Do whatever it takes to get the job He</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">’s called you to do... </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">done!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The beautiful painting above is entitled <em>"Perseverance"</em> by Thomas Kinkade (1958-2012). </span></div>
davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-79347040515448802982023-05-24T00:00:00.001-07:002023-05-24T00:00:00.136-07:00"Wimps Need Not Apply"<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: black;">2nd Kings 9:20; 10.17 NIV</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“The driving is like that of <strong>Jehu</strong> son of Nimshi — he <strong>drives like a madman</strong>.” “When Jehu came to Samaria, he killed all who were left there of Ahab’s family; he destroyed them, according to the word of the Lord spoken to Elijah.”</span></em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jehu was a madman, and he drove like one. The guy was brutal and had no fear. Jehu assassinated both kings of Israel <em>and</em> Judah. He ordered Jezebel thrown to her death from the top of the royal palace. He called for the heads of Ahab’s seventy direct descendants, placed them in baskets, and dumped them in two piles at the city gate. <em>“Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel… until he left him without a survivor”</em> (2nd Kings 10.11). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He slaughtered every follower of Baal and, after destroying their temple, Jehu <em>“made it a latrine to this day”</em> (2nd Kings 10.27). Jehu single-handedly eradicated false worship in Israel and served justice to the house of wicked Ahab. In so doing, he fulfilled <em>“the word <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">of the LORD which He spoke to Elijah”</span></em></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> (2nd Kings 10.17).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mad though he was, Jehu commanded the respect of those around him. He ruthlessly fulfilled the mission of the Lord. Nothing stopped him. Jehu was anything </span><em style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">but</em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> politically correct. He cared not one bit of what others thought of him. He was fearless and focused.</span></div>
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The American church could use a dose of the Jehu spirit. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Many modern Christians are more concerned with making a good <em>impression</em> than with making a real <em>difference</em>. ‘Being nice’ ranks right up there with serving Christ. The common church-goer is more dedicated to etiquette than ethics. Doing things the right way has superseded doing the right things. Being liked is often more important than being Christ-like. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Getting man’s approval at any cost is the modern form of Baal worship... and it’s rampant in the pews. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“Woe to you when all men speak well of you.”</span></em> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Luke 6.26</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”</span></em> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">2nd Timothy 3.12</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”</span></em> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Galatians 1.10</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“Whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”</span></em> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">James 4.4</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Only <em>God’s</em> approval matters. The people whose approval you think you need really don’t matter at all. We have a mission to fulfill. It’s the Great <em>Co</em>-mission issued by Jesus and recorded for all time in the book of Mark, chapter 16, verse 15: <em>“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”</em> That’s the believer’s job description and it’s not for the faint of heart. Wimps need not apply. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aLbaxK6z5EMIEgUhQTAKMS7edMo05D7zb89b_U-RyZCaEt3AoQe_WL2NIyA1H_C-u5oZsW594h6kxgyqH_ZcdY7NzZdxirPYGXoTMGoc_JKyb5GJne6dxa_2-dJgs6saXe-3/s1600-h/popeye.jpg"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We need a dose of spirit of Jehu. We must drive <em>“like a madman”</em> to that sacred place in our souls called the Temple of Public Opinion. This is where we make daily offerings to the god of people-pleasing. We must get tough (maybe even go a little <em>mad</em>) and <em>destroy</em> that temple! It is impossible to cling to the opinion of others <em>and</em> serve Christ with total abandon. It’s time to kill and bury for good our need to be liked. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Christian man or woman must develop the force of character to violently eradicate all remnants of the pursuit of human approval. We need only the approval of God to take His kingdom on earth by storm. We need a dose of the spirit of Jehu.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>“From the days of John the Baptist until now </em><em>the kingdom of </em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>heaven suffers violence, </em></span><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">and </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">violent men take it by force.</span> </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Matthew 11.12 NASU</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Image above is a character from <em>"Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People" </em>from Telltale Games. </span></div>
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davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-38129412765264237182023-05-23T00:00:00.002-07:002023-05-23T00:00:00.128-07:00"Chariots of Fire"<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2nd Kings 6.15-17 NIV</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. <strong>‘Oh, my lord, what shall we do?’</strong> the servant asked. “<strong>‘Don't be afraid,’</strong> the prophet answered. <strong>‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’</strong></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“And Elisha prayed, <strong>‘O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.’</strong> Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw <strong>the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around</strong> Elisha.”</span></em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In my business I am constantly confronted by an opposing <em>“army of horses with chariots.”</em> Challenges, obstacles, and complications make my pursuit of a livelihood and the advancement of my mission, a challenging venture of faith. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I often begin my day with a question for Jesus: <em>“Oh, my Lord, what shall we do?”</em> The answer is inevitably and always the same: <em>“Don’t be afraid.”</em> I have nothing to fear. God is on my side. No matter how many demonic forces are stacked up against me, God and me form a majority. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>“If God is for us, who can be against us?</em> </span></span><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With God on our side like this, how can we lose?”</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Romans 8.31 The Net Bible and “The Message”</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6me5wjTzx4SiVl4kbt0gUTdn7I4gQQa7LdLtw_66bhRmYmYA1Qq9MRPMWBCZNNLJ-sugSuT3zHqeFhxj_s0PjnNAEOGVJc5AkL9uy8oiZ-GLUe2Yw4Ken1zSZ4aN-E4hsxKM/s1600-h/angel+use+small.bmp"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img alt="angel (Greek)" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337908462293541906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6me5wjTzx4SiVl4kbt0gUTdn7I4gQQa7LdLtw_66bhRmYmYA1Qq9MRPMWBCZNNLJ-sugSuT3zHqeFhxj_s0PjnNAEOGVJc5AkL9uy8oiZ-GLUe2Yw4Ken1zSZ4aN-E4hsxKM/s320/angel+use+small.bmp" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; cursor: hand; float: left; height: 98px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 284px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jesus reminds me, <em>“Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”</em> I want to believe but, like Elisha’s servant, I need eyes of faith. Jesus intercedes for me before His Father’s throne: <em>“Oh Lord, open his eyes so he may see.”</em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“Therefore, being always of good courage, we walk by faith, not by sight.”</span> </em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">2nd Corinthians 5.6-7 NASU</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Seeing with <em>eyes</em> of faith enables me to <em>“walk by faith.”</em> What do I see in faith? I see <em>“the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around.”</em> It is an amazing angelic vision, imparting the assurance of ultimate victory for me and the people I love. I can overcome my small problems because Jesus daily comforts my troubled heart…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“You… have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”</span></em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">1st John 4.4 NASU</span></span></div>
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davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-17739438051624259892023-05-22T00:00:00.004-07:002023-05-22T00:00:00.142-07:00"Holy Dirt"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><img alt="" border="0" height="197" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337191573384231042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwoTwoR2MWTCQXlk0yTUONQb5EWbWWEiXCU0wpu34-ZmorbKf-0XW1knbnY4JzNbF8JPc11TJvU2P6CPWkfiVxG_pc4B6Dm3ljgHs5-zseiZjCrtoeuSLE8MshjQIE3k_iuVv/s400/5_spice-1+crop+150x.jpg" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" width="400" /></em><em>2nd Kings 5:17 NKJV</em> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“So Naaman said, ‘… please let your servant be given <strong>two <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogH6zEobr22I92ht78VGgwl5oR1l3j-uC_MabYbszDvMZyBS0bT78Du6WlfdzxK16rkXycm10G7tlr3clEWuiG0sL3vvU_JIREwgQO6oQx2Jm49fRIwNA-gbbdGsDZpR3jxGG/s1600-h/5_spice-1+crop.jpg"></a>mule-loads of earth</strong>; for your servant will no longer offer either burnt offering or sacrifice to other gods, but to the Lord.’”</span></em> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black;">An uneasy relationship existed between the nations of Aram and Israel, whose king Jehoram lost his father in a battle with Aram a few years before. The king of Aram heard of the power of Elisha and sent his valued commander Naaman to be healed of leprosy by this great prophet of Israel. The commander received his healing and in gratitude offered to pay Elisha. Elisha refused payment but granted Naaman’s request to bring <em>“two mule-loads of earth”</em> from Israel back to his homeland in Aram. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black;">It was apparently Naaman’s plan to return home and erect an altar on dirt brought from the land of the one and only true God, the Lord God of Israel. </span><span style="color: black;">Naaman would worship the God of his newly found faith on newly collected holy ground.</span> <span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;">Naaman may have been superstitious, or perhaps he thought it wise to keep a physical reminder of his new-found devotion to the Lord. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsbE9qQk7xMHw5eFlSPVSYti_wZgqXGqpA8eygrnohTpWqbvrSWKEMiuxOIf6q6_XcWFwha7R2U2t-QcBxbk0CRrAO-AQmupdLIHKmeve5YbK11G-51LbvjzhIAwYzG7pgLVa/s1600/mule+crop.bmp" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337191773336167826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsbE9qQk7xMHw5eFlSPVSYti_wZgqXGqpA8eygrnohTpWqbvrSWKEMiuxOIf6q6_XcWFwha7R2U2t-QcBxbk0CRrAO-AQmupdLIHKmeve5YbK11G-51LbvjzhIAwYzG7pgLVa/s320/mule+crop.bmp" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; margin-top: 0px;" width="263" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Naaman’s plan is not that </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black;">unusual. Orthodox Jews prefer to be buried with dirt gathered from the Holy Land. Followers of Mohammed collect stones from Mecca. Some American Christians save water in a vial from the Jordan River where they were baptized. Relics of these kind can carry special meaning for a follower of any faith.</span> <span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehpgHOwsIL9j80ff1LSiHCfqgR1clzGLhgVuWBKjVNNn-eT9ydO0-g9u_fwcCd9Z5x_S1magqaB1Pxx-dV_y11XD_LzlzyDO6NCpujU5n2W66errcDdT_uXFMGiDFhR-Cr4Zn/s1600-h/burning+bush.jpg"></a></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsbE9qQk7xMHw5eFlSPVSYti_wZgqXGqpA8eygrnohTpWqbvrSWKEMiuxOIf6q6_XcWFwha7R2U2t-QcBxbk0CRrAO-AQmupdLIHKmeve5YbK11G-51LbvjzhIAwYzG7pgLVa/s1600-h/mule+crop.bmp"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When Moses stood before the God of Israel at the burning bush in the wilderness of Horeb, the Lord commanded him, <em>“...remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground”</em> (Exodus 3.5). Anywhere God displays Himself is <em>“holy ground.”</em> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I stand on <em>“holy ground”</em> every day and depend on divine encounters to sustain my faith. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I meet God when Jesus is revealed in my practice of PB & J (regular Prayer, Bible reading, and Journaling). This is the substance of my faith. It is my </span><em style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“holy ground”</em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> event. I need a couple</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><em style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“mule-loads” </em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">of </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">holy dirt with me at all times to remind me of the God I serve and His purpose for my life. </span><span style="color: white;">---</span></div>
davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-41898004312062366582023-05-19T00:00:00.001-07:002023-05-19T00:00:00.132-07:00"I Am as You Are"<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RiRMDMlDE482YwCQGyjID6s1QxyCqBN10eL-KJZUK4TmcRPqZ0KtAP8ddbRwztluVmvPuIZ2xtbIXADoEFwjExkIgC6udotpzIPrW9_EBLd3t-c7Bg0SX9H7Wq820QDThJT8/s1600/vanka_wounded_friend+bright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 431px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 316px;"><img alt="Wounded Friend by Maxo Vanka" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336093871652096962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RiRMDMlDE482YwCQGyjID6s1QxyCqBN10eL-KJZUK4TmcRPqZ0KtAP8ddbRwztluVmvPuIZ2xtbIXADoEFwjExkIgC6udotpzIPrW9_EBLd3t-c7Bg0SX9H7Wq820QDThJT8/s1600/vanka_wounded_friend+bright.jpg" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin-top: 0px;" /></a><em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2nd Kings 3.6-7 NASU </span></em></div>
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<em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3aeMKFMRY2lB-bXZ86o7Ng4-lwCW1JdgbdCMshLQGJWGBvfZUh17OiWFm74w62KWqXTHwGkifxUfp6tAHrpQ58kgdL-JIIbY7JBeWDuio0f4AEc26dXsNCRavvpQSueXeL4M/s1600-h/cat+friends.jpg"></a><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“And King Jehoram... sent word to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, ‘The king of Moab has rebelled against me. <strong>Will you go with me to fight against Moab?</strong>’ </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">And he said, <strong>‘I will go up; I am as you are,</strong> my people as your people, my horses as your horses.’”</span></em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jehoram king of Israel received tribute, an ancient form of taxation, from the conquered king and people of Moab. After the death of Jehoram’s father Ahab, Moab rebelled. Jehoram sought the assistance of two other kings, Jehoshaphat of Judah and the king of Edom. Together this newly formed three nation alliance agreed to subdue the Moabites. Their alliance was strong and Jehoshaphat made a promise of loyalty to Jehoram: </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>“<strong>I will go... I am as you are,</strong> </em></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">my people as your people, </span></em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>my </em></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>horses as your horses.”</em> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">2nd Kings 3.7 NASU </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Seven days into their journey to pursue Moab the three nation army could not locate water. The king of Israel lost his courage, but his ally Jehoshaphat remained resolute... <em>“Is there not a prophet of the Lord here?”</em> (2nd Kings 3.11). They found Elisha who prophetically confirmed the success of their mission and water miraculously appeared. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RiRMDMlDE482YwCQGyjID6s1QxyCqBN10eL-KJZUK4TmcRPqZ0KtAP8ddbRwztluVmvPuIZ2xtbIXADoEFwjExkIgC6udotpzIPrW9_EBLd3t-c7Bg0SX9H7Wq820QDThJT8/s1600-h/vanka_wounded_friend+bright.jpg"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jehoshaphat was one of the few good kings in Judah and proved to be a <em>very </em>good friend to Jehoram. Jehoram solicited Jehoshaphat for help to complete a difficult task. Jehoshaphat agreed. When things went wrong, Jehoram wanted to quit but Jehoshaphat remained strong. He was true to his word even after Jehoram lost confidence. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyA54kOOOAJ6hFXwzI8sTuRH4Me_1BWikWL2bi9IfksiOJ5LfEJ6p4mpjdm8cnOdRZGMMpkg4JAIWMhQkyyVuo4ZzKy6SGE_qZKOJWENvgroPmsGRg6dUvvOEmAVlhLpHw2vr/s1600-h/carrying+each+other.jpg"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A true friend is willing to fight for his brother’s cause even when his brother wants to quit. A friend’s role extends beyond the basic terms of his agreement. He enters the deeper realm of the spirit with the other man. A real friend not only agrees to the mission <em>(“I will go”),</em> he also promises to become one with his companion <em>(“I am as you are”).</em> When his friend falters, he is there to prop him up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I want to <em>have</em> and <em>be</em> a friend like that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>"Wounded Friend" </em>by Croatian-American artist Maksimilijan Vanka (1889 – 1963), also known as Maxo Vanka. </span></div>
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davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-2288244837567602222023-05-18T00:00:00.006-07:002023-05-18T00:00:00.131-07:00"Man-Boy"<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVA1LZxbpfYxUkiPxo7zrZYwoSQ7z_GLDn3IutQSQ_3Ty-YBrmj92gD-ZiHC5old7svuUZdQetCoYpiLqo9FSqMlS5bjsp2f2UeewX8c0AO3Ei_dP-uP7tw750ybkWOV-izUk/s1600/tantrum+by+calvin+flip.gif" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335705199841744002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVA1LZxbpfYxUkiPxo7zrZYwoSQ7z_GLDn3IutQSQ_3Ty-YBrmj92gD-ZiHC5old7svuUZdQetCoYpiLqo9FSqMlS5bjsp2f2UeewX8c0AO3Ei_dP-uP7tw750ybkWOV-izUk/s400/tantrum+by+calvin+flip.gif" style="border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; margin-top: 0px;" width="360" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>1st Kings 21.4 NLT </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“So Ahab went home <strong>angry and sullen</strong> because of Naboth's answer. <strong>The king went to bed with his face to the wall and refused to</strong> <strong>eat!</strong>”</span></em><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">King Ahab never grew up. He offered to pay for Naboth’s vineyard but Naboth said, <em>“I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers”</em> (1st Kings 21.4). Ahab could not have what he wanted so he <em>“went to bed with his face to the wall and refused to at.” </em>His wife, Jezebel catered to the king</span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">’s </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">childish demands and promised to get the vineyard for Ahab. To make Ahab’s wish come true, she had Naboth falsely accused and killed. That little drama helped Ahab to become the worst king ever…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">to do </span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">evil in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife incited him.”</span></em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">1st Kings 21.25 NASU </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ahab should have listened to Mick Jagger instead of Queen Jezebel…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“You can't always get what you want, <br /> You can't always get what you want, <br /> You can't always get what you want; <br /> But if you try sometimes you just might find <br /> You get what you need.” [1]</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The spirit of Ahab is alive and well. This spirit displays itself in the form of a tantrum when a child does not get what he wants. Ahab was a little boy inside the body of a man. He was a man-boy. A man-boy’s fits of poor behavior are better disguised than those of a two-year-old. Adult tantrums are less of a spectacle. They go inward. Like Ahab, a man-boy easily becomes <em>“angry and sullen.”</em> He turns <em>“his face to the wall”</em> and refuses to communicate with those around him. He wants mommy Jezebel to reach inside, find and fix his little ‘owie’ so he can have what he wants and have it <em>now</em>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The boy inside a man’s body doesn’t care about consequences. He just wants what he wants and convinces himself he won’t be happy without it. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM362PcgYTEVJiR9z-vp86ZICcXXqqVjO63e53YN29tQorOpDnDwnzv40YcFM5tgZJ4NLTUyEw2NWTf8DvNAlbYnp-FGczKQtxAKRSuPDkn7fCRG5cpqBoLX-iiapvplZEf7NU/s1600-h/mick+jagger+crop+bright.jpg"></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The difference between a man and a boy is this a man</span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">’s </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">ability to delay gratification. A boy cannot do that. and falls apart when he can’t get what he wants. A real man fully understands and graciously accepts that “you can’t always get what you want.” He is learning to become free from the bondage of childish desires. A man of God places his faith in Christ and believes “you get what you need” when you need it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Lord, deliver me from the spirit of Ahab and my carnal desire to remain a boy inside the body of a man. I will not be a man-boy. Make a real man of me. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">[1] The Rolling Stones released the song <em>“You Can’t Always Get What You Want”</em> on their 1969 album <em>Let It Bleed.</em> It was written by lead singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards and named the “100th greatest song of all time” by Rolling Stone Magazine in 2004. It features the London Bach Choir helping to bring the song to its amazing crescendo. </span></div>
davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-9816536217041327952023-05-17T00:00:00.001-07:002023-05-17T00:00:00.130-07:00"So-Called Brothers"<em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1st Kings 20.32-33 NIV </span></em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkgENuy8U3Q7jJ94Vo5GkO38ZcyHOHmOZTo-nBhPKAtb2f0c2duL8fo7qcJV_Ullme1Vfwjwlpf4lWI9X_BO87ljtbzZawESALV2DpIGYKGbFXcT-YZue3rSk9YOQ2V2S8neX/s1600/wolf+in+sheep%27s+clothing+2+bright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335342676496572354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkgENuy8U3Q7jJ94Vo5GkO38ZcyHOHmOZTo-nBhPKAtb2f0c2duL8fo7qcJV_Ullme1Vfwjwlpf4lWI9X_BO87ljtbzZawESALV2DpIGYKGbFXcT-YZue3rSk9YOQ2V2S8neX/s1600/wolf+in+sheep's+clothing+2+bright.jpg" style="border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; margin-top: 0px;" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">“Wearing sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, ‘Your servant Ben-Hadad says: </span></span></em></span><em style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">“Please let me live.”’ </span></span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></em></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“The king answered, <strong>‘Is he still alive? He is my brother.’ </strong></span></em><i><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></i></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong></strong></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“The men took this as a good sign and were quick to pick up his word. ‘<strong>Yes, your brother Ben-Hadad!’ </strong>they said.</span>”</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ben-Hadad was no brother. King Ahab should not have called him one nor believed the son of Hadad when he claimed to be one. Ben-Hadad was the drunken pagan leader of Aram who started, but could not finish, a war with Israel. With his tail kicked and firmly wedged between his legs, the defeated leader of Aram crawled to Ahab hoping for mercy. Ahab made a serious error by referring to his enemy as <em>“my <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkDS46BbHKTalxBhVaekJ2UynlTDrbH8DBfY5bHghJbqfYkVspWXitV4RacZehCst9WKzkpCjr-4iWvjFtzTwwIpdcmXQQRH-0sm4Ql2P03jtQ_lwSRtpU143sGEhIyhIUlG6/s1600-h/blues+brohters+2.jpg"></a>brother.”</em> Ben-Hadad’s people capitalized on Ahab’s poor judgment and <em>“were quick to pick up his word.” </em>They presented their fallen king of Aram as <em>“brother Ben-Hadad.”</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A sister or brother is a family member. By faith in Christ, I belong to the family of God. <em>“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”</em> (Romans 10.9). That profession enacted by faith alone makes you my brother or sister. If someone pretends to be a <em>“brother,” </em>I am commanded to keep my distance... </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkgENuy8U3Q7jJ94Vo5GkO38ZcyHOHmOZTo-nBhPKAtb2f0c2duL8fo7qcJV_Ullme1Vfwjwlpf4lWI9X_BO87ljtbzZawESALV2DpIGYKGbFXcT-YZue3rSk9YOQ2V2S8neX/s1600-h/wolf+in+sheep%27s+clothing+2+bright.jpg"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“...I wrote to you not to associate with </span></em></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>any so-called brother </em></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>if he is </em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>an </em></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>immoral </em></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>person, </em></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard,</em> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>or a </em></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>swindler — </em></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">not even to eat with such a one.”</span> </em></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">1st Corinthians</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">5.11 NASU</span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Don’t trust everyone who calls himself a <em>“brother.”</em> Ben-Hadad </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-2cOacjGmFSa5CMoxTEcjlUzJBJCFaEYsGYC2rnxcGt-LFgwcTFaygU2QETieDRw6MQkgw768pk9-7O8VS8Gjj0J4CISo2zUvrrERQNX8EI_cQoCr-634BfSWR-SdcQaeAWU/s1600-h/wolf+in+sheep%27s+clothing+4.jpg"></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">was not a brother to Ahab. He was an enemy of Israel who <em>pretended</em> to be part of the family to save his life. Ahab was just stupid enough to believe him. Eight years later Ahab lost his life in a battle against <em>“brother Ben-Hadad.”</em> That’s how the king of Israel was repaid for showing mercy to a so-called </span><em style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">“brother.”</em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jesus called false brothers <em>“ravenous wolves”</em> in <em>“sheep’s clothing.”</em> Beware of these liars... </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>“Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced </em></span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>sincerity. </em></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>Chances </em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>are they are out to rip you off some way or other.<span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></em></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>Don</em>’<em>t </em><em>be </em></span></span><em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">impressed</span> </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">with charisma; </span></span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>look for character. </em></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>Who </em></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>preachers </em></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em><strong>are</strong> is the main thing, </em></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>not what </em></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>they say.”</em> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Matthew 7.15-16 “The Message”</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Be careful who you call a <em>“brother.”</em></span><br />
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davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-42025680916168486312023-05-16T00:00:00.034-07:002023-05-16T00:00:00.122-07:00"The Prayer of a Salesman"<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;">
<em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1st Kings 17.14 NIV</span></em></div>
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<em> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcR3DmzvWFr3KFiCWk-UY4FF9w1aavblOM5IwggWbkCnNvMRozskMgLE4y5d6FLFqfOoYC7lrHWJk1cR-gvN6kcLfIEuFTH_65xojU4SNcUpN4OYbH05f16tnc3180QNrZEXG3/s1600-h/panhandler+2.jpg"></a><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: <strong>‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry </strong>until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.’”</span></em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was a salesman. I used to wake up every single morning unemployed. I had sell more if I hoped to get another paycheck and feed my family. Paul warned the early church <em>“If you don’t work, you don’t eat”</em> (2nd Thessalonians 3.10). In my case, if I didn’t sell, I didn’t eat... and neither did my kids! For some salespeople, this fact creates undue pressure rendering them incapable of the very thing they must exhibit... sales performance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’ve worried about my next sale, especially early in my career. But through the years I’ve become a believer in the miracle of divine multiplication. I’ve always had enough. My family never missed a meal. The kids always had a roof over their heads. There were lean and hard times, but we always managed. When I first moved to Portland in the mid-80’s, I had nothing except my wife, three kids, and a beat up car. I wondered how I would find an income in this community. I was the widow of Zarephath… </span></div>
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl </span></em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>and a little oil in the jar; </em></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>and behold, I am gathering </em></span></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>a few sticks that I may go in and prepare </em><em>for </em></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>me </em></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>and </em><em>my son, that we may eat it and die.”</em> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">1st Kings 17.12 NASU</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There were a few nights when I thought we were consuming our last meal. But there was always more the next day. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Even in my darkest hours following a difficult divorce and </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">disastrous custody battle, God provided for my children, their mother, and me. For a short time I was homeless, living in my car, yet God still proved faithful and provided amply. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The journey from then to now was rough but, by God’s grace, and the miracle of divine multiplication, I got here. Today I have a beautiful home, seven great kids, eleven amazing grandchildren, a vibrant past career from which I am now fully retired, a new car, a wonderful little dog, and a piano. I feel like the richest man on earth; I am continally grateful. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For over twenty years I had the woman of my dream. My marriage to Adonica was the best thing that ever happened to me. Leukemia took her life nearly eight years ago, but my life is enriched today because of her. I am truly a blessed man. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How did I survive? Did I always work hard? Did I tithe on every penny of my small income? Did I give God all the glory all the time? Was I fully faithful with the little I had? Did I do anything to deserve the prosperity I now enjoy? No, no, no, and no. I tried to implement a few basic principles of financial success, usually without notable results. I cannot give myself credit in any way. Nor can I offer a testimonial-type formula that would make sense to others in financial straits. I find some solace and comfort in the record of Job’s writings... </span></div>
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away; </span></em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">blessed be the name of the Lord.”</span></em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Job 1.21</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If it were not for the abundant and providential grace of God, I could be the guy standing at the freeway entrance with an “every little bit helps” sign. I’ve been homeless with nothing to my name. Today I have a very nice home, the gift of a beautiful family, plenty of friends, a steady and ample income, and an 830 credit score. Today it’s easy to say <em>“Blessed be the name of the Lord!”</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was a salesman. I used to wake up unemployed every single morning. I trusted, and still trust, the same Jesus who multiplied the fish and loaves and fed thousands of hungry followers in the first century A.D. He will feed my family and me today. I choose to approach this day with confident expectation: <em>“Give us this day our daily bread”</em> (Matthew 6.11). I know the God who owns <em>“the cattle on a thousand hills” </em>(Psalm 50.10) can give me another sale. I believe in the miracle of divine multiplication.</span></div>
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“The jar of flour will not be used up and </span></em><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the jug of oil will not run dry.”</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“My cup runneth over!”</span></em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Psalm 23.5</span></span></div>
davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27936658.post-71888572881399915002023-05-15T00:00:00.001-07:002023-05-15T00:00:00.124-07:00"Don't Believe Everything You Hear No Matter How Credible the Source"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>1st Kings 13.17-19 NLT </em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“For the Lord gave me this command: ‘You must not eat or drink anything while you are there, ...’</span></em> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>“But the old prophet answered, ‘I am a prophet, too, just as you are. And an angel gave me this command from the Lord: </strong></span></em></span><em style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>“Bring him home with you so he can have something to eat and drink.”’</strong></span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>But the old man was lying to him. </strong></span></em></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“So they went back together, and the man of God ate and drank at the prophet's home.”</span></em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Did you know that God can speak to you? You must listen and discover His word. Once you’ve heard God’s word do not forsake it. Don’t trust <em>anyone</em> who gives you a message contrary to what you heard, not even someone who claims to hear from God. The prophet from Judah heard from God: <em>“You must not eat or drink anything while you are there”</em> in Bethel of Israel. Another man persuaded the prophet to violate the command of the Lord. How could that happen? </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>The man was <em>older</em></u>. The younger man deferred to his elder.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>The older man was a <em>prophet</em></u>. The man asserted,<em> “I am a prophet, too, just as you are.”</em></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>The older prophet claimed to hear from an <em>angel</em></u>. The young prophet decided an angelic revelation trumped his personal beliefs. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The man from Bethel was <em>older</em>, he was a <em>prophet</em>, and he heard from <em>angels</em>. The younger prophet weighed the apparent facts and made a decision, the <em>wrong one! </em>He had not banked on one important piece of undisclosed information which cost him his life: The older prophet who spoke with angels was a<em> liar! </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The young prophet from Judah failed to trust the word of the Lord in his heart. Paul warned us against false reliance and blind faith one thousand years later:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other </span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">than </span></em></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!”</span></em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Galatians 1.8 NIV</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Don’t let <em>anyone</em> talk you out of what Jesus told you is true.</span></div>
davescrivenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14462058588564974007noreply@blogger.com1