tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7911936938163108542024-02-18T22:52:44.795-08:00I was just thinking..."I write only because there is a voice within me that will not be still." Sylvia PlathSiemprePensandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865067225386212592noreply@blogger.comBlogger178125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-70784715245743374372018-09-07T09:43:00.001-07:002018-09-07T09:43:47.245-07:00Emotional Motion Sickness<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b>So I’m listening to the (great) book by Lianne Moriarity, <i>What Alice Forgot</i>.</b> The character, Elizabeth, is thinking about watching something on the news where a woman was speaking to reporters, standing in front of a collapsed school her child is inside of. After the interview, the woman received the news that no further rescues would be attempted, and the woman was then writhing around on the ground wailing in agony. Elizabeth comments that she was eating chips. She was eating chips watching this woman experience the most horrific moment of her life…</div>
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<b>That got me thinking.</b></div>
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<b>Motion sickness happens when your brain receives conflicting input. </b>You’re riding in a car and some of your body senses you’re moving at great speed, and some of your body’s other senses sense nothing at all. The conflict of input makes you sick…or it can just make you sleepy…make you begin to shut down all input, basically.</div>
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<b>So imagine being on the scene of a collapsed elementary school after an earthquake where children are buried.</b> Imagine being there when this mother is told her daughter will never be recovered from beneath the ruins of the school even though she could possibly be alive in there, crying out for help. Imagine standing there next to that woman and…just…eating chips…having no emotional reaction to her. Imagine chatting casually with your spouse while she’s there, feet from you, writhing in pain. Imagine pulling your phone out to check and reply to a text message while she’s there with her heart bleeding for her baby. </div>
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<b>If that was real life…you’d be one freaking sick weirdo, right?</b> People might call you a sociopath if you were to have that reaction to the situation in real life, yeah?</div>
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<b>What about sex?</b> Say you walk in on two of your friends having sex. Imagine pulling up a chair, pulling out a snack, and just sitting and casually watching. How about you and a friend pulling up a chair and both of you just watching, chatting about unrelated things here and there, maybe taking a scroll thru your alerts on your phone quick while you’re at it. Would that be weird?</div>
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<b>Or how about…you walk down the street and see some scary person grabbing a lady and dragging her off into the bushes.</b> He’s beating her, hurting her, then he rapes and stabs her and leaves her for dead. How ‘bout then? What if you just stood there, watching, munching on a snack and again…maybe casually chatting with other passersby or responding to a message on Facebook.</div>
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<b>That would be freaking WEIRD wouldn’t it?</b></div>
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<b>But see…that IS the world we now live in.</b> We live in a world where screens are the primary way we get out into the world and experience other humans and every day…all day. </div>
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<b>So…essentially we’re experiencing emotional motion sickness, aren’t we?</b> Some of our senses…our eyes and ears…are being exposed to absolute horrors...life at high speeds…and the rest of our senses…are receiving no input, as though we’re not moving at all. </div>
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So if we’re not being moved by this to become sick…<b>is it putting us to sleep? </b></div>
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Is all the conflicting input shutting down all our senses when it comes to caring for others?</div>
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TV...social media...</div>
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I think sometime in the future we're going to find out it was actually more toxic to humans than any carcinogen known to man. It was more toxic and dangerous than any religion, any politician, any terrorist group...anything. What screens like the one I'm staring at right now...are probably slowly but steadily...destroying our humanity...</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-90863236850579410752017-08-14T20:11:00.000-07:002017-08-15T08:42:28.486-07:00MAGA : Put God Back in America!<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; min-height: 21px;">
<b><span style="color: #2a2b2c;">The </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">Declaration</span><span style="color: #2a2b2c;"> of </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">Independence </span><span style="color: #2a2b2c;">was signed July 4, 1776. That makes the United States of America 241 years old. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">You often see “<b>Put God back in America</b>” displayed on church signs around the 4th of July. And there is that currently popular slogan - “<b>Make America Great Again</b>.” </span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">But my question is this:</span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>When was God “in” America…and when were we “Great?" </b></span>What time period is it we’d like to see revived?</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Let’s look at our history and see if we can figure out when that was... </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1619</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The first permanent English colony in the New World: Jamestown, Virginia</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">They defined their purpose through the governing charter, which unequivocally established a Christian basis and purpose for the colony. The charter stated their task as governed by “the providence of Almighty God…to the glory of His Diving Majesty, in propagating of the Christian religion to such people, as yet live in darkness and miserable ignorance of the true knowledge and worship of God.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Seems like a good start...I guess. Maybe this is that great time when God was in America?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">But oh…the first kidnapped black Africans, 19 of them who were seized from a captured Spanish slave ship, were brought to the New World to work as slaves. <i>These 19 were brought in not as slaves, but as indentured servants and later freed. But this is where it all began. </i></span><br />
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(How they were transported)</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1623</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The English poisoned the wine at a “peace conference” with Powhatan (Native American Indian) leaders, killing about 200. 50 more were physically attacked and killed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1637</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">In the Pequot War, English colonists commanded by John Mason, with Mohegan and Narragansett (Indian) allies, launched a night attack on a large Pequot village on the Mystic River in present-day Connecticut, where they burned the inhabitants in their homes and killed all survivors. Total fatalities between 600-700.</span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1641</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Massachusetts became the first colony to authorize slavery through enacted law.</span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1705</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Virginia Slave Codes of 1705 defined people imported from nations that were not Christian, and Native Americans (Indians) who were sold to or captured by Europeans during raids - as slaves.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(The word Negro, btw, comes from the Spanish word for "black")</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1713</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Militia volunteers and Indian allies under Colonel James Moore attacked Ft. Neoheroka, the main stronghold of the Tuscarora Indians. 200 Tuscaroras were burned to death in the village, and 900-1000 others were subsequently killed or captured.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1776</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Our Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence</b>...in which they said this: "</span><span style="background-color: transparent;">We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent;">Maybe this is where the "God is in America" part happened? Maybe this is when we were "Great"?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent;">Well...apparently the Founding Fathers didn't consider blacks to be included in "all men" because of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention...the following men...<b>49% of the Declaration's signers...owned slaves...</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Richard Bassett (DE)<br />Jacob Broom (DE)<br />John Dickinson (DE)<br />George Read (DE)<br />William Houstoun (GA)<br />William Few (GA)<br />William Samuel Johnson (CT)<br />Daniel Carroll (MD)<br />Luther Martin (MD)<br />John Francis Mercer (MD)<br />Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer (MD)<br />William Livingston (NJ)<br />William Blount (NC)<br />William Richardson Davie (NC)<br />Alexander Martin (NC)<br />Richard Dobbs Spaight (NC)<br />Pierce Butler (SC)<br />Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (SC)<br />Charles Pinckney (SC)<br />John Rutledge (SC)</span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1813</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">900 Tennessee troops under John Coffee, and <b>including Davy Crockett</b>, attacked an unsuspecting Creek town. About 186-200 Creek Indian warriors were killed, and an unknown number of women and children were killed, some burned in their houses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-kerning: none;">Oh. God was in THIS house? When was that?</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-kerning: none;">GEORGE WASHINGTON - </span>1st President</b></div>
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No Party Affiliation</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">1789-1797 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Owned between 250-350 slaves</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br />
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<b><span style="font-kerning: none;">THOMAS JEFFERSON - </span>3rd President </b></div>
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Democratic-Republican</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">1801-1809</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Owned about 200 slaves</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-kerning: none;">JAMES MADISON - </span>4th President </b></div>
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Democratic-Republican</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">1809-1817</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Owned more than 100 slaves</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-kerning: none;">JAMES MONROE - </span>5th President </b></div>
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Democratic-Republican</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">1817-1825</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Owned about 75 slaves</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-kerning: none;">ANDREW JACKSON - </span>7th President </b></div>
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Democrat</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">1829-1837</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Owned fewer than 200 slaves</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-kerning: none;">MARTIN VAN BUREN - </span>8th President</b> </div>
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Democrat</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Owned one slave</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-kerning: none;">WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON - </span>9th President</b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Whig</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Owned 11 slaves</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-kerning: none;">JOHN TYLER - </span>10th President</b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Whig</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">1841-1845</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Owned about 70 slaves</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-kerning: none;">JAMES K. POLK - </span>11th President</b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Democrat</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">1845-1849</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Owned about 25 slaves</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-kerning: none;">ZACHARY TAYLOR - </span>12th President</b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Whig</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">1849-1850</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Owned fewer than 15 slaves</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-kerning: none;">ANDREW JOHNSON - </span>17th President</b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Democrat</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>(Abraham Lincoln’s VP…interesting because Lincoln was a Republican but had a Democrat VP)</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Owned probably 8 slaves</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br />
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<b><span style="font-kerning: none;">ULYSSES S. GRANT - </span>18th President</b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Republican</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Owned probably 5 slaves</span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">A clause in the Constitution that gave the South added political representation for three-fifths of its slave population, so Southern slaveholding presidents governed the nation for roughly 50 of 72 years. And four of the six Northern presidents in that span catered to Southern proslavery policies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">For example, Martin Van Buren, our 8th president, who came from a New York slaveholding family, sought to undermine the nation’s judicial process and send the captives from the slave ship Amistad back to Cuba – and certain death. </span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Millard Fillmore, our 13th president, also from New York, signed the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, which enforced return of escaped slaves even from free states.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">From the start, America‘s foreign policy favored slaveholding interests, and administrations refused to cooperate with efforts by Britain to suppress the international slave trade, even though the United States had defined the African slave trade in 1820 as piracy, a capital crime. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">None of that sounds like God was in the White House to me.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #2a2b2c; font-family: "arial"; font-size: medium;">(This little boy was kidnapped at age 7! But he's not being s</span></i><i style="color: #2a2b2c; font-family: arial; font-size: 18px;">aved by the FBI or police...he's featured in an ad to SELL HIM! Is THIS when our country was great!!!???)</i></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1851</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Miners killed 300 Wintu Indians near Old Shasta, California, and burned down their tribal council meeting house.</span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1853</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">White settlers launched an attack on a Tolowa Indian village near Lake Earl in California, killing between 65 and 150 at dawn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1856 </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Blacks were legally defined by our Supreme Court as “non-persons.”</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">In 1856, Dred Scott, a black slave, had been taken north of the Mason-Dixon Line into Illinois and Wisconsin where slavery was prohibited by the Missouri Compromise. He sued the court for his freedom - and lost. The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional - and that Congress had no authority to limit slavery that way. The choice to own slaves was an individual decision, a private matter for each citizen to struggle with, apart from interference from the government. If a person, in an act of conscience, chose not to keep slaves, that was his own decision, but he could not force that choice on others. Slaves were declared chattel - human property - “non-persons”. A slave was the possession of his owner, and the owner had the right to do whatever he wanted with his assets. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>The White House was staffed by black slaves. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>So far…I'm really looking...but I just don't seem to see any particular period when we were great,or where God was really "in" America...</b></span><br />
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Let’s keep looking…</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1859</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">In revenge for the killing of 3 cows and 1 stallion belonging to a white man, California militiamen massacred 240 Indians on the Eel River.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1860</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">In three nearly simultaneous assaults on the Wiyot Indians, at Indian Island, Wureka, Rio Dell, and Hydesville, California, white settlers killed between 200-250. Victims were mostly women, children, and elders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>(There is actually a big chart of all the massacres perpetrated on and by the Native people…I just picked out a few of the big ones…https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_massacres)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>January 1, 1863</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">President Abraham Lincoln, by executive order, changed the federal legal status of more than 3 million slaves by ordering the freedom of all slaves. But in a pre-iPhone, pre-social media world, Texas didn’t get the memo until June 19, 1865.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>The Civil War went on from 1861-1865</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The North won, in case you don’t remember. The issue of slavery wasn’t the only thing they were fighting about, but there were people willing to kill and to die to keep the right to own slaves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>(One bit of shocking info I stumbled across when looking for all this info is that there were 69 blacks in North Carolina…who were slave owners! The biggest was William Ellison in 1860!)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1864</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Members of the Colorado Militia attacked the Indian village of Cheyenne, killing at least 160 men, women, and children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>August 6, 1865</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Blacks were given the right to vote.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1866</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was founded as a vehicle for white southern resistance to the Republican Party’s Reconstruction-era policies aimed at establishing political and economic equality for blacks. It’s members waged an underground campaign of intimidation and violence directed at white and black Republican leaders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1868</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Colonel G.A. Custer’s 7th US Calvary attacked a sleeping village of Cheyenne Indians. 140 men, women, and children dead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1890</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The US 7th Calvary attacked and killed between 130-250 Sioux Indian men, women, and children at Wounded Knee, South Dakota.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1920</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">KKK membership exceeds 4 million. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1921</b></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2b2c; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18px;">Dallas. A party of Klansmen kidnapped a black man, whipped him at gunpoint, and used acid to burn "KKK" on his forehead. The sheriff said he deserved it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1865 until 1964</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2b2c; font-kerning: none;"><b>The US Supreme Court established and upheld “separate but equal” laws, requiring the segregation of blacks.</b> States had individual laws like </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">an 1847 Virginia Criminal Code: “Any white person who shall assemble with slaves, [or] free negroes . . . for the purpose of instructing them to read or write, . . . shall be punished by confinement in the jail . . . and by fine . . .” </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1882-1968</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">3,446 lynchings of blacks occurred in the United States.</span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The US Supreme Court declares another group of humans to be non-persons, as it did with blacks back in 1856, and legalizes the live dismemberment of society's most vulnerable and defenseless. And so between 1973 and 2008 The Guttmacher Institute estimates 49.3 million babies were delivered in abortion clinics.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span>SUMMARY...</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-kerning: none;">So as we search for the time in America when "God was in our country" or when "America was great" what have we found?</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b>Our 1st 100 years</b></div>
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1776 - 1876 we had a country full of slaves, and routinely perpetrated mass killings on Native American Indians.<br />
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<b>Our 2nd 100 years</b></div>
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1876 - 1976 we still had slaves and were still killing the Native American Indians. By our 200th birthday we were only 12 years past the ending of segregation, only starting to work toward treating blacks as equals. AND...already 3 years into the mass slaughter of our unborn.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>Psalm 118:9</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>It is better to take refuge in the Lord </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>than to trust in princes.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>Psalm 146:3</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>in whom there is no salvation.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Truth is..."America" as a "country" has never been like Christ. </b>Maybe our original lawmakers had thought of themselves as Christians, but they were just people. So they put praises of God and of the Bible into their writings, their laws, and State Constitutions. They did those things while slaves staffed the White House and mass killings were part of our culture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>John 18:36</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Jesus answered, “<u>My kingdom is not of this world</u>. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>If My kingdom were of this world, </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>then My servants would be fighting </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>The United States is not the kingdom of God - it is the kingdom of this world.</b> </span>The only thing that can be "Christian" or "Christlike" are those who were made in His image. Humans. Individuals who reside within any nation can be Christian, but even then, we are to be aliens to this world, and members of God's kingdom, aren't we?</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>What was Judas' big mistake?</b> Didn't he think that Jesus was going to take over Israel by military force? Didn't he think Jesus was going to behave the way the kingdoms of the world do? </span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Is that what you're thinking? </span></div>
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<b>If you want the world you live in to have God in it...and to be "great"...you have to have God in you, and be great.</b> You have to go therefore and serve your neighbors. You have to care for orphans and widows in their distress. You have to think more highly of others than you think of yourself. You have to not judge. You have to love your neighbor as yourself. You have to do unto others as you'd have them do unto you. You have to be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect, and then...if God is in you...then the world around you will be made great. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>Matthew 5:48</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Remember...the greatest among us will be the servants. Luke 22:26</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The greatest quality a person can have is LOVE. 1 Cor. 13:13</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>Philippians 2:9</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Greatness looks like Jesus...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And God can only be in you...not in a country...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Go therefore...</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-68566125087884856092017-04-23T07:34:00.000-07:002017-04-23T07:34:22.693-07:00Jesus - on mission trip selfies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-42712258925097340462017-04-18T10:11:00.001-07:002017-04-18T10:11:14.716-07:00Caging the Church<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you were to go to a zoo today you'd see some of the animals in enclosures with paths around the perimeters because they will constantly pace or walk around. Most people will look at this and find it kinda' neat and handy as the animals will often walk past the viewing windows repeatedly, getting up nice and close for everyone to see.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>But what we don't realize is that these behaviors are signs that the animals are not okay.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Google it...</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why do tigers pace at the zoo?</span></b><br />
<span class="_Tgc _y9e"><span class="_Tgc _y9e"><span class="_Tgc _y9e" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tigers, like all captive animals, can tend to pace back and forth as a way of coping with the stress of captivity. Due to stress, captive wild cats breed poorly, which is why it is hard to maintain population levels in zoos and also why zoos are bad because the cats are sometimes imported from the wild.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="_Tgc _y9e"><span class="_Tgc _y9e"><span class="_Tgc _y9e"><b>What is the meaning of Zoochosis?</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="_Tgc _y9e"><span class="_Tgc _y9e"><span class="_Tgc _y9e" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Zoochosis is the term used to describe the stereotypical behaviour of animals in captivity. Stereotypic behaviour is defined as a repetitive, invariant behaviour pattern with no obvious goal or function.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="_Tgc _y9e"><span class="_Tgc _y9e"><span class="_Tgc _y9e"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="_Tgc _y9e"><span class="_Tgc _y9e"><span class="_Tgc _y9e"><b>Why do animals pace in the zoo?</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="_Tgc _y9e"><span class="_Tgc _y9e"><span class="_Tgc _y9e" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Being in a small enclosure with little stimulation leave the animals distressed. Wild animals spend the majority of their time hunting and stalking prey over large distances. Being fed by zookeepers removes this normal activity. The animal has a natural drive to roam and hunt.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="_Tgc _y9e"><span class="_Tgc _y9e"><span class="_Tgc _y9e"><b>Why does an elephant rock back and forth?</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="_Tgc _y9e"><span class="_Tgc _y9e"><span class="_Tgc _y9e" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When they are in captivity this is a sign of psychosis. This is brought on because they are not in their natural habitat and their needs are not being met. Mostly because of the lack of space to roam.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Taking a living organism out of its natural environment puts it under stress that causes it to function abnormally.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>"The church" God speaks of in the Bible is a living organism, with a natural environment God intended for it.</b> Its members are anyone anywhere in the world who loves Jesus, and we get an idea of our natural environment from how the early church lived in the New Testament.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The natural environment for "the church" is really...in the wild. Outside. Free. Walking among the people in the world, yet not walking 'like' them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But over the last few hundred years, as mankind has moved indoors, just as we've snatched animals from the wild and caged them for our convenience, we've done the same thing to the church. <b>The church has been snatched from the wild, even from infancy, and put in a nice clean, convenient, climate-controlled, structured, predictable cage we call a church building.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>And at this point in history we fail to see how the behavior of the body is indicative of it being "not okay."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have come to think it's normal to sign on the dotted line that we're a "card-carrying-member of X church." We've come to think it's normal to go to this building weekly doing the same things each week, each year, giving our money, singing the songs, and following the program. But a tiger pacing back and forth past a viewing window at the zoo is behaving abnormally, and so are we, because <b>no matter how large, how new, how fancy, how full of nice people and nice programs the cage is - it is still a cage.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Body of Christ which once had the reputation for being the people who stayed behind when everyone fled a plague...is now posting about their rights to health care on Facebook. We "pace back and forth." We engage in "repetitive, invariant behaviour patterns with no obvious goal or function..." <b>sitting in the same pews/seats, singing the same praise and worship songs, attending the same Sunday School classes, planning the same church socials and festivals, planning the same mission trips, and doing the same programs week-after-week, month-after-month, year after year, attending our special "services", etc...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And the end result is we "reproduce poorly."</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh...our church memberships grow...sure...but the actual Body of Christ? Do we see the world becoming more Christ-like with time's passing, or does the world seem to be spiraling down a godless drain?</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>We've taken "the church" out of its natural environment</b> and put it in a nice, neat, convenient, climate-controlled cage...and we can't even see it. We've no reference point as to what "the church" looks like in its natural environment that we can't even see how sick the church really is.
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Building/planting more churches won't grow the body of Christ.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Going on more mission trips won't grow the body of Christ.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Singing more worship songs, and adding more church programs won't grow the body of Christ.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The world looks at the church and can see us pacing and engaging in our repetitive behaviors from the outside of our cages/churches. They see us as a novelty, but nothing more because we are not demonstrating what the church...what Christ...is really like from inside our cages/churches.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Set the church free.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was, after all, for freedom that Christ set us free.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Until we get out of our buildings...out of our routines, schedules, structures, and services...we're only wild animals trapped in a zoo cage pacing around...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Get out of the building. </b></span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-47036611370963411912017-01-12T10:44:00.003-08:002017-01-12T10:44:53.385-08:00Hypocrites keeping you out of church?<span style="font-size: large;">I think we've all heard the excuse people use for not going to church <b>because of all the hypocrites</b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well a Christian friend of mine told me, what she felt, was the perfect response to that argument. She said, "If you don't go to church because of hypocrites, well, there are hypocrites everywhere, so are you not going to go <i>anywhere</i> in the world?" </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">She laughed and really felt this was the perfect response.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Is it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I believe it ignores an important fact - that is a hypocrite in a car repair shop isn't selling me morality or truth about God...but is selling me car repairs. So for him to be morally a hypocrite does not affect what I'm there to get from him. But I do go to church to get morality and truth so hypocrisy there means you don't get what you've gone there for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So let's say there's a restaurant in town. They advertise "Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches." You go in and half the time they hand you a cold fish sandwich. You gonna keep going there to that restaurant?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What about a maid service? They advertise a clean house. You come home after they've serviced your home and they didn't even vacuum or dust. You going to hire them again?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We all know this. When it comes to businesses...and even friends...if a business advertises a service that's what we expect, and if that service is bad we discontinue our patronage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Church Buildings stand on each corner of America offering you and enhanced morality, a higher level of righteousness, and truths about God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The church will teach... </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- the sexually immoral go to hell</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- children are to obey their parents</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- the Bible is God's truth in all things</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- put others first</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- serve your neighbor</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- love your neighbor as yourself</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- forgive 70x7</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>And in the same church the same people preaching these things...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- look at porn on their computer</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- have affairs</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- beat their kids - 70x7 does not apply to them</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- drive with no regard for the posted speed limits</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- text and drive</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- lie on their taxes</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- don't put their carts away at the grocery store ;) <i>(just had to add that one)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- gossip</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- care very much about money and their possessions </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- post absolutely horrible slanderous hateful gossipy things about whatever political person they do not prefer</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You hear preaching from pulpits about how God is always there and that we are to take all our cares to Him anytime anywhere and we are to be like Him...then those same preachers go home and lay in bed with their baby monitors turned off, ignoring a helpless crying baby.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>You don't get what's advertised.</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>You wouldn't go anywhere else that failed to offer you what you went there for so why would anyone who actually loves God...continue to participate in this corrupted system? </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Because nice people go there? There are nice people everywhere.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Because their friends are there? I'm sure friends can be seen the other 6 days a week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Because the organization does some good things? There are lots of organizations that do good things and you don't have to be part of an organization to do good things! In fact...if everyone who is supposed to be part of the body of Christ just DID those good things with everyone in their world...there would be no need for those organizations to do those good things because they'd already be done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Truth is..."the church" in its current form has done far more damage to the world than it has helped. </b>It's programs and "ministry" and open doors to help are a result of the lies the church itself has spread about God. Horrific childcare teachings, for example, have led to problems with relationships, divorces, crime, and addictions. And yet professing Christians keep feeding the monster...building more buildings...funneling their money into it...and participating in it...and then blaming the devil for all the ills in society...</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-37401341625397813842017-01-12T08:25:00.003-08:002017-01-12T08:25:30.916-08:00It's not a religion it's a relationship...really?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I was just thinking about this thing <b>church people</b> love to say, "It's a relationship not a religion."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You know...it's supposed to be...but it's not. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Know how I know this?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If ten people who didn't know each other all knew one person. Say me. Ten unrelated people get to know me and then meet each other. While the ten may each know something about me the other nine don't...just because maybe I share one particular interest with one of them and not the other nine...while they may know different additional things each other don't know, <b>they won't believe conflicting things</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One person isn't going to say I'm pro-life and another insist I'm pro-abortion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One person isn't going to say I'm a Democrat and another insist I'm a Republican.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One person isn't going to say I'm a morning person and another insist I'm a night person.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If they're all people in a friendship...a relationship with me...they're all going to know some core things about me like that I'm pro-life, I'm neither a Democrat nor a Republican, and that I eat morning people for lunch. They'll all know this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So if you look at the world at all the <b>church building</b>s out there with their signs and their labels...and then dig into them into their core beliefs and their doctrines...you'll find them all believing highly contradictory things about God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So no. For most of the people who <b>fill those buildings religiously</b> every Sunday...<b>It's not a relationship. It's a religion. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If it were a relationship...slowly over the years those church buildings would be emptying...as everyone supposedly getting to know the same One God would be all realizing how and who He is and that, being one way, would make them all become more and more like-minded. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If it were a relationship missionaries would stop building <b>buildings</b>...and "church people" would stop looking across borders to "be in ministry" but would just start loving their neighbors everywhere all the time...and there would be <b>heaven on earth</b> because the church is supposed to be God's kingdom...and if we really had a relationship with the King we'd bring His kingdom to every person we have contact with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But instead we have religion and <b>we have church buildings and church services</b> and <b>missionaries obliviously doing harmful things to the world</b> that make them feel good about themselves as they take their selfies and promote their particular brand of church...And we have hateful posts on Facebook arguing about who should or shouldn't be president...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><sigh></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You still wanna say it's a relationship not a religion? Fine. Then <b>prove it</b>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stop going religiously to your <b>church building</b>. Stop adhering to your doctrines and promoting your brand of church, calling yourself "a Mennonite" or "a Methodist" or WHATEVERist...and go love your neighbors as yourself...Go lay down your life for your friends. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If that scares you...if the idea of abandoning your <b>church building</b> is like something you "could never do" because how could you still be "a Christian" if you didn't go sit in that building each week and listen to that one person's monologue each week about what you should believe...then you...my fine internet reader...are <b>engaged in a religion NOT a relationship</b> with the Living God. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So stop trying to kid yourself. </span><br />
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<i>A house divided can't stand.</i></div>
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<i>The church buildings stand so this means </i></div>
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<i>that "the church" (the body of Christ) is what's broken because of those buildings.</i></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-35166443176931273682016-07-05T08:17:00.002-07:002016-07-05T08:17:57.721-07:00Does your left hand know you're posting all those selfies?<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Hey, Christians. Like...remember this?</b></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>In case you don't remember that, it's from Matthew 6. The New Testament. Jesus said those words.</b></span><b><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel like if He were to express the same sentiment today, He might say something like: </span></b></span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">“Beware of posting all of your righteousness on Facebook to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor, do not tweet about it, post it to Instagram, Facebook, or Snapchat, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men, and receive lots of likes. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand pull out your cell phone to take those selfies with the poor people you're 'blessing', so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Bible tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus, and yet, we've become <b>a church of selfie-fans, keeping our eyes fixed on ourselves, as we do our good deeds, </b>adding our cutsie spiritual-sounding #hashtags and watching the likes add up so we can feel good about ourselves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And it's not just missions and good deeds. </b>Christians are obsessed with selfies to the point that even when they're not IN the post or photos they post, their comments direct the viewers back to them, all begging for "likes." One picture I saw posted was captioned, "Look at who I got to photograph the other day." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Look at the picture "I" took. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Look at "my" photograph.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Look at "meeee!!!"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>It's out of control!!!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is no "i" in team and there is no "me" in Jesus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maybe Christians should take the focus off themselves...and turn the life camera around on others? </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-35126905528846492102016-05-23T11:11:00.000-07:002016-05-23T11:11:04.269-07:00Dining for Jesus<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So much fuss lately about who pees where, why, and how, and with what equipment...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So much fuss...all...the...time over what everyone does.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The fuss from the left is always shouted from the rooftops with words like:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"discrimination!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"war against..."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"bigotry!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"racism!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the left demands that everyone be allowed to do whatever they darn-well want...(so long as it's what the left wants.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The fuss from the right is always shouted from the rooftops with words like:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"God's judgment!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"sin!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"repent!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the right demands that everyone be allowed to do...only what their brand of Christianity deems God-approved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My advice to the left would be to...</b>pay more attention to science. Science has the answer about abortion, what "it" is or isn't and the effect on mothers and on society...and it has the answer to the gender fuss...and just everything if only you look.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My advice to the right would be to...</b>go out to eat with the left.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Huh?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Really. Have you ever gone out to eat with someone?</b> You know...you sit at a table, look at the menu, and you order stuff to eat, right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Sometimes the person you dine with will look to you and say...</b>"I don't know what I want? What do you think I should order?" And you give them a suggestion. "Order that." Sometimes they take your suggestion. Sometimes they order something else. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>When this happens...what do you do? </b>Do you lecture them? Hound them? Look at them in disgust and tell them they are NOT going to like what they just ordered then chase down the waitress and make them change their order?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That's silly, isn't it? What's it to you what they order?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And then...have you ever been out to eat with someone and after the food has been delivered and you're eating...they look down at their own food with disgust and regret...then over at what's on your plate with longing?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Are you good at metaphors or do I need to explain this?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">See...that's how it's supposed to work with your life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Christians...you've at the "table of life" right now and have checked out the menu. </b>You've made your choice <i>(and really are making choices every day) </i>and you have before you "on your plate" what you've ordered.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Your friends and neighbors...</b>have likewise looked over the menu, made their choices, and their choices are now "on their plates" before them, as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>If their choice really doesn't "taste" that good...</b>if it's making them feel sick...and they're regretting their choice and look over at "your plate"...what do they?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Do they see you enjoying a "plate" full of awesome, happiness, and success?</b> Or do they see you gagging down a "plate" full of anger, frustration, complaint, and nastiness? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>If what you chose from the life menu really is better than theirs...</b>they should be able to look across life's table at you and see you enjoying your "meal" more than they are enjoying theirs...and it should be appealing to them. They should want to try it. And rather than trying to push your choice on them, you need to work to make your "plate" more appealing than theirs so that they come to want it...all on their own. Their own choice. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>So stop worrying about what everyone else does. </b>Stop worrying about all of it and make sure your own order is the best "meal" life has to offer. Make sure your side dishes, your drink, and dessert are top-notch, nutritious, and delish...and let your joy be evident as you sit at life's table with your "meal" before you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And if what you have on your plate before you isn't appealing at all to the other person...</b>to the world...maybe you need to look down at your own plate and see if what you've got before you is actually rotten...Bones and other things that need to be cut away are one thing and part of everyone's "life plate" but if what's on your plate just plain stinks...there is a problem. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-Cm0XU8SoMI-Ee4e47SSfOXAPOEJt6v2npkCWBzVpBpu1AxvadpYgKBoGAaYWk4wcBcu73-WejXpFLR-xx1Y77lx4_9WuXeXu3TU2lEhcHI8esuPEd4__yjJXUGreyPMOs_usOWIJ3Jj/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-05-17+at+2.02.24+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-Cm0XU8SoMI-Ee4e47SSfOXAPOEJt6v2npkCWBzVpBpu1AxvadpYgKBoGAaYWk4wcBcu73-WejXpFLR-xx1Y77lx4_9WuXeXu3TU2lEhcHI8esuPEd4__yjJXUGreyPMOs_usOWIJ3Jj/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-05-17+at+2.02.24+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Examine your own plate to see if you need to scrape your own plate clean and order something else.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Basically...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Worry about the log in your own eye.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Show the world that a life lived for Christ is better...don't tell them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you're actually living a life for Christ...you won't have to tell them...so if they don't see it...you aren't livin' it.</span><br />
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<a class="sLink" href="http://nasb.literalword.com/?h=16&q=1+Timothy+4" style="color: #0c2365; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>1 Timothy 4:16</b></a></div>
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<b><u>Pay close attention to yourself</u> and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.</b></div>
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<a class="sLink" href="http://nasb.literalword.com/?h=14&q=Romans+11" style="color: #0c2365; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Romans 11:14</b></a></div>
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<b>if somehow I might <u>move to jealousy</u> my fellow countrymen </b></div>
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<b>and save some of them.</b></div>
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<a class="sLink" href="http://nasb.literalword.com/?h=22&q=James+1" style="color: #0c2365; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>James 1:22</b></a></div>
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<b>But prove yourselves <u>doers of the word</u>, </b></div>
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<b>and not merely hearers who delude themselves.</b></div>
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<a class="sLink" href="http://nasb.literalword.com/?h=42&q=Luke+6" style="color: #0c2365; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Luke 6:42</b></a></div>
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<b>Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in yourown eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.</b></div>
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<a class="sLink" href="http://nasb.literalword.com/?h=7&q=Titus+2" style="color: #0c2365; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Titus 2:7</b></a></div>
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<b>in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds</b></div>
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<b><u>John 13:14-15 </u></b></div>
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<b><span class="bV" style="display: inline; line-height: 1.4; margin-right: 0px; text-align: justify;">If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.<span class="br"></span></span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span class="bV" style="display: inline; line-height: 1.4; margin-right: 0px; text-align: justify;">For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.<span class="br"></span></span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></b></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-52003204846442705702016-05-14T19:17:00.002-07:002016-05-14T19:17:25.930-07:00$1,300-worth of fun!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I took my kids to a theme park this week, finally buying annual passes for me and the 4 youngest kids. That's 5 annual passes to an Orlando theme park. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At some point in the day, I jokingly said to one of the kids, something to the effect of, "They'd better have $1,300-worth of fun!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And that...got me thinking.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What's the point of a theme park, anyway? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To have fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That's it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the theme park is a wonder in and of itself, if you really take time to look. So much planning, designing and building to create the fantastic rides! And the daily running and maintenance of the park! Whoa! What an enormous undertaking it would be!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All for...fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So like seriously...what a total bummer it'd be to take the kids there and watch them...as they spend the day...fighting. Not enjoying one bit of their time! Like...w</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">hat if my kids spent their entire time in the park...complaining about the rides, protesting the park's policies, and demanding the park change things they disliked?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sRqrv5W9zff0lsdvI8mauAKB0NAaFpV48vTn-xsSAkahHEFeO00k3lfkPdp5lZkhgkSoE6g84XZnzaQnjWCCqhSj2ciC_O9OIk5PEMdHB_-bb2X55RmCQbMePsW3HlOiGif52kHuDgbp/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-05-14+at+10.15.13+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sRqrv5W9zff0lsdvI8mauAKB0NAaFpV48vTn-xsSAkahHEFeO00k3lfkPdp5lZkhgkSoE6g84XZnzaQnjWCCqhSj2ciC_O9OIk5PEMdHB_-bb2X55RmCQbMePsW3HlOiGif52kHuDgbp/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-05-14+at+10.15.13+PM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wouldn't that like...just totally suck? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wouldn't that be a complete and utter waste of $1,300???</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well...once upon a time someone spent time planning, designing, building, and creating this world. And just look around this world...the natural world. So much beauty and wonder. The stars. The sun. The clouds. The rainbow after a rain. The ocean. So many creatures! Eagles! Cats! Dogs! Fireflies! Butterflies! Flowers!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is so much beauty and wonder in this world. Though some highly depressive religious folks see this world as some sort of...negative place God made for negative and unhappy things...Why would our good God bother with all the really neat things He made, all the beautiful wondrous things He made...unless He wants to see us...<b>enjoy</b> our time here?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And He paid a little bit more than $1,300 for us to be here, didn't He? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He paid with His life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">His very blood!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And so now look around this "theme park" of earth. What's God see when He sees us passing our time here where He paid so much for us to be?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bickering. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fighting. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hating. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Blaming. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whining. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Complaining. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Protesting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I mean, c'mob! Really. Can't we be nicer kids? Can't we?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just...seriously watch yourself from His perspective...and quit making God sorry He paid for you to be here...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Worship" isn't a few sentences sung repetitively for 3 minutes in church on Sunday. It's an attitude. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFlayodR90F8iXY_RWhdw2p7ArKyfGZPe3uq6SrxAQRU3PvP1dD2ZAnFvGWQSeJIN1-_RsXaAAdWkZIbegn8-VyGLcOEOyYsRl4tNq0dZFQFIVUMxrMNRQUJgcquLkTE6OATvYlwh4J9g/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-05-14+at+10.13.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFlayodR90F8iXY_RWhdw2p7ArKyfGZPe3uq6SrxAQRU3PvP1dD2ZAnFvGWQSeJIN1-_RsXaAAdWkZIbegn8-VyGLcOEOyYsRl4tNq0dZFQFIVUMxrMNRQUJgcquLkTE6OATvYlwh4J9g/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-05-14+at+10.13.57+PM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Look around this world and put on an air of appreciation and enjoyment for everything you see...and that will give God something to smile about.</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-52140816286269456882016-01-24T23:29:00.001-08:002016-01-24T23:29:12.316-08:00All done :)<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>There's a story my mom told me always when I was younger, about how I stopped being one of those screaming kids at the grocery store. </b>Yeah, I was one of them, apparently. According to her I was a terror to shop with until one day when I was about 2 or 3 there was another screamer in the store. She said I stopped and listened...totally focused on the other child...and it did something to me, I guess, like flipping a switch. I heard that other child and I heard <b>me</b>. And, apparently I decided I didn't want that to be me anymore and she says I never did it again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I think something I've seen in people on Facebook has flipped another switch in me over the last year.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It seems like everywhere I look, all over Facebookland, there is someone trying to change my mind about something. Someone trying to teach something. Someone trying to share this wonderful knowledge they have about something with the world...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">circumcision</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">politics</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Plexus</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">GMOs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Health food</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">spanking</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">the evil of Democrats</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">the evil of Republicans</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">gay rights</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">corrupt police</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">good police</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">animal rights</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">refugees</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>You name it...someone's on a soap box preachin' about it.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Seeing people's posts...day after day...you can tell which people are into which subject. It's to the point you can read the post first and then guess who's posted it. It's that consistent. People are just out there...everywhere...trying to convince others how to think, believe, live.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And, this...I think combined with another self-revelation I had about six months ago has led me to "here". </b>A place where I actually, for the first time in my history, do not even feel tempted...to argue with internet strangers...no matter how stupid they are.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Seriously. Anyone who knows me in real life has to know it's like Jesus is gonna come back tomorrow or it's gonna snow in Miami or something.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I used to be one of these preachers. I'm always trying to figure out the best and right way to do things and I have always liked sharing the good news to help others see things I've seen. Like...just look to the right at my topics list. Like...I'm always thinking about stuff... But seeing others do it all the time...I'm realizing...it's not helpful...it's not changing the world...it's...just...irritating.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Facebook's little catch line is "a place for friends" but is it, anymore? Isn't it more like a place for proselytizing?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So it happened recently that my inner 2-year-old (really only a few years above 39)...as stood again in the grocery store (at my desk in front of my computer)...listening to the other child having a fit (reading everyone's posts about how they're right and everyone else needs to think like them.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And, I think this observation has combined with another thing that happened to me and together...it's struck that nerve again. Flipped that switch.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What's the other thing?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I imagined one day for some reason...let's say...I managed to convince the whole world to stop doing bad/wrong things. I find some magic wand and "Bibbity Bobbity Boo!" now everyone isn't stupid anymore!</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Like...then what?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like, seriously then what? What would I start doing with my time then if I didn't have to spend such time and energy telling everyone else how they oughta' be living and thinking?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And, that's when it hit me. Vanity vanity. I should be doing everything I'd be doing...if the whole world stopped being stupid...now.</b> I should be enjoying the people in my life, right now, all around me. I should be reading with my kids and talking with them and watching shows with them and going out in the yard and playing with them. And, I should be doing the same with friends. I should be enjoying my life...enjoying my home...my pets...and all the love around me...because Jesus said we'd always have the poor (of money, brains, and spirit) with us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I no longer feel a compulsion to argue, neither in real life or online, with people about what they believe, think, or do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And blogging, though I like writing, was really compelled by the people who irritated me and the particular way they did so. I'd read someone say something totally irrational and ridiculous and I'd blog about it. In fact, I have another blog...with about 140 reasons why spanking your child is bad...all motivated by the stupid reasons people have for hitting their kids.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But now...I feel like I have people here in my house that need my attention more than all the random people sitting in their houses...staring at screens...ignoring their own kids.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I once was a strong "presence" I suppose you could say...on many different groups and pages.</b> I had my settings set to alert me about everything and it was a constant stream all day long. And, people tagged me all the time to go argue with people about stuff. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now...I've unfollowed everything. My interest level has dropped to zero with all that. Really.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And...I am writing. Books.</b> I see all the time I have on the computer doing stuff like "this" now as time I should be working on a book...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>So...I'm done. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I get inspired I'll be back around probably...but for the most part...like Forrest Gump when he finished running...I'm done. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">:)</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-14566030755676634642015-12-02T21:11:00.000-08:002015-12-06T15:49:50.905-08:00Christian vs Islamic Terrorists<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I've seen several posts this week equating the abortion clinic shooter with the recent ISIS-claimed acts.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As a Christian...I say they cannot be compared because anyone </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">calling</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> themselves "Christian" cannot commit an act of violence against another human and say it's in the name of Jesus.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But that's just my opinion, right?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, to answer the question, "Can a Christian be a terrorist and are Islamic terrorists just the "extremists"?" I did some searches on online searchable "holy books" for both religions...</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>(thanks to online searchable books studies like this are easy)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>- - -</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>CHRISTIANITY</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>"Can a person justify harming another human being based on the following teachings?"</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Philippians 2:3<br />Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Matthew 5:43-48</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>(Jesus said this regarding things from the Old Testament...)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You have heard that it was said, ‘you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br />Matthew 5:39<br />I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.<br /><br />Romans 13:9<br />“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”<br /><br />Matthew 19:19</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"You shall love your neighbor as yourself.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">”<br /><br />Matthew 22:39<br />'</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br />Mark 12:31<br />'</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is no other commandment greater than these.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Luke 10:27<br />And he answered, “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Ephesians 4:32<br />Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.<br /><br />Philippians 2:4<br />do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.<br /><br />Galatians 5:14<br />For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You shall love your neighbor as yourself."</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br />Romans 13:8<br />Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.<br /><br />Romans 15:2<br />Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.<br /><br />Romans 13:10<br />Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.<br /><br />1 Corinthians 10:24<br />Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.<br /><br />James 2:8<br />If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You shall love your neighbor as yourself," </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">you are doing well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />James 4:12<br />who are you who judge your neighbor?<br /><br />Matthew 23:11<br />the greatest among you shall be your servant.<br /><br />Luke 22:26<br />But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.<br /><br />Matt 7:12<br />In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.<br /><br />Luke 6:31<br />Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.<br /><br />Matthew 25:40<br />‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’<br /><br />Matthew 25:45<br />‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. 16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; f<u>or this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus</u>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>(No instruction is found for followers of Jesus to kill, hurt, or harm anyone.)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>"Can a person justify harming another human being based on the following teachings?"</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah…"<br /><br />Quran (8:65)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"O Prophet, exhort the believers to fight..."<br /><br />Quran (2:191-193)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah [disbelief or unrest] is worse than killing...<br /><br />Quran (2:244)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Then fight in the cause of Allah<br /><br />Quran (8:12) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them" <br /><br />Quran (48:29)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard (ruthless) against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves" <br /><br />Quran (61:4)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Surely Allah loves those who fight in His way" <br /><br />Quran (2:216)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not." <br /><br />Quran (3:56)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help."<br /><br />Quran (3:151)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority". <br /><br />Quran (4:74)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Let those fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the other. Whoso fighteth in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, on him We shall bestow a vast reward."<br /><br />Quran (4:89)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks."<br /><br />Quran (4:95)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame, etc.), and those who strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home). Unto each, Allah has promised good (Paradise), but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home) by a huge reward " <br /><br />Quran (4:104)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"And be not weak hearted in pursuit of the enemy; if you suffer pain, then surely they (too) suffer pain as you suffer pain..." <br /><br />Quran (5:33)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement"<br /><br />Quran (8:15)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"O ye who believe! When ye meet those who disbelieve in battle, turn not your backs to them. (16)Whoso on that day turneth his back to them, unless maneuvering for battle or intent to join a company, he truly hath incurred wrath from Allah, and his habitation will be hell, a hapless journey's end."<br /><br />Quran (8:39)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"And fight with them until there is no more fitna (disorder, unbelief) and religion should be only for Allah" <br /><br />Quran (8:57)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"...deal with them so as to strike fear in those who are behind them, that haply they may remember." <br /><br />Quran (8:67)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"It is not for a Prophet that he should have prisoners of war until he had made a great slaughter in the land..."<br /><br />Quran (9:5)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"...slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captive and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them." <br /><br />Quran (9:14)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Fight against them so that Allah will punish them by your hands and disgrace them and give you victory over them and heal the breasts of a believing people."<br /><br />Quran (9:20)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Those who believe, and have left their homes and striven with their wealth and their lives in Allah's way are of much greater worth in Allah's sight. These are they who are triumphant." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"O ye who believe! what is the matter with you, that, when ye are asked to go forth in the cause of Allah, ye cling heavily to the earth? Do ye prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the Hereafter. Unless ye go forth, He will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place." <br /><br />Quran (9:73)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination."<br /><br />Quran (9:111)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Quran: and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah? then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: that is the achievement supreme."<br /><br />Quran (9:123)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness."<br /><br />Quran (17:16)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"And when We wish to destroy a town, We send Our commandment to the people of it who lead easy lives, but they transgress therein; thus the word proves true against it, so We destroy it with utter destruction." <br /><br />Quran (47:3-4)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Those who disbelieve follow falsehood, while those who believe follow the truth from their Lord... So, when you meet (in fight Jihad in Allah's Cause), those who disbelieve smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives)... If it had been Allah's Will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight), in order to test you, some with others. But those who are killed in the Way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost." <br /><br />Quran (66:9)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be stern with them. Hell will be their home, a hapless journey's end."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tabari 9:69 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Killing Unbelievers is a small matter to us" <i>The words of Muhammad, prophet of Islam.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGcy8qiqj29J4XMn5lmEq_bGNHclhL9WtMeO95QgfMYOGbnlxzxBEpFzxyWyb06UDtRB8Pwvu7QZTud8BTqtjDQNdgS10Cs0rc8Kbs-TOKmCZsCj9WYunjUHm93esmU2H1ysKha5BYdIP/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-12-04+at+3.06.03+PM.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGcy8qiqj29J4XMn5lmEq_bGNHclhL9WtMeO95QgfMYOGbnlxzxBEpFzxyWyb06UDtRB8Pwvu7QZTud8BTqtjDQNdgS10Cs0rc8Kbs-TOKmCZsCj9WYunjUHm93esmU2H1ysKha5BYdIP/s320/Screen+Shot+2015-12-04+at+3.06.03+PM.png" width="320" /></a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>When anyone commits violence against another...and claims he's done it for Jesus...he has, in fact, <u>not</u> done it for Jesus...and I would tell that person so and would point to all those verses and say, "Sorry...you cannot say you did that in the name of Jesus."</b> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There can be no such thing as a "Christian" terrorist...only a confused terrorist who is trying to justify what he's doing by claiming some divine mission.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>When a man kills and claims he's done it for Allah...I wouldn't be able to point to their holy book and tell them what they've done is against their religion because Allah commands it of all his followers...not just the extremists...</b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them" and </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unless ye go forth (to fight), He (Allah) will punish you with a grievous penalty."</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOCb-wbaxAyjTpsjZHROfHYAODgZORcAP5OFSSTJRvYyCAI_wT3wBCTNzqsgzIf6sOoLxYS9HecThN6naTS79IzTtYagP6QkkjB5h3QpIYhDCWysbS8yzUp6HEuv1fDdzktx7_iy6P8wy/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-12-04+at+2.43.14+PM.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOCb-wbaxAyjTpsjZHROfHYAODgZORcAP5OFSSTJRvYyCAI_wT3wBCTNzqsgzIf6sOoLxYS9HecThN6naTS79IzTtYagP6QkkjB5h3QpIYhDCWysbS8yzUp6HEuv1fDdzktx7_iy6P8wy/s640/Screen+Shot+2015-12-04+at+2.43.14+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-17186261642454981722015-10-16T08:58:00.002-07:002015-10-16T08:58:45.381-07:00Moving at 50 is too noisy...slow down...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Had a moment last night where I realized something about our fast-paced modern world that made me sad...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I live in Florida, right?</b> Most of the time it's hot...so when driving...windows "up"...ac "on". As is everyone else on the street. Modern cars, ya know, all have ac...power windows...and even with the economy being all poopy, you don't often see an "old" car around.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I was waiting for my son at soccer practice last night with the windows down, enjoying the cool air that's arrived this week...</b>as...according to "Time Hop" it seems to do every year at this time (I don't know where 'climate change' is happening but it's not happening here). When we left and took off for our 17 minute ride home, I left the windows down and turned the ac "off."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What I noticed then is what made me sad...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The speed limit from soccer to home is 50 in most places.</b> It takes me through a 4-lane hwy area with stores and restaurants on both sides of the road until just two miles before my house everything disappears and we're out "in the country."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>As I approached a red light and pulled to a stop...</b>to my right was Lowe's and Target and a little mini-strip mall with places like Pie5 and Panera, and to my left was a new mini-mall with LA Fitness, Goodwill, BJ's, and Pollo Tropical. Right at the corner of the entrance to that shopping area, like a beacon to call all weary travelers in, stands a bright shiny brand new Wawa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>"Back in the day" when I was driving a 60 Chevy as my daily driver, I had no ac and so "windows down" was the norm. </b>And, I pulled into those places a lot since I didn't usually "fill 'er up". Just slapped $5 or $10 in the tank at a time as I had money, right? Gets ya pretty far, actually, back when gas was at 60¢ a gallon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I always liked everything to do with my car.</b> I liked driving even when I had nowhere to go just cruising around. I liked washing my car. I liked waxing it. And, I loved pulling in and putting gas in it. Yes, I was weird, but I loved it. The smell of the gas and gentle guzzling ticking of the gas pump.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Inevitably, a dude I'd classify as old </b>(who...cough cough gag...was about the age I am now!) would pull in and comment on my car and tell me he had one once and how he sure wishes he'd never sold it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Last night...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>As I sat at the red light and looked over at the Wawa I was hit with a feeling of nostalgia...</b>for those long-ago days and for the first time in the months since that Wawa was built...I felt like I was "there."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I realized...for the first time I'd ever sat at that intersection, I felt like I was "there" like...actually there present in the intersection and not just observing.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I thought about how opening the windows really changes the driving experience and makes you feel more connected to and really "present" where you're driving, rather than just an observer encased in glass.</b> We all spend so much time in front of screens looking at HD images...when driving...the screen of glass in front of me and all around me could easily be just a screen. Being inside the car blocks the sounds, feels, and smells of outside for the most part. Could so easily just be a screen...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>So, with the windows down, I could feel the outside air. </b>I was surrounded by the same temperature as outside rather than the temperature I always choose. I could heard the sound of my tires slowing as I'd approached the stop. I could smell the cars. I could hear their motors. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The light turned green and I took off again away from the intersection and was shown why I normally don't put the windows down. <b>It's too noisy.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>You know? </b>Having the windows down at 50 whips your hair around (except not like the song) and is just so noisy. Can't really talk and listen to the radio like that too easily.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I thought about how it's not even "natural" for humans to move that fast.</b> Apart from the invention of a car, how else would we move through the air that fast? We can't run that fast, nor can horses, so this is the 1st time in history (the last 100 years or so) that man has been able to move this fast. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And, then it hit me.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>It's like...in this modern 2015 world...not only have we invented machines to move us around faster than nature would have ever intended...but our LIVES move that fast. And, because our lives move so fast, they're too noisy to be "present" in and so we shut ourselves up to keep everyone else out... </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>In the past...everything was slower.</b> When we "drove" somewhere in our cart or on a horse...we could talk to our companions, and we'd sing (not listen to the radio and be bombarded by advertising) and we'd be able to hear, feel, smell, see, and be present on the road.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Now...it's like we put the windows up in our cars and shut out the world and just go around inside our own little climate-controlled, sound-controlled, smell-controlled worlds and are oblivious of the world outside our cars...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And, really we must do it because it's unnatural for us to travel so fast and it's too loud.</b> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We're all always going so fast...moving faster than nature (or God) ever intended us to travel. We close up, sink into our own little worlds, because hearing, feeling, smelling, and being "present" in the world we're a part of would be too noisy...because we're moving too fast.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I think that's why Facebook can be so tiring and wearisome and people need "breaks" from it because in one way fb makes us stop and notice what's going on in the world of others but...it's 1000 others' worlds...and it's too much...too much noise!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We're moving to fast.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's too noisy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We've all blocked each other out and are traveling at great and dangerous speeds around, past, and beside each other, all completely separated.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7qFBCn1QZrIy2_ICheNHgCSEdgnz315p5ZVzeiZ-913XbuVP4jjDSxq4hNgsj-7u9UhVQIp80ll8nQf5dQn0IWK-sbrneuRG9HenVrlEFgmTxNRxw6EUcOjbRqrIHAdvOWbMqqlWeys8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-10-16+at+11.26.53+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7qFBCn1QZrIy2_ICheNHgCSEdgnz315p5ZVzeiZ-913XbuVP4jjDSxq4hNgsj-7u9UhVQIp80ll8nQf5dQn0IWK-sbrneuRG9HenVrlEFgmTxNRxw6EUcOjbRqrIHAdvOWbMqqlWeys8/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-10-16+at+11.26.53+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And, where are we even all going? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What's the goal?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Get born...hurry hurry hurry and sleep all night...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mothers leave their babies to cry and cry and cry...it's so noisy...because life is so fast and the baby needs to sleep so they can go back to work and work...work...work...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Off to daycare...and the baby cries because Mommy is leaving...it's so noisy...but hurry hurry hurry become independent...get potty trained...learn to talk...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Off to Kindergarten...and again the children cry because they want to be with Mommy but Mommy must work...work...work...so hurry hurry hurry...learn to read...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Get good grades...study...study...study...and the parents and children fight and argue over the grades...it's so noisy...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Behave! Spank! Spank! Spank! Cry! Cry! Cry! We fuss and fight with the children to make them into the person we want them to be someday when they're grown and it's all so noisy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Get involved in everything you can because that looks good to colleges...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Work...work...work...hurry...hurry...hurry...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Off to college...work...work...work...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Graduate and get a job and now work...work...work...AND...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Make your own baby to do the same thing to...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Push the child to sleep all night...off to school...work...work...work...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All that noise...all that work...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>AND FOR WHAT?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What's the end goal?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The end goal should be "today"...now. To be present today with whomever and wherever you are...and enjoy them...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Our culture was intended to walk 5mph, feet touching the ground, smelling the air, feeling the breeze...but spends most of its time at 55 inside a box...</b></span><br />
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<a class="sLink" href="http://nasb.literalword.com/?h=18&q=Ecclesiastes+5" style="color: #0c2365; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-top: 0px;">Ecclesiastes 5:18</a></div>
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Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun <i>during</i> the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.</div>
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<a class="sLink" href="http://nasb.literalword.com/?h=9&q=Ecclesiastes+9" style="color: #0c2365; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-top: 0px;">Ecclesiastes 9:9</a></div>
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Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldeVpmjBLaw8Xzxx0pTKcvyL6PJwDIxNUhL83dyHOWVYjydbamBA6fHKuoBzntrx2Mu-S9cuEWyFAcfCjQqffU5T0VzdxvSElVJdOsDlAh_DI3Ng-rUGWcvFK6ec7vWcNPm64RXGkS-XR/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-10-16+at+11.52.37+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldeVpmjBLaw8Xzxx0pTKcvyL6PJwDIxNUhL83dyHOWVYjydbamBA6fHKuoBzntrx2Mu-S9cuEWyFAcfCjQqffU5T0VzdxvSElVJdOsDlAh_DI3Ng-rUGWcvFK6ec7vWcNPm64RXGkS-XR/s200/Screen+Shot+2015-10-16+at+11.52.37+AM.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a class="sLink" href="http://nasb.literalword.com/?h=12&q=Ecclesiastes+3" style="color: #0c2365; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-top: 0px;">Ecclesiastes 3:12</a></div>
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I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime;</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixo1klAtnfHCmWucefyhmaijeLbwknBEgw3rj4d8sGM5B9B2vMTGPs48vsJ1vMVb_pOdaeNrnTInmZmwB8OWR7hoM_Hm2VzR_zyr_AZLfiim6kUaGLs_q5N-LTS8ESn80E4fTnZhCqi8Fd/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-10-16+at+11.53.06+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixo1klAtnfHCmWucefyhmaijeLbwknBEgw3rj4d8sGM5B9B2vMTGPs48vsJ1vMVb_pOdaeNrnTInmZmwB8OWR7hoM_Hm2VzR_zyr_AZLfiim6kUaGLs_q5N-LTS8ESn80E4fTnZhCqi8Fd/s200/Screen+Shot+2015-10-16+at+11.53.06+AM.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a class="sLink" href="http://nasb.literalword.com/?h=19&q=Ecclesiastes+5" style="color: #0c2365; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-top: 0px;">Ecclesiastes 5:19</a></div>
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Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.</div>
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<a class="sLink" href="http://nasb.literalword.com/?h=8&q=Ecclesiastes+11" style="color: #0c2365; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-top: 0px;">Ecclesiastes 11:8</a></div>
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Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come <i>will be</i> futility.</div>
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<a class="sLink" href="http://nasb.literalword.com/?h=9&q=Ecclesiastes+11" style="color: #0c2365; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-top: 0px;">Ecclesiastes 11:9</a></div>
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Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart an the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Slow down.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God is the "Great I Am."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That's a present tense verb. He IS. Now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We're created in His image...to be like He is. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let's start being here now...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>(What's funny to me about writing this is in my mind when I imagined writing this it was 2 paragraphs!)</i></span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-69289929200372396282015-10-14T18:42:00.003-07:002015-10-14T18:43:58.591-07:00Politicians are all narcissistic actors...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I almost posted this on Facebook but don't wanna deal with comments and stuff...plus I don't want anyone to think I'm aiming anything at them...<br /><br /> - - -<br /><br />What's on my mind? People are so...gullible. Shallow. Short-sighted. <br /><br />I watched a little bit of the debate last night...about as much as I can stomach of any political debate on either side...and saw one of the candidates get a standing ovation for something they said...and it was all I could take and I was done.<br /><br />Was it (the guy I had not even heard of till last night) Jim Webb?<br /><br /><i>From Wikipedia about him...</i><br />"The Navy Cross is presented to James H. Webb, Jr., First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company D, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On July 10, 1969, while participating in a company-sized search and destroy operation deep in hostile territory...[Jim Webb] approached a third bunker and was preparing to fire into it when the enemy threw another grenade. Observing the grenade land dangerously close to his companion, First Lieutenant Webb simultaneously fired his weapon at the enemy, pushed the Marine away from the grenade, and shielded him from the explosion with his own body. Although sustaining painful fragmentation wounds from the explosion..."<br /><br />Were people cheering him? I thought he actually seemed reasonable and like a decent person from the brief bit of listening I did. I liked him.<br /><br />But no. He wasn't being cheered. <br /><br />It was Hillary...who once said, “What difference does it make?” when asked what really happened in Benghazi. <br /><br />Hillary...who is on video just flat out lying about the email situation. Lying thru her smiling teeth. Why isn't being caught in a lie like that just enough to end a political career for ANYONE? But no. There she is. Still high in the polls. People putting her bumper stickers on their cars. Yet...she's being investigated by the FBI and doing the little kid pass-the-blame thing last night saying something to the effect that all this fuss about the emails and her lying is just the Republicans being a pain (I guess they control the FBI now?) and then she says something to the effect to, "what difference does it make that I lied?" AND for that she got a standing ovation.<br /><br />Seriously, America! Why don't we all just admit it? We don't care if our leader has a noble character. We don't care if our leader is a liar. We don't care anything about WHO our leader is...just so long as we like their political affiliation...and whether or not they share our own opinion on a few issues. <br /><br />I see politicians as narcissistic actors all out not to change the world and serve the public but to climb the ladder and get to the top and win. And, the idea that most people are out there totally sucked into it...taking it all so seriously...and at the same time so seriously messed up they would "vote" for someone I wouldn't even trust to babysit for me...<br /><br />It just makes me...sad...<br /><br />What a world we live in and what a world it could be if people were decent...</span><div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="94qlm-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$94qlm" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-24261590531829083602015-08-24T11:18:00.000-07:002015-08-24T11:18:00.118-07:00WTF do you think of your Bible version?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I've seen lots of arguments about which Bible version is best. </b>Some (I guess most) Christians insist that using versions like the NIV are perfectly acceptable and that they are even study-worthy. They insist that the changes in the NIV in wording aren't significant but just simply make it "easier to understand."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>To demonstrate how significant slight changes are let me ask you to compare the following statements...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Abortion is the removal of the products of conception from the uterus.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Abortion is the killing of a baby while still inside the mother's womb.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Or consider how powerful just the changing of <u>one single word</u> is...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh, shoot! I forgot my shoes!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh, shit! I forgot my shoes!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What the heck are you doing?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What the hell are you doing?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can't find my freakin' keys!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can't find my fuckin' keys!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Sorry bout that...but it proves the point. The fact that the "f" word makes me (and many) cringe to read or type says it all. There is power in specific words that is lacking in others.</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The world was created by the <b>Living Word </b>who <b>spoke</b> the world into creation. There is power in the tongue. Power in words. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is supposed to be power in the words God left for us in the Bible. Changing them...takes away their power. Any Bible version that's not aimed at being specifically "word-for-word" has changed God's word... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>(And, what a subtle and tricksey way to take away our power by offering us pretty covers and "easier" wording...We live in a world where the US Church has become a joke with its 50% divorce rate and worship of politics and meaningless Christianese explanations for all the evil in the world...)</i></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: start;"><b>You can choose a pretty Bible with a trendy cover and wording any elementary school student can read...or you can choose to read/study what God actually said. The choice is yours...I can't for the life of me understand why any lover of the Living Word would be OK with it...</b></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-53969865079285772712015-08-16T10:00:00.003-07:002015-08-16T10:00:41.598-07:00The differences between boys and girls is all in our heads...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One thing I've been thinking about lately is that our society currently seems to be pushing hard to <b>UN</b>defined everything...as though removing the definitions of things is a sign of "tolerance" and "acceptance" but <b>I feel like it's the exact opposite.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What do I mean?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Caitlyn Jenner. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If Caitlyn would commit a crime and leave behind DNA evidence...the csi's would collect the evidence and determine that...wow! A "white male" committed the crime! They'd determine this thru the DNA evidence...because Caitlyn Jenner is...a white male! Caitlyn...<b>is</b> a dude.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Does this mean I'm intolerant because I'm not going to call Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner a woman? Because I'm not going to refer to him as "she"? <b>I think it's the opposite of intolerant...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can accept and (if he was my friend - love) him...for who he really is...as a dude...who wants to be a woman. <b>I don't have to change what I call or re-define him to accept him.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>If you have to redefine what he is so you can just think of him and call him simply a "woman" aren't you the one who is rejecting who he really is and forcing him to fit into your box of acceptability?</b> You can't accept a man with boobs and no penis anymore? You're not ok with that? You have to now tell yourself he's "a woman" so you can accept him?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And, the whole deal with Target removing gender labels from stuff...is like the same thing like...come on! </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even studies done not by Christians but by secular evolutionary scientists who probably don't even watch Fox News...wow...with no desire to oppress anyone...have shown that <a href="http://www.livescience.com/22677-girls-dolls-boys-toy-trucks.html" target="_blank">when girls play with cars...we play with them DIFFERENTLY than boys do.</a> And, when boys play with dolls they play with them differently than girls do. We're different because our brains (not just our genitals) are different and it's beautiful. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCfuhUvtVS-zya5deLUSGaaC_1abcsayVw0kUjZQ3nMaZ1EOGY3VTc2FHHA2IxXN13bZ9yiX2GESFqTOUqqge4BOnx74ahvfWv4JCM_isQw1lmxIt3CWokS8FTlgwDIbEYSCGurzsnla-/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-08-16+at+12.58.22+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCfuhUvtVS-zya5deLUSGaaC_1abcsayVw0kUjZQ3nMaZ1EOGY3VTc2FHHA2IxXN13bZ9yiX2GESFqTOUqqge4BOnx74ahvfWv4JCM_isQw1lmxIt3CWokS8FTlgwDIbEYSCGurzsnla-/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-08-16+at+12.58.22+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/how-male-female-brains-differ" target="_blank">Scientists now know that sex hormones begin to exert their influence during development of the fetus. A recent study by Israeli researchers that examined male and female brains found distinct differences in the developing fetus at just 26 weeks of pregnancy.</a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hope-relationships/201402/brain-differences-between-genders" target="_blank">A number of structural elements in the human brain differ between males and females. “Structural” refers to actual parts of the brain and the way they are built, including their size and/or mass.</a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/38539/title/Male-and-Female-Brains-Wired-Differently/" target="_blank">New research on the neural connections within the human brain suggests sex-based differences that many have suspected for centuries: women seem to be wired more for socialization and memory while men appear geared toward perception and coordinated action. The female brain appears to have increased connection between neurons in the right and left hemispheres of the brain, and males seem to have increased neural communication within hemispheres from frontal to rear portions of the organ.</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.babycenter.com/0_brain-development-is-the-difference-between-boys-and-girls-a_10310673.bc" target="_blank">Brain development: Is the difference between boys and girls all in their heads?</a><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>It's not culture...that makes boys and girls different.</b> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's not our genitals and it's not sexual preference that makes us different...it's our brains...and the developmental differences start when that sperm hits that egg.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our culture didn't make boys and girls be different. The fact that boys and girls are different made our culture treat them that way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hope-relationships/201402/brain-differences-between-genders" target="_blank">And, it's all science. Pure unbiased science that can show us that.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's like some people (like Target's marketing people removing "boys" and "girls" from the toy department) are trying so hard to be "open minded"...<b>they've gone so far that their brains have fallen out. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Erasing the definitions that describe our differences isn't tolerant or progressive...it's uneducated and insulting to the things that make all of us unique.</b> It's like we're taking all the colors that make us all so bright and...colorful ;P and smearing them all together so we just have this blasé brown/gray color. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jumping on this genderless bandwagon is like making duck lips and putting up peace fingers for photos. It's trendy and stupid. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stuff like that just drives me freakin' crazy. And, I won't encourage or promote it.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Target was my "go-to" store for the last 4 years. <b>I have spent no less than $1,000/month there on groceries and clothing, etc. But...that's over now because one thing I'm definitely intolerant of is...stupidity and trying to hard to be "trendy."</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And, that's what I was just thinking about today...</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-75321885473229015652015-07-29T09:52:00.001-07:002015-07-29T09:52:03.586-07:00Are you part of the denominator?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was just thinking about "denominations"...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jesus said...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>"Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand." Matt. 12:35</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand." Mark 3:24-25</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>"Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls." Luke 11:17</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And...so the church said, "I know! Let's create denominations!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"...number of parts into which one whole is divided..."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Church people like to think of themselves as "kingdom people," right? They will say this because Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world." Right? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, just where did we get the idea that "denominations" (parts that divide a unit) were a good idea to help build God's kingdom when Jesus said that <b>even satan is smart enough not to divide his kingdom or it would fail</b>?</span></div>
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<i>"If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; </i></div>
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<i>how then will his kingdom stand?"</i></div>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste...</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I see a lot of talk these days among churchgoers about the world "falling apart" around us...well...gee...makes me think maybe Jesus meant what He said...and that the problem isn't the world not caring what God has to say about how we are to live...but might just be..."the church" not caring what God has to say about how we are to live...</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-66489036131771859542015-05-20T08:37:00.000-07:002015-05-21T13:41:29.357-07:00What you teach your kids when you're not trying to<div class="" style="font-size: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>One of the things I think I've learned over the years is that kids are little parrots...mimics. </b>They pick everything up from us like how to speak. They hear/see us do something so they practice it. You don't literally sit and "teach" your kids every word of the English language, they just "pick it up" from you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seems "everything" is like that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently, my mother, who I think is rather attractive for her age, was looking at a picture just taken of her and my son. She said something that blew my mind...</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm so ugly! I don't know how anyone can stand to be in the same room with me!"</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I was floored. I'd never ever heard her say that...ever!</b> Yet...I've said that hundreds of times in my life. Said that exact thing! How was that possible? Even my son looked at me right away with that look in his eye like, "Wow! Where have I heard that one before?!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So, how did I pick that up from her?</b> Not by direct teaching but by how she's thought of herself has determined how she's treated herself her whole life...and in front of me. If 80% of communication is body language then she's been telling me somehow that she feels that way about herself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>One thing I've caught on to recently, that proves this point to me, is that if I want my kids to say, "Please!" and "Thank you!"</b> <b>I need to do it.</b> I need them to see me doing it and they will imitate me. So, when we go get the free cookie at Target's bakery each time we go there...I do not say to my kids, "Now, say 'thank you' to the lady,"...*I* say, "Thank you!" and sure enough, the kids follow. <i>(It's actually a good way to do that because then the kids feel like they did it on their own and it shows them that their mom is polite and it shows me they wanna be like me! Win win!)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>But this also works in the negative. </b>Probably just the same way, when my mom had thoughts about herself that, "I'm so ugly! I don't know how anyone can stand to be in the same room with me!" somehow, I took that in as how to think about myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's funny how a bunch of things that all connect will happen around the same time because then recently I had a conversation with my eldest daughter in which she expressed that sometimes she feels like a worthless piece of crap.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, where did she pick that up from, I wonder?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not too many days before she said this I'd found a folder in the bottom of a container that has stuff I wrote in high school and thereabouts. I found this, on a piece of notepaper with the heading, "POTENTIAL F-UPS FOR TODAY". It looks as though it was written probably around 1989/1990 (when I was 20 or 21)...<i>(and weighed probably 120 pounds soaking wet...) </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I’m overweight, flabby, can’t grow my hair, have little tits, 1/2 way ok at anything, really good at nothing, I talk too much, I’m indecisive, I’m moody, bitchy, mean, selfish, untrustworthy, emotionally unstable, weak, can’t take care of myself, I have no motivation, can’t keep interest in things, untrusting, paranoid, pessimistic, uneducated, boring, strange, unlikable, unfriendly, I gave up my kid, give up on things too easily, am stressful to be around, too critical, jealous, hypocritical, self pitying, still alive, can almost draw but not quite, impatient, ununderstanding, pushy, dumb, undeserving, childish, I’m a bum, I have no ambition for money so I’m a burden to the world I live in…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I don’t like <u class="">me</u></span></div>
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<span class="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This is why "self" esteem really is so important and why thinking of yourself horribly, no matter if you do so vocally or not, matters and can scar your children. </b>This is how I felt about myself as I began my parenting journey, and no matter how much I'd focus on the child's welfare, she was seeing everything I did to and for me. And, she learned...</span></div>
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<span class="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Take some time to appreciate yourself.</b> Make a list of reasonable things you don't like about yourself and look at those things. Are those things you can change? Are they true or not true? And, do those things have a positive angle you could try to emphasize?</span></div>
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<span class="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Work thru your own issues, for your children's sakes, and your whole family will be happier and healthier.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGjwJ5-dMni7iK0oQTlN7-hsvy8XLp49W3B0rMrDocMA2y-yJ_55OPekD0aMZdUHO2XkMOM3BmKnwxYmsNqXerg-lZDDtISykeQNRRF4WYD2YpvrLqhA48LbdjVsREGAAtadBKRvAafGt/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-05-20+at+11.33.09+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGjwJ5-dMni7iK0oQTlN7-hsvy8XLp49W3B0rMrDocMA2y-yJ_55OPekD0aMZdUHO2XkMOM3BmKnwxYmsNqXerg-lZDDtISykeQNRRF4WYD2YpvrLqhA48LbdjVsREGAAtadBKRvAafGt/s320/Screen+Shot+2015-05-20+at+11.33.09+AM.png" width="274" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Prov. 23:7 "For as he thinks within himself, so he is."</b></i></span></div>
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<span class=""><i>(I have to say when I look at that list above, the one that says, "still alive" kinda' makes me laugh. And, the one that says, "I have no ambition for money..." makes me feel good about myself because I now think that's a good quality.)</i></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-52197675568544881602015-05-19T20:49:00.003-07:002015-05-21T13:43:14.012-07:00Leave the past in the past?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A common thing you hear people say when they get into a stressful situation in a relationship is, "Let's just let the past stay in the past and move forward..."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sounds great. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I was just thinking...what do we consider..."past"?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Imagine I say to my husband,"I f'in hate you! You suck! Go to h-e-double-hockeysticks!" and stomp off.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Two minutes later, he comes to me and says, "Hey, that was really hurtful, why'd you say that?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What if I would turn to him, and say..."</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why do you have to keep bringing up the past? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let's leave the past in the past, OK?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Although it would technically be in the past (by 2 minutes)...that would be ludicrous, wouldn't it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But what if he came to me... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2 hours later?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2 days?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2 weeks?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2 months?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2 years?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">...with the same question, "Why'd you say that to me? That was really hurtful."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just when would it be appropriate for me to say, "It's in the past let's just let bygones be bygones," and why?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>See, I don't think that offenses in relationships are about time...they're about resolution...because if something has gone wrong in a relationship and has not been resolved then even if it happened 20 years ago...if it's still disturbing someone...it's still current. It's not in the past.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Issues aren't either in the present or the past...they're either resolved or unresolved.</b> <b>And, the only way to move forward out of a conflict is to resolve it...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I was a kid the way I was dealt with when I had conflict with my parents was I was sent to my room. Then, whatever it was was never brought up again. This left me with a lotta' unresolved junk to deal with thru my adult years, and I feel like, for the most part, I've finally (at age 46) done it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was sorta' trained that way, and in many ways I'm more comfortable just running from issues, but ultimately, I can't ever let things linger. I can't be at peace while a conflict is still "alive".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think the best thing we can do for our kids is to teach them how to communicate effectively at all times - even in conflict. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That means we have to let them yell back at us. We have to let them say, "No!" We have to let them say, "I hate you!" and help them work thru their big feelings until they know how to express themselves in mature, effective ways.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We have to teach them, by example, and thru counsel things like... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>"A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger." Prov. 15:1</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>"Be angry and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity." Ephesians 4:26,27</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same." Luke 6:32, 33</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Otherwise, what we will raise are children who when they have conflict with someone, they'll keep the "I hate you!" thoughts bottled up inside, letting the sun go down on their anger over and over telling themselves they're "keeping it in the past"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then...when they finally let the anger come out, they will have to start from scratch...like a child...as an adult. And, if they've married someone with similar (lacking) skills...they won't grow up...they'll end up divorcing...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Train your kids up right, folks. Train them to be able to resolve conflicts because conflicts...they will always have in all phases of life. How you train them to deal with it will determine how many they stuff into their baggage and drag along with them till the day they die...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfo6PLAg3TebFWuq7JTmEwdk1DkNP5sq5IyJ1XwD5HHDBdNaHeg2BexnOBaQs_OZNyMOdqRAGDbOa0ivmZM5bgYZO-GkZfJlQPjP_PKyf47bb58QncZcRLYNYwp36EwRxoXGWVjZcjg5r/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-05-19+at+11.24.17+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfo6PLAg3TebFWuq7JTmEwdk1DkNP5sq5IyJ1XwD5HHDBdNaHeg2BexnOBaQs_OZNyMOdqRAGDbOa0ivmZM5bgYZO-GkZfJlQPjP_PKyf47bb58QncZcRLYNYwp36EwRxoXGWVjZcjg5r/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-05-19+at+11.24.17+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-58894120369682117292015-01-19T22:08:00.001-08:002015-02-02T16:31:05.789-08:00Sad fact: I will be forgotten<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>“Augustus, perhaps you’d like to share your fears with the group.”<br />“My fears?”<br />“Yes.”<br />“I fear oblivion,” he said without a moment’s pause. “I fear it like the proverbial blind man who’s afraid of the dark.”</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>~ Augustus Waters, "The Fault in Our Stars" </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had an experience yesterday that's not letting me settle...won't let me stop thinking... </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was my oldest daughter's wedding. Everything had been beautiful, with the appropriately timed tears. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the ceremony as we were preparing for photos, the photographer said something that sorta' snuck up behind me and threw a phone cord around my neck and choked away all my emotional control. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She said, "Let's get a picture of you with your mom and dad."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I felt totally helpless like you do when you feel like you're about to throw up and there's absolutely nothing you can do to stop it...Or, like how you'd feel if you were being choked by a madman!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had to excuse myself and was soon not even able to catch my breath.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See...shortly before my daughter's 11th birthday in 1998 her <i>real </i>dad...who I'd been with since I was 16...was hit by a jackknifed tractor trailer on his way to work...and killed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That boy/man who was there when I was 17 and just found out my life was over because I was still in HS and pregnant...the one who was there with me those 36 hours of labor...the one who was there when she was born...the one who took care of her when she was a baby...the one who cared for her as a single dad while I was away being the loser I was for 3 years...he...wasn't there. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He'd been denied that </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">privilege. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a song that was popular on the radio back in 1998...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">She'll change her name today.<br />She'll make a promise and I'll give her away.<br />Standing in the bride-room just staring at her.<br />She asked me what I'm thinking and I said <br />"I'm not sure-I just feel like I'm losing my baby girl."<br />She leaned over<br /><br />Gave me butterfly kisses with her mama there,<br />Sticking little white flowers all up in her hair<br />"Walk me down the aisle, Daddy-it's just about time."<br />"Does my wedding gown look pretty, Daddy? Daddy, don't cry"<br />Oh, with all that I've done wrong I must have done something right.<br />To deserve her love every morning and butterfly kisses</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">17 years ago...whenever that song came on it would make me cry because I would think about how "someday"...he wouldn't be there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>someday </i>finally happened. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was yesterday. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He wasn't there...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I really did NOT want to be upset at that moment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was my daughter's wedding! It was <b><i>her</i></b> day! A happy time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And! I might be 45 but I'm still a girl. I didn't want to look awful for pictures for either me or for my daughter's sake. I had taken a lot of time to do my make up and hair...so I did not WANT to be crying. Not at all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Plus...I remarried 2 1/2 yrs later and so since my daughter was 13 she's had a dad in her life and he was standing right there next to her...waiting to smile for a picture with the daughter he'd just walked down the aisle...wondering what the heck was wrong with me and why I was falling apart?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I got a grip as fast as I could. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But then...something else I didn't expect happened...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I felt like people...were upset...<b>AT</b> me...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not for me. Not with me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>At</i></b> me,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Everyone who saw my tears, <i>which I had no control over and was fighting</i>, were upset with me for being upset. I felt like they found it disrespectful to my husband and an unhappy intrusion on what was supposed to be a happy occasion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One person upon finding out what I was actually crying about actually </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">said, disgusted, "</span><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>That's</b></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">what you're crying about?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now...I totally appreciate that everyone wanted my live husband to not feel bad. But...no one was interested in the fact that the bride's "real" dad was missing this moment! And that I...for those moments...cared! Everyone just wanted me to let it go. To stop. <b>To just...freakin' stop.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So...???</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think what if it had been me? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What if it had been me who died in 1998? What if yesterday had happened and...some other lady would have been standing there smiling for that picture and...really? No one would have batted an eye? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No one would have remembered <i>me</i>? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And, really? If the surviving spouse would have dared take 5 minutes to remember me...everyone would have been irritated with him for it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How can anyone in the world who is currently alive...be OK with this? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Am I the only one bothered by this? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do I suffer from some bizarre condition that only freaks have?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFeMoZl_TEBM547w0P0-SJWruSHUoZ9GH18sNLaGxevG_jM-U1nNC_-w1snwVUWMrw8Ge-OiozAyecaCYAAKUJigTbO1AOn5hq_pfpwPGo0yo7jSU8VTQszbjb8x4bAC6CcM2NwnQ5oyi/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-19+at+8.46.31+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFeMoZl_TEBM547w0P0-SJWruSHUoZ9GH18sNLaGxevG_jM-U1nNC_-w1snwVUWMrw8Ge-OiozAyecaCYAAKUJigTbO1AOn5hq_pfpwPGo0yo7jSU8VTQszbjb8x4bAC6CcM2NwnQ5oyi/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-19+at+8.46.31+PM.png" height="117" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I remember how after he died back in 1998, it hit me that now...he was part of history. He had nothing left to do. He was just like Abraham Lincoln or George Washington. Just a part of history...and that the only thing about him that would remain would be the things we remember about him or do "in his name." <i>I suppose that's why people name libraries and start foundations in loved one's names...to keep part of them alive.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have talked to my husband about it and he, too, thought it was weird that there was no mention of the dead father whatsoever. Nothing like a simple photo frame by the entrance by the wedding bulletins with a picture of him and her when she was little in memoriam. Nothing like a little note at the bottom of the bulletin anywhere mentioning him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the wedding it was as though this man who in life, would have killed or died for her, just never existed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, again I think about it, "What if it was me who'd died?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I know what if. I'm seeing it. I'm seeing what my family would do...and to think that...if I died...that...my family would be offended by me being remembered and mourned for 5 minutes at my child's wedding...it hurts. It hurts that THAT is reality. That is this world. That is life after death. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's not even just that I will be forgotten because people naturally forget...but people will come to a point where they will insist on forgetting and insist on other people forgetting, too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And, then I look at my "live" husband...and feel said and wonder for him? He's currently got a 13, 11, 9 and 6 year old that we've made together. So...what about that 11 year old daughter? I look at her and imagine if he died "today" and imagine her getting married someday...and me feeling sad for his loss that day...and someone asking me, "<b><i>That's </i></b>what you're upset about?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It hurts. It just freakin' hurts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What the heck?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“There will come a time when all of us are dead. All of us. There will come a time when there are no human beings remaining to remember that anyone ever existed or that our species ever did anything. There will be no one left to remember Aristotle or Cleopatra, let alone you. Everything that we did and built and wrote and thought and discovered will be forgotten and all of this will have been for naught.” </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars</span></i></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess I can't get over that this is real life. That this is my future. All that makes me "me" is going to just be...gone. Forgotten. And, at a certain point, even those who do remember will not be welcome to do that remembering.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>There is no remembrance of earlier things; </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i>And also of the later things which will occur... </i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i>...There will be for them no remembrance</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i>Among those who will come later still.</i></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white;">Ecclesiastes 1</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a world I'm not OK with.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdubyj41lsqLC3Avumztujc2XN9aKDfGShnSJ-YFJsyXe_-v182fnpQ3TWkeuR4lzwVAvNTCkiDETJqpCzZhtJly3bQBOkEdDvIdSoePkqXHMrQ8U0ZS0kwSTi5hQaVH1Fu2fUMPVGAot/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-19+at+8.44.06+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdubyj41lsqLC3Avumztujc2XN9aKDfGShnSJ-YFJsyXe_-v182fnpQ3TWkeuR4lzwVAvNTCkiDETJqpCzZhtJly3bQBOkEdDvIdSoePkqXHMrQ8U0ZS0kwSTi5hQaVH1Fu2fUMPVGAot/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-19+at+8.44.06+PM.png" height="156" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">...and it <b>will</b> come to pass</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Funny but...my one son said to me tonight about this, "You're having an existential crisis." </b></i></span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Suddenly...when he said it this way...this all felt..."cool." </b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">:)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D791193693816310854%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D5889412036968211729&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com%2Fgadgets%2Fproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252F3.bp.blogspot.com%252F-WwFKoa679gY%252FVL2-c1KtUbI%252FAAAAAAAADyw%252FfCfbbywY4Aw%252Fs1600%252FScreen%25252BShot%25252B2015-01-19%25252Bat%25252B8.46.31%25252BPM.png%26container%3Dblogger%26gadget%3Da%26rewriteMime%3Dimage%252F*&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 193px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 3666px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D791193693816310854%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D5889412036968211729&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com%2Fgadgets%2Fproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252F3.bp.blogspot.com%252F-WwFKoa679gY%252FVL2-c1KtUbI%252FAAAAAAAADyw%252FfCfbbywY4Aw%252Fs1600%252FScreen%25252BShot%25252B2015-01-19%25252Bat%25252B8.46.31%25252BPM.png%26container%3Dblogger%26gadget%3Da%26rewriteMime%3Dimage%252F*&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 193px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 3666px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-80145168978484039202015-01-08T20:57:00.002-08:002015-01-08T20:57:31.886-08:00Pharmacy and the love of God<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>I was just thinking...</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Pull in to a pharmacy. </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What is the main purpose of a pharmacy?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpMqsIRPasVjUNoNHrb5L9I0YMLoG9914DDRu2fVV7bncmXZDcgAEZXVA6kCcxS6c7XLaocgwlk87pcqBVk_cEDpYnUzL7remvw_geVKbLjkXrPQujU6BBCYGVv1czXJGkOU3kWtakVwF/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-08+at+11.26.27+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpMqsIRPasVjUNoNHrb5L9I0YMLoG9914DDRu2fVV7bncmXZDcgAEZXVA6kCcxS6c7XLaocgwlk87pcqBVk_cEDpYnUzL7remvw_geVKbLjkXrPQujU6BBCYGVv1czXJGkOU3kWtakVwF/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-08+at+11.26.27+PM.png" height="163" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span data-dobid="hdw">phar·ma·cy</span></div>
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<span class="lr_dct_ph">ˈfärməsē/</span><span class="lr_dct_spkr lr_dct_spkr_off" data-log-string="pronunciation-icon-click" jsaction="dob.p" style="display: inline-block; height: 16px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 5px; opacity: 0.55; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;" title="Listen"><input height="14" src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAA4AAAAOCAQAAAC1QeVaAAAAi0lEQVQokWNgQAYyQFzGsIJBnwED8DNcBpK+DM8YfjMUokqxMRxg+A9m8TJsBLLSEFKMDCuBAv/hCncxfGWQhUn2gaVAktkMXkBSHmh0OwNU8D9csoHhO4MikN7BcAGb5H+GYiDdCTQYq2QubkkkY/E6CLtXdiJ7BTMQMnAHXxFm6IICvhwY8AYQLgCw2U9d90B8BAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==" style="font-size: small;" type="image" width="14" /></span></div>
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<i>noun</i></div>
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noun: <b>pharmacy</b>; plural noun: <b>pharmacies</b></div>
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a store where medicinal drugs are dispensed and sold.</div>
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the science or practice of the preparation and dispensing of medicinal drugs.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CXNbcRCBSXfxOPZpq-5jzJYewz9qBfpVMWpAVec2zAGkepey0FKaMEi-bBGCf3TdqWyASVlQkoO8f0NmmXOAQXHIFyZzDa1Zff2SSHwbwMXkHA2vLXLDaIazFrNwEkivQkOw2JeEhz_M/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-08+at+11.26.38+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CXNbcRCBSXfxOPZpq-5jzJYewz9qBfpVMWpAVec2zAGkepey0FKaMEi-bBGCf3TdqWyASVlQkoO8f0NmmXOAQXHIFyZzDa1Zff2SSHwbwMXkHA2vLXLDaIazFrNwEkivQkOw2JeEhz_M/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-08+at+11.26.38+PM.png" height="132" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The main purpose of a pharmacy is to dispense drugs with the aim of healing, right? Things to make you better when you're sick, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">You get sick...you go to the doctor...he diagnoses you, writes ya a prescription and first thing you do then is you go to the pharmacy to get your medication to help you get better. Right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But...w</span><span style="font-size: large;">alk down another aisle. What will you find offered to you?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnK-w1erjX9gN-dn5LT398-m0qFezS-i2X-x8ugEoGgx_KwPYnPNPe_50zpGXmMtYiNGwA-Eb9r3u_Eae-7OY2lLX8jTpK_7HpjJ272tATLwAcZg-MHx7ei5CvKiNyisjwaT_w-TEEKln/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-08+at+11.27.13+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnK-w1erjX9gN-dn5LT398-m0qFezS-i2X-x8ugEoGgx_KwPYnPNPe_50zpGXmMtYiNGwA-Eb9r3u_Eae-7OY2lLX8jTpK_7HpjJ272tATLwAcZg-MHx7ei5CvKiNyisjwaT_w-TEEKln/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-08+at+11.27.13+PM.png" height="139" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Candy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Junk food.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sodas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Beer/liquor <i>(depending on the state)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Cigarettes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">All things that promote <i>(to some degree)</i>...illness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, you go there...for healing...and are offered things that help you get sick...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9uDBD5RQ0skWRgR3Eq4OP4xrV1XdWw4EAxLVbHqVivAXUY50Gn1Fw2FnUbRM6VrvOteliJk_dKLM2Kaa2iefnmkI20A3_Aomy-XztIf7bVgemkiSVEsMxl-CCfSe5T9__T3_M5nwfOU4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-08+at+11.27.26+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9uDBD5RQ0skWRgR3Eq4OP4xrV1XdWw4EAxLVbHqVivAXUY50Gn1Fw2FnUbRM6VrvOteliJk_dKLM2Kaa2iefnmkI20A3_Aomy-XztIf7bVgemkiSVEsMxl-CCfSe5T9__T3_M5nwfOU4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-08+at+11.27.26+PM.png" height="113" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">And, the things that make you better can sometimes be hindered by the use of the other things that are offered for you there. <i>(like some drugs are negatively effected by drinking sodas or alcohol while on the drug.)</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A weird...circle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I believe the pharmacy is not the only thing to fall victim to this cycle.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Pull in to a Church. </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">What is their main purpose?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-vS6ccVaI0haaRfPZgiujCpv1u36sogHTNeUdqL4NAXOWvP5wYMsRZpNVsCw3aVLiGQtFllyHpRshtzwbkQUUHRnB6eDwnzSblw94xmMqdVPTeSwb-2aGyGez_dg2Nm2FBnleYesYgyH/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-08+at+11.32.46+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-vS6ccVaI0haaRfPZgiujCpv1u36sogHTNeUdqL4NAXOWvP5wYMsRZpNVsCw3aVLiGQtFllyHpRshtzwbkQUUHRnB6eDwnzSblw94xmMqdVPTeSwb-2aGyGez_dg2Nm2FBnleYesYgyH/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-08+at+11.32.46+PM.png" height="107" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">They offer support groups for all kinds of things.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">They offer hope for the lonely and hurting.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">They tell you you are loved and you're never alone.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">They tell you there is hope!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">They tell you that God forgives freely without punishing you and that you don't have to do anything to receive this forgiveness!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">They tell you that it's all about your heart toward God and that He sees your heart (the why of what you do) and that the mistakes you make don't "matter" to Him because even your good works are "like a filthy rag".</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">They tell you God is available to you 24/7 and that you are to take everything to Him! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><b>Then, you walk down another "aisle" and you find the very things that make you "sick."</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1f_qBGDGECWloJBJTJZxTDxq_dpQy3CjKyzqqbLYI1YDral7zpdpbVJ7ue6_wy2B5klb5OKkM8GN9U4NhoBvc6EkYQ-xlYFH2f3zsWd4y-tgQEmUpG0yRckcDx2J98yi1ARHrjIs-hsO/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-08+at+11.36.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1f_qBGDGECWloJBJTJZxTDxq_dpQy3CjKyzqqbLYI1YDral7zpdpbVJ7ue6_wy2B5klb5OKkM8GN9U4NhoBvc6EkYQ-xlYFH2f3zsWd4y-tgQEmUpG0yRckcDx2J98yi1ARHrjIs-hsO/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-08+at+11.36.58+PM.png" height="195" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">You can go to just about any church in the country and attend Sunday School classes that teach you things that lead you or people in your family to end up feeling lonely, hurting, unloved, hopeless, unforgivable, obsessed with proving themselves through works, and like God is so disappointed to them that He won't have anything to do with them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">These are things offered at the church that, like the candy, beer, and cigarettes at the pharmacy, will interfere with the real medicine (love of Jesus) from being able to heal you...and instead lead you into anxiety, depression, and all sorts of relationship issues.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Churches...are basically out there very spiritually...tearing individuals and families apart...then opening their doors to offer healing for those torn apart people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><b>It's a ridiculous cycle that needs to stop. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">But, my fear is that "the frogs have been so long in the hot water they don't know they're being boiled alive" so nothing will change until something totally earth shattering happens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><i>(Most Christians have bought into all the doctrines and teachings that are destroying us all so much so that even if they can agree that certain things are wrong, they believe those things so strongly they can't give them up.)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Jeremiah 6:14</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>“They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ But there is no peace.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><i>When I searched pharmacy pics for this post...I found this and it seemed to fit me... ;)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/frogboil.asp"><b>(The boiled frog anecdote is actually a myth, btw.)</b></a></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-58402376183868684972014-12-15T11:12:00.000-08:002014-12-15T11:12:04.987-08:003rd world vs 1st world problems<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>One first world problem I just now experienced is that I'd started this off as a Facebook status... </b>This thought of mine. And, I realized that I didn't wanna deal with the comments of any sort either yay or nay because I'm feeling cranky and don't want to be "around anyone" even online and so I thought, "I'll just post it over here where no one pays attention to it." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Highlight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Copy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All good, right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then, I got distracted!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>"Oh look! A squirrel!" </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And, off I went and next thing ya know...</b>by the time I got "here" and clicked, "paste" it said, "<i>No flashing...I totally understand.</i>"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Right. </b>I'd sent a message to someone and needed to move a sentence and so I'd done, "highlight/copy" again thus forever losing the four paragraphs I'd wanted to paste here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Uggg!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Total 1st world problem, right?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Such a stupid stupid problem. </b>At least I don't need to put a 5 gallon bucket on my head and walk to the river to get water to wash my dishes, right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Well...really? Would that be "worse?"</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, here I sit (key word = sit) inside (another key word) my house by myself (key word = alone) typing on this computer and because something didn't go my way I can FEEEEEEL the stress in my body. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If I needed to put a 5 gallon bucket on my head and walk (key word = walk) to the river (key word = outside) would I...really be worse off?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sitting inside, alone, doing something I can't really beat...gives me stress. Doesn't give me exercise, contact with the outdoors or other live present humans.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If I could put a 5 gallon bucket on my head and walk to the river...I'd probably run into lots of neighbors and friends...and I'd be strong enough...to put a 5 gallon bucket of water on my head. I'd be outside breathing the fresh air, in the sun, and moving my body.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Would it be a "stress" on me to have the need to go get that water? Sure. But, it would be a whole different kind of stress, wouldn't it?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>It would be a stress that would connect me to my world directly and in the present. It would be a stress that would lead to health...not a need for prozac or coffee or wine...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, maybe I can get up and walk over to my coffee maker right now and add some nice fresh tap water and make a Starbuck's coffee right here in my house...but my skin is pale...I'm not strong...don't know my neighbors...and I'm TOTALY STRESSED OUT while doing it. And, if my coffee maker stopped working...I'd probably react way more poorly to it than that woman who is walking to the river to get her water.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>So, whose problems are really "worse?"</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think we associate material possessions with blessing and lacking money and material possessions with being poor...but stand me next to a 3rd world country 45 year old and I bet she knows her neighbors, isn't "stressed out" or angry for no reason...and could carry a 5 gallon bucket of water on her head...and run circles around me while she was doing it...with a smile on her tan strong face...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Do I wanna go off the grid and become a mountain woman? No. Can't.</b> I've been introduced to this world. This is the world I live in now. But, do I think we should try our best to make all the poor poor people in those awful 3rd world countries have more of what we have? Do I think we should try to start them all on the cycle of sacrificing family and community and unborn babies so to have educations and careers and jobs that enable them to have all these 1st world problems??</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not so much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>We think it's so sad that these people live in terrible houses...and work so hard...and have so little material things...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, we live in a country where people work and work and work and to do so...they sacrifice 1.5 million unborn babies a year...to work and pay bills so they can raise kids and send them to college to do the same thing...And what do we get for this? We've lost community...children...and our touch with the outdoors. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And, we all now joke how we "need" coffee or we "need" wine to be able to keep doing this...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Our 1st world problems might be more technologically advanced...might be cleaner and shinier...but are really...much worse...</b>because at least in a 3rd world country they work and work and work...and what they get is community, fellowship, family, friends, tan, fresh air, sunshine, and strong bodies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What we get is weak, fat, sickly bodies that we hate</b>...complain about, sometimes intentionally starve, mark up, pierce, and then put into shape altering under garments, that need coffee and wine to function...We get bodies like that...so that we are able to run to little electronic thingies to get our community and fellowship and friends?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>We actually sacrificing our bodies, health, community, fellowship, friends and family in able to work to make money to support this crazy cycle...</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmt-Cn00mfBMtPbErj1P9fEmhk-whB_n0hD5_Ytn__oyhmN698BT87j8HDA5Y4Y0lrEgfzdyeNph_T3chyLWHM-0L-bsRW562HCKWD4X8OhbYWva4Ro5MnbrHea8lFh70E8sKyNVFQK8iW/s1600/Parade+(28).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmt-Cn00mfBMtPbErj1P9fEmhk-whB_n0hD5_Ytn__oyhmN698BT87j8HDA5Y4Y0lrEgfzdyeNph_T3chyLWHM-0L-bsRW562HCKWD4X8OhbYWva4Ro5MnbrHea8lFh70E8sKyNVFQK8iW/s1600/Parade+(28).JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And, then we think people who aren't part of this cycle are the poor and needy ones...</b></span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-78732897883793189142014-09-22T10:05:00.002-07:002014-09-22T11:33:42.903-07:00Are pro-lifers just pro-birth?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>So, I saw this meme and it got me thinking...</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDYrchk48HT_LV5hLwj0FtPNTgZ04r4DFxK5i34Fk-eSONZr3hSQeANyhPd3T3Rjew0uf2EY7MQHyueNZ9ehAdYCtgWNSSar6tJjrZW5CY4mGh8ZdlDzJmV5oDbFx1RemEtfnx6-amGfW/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-09-22+at+12.05.02+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDYrchk48HT_LV5hLwj0FtPNTgZ04r4DFxK5i34Fk-eSONZr3hSQeANyhPd3T3Rjew0uf2EY7MQHyueNZ9ehAdYCtgWNSSar6tJjrZW5CY4mGh8ZdlDzJmV5oDbFx1RemEtfnx6-amGfW/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-09-22+at+12.05.02+PM.png" height="400" width="398" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b>While I get where this person is coming from but...let's look at some stats </b><i>gleaned from Googling "Breast Cancer Statistics" and clicking on a breast cancer website...</i><br /><br />- breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">- about 40,000 women die per year of breast cancer<br /><br />- chance of getting breast cancer is 1 in 8<br /><br />- "not having children or having them later in life" makes you more susceptible to breast cancer<br /><br />- "not breast feeding" makes you more susceptible to breast cancer<br /><br />- "Women who have a full-term pregnancy before age 20 have a lower risk of breast cancer than women who never have a full-term pregnancy or who have their first full-term pregnancy after the age of 30 or 35."<br /><br />- "The risk of breast cancer also goes down as the number of full-term pregnancies goes up."<br /><br />- "Each year, nearly 1.2 million American women have an abortion to end a pregnancy."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">- "induced abortions" makes you more susceptible to breast cancer</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><b>I don't have "stats" for this off the internet but life experience has shown me that women generally choose abortion for their babies because they're not "ready" to have a baby which means...</b>they don't have what they need to make caring for a live baby possible. They don't have abortions because they <b><i>want</i></b> to...but because they feel like they <b><i>have</i></b> to. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>(As in they feel like they have no choice. Ironic.)</i><br /><br /><b>Totally generally/stereotypically speaking, also...</b>I've noticed in life that those who are pro-choice (legalized-abortion) are also pro-welfare (caring for the poor) and pro-government-healthcare...and consider themselves to be pro-women... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>(and fyi I'm not saying those people are bad! But, it is "those types" of people who create and like memes like the one above.)</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">SO...<br /><br /><b>Why...given all the facts above about the risks of women dying of breast cancer...</b>when a woman is faced with a pregnancy in her youth <i>(which according to the stats is protection against breast cancer)</i>...why aren't the pro-women/welfare/healthcare-ers all over these women encouraging them for their health to keep those babies...and then stay home and nurse those babies? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Why aren't they doing whatever they can...</b>to get the gov't and the communities we all live in to do whatever they can to make it possible for these women to not have to give in to the desperation of "having" to get an abortion and put their futures at risk??<br /><br /><b>The above meme accuses "Republicans" of not wanting to spend the $ to support these women but...what are the "Democrats" doing...</b>to support these desperate women so that they don't "have not other choice" but to choose to put themselves at risk for being the one of the 1 in 8 dying young of breast cancer?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Feeling like you "have no choice" but to abort...is hardly a choice. </b>And, no one who believes themselves to be pro-"choice" should be in favor of anyone having an abortion because they felt it was the "only choice." You must have at least 2 options in order for something to be a choice...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Could it be that both Democrats and Republicans are actually...</b>having the same reaction to these mother's plights but using different terminology so that they can feel superior to the other side?<br /><br /><b>I think that both Democrats and Republicans have the same number of mothers in their communities and neighborhoods who are desperate enough to have an abortion. </b>And, so if according to the above meme those who proclaim to be pro-life are really just pro-birth because they do nothing to promote the lives of the beings in question...then what are either of the two sides <i><b>doing</b></i> to help these women that will actually make that side truly pro-<i><b>life</b></i>?<br /><br /><b>Look all across the US at pregnancy centers/clinics which serve women who are in this desperate situation.</b> What do you see? And, what stereotypical types of people do you find working in, volunteering for, and supporting financially those clinics? <i>That would tell you something...</i><br /><br />My experience says that there are two different types of clinics in the USA that have open doors for mothers in crisis pregnancies...<br /><br />- abortion clinics<br /><br />- pro-life crisis pregnancy centers </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Both offer a desperate mother help in their situation. How do those clinics differ and how?</b><br /><br /><b>One offers to help in your desperate situation by...</b>enabling you to get that baby out of your body and dispose of it before that baby is able to become a financial burden...<b>putting you at higher risk of breast cancer in the future</b>...as the solution to your problem and is staffed by paid pro-choicers and Democrats (stereotypically).<br /><br /><b>One offers to help you in your desperate situation by... </b>helping you find ways to be able to keep that baby inside your body until it comes out naturally by helping you find resources to be able to get help with food, clothing, and a place to live with that baby...<b>reducing your risk of dying of breast cancer someday</b>...as the solution to your problem and is staffed by volunteers who are stereotypically Republicans and Christians.</span></div>
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<b><i>me in 1987...age 17</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I was once 17 and pregnant and desperate. </b>I'd been college-prep my whole school career and was told that if I didn't abort I was out on my own...bye-bye college. Lots of pro-choice people advised me in what to do. 100% of them told me to, "Just get rid of it." Not one...offered to help me make any other choice than that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>At the abortion clinic...they told me how simple and easy it was to just remove the tissue with their little pinky-sized cannula. </b><i>(They never told me what "it" was...and Google wasn't around yet for me to find out on my own.)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Two weeks later when I'd chosen to lose my future instead of depriving my baby of hers...</b>the doctor at my 1st prenatal visit told me that the "tissue" that would have been neatly removed by that pinky-sized cannula 2 weeks prior...was the size of my fist. I asked him how an abortion gets it out? He simply responded, "Think about it..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I didn't think about it. </b>I was 17, out on my own for my Senior year of HS, living with my boyfriend, working 4 nights a week making $80/week and trying to survive. I was a mess.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Years later I thought about it...</b>standing at a non-profit organization's information table at the mall picking up pamphlets with my now 6-year-old daughter that described what actually happens during an abortion. I was shocked. Why had I not been informed about what I almost was doing? Why had no one told me?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>So, after that I chose to get involved. </b>I volunteered for years for a crisis pregnancy center in the 90's. The clinic volunteers donated money, time, food (formula) and found homes for girls who didn't want to have an abortion but were desperate enough to have one. We organized fund-raising events and did walks and had yard sales. We invested a lot of our own time, money, and lives to help women be able to choose life...beyond the day they gave birth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>More than one of my "Republican" friends took girls into their homes and took money out of their pay checks every week...so a desperate mom could choose life...</b>And, my husband and I purposely chose our 1st home based on the fact that it had an apartment in the basement that we could use for the same reason.<br /><b><br />I guess you can draw your own conclusions...</b><br /><br /><b>But, back to this meme above...</b>considering the definition of "birth" is, "the emergence of a baby or other young from the body of its mother"...really...<b>abortion by definition is a form of birth</b>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>So, to make this meme more accurate...pro-lifers may lack in the areas noted but they are pro-live-birth...and the other side would be pro-non-live-birth.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Simple. Sad.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-90038956664613579932014-06-25T12:39:00.002-07:002014-06-27T07:16:56.903-07:00What do you clothe yourself in?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I was just thinking about "love" and how God IS love and what being a Christian REALLY means.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Romans 13:14</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">...put on the Lord Jesus Christ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What would that mean? And, what would that look like?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>If you become</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>...</b>a police officer...a judge...a nurse...</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">when people see you in that uniform they all immediately know what you are, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>So, if you become a Christian...</b>people should look at how you "clothe yourself" and see immediately that you are a Christian...true?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>So, what would a Christian's "uniform" look like...</b>and how would it be perceived?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I mean, when you look at a police officer's uniform... </b>usually, you don't stand back, mouth agape and exclaim, "How beautiful!" True?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The church is described as "the bride of Christ" and we're instructed to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ..."</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b>Normally, when a woman puts on a wedding gown...</b>(or any kind of fancy gown, really)...and presents herself after getting dressed...the whole room full of people will stop what they're doing and take a deep breath and you will hear a lot of, "ooooohs" and "ahhhhhs" and fuss over how BEAUTIFUL the woman looks! Sometimes people will even be moved to get tears in their eyes seeing their loved ones all "dressed up." Right?<br /><br /><b>Even a woman who is not considered to be "beautiful" under normal circumstances...</b>will make everyone simply go "wow" seeing her all dressed up...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Why is this? </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Romans 1 says everything we wanna know about God is glaringly obvious in the Creation around us...</b>so what does this mean that the majority of humans are awed by the sight of a woman all dressed up like that?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Colossians 3:12 </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">...</span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">put on</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">put on love</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, which is the perfect bond of unity. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b>As the "bride of Christ" if a person puts on Christ...they should look and be so beautiful inside that it would move people to tears...</b><br /><br /><b>So, when it comes to church...</b>i</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">f the modern church was truly putting on Christ...like them or not...the world would look at them and be struck by their beauty...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Is that what we see in the world? </b>Is that what non-Christians think of when they think of "Christians?" Or, is this what they see?</span></div>
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<b>Protesting and pointing out stuff you think God hates...</b></div>
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<b>Hitting/spanking helpless children in God's name...</b></div>
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<b>Pointing fingers at everyone else's sin...</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Do you see beauty here?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Then you don't see Christ.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is how you clothe yourself in religion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Religion isn't beautiful because it is focused on "sin"...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Christ, however, is focused on love...and therefore is beautiful...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A person focused on Christ, who IS love, will be beautiful, too...</span></div>
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<b>Loving your neighbor as yourself...is beautiful...</b></div>
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<b>Doing unto others as you'd have them do unto you is beautiful...</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Like Romans 1 says...the truth is obvious...</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Job 40:10</b><br />“Adorn yourself with eminence and dignity, And clothe yourself with honor and majesty."<br /><br /><b>Ephesians 4:24</b><br />...put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. <br /><br /><b>1 Peter 3:3</b><br />Your adornment must not be merely external...but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What do you clothe yourself in? Your church doctrine? Your church? Or Christ?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The truth is obvious...</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-48704397098034999772014-05-25T18:20:00.001-07:002014-05-25T18:20:39.788-07:00I am an NIV-never!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I am totally "against" the use of the term "sinful nature" ever...and this is why...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>It it not a term that is in the Bible. It is in some versions...but it is not in the original writing of the Bible.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I am not a KJV-only person. But, I am an NIV-never person. (I use mostly the NASB)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Below, you will see one big reason why. The NIV is a transliteration...not a translation. They took great liberties all through the whole Bible with "translation." </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>In the NT there is a Greek word, "sarx" which simply means, "flesh" that the NIV has "translated" to mean like 10 different things...in order to suit their doctrinal position which they have promoted throughout their work. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I've used examples from four other translations to show that it's not about a battle about which Bible version is "best" but rather to demonstrate that the NIV is not a reliable source of God's Word.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>(This is from a document I did back when I only blogged in ranting essays on my computer.)</i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>Take note in that the other translations will faithfully translate the one word "sarx" in the NT which means "flesh" as "flesh", but, the NIV uses a variety of different translations to suit their doctrine.</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Romans 7:5</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NIV</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> For when we were controlled by the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">sinful nature</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NASB</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> For while we were in the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at workinthe members of our body to bear fruit for death.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>KJV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">For when we were in the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>LITV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>(Literal)</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> For when we were in the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, the passions of sin were working in our members through the Law for the bearing of fruit unto death.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>Webster’s </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> For when we were in the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit to death:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">___________</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Romans 7:18</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NIV</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">sinful nature</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NASB </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>KJV</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> For I know that in me (that is, in my </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>LITV (Literal)</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> For I know that in me, that is in my </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, dwells no good. For to will is present to me, but to work out the good I do not find.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>Webster’s </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">For I know that in me (that is, in my </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good, I find not.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">___________</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Romans 8:4-6</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NIV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> (and so he condemned sin in </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">sinful man</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">) in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">sinful nature</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">sinful nature</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> have their minds set on what desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">that natureof sinful man</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NASB </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> (He condemned sin in the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">,) so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> but according to the Spirit. For those who are according to the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> set their minds on the things of the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">set on the flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>KJV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the do mind the things of the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">fleshflesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">carnally minded</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>LITV (Literal) </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> so that the righteous demand of the Law might be fulfilled in us, those not walking according to </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, but according to Spirit. For the ones that are according to </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> mind the things of the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">. And the ones according to Spirit mind the things of the Spirit. For the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">mind of the flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>Webster’s</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> That the righteousness of the law may be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, but according to the Spirit. For they that are according to the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, do mind the things of the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">: but they that are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">carnally minded</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace: </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">___________</span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">If "sinful nature" was a valid translation of the word "sarx" they would be able to use it here...but it would obviously make no sense so they chose "the body." But, is "sarx" your body...or your mysterious "sinful nature?"</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Philippians 1:22</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NIV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> If I am to go on living in </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">the body</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, this will mean fruitful labor for me.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NASB </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">But if I am to live on in the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>KJV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">But if I live in the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>LITV (Literal) </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> But if I live in the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, this to me is fruit of my labor, and what I shall choose I do not know.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>Webster’s</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> But if I live in the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I know not.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">___________</span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Again, </span></b><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">does the NIV find "the body" to be synonymous with "sinful nature" or not? Obviously, "the body" and "sinful nature" are NOT synonyms, yet, they are derived from the same word, "sarx" (which the Bible says that Jesus had.)</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Philippians 1:24</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NIV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">But it is more necessary for you that I remain in </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">the body</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NASB </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">yet to remain on in the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> is more necessary for your sake.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>KJV</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> yet to remain on in the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> is more necessary for your sake.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>LITV (Literal) </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">but to remain in the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> is more necessary on account of you.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>Webster’s </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Nevertheless, to abide in the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> is more needful for you.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">___________</span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Here the NIV is forced to use the translation "flesh" because it is the only thing that does make sense here. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Actually, if you were to use "sinful nature" here as the NIV uses other places for the translation of the same word, "sarx" you'll see it would make NO sense at all...because it is not a valid translation of that word.</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Philippians 3:3-4</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NIV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> For it is we who are the circumcision we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the – though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">fleshflesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, I have more;</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NASB </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God andglory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, I far more:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>KJV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">. Though I might also have confidence in the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>LITV (Literal) </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> or we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, and who glory in Christ Jesus, and who do not trust in </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">. Even though I might have trust in flesh; if any other thinks to trust in </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, I more;</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>Webster’s </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath reason to trust in the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; text-decoration: underline; widows: auto;">flesh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">, I more:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">___________</span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Now, the NIV must use "flesh" for the word they use to say, "sinful nature" because again...to translate this with "sinful nature" would be ridiculous...</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Colossians 1:24</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NIV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span> what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NASB</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my<span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span> I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>KJV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span> for his body’s sake, which is the church:</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>LITV (Literal) </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> who now rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf and fill up in my <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span> the things lacking of the afflictions of Christ on behalf of His body, which is the assembly,</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>Webster’s </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span> for his body's sake, which is the church:</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">___________</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>The word here they translate "the body" is the very same word "sarx" which they have translated in many many previous verses to be "sinful nature"...but oh look who has a "sarx=sinful nature" then?? </b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">1 Timothy 3:16</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NIV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in <span style="text-decoration: underline;">a body</span>, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NASB </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span>, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>KJV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span>, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>LITV (Literal)</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> And confessedly, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span>, was justified in Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>Webster’s </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span>, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">___________</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Philemon 16</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NIV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">No longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as <span style="text-decoration: underline;">a man</span> and as a brother in the Lord.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NASB </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span> and in the Lord.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>KJV</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span>, and in the Lord? </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>LITV (Literal) </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> no longer as a slave, but beyond a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, and how much more to you, both in the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span> and in the Lord.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>Webster’s </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more to thee, both in the<span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span>, and in the Lord?</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">___________</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">1 Peter 3:18</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NIV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in <span style="text-decoration: underline;">the body</span> but made alive by the Spirit.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NASB </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span>, but made alive in the spirit;</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>KJV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span>, but quickened by the Spirit: </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>LITV (Literal) </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> Because even Christ once suffered concerning sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God; indeed being put to death in the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span>, but made alive in the Spirit;</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>Webster’s </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span>, but made alive by the Spirit:</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">___________</span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">According to the NIV...we have a sarx which = "sinful nature" but Jesus who had a sarx...did not. Doesn't it make more sense and require less hoop-jumping to simply say we had a flesh just like Jesus...and that the only difference between our flesh and His is that He never chose to sin and we did. </span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">1 Peter 4:1-2</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NIV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Therefore, since Christ suffered in <span style="text-decoration: underline;">his body</span>, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NASB </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Therefore, since Christ has suffered in <span style="text-decoration: underline;">the flesh</span>, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>KJV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in <span style="text-decoration: underline;">the flesh</span>, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>LITV (Literal) </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> Therefore, Christ having suffered for us in <span style="text-decoration: underline;">the flesh</span>, also you arm yourselves with the same thought, because he having suffered in the flesh has been made to rest from sin, 2 for him no longer to live in the lusts of men, but to live the remaining time in the flesh in the will of God. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>Webster’s </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in <span style="text-decoration: underline;">the flesh</span>, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">___________</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">And, try to swap the NIV's synonym for "flesh" and insert, "sinful nature" where they put "flesh." It doesn't work.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">1 John 4:2</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NIV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Jesus Christ has come in the flesh</span> is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NASB </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span> is from God;</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>KJV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span> is of God: </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>LITV (Literal) </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> By this know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span> is from God.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>Webster’s </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> By this ye know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ hath come in the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span>, is from God:</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">___________</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">They are forced to use the word "flesh" here because to use their synonym "sinful nature" would be ludicrous...and if it is not appropriate here it is not appropriate anywhere. They do it other places because it suits their doctrine...which means they have altered the word of God. They have introduced something to the Bible that is not in it.</span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">2 John 7</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NIV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span>, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NASB </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> For many deceivers havegone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span>. This is the deceiver and theantichrist.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>KJV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span>. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>LITV (Literal) </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> Because many deceivers went out into the world, those not confessing Jesus Christ to have come in the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span>, this is the deceiver and the antichrist.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>Webster’s </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> For many deceivers have entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">flesh</span>. This is a deceiver, and an antichrist.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">And, could it be that the NIV is denying that Jesus came in the flesh "sarx"...the very SAME same same flesh that we humans are all born with by promoting their doctrine of "original sin". They have separated our "flesh" from Jesus' flesh. This verse says that those who deny that He came in the same "sarx" as you or I did...is an antichrist.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">___________</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>This is not about the word "sarx" but on the topic of sin and how the NIV has altered the Bible...</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>Who in this verse is the sinner? If you know your Bible you know that David was the only son to his father via his mom. His mom was not the mom of the other brothers. And, that information confirms what the other 4 versions tell you about who the sinner is who is being referred to...and the NIV isn't even close! They totally just made it up! </b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Psalm 51:5 </span> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NIV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NASB</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>KJV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>LITV (Literal) </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>Webster’s </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">___________</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>Now, first read this...</b></span></div>
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<b style="font-size: 19px;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" /></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Ezekiel 18:14-20 (NASB)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Now behold, he has a son who has observed all his father’s sins which he committed, and observing does not do likewise. He does not eat at the mountain shrines or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor’s wife, or oppress anyone, or retain a pledge, or commit robbery, but he gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, he keeps his hand from the poor, does not take interest or increase, but executes My ordinances, and walks in My statutes; he will not die for his father’s iniquity, he will surely live. As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was not good among his people, behold, he will die for his iniquity Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity?’ When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live. The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">And, tell me if God contradicts Himself? What kind of God would punish someone ELSE for someone ELSE'S sin???</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Numbers 14:18</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NIV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he doe not leave the guilty unpunished; <span style="text-decoration: underline;">he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers</span> to the third and fourth generation.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NASB </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children</span>to the third and the fourth generations.’</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>KJV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty,<span style="text-decoration: underline;">visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children</span> unto the third and fourth generation. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>LITV (Literal) </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> Jehovah is slow to anger, and of great mercy, bearing away iniquity and transgression; and by no means will clear the guilty, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the sons</span>, on the third and on the fourth generation .</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>Webster’s</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> The LORD is long-suffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children</span> to the third and fourth generation.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><b>Are "visiting" and "punishing"...even close to the same thing???</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">___________</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>When do we begin to matter? The NIV was once used by a Methodist PASTOR! to prove that abortion was OK...because he didn't believe that babies got their souls till after birth!</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Luke 1:15 (concerning John the Baptist)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">NIV for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy spirit even <span style="text-decoration: underline;">from birth</span>.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>NASB </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">“For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit<span style="text-decoration: underline;">while yet in his mother’s womb</span>.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>KJV </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even <span style="text-decoration: underline;">from his mother’s womb</span>.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>LITV (Literal) </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> For he shall be great in the eyes of the Lord, and he shall not drink wine or strong drink. And he will be filled of the Holy Spirit, even <span style="text-decoration: underline;">from his mother's womb</span>.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b>Webster’s</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"> For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even <span style="text-decoration: underline;">from his mother's womb.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">___________</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">If I wrote a letter to my children for them to know me and pass on down to my grand kids and on down the line...and someone got a hold of it and did to my words what the NIV have done with God's words...I would no longer want my kids reading that letter.<br /><br />These are just the errors I was able to find in my limited time...so it is definitely not a version you should ever use if you REALLY want to know what the Bible says...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 15px;">If you wanna "hide God's word in your heart so you won't sin against Him" you should really make sure it's His word you're reading.</span></b></span></span></div>
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; orphans: 2; widows: 2;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791193693816310854.post-28798715314103714442014-04-21T08:29:00.000-07:002014-04-21T08:29:23.896-07:00If you aren't your child's friend...what ARE you?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>So often I see people on Facebook "proud" to declare that they are their child's "parent" and NOT their "friend."</b></span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>But...</b><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ub8hQQMIBFZFqd8DKHZ5XduCBa_G4lQ-0wCPoUza_48bxMpshtaECYQIRU4kfMB7DendK53y3qUZuQ-7jSVVpbZWDeErhbvzCsiiM_X0qEwa5ov5HyLOkJnq-FvV7tI9Om9V9WrJOlnd/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-04-07+at+1.07.49+PM.png"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ub8hQQMIBFZFqd8DKHZ5XduCBa_G4lQ-0wCPoUza_48bxMpshtaECYQIRU4kfMB7DendK53y3qUZuQ-7jSVVpbZWDeErhbvzCsiiM_X0qEwa5ov5HyLOkJnq-FvV7tI9Om9V9WrJOlnd/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-04-07+at+1.07.49+PM.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />"A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same." ― Elbert Hubbard<br /><br />"One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood." ― Lucius Annaeus Seneca<br /><br />"A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down." ― Arnold H. Glasow</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />"The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing... not healing, not curing...that is a friend who cares." ― Henri Nouwen<br /><br />"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend." ― Martin Luther King, Jr.<br /><br />"Friends and good manners will carry you where money won't go." ― Margaret Walker</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them". ― Ralph Waldo Emerson<br /><br />"A true friend freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably." ― William Penn<br /><br />"A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself." ― Jim Morrison</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />"Friendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything." ― Muhammad Ali<br /><br />“An acquaintance merely enjoys your company, a fair-weather companion flatters when all is well, a true friend has your best interests at heart and the pluck to tell you what you need to hear.” ― E.A. Bucchianeri, Brushstrokes of a Gadfly<br /><br />“Friendship is the only cure for hatred, the only guarantee of peace.” ― Gautama Buddha</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />“It's the friends you can call up at 4 a.m. that matter.” ― Marlene Dietrich<br /><br />“We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.” ― Robert Louis Stevenson</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />"Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together." – Woodrow T. Wilson</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Proverbs 17:17 </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"A friend loves at all times"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b>John 15:13</b><br />Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b>Luke 7:34</b><br />The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b>Luke 12:4 </b><br />“I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>So, if these are all the things a friend is...and if you think that being a parent means you aren't all those things to your child...then...what ARE you to your child? </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>There is no greater thing you could be to your child than to be their best friend...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>And, we wonder what's wrong with kids these days?</i></b></span></div>
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