tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72321469246422319012024-03-05T22:23:33.498-06:00 Meade MusingsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.comBlogger194125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-20007533157160834602017-08-09T15:49:00.000-05:002017-08-13T15:52:42.674-05:00Choices . . . And Free Will <div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #783f04;">Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.</span></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #783f04;"> The Book of Common Prayer, p. 232.</span></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8A77wUde81KokmBRKyiQHemB18b4hROfj335rnE8P-UJYfSqEjlO820-je_mu6I23Ru6kSBiV9F8PnuvPuaBcQPMmwOUn002S17rMDYtGx1Gg9InY1_5oOvIoGsj5VUE1AXkXZFqy-gs/s1600/1+-+joseph+coat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="350" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8A77wUde81KokmBRKyiQHemB18b4hROfj335rnE8P-UJYfSqEjlO820-je_mu6I23Ru6kSBiV9F8PnuvPuaBcQPMmwOUn002S17rMDYtGx1Gg9InY1_5oOvIoGsj5VUE1AXkXZFqy-gs/s640/1+-+joseph+coat.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joseph's Coat Konstantinos Fiavitsky c. 1855</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #783f04;">Choices. To do what is right. To be guided by the Spirit of God. This is the opening prayer for next Sunday, after which we will hear the story of Joseph and his brothers, and how they despised him, and how they thought about killing him, but ultimately decided to sell him into slavery in Egypt instead.</span></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #783f04;">We make choices every day. We may try hard to make right choices, choices that would glorify God and reflect our baptismal identities as followers of Jesus, but how often we fail. Joseph’s coat of many colors reminds us that we all have many colors – and as often as we chose God’s way, we can also choose the sinner’s way. To forgive someone – or not. To reconcile with someone – or not. To love someone – or not.</span></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.b" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #783f04;">God has given us this gift of free will, knowing full well that the choices we will make are ours. It is up to us to reflect upon those choices and to lay them out before God.</span></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.c" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.d" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #783f04;">“Bless me Lord, for I have sinned.” </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-53703382099157274292017-08-02T15:38:00.000-05:002017-08-13T15:55:07.238-05:00Being a Prophet is Hard<h4>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. 2 Peter 1:20-21</span></h4>
<span style="color: #20433e; font-family: , , sans-serif; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20433e; font-family: , , sans-serif; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTF7xkCCzvqVD5JT_hmutXhlOeMOhkBiDSGjnOu1_I02bcvnxIt4puQeQ6mDD7VAc71QHB21Z_FPlScDV8hf5CFbIUPwOgi-eG2LmQ86aKBDRO23OZAaiickc089yfyCbzAYBeHg6oKc/s1600/1+-+scream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1311" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTF7xkCCzvqVD5JT_hmutXhlOeMOhkBiDSGjnOu1_I02bcvnxIt4puQeQ6mDD7VAc71QHB21Z_FPlScDV8hf5CFbIUPwOgi-eG2LmQ86aKBDRO23OZAaiickc089yfyCbzAYBeHg6oKc/s640/1+-+scream.jpg" width="524" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Scream Edvard Munch 1893</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul class="font_8">
<li><br /><h4>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Being a prophet is hard work.</span></h4>
</li>
<li><h4>
<ul class="font_8">
<li><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Speaking truth to a world that often refuses to listen</span></li>
</ul>
<ul class="font_8">
<li><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Inviting strange looks, ridicule, and ostracization</span></li>
</ul>
<ul class="font_8">
<li><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Setting aside the dangers inherent with speaking truth to power.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Peter understands the essential truth that scriptures are broken open for us because men and women have been (and are) vulnerable enough to risk their “normal” lives being upended. These folks are so deeply open to the Spirit of God moving within them that they MUST speak up and proclaim God’s truths to the world.</span></span></h4>
</li>
<li><h4>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How do we treat prophets? How do we claim our prophetic voices?</span></span></h4>
</li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-15187978465970334302017-07-26T15:34:00.000-05:002017-08-13T15:46:22.545-05:00Segregation<span style="color: #783f04;">For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 38-39</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TRM4t4magSt7BufJeJftKlWBAKridEujL5Z2qa-N2PMcbRWsFUpMT9Q4-g98Bm1gN70Q1dLdAoDiZ8-Qhas8aqC9bkhZQBb6ixS0ehT1PKe0D_DWHQ3df7liCH8FhGkgUH0HxHq8hJA/s1600/1+-+barbed+wire+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TRM4t4magSt7BufJeJftKlWBAKridEujL5Z2qa-N2PMcbRWsFUpMT9Q4-g98Bm1gN70Q1dLdAoDiZ8-Qhas8aqC9bkhZQBb6ixS0ehT1PKe0D_DWHQ3df7liCH8FhGkgUH0HxHq8hJA/s400/1+-+barbed+wire+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aesthetics of Crisis by Blu</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Paul’s conviction that nothing can separate us from the love of God is a lovely conviction. But is it true? What of us? As human beings, do we separate ourselves from those who disagree with us or look different from us? Do we cut off those who are not up to our standards?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #783f04;">In God’s economy, we are all children of God, made in the image of God. Jesus did not say, “Come unto me some of you who are heavy laden.” Jesus did not shut out strangers or ignore the disabled, or treat women and children as the society did. God’s way is one of love, unity and tolerance. Segregation is a human construct with troubling outcomes. </span></div>
<ul class="font_8">
<li><span style="color: #783f04;">Building walls has been tried. (Think East Germany/West Germany.)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #783f04;">Segregating schools has been tried. (Think Birmingham.)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #783f04;">Concentration camps have been tried. (Think Auschwitz.)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #783f04;">Segregated water fountains and bathrooms. (Think American South.)</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: #783f04;">All human attempts at separation must be called into question. It is not God’s way; it is not Christ’s way. “There can be no Jew nor Greek, no slave nor free, no male nor female; for we are all one.” Galatians 3:28)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #783f04;">From whom, and from what situations, do we segregate ourselves?</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br data-cke-eol="1" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-74444559212714081802017-07-19T16:54:00.000-05:002017-08-13T15:47:09.199-05:00The God of Our Dreams<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #783f04;">Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place—and I did not know it!” Genesis 28:16</span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhoto" data-content-padding-horizontal="0" data-content-padding-vertical="0" data-exact-height="946.0269865067465" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4:0" id="innercomp_txtMedia6yh" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; height: 947px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;" title="">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotolink" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4:0.$link" id="innercomp_txtMedia6yhlink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 947px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimg" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4:0.$link.0" data-style="" id="innercomp_txtMedia6yhimg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 947px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimgpreloader" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4:0.$link.0.$preloader" id="innercomp_txtMedia6yhimgpreloader" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<span style="color: purple;"><img alt="" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4:0.$link.0.$image" data-type="image" id="innercomp_txtMedia6yhimgimage" itemprop="image" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e22cd6_10909d08a7184be4947da437171796b1~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_667,h_1000,al_c,q_85/e22cd6_10909d08a7184be4947da437171796b1~mv2.webp" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 947px; margin: 0px; object-fit: contain; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;" /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: purple;"> "Sulam Yaakov" Geula Twersky</span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #783f04;">While it is easy for us to imagine God being with us at all times, in Jacob’s day, the people believed God was far less accessible. God was in a pillar of fire, atop Mt. Sinai, or behind the richly decorated curtains in the Temple, in the place called the “holy of holies.”</span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #783f04;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jacob, having stolen his older brother’s birthright and having tricked his father into giving him a blessing, was on the run. He ran away toward Haran, the city where Abraham’s ancestors had once settled. He was road weary, and fearful of his brother’s wrath, so he lay down for the night in the middle of the desert, and rested his head upon a rock.</span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.1" /><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.2" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In his dream, God came to him and Jacob received God’s assurance that God’s mercy, grace, and protection would surround him for the remainder of his life. The Covenant was intact. While Jacob was running away from God, afraid of punishment for the duplicity with which he had defrauded his father and his brother, God followed him and reassured him.</span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.4" /><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.5" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What about us? Certainly most of us have acted in ways that fall short of the glory of God. Some of us may have felt such shame that we have run from God or ignored God while intentionally choosing the wrong path. This story reminds us that no matter where we have gone, and how far we have traveled, the gates of heaven are always open to us. There is no place beyond the reach of God, and no hiding place so secure that God will not find us there. </span></span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #783f04; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #783f04; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thanks be to God. </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-79734988723721327432017-07-05T16:53:00.000-05:002017-08-03T16:54:02.255-05:00Making Peace<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Jesus said to the crowd, “To what will I compare this generation? Matthew 11:16</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhoto" data-content-padding-horizontal="0" data-content-padding-vertical="0" data-exact-height="301.8704" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3:0" id="innercomp_txtMedia1jhw" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; height: 302px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline; width: 505px;" title="">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotolink" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3:0.$link" id="innercomp_txtMedia1jhwlink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 302px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 505px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimg" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3:0.$link.0" data-style="" id="innercomp_txtMedia1jhwimg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 302px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 505px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimgpreloader" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3:0.$link.0.$preloader" id="innercomp_txtMedia1jhwimgpreloader" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<img alt="" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3:0.$link.0.$image" data-type="image" id="innercomp_txtMedia1jhwimgimage" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e22cd6_7bde9da764d040b4b639f4783205a306~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_631,h_377,al_c,lg_1,q_80/e22cd6_7bde9da764d040b4b639f4783205a306~mv2.webp" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 302px; margin: 0px; object-fit: contain; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 505px;" /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4.0.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4.0.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(Artist unknown.)</span></span></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This 4th of July weekend 100 people were shot and 14 people died in the City of Chicago. </span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7.1" /><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7.2" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7.3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jesus asks, “To what shall I compare this generation?” A generation who glories in snuffing out lives? Perhaps we have become a generation that does not think before it tweets, or shoots, or lies. Surely God weeps. </span></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The ministry of the Church is to follow Jesus Christ as we strive to respect the dignity of every human being, to shine a light on injustice, and to love one another. We are called to model this behavior, not only on Sundays, but everyday, in all sorts of situations. </div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.b" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We, the church, can offer a peace-filled alternative to the hell that is breaking society apart by remembering the one who lives within us, and by being slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. </div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.c" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.d" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We must resist the all too human urge to win, to make our point, and to glorify ourselves. Instead, we opt for the way of Jesus as we seek to make peace.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-32675631996099884632017-06-28T16:52:00.000-05:002017-08-03T16:53:01.782-05:00Welcome<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Matthew 10:40</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhoto" data-content-padding-horizontal="0" data-content-padding-vertical="0" data-exact-height="775.2285714285714" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2:0" id="innercomp_txtMedias5j" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; height: 776px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;" title="">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotolink" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2:0.$link" id="innercomp_txtMedias5jlink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 776px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimg" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2:0.$link.0" data-style="" id="innercomp_txtMedias5jimg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 776px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimgpreloader" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2:0.$link.0.$preloader" id="innercomp_txtMedias5jimgpreloader" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<img alt="" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2:0.$link.0.$image" data-type="image" id="innercomp_txtMedias5jimgimage" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e22cd6_900ea36de87347518e4ca1442f75edcf~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_700,h_860,al_c,q_85/e22cd6_900ea36de87347518e4ca1442f75edcf~mv2.webp" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 776px; margin: 0px; object-fit: contain; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;" /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“Behind the Borders” Samia Smahi</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Welcoming: It is the thing Jesus begs us to do.</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Is it enough to simply shake hands? Remember names? Or does it demand that we be more proactive in offering welcome? It takes more effort to offer welcome to those who do not agree with us; perhaps more difficult to welcome those who do not share our faith or our ancestral origins.</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
And yet, “Whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me” is an appropriate mantra for today’s pluralistic and often divisive culture. It’s more than a smile or being nice. God calls us to remember that each person we encounter is a child of God; beloved of God.</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.b" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.b.0" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.b.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How might we proactively offer real welcome to those who have come to dwell among us?</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-54868835766328855442017-06-21T16:51:00.000-05:002017-08-03T16:52:08.779-05:00Have No Fear<div class=" flex_vbox" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0__type_MediaPost" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; flex-direction: column; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.01em 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
<div class="s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkin" data-proxy-name="MediaLabel" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0" data-width="631" id="594ff1c02fb28f5e93029468comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_mediaText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkin_richTextContainer s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkinrichTextContainer" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer" id="594ff1c02fb28f5e93029468comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_mediaTextrichTextContainer" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 1185.6px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Matthew 10: 26-27</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhoto" data-content-padding-horizontal="0" data-content-padding-vertical="0" data-exact-height="399.10252365930603" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2:0" id="innercomp_txtMedia3pj" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; height: 400px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;" title="">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotolink" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2:0.$link" id="innercomp_txtMedia3pjlink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 400px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimg" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2:0.$link.0" data-style="" id="innercomp_txtMedia3pjimg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 400px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimgpreloader" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2:0.$link.0.$preloader" id="innercomp_txtMedia3pjimgpreloader" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<img alt="" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2:0.$link.0.$image" data-type="image" id="innercomp_txtMedia3pjimgimage" itemprop="image" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e22cd6_0e4dba2d6e094e959780c151aa4eae3c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_761,h_481,al_c,lg_1,q_85/e22cd6_0e4dba2d6e094e959780c151aa4eae3c~mv2.webp" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 400px; margin: 0px; object-fit: contain; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;" /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“So do not fear them.”</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
What a seemingly easy statement for Jesus to make to his disciples, but anyone who has ever tried to convince a 4 year old at bedtime that there are no monsters in the closet or under the bed, knows that overcoming fear is easier said than done. Fear is the single biggest obstacle to maturation of faith. Fear undermines what is true, what is right, and what is holy. Fear prevents the speaking of truth, even as our loved ones suffer. But the Lord promises another way. </div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“Have no fear of them, for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered.”</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.b" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
God already knows. God pleads with us to speak the truth in love. Pick off the scab that blocks you from truth and from healing. Proclaim the unsaid; speak your truth. Shine a light on injustice and coercion and manipulation. When we bring unspoken suffering to the light, no one will fall to the ground apart from God – even the persecutors.</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.c" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.d" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Believe. Have no fear. Proclaim truth from the housetops. </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class=" flex_vbox" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$6" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_23_true" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; flex-direction: column; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.01em 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-59498712241798086812017-06-14T16:50:00.000-05:002017-08-03T16:51:14.037-05:00When Love is Impure<br />
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. </div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
1 Corinthians 13:4-8</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhoto" data-content-padding-horizontal="0" data-content-padding-vertical="0" data-exact-height="473.25" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.6:0" id="innercomp_txtMediaen" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; height: 474px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;" title="">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotolink" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.6:0.$link" id="innercomp_txtMediaenlink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 474px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimg" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.6:0.$link.0" data-style="" id="innercomp_txtMediaenimg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 474px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimgpreloader" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.6:0.$link.0.$preloader" id="innercomp_txtMediaenimgpreloader" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<img alt="" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.6:0.$link.0.$image" data-type="image" id="innercomp_txtMediaenimgimage" itemprop="image" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e22cd6_8c324a19f59549b793e9769e23cac817~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_789,h_592,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/e22cd6_8c324a19f59549b793e9769e23cac817~mv2.webp" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 474px; margin: 0px; object-fit: contain; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;" /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What happens when love is used to manipulate, to bruise, to abuse? That kind of love is not agape love, not Godly love. That kind of love seeks power and control; it seeks victory. That kind of love blasphemes the Holy One who is the center of all.</span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9.1" /><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9.2" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9.3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This week, as you assess your relationships, do a version of the Ignatian Examen. Think about your interactions with others and especially about your relationships with those you love. Did you offer love? Did you seek to be "right?" Did you ask how your loved one was feeling or did you seek, instead, how to make your feelings known? Did you listen? Or did you demand to be heard? </span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9.4" /><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9.5" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9.6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bring yourself into the presence of God. Re-read the quote from 1st Corinthians above. Sit with it. This passage contains all things necessary to evaluate our relationships. Finally, give thanks to the Holy One who loves us perfectly and who is neither self-seeking nor easily angered. </span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9.7" /><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9.8" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9.9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">People may forget the things you did with them and the gifts you bought for them, but they will never forget how you made them feel. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-45692004899875295392017-06-07T16:49:00.000-05:002017-08-03T16:50:09.134-05:00Trinity<div class="flex_display style-iyoljw70" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_1" style="-webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: row; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="style-iyoljw70inlineContent" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_1inlineContent" style="-webkit-box-orient: inherit; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; bottom: 0px; display: inherit; flex-direction: inherit; left: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; right: 0px; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 671px;">
<div class="flex_display flex_vbox" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_WholeSinglePost" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex: 1 1 0%; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.01em 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class=" flex_vbox" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0__type_MediaPost" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; flex-direction: column; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.01em 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
<div class="s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkin" data-proxy-name="MediaLabel" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0" data-width="631" id="594fe856b401925e1c463c1fcomp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_mediaText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkin_richTextContainer s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkinrichTextContainer" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer" id="594fe856b401925e1c463c1fcomp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_mediaTextrichTextContainer" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 878.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This Sunday, the Church will observe Trinity Sunday. Trinity Sunday always follows on the heels of the Feast of Pentecost – and every year, priests will jokingly say to one another, "I've got to find a deacon to preach ne this Sunday!" Why is that? Why are priests so reluctant to preach on the doctrine of the Trinity? </span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.1" /><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.2" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I believe that it's because the Trinity, as a concept, is impossible for most of us to get our heads around. One God in three persons? Huh? What does that mean? Minds far greater than mine have tried to explain this mystery and failed miserably. Many have been accused of heresy. The Trinity seems simply inexplicable. </span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.4" /><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.5" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The above quote from 2nd Corinthians gives us a formula to help us come to terms with this mystery. Grace and love and communion are all essential for the whole to be possible. Without grace, there can be no love. Without love, there can be no communion, Without communion there can be no grace. </span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.7" /><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.8" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We are drawn into the power of God's grace, love, and compassion because its centrifugal force is irresistible. The centrifugal force that is God holds the world together: it holds the stars in the sky and the waters in their oceans, and our bones to our skin. We cannot parse it. We cannot explain it.</span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.a" /><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.b" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.c" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We must simply rest in the fact that it is -- and give thanks. </span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class=" flex_vbox" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$6" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_23_true" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; flex-direction: column; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.01em 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
<div data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$6.$0" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_31_child" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; min-height: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$2" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_32_child" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 20px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class=" flex_vbox" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_33_true" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; flex-direction: column; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.01em 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="newSocialShareButtons flex_display" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_53" style="-webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; flex-direction: row; left: -5.6px; margin: 20px 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; position: relative; right: auto; vertical-align: baseline; width: calc(100% + 11.2px);">
<div class="newSocialShareButton s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$0" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_54" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 11.2px 5.6px 0px; max-width: calc(100% - 11.2px); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div class="s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_direction-ltr s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_extraInfo-empty s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_size-32 s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_type-facebook s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_border-radius-editable s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithTextbutton" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$0.$button" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_54button" style="-webkit-appearance: none; background: rgb(57, 87, 153); border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; height: 32px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 32px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img class="s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithTextbuttonIcon" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$0.$button.$buttonIcon" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_54buttonIcon" src="https://static.parastorage.com/services/santa-resources/resources/viewer/new-blog-social-icons/facebook.svg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; height: 32px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; width: 32px;" /><div class="s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithTextbuttonTextWrapper" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$0.$button.$buttonTextWrapper" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_54buttonTextWrapper" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: white; font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">
<span class="s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithTextbuttonLabel" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$0.$button.$buttonTextWrapper.$buttonLabel" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_54buttonLabel" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 11.2px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Share on Facebook</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="newSocialShareButton s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$1" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_55" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 11.2px 5.6px 0px; max-width: calc(100% - 11.2px); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div class="s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_direction-ltr s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_extraInfo-empty s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_size-32 s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_type-twitter s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_border-radius-editable s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithTextbutton" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$1.$button" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_55button" style="-webkit-appearance: none; background: rgb(66, 200, 246); border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; height: 32px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 32px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img class="s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithTextbuttonIcon" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$1.$button.$buttonIcon" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_55buttonIcon" src="https://static.parastorage.com/services/santa-resources/resources/viewer/new-blog-social-icons/twitter.svg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; height: 32px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; width: 32px;" /><div class="s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithTextbuttonTextWrapper" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$1.$button.$buttonTextWrapper" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_55buttonTextWrapper" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: white; font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">
<span class="s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithTextbuttonLabel" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$1.$button.$buttonTextWrapper.$buttonLabel" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_55buttonLabel" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 11.2px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Share on Twitter</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="newSocialShareButton s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$2" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_56" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 11.2px 5.6px 0px; max-width: calc(100% - 11.2px); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div class="s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_direction-ltr s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_label-empty s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_extraInfo-empty s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_size-32 s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_type-linkedin s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_border-radius-editable s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithTextbutton" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$2.$button" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_56button" style="-webkit-appearance: none; background: rgb(0, 127, 177); border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; height: 32px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 32px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img class="s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithTextbuttonIcon" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$2.$button.$buttonIcon" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_56buttonIcon" src="https://static.parastorage.com/services/santa-resources/resources/viewer/new-blog-social-icons/linkedin.svg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; height: 32px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; width: 32px;" /><div class="s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithTextbuttonTextWrapper" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$2.$button.$buttonTextWrapper" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_56buttonTextWrapper" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: white; font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="newSocialShareButton s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$3" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_57" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 11.2px 5.6px 0px; max-width: calc(100% - 11.2px); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div class="s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_direction-ltr s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_label-empty s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_extraInfo-empty s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_size-32 s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_type-pinterest s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_border-radius-editable s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithTextbutton" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$3.$button" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_57button" style="-webkit-appearance: none; background: rgb(206, 30, 31); border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; height: 32px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 32px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img class="s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithTextbuttonIcon" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$3.$button.$buttonIcon" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_57buttonIcon" src="https://static.parastorage.com/services/santa-resources/resources/viewer/new-blog-social-icons/pinterest.svg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; height: 32px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; width: 32px;" /><div class="s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithTextbuttonTextWrapper" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$3.$button.$buttonTextWrapper" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_57buttonTextWrapper" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: white; font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="newSocialShareButton s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$4" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_58" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 11.2px 5.6px 0px; max-width: calc(100% - 11.2px); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div class="s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_direction-ltr s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_label-empty s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_extraInfo-empty s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_size-32 s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_type-google-plus s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithText_border-radius-editable s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithTextbutton" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$4.$button" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_58button" style="-webkit-appearance: none; background: rgb(227, 56, 0); border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; height: 32px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 32px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img class="s_HQgIconLeftImageButtonWithTextbuttonIcon" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$1.$0.$4.$button.$buttonIcon" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_58buttonIcon" src="https://static.parastorage.com/services/santa-resources/resources/viewer/new-blog-social-icons/google-plus.svg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; height: 32px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; width: 32px;" /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-31647317196241796872017-05-31T16:48:00.000-05:002017-08-03T16:48:11.350-05:00Creativity <div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
There move the ships, and there is that Leviathan,</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
which you have made for the sport of it. Psalm 104:27</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhoto" data-content-padding-horizontal="0" data-content-padding-vertical="0" data-exact-height="319.286" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4:0" id="innercomp_txtMedian7i" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; height: 320px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;" title="">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotolink" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4:0.$link" id="innercomp_txtMedian7ilink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 320px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimg" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4:0.$link.0" data-style="" id="innercomp_txtMedian7iimg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 320px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimgpreloader" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4:0.$link.0.$preloader" id="innercomp_txtMedian7iimgpreloader" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<img alt="" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4:0.$link.0.$image" data-type="image" id="innercomp_txtMedian7iimgimage" itemprop="image" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e22cd6_ea9711eb25104a279c242cc8a22c227e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_789,h_399,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/e22cd6_ea9711eb25104a279c242cc8a22c227e~mv2.webp" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 320px; margin: 0px; object-fit: contain; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;" /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think God is capricious. But there is that Leviathan, which the Psalmist accuses God of “making for the sport of it.” Perhaps “the sport of it” might be better translated as “for its whimsy.”</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
So much of God’s creativity is whimsical. Think of baby lemurs, milkweed pods, and the Northern Lights. Or perhaps peacocks, baby giggles, and rainbows. Or giraffes – what was God thinking when God created giraffes? The list goes on and on. Each are gifts from God for us to delight in. Not to dominate. Not to kill. Not to exploit. To delight in.</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.b" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
God takes delight in us when we enjoy those things God has created for the sport of it.</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.c" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.d" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Enjoy. Enjoy them all. </div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.e" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-34193203525345592092017-05-17T16:46:00.000-05:002017-08-03T16:46:58.827-05:00Truth and Lies <h6 class="font_6" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #b6b6b6; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jesus said, “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.” John 14: 18-19</span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1.2" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1.3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></h6>
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhoto" data-content-padding-horizontal="0" data-content-padding-vertical="0" data-exact-height="319.9311797752809" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2:0" id="innercomp_txtMedialq2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; height: 321px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline; width: 480px;" title="">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotolink" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2:0.$link" id="innercomp_txtMedialq2link" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 321px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 480px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimg" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2:0.$link.0" data-style="" id="innercomp_txtMedialq2img" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 321px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 480px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimgpreloader" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2:0.$link.0.$preloader" id="innercomp_txtMedialq2imgpreloader" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<img alt="" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2:0.$link.0.$image" data-type="image" id="innercomp_txtMedialq2imgimage" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e22cd6_c3039bda331d4ac3a2a6eb0e25328729~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_600,h_400,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/e22cd6_c3039bda331d4ac3a2a6eb0e25328729~mv2.webp" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 321px; margin: 0px; object-fit: contain; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 480px;" /></div>
</div>
</div>
<h5 class="font_5" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-family: sacramento, cursive; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="inherit-font-size" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></h5>
<h5 class="font_5" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-family: sacramento, cursive; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="inherit-font-size" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4.1" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4.2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></h5>
<h6 class="font_6" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #b6b6b6; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.0.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That’s a promise. I am grateful that God's promises to us are true. When God promises that he will never leave us or forsake us, when Jesus promises us that he will not leave us orphaned, we know those things to be true. That’s the rock on which we stand. We know we can rely on God’s Word.</span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.0.1" /><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.0.2" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.0.3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">God gave Moses the 9th Commandment (“Thou shall not be a false witness’) for our protection. God loves us that much! God knows the damage and pain that can result from a lie; what a single lie can do to our sense of safety and to our relationships. God wants to shield us from the pain of estrangement and disconnection. </span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.0.4" /><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.0.5" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.0.6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Our task as Christians is to understand not only the truth of God’s words to us, but also to understand how easily we can slip away from God when the truth is not in us. Truth telling is important. Trusting each other is important. Let your yes be yes and your no be no.</span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.0.7" /><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.0.8" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.0.9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We are called to be Truth-tellers.</span></span></h6>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-18155142865535433822017-05-10T16:44:00.000-05:002017-08-03T16:45:38.897-05:00Stoning and Scapegoating<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Stephen said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But the people covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; </div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Acts 7: 56-58</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhoto" data-content-padding-horizontal="0" data-content-padding-vertical="0" data-exact-height="403.74140624999995" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3:0" id="innercomp_txtMedials2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; height: 405px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline; width: 474px;" title="">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotolink" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3:0.$link" id="innercomp_txtMedials2link" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 405px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 474px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimg" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3:0.$link.0" data-style="" id="innercomp_txtMedials2img" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 405px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 474px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimgpreloader" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3:0.$link.0.$preloader" id="innercomp_txtMedials2imgpreloader" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<img alt="" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3:0.$link.0.$image" data-type="image" id="innercomp_txtMedials2imgimage" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e22cd6_5c9a384c251946468d144aa8cd265b8c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_593,h_505,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/e22cd6_5c9a384c251946468d144aa8cd265b8c~mv2.webp" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 405px; margin: 0px; object-fit: contain; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 474px;" /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="color_1" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.0" style="border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Maxim Sheshukov MAXIM SHESHUKOV, The Martyrdom of St. Stephen the Archdeacon. Egg tempera on gessoed panel</span></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The stoning of Deacon Stephen is one of the tragedies of he early church. He spoke truth – truth as he had seen and experienced it – and the people turned on him and stoned him. His own people! </div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
This lesson from Acts is important for us, because it speaks so directly to us. As a community of Christians, to whom have we closed our ears? Who have we stoned? Who do we exclude because of their politics or their race or their experiences?</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Civility is breaking down in American culture: punch-fests on airplanes, pushing and shoving in departments stores, and gun violence because somebody looked at somebody the wrong way. Add to that the “You disagree with me so I’m going to take my toys and go home” mentality. All of this speaks to the dis-ease which is infecting American culture.</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.b" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.c" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Look at the included art today: Stephen being stoned. Then look to the top left. That’s the hand of God. The hand of God reaching down and beckoning to us. Always there, ever-present. That is the hand we must extend to those we may have stoned, fought with, dismissed, or avoided.</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.d" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.e" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Christ has no hands or feet on earth but ours. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-26804012868288221172017-04-26T16:43:00.000-05:002017-08-03T16:43:51.896-05:00Sacramental Hospitality<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Now on that same day, two of Jesus' disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. Luke 24:13-15</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img alt="" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5:0.$link.0.$image" data-type="image" id="innercomp_txtMedia1aa3imgimage" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e22cd6_9b32d831b2504497919387b7194c5b16~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_330,h_462,al_c,lg_1,q_80/e22cd6_9b32d831b2504497919387b7194c5b16~mv2.webp" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; height: 663px; margin: 0px; object-fit: contain; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 474px;" /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.6.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "Emmaus" Sr. Mary Stephens</span></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We’ve read the “Footprints in the Sand” story and we’ve sung along to the song "In the Garden” and we know “He walks with me and He talks with me,” but C’mon. </span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.1" /><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.2" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There is a mysteriousness, an ephemeral impermanence to these encounters that can leave us feeling shaky – not quite sure of ourselves. And so we fall asleep with that nagging question, “Was that real, or did I just imagine it?” </span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.4" /><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.5" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The disciples, still sad, glumly walking to Emmaus, were face to face with the Risen One, and didn’t recognize him. And Jesus, it seems, was content to move on without ever revealing himself to them, until, the text tells us, “they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is nearly now over.’”</span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.7" /><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.8" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It was their hospitality, their urging, that drew the Risen One back into their midst and gave him opportunity to reveal himself. The question we must ask ourselves is whether there is enough room for him in our lives. Are we offering the Lord enough place in our hearts and lives that he will accept our invitation to come in? </span></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.b" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-34998260304866941692017-04-19T16:42:00.000-05:002017-08-03T16:42:52.360-05:00Faith and Doubt<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. John 20: 30-31</div>
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhoto" data-content-padding-horizontal="0" data-content-padding-vertical="0" data-exact-height="507.5042857142857" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1:0" id="innercomp_txtMediaox" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; height: 508px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;" title="">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotolink" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1:0.$link" id="innercomp_txtMediaoxlink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 508px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimg" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1:0.$link.0" data-style="" id="innercomp_txtMediaoximg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 508px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimgpreloader" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1:0.$link.0.$preloader" id="innercomp_txtMediaoximgpreloader" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<img alt="" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1:0.$link.0.$image" data-type="image" id="innercomp_txtMediaoximgimage" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e22cd6_68d314d7c8cc464eb59acc49eb2b8ba3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_700,h_563,al_c,q_85/e22cd6_68d314d7c8cc464eb59acc49eb2b8ba3~mv2.webp" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 508px; margin: 0px; object-fit: contain; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;" /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "On Faint and Doubt" Nick Piiero</span></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“So that you may come to believe…..” is one of the most hope-filled lines in all of scripture.</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Most of us have questioned the reality of God, or whether the Resurrection really happened, or if being part of a faith community is worth our time and energy. No doubt, some of us have tried to discover God while sitting on a mountaintop, or by walking a beach, or by sipping coffee on a Sunday morning while reading the New York Times. Faith is a process, after all.</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
But grounded, mature faith takes community and relationships with others who are on the same well-worn path. Faith takes tending and digging and retelling the stories of Jesus’ life in order to make them our own. Thomas would not have believed if his friends had not told him that Jesus was alive; nor will ours.</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Who are we telling about Jesus? How are we supporting each other in community so that those who struggle may come to believe?</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.b" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.c" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
For that is Christ’s call to us. </div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.d" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-54065266991072790942017-04-12T16:41:00.000-05:002017-08-03T16:41:35.915-05:00My God, my God....Why?<div class=" flex_vbox" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0__type_MediaPost" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; flex-direction: column; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.01em 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
<div class="s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkin" data-proxy-name="MediaLabel" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0" data-width="631" id="58f24e0b1435a47fbe581357comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_mediaText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkin_richTextContainer s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkinrichTextContainer" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer" id="58f24e0b1435a47fbe581357comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_mediaTextrichTextContainer" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 1008.6px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.0.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?</span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.0.1" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.0.2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and are so far from my cry</span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.0.3" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.0.4" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and from the words of my distress? Psalm 22:1</span></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhoto" data-content-padding-horizontal="0" data-content-padding-vertical="0" data-exact-height="354.33076923076925" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2:0" id="innercomp_txtMediaevl" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; height: 355px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;" title="">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotolink" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2:0.$link" id="innercomp_txtMediaevllink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 355px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimg" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2:0.$link.0" data-style="" id="innercomp_txtMediaevlimg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 355px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimgpreloader" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2:0.$link.0.$preloader" id="innercomp_txtMediaevlimgpreloader" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<img alt="" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2:0.$link.0.$image" data-type="image" id="innercomp_txtMediaevlimgimage" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e22cd6_6d60eb0d8a6940c8a035f5423e7b7bdb~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_789,h_443,al_c,lg_1,q_80/e22cd6_6d60eb0d8a6940c8a035f5423e7b7bdb~mv2.webp" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 355px; margin: 0px; object-fit: contain; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;" /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
This intricately woven cross of palm fronds was created by a Coptic Christian for their Palm Sunday celebration. It was an act of devotion and a statement of hope. Little did he or she know how it would all end; that blood would stain the cross, that 44 would be dead, that hundreds more would be injured. I wonder if the creator of this palm cross knew that a homicide bomber could be filled with such hate. </div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
As Christians, we acknowledge that evil exists and so we cling to our Lord’s promise: that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. God was there in those two churches on Palm Sunday, blessing and comforting and God will continue to be there, even when only blood stains remain. The Easter message proclaims that God will always triumph over death and destruction. Always.</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Let us wrap ourselves in the love God as we seek to make sense of it all.</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class=" flex_vbox" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$6" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_23_true" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; flex-direction: column; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.01em 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-1846718475888550382017-04-07T16:40:00.000-05:002017-08-03T16:40:36.604-05:00The Power of Denial <div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Matthew 26:34</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhoto" data-content-padding-horizontal="0" data-content-padding-vertical="0" data-exact-height="265.463671875" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3:0" id="innercomp_e4xg2aj0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; height: 266px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline; width: 474px;" title=""The Denial of Peter" James Tissot / Brooklyn Museum of Art">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotolink" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3:0.$link" id="innercomp_e4xg2aj0link" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 266px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 474px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimg" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3:0.$link.0" data-style="" id="innercomp_e4xg2aj0img" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 266px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 474px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimgpreloader" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3:0.$link.0.$preloader" id="innercomp_e4xg2aj0imgpreloader" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<img alt="" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3:0.$link.0.$image" data-type="image" id="innercomp_e4xg2aj0imgimage" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e22cd6_e3ec67e71f904a548c169e87dace4251~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_593,h_332,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/e22cd6_e3ec67e71f904a548c169e87dace4251~mv2.webp" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 266px; margin: 0px; object-fit: contain; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 474px;" /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "The Denial of Peter" James Tissot</span></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
This is one of the most haunting lines in Scripture. Peter, desperate to prove his allegiance to Jesus, promises never to disavow his Lord, and yet Jesus speaks truth. “Truly I tell you….” Sadly, Peter believes to his very core that he would never deny Jesus, and yet, we know that on that very night, Peter does exactly that – three times. Our Lord always speaks truth. </div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
What of us? When and how have we denied Jesus? Is it when we turn a blind eye to injustices observed? Or when we “refuse to get involved” because something doesn’t directly affect us? Or is it simply when we mask our allegiance to Christ in order to get that promotion or to be better liked? Peter did it, and so have we all. </div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.b" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
This approaching Holy Week is a time to bring our hearts closer to God, a time to confess the times we have denied Jesus by our thoughts, words and deeds. Join me as we do the important work of transforming our hearts and minds before the cross.</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.c" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.d" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The Lord has need of us. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-79141381161978119472017-03-29T16:21:00.000-05:002017-08-03T16:39:08.135-05:00Dry Bones<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FDvbSE8Tq32a7QE1nhUVVLtioSRabioHDEKzIgvuS94MtLgMo4mgK-QHoi1hE9xtFNR8Tbe7GkcRytDMAa8aPk873l8A_QbN_bOJz0cGG8i70lyFkgXqAFelL1iv4Xiky4bKeE5R0IM/s1600/1+-+dry+bones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="257" data-original-width="196" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FDvbSE8Tq32a7QE1nhUVVLtioSRabioHDEKzIgvuS94MtLgMo4mgK-QHoi1hE9xtFNR8Tbe7GkcRytDMAa8aPk873l8A_QbN_bOJz0cGG8i70lyFkgXqAFelL1iv4Xiky4bKeE5R0IM/s640/1+-+dry+bones.jpg" width="488" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoCaption">
"Valley of the Dry Bones" c.1935 Ben-Zion Weinman
(1897-1987)<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<b><span style="color: saddlebrown; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">When we hear the story of the Valley of the Dry Bones in
Ezekiel, it isn’t long before we are trying to remember the words to the Sunday
School song: <i>“The hip bone’s connected to the thigh bone….”</i>
And, “ZAP!” any interest in deciphering the meaning of the passage goes out the
window. Yet the message is an important one.<br />
<br />
<br />
So, set aside neck bones and shoulder bones for a moment (you’re humming it,
aren’t you?) and listen to the conversation God has with the prophet,
Ezekiel.<br />
<i><br />
“Tell these bones that I, the Lord, will put sinews on them and breathe life
into them, so that they will come back to life and know that I am the Lord.” <br />
<br />
</i>And so, Ezekiel does and the bones come back to life. Wow! We’ve all
seen bones, bleached by the sun: fragile, dried out, inert. God is
speaking, in metaphor, to those whose faith has dried up. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<b><span style="color: saddlebrown; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">How dried out <i>is</i> your faith? Your love of God? Your
participation in the community of faith? Lent is the time when we consider the
quality of our spiritual health and God's answer is always the same: “Return to
me. Enter my fold. Hear my words and I will give you life and vitality – live
so rich that you cannot imagine it.” Such is God’s call to us. Return.
Repent. Re-engage. God wants to put sinews on our bones, and life into our
hearts.<br />
<br />
Such is the Love of God in Christ Jesus.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-35532707675311848532017-03-22T16:38:00.000-05:002017-08-03T16:38:26.211-05:00Tend My Sheep<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$0" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_4_child" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; min-height: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class=" " data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$1" id="CategoriesList_MediaPost__0_0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
</div>
<div class=" flex_vbox" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$2" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_6" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; flex-direction: column; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.01em 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="flex_display flex_vbox" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$2.$0" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_7" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; align-items: flex-start; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.01em 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkin" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$2.$0.$0" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkin_richTextContainer s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkinrichTextContainer" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$2.$0.$0.$richTextContainer" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_titlerichTextContainer" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 181.938px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<h1 class="font_5 color_31" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: sacramento, cursive; font-size: 38px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></h1>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$2.$1" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_TitleSpace_child" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; min-height: 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="flex_display flex_vbox" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$2.$2" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_dateAndAuthorAligner" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; align-items: flex-start; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="flex_display" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$2.$2.$0" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_dateAndAuthor" style="-webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkin" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$2.$2.$0.$0" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_date" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkin_richTextContainer s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkinrichTextContainer" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$2.$2.$0.$0.$richTextContainer" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_daterichTextContainer" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 92.0125px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="font_9 color_31" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
March 22, 2017</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="flex_display" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$2.$2.$0.$1" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_13" style="-webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkin" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$2.$2.$0.$1.$0" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_byValue" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px 5px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkin_richTextContainer s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkinrichTextContainer" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$2.$2.$0.$1.$0.$richTextContainer" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_byValuerichTextContainer" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 3.45px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="font_9 color_31" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
|</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class=" flex_vbox" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$2.$2.$0.$1.$2" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_16" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.01em 0px; position: relative; top: -1px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$2.$2.$0.$1.$2.0" href="http://www.saintdavidsofaurora.com/blog-1/author/Rev.-Liz" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: flex; flex-direction: column; height: 16.8px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 46px;"><div class="label s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkin" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$2.$2.$0.$1.$2.0.$0" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_author" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkin_richTextContainer s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkinrichTextContainer" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$2.$2.$0.$1.$2.0.$0.$richTextContainer" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_authorrichTextContainer" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 46px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="font_9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Rev. Liz</div>
</div>
</div>
</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class=" flex_display" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$3" id="SinglePostMediaInner_MediaPost__0_0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex: 1 1 auto; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 14px 0px 0px; min-width: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class=" flex_vbox" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$3.$child" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaInner_MediaPost__0_0_1_def_0" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; flex-direction: column; flex: 1 1 auto; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.01em 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
<div data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$4" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_mediaSpace_child" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; min-height: 6px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class=" flex_vbox" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5" id="comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0__type_MediaPost" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; flex-direction: column; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.01em 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px;">
<div class="s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkin" data-proxy-name="MediaLabel" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0" data-width="631" id="58d8097cf5240a08e73f9778comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_mediaText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkin_richTextContainer s_usaAWRichTextClickableSkinrichTextContainer" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer" id="58d8097cf5240a08e73f9778comp-iyol88ws_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_mediaTextrichTextContainer" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 1368.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 631px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The LORD is my shepherd; *</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I shall not be in want.</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
He makes me lie down in green pastures *</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
and leads me beside still waters.</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.4" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
He revives my soul *</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake. Psalm 23: 1-3</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhoto" data-content-padding-horizontal="0" data-content-padding-vertical="0" data-exact-height="476.2264150943396" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7:0" id="innercomp_txtMedia1gmj" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; height: 477px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline; width: 474px;" title="">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotolink" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7:0.$link" id="innercomp_txtMedia1gmjlink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 477px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 474px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimg" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7:0.$link.0" data-style="" id="innercomp_txtMedia1gmjimg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 477px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 474px;">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimgpreloader" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7:0.$link.0.$preloader" id="innercomp_txtMedia1gmjimgpreloader" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<img alt="" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7:0.$link.0.$image" data-type="image" id="innercomp_txtMedia1gmjimgimage" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e22cd6_69b8780ee3294c5f94921257e236e601~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_445,h_448,al_c,lg_1,q_80/e22cd6_69b8780ee3294c5f94921257e236e601~mv2.webp" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 477px; margin: 0px; object-fit: contain; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 474px;" /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8.0.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8.0.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"Life Out West" D. Whitehead</span></span></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.b" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
At our Vestry meeting the other night during our Bible Study, we were talking about sheep and lambs, and Jesus’ mandate to “feed my sheep,” and to “take care of my lambs.” One Vestry member commented that we are drawn to lambs because they are cute and cuddly – but then they grow up into sheep, which are harder to love because they can become obstinate, dirty, and stupid. Her point was that Jesus asked us, mandated us, to take care of them all – not just the cute, fuzzy ones. </div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.c" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.d" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
This Sunday, we will read together the most famous psalm of them all, the 23rd Psalm. In it, we realize it the writer believes that the Lord is his shepherd. As Christians, we believe this too. The good news is that our Lord loves us and accepts us as his own whether we are cute and fuzzy little lambs or tired, old, obstinate sheep. Thank goodness for that! The Lord provides for our needs, brings us to green pastures, and revives our souls.</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.e" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$w9x05_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iyol88ws.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.f" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #20433e; font-family: helvetica-w01-light, helvetica-w02-light, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
In turn, our Lord asks us to do the same with those around us. “Feed my sheep; take care of my lambs,” he said. Tend to those who are cute and fuzzy, but also to those who are restless, irritable, and discontent. That is our call.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-12138548151529881872017-03-15T13:35:00.000-05:002017-03-20T13:35:43.418-05:00Sustenance<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Rabbi, eat something.” But Jesus said to
them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to
one another, “Surely no one has brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to
them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his
work.” John 4: 31-34<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQq1ch6tdWlKzn_7k5Zr1AKmZz-zApHRz9sPMhlA8OqEtihx0x9mytTILLIuvOzWV2EPp6LHJ3F37SV3yMBrRmkgwqpM701jHjP3iZPeeAWzsLdOzUiJZOLLn-pgd13apoJ4jRFApJpuA/s1600/1+-+help+refugee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQq1ch6tdWlKzn_7k5Zr1AKmZz-zApHRz9sPMhlA8OqEtihx0x9mytTILLIuvOzWV2EPp6LHJ3F37SV3yMBrRmkgwqpM701jHjP3iZPeeAWzsLdOzUiJZOLLn-pgd13apoJ4jRFApJpuA/s400/1+-+help+refugee.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The last
thing this volunteer is thinking about is where his next meal is coming from or
why he isn’t home watching the latest episode of Dancing with the Stars. His
food, his sustenance, is the pure contentment we find when we follow the way of
Jesus: helping others, doing unto others what we would have them do unto us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We all know
the feeling: the satisfaction, the warm in your belly contentment that comes
from doing the right thing. Whether it is teaching English as a second language
or picking up litter, we know the feeling that comes from altruism. Whether it
is serving hot lunches at Trinity Soup Kitchen or reaching out to a lonely
senior, the Kingdom of God is found in those exchanges. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When we
murmur and moan (as the Israelites did while wandering in the desert), it is a
sign to us that we need a fresh infusion of the Kingdom of God. We find it not
in complaining, but when we get out of ourselves and connect with others. Our sustenance comes from service; joy and
happiness come from jumping into the Kingdom of God wherever we encounter it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Seek ye
first the Kingdom – and JUMP! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-6795778375545140772017-03-08T13:17:00.000-06:002017-03-20T13:22:55.446-05:00Born Again<div class="MsoNormal">
Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having
grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God
without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and
what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you,
‘You must be born again.’ John 3:5-7<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7lMk9RhKgvdQk2mrsQklKEcWsX7Ou8ijudwpuiRiQpadfJq4FgmHYZja7_VW7kVKnH2Ec4rVVXPjAN1ljSDP6irBtThSmV3XY15IIJRf8WtIPxpYQtdXrGZzJnbIlSBnCV5x1cpG6uo/s1600/1+-+nicodemus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7lMk9RhKgvdQk2mrsQklKEcWsX7Ou8ijudwpuiRiQpadfJq4FgmHYZja7_VW7kVKnH2Ec4rVVXPjAN1ljSDP6irBtThSmV3XY15IIJRf8WtIPxpYQtdXrGZzJnbIlSBnCV5x1cpG6uo/s400/1+-+nicodemus.jpg" width="348" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Providence Journal 1903</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In this complicated conversation between Jesus and the
Pharisee, we come face to face with the phrase “Born again.” This phrase has become a sort of
fundamentalist litmus test – where people ask each other “have you been born
again” in order to assess another’s faith.
It is time re-claim this phrase and understand it as the scripture
intended it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So what is “to be born again?” As Jesus explains it, we must be born twice.
The first time, through water, speaks to human birth – that moment when a baby
emerges from the womb and draws one’s first breath. Being born again, being
born in the Spirit, is another thing all together. Some say it is a decision we make as adults,
independent of others, to decide to follow Jesus – but many others believe that
it is that moment in Holy Baptism when the Spirit binds us to a community of
faith entrusted to teach us in the ways of following Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What do you think? Is it one or the other? Or is it both? To
argue these divergent viewpoints is to risk missing the Truth that God is bound
to us inextricably; that there is nothing we can do to separate ourselves from
the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.
And when we recognize that, then life becomes anything but rigid and
stiff; life becomes flexible and increasingly comfortable with living in the
paradox that is life.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-29763047851326297342017-03-01T13:14:00.000-06:002017-03-20T13:19:01.752-05:00Return. Rend. Re-Orient.<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<b><span style="color: saddlebrown; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your
heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not
your clothing. Joel 2: 12 </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<b><span style="color: saddlebrown; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDxQ4CkyxyEZhit4wh_FS90BNJY1BGDSeEWpvezsUJWw3idLFDzyBRptEzD9AN8EudsvRFoWhIJKg_lrP0808xp7HTBR5n6LiCD7ssc6Px257HN2tgxxOAO6XZ7QUlc-MhX4xv8dva2E/s1600/1+-+rend_heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDxQ4CkyxyEZhit4wh_FS90BNJY1BGDSeEWpvezsUJWw3idLFDzyBRptEzD9AN8EudsvRFoWhIJKg_lrP0808xp7HTBR5n6LiCD7ssc6Px257HN2tgxxOAO6XZ7QUlc-MhX4xv8dva2E/s400/1+-+rend_heart.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yad Hasmona Biblical Garden Israel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<b><span style="color: saddlebrown; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: saddlebrown; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">"Rend your
heart and not your clothing" seems to get at the very heart of what in
means to keep a "Holy Lent." Lent should never devolve into
just "giving something up." For what is the good of that?
Losing a few pounds? Feeling triumphant that you can temporarily overcome some
addiction? Pleasing a spouse or a parent?<br />
<br />
Neither is Lent about focusing on our fallen nature, as many of us have heard
it preached before. Lent is about returning to the Lord. It needn't be a
public show apologizing for our misbehavior; God already knows all
that. <br />
<br />
Lent is about our hearts. It is about returning to God and remembering
whose we are. When we return our focus to God, there may well be some
repentance and fasting, but not always. Sometimes, just the returning is
enough. In simply returning, in rending our hearts, we may just find
ourselves deeply thankful for God's forgiveness and grace and mercy.
And isn't that the point?<br />
<br />
Return. Rend your hearts, Re-orient.<br />
<br />
+<br />
</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-62863227283698566752017-02-22T13:11:00.000-06:002017-03-20T13:11:44.411-05:00Transfiguration<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="initcap"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">S</span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">ix days later, Jesus took with him Peter and
James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And
he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his
clothes became dazzling white. Matthew 17: 1-2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLixvjS3OsklN9PoCfa9JxhxWC08LmM1i59mw73v0cwlSD8zGPvbDgfRNzuMJPrKmgOzt2qJ97ilyME-qfeXJATSFxK7QKyXh87Cx2K5NFf7XPEWcxSFzmkuwin4AwrKR-JrtJXKiwaiE/s1600/1+-+leaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLixvjS3OsklN9PoCfa9JxhxWC08LmM1i59mw73v0cwlSD8zGPvbDgfRNzuMJPrKmgOzt2qJ97ilyME-qfeXJATSFxK7QKyXh87Cx2K5NFf7XPEWcxSFzmkuwin4AwrKR-JrtJXKiwaiE/s400/1+-+leaf.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Transiguration John Armstrong</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
Transfiguration of Jesus occurs in the three synoptic Gospels, and is
glancingly referenced in John’s Gospel. How utterly jaw-dropping for those disciples
who took an ordinary walk – we’d call it
a “day hike” today – and suddenly, right there on a mountain their good friend
Jesus turned blindingly brilliant. Right there in front of them! His face shone
like the sun and his clothes became dazzling white. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is one
of those stories (it happened to Moses on a mountain once too) that offers us a
glimpse into the power of God. We may go on with our daily lives, giving a nod
to God every now and them, but we in the western world have pretty much tamed
God. We don’t think very often about God’s utter GOD-NESS: God’s ability to hang the planets on their
courses or to populate and stock this fragile earth, our island home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">God does
that. And it’s a good thing for us to
remember from time to time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-29118927800859051552017-02-15T13:03:00.000-06:002017-02-22T13:07:41.456-06:00Being Holy<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:<br />
Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You
shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.<br />
Leviticus 19: 1-2</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzo8VfBTK92YVkH5UriXKU0ocgumLJuBhJ-ztYyHrDlbnTehTCONII_Bj3pfauGBV2b_LQ_WQ-geQc6b7Ki8aAuVElmZZ4P_PCwWO7o3tRYVxMVmzDOm0GqZWckfW1Rx4tNaRaxcLuJo/s1600/1+-+nuns+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzo8VfBTK92YVkH5UriXKU0ocgumLJuBhJ-ztYyHrDlbnTehTCONII_Bj3pfauGBV2b_LQ_WQ-geQc6b7Ki8aAuVElmZZ4P_PCwWO7o3tRYVxMVmzDOm0GqZWckfW1Rx4tNaRaxcLuJo/s640/1+-+nuns+beach.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Nuns on a Beach Carlo Canevari </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis">The readings for next Sunday
take a “blinders off” look at what it means to be a follower of Jesus.</span><span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis" style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis">Some dictionaries define
“holy” as consecrated or set apart for God. Nuns, for example. When I was growing up, they were objects of
mystery. They dressed differently. They closed themselves into convents. My
friends and I didn’t know what they actually did, but we knew they embodied
holiness. So, as a culture, we came to
accept that definition; that things holy were things set apart – segregated
form the rest of us. </span><span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #783f04;">Over time, I have begun to dislike
that definition. Being “holy” doesn’t mean that we should shut ourselves off from
the world in order to avoid being tainted by its toxicity. To the contrary, when God invites us to “Be
holy, for I, the Lord your God am holy” it is an invitation into the world; into
a world that is often unclean, unfair, and unruly. God is not asking us to be
set apart; God is asking us to jump in. </span><span style="color: #073763;"> </span></b></span></span><span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: saddlebrown; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-13321768526813220632017-02-08T12:51:00.000-06:002017-02-22T13:03:13.231-06:00Holding Onto The Candle<br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you choose, you can keep
the commandments,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Sirach 15:15</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZagEyZMEWImLGAN2hHML0pdCwMTsiJhzdqEckuy16Twx-68vzcqiN-XtxF9DrODE5FdJn1LiTQJGfXl-LEcC50L94rh-odwdoEkzjdv_5mNkh95isJ0ogDwhUXxDUplsqNjhCBjlf5g4/s1600/Emile+VanEngel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZagEyZMEWImLGAN2hHML0pdCwMTsiJhzdqEckuy16Twx-68vzcqiN-XtxF9DrODE5FdJn1LiTQJGfXl-LEcC50L94rh-odwdoEkzjdv_5mNkh95isJ0ogDwhUXxDUplsqNjhCBjlf5g4/s400/Emile+VanEngel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Reaction" Emily Van Engel c. 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">In times of
stress, division, or polarity, we each respond differently. Some cry, some get
angry, some ruminate, and others participate in large group actions. Fortunately,
we are free to respond however we wish. We need not be bullied into protesting
if it does not suit us. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is
essential is that we continue to hold love out as the candle of our faith: Loving
each other and respecting the dignity of every human being. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In times of
national disunity and stress, we are Christians first. Some may be inclined to
march, while others prefer to visit someone who is lonely or sick. Any response, done in the name of Christ, is
good and holy. Let us not permit the
polarity which infects our nation to break the bonds of affection we enjoy as
brothers and sisters in Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The question
set before us is this: <i>W<span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis">hen was the
last time you connected what you said and what you did with who God is for you?
</span></i><span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our actions and our words reveal our theology.</span></span></span><span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7232146924642231901.post-84482239715112629222017-02-01T12:47:00.000-06:002017-02-22T12:50:27.600-06:00Mystery<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>nor the human heart conceived,<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9</b></span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aAGUak9cR29J1eXhFR3tfchoU_aBMin7VQLQ0iyQKN-YJTnh3_NVHz6KbRrsIQ7MKcF3i35p6Zppob1RQQQSYdYWJ4EZ41yTYn03_m_1gDWES0YF7LAtMX8f0FIQvYvUAWXGDoERDTY/s1600/1+-+Jimmy+Canalli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aAGUak9cR29J1eXhFR3tfchoU_aBMin7VQLQ0iyQKN-YJTnh3_NVHz6KbRrsIQ7MKcF3i35p6Zppob1RQQQSYdYWJ4EZ41yTYn03_m_1gDWES0YF7LAtMX8f0FIQvYvUAWXGDoERDTY/s640/1+-+Jimmy+Canalli.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Into the Eye of God” Jimmy Canali 2012 <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; padding: 6px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<strong style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="color: saddlebrown; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 19.26px;">There is so much that we do not know. Essentially, God is a mystery. Sure, we can ascribe words and phrases to God like: “God is Love” but the mystery of this force, this Creator of the Universe, this power that can redeem all things and restore all things and bring new life into all things is beyond the finiteness of our human brains. And yet we seek to know and love and believe in this “Everything” that we cannot ever really understand.</span></strong></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<b><span style="color: saddlebrown; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 19.26px;"></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: saddlebrown; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 19.26px;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 19.26px;"><strong>Even at the middle of this mystery, we testify to what we know to be true. And I know this: that God’s promises are true; I have never been let down by God. So when our government seems to be in chaos, and when fear threatens to overwhelm us, and when divisiveness threatens to besmirch our most precious relationships, remember that God's promises are eternal and true. Here are some of God's promises that I know to be true: That God is with us, That nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. That God will never leave us or forsake us. That we are each God's beloved. These are Truths. These are God's promises to us.</strong></span></b></span></b></div>
</div>
<b><span style="color: saddlebrown; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 19.26px;">
<strong><div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</strong><strong><div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 19.26px;"><strong>So in the frenzy of these distressing times, when we aren't sure who or what to believe, pause and listen for that still, small voice, and pray without ceasing. Cling to God and grasp at God's Truths, for that is what will sustain us as we move into the unknown. God's promises are true and eternal and they are what will sustain us. That’s a promise.</strong></span></b></div>
</div>
</strong></span></b><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18120148599438717884noreply@blogger.com0