tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66981000373615199072024-03-19T01:33:00.868-07:00The Sabbatical BlogUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-27361592725442740832010-03-26T15:00:00.000-07:002010-03-26T21:10:11.715-07:00As the sun finally sets on the sabbatical ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6SVviM3jJvS22D9OUFwP6rRkWms8haOygPWnZqACB7SKmrNdkwGAITscIv9x_POoD9XIiuMXtqDUCrDaNFJHqLMWRtdqBB0nG9KUCV4M3MDraa3znIUVwIuTWMOUXVPm-7Jt4WclSEk/s1600/IMG_0350.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6SVviM3jJvS22D9OUFwP6rRkWms8haOygPWnZqACB7SKmrNdkwGAITscIv9x_POoD9XIiuMXtqDUCrDaNFJHqLMWRtdqBB0nG9KUCV4M3MDraa3znIUVwIuTWMOUXVPm-7Jt4WclSEk/s400/IMG_0350.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453024671198244994" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">And that's a wrap folks ... the sun is setting on the sabbatical and it is time to point my car north.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">I'm so grateful for this month with my family, with my Lord, with my books, with Summit, in this corner of the world. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">I return well-rested. I return with fresh vision. I return with more to do than you can even begin to imagine!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">But I return knowing that even with my limited resources; God is able to do exceedingly more than all I can imagine! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Can't wait for the celebration of Good Friday and Easter at New Work Fellowship.</span></div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-48918183458717829472010-03-26T12:37:00.000-07:002010-03-26T14:04:10.660-07:00warning signs ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpkmjR47h2ZrCw91n-1yNvAuEXZht3Dpp0Yf7zS1cb0impGSmID-NUQMZ4STp3bdPriiF7Lj5GSueQiY9MHR3kcrrSYCpFrQbdi6IxX2NnNXGNOZiKP7dABUBKy_L5Ecryvc3OJw6qU0/s1600/IMG_0339.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpkmjR47h2ZrCw91n-1yNvAuEXZht3Dpp0Yf7zS1cb0impGSmID-NUQMZ4STp3bdPriiF7Lj5GSueQiY9MHR3kcrrSYCpFrQbdi6IxX2NnNXGNOZiKP7dABUBKy_L5Ecryvc3OJw6qU0/s400/IMG_0339.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453025777301052770" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Throughout this sabbatical, this sign captures so many of the themes that I read in scripture. Over and over again, God warns us about "swimming" in currents we cannot survive. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">It is simply remarkable to me how often we, (and yes, I'm including me in this), how often WE ignore the warning signs and rush right in ...</span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">captured by the same temptation and sin</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">thinking that we are exempt</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">believing that we can overcome in our own strength</span></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">A few years ago we visited this same beach ... and we did swim here. But the past is no guarantee of the future ... a few years ago this beach was different, these currents were not here, no warnings were posted. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Times change. And if we do not change and believe the warnings; well then, we should not be surprised by the trouble in which we find ourselves. </span></div></div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-25036800325038728872010-03-26T12:36:00.001-07:002010-03-27T04:54:39.438-07:00The Last Book of the Journey: Tallyho!????<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-ZdpHECtYKgejWqRQ-T3zxI6ca3AqjK3Qtn0vE8hkHEgP1OItRT1uGxifafrK31vlMVekAuO8nCIe2rdNeWWa4mYfs6UVxeeGk8mj1NYdeQ6T0H9hVNfcEqCnkSsv6m6GKBh1lJLeac/s1600/IMG_0292.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-ZdpHECtYKgejWqRQ-T3zxI6ca3AqjK3Qtn0vE8hkHEgP1OItRT1uGxifafrK31vlMVekAuO8nCIe2rdNeWWa4mYfs6UVxeeGk8mj1NYdeQ6T0H9hVNfcEqCnkSsv6m6GKBh1lJLeac/s200/IMG_0292.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453046206233236578" /></a><br />This book was given to me by the team at Summit. It was the final book I read this week. <div><br /></div><div>It was a surprise on so many levels. The sub-title really spoke to the theme of the text: <i>The foundation for building World-Visionary, World-Impacting, Reproducing Disciples. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Random Thoughts and Quotes:</div><div><i>Everything begins with Vision. You will be what you see, but what you do not see, you cannot be.</i></div><div><i>What you lastingly look at will determine your life. </i></div><div><i>It is easier to serve God without a vision ... common sense is your guide. </i></div><div><i>Colossians 1:9 (Phillips) ... "I pray that you will see things from God's point of view."</i></div><div><i>Global mission requires global vision. </i></div><div><i>"When I consider my ministry, I think of the whole wide world. Anything less than that would not be worthy of Christ nor His will for my life". - Henrietta Mears</i></div><div><i>As Christians, the plan has always been for Total World Impact. Anything less than this is man-made, and is not big enough to satisfy God. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>A formula for vision:</i></div><div><i>No vision = total failure;</i></div><div><i>Limited vision = little success;</i></div><div><i>A vision - a plan - action = only a dream;</i></div><div><i>A vision + a plan - action = a haunting dream;</i></div><div><i>A vision + a plan + action = a spiritually productive ministry.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>The wealthiest plot of ground is not where you think it is ... it is in the cemetery ... for buried in the soil beneath your feet are the dreams that never came to pass, the songs that were never sung, books that were not written, paintings that never filled a canvas, ideas that were never shared, plans that never were followed ...</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Small successes destroy great possibilities.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>If I held a seed in my hand ... what would you see? </i></div><div><i> - a seed?</i></div><div><i> - a tree?</i></div><div><i> - a forrest?</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>What would the world have lost if you had not been born? </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>The most important thing in your life is to have and pursue a vision that agrees with God. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Do we not see God at work, because our plans do not need Him? Could it be that when we pray to see God's power the answer from the heavens could be simply, "With plans no bigger than that, you don't need Me". </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>The steps from risk-taker, to care-taker, to under-taker are very short steps. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"It is the most sublime spectacle in world history to see the Risen Christ, without money or army or state, charging his band of 500 men and women with world conquest and bringing them to believe it was possible and to undertake it with serious passion and power."</i></div><div><i> - A.T. Robertson</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>When the church won its greatest victories in the early days of the Roman Empire, it did so not by teachers or preachers or apostles, but by amateur, informal missionaries.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>The great commission calls for a personal ministry from every believer. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Jesus used "penetration" symbols: light, salt, keys, bread, water.</i></div><div><ul><li><i>Light is worthless unless it penetrates the darkness.</i></li><li><i>Salt is of no good if it remains in the shaker.</i></li><li><i>Keys are only functional once they penetrate the lock.</i></li><li><i>Bread has little value outside the eater. </i></li><li><i>Water cannot quench thirst without first being swallowed. </i></li></ul><div><i>We are to penetrate the world. In fact, you can't even spell G-O-D without the word: G-O.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Our goal must be to inform and impact the entire world. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>How far does your mission reach?</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Isaiah 54:2, "Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thin habitations: spare not, lengthen they cords, and strengthen by stakes."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Jesus never said, "I am the light of Galilee." He said he was the light of the world. Vision for anything less is less than what He saw. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Is world-impact to be the hobby of a few fanatical enthusiasts, or is it to be the heartbeat of every -- EVERY -- Christian?</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Satan's strategy includes fooling Christians into believing that attending church and listening to a sermon IS the Christian life. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"The greatest sin of today's church is that it has tamed Jesus Christ." -- Eugenia Price</i></div><div><ul><li><i>We have tamed the risk, all the threat, all the danger, all the martyrdom out of Christianity...</i></li></ul><div><i>"The trouble with Christians is that nobody wants to kill them anymore." -- Bruce Morgan</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div></div><div><i>Discipling is done by someone, not by something.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>We are to be reproducing reproducers. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Christ does not love me because I am lovable, lovely, or loving. He loves me because he his loving. But he did not chose me simply because he loved me. He chose me because he felt that his choice of me would help "win the game". </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>The way in which salvation comes into the world is captured in the phrase, "The word became flesh." So it looks like this ...</i></div><div><i>WORD -> flesh.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>But then Jesus (the Word), spoke the Word into flesh ... and those who received the Word, became responsible for speaking the Word. So that looks like this ...</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>WORD -> flesh -> Word -> flesh -> Word -> flesh</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Pretty easy to see with this progression how God planned for the WORD to reach every flesh across this world. But the question remains ... will the intended progression end with you? That is what happens when your flesh does not give voice to the Word. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Who do you feel personal responsibility for? It's called "ownership". </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Jesus said, "Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies ..." So you are a seed. Are you only a seed or are you a forrest?</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"With me" principle ... discipleship is caught better than taught.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>If a gifted evangelist won 1000 people to Christ every day, it would take 15,000 years to reach the world.</i></div><div><i>If there was a Pentecost experience every day, where 3000 people are saved, it would still take 5000 years to reach the world. </i></div><div><i>If one discipler could so disciple one person for one year, who would then in turn each disciple one more in the next year ... and so on ... and so on ... the entire world could be reached for Christ in just 35 years. </i></div><div><i>If one Christian fails to disciple others, he cuts the potential for fulfilling the Great Commission in his lifetime, exactly in half. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Every church should be plotting constantly how it can get the gospel to as many places in the world as quickly as possible. But it is never "reach the world" to the neglect of the door-step of the church. It is not "either/or"; it is "both/and". </i></div></div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-200494864771420182010-03-26T12:32:00.000-07:002010-03-26T12:34:15.006-07:00reminders of our mortality ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4eS5MurQdHUI179eZOH6E2dRjJ7o7zcRUToeM6j5PIO5K0xNUi0KJp4l7nBHiom3tDz5Aq-UYF3V_JoNDpI7RYqdctRQB0JcViOvucBwEt07HjIY9Zt3P9FgxafIWk4ktxnKwPS2iNk/s1600/IMG_0340.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4eS5MurQdHUI179eZOH6E2dRjJ7o7zcRUToeM6j5PIO5K0xNUi0KJp4l7nBHiom3tDz5Aq-UYF3V_JoNDpI7RYqdctRQB0JcViOvucBwEt07HjIY9Zt3P9FgxafIWk4ktxnKwPS2iNk/s400/IMG_0340.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453027658675663954" /></a>I've noticed something here ... everyone who passes through this world leaves something behind. <div><br /></div><div>Have you given much thought lately to what you are leaving? </div><div><br /></div><div>We really are just passing through. </div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-69738558332780110342010-03-26T12:03:00.000-07:002010-03-26T13:47:37.817-07:00time for a game ...<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Zg9k9ZKNV8ZG6L3coQLQMMPjMv5YeWaeRHd5eAG0GMK9V5alJaQfj7KVA2OkLiSToDehOmqvcpzLo3681yVmUMu6htnbEo9jrPwkrxE2YRYyD9ZV_ZYkaPddPvq2WS5EG60MWEr0OgE/s200/IMG_0402.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453021414644548498" /><div>Not sure how it happened.</div><div><br /></div><div>Years ago we discovered that both my daughters are big Red Sox fans!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Discovered late in the week that Red Sox Spring Training is right here in Fort Myers ...</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NhtinbnNSyMM_9wNTAJ64hYwm-pxFcUdENqtfpuPl5Uy8diqegCEJ7LXo5eMw9Gl1s5RxjCW7YxSwFRz1t5UgPlbwIey7b7MJoffLnZ9w7mFV9QNIGktQ6P5zd9T7LiyY6nLNo60bRo/s200/IMG_0414.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453021423312903730" /></div><div><br /></div><div>So ... a game was in order ... they played the Florida Marlins and the Red Sox won: 6 to 4. </div><div><br /></div><div>A good game! </div><div><br /><br /></div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-44706449563494745952010-03-26T11:11:00.000-07:002010-03-26T11:49:36.345-07:00Sheep, Soil, Bees, and Vines<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4z7JWpBFtlWxajqvIldtLTBnLOhYACVwyZZ1BiJa9PPwYhEAV-cNDsafHh2Sxf-QXVXPGRmyt5JyjPRtEofAEr7014yaSThWW8J2qU6cMObpINEPaa-woyQwvdb1RvFD8B59A6kJs5c/s1600/IMG_0251.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4z7JWpBFtlWxajqvIldtLTBnLOhYACVwyZZ1BiJa9PPwYhEAV-cNDsafHh2Sxf-QXVXPGRmyt5JyjPRtEofAEr7014yaSThWW8J2qU6cMObpINEPaa-woyQwvdb1RvFD8B59A6kJs5c/s200/IMG_0251.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453007028380291218" /></a>This was a "different" read. Instead of it being about vision or strategy; it was more about the unique ways that God communicates his love for us through the images of scripture. <div><br /></div><div>It was the most refreshing read of the sabbatical. The book followed three common themes in scripture: sheep/shepherd, the soil, honey, and the vine.</div><div><br /></div><div>Random Thoughts:</div><div><i>"Boundaries are essential for a sheep's survival."</i> </div><div><ul><li>That's true for us too.</li></ul><i>Shepherds are always counting. </i></div><div><i>An uncontrollable ram can cause immense damage to a flock. They need to know the shepherd is to be respected.</i></div><div><i>When sheep are alone and weak, they are too quick to give up. </i></div><div><i>Once a sheep responds to the beckoning of the shepherd, they are his forever. </i></div><div><i>When David sinned, he wasn't the only who was punished. The entire flock suffered.</i></div><div><i>The firstborn to the shepherd is of greatest significance. To be asked to sacrifice the first would have been the same as saying that God was first in your life. </i></div><div><i>When God asked for a sheep w/o blemish; he was asking for the very best. They had worked for years to develop a spotless lamb. </i></div><div><i>Sacrifice places me in a posture of depending upon God and trusting Him. </i></div><div><i>Without a shepherd, sheep are just "mutton on a stick". </i></div><div><i>Sheep are not dumb. They are defenseless. There is a difference. </i></div><div><i>Shepherding teaches you to lead from the front rather than the back. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>By the time I finished reading this section; I realized what a privilege it is to be a shepherd. I also found myself missing my sheep! </div><div><br /></div><div><i>A farmer cannot afford to look back when plowing. All his energy and focus is forward. </i></div><div><i>When God's word says "do not reap in the corners of the field" He is reminding us that we do not need all that we think we do. </i></div><div><i>Gleaning teaches us that it's not about having more, it's about having enough.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>When I finished the section on the harvest of the soil, I was reminded that we are to labor but also trust. God is the one who brings the growth. God is the one who brings the harvest. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>How many roles are there in a bee-hive? Queen, drone, workers. The workers provide the most labor: nurse bees, fanning bees, queen attendants, feed the drones, seal the honey, build the comb, pack he pollen, carry water, mortuary bees, guard bees. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>If a community of bees can do so much with so little, how much more can you and I accomplish with the great resources our Father has given us?</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I wonder, have you ever really given much thought to your role in the "hive"? Who is depending upon you? Who is looking to you? </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Jesus turns water into wine ... never noticed that it was on the "third day" that the hosts ran out of wine and Jesus came to their rescue. </i></div><div><i>Life without the gift of rest is merely existing without being able to enjoy the bouquet of all we have been given. </i></div><div><i>Anyone who plants a vineyard is looking ahead to the future.</i></div><div><i>All too often I find myself clinging to that which is comfortable and familiar, rather than embracing the challenges that emerge with change and growth. </i></div><div><i>Whoever is pruning the vine really is the master. </i></div><div><i>Jesus waits with even greater expectancy and passionate longing than I ever will. When he raised his cup, he was already thinking about the next time he would be with his followers. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Never thought too much about the vine and abiding in the vine previously. Sometimes I think we might be tempted to think "I am the vine" ... when clearly we are NOT. Abiding in Him, trusting Him, allowing Him to prune as He sees fit ... trusting that He knows best. </div><div><br /></div><div>Like I said, refreshing thoughts here. After reading it; it was like ahhhhhhhhhhh ...</div><div><br /></div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-69057796128770558702010-03-26T10:15:00.000-07:002010-03-26T11:07:47.306-07:00Final Scripture Carvings ...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-7915" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><i><b>9</b></i></sup><i><b> But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless? </b></i><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-7916" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><i><b>10</b></i></sup><i><b> As surely as the LORD lives," he said, "the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.</b></i><b> </b>1 Samuel 26:9-10</span><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">David was a man of patient character. Even though he had been anointed King, he would not strike Saul. He waited and trusted God to act in His timing. </span></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26529" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><i><b>16</b></i></sup><i><b>Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."</b></i> John 11:16</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Wow.</span></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><b><i>"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."</i></b> John 11:32</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Interesting how most of our concerns look backward: "If only this had happened. If only that had not happened." Jesus was looking forward, not backward.</span></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><b><i>"But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."</i></b> John 11:39</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">never noticed the present tense here previously, "there IS a bad odor". They could already smell the decay of death. But that is not too hard for God to deal with.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">What impossible circumstance exists in my life? Does it already stink? God can still act. </span></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><b><i>so Saul took his own sword and fell on it.</i></b> 1 Samuel 31:4</span></span></div></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Saul was always looking for an escape ... hiding during his inauguration; hiding when Goliath was breathing threats, giving in to "the people" when he grew impatient and offered the sacrifice instead of waiting for Samuel, ... the pattern continues throughout.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">We want an easy path far too often. Beware of the quick escape. </span></li></ul></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-8035" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i>12</i></b></sup><b><i> They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.</i></b> 2 Samuel 1:12</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">David weeps for the one who had tried to take his life. </span></li></ul></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><p><b><i> </i></b><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-8046" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i>23</i></b></sup><b><i> "Saul and Jonathan—<br /> in life they were loved and gracious,<br /> and in death they were not parted.<br /> They were swifter than eagles,<br /> they were stronger than lions.</i></b> 2 Samuel 1:23</p><p></p><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">David sings of Saul and Jonathan ... "Saul was gracious"????? Really? David shows some selective memory here. Perhaps thats a good trait for me to develop. I'll only remember good from you. That would change life, huh?</span></li></ul><p></p><p></p></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26595" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i>25</i></b></sup><b><i>The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.</i></b> John 12:25</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><b>BOLD</b> is the bias for life. </span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16838" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i>30</i></b></sup><b><i> A cheerful look brings joy to the heart...</i></b> Proverbs 15:30</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This is so true. Just the right look from the ones who mean the most to you can bring immeasurable joy to the heart. Just a look ... wow. </span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><b><i> </i></b><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-8164" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i>6</i></b></sup><b><i> When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. </i></b><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-8165" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i>7</i></b></sup><b><i> The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God.</i></b> 2 Samuel 6:6-7</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This was always a tough passage for me. They poor guy was just trying to "give God a hand". Perhaps the lesson here is that God does not NEED my help. He does not stumble; even when I think He might. </span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><b><i>I will celebrate before the LORD. </i></b><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-8180" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i>22</i></b></sup><b><i> I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. </i></b>2 Samuel 6:21-22</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">David worshipped the Lord with reckless self-abandonment. That's tough to do! But when you love like David loved...everything else fades into insignificance. </span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26670" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i>12</i></b></sup><b><i>I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.</i></b> John 14:12</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">It is by His "going" that we are empowered to do even greater things? That had to be confusing to them. Confusing to me too! It is by faith that we live, and act ... and when we live and act by faith ... God gets in the middle of it. </span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><b><i> </i></b><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-15917" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i>18</i></b></sup><b><i> Open my eyes that I may see<br /> wonderful things in your law.</i></b> Psalm 119:18</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Interesting thing happens when you "open God's Word" ... God begins to open your heart to really see ... opening, is followed by opening.</span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><p><b><i> </i></b><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16839" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i>31</i></b></sup><b><i> He who listens to a life-giving rebuke<br /> will be at home among the wise.</i></b></p><p><b><i> </i></b><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16840" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i>32</i></b></sup><b><i> He who ignores discipline despises himself,<br /> but whoever heeds correction gains understanding. </i></b>Proverbs 15:31-32</p></span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">That means my prayer should be: <i>"God surround me with those who love me enough to do this in my life."</i></span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-8245" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i>4</i></b></sup><b><i> So Hanun seized David's men, shaved off half of each man's beard, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away.</i></b> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">2 Samuel 10:4</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Wow, these guys played for keeps! Tough humiliation! </span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><b><i> </i></b><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-8294" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i>7</i></b></sup><b><i> Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man!"</i></b> 2 Samuel 12:7</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Talk about humiliation! Maybe David had prayed, <i>"God surround me with those who love me enough to rebuke and discipline me."</i></span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-8339" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i>21</i></b></sup><b><i> When King David heard all this, he was furious</i></b>. 2 Samuel 13:21</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">He was furious, but I wonder if he also saw the connection between his family disintegration and his own sin. He was furious, but he does nothing. And the result of his "nothing" is more chaos, destruction, and loss. </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Furious might be a good thing, from time to time--but it is never enough. </span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><p><b><i>God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.</i></b> 2 Samuel 14:14</p><p></p></div></span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">There is a word of grace! </span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-8420" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i>30</i></b></sup><b><i> But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up.</i></b> 2 Samuel 15:30</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">It is like "Palm Sunday" in reverse. </span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><b><i>let no sin rule over me.</i></b> Psalm 119:133</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">There is a prayer worth praying. </span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><b><i> </i></b><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16854" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i>13</i></b></sup><b><i> Kings take pleasure in honest lips;<br /> they value a man who speaks the truth.</i></b> Proverbs 16:13</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Have you noticed how often we don't want to hear the truth? Honesty sounds like a good thing until someone opens their mouths to speak hard truth. </span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This will be it for the scripture carvings ... the sabbatical certainly got me back into reading the scriptures. I'm up to June 1 now and looking forward to the rest of the journey. It's a good thing to allow God's word to wash over us like a wave, and wash through us like a cleansing flood. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><br /></span></div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-57096681335962089122010-03-24T14:15:00.000-07:002010-03-24T16:17:46.411-07:00fishing ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUB-fL9caaJy1xieboFzsaX0Mrtm72_qXbJAX_6rpAotIaQpAjSyslyDTwZHjL1pINsDgJZ5RorxY5jbMLzHGPt7HT5P81BcO8mSsefh9No544-8qcmNjcudeUJzgTF_H3WHnROWjcOCI/s1600/IMG_0378.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUB-fL9caaJy1xieboFzsaX0Mrtm72_qXbJAX_6rpAotIaQpAjSyslyDTwZHjL1pINsDgJZ5RorxY5jbMLzHGPt7HT5P81BcO8mSsefh9No544-8qcmNjcudeUJzgTF_H3WHnROWjcOCI/s320/IMG_0378.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452316422973631026" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Amber caught the biggest ... an 18 lb Goliath Grouper (we are told this is a "baby fish"). Captain Kurt, never short on stories, told us of his adventure of being stalked by a 600 lb Goliath that thought he would make a tasty meal.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEs8bDJWDNzlDDHEGxy4nEHHCe3QopOXrArIeYKkDgNkPPN5sLAV49ZFIxzHD9U7MGu0zCgjP_OtnMpGSIhcmTfEGlMDgcInxcblaYMMe7N4JDweca5Y4AWXwF9rk2cfdI_xxgJfoygmg/s320/IMG_0299.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452314783210638194" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Mangroves...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyNCHjl2USwOsHamO8ix0Lq9DSHTSksNPKhwBC8S1_njawSl6_cLcClhnr5pqfn7XD3C9NCKqqv2hQ28FzV4DFcyC75wVdVwbNja6fVuNXMDY3pntHeaqj9-zFYIo8FTwvVbqfWfhfVA/s320/IMG_0363.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452314792277445474" /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXweAsgyk1sDQVioaIt6XnAYxxES_TQtZBpynS_Lg7Ub_RhyphenhyphenisQODndQDaFQDKShpt2sEeu_xVjjgqxwcQX59b6KjD4nphVW9Nwj67LPl7YE0LYrfx2KlxZF3ZFGgJPIK5Vbf84dWGmc/s320/IMG_0372.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452314795883833938" /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hZJwrEfqZpQobE7t2LsnOVcMsCd11RSRzQ08CQogcl8l4ArCfjGJPD_QiOWrQ3fiJrXuMJJgaoWf5c-XTNpTWD2lIRxVz2b629HJo5-Z9MXl7dltidpC0sJIPvlHGnbzadOX2IhJAoI/s320/IMG_0305.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452314809626842258" />You be the judge ...</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>wish it had been Grouper Season ... have to settle for the restaurant variety.</div><div><br /></div><div>the beautiful cost line ... Fort Myers in the background. </div></div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-56419976589051208572010-03-23T18:22:00.001-07:002010-03-23T18:26:46.917-07:00just hanging in da 'hood ...<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KF13VyyW_-Shg6DQgyr3S8moKpNTxxZoIitLRIkS5EotlFhWCTnn2MNPbu93QF0wZ04iw9scZxOJiF8DEdUG9iSsj6JO524wD3lphjhd-9G3osSMmR8U0TvO4_r1TgATXj6uiU_z3d8/s400/IMG_0336.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452005625196527458" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2q8P3K4SEbXFtM64V4vHywCG6Q5FjPpG6lZYtE4ZCd-m_1RZDcHcAbqS05SUHPOCZmmD07WyA35UW-lrZ03SZjy-6dCLjTDAsm3yN06IdFUe_YWbP-16TrOF_640iF2b_k2pX752_CE/s1600-h/IMG_0341.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2q8P3K4SEbXFtM64V4vHywCG6Q5FjPpG6lZYtE4ZCd-m_1RZDcHcAbqS05SUHPOCZmmD07WyA35UW-lrZ03SZjy-6dCLjTDAsm3yN06IdFUe_YWbP-16TrOF_640iF2b_k2pX752_CE/s400/IMG_0341.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452005634191837890" /></a><br /><br />anyone up for a swim?Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-52200424250637427592010-03-22T21:23:00.001-07:002010-03-22T21:28:31.816-07:00next things ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFYFXjROZmu1sbFv0UtE8qp1z3bIbhDmYqI-rvYm3xAA0-mXji9W-zRrrKHhOqYsMqUQ0Vomqer7Ex378DXZ6rNQIqlym9EJlCKSgYWbwEo6_8jN181hss-iVyrG8RWv1Hz8rsQix9cM/s1600-h/IMG_0292_2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFYFXjROZmu1sbFv0UtE8qp1z3bIbhDmYqI-rvYm3xAA0-mXji9W-zRrrKHhOqYsMqUQ0Vomqer7Ex378DXZ6rNQIqlym9EJlCKSgYWbwEo6_8jN181hss-iVyrG8RWv1Hz8rsQix9cM/s400/IMG_0292_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451680658213319778" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">these are not only the next things I'm reading and studying ... these are the next things to enlarge our vision ... </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">This is what God said to me today ... Isaiah 54:2-3.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; "><sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-18701" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><i>2</i></sup><i> “Enlarge your house; build an addition.<br /> Spread out your home, and spare no expense!<br /> </i><sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-18702" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top; "><i>3</i></sup><i> For you will soon be bursting at the seams.<br /> Your descendants will occupy other nations<br /> and resettle the ruined cities.</i></span></span></div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-21398454201790720082010-03-21T17:43:00.000-07:002010-03-21T17:56:07.591-07:00if you want vision ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEWNaTtbF3w7rsj5lnXCxOk3CCXbvSJ0RC0kQOcgGDbZO6bY6eHHiKB4kgJVUCYlrHgvxHuue_QF7QA5fgXdUAZRX72RXohk2CZzlI22oAwuKnPrkCZ1qVG5PJbUK3fQC6rlzEgp7hmk/s1600-h/IMG_0290.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEWNaTtbF3w7rsj5lnXCxOk3CCXbvSJ0RC0kQOcgGDbZO6bY6eHHiKB4kgJVUCYlrHgvxHuue_QF7QA5fgXdUAZRX72RXohk2CZzlI22oAwuKnPrkCZ1qVG5PJbUK3fQC6rlzEgp7hmk/s400/IMG_0290.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451252508641488770" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Your eyes are NOT fooling you!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">That is a TWENTY-FIVE pound bag of carrots!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Holy COW!!! or perhaps <i>HOLY BETA-CAROTINE!</i> I couldn't believe it! This bag was huge!!!! I knew a picture wouldn't capture it, so I put a regular size bag of baby carrots beside it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">This thing was like the size of a bag of potatoes! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">TWENTY FIVE POUNDS OF CARROTS IS A LOT OF CARROTS!!!!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I don't know if it is true or not, but I've always heard that carrots are good for your vision.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I hope so ... this sabbatical has been like this bag of carrots for my spiritual vision. I'm so excited about all that the Lord has been speaking into my life and I can't wait to get back and begin the vision series in April. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Three blind ... MEN! But these guys got a huge dose of VISION when they met Jesus. </span></div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-29427649065292883912010-03-21T17:30:00.000-07:002010-03-21T17:42:31.100-07:00bring the heat baby!!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwSx_-nkb1VJmsBZAJPIpe5xEWErSWwRULkufrLJiXA5B1bGGyTTBC9NE4FgxJc-4GUYgq9OZYccyXpyaZEHK8ivBRRxXFKPeefLuwEArU302_0aXPqiZjNTl5ZXdNvgTQrHBw45KfX4/s1600-h/IMG_0291.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwSx_-nkb1VJmsBZAJPIpe5xEWErSWwRULkufrLJiXA5B1bGGyTTBC9NE4FgxJc-4GUYgq9OZYccyXpyaZEHK8ivBRRxXFKPeefLuwEArU302_0aXPqiZjNTl5ZXdNvgTQrHBw45KfX4/s200/IMG_0291.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451249133741523826" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>I couldn't believe it! </b>This is the flavor of childhood! This stuff is <i>GOOD</i>! I mean it is so hot it singes your nose hairs, brings tears to the eyes and if you inhale just right, it takes your breath <i>AND</i> breaks you out in a forehead sweat. I love it! I've looked for mister mustard for years ... but to no avail! </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">But first trip to the store ... and there is was, hiding beside the Goldens (a mustard for the wimps of the world). </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I always liked the <b><i>heat</i></b> of mister mustard! It brings real zip to a bologna sandwich, or hot dog, or other mustard appropriate cuisine. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">What do you add to bring out the heat, the zip, or the flavor in life?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Could I suggest that the unexpected? Or maybe a little fear? Or even the uncertainty of the unknown? What about the risk of absolute failure? We spend most of our lives trying to play it safe, take it easy, eliminate the interruptions, avoid the danger, remove the inconvenience, maintain control ... and maybe that's why life is so bland.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I bought two jars of mister mustard. I'm ready for some heat. How about you? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Now serving ...</span></span></div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-57722253351659023882010-03-21T17:23:00.000-07:002010-03-21T17:26:13.102-07:00dinner ... yum ... <div>much like fat burger ... </div><div>but loved the peanuts in the shell ... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYzXIP_roa30R3IagA7-JFdHun7D2f9y4Mx1TMMzGiTceQoKhI3umgDB70oE_JLLSVWqCMQBFSCQ0q0R4-xuQgNMaLsBUvk8oZwpygBoZbPggEvGT6jjvhlWhnFjbW_KX_XxkmccAvZk/s1600-h/IMG_0285.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYzXIP_roa30R3IagA7-JFdHun7D2f9y4Mx1TMMzGiTceQoKhI3umgDB70oE_JLLSVWqCMQBFSCQ0q0R4-xuQgNMaLsBUvk8oZwpygBoZbPggEvGT6jjvhlWhnFjbW_KX_XxkmccAvZk/s320/IMG_0285.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451247488071418610" /></a><br /></div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-80862202046537095902010-03-21T14:08:00.000-07:002010-03-21T14:09:23.543-07:00Scripture Carvings...<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Scripture Carvings</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">even his own brothers did not believe in him.</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times;color:#DDD9C3"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#DDD9C3">John 7:5<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:1.25in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Had to sting. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Times;color:#DDD9C3"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#DDD9C3">1 Samuel 13:6<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:1.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level2 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New""><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Wouldn’t it be something to have that kind of courage? Ready to move and act even if I can only summon a “perhaps” the Lord will act! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt.</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Times;color:#DDD9C3"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#DDD9C3">1 Samuel 15:2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>We have to remember that with the Lord, “Not Now” does not equal “Never will”. </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.5in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level2 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New""><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Amalekites acted in evil during the exodus. </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.5in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level2 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New""><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>NOW, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">generations</i></b> later, God remembers and acts on behalf of his people.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.5in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level2 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New""><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>This story is the background to Esther’s story. (Agag is the ancestor of Haman). </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:2.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level3 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>NOTE: Partial obedience = disobedience. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The leader is to lead: <span style="color:#DDD9C3">1 Samuel 15:24, </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned. I violated the LORD's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them.</span></i></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>When the leader does not lead, the consequence is tragic for the leader and the people. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“hem of his robe”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore.</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Times;color:#DDD9C3"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#DDD9C3">1 Samuel 16:27<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Saul is grabbing at the hem of Samuel’s robe.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Later David will snip the hem of Saul’s robe. </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.5in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level2 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New""><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Both times signify the “changing of the guard” of leadership. </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:2.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level3 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Saul grabs but comes up empty.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:2.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level3 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>David takes because Saul is empty. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">How do you treat the powerless?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times;color:#DDD9C3"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#DDD9C3">John 8:3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>How horrible: “Stand before us in your sin.” </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">They were using this question as a trap…</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times;color:#DDD9C3"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#DDD9C3">John 8:6<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Using the question /<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Using the woman. </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Didn’t matter if they “used the truth” or “used the woman” … </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Times;color:#DDD9C3"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#DDD9C3">1 Samuel 17:36<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>When the first bear and lion showed up, David couldn’t see that it was just training for the future task. How often do we want out of a difficult spot; instead of learning the lesson that will equip us for the future task to come? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">Saul kept a jealous eye on David.</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times;color:#DDD9C3"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#DDD9C3">1 Samuel 18:9<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Afflicted with the evil eye! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">A mocker resents correction; </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3"><br /></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3"> he will not consult the wise.</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Times;color:#DDD9C3"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#DDD9C3">Proverbs 15:12<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>How do you do with correction in your life? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">He raises the poor from the dust </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3"><br /></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3"> and lifts the needy from the ash heap;</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Times;color:#DDD9C3"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#DDD9C3">Psalm 113:7<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Do you think God cares about the poor?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">Better a little with the fear of the LORD </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3"><br /></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3"> than great wealth with turmoil.</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Times;color:#DDD9C3"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#DDD9C3">Proverbs 15:16<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>And why is it we work so hard for wealth?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3"> </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><sup><span style="font-size:7.0pt; font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">1</span></sup></i></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3"> </span></i></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">Not to us, O LORD, not to us<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br /> but to your name be the glory,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br /> because of your love and faithfulness.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3"> </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><sup><span style="font-size:7.0pt; font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">2</span></sup></i></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3"> </span></i></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">Why do the nations say,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br /> "Where is their God?"<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#DDD9C3">Psalm 115:1-2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Psalmist laments that other nations can’t see God. </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Makes me wonder, do we live in such a way that others can see OUR God?</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:1.25in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New""><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Sometimes I’m afraid they do … they see OUR gods, but not THE God.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times;color:#DDD9C3"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#DDD9C3">1 Samuel 24:2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>God has purpose for us being in the desolate places of life. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3"> </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><sup><span style="font-size:7.0pt; font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">3</span></sup></i></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3"> </span></i></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">The cords of death entangled me,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br /> the anguish of the grave<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>came upon me;<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br /> I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3"> </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><sup><span style="font-size:7.0pt; font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">4</span></sup></i></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3"> </span></i></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">Then I called on the name of the LORD :<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br /> "O LORD, save me!"<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3"> </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><sup><span style="font-size:7.0pt; font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">5</span></sup></i></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3"> </span></i></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">The LORD is gracious and righteous;<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br /> our God is full of compassion.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3"> </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><sup><span style="font-size:7.0pt; font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">6</span></sup></i></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3"> </span></i></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">The LORD protects the simplehearted;<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br /> when I was in great need, he saved me.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3"> </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><sup><span style="font-size:7.0pt; font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">7</span></sup></i></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family: Verdana;color:#DDD9C3"> </span></i></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Verdana;color:#DDD9C3">Be at rest once more, O my soul,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br /> for the LORD has been good to you.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#DDD9C3">Psalm 116:3-7<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>These words capture the heart of all I felt when I had my stroke.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>They also speak the gratitude I still feel for the amazing healing he provided. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-78106622775395502502010-03-21T13:40:00.000-07:002010-03-21T17:23:20.025-07:00a really good beach day ...<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYZvv6nFJUwvG1NpuOhT8d1KApEYEXGha3_J_1tyTKnNFHk9AouXKVozIrMXSGcCVV37_L00pDzj0Zft5PSVc_V60RGceCwDHZmDf4xkMFgW52NHwULNyfB3gJjGEagQdJBD6FKnOjeo/s320/IMG_0271.JPG" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451189838833936866" />setting up camp...<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>activity spotted in the waves...</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MET360o4QHQmYaNbUFLAwM5pfgu8Y2jbuOshVrxfF9HX7thswpJ_dXoTqpOIgZ5YaLLarbSt4jqC-aBwQHEy8CnLwkyYVqKLw-k15o9aQKszl3LVudAX_Sl1vzrAAYGs_Op2mnrslcM/s320/IMG_0275.JPG" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451190093178106578" /><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>zooming in ...</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29gGJoDzdWiztZJJFI3_a6nkmj2XfKCtspdXTW4EdmLEd5ZQBCIU4K0_oA6nDmcbfD96RBsu6v-HSsICNYEvil8V7O6MS4N2VHigqpet-RD6BBryzNUTt1Hqsj6g4l62fbacbQvQdboU/s320/IMG_0331_2.JPG" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451190590999312450" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>and a fly by ...</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGKrzjt1CKCHbdg42roFLwGMGNaSxYpaJov7EGFFk9pI8M0lVIk8QfRxSkKq5S3gG3FqUzMS3jUKgldcZ-ro-S8IRwWXcBBUL-0h0mR3dk3sqgp4NKJ4bK92BqYDBP4b3il8MBGVmSnA/s320/IMG_0333_2.JPG" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451191829773454882" /></div></div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-79120601593503180852010-03-21T13:00:00.000-07:002010-03-21T13:53:24.911-07:00cool stuff just sittin in the sand ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3kxVMlRulKX_7AQQhaxjRlL9p9cnucvBViqIM8RP1kJmiiOoNIPP9XpYt3HJWAEfu8tXFuGbRMs4MCHBuP24m4dIvHHw7Yq67VUyzs25seNar95Oba3P60pVHkoBQ6JYnb1K9t-f07A/s1600-h/IMG_0283.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3kxVMlRulKX_7AQQhaxjRlL9p9cnucvBViqIM8RP1kJmiiOoNIPP9XpYt3HJWAEfu8tXFuGbRMs4MCHBuP24m4dIvHHw7Yq67VUyzs25seNar95Oba3P60pVHkoBQ6JYnb1K9t-f07A/s320/IMG_0283.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451192972021302306" /></a>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-33190020738474820402010-03-21T12:00:00.000-07:002010-03-21T13:53:52.769-07:00the blogosphere ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWn2rSa9lfdKCsmjNVqHXCDqbk_P_7f0obhVZxy4OgfTwgGZ-nVeKxf-uv8gCYsFnikE5_BibbCMMEWIxB2YEVeqBuvNVj-atM1ANbEH5pLTmaCMMUGusV7_R6iRQeh_FYWPxb4Bnm_A/s1600-h/IMG_0205.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWn2rSa9lfdKCsmjNVqHXCDqbk_P_7f0obhVZxy4OgfTwgGZ-nVeKxf-uv8gCYsFnikE5_BibbCMMEWIxB2YEVeqBuvNVj-atM1ANbEH5pLTmaCMMUGusV7_R6iRQeh_FYWPxb4Bnm_A/s320/IMG_0205.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451183837471122322" /></a>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-25875527499465235272010-03-20T20:00:00.000-07:002010-03-20T20:43:59.709-07:00S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rq0aWnuFLAXN0lpbvLDqNf4b-R5cEQVXcWObRMNbL6-C6ySwmTjflzJfyOOU6TSd-HaLmOKhy5rSSZbLOENYXJnFFgJBQ_3kutzEJZwEMd5uZbDDGTR4ud8XJialwkvMloNAVWQM684/s1600-h/IMG_0269.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rq0aWnuFLAXN0lpbvLDqNf4b-R5cEQVXcWObRMNbL6-C6ySwmTjflzJfyOOU6TSd-HaLmOKhy5rSSZbLOENYXJnFFgJBQ_3kutzEJZwEMd5uZbDDGTR4ud8XJialwkvMloNAVWQM684/s400/IMG_0269.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450927708545163442" /></a><br />I love Saturday Night worship ...Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-74678454075259947582010-03-20T19:00:00.000-07:002010-03-20T20:29:58.486-07:00Scripture Carvings...<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Scripture Carvings…</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">The general who would not general without <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">her</i></b> to hold his hand …</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go."</span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Judges 4:8</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>He was wise not to make a move without Deborah, she was God’s prophetess. </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>But did he miss an opportunity? Deborah thought so. Judges 4:9</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Gideon replied, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.</span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Judges 6:17</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>We all want signs when it is better to just know His voice. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Gideon was so timid. God repeatedly battles against the fear that possesses Gideon.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;font-size:10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Judges 6:12, <b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."</span></span></i></b><span style="font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;font-size:10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Judges 6:23, <b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">But the LORD said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die."</span></span></i></b><span style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;font-size:10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Judges 6:27, <b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the men of the town, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.</span></span></i></b><span style="font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;font-size:10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Judges 6:39, <b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request.</span></span></i></b><span style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands.</span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Judges 7:2</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Was God just messing with Gideon’s fear? </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">“Israel had no King…”</span><o:p></o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">Judges 17:6</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.</span><o:p></o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">Judges 18:1</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">In those days Israel had no king. </span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">Judges 19:1</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">In those days Israel had no king.</span></i></b> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in">Judges 21:25</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.</span><o:p></o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Who is your King?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">What happens when there is no King in your life? </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"</span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">John 3:4</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Nicodemus replies to Jesus, “R U CrAzY?”</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>God likes to do the impossible!</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Maybe when seeking God’s vision, we should only look to the impossible. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Proverbs 14:21, <b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">blessed is he who is kind to the needy.</span></span></i></b><span style="font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l5 level1 lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>God has a special bent toward the hurts of the needy. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Ruth to her Mother-in-law:</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. </span></span></i></b><b><i><sup><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">17</span></span></sup></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." </span></span></i></b><b><i><sup><span style="font-size:7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">18</span></span></sup></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.</span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Ruth 1:16-18</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l5 level1 lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>R U CrAzY?</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l5 level1 lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Following God often leads you to make CRAZY decisions in the eyes of those around you.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <meta charset="utf-8" id="webkit-interchange-charset"><meta charset="utf-8" id="webkit-interchange-charset"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; "><b><i><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; "><b><i><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; "><b><i><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; "><b><i><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;">J</span></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></span></i></b></span>es<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; "><b><i><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; "><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; "><b><i><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">us answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, </span></span></i></b><b><i><sup><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">14</span></span></sup></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."</span></span></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></span></span></i></b></span></span></i></b></p><meta charset="utf-8" id="webkit-interchange-charset"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">John 4:13-14</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo5"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>God is in the Water Business. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Then, leaving her water jar</span></span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family:Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">…</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">John 4:28</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo5"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Only the thirsty need a jar. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.</span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">John 4:35</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo5"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>You got to open your eyes before you will ever see the harvest. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did."</span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">John 4:39</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo5"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Wow, not so sure you want to have someone tell you “everything YOU ever did!”</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo5"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>But they urged him to because he told them all. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Remember the wonders he has done, </span></span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">
<br /></span></span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced…</span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Psalm 105:5</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo6"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>God likes us to remember what He has done …</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:1.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level2 lfo6"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-Courier New"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Probably because that puts us in the right place for Him to do what He wants to do in us and through us. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled."</span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Ruth 2:9</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo6"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>What would it be like to not have access to water? It is a basic hospitality to share water with those who have none. </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo6"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Another example of the incredible generosity of Boaz. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">May you … be famous in Bethlehem.</span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Ruth 4:11</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo7"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Prophesy of Jesus … Ruth would be famous in Bethlehem through Jesus. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.5pt;"> </span></i></b><b><i><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:7.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">49</span></span></sup></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies."<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></p> <p style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span></i></b><b><i><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:7.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">50</span></span></sup></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live."</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">
<br /> The man took Jesus at his word and departed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><sup><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">53</span></span></sup></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed.</span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">John 4:49-50, 53</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo7"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Jesus likes doing the impossible …</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><o:p> </o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">"Do you want to get well?"</span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">John 5:6, “…do you want to get well?” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo7"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>… <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">NOT ALWAYS!</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">"I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.</span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">John 5:19</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo7"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>The truth is, we can only do “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">something</i></b>” when we work with the Father. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice</span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">John 5:28</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo7"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>All Rise!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">whoever is kind to the needy honors God.</span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Proverbs 14:31</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo7"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>God is relentless in His compassion for the poor. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"</span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">John 6:5</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo7"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Vision superseded resources … and that’s never a problem for Jesus. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">In the desert they gave in to their craving…</span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Psalm 106:14</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo7"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Cravings … not usually a good thing. What do you crave?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king." </span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Times;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">1 Samuel 8:22,</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo7"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Sometimes … God gives us what we want … just to teach us, He should be all we want. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">So the first King of Israel … is a DONKEY shepherd … <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Love God’s sense of humor! </i></p> <!--EndFragment-->Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-48303403280205294952010-03-20T13:00:00.000-07:002010-03-20T14:03:47.806-07:00Dianna is in her zone ...She loves having the girls around ...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUyHvXMJCs0lshHWPCRJzNbWq2fTOEAAefx_e8dDB-jRTzCKgNB6N2WHacn6KzuuFsmFf7xoC0Y3LknvKajGm6b29Wg2icbSZr4Mec7PtchNwnZC39MsKCeaLfyUMmXyXIjH5u0h5BNM/s1600-h/IMG_0266.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUyHvXMJCs0lshHWPCRJzNbWq2fTOEAAefx_e8dDB-jRTzCKgNB6N2WHacn6KzuuFsmFf7xoC0Y3LknvKajGm6b29Wg2icbSZr4Mec7PtchNwnZC39MsKCeaLfyUMmXyXIjH5u0h5BNM/s320/IMG_0266.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450814623543377826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2PST6HzLm1V_a3aEwiJrK61-LjyOgZ41maZkT73hzqNL-VPl6Usu9kq-gNh6-ZwQungaV0hW5AVnVqfm8zzIntDiK22aKDTx7cCp4nYYdxIck3UoOTqusfJLAHQ8hdnSYmsNGnklzJk/s1600-h/IMG_0259.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2PST6HzLm1V_a3aEwiJrK61-LjyOgZ41maZkT73hzqNL-VPl6Usu9kq-gNh6-ZwQungaV0hW5AVnVqfm8zzIntDiK22aKDTx7cCp4nYYdxIck3UoOTqusfJLAHQ8hdnSYmsNGnklzJk/s320/IMG_0259.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450814615753997234" /></a><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMiH7J98PSMLFJOeiqUG4g7yk7tb68XL-w6EDdBrDN3ik39CcMhTLp2Av37L26ova5t7L3Zo7nSSPUGwAxG_21irC1kRFPyBFSHBlz7X4qn1BMEm-b4vsCRF-Rf9vQddxNwB9_BZDmI8k/s320/IMG_0268.JPG" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450814632102983762" />Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-39216428645918416952010-03-20T12:00:00.001-07:002010-03-20T14:03:23.280-07:00Lion Lines ... (loved this book!)<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:22.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Braggadocio;font-size:12.0pt;">LION LINES<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Without a doubt the most moving book I’ve read during sabbatical has been Mark Batterson’s “In a Pit with a Lion on a snowy day”.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I almost felt as if I needed to highlight the parts that I didn’t resonate with … because otherwise, I was just coloring the entire book!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The following are some of my thoughts, quotes that stirred me, or ideas that came through reading…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo1"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>God is in the business of strategically positioning us in the right place at the right time.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>The greatest opportunities are often the scariest lions. (R U CrAzY?)</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Regrets of inaction are the greatest in life.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Goodness isn’t just the absence of badness.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Who said that following Jesus is supposed to be “safe”?</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Lion chasers don’t let their fears or doubts keep them from doing what God called them to do.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Spiritual maturity is seeing and seizing God-sized opportunities.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Grab life by the Mane!</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“How much happier you would be, how much more of you there would be, if the hammer of a higher God could smash your small cosmos.”</i> GK Chesterton</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>God won’t intervene until something is humanly impossible. God loves impossible odds.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Too often our prayers revolve around the notion that we are asking God to “reduce the odds” in our life.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>How you think about God will determine who you become.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Our problems seem really big because our God seems really small.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>There is nothing “too hard” for God. So why do we rank our requests (Big/Small)? There are no degrees of difficulty for God.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">How Big is Your God?</b></li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Don’t accumulate possessions in life. Accumulate experiences!</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">What a story!”</i> Those are the words that indicate a life well lived.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>The greatest breakthroughs in life will come when you push through your fear.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Half of spiritual growth is learning what we do not know. The other half is unlearning what we do know. (Fear is learned. Fear can be unlearned).</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Faith is unlearning the senseless worries.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Fear immunity is the result of facing fear.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>One of the best things to happen for you and me is for our fear to materialize.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Your fear is worse than the actual thing you’re afraid of.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Think through your life, isn’t it true that the GREATEST moments of your life were also the scariest moments of your life?</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>The alternative to fear is boredom.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">The church isn’t to be a bunker of safety but a battle to which we are called to storm the gates of Hell—it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">ought</i> to be scary and FULL of life.</b></li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Do not aim your prayers at problem reduction.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Past problems prepare us for future opportunities. And the greatest problems present the greatest opportunities.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">forceful men lay hold of it</b>!”</i></li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>As Mickey said to Rocky, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">“The worst thing happened that could happen to any fighter—you got civilized.”</i></li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level2 lfo1"><b><i>Has the church become too civilized? </i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">PRAYER:</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>We pray for comfort instead of character.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>We pray for an easy way instead of strength.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>We pray for no pain.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>BUT IF GOD ANSWERED THESE PRAYERS … HE WOULD ROB US.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Quit praying “safe prayers”.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Here is a thought: what if we really did that they did in the bible?</li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level2 lfo2"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-Courier New"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>For example, what if we fasted and prayed for 10 days like they did in anticipation of Pentecost? </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>People who do not live in prayer are opportunity blind.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>When you are not praying, you have good ideas. When you pray, you get God ideas.</li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Here is a jewel on worship: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">“Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God.”</span></i></b><br /><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There are two kinds of people in this world:</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo3"></p><ol><li><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Cambria;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Worshippers</li><li><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Cambria;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Complainers</li></ol><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The more problems you have, the more potential you have to help people.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways; we do not know what a day may bring. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness; it should be expression of breathless expectation!” </span></i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Oswald Chambers</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Facing your fears, chasing your lions – in the short-term it increases uncertainty; but in the long run, it reduces regrets.<br /></p><ul><li>Sometimes you gotta run from security.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>You don’t need to know what is coming next when you really believe that God knows.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>We are control freaks. But faith is about the loss of certainty and control.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Faith is the willingness to embrace uncertainty and mystery.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>The alternative is to have a puppet God whom we control.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Thank God for uncertainty and unpredictability. (The alternative is monotony).</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Deuteronomy 29:29, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">“there are secrets the Lord has not revealed to us.”</i></li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>God uses risk-takers.</li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l5 level2 lfo4"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-Courier New"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>The more you are willing to risk, the more God can use you! </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l5 level2 lfo4"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-Courier New"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Satan whispers, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“Better safe than sorry.”</i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l5 level2 lfo4"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-Courier New"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Angels scream, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“Nothing ventured nothing gained!”</i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l5 level1 lfo4"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>God is always calling us into “terra incognita”.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Obedience is a willingness to do <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">whatever, </i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">whenever</span>, </i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">wherever</span>.</i></li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Risk taking is the heart of righteousness.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>The only regrets we will have at the end of our lives will be that we didn’t seek God more or seek God sooner. That’s it. </li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:28.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Braggadocio;font-size:12.0pt;">the fear of<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:28.0pt;mso-bidi- text-transform:uppercasefont-family:Braggadocio;font-size:12.0pt;">“missing out”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:28.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Braggadocio;font-size:12.0pt;">must be greater than<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:28.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Braggadocio;font-size:12.0pt;">the fear of<span style="text-transform:uppercase"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:28.0pt;mso-bidi- text-transform:uppercasefont-family:Braggadocio;font-size:12.0pt;">“messing up”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">VALUES DISCUSSION:<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo5"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Expect the unexpected</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Playing it safe is risky</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Maturity does not equal conformity </li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.”</span></i></b> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">Mark Twain</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“Hell begins the day God grants you the vision to see all that you could have done, and would have done, but did not do.”</span></i></b> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">Johann Wolfgang von Goethe </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Anything less than taking a chance with God is just spiritual voyeurism. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Think of every opportunity as God’s gift to you. What you do with every opportunity is your Gift to God. </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo6"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>One of our greatest spiritual shortcomings is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><sub>LOW EXPECTATIONS.</sub></b></li><li><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-Courier New"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>We don’t expect much. We don’t ask much.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>More often than not the only thing between you and your dream is a rational excuse.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Down deep in all of us there is a primal longing to do something CRAZY for God. But our fear is that we would look foolish (there it is again … R U CrAzY?)</li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo6"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-Courier New"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Is it the fear of foolishness that keeps us from praying for a miracle? </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo6"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-Courier New"font-family:";"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>If you are not willing to look foolish … you ARE foolish! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And here it is again (R U CrAzy?)</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">“I have a catch phrase: Call me Crazy!”</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">1 Corinthians 1:27 … our CrAzY gOd …</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise.</i></b></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Normality is overrated (hey, isn’t that Willis Adkins’ life verse?)</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Spiritual maturity is caring less and less what people think of you and more and more about what God thinks of you.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Even worship is CrAzY!?!!!</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo7"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Singing to someone you cannot see.</li><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Raising your hands to someone you cannot touch.</li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>But who is crazy? I’d like to think the crazy people are the ones who are not dancing … because they cannot hear the music. </i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:20.0pt;mso-bidi-line-height:150%;text-transform:uppercasefont-family:Braggadocio;font-size:12.0pt;">Do not fear that your life<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:20.0pt;mso-bidi-line-height:150%;text-transform:uppercasefont-family:Braggadocio;font-size:12.0pt;">may come to an end.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:20.0pt;mso-bidi-line-height:150%;text-transform:uppercasefont-family:Braggadocio;font-size:12.0pt;">fear that you may stop living before the end.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:20.0pt;mso-bidi- text-transform:uppercasefont-family:Braggadocio;font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-65800906610235712492010-03-20T12:00:00.000-07:002010-03-20T13:48:52.133-07:00Scripture Carvings...<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:yellow;">Scripture Carvings...<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:13.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">A righteous man is cautious in friendship...</span></i></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Proverbs 12:26<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Wisdom for choosing friends.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#1F497D;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">invite the poor</span></i></b><span style="font-family:Times;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Luke 14:13<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">God has a special concern for the poor.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><sup><span style=" font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D;"><o:p> </o:p></span></sup></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><sup><span style=" font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:7.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;">3</span></sup></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"> </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">“Give justice to the poor and the orphan;</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><br /></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><br /></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:7.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;">4</span></sup></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"> </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">Rescue the poor and helpless;</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><br /></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">deliver them from the grasp of evil people.</span></i></b><span style="font-family:Times;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Psalm 82:3-4<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">God has a special concern for the poor.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#1F497D;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">the unfaithful have a craving</span></i></b><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Proverbs 13:2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Cravings … not the best.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#1F497D;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"> </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:7.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;">4</span></sup></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"> </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">they resorted to a ruse</span></i></b><span style="font-family:Times;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Joshua 9:3-4, 14<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Joshua and the leaders get duped.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">V14,</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"> </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD.</span></i></b><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:1.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">o</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">This is how God’s people got duped.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:1.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">o</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Our best plans and reasoning are no replacement for prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">V18,</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders…</span></i></b><span style="font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:1.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">o</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">For good reason they grumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:1.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">o</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Leaders carry a weight of responsibility.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">BE careful in alliances … the same principle of personal friends also holds true for the collective body of God’s people.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#1F497D;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!</span></i></b><span style="font-family:Times;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Joshua 10:14<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">God still fights for his people.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#1F497D;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">When Joshua was old and well advanced in years, the LORD said to him, "You are very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.</span></i></b><span style="font-family:Times;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;">Joshua 13:1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Did Joshua retire too early? Sometimes we just want the sideline when in fact there is still so much more that God wants to accomplish in and through us …</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.</span></i><span style="font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#1F497D;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone.</span></i></b><span style="font-family:Times;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Luke 18:19<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">That includes me too. And you too!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#1F497D;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">"What is impossible with men is possible with God.”</span></i></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Luke 18:27<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Once again, God’s abilities exceeds our barriers.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#1F497D;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">"Receive your sight; your faith has healed you."</span></i></b><span style="font-family:Times;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Luke 18:42<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">There is a relationship between faith and sight. (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Sometimes our dependence upon sight kills our faith. Sometimes our strong faith enables our sight.</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#1F497D;"><o:p> </o:p></span></sup></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">11</span></sup></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"> </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">Teach me your way, O LORD,</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"> </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><br />and I will walk in your truth;</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"> </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><br />give me</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"> </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">an undivided heart</span></u></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style=" font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">,</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"> </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><br />that I may fear your name.</span></i></b><span style=" font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">12</span></sup></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"> </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"> </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><br />I will glorify your name forever.</span></i></b><span style=" font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Psalms 86:11-12<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Oh, God! That I would have such a heart!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#1F497D;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.</span></i></b><span style=" font-family:Times;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Joshua 17:13,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Usually when we are feeling strong, we make decisions based upon what “we think”. God’s command could not have been clearer:</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">All were to be driven from the land.</span></i><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:1.0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">o</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">I like feeling “strong” … even as a church.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:1.0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">o</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">But perhaps it is better when I FEEL my weakness and therefore am dependent upon God’s strength.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#1F497D;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DDD9C3;">Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you."</span></i></b><span style="font-family:Times;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DDD9C3;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Times; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Judges 2:3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:.1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">What thorns are in your life that are the direct result of half-hearted devotion and obedience?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;color:#DAEEF3;"> </span><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:10.5pt;color:#DAEEF3;">Partial obedience is disobedience.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="color:#1F497D;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-60355121834860408762010-03-19T06:00:00.000-07:002010-03-19T13:47:30.285-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwwnU3pKaBBEDolsMMv4X35cgVkZuT84PwU_JoCXsD95Z-DUtbjImBIKZPAcV_Jtvo-_i93eirZHSCATEB3a9IZ_q_XePvs2VNUKbNnPMi6GkLfimiVX0IEUGI23mEb4pqFgxIKs80NM/s1600-h/IMG_0254_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwwnU3pKaBBEDolsMMv4X35cgVkZuT84PwU_JoCXsD95Z-DUtbjImBIKZPAcV_Jtvo-_i93eirZHSCATEB3a9IZ_q_XePvs2VNUKbNnPMi6GkLfimiVX0IEUGI23mEb4pqFgxIKs80NM/s400/IMG_0254_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450449138914270306" /></a>Screaming Gorgeous Day ...Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-57752187374615429122010-03-18T19:00:00.000-07:002010-03-18T17:50:02.212-07:00Did you ever???<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote>Did you ever feel like</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> that 5th Grade boy who in his hunger has bitten off more than he can chew ... and finds himself in that strangely awkward place where his mouth is filled to over-flowing with good tasting food, but then realizes that he can't chew or swallow? Can you remember as a kid being so famished and then stuffing yourself until you find yourself not sure what to do with all the food in your mouth? Do you spit it out? Do you attempt to keep it in your mouth? You can't move your jaw! You are immobilized by having stuffed your face with just TOO MUCH good stuff!!!! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">That's where I find myself. My soul is STUFFED FULL with so much. There is so much good stuff I've been reading; I completed "Chasing the Lion". Today I completed "Scouting the Divine". I'm stuffed on scripture too. (I'm on May 16 now on the read the Bible through; I was on March 25 when I left). There are simply too many ideas bubbling up from the conversations I've had over the past visits w/ the pastors at Summit. Today I met with two other partner churches in the area and spent the entire day with one of the Summit Pastors. I find myself "paralyzed by all the good stuff". How do I chew this? How do I digest it? Can I swallow it? Must I spit it out? </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Anyway ... so, so, so much good stuff. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So let me ask you to pray for me. Pray that I would have a discerning heart to see/hold/swallow all the good that the Lord intends for me absorb. By the way, in reading the "book of the day": "Scouting the Divine" ... I had one of those amazing moments where God touched my heart deeply and reminded me how much I love New Work Fellowship and then came to realize how much I am missing "my flock". In fact, I woke up today at 4 AM and couldn't go back to sleep because I was so "hungry" to finish reading that book that stirred such deep emotion toward you. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tHgVL-MMQwBz9D21M5Nu5eBPBboixRW9XFcLaZZn_WfwVok-zIiSU_-nXzPacgzCFIUK3-G6WvtUyFg-Q8HPuh-IZfNJIIWsBCskwBPyfeX02zqiZVuWiUcTlz7vEyMHWrVVFc3aFv8/s200/IMG_0251.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450137625522726146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">Thank you so much for this time. It has been an amazing couple weeks for Dianna and me. It has been a spiritually-filling and idea-generating experience. It has been so uplifting to walk beside like-minded pastors at Summit.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">Honestly, it's almost been too much good stuff ... so pray that I would chew on that which the Lord has provided.. </span></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></div></span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698100037361519907.post-30368874298375041312010-03-16T19:00:00.000-07:002010-03-16T19:40:18.460-07:00All Day with Summit Leadership TeamWhat a great day ... <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TQdSlzG7v-4vrfdqYB6_WFLreM3dTyz5JOKchiRr_KFZwDvCATSWaJpMQL1CR_WnNMSmKdb7-2-wk5hiMMlme-7wI2Us-wYtNEvbpl6qDy76CiotdhGMMQ639RjN17wIMIdZZmY2egg/s200/IMG_0248.JPG" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449424526410797650" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQVlkdZ4TYg8bz4FNFOLy0aQxEP9YvnpsACLCeaybAWLvwabShRu6oxf8suYEbswvfaW0-C2MfraBwYC41WAHGdbgnRFSA1MEKJ6dT6MzTzQVKu1qsmegULHnOKGrKNA8SwMsWE9rLew/s1600-h/IMG_0247.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQVlkdZ4TYg8bz4FNFOLy0aQxEP9YvnpsACLCeaybAWLvwabShRu6oxf8suYEbswvfaW0-C2MfraBwYC41WAHGdbgnRFSA1MEKJ6dT6MzTzQVKu1qsmegULHnOKGrKNA8SwMsWE9rLew/s200/IMG_0247.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449424517955574002" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So much to process ... good stuff ... staff meeting (worship) ... Leadership Team ... Lunch Meeting ... Leadership Team con't ... Teaching Team ... full day ... blessed day ...<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The best take-away from the day:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><b><i>T<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:large;">he only thing that stands between</span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">you</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">and what God has called you</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:large;"> to is...</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">your inability to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">believe</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"> act </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">up<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">on </span></i></b></span></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">what God has called you to do.</span></i></b></span></span></i></b></div></div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08875587907599115167noreply@blogger.com