tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68051057209259704272024-03-05T01:14:04.623-05:00The Simple Way Capturing Life through PoetryAdele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.comBlogger162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-79338060594241156762020-05-25T11:42:00.003-04:002020-05-25T11:56:55.316-04:00Becoming<br />
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God is at work in me.<br />
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There he is molding me into a new creation.<br />
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He creates...<br />
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Patience</div>
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Urgency</div>
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Resiliency</div>
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Toughness</div>
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Courage</div>
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Tenacity</div>
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Empathy</div>
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Righteous Anger</div>
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Listening</div>
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Compassion</div>
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Indignation</div>
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Teacher</div>
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Preacher</div>
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Counselor</div>
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Agitator</div>
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Poet</div>
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and</div>
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Writer </div>
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In Me.<br />
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By Adele Henderson<br />
5/25/2020</div>
Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-41757283723007881312020-05-08T16:55:00.004-04:002020-05-25T11:56:14.780-04:00Parenting<div style="text-align: center;">
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Baby Bird takes first flight</div>
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scared to death</div>
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frozen in an azalea bush.</div>
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Momma Bird and Daddy Bird chirp away</div>
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where is our baby?</div>
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Flying and Chirping,</div>
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Flying and Chirping,</div>
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Flying and Chirping,</div>
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they find their baby in the azalea bush.</div>
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Chirp, chirp, chirp</div>
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they cheer their baby on,</div>
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Fly, fly, fly.</div>
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You can do it,</div>
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Baby bird flies again,</div>
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away from the safety of the azalea bush.<br />
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By Adele Henderson</div>
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5/8/2020</div>
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Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-55143801719858592512020-04-17T13:50:00.002-04:002020-04-17T13:50:35.785-04:00Over Eaters Anonymous<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">OA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hi, I’m
Adele and an overeater<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hi Adele.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Uuuuugh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Confession
is hard<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But I am an
overeater<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We follow
the 12 steps<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’m a
minister too<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It never
dawned on me to go to God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This social
isolation makes me binge eat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I hate being
alone <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have a
sponsor, she helps a lot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The group is
great too, we have a lot in common <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am an
overeater and obese<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But with the
isolation walking is my freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With God as
my parent I will overcome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We will overcome</span></div>
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By Adele Henderson</div>
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3.24.2020 </div>
Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-38691738525651822402020-04-17T13:40:00.002-04:002020-04-17T13:40:41.568-04:00#AloneTogether<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiV0Y1JC55k6j2JMBKXD9MFkomH_ekXQGWkquyh1ggQuawdOTbapvADUAUfqe0yOiNaONBWFQ5wxjXcnE0mdnoGAdC0AIdQfannabXeouc4z9m_T88IWpwMK-Q_51Wx47mRcrMJpmdtI/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiV0Y1JC55k6j2JMBKXD9MFkomH_ekXQGWkquyh1ggQuawdOTbapvADUAUfqe0yOiNaONBWFQ5wxjXcnE0mdnoGAdC0AIdQfannabXeouc4z9m_T88IWpwMK-Q_51Wx47mRcrMJpmdtI/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Alone
together, an oxymoron if I ever heard one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Alone is
alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Together is
together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Being with
other people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Introvert, that is me, I like alone time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Except when it's forced upon me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s been a week since I have seen my mom,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Seen dad 2x
but briefly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Alone is
alone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Together is
together, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And I am all
alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">By
Adele Henderson </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3/21/2020</span>Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-43362971462805181972017-12-31T20:22:00.001-05:002017-12-31T20:22:10.272-05:00When the elephant in the room is ignored<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In 2001 on September 11 I sat in the student lounge at Campbell Divinity School. This is where I learned that America was under attacked. As chapel began my friend, and Admission Director at that time, said, "America is under attacked." She reported what we knew at the time and led us in a time of prayer. Then the service proceeded as plan. This struck me as completely wrong and I left to talk with one of the Office administrators. I needed to process what was going on but the someone didn't think, for whatever reason, chapel would be the time for that. In my opinion, they avoided the elephant in the room. That elephant was fear.<br />
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Fast forward to May 2017, when I learn a co-worker, who had been fired, was arrested by the Feds for having Child Pornography in his possession. My knowledge of this did not come from the upper management but from a co-worker who was present when the Feds came to our work. There was mostly silence, except among those of us who knew.<br />
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On this last night of 2017 I have decided that silence cannot have a place in my life or this world any more. We have to create space for people to talk about what troubles them, upsets them, angers them and causes them to fear and distress.<br />
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I still struggle, to figure out how I still love my former co-worker, someone I considered a friend, could feed his addiction that has endangered thousands of minor children. As a survivor of sexual abuse, assault, sexual harassment and rape I will not be silent anymore.<br />
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To many of us have seen the evils of this world. Evil that is spoken of in the Bible. If my voice makes you uncomfortable, then GOOD. Just because you want to ignore the elephant in the room I will no longer do that. I will join the #MeToo movement and I will continue to demand that all elected officials, including our President, be removed for engaging in behavior that victimizes children and adults.<br />
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#MeToo #SilenceisnotSpiritualAdele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-32412184685746046602017-12-28T14:03:00.004-05:002017-12-28T14:03:53.702-05:00The Good and The Bad (About Holidays)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklyhYE_EBrF5WX1q8-LsvMAAfzRrLjRcqPoHAyOXUpzfS1exEHCXRH8B7rIUlZ8EyOdfleavZFBaUl_c2g-Zz1G-l7RO9Mkhq8vlOXz-y-OhlbfUcRewsvKU07Mfw5Ko0wIFdtrbfldM/s1600/download+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklyhYE_EBrF5WX1q8-LsvMAAfzRrLjRcqPoHAyOXUpzfS1exEHCXRH8B7rIUlZ8EyOdfleavZFBaUl_c2g-Zz1G-l7RO9Mkhq8vlOXz-y-OhlbfUcRewsvKU07Mfw5Ko0wIFdtrbfldM/s1600/download+%25284%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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Relationships are what can make the Holidays Good, bad or sad. On Friday, December 22 I was driving from my Home in Virginia to my parents in North Carolina. A common road I take i passed a road I drove many times in 2015. In 2015 my best friend was battling cancer and I would visit him at UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, NC. Friday, as I passed that road, the tears began to fall. He died on May 29, 2016. He was my best friend since High school and just when you think you are over something or someone the Holidays always get you.<br />
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The desire to distance ourselves from family and friends can be very tempting in an effort to avoid this inconvenient and unpleasant emotions. But I want to make a statement of caution here.<br />
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If we refuse to have relationships during our lifetime then what do we really have? Yes, we avoid, pain, heartbreak, anger etc. because no one can hurt us. But we are also missing out on love, support, encouragement and blessing be retreating from those around us.<br />
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I would give anything to have my best friend back. He was my cheerleader and I could use a good cheerleader right now. But I do not regret having him in my life despite the grief I feel with him gone.<br />
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On Christmas day this year I learned a fellow CBF pastor and his family lost their home to a devastating fire. In addition the pastor's wife died and his oldest daughter is fighting sever burns and smoke inhalation at UNC's burn center. This is a family that has suffered great loss and I cannot even imagine the pain. But in the midst of this pain they have a church that is responding in love and support for their pastor and his family.<br />
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It is only through relationships that we can receive the love of God through those we have relationships with.<br />
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Is there anyone you need to reconcile with? Do it before next Christmas.<br />
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<br />Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-68459015317972496182017-12-04T14:36:00.002-05:002017-12-04T14:36:46.941-05:00First Sunday in Advent, December 3 - When you don't know<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1yrnXzM1Juwb0MIkunxOfeXPdSWKcHDrDTOhsARfOjHeyB_IdHvN1tV7EkHc9ZYCPGT8I4oj89V0WWUuFwZ-LhbiuqP5vWmjFR-JYFg8XXQ4U854UqH1ebFRgWhr7IZkOjgTD49L4O8/s1600/FI033117_HT_Mark13-300x192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1yrnXzM1Juwb0MIkunxOfeXPdSWKcHDrDTOhsARfOjHeyB_IdHvN1tV7EkHc9ZYCPGT8I4oj89V0WWUuFwZ-LhbiuqP5vWmjFR-JYFg8XXQ4U854UqH1ebFRgWhr7IZkOjgTD49L4O8/s1600/FI033117_HT_Mark13-300x192.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mark 13:24-37 New International Version (NIV)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">24 “But in those days, following that distress,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“‘the sun will be darkened,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and the moon will not give its light;</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">25 the stars will fall from the sky,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’[a]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it[b] is near, right at the door. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the Barkley commentary Barkley stress an important point about these four verses that I want to share with you. When Jesus is speaking here he is not giving us a map or a sign for how he will return but simply retelling what the Israelites told in the Old Testament. When reading Mark or any apocalyptic texts we must remember that this is poetry. It is dreams that people had of what they thought of how the Lord would return. The truth is we have our own ideas about what that day will look like when the Lord returns but we must not take these readings as a literal direction as to what to look for. The final truth is we just don’t know when or how our Lord will return. Let’s continue with the remainder of the passage.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Day and Hour Unknown</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want to be honest with you today and share some of my personal testimony today to impress upon you what God is telling me about why Jesus is telling us to Be Alert and watch! I grew up in the church. At the age of 6 I knew Jesus wanted to be in my life and I knew I wanted him to be in my life. I shared this with my parents and they arranged for me to talk with the pastor. What followed was a discipleship class and baptism at the age of 7. Despite the fact my parents grew up in a segregated south I never saw or witness anger or judgment towards people who were different than them. I can even remember mom telling me in my teens how when she was at Meredith College she had a sweet mate that was gay. Through my parents example I learned that faith in Jesus Christ was demonstrated as a love for others. When I got to high school I learned about the love of God and the sin of man. I learned that adults can follow their own selfish desires and when they do bring great harm to children, whether it be physically, emotionally, mentally or physically. I learned that adults in my church didn’t like me and would bully me by saying lies about me to disparage my character. But it was at my public high school that I would have a circle a friends that still remain in my life today. This group was included many races, many faiths and non-faiths diversity of orientation and ability and disability. Just last week I was reflecting on the fact that all my closest friends have never professed a belief in Jesus but never the less God showed me what unconditional love is. We accept each other for who we are. We love each other, support each other in difficult times and celebrate with each other in the good times. Sadly, my faith in God exists despite the church I was raised in. As I consider this sad fact I am convinced that when Jesus says to Be Alert and to watch he is speaking to the Body of Christ. During his ministry, and again when Mark was written around 80 BC and now in 2017 God is saying to us, Be Alert and watch lest we fall asleep and are caught by surprise when the Lord returns.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So how do we remain Alert and Watch for the Lord to return in this day and time? This question led me to my textbook for New Testament theology and Ethics. Richard B. Hays wrote The Moral Vision of the New Testament. In his Chapter on Mark he says the entire Gospel centers on one question Jesus’ asks in chapter 8. He asks his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Hays points out that it’s not until the final chapter when a Gentile Centurion says, when Jesus has died, “Surely this man is the Son of God.” Hays asserts that we cannot not know that Jesus is the Son of God until he has died. We take this for granted simply because we read the gospel already knowing this but the disciples didn’t. Hays’ conclusion lead me to another and final question that I posted to fellow ordained clergy and lay ministers I know. I asked them what a life looks like when one knows that Jesus is the Son of God. There were varying answers and most centered on a change in the person. Whether that change is evident in how one makes decision to how one sees other people. Two answers that hit squarely with my own personal response to this question I will share. One came from my Childhood Pastor and the other from my Spiritual Director. Dr. Coffey, my childhood Pastor stated that when one knows that Jesus is the Son of God then we will see with the eyes of God. He emphasized this by noting that we are seen by a God that is a God of mercy, love and grace wholly revealed in Jesus. Through faith we become God’s children too. In turn we should look at all of creation with eyes and hearts of mercy, love and grace. Then my spiritual director focused solely on love. That to know Jesus is the Son of God is to love others as Jesus has loved us.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is where the rubber meets the road. In 45 years of life I have learned that much in life is less black and white and mostly grey. But make no mistake, there are some things that are simply black and white when it comes to the Gospel and the commands that have been placed upon us. Consider these passages from the Bible.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Regarding the Poor:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I, the Lord, command you to do what is just and right. Protect the person who is being cheated from the one who is cheating him. Do not ill-treat or oppress foreigners, orphans, or widows; and do not kill innocent people in this holy place. (Jeremiah 22:3)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No, the Lord has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God. (Micah 6:8)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rich people who see a brother or sister in need, yet close their hearts against them, cannot claim that they love God. (1 John 3:17)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On Love:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do all your work in love. (1 Corinthians 16:14)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The command that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must love others also. (1 John 4:21)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Above everything, love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins. (1 Peter 4:8)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On Judgment:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Romans 2:1 | NIV | righteousness neighbor</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do not judge, or you too will be judged.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew 7:1 | NIV | law</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A person may think their own ways are right,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">but the Lord weighs the heart.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proverbs 21:2 | NIV | righteousness understanding thoughts</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Romans 14:13 | NIV | gentleness neighbor</span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-25806744-22d8-f0d7-14e6-1c3b70f320b8"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We live in a country and world filled with great immorality and because of that fact Jesus’ message in Mark is ever more urgent. For the church to stay awake we must love as Jesus has loved us lest we fall asleep because we have succumbed to the ways of the world. It is not okay, nor has it ever been for us to turn away anyone in need. Regardless of race, gender, age, disability, nationality, religion, orientation or identity we must embrace the call to love. Defend the poor and their right to basic necessities. Ensure community rebuilding occurs around the world when natural or manmade disasters occur. Providing all children safety from abuse and violence because Jesus tells us to not hinder the children for they shall inherit heaven. Guaranteeing all people the same rights we enjoy to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And calling for justice when others have violated or robbed someone of their rights that God has so freely given us. Jesus reminds us in Matthew that we are a light on a hill and now more than ever the world needs to church to let the light of love shine brightly that God may add to the church and that we will remain awake and are ready when the Lord returns.</span></div>
Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-48127483112832702052017-09-28T10:49:00.002-04:002017-09-28T10:49:15.660-04:00I am a Miracle...I could have died a few weeks ago<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQjtBB9hCMDeC3ye74vkHuB_smjm9Clck_sbDJVzuJmCBphzQiPdzNCy_T1hVSCmbXEn1aKTODyKELlKUauttEu0TOdoc2VtUTqudsFf5tRqivlvhz3syABPqFCWRvcOd0BZPlPMICb0/s1600/4ecc66b11f8a2e64e065ed04dc1bfd9086b3623e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="289" data-original-width="386" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQjtBB9hCMDeC3ye74vkHuB_smjm9Clck_sbDJVzuJmCBphzQiPdzNCy_T1hVSCmbXEn1aKTODyKELlKUauttEu0TOdoc2VtUTqudsFf5tRqivlvhz3syABPqFCWRvcOd0BZPlPMICb0/s320/4ecc66b11f8a2e64e065ed04dc1bfd9086b3623e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Since 1990 I have been on Medication for a medical diagnosis. Last year I learned that the medication I was taking for this diagnosis was creating two other problematic medical diagnosis; renal failure and diabetes insipidous. In July of this year I began the transition off of this medication and onto another one. After 6 weeks on this new medication I was suffering unbearable GI issues from chronic heartburn, re-flux, stomach upset and vomiting. That medicine was stopped abruptly and I was placed on another medication. This medication caused high blood pressure and extreme lethargy. My brain was unable to process anything and I began to have memory lapses. At that point they increased one of my medicines to counter the side effects and all that one did was cause me to be hungover. Those were stopped and I was placed on another one. We thought this one would work because I had been on it before but what I did not realize was when I was sick earlier this year it was actually being caused by the medicine. What's so serious about this is this medication can cause what is known as Stephen Johnson's Syndrome. You can die from this.<br />
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When taking the medicine i had a mild anaphylactic shock. My cheeks swelled causing me to bite the inside of my mouth. I developed a chronic cough, had body aches like the flood and had a rash break out. We stopped this immediately. Because I was on this twice God made me realize that I am a miracle.<br />
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Both times I was on this medicine I could have died yet I am still here. So much happens to us in the world and rarely do we realize what God has brought us through. The reality for me is that God literally sustained me against a medicine trying to kill me.<br />
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If you doubt the love of God take a moment to evaluate why you are still here. Romans 8:37 - 39 is my favorite verse because it tells us what can separate us from the love of God.<br />
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<h1 class="passage-display" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">
<span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-right: 10px;">Romans 8:37-39</span><span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">New International Version (NIV)</span></h1>
<div class="first-line-none top-05" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: -0.5em;">
<span class="text Rom-8-37" id="en-NIV-28154" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">37 </span>No, in all these things we are more than conquerors<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28154A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28154A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> through him who loved us.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28154B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28154B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span> <span class="text Rom-8-38" id="en-NIV-28155" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">38 </span>For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-28155a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28155a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208:37-39#fen-NIV-28155a" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span> neither the present nor the future,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28155C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28155C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> nor any powers,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28155D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28155D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span class="text Rom-8-39" id="en-NIV-28156" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">39 </span>neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28156E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28156E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If you are reading this give God thanks for waking you up. God bless.</span></div>
Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-39400811028287891882017-08-26T18:01:00.001-04:002017-08-26T18:01:14.525-04:00Uncovering my Privilege........A necessary pain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week I posted a submission titled <i>Silenced</i>. I have since deleted it because I just realized how steeped in white privilege it is. I would call that post a glorified whine.<br />
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"Oh, how dare they silence me."</div>
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"Who do they think they are?"</div>
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"I am just speaking for God."</div>
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"Whine, whine, whine."</div>
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I am sorry. When you grow up in a world not having to worry about people watching you when you shop, or people mispronouncing your name, or getting any job your want or into the school of your choice you become blind to the blatant racism and inequality against your friends of color.</div>
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I am also sorry to my boss. He is a man of color with relative success in the working world but I am sure that doesn't exclude him from the rampant racism that still exists in America.</div>
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It just hit me today, that for him to tell me that people were bothered by my post, <a href="http://revadele.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-silence-is-deafening.html#.WaHvhMh97IU">"The Silence is Deafening," </a>calling it political he had to be told that.</div>
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It tells me that the complainers are so comfortable in their white privilege they did not even consider how their words were felt by him. How does it make him feel that his feelings were dismissed as they complained? How does he now work with these people with the idea that they may think they are better than him simply because of the color of their skin.</div>
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I don't know if you read this, but I am sorry. Sorry for my ignorance, for my selfish sensitivity and my blindness to your pain and anguish. And I appreciate you too. </div>
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Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-19227314089113630922017-08-24T16:14:00.001-04:002017-08-24T16:14:42.278-04:00Strange Fruit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My favorite summer show is So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD). It is in its 14th season and the talent never disappoints and the choreographers always find a way to make you uncomfortable about serious issues. Last night was one of those moments.</div>
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Travis Wall took the famous song Strange Fruit, originally written and sung by Billy Holiday, back when lynchings of black people was a common occurrence. He used this song by Nina Simone and choreographed a dance that was captivating, harrowing, disturbing and much needed for our times.</div>
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You can watch it <a href="http://ew.com/tv/2017/08/22/sytycd-travis-wall-strange-fruit-charlottesville/">here</a> within the article.</div>
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I continue to hear White American Christians down play the acts of the KKK and Nazis in Charlottesville. Yet these groups have started spreading threats through posters in Durham, NC.</div>
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White Supremacy and Nazism is a sin. This hate is perpetuated on the belief that the White race is superior to all races. If when people say that #ALLLIVESMATTER we should also be condemning White Supremacy from the same mouth.</div>
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<br />Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-63017754921776200052017-08-16T09:44:00.003-04:002017-08-16T09:44:28.078-04:00The History of White AmericaI do not want to reinvent the will so I want to share a link to a sermon, delivered by Brian McLaren at the 25th Aniversary of CBF General Assembly. In his message he gives a good history of White discovery and settlement of America and how far back Christian hate spans the history of the earth. When you have time to watch it in its entirety, please do.<br />
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/223765530">You have Made the Road by Walking</a></div>
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After watching this please click on the following Link for Bryan McLaren's observations of the events in Charlottesville, VA on August 12, as he participated in the march against the White Supremacist and Nazi's. Here is an excerpt:</div>
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<b><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #546e72;">On the other Anti-Racism Protestors</span>: Along with Congregate C’ville, there were other groups protesting the message of white supremacy and Naziism. I was deeply impressed with the Black Lives Matter participants. They went into the middle of the fray and stood strong and resilient against vicious attacks, insults, spitting, pepper spray, tear gas, and hurled objects. It’s deeply disgusting to see BLM be vilified on Fox News and other conservative outlets after watching them comport themselves with courage in the face of vile hatred this weekend.</b></div>
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<b>There were several anti-fascism groups whose exact affiliations were not easy to ascertain. I was moved by one young woman from one of these groups at the scene of the killing. She stood on a milk crate and shouted (this is a paraphrase): “People, this is hard. This is heartbreaking – to see our neighbors lying in the street, severely injured. But we must realize what’s at stake when Nazis and white supremacists want to take control of our country. We must not be intimidated, but be more committed than ever to stand against them.” There was no call to violence or revenge; only a call to resilient resistance.</b></div>
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<b>I was also deeply impressed by UVA students I met. The group of young men and women that stood up to the torch-carrying marchers on Friday night had amazing courage. Their fellow students, their parents, and all of us, should be proud of these young leaders.</b></div>
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<b>Not all of the groups shared a commitment to nonviolent resistance in the tradition of Dr. King. I saw a few groups of protestors who, like the Nazis and white supremacists, came with hand-made shields and helmets, and I heard reports that some of these groups used pepper spray on the white supremacists, who were also using pepper spray, sticks, and fists on them.</b></div>
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To read it in its entirety click <a href="http://brianmclaren.net/what-i-saw-in-charlottesville/">here</a>.</div>
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Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-89458577209830301862017-08-14T11:47:00.000-04:002017-08-14T11:56:54.153-04:00The Silence is Deafening<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAqHkKBYVj0C1a6lgGGkCI9FAudk7roegNmEdiCuYAexulekJyvJRag8kmXGvEeJ-b_hYo2HdVwEmrylmOYdmqW86dlPKpAkC7OS2vIHBAwBWyMY8r4p7m88Tmpm6KBOHhLbh4cgzZNk/s1600/PAY-A-man-has-been-spotted-walking-on-water-in-Bolivia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAqHkKBYVj0C1a6lgGGkCI9FAudk7roegNmEdiCuYAexulekJyvJRag8kmXGvEeJ-b_hYo2HdVwEmrylmOYdmqW86dlPKpAkC7OS2vIHBAwBWyMY8r4p7m88Tmpm6KBOHhLbh4cgzZNk/s640/PAY-A-man-has-been-spotted-walking-on-water-in-Bolivia.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>"You are not walking on the lake like Peter<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Trials its waves, temptations its storms,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>and men devouring each other as fishes do.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Don't be afraid, step out stoutly lest you sink.When the gale blows and the waves rise, and your weakness makes you fear you will be lost, cry out, 'Lord, I am sinking,' and he who bade you walk will not let you perish.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>-Augustine of Hippo 354-430</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Crickets.......................<br />
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I hear nothing in the liturgy at church of the events in Charlottesville, VA<br />
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Crickets......................<br />
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I hear a mention of hate in the prayer but a proclamation of not knowing where it comes from.<br />
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Crickets......................<br />
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The sermon we learn how Paul denies himself and all his qualifications so that Christ is lifted up. This would be a great way to say that White Supremacy boasts of their inherent(?) privilege and demand them to deny themselves and let Christ be lifted up. But no, I didn't hear that either.<br />
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The problem with having a theological education, where I studied the bible intensively, and being called by God as a minsiter is that I am picky and I am a cynic. I know I am called to the pastorate, but when you're a woman and you preach the word God has given you people don't really want to hear it. So for now, I will use my blog as a way to get the Lords word out.<br />
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<b><br /></b> <b><br /></b> <b>"<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The hate that was on display in Charlottesville this weekend comes from the foundation of our country. The belief that White Man is superior to people of color and those of the opposite gender. As a beneficiary of white privilege, my silence makes me complicit. I cannot be silent."</span></b><br />
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This is the email I sent my pastor yesterday in response to the silence I heard in the service.<br />
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After further prayer and reading of the scriptures, I know that this hate while still evident in White Supremacy began long before its presence in our world but it is all rooted in the same thing. See God and Jesus represent the truth and evil one does not like the truth. We see it in the very beginning. Let us look at Cain and Abel. In Genesis 4 we read the following:<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span class="text Gen-4-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Adam made love to his wife<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-81A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-81A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> Eve,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-81B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-81B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> I have brought forth a man.”</span><span class="text Gen-4-2" id="en-NIV-82" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-82D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-82D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span class="text Gen-4-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.</span><span class="text Gen-4-3" id="en-NIV-83" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-83F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-83F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> to the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>.</span><span class="text Gen-4-4" id="en-NIV-84" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-84H" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-84H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> from some of the firstborn of his flock.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-84I" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-84I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> The <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> looked with favor on Abel and his offering,</span><span class="text Gen-4-5" id="en-NIV-85" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span class="text Gen-4-6" id="en-NIV-86" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Then the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> said to Cain, “Why are you angry?<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-86K" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-86K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> Why is your face downcast?</span> <span class="text Gen-4-7" id="en-NIV-87" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door;<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-87L" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-87L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-87M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-87M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>”</span></b></span></div>
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When it comes to God's teaching the teaching is really simple, that may be why we struggle with God's truth. God told Cain the truth, that if you do what is right you will be accepted. He was trying to help Cain, love him and protect him. But we know, instead of allowing God's truth to change him he became angry and resentful which led to the murder of his brother Abel.<br />
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Galatians 6: 7 says, "Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."<br />
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If we sow anger we will reap killings, murder and death. In John 10:10 Jesus tells us that the thief (enemy) comes to steal, kill, and destroy but Jesus has come that we might have life and have it more abundantly.<br />
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There is no mistaking the similarities between Cain, the Pharisees, Hitler and the Nazi regime, White ancestors of America and White Supremacy. All of these, including those of us who identify with the white race have chosen to become angry at God's truth. We have harbored anger towards those of a different races, religions, nationalities, etc. And it has ended in killings, in murders, and in death. Because American history records White Christians complicity in the oppression, enslavement, and killing of blacks, Jews and women we must now repent of our sins. We must now embrace the new kingdom that God is bringing here on earth and in America.<br />
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What does God's kingdom look like on earth? I want to start with a portion of the Declaration of Independence and the US Consitution and use scripture to support the utmost ideal we should all be striving for in our country.<br />
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<b>Declaration of Independence (a portion)</b><br />
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<i style="background-color: #f8f9fa;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.</span></b></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>US Constitution</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong style="background-color: #fff9f0; color: #22221a;"><em><span class="we" style="background: none; color: black; font-size: 48px; line-height: 48px;">We the People</span></em></strong><span style="background-color: #fff9f0; color: #22221a;"> of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="background-color: #fff9f0; color: #22221a;" title="peace">Tranquility</a><span style="background-color: #fff9f0; color: #22221a;">, provide for the common </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="background-color: #fff9f0; color: #22221a;" title="defense">defense</a><span style="background-color: #fff9f0; color: #22221a;">, promote the general </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="background: rgb(221, 221, 221);" title="well-being">Welfare</a><span style="background-color: #fff9f0; color: #22221a;">, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="background-color: #fff9f0; color: #22221a;" title="descendants">Posterity</a><span style="background-color: #fff9f0; color: #22221a;">, do </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="background-color: #fff9f0; color: #22221a;" title="order">ordain</a><span style="background-color: #fff9f0; color: #22221a;"> and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.</span></span><br />
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<h2 id="x14" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #22221a; font-size: 19.2px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 1em; text-align: center;" title="Amendment 14 - Rights Guaranteed: Privileges and Immunities of Citizenship, Due Process, and Equal Protection">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Article XIV <span class="clause norm" style="display: inline; font-size: 15.36px; font-weight: normal;">(Amendment 14 - Rights Guaranteed: Privileges and Immunities of Citizenship, Due Process, and Equal Protection)</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="clause" style="display: inline;">1: </span>All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="right to control">jurisdiction</a> thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="right to control">jurisdiction</a> the equal protection of the laws.</span></div>
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When we read the Declaration of Independence there is a declaration of equality. Meaning one is not superior to another. There is also a declaration that one's Creator has created them to have an innate right to live, to have freedom and to know happiness. If white men in America continue to declare supremacy over everyone else then everyone else is being denied equality, life, liberty, and happiness.<br />
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At the beginning of our Constitution it states that we are establishing our country on the basis of Justice, freedom from war and a promotion of the general welfare; ie. that everyone has a right to live life fully without fear from others.<br />
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These documents alone demand that all Americans denounce White Supremacy, KKK, Alt-Right and Neo Nazi's that act and behave in opposition to the founding fathers original intent for the basis of our country. Now while I am fully aware that white men wrote this document, that many of them owned slaves and they believed that these rights for them only, many of us will agree that the omission of white in these writings was a divine directive of God. (More on that later). These documents and people through out our history as a country have been instrumental in abolishing slavery, ending segregation, giving the right to vote and own property to women, guarantee voting rights to the Black community and to guarantee equal access to higher education (Affirmative Action). I think it is no accident that our own foundational documents are being used to silence the oppressors and usher in God's new kingdom. Remeber, Galatians says, God can not be mocked.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Back to my question stated earlier. What does God's kingdom look like? We know it includes Jews and Gentiles, Samaritans, Greeks, Romans and Eunics. If we can step back and resist the temptation to read scripture literally we see a pattern here. Jesus's truth is for ALL. In scripture, we find the idea of equality in Galatians. Paul says: <span style="background-color: white;">There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29131A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29131A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"> nor is there male and female,</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29131B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29131B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"> for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Jesus also speaks to what truth is, "For I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the father but by me", John 14:6. The truth is that Jesus loves everyone. We are all the same in his eye, children created in the image of God, his father.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">While White Supremacy has carried the banner of Christ as the basis for their belief we have to call out their bigotry, their blasphemy, and their heresy in light of what Christ says.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">While America is definitely at a crossroads the church is at a dividing point. To ALL my white brothers and sisters in Christ. We are at a point where we must make a decision. Either we will ignore the truth and perpetuate our false belief of superiority or we will denounce all hate, all that contradicts Jesus teaching and all that comes from the devil. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">I want to leave you with another verse and a thought. Ephesians 6:10 - 12</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span class="text Eph-6-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Finally, be strong in the Lord<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29348M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29348M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and in his mighty power.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29348N" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29348N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Eph-6-11" id="en-NIV-29349" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Put on the full armor of God,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29349O" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29349O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Eph-6-12" id="en-NIV-29350" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29350P" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29350P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> but against the rulers, against the authorities,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29350Q" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29350Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> against the powers<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29350R" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29350R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.</span></b></span><br />
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When Christians remain silent to the obvious work of the devil we are complicit and we reject the truth of our Savior. Make no mistake, the hate that was on display in Charlottesville this weekend, at the hands of White Supremacist is of the devil. May we turn our eyes to Jesus, may we repent of our complicity and may we always preach the truth in the face of lies and hate.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. Martin Luther King, Jr.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">1 John 4:20 </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">In Memoriam</span></b></span></div>
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Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-27978044753050378082017-06-19T14:32:00.002-04:002017-06-19T14:32:12.419-04:00Follow My Lead<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On June 18, 2017 I had the priviledge of preaching at Heritage Baptist Church in Wake Forest, NC. This is the church that ordained me on May 15, 2011. Below please find the message I brought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I want to read a letter to you from God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> “Good morning my children. It’s good to have this time to talk with you. I know it has been many thousands of years since I have written but I felt given the circumstances of our world a letter was needed. I am writing to you from a place of concern and discouragement. When I look at the world I see violence every way. At the root of this violence is a deep seated hate people have for one another. This hate manifests in many ways; ISIS, gangs, and white supremacy, or alt right as some may call it. When I look upon this world I created I see a lack of civility, divisiveness and disrespect everywhere. If I get specific to the problem in America I have to say the individualism has become a barrier to the spread of the Gospel. Individualism can breed selfishness and greed. When these two dominate we see racial inequality, groups treated as 2<sup>nd</sup> class citizens. We see hunger, poverty and people not being educated. In a nutshell we are quick to hold people accountable to the law rather than extend grace to them. We are quicker to judge rather than forgive. More people hate others rather than loving one’s neighbor. People exclude rather than include. You ignore one another rather than engage. You hold on to more things than you share with others. You are quick to reject someone, for whatever reaction rather than accept them as one created in my image. And lastly but not least, you walk away from others too quickly rather than welcome them into your life, home and church. My prayer for you dear children is that you learn to live by grace rather than by the law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> So how you do this? I know reading the bible in its entirety can be a daunting task so I want to take this time to highlight what I call the attributes of me, your creator.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">First, I want to remind you that I am your Mother. In Genesis 1 I made mankind in my image, male and female, I made them in my image. Regardless of ones gender all bear my image. As a mother, I will comfort my people as a mother comforts her child. Just as a mother would never forget her nursing child I will never forget you my children. I am also like a mother eagle who hovers over her young to protect them as they grow. And just as a housekeeper will search for a lost coin I will search the ends of the earth to find all my children. I am also like a midwife. Just as a midwife cares for the child she delivered I will care for you. And like a mother bear will release her furry when she is robbed of her cubs, so shall I release my fury until my children are found. Lastly, I am like a mother hen who desires to have all her chicks under her wings. As your mother I will never stop looking for all my children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> I am your Father. My own son, Jesus, knew this and taught you how to pray with this knowledge. As your Father and Creator of the universe I care for each one of you. I am also<b> </b>Jehovah-M’Kaddesh. Meaning I am “the God who sanctifies.” I am separate from all that is evil and require that the people who follow me be cleansed from all evil. I am good. I am the embodiment of what is good, and is kind, benevolent, and full of good will toward all creation. I am love also. My love is so great that I gave My only Son to bring you into fellowship with Him. My love not only encompasses the world, but embraces each of you personally and intimately. I am Jehovah-jireh. I am “the God who provides.” I am<b> </b>Jehovah-shalom<b>.</b> I am “the God of peace.” You are meant to know the fullness of my perfect peace, my “shalom.” I am also just.<b> </b>I am righteous and holy, fair and equitable in all things. You can trust me to always do what is right. I am Jehovah-rophe<b>.</b> I am the “God who heals.” I alone provide the remedy for mankind’s brokenness through my son, Jesus Christ. The Gospel is the physical, moral, and spiritual remedy for all people. I am merciful. My merciful compassion is infinite and inexhaustible. I am faithful<b>.</b> Out of my faithfulness I will honor my covenants and fulfill my promises. I am full of grace. Grace is my good pleasure that moves me to grant merit where it is undeserved and to forgive debt that cannot be repaid. Lastly, I am your Comforter. My son called the Holy Spirit the “Comforter,” and the apostle Paul wrote that the Lord is “the God of all comfort.” <i>—2 Corinthians 1:3,4</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">. My son, is like me, for he is me. He lived in humble service by washing the feet of his disciples. He also lived a holy life. He lived a life of righteousness by doing what was right. Just as my son is pure, you who place hope in him will be purified. Jesus is love because he laid down his life that we might have eternal life. Through my son’s death you have been forgiven and so should you forgive others. In the same way my son has shown you compassion please show compassion to others. By considering himself not equal to me, Jesus humbled himself. He assumed to the role of servant and I need you to do the same. Consider yourselves less than and let me move through you to transform the lives of people you encounter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> So why do I remind you of who I am? I do so to show you how I want you to live with others. In the same way I care for you I need you to care for others. Like a mother, I need to care for and protect those who are abused, mistreated, hunger and fight to stay alive. I need you, like a mother bear, to be angry at injustice in our world and seek justice for those who have been wrongly treated or convicted. As the body of Christ I need you to have a passion to seek out my children who are lost and bring them back into the fold as mother hen works to gather her babies. Just as I am there as a midwife when a child comes into this world I need to be there for these children throughout their lives. Ensure they are cared for physically, mentally and spiritually. Like a Father, be good to all you meet. Love not only those who do good to you but love also your enemies. Provide for those who lack so they will not be in need. Promote peace with what you say and how you treat others. Act justly by being fair and equitable in all your dealings. Bust most importantly, do the work of my son and bringing healing to all. This world is broken and in need of healing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Lastly, let me share with you about one of my children. You know him as Paul, but he wasn’t born Paul. His original name was Saul. When he was Saul he was an enemy to my people, you might say he was a terrorist to the growing Christian Community. But I knew what he could become, and like a mother and a father I could not leave him to his own devices. I had to rid him of the evil that consumes him. And you know what? He became one of the biggest voices for the cause of Christ. Lest you forget. You know the gospel because of his missionary work to the gentiles. It took time for Paul to grow into who I called him to be but in the end he got it. Please hear these words from Paul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Philippians 2:1 - 8 <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Imitating Christ’s Humility<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, <b><sup>2 </sup></b>then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. <b><sup>3 </sup></b>Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, <b><sup>4 </sup></b>not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><sup><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> 5 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><sup><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> 6 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Who, being in very nature<sup>[</sup></span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%202:1-8#fen-NIV-29398a" title="See footnote a"><sup><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">a</span></sup></a><sup><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">]</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> God,<br /> did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;<br />
<b><sup> 7 </sup></b>rather, he made himself nothing<br /> by taking the very nature<sup>[</sup></span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%202:1-8#fen-NIV-29399b" title="See footnote b"><sup><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">b</span></sup></a><sup><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">]</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> of a servant,<br /> being made in human likeness.<br />
<b><sup> 8 </sup></b>And being found in appearance as a man,<br /> he humbled himself<br /> by becoming obedient to death—<br /> even death on a cross!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I stated in the beginning of my letter that America’s Individualism is a barrier to the gospel going out. If we look closely at the words of Paul he encourages us to embrace humility, obedience and servanthood. You live in a time now where if you are to fully live out the Gospel you will live contrary to the ways of the world. I know what this can bring. It can bring difficulty, suffering and persecution, but please remember that I am with you always, even unto the end of the age. Dear children, I pray you will imprint these words upon your heart and go out into this world to change the direction it is going. Live so that others know the love of God and the peace that passes all understanding. I love you my children. Love, your Creator God.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-87282261822101293082017-02-14T11:34:00.001-05:002017-02-14T11:34:50.355-05:00Why I marched again.<a href="http://revadele.blogspot.com/2014/02/why-i-marched.html#.WKMxZW8rLIU">Unlike three years ago</a> I give you the words of a Raleigh, NC pastor as to why I marched again this weekend and on January 21.<br />
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<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast tbn-flight-sentence" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This is an unapologetic, nonpartisan affirmation of</span> <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast tbn-flight-sentence" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Life</span></em><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast tbn-flight-sentence" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">—</span></strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">not just life that agrees with us,</strong><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast tbn-flight-sentence" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">not just life of one complexion or orientation or nation of origin,</span></strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">not just life that aligns on every issue,</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast tbn-flight-sentence" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">or votes the way we vote,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast tbn-flight-sentence" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">worships the way we worship,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast tbn-flight-sentence" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">loves the way we love.</span></strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast tbn-flight-sentence" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This resistance is not a rebellion against nation or an act of treason—but one of the deepest patriotism.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast tbn-flight-sentence" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We resist because we believe that the America we aspire to us is big enough for all who wish to be here,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast tbn-flight-sentence" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">because we believe that its beauty is in the richness of its diversity,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast tbn-flight-sentence" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">because we remember it was born out of people seeking refugee from</span> </strong><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast tbn-flight-sentence" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">tyranny,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span aria-hidden="true" class="blast tbn-flight-sentence" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">because it is not a birthright to be guarded but an undeserved blessing to be shared.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">To read the post in its entirety please click<a href="http://johnpavlovitz.com/2017/02/12/if-you-think-the-resistance-is-about-politics-youre-not-listening/"> here.</a></span></div>
Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-7127157998745599712017-01-31T11:33:00.004-05:002017-01-31T11:37:01.204-05:00W.W.J.D.........H.W.L.F<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In the 1990's the WWJD term became highly popular among Christians, What would Jesus Do? There was never a solid answer but it was a reminder to Christians to love as Jesus loved.<br />
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The other day a friend posted the following picture:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QUyDtBq-TN8pmQ6Nw6YahAU_66iOeXUnRztukpMcuPb1emT5X5uSwMBIZJrLr18X5PJOJNi9HQBQf5QQM4-c4vsxC3Hh8nkm09X7IIw4axHOCeR03498YipVdDqudeHERcPXWT0dPO4/s1600/16266131_10212074205472675_8025162999961917301_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QUyDtBq-TN8pmQ6Nw6YahAU_66iOeXUnRztukpMcuPb1emT5X5uSwMBIZJrLr18X5PJOJNi9HQBQf5QQM4-c4vsxC3Hh8nkm09X7IIw4axHOCeR03498YipVdDqudeHERcPXWT0dPO4/s320/16266131_10212074205472675_8025162999961917301_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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He would love first.</div>
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This is the answer to the WWJD question by a young man.</div>
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<a href="http://www.hewouldlovefirst.com/">Here is the website for the products if you care to purchase.</a></div>
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I don't know about you but when I look at our country right now I see a lot of people living in fear, including our President and administration. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, <span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. It is very tempting to fear strangers due to the violent world we live in but God has called us to love not fear. Even in Psalm 27 we read, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The <span class="name" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> is my light and my salvation—</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The <span class="name" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> is the stronghold of my life—</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff;">Now more than ever, we need Christian ready to love all whom we encounter. It </span><span style="background-color: yellow;">is </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff;">the only answer to our problems. I close with the words of my friend </span>Kheresa<span style="background-color: #fdfeff;"> Harmon.</span></span></div>
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<b>I am thankful for the ones who see through the eyes of love. Through the eyes of love, they see beauty and potential in lives around them. Those who see through the eyes of love tend quietly and lovingly to the needs of those around them. They are the unnoticed ones who bear life.</b></div>
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<b>Those who see through the eyes of love are not bound by fear, suspicion, prejudice, and hate. Those who see through the eyes of love see the face of God in the hopeful and fearful faces of immigr<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">ants, refugees, and the marginalized.</span></b></div>
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<b>Those who see through the eyes of love have hearts that are open wide to the possibility that maybe, just maybe, the other (either by virtue of religion, nationality, gender, sexuality, education, or socio-economic status) is not unlike them at all. Those who see through the eyes of love open their hearts and open doors of hospitality. The do not shut the other into a box of misunderstanding.</b></div>
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Those who see through the eyes of love are the hands and feet of Jesus. They get their hands and feet dirty serving God's people. We may have much to learn from them. We have much to learn from God, who welcomed us, when we were yet strangers, to God's own self.</div>
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Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-40245801581235828052017-01-25T16:01:00.001-05:002017-01-27T09:44:28.762-05:00The challenge of deeply engaging with others....having REAL relationshipsBefore the inauguration of the 45th President, Donald J. Trump, my friend made the following post on facebook on January 16, 2017.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>"Forgiveness is a costly matter because it aims at reconciliation, or the restoring of relationships, and this requires an acceptance of the experience of another into oneself that is nothing less than a journey of painful discovery." (Paul Fiddes) </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Then Yesterday I came across a podcast interview of another friend.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">In the <a href="http://teerhardy.com/calling-prophetic-outrage/">podcast</a> Amy Butler, Senior Pastor at Riverside Baptist Church in New York City, shared the questions she has been asking about the role of Christians and the church since November 8. At the heart of it she says it is about relationships. That for the Kingdom of God to be made known on earth we have to work on our relationships. It runs for 48 minutes but it us worth your time to listen. You can click on podcast above or <a href="http://teerhardy.com/calling-prophetic-outrage/">here</a> to listen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">I will be the first to tell you that relationships are hard. Let's face it, we all want to put ourselves first and get what we want to some degree or another. We have a hard time being the servants Christ has called us to be. This has never been more real for me than in the past 4 days. The quote above prompted me to call a friend about getting together for a meal. We had breakfast Saturday morning and knowing she was a Trump supporter I wanted to understand why she voted that way. I must be honest and say that I am not happy. Truthfully and I am one of those #notmypresident people. But I wanted to find common ground because she is a great friend, a wonderful sister in Christ and I wasn't about to let my confusion and anger about our countries politics ruin this friendship. She answered my questions from her biblical world view as I did mine and we are still friends. I like to believe that we know what is most important and that is our desire to see those we love in a relationship with Jesus and us working together to bring his kingdom here on earth. We have agreed to have breakfast regularly.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">That same day I met a co-worker at the Women's March in Roanoke to march in solidarity with so many others I knew marching in DC that day. I, of course, took to facebook to post my pics, state why I marched and enjoy the camaraderie of my fellow brothers and sisters around the world who marched with me, That's when things got real. A friend and I had disagreements over some issues and if I am honest I was surprised and hurt. Things got real as usually life does. That's when we have to ask ourselves, do we retreat or do we engage?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">I retreated for a few days to attend to my wounds but then I heard the podcast yesterday. A good pastor knows how to stick to you when you need it. How can I preach love and reconciliation if I am not willing to do the work? I called my friend last night to see if we could meet over tea. I heard from her this morning and tea is set for Friday. She is my friend and we share a lot in common but we have differences.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">My question to my readers is this. Are we going to let our differences continue to drive us apart or are we going to be intentional in engaging with our friends and doing the messy work so we can forgive and reconcile one another to God?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">It is within us to heal this land. Will you join me?</span></span></div>
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Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-13536798733749314452017-01-05T11:56:00.002-05:002017-01-05T11:56:14.843-05:00Time to speak up!In my <a href="http://revadele.blogspot.com/2016/12/what-is-greatest-gift_21.html#.WG51zFMrLIU">Christmas sermon</a> I spoke that even people with disabilities face persecution in our society today. Sadly we have an example of that. If you want to read more about it click <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/01/05/4-in-custody-after-group-beats-disabled-man-on-facebook-live-while-shouting-anti-trump-profanities-chicago-police-say/?utm_term=.1ea848b82e61">here</a>. If you have not heard a mentally disabled man was held against his will, bound, gagged and intimidated with a knife by four people. Thankfully the 4 people have been arrested and the man has been given medical treatment.<br />
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<a href="https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2016/12/16/update-1094-bias-related-incidents-month-following-election">Within 1 month of the November 8 election the Southern Poverty Law Center has recorded 1,094 bias related incidents.</a><br />
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I don't know about you but I am tired of standing by and just watching hate happen all because someone is different. This cannot be what America has become. Those of us who believe that love is greater than hate and that love can conquer all things must start speaking up with crimes like this are committed against people whether for their religion, gender, race, orientation, nationality or ability. To much division has driven some people to vilify and demonize others who are different. Let us choose a better way. let us commit to seeing the humanity in each person and love them for the creation they are. A person created in the image of God. Let love overflow our lives and onto others. This is the only way.<br />
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<b>FOR LOVE<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>by Dorothy Oger<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>I shall stand for love,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>even with a broken soul,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>even with a heavy heart.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>I shall stand for love,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>for the world is wounded.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Not just my little piece of land,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>where I am mostly safe,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>where I am mostly well,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>but our world, everywhere.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Every day.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>I shall stand for love,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>because we need more light,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>not more deaths,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>not more power,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>not more bombs.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>I shall stand for love,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>so that our children are safe,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>so that our friends are sheltered,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>so that our borders are open.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>I shall stand for love,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>even with a broken soul,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>even with a heavy heart.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-9796977256442969822016-12-21T15:54:00.000-05:002016-12-21T15:54:09.363-05:00What is the Greatest Gift?<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10pt; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">“I hate religion and I hate most Christians</span></b>”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN">This was a facebook post by a former HopeTree resident. My heart sunk and I wondered if I was among those she hated. I walked into uncharted territory and asked. She said, “No Ms. Adele, Not you.” I inquired further to see what was behind the statements. She gave me permission to share the following with you. I pray you have ears to hear for the Lord has something to teach us tonight. “They don’t accept people and they think only they are right and no one else can be.” She suggests we open your minds before our mouth.” If you read between the lines you will see the problem is, we do not love. God has made me uncomfortable since that day in November and HopeTree employees should be uncomfortable too. We pride ourselves on being a Christian organization and yet we failed this young lady by not following Jesus’ command. We can give her food, clothes, a roof over her head, education, a job, and support, but if we fail to love as Jesus taught us then we have really done nothing. If all we do is love her then we have done everything. Let us pray.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Lord God, we thank you for your love. Love that does not discriminate, that never ends and has no conditions tied to it. Lord forgive us when our love for others has fallen short. Please send your Holy Spirit and pour out your love onto us this evening. Amen.</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">The Unforgivable Sin. Every culture, race, religion has one. Even in the time of Mary and Joseph there was one. Too bad for her, that sin was to be pregnant out of wedlock. Here she finds herself pregnant by the Holy Spirit and not yet married to Joseph. It was within Joseph’s right to publicly shame and have her stoned. He could even throw the first one. But in our passage from Matthew we see him do something different. He was going to divorce her quietly. He chose to love her rather than to shame her. But then the angel had a different plan, a better plan. The angel explained to Joseph who this baby was and that he should remain with Mary and name their son Jesus. Even before Jesus is born we are shown what love looks like. Love is an embrace not a shaming. Joseph chose to embrace Mary rather than shun her. What is this kind of love? Please oblige me and allow me to read from 1 Corinthians 13:1 – 13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span class="text 1Cor-13-1" id="en-NIV-28667" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">If I speak in the tongues<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-28667a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28667a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13#fen-NIV-28667a" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28667A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28667A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-13-2" id="en-NIV-28668" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">If I have the gift of prophecy<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28668B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28668B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and can fathom all mysteries<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28668C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28668C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and all knowledge,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28668D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28668D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and if I have a faith<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28668E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28668E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> that can move mountains,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28668F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28668F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> but do not have love, I am nothing.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-13-3" id="en-NIV-28669" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>If I give all I possess to the poor<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28669G" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28669G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-28669b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28669b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13#fen-NIV-28669b" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28669H" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28669H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> but do not have love, I gain nothing.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="text 1Cor-13-4" id="en-NIV-28670" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Love is patient,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28670I" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28670I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28670J" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28670J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span> <span class="text 1Cor-13-5" id="en-NIV-28671" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28671K" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28671K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> it is not easily angered,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28671L" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28671L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> it keeps no record of wrongs.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28671M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28671M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span> <span class="text 1Cor-13-6" id="en-NIV-28672" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Love does not delight in evil<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28672N" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28672N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> but rejoices with the truth.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28672O" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28672O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span> <span class="text 1Cor-13-7" id="en-NIV-28673" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28673P" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28673P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="text 1Cor-13-8" id="en-NIV-28674" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28674Q" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28674Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> they will cease; where there are tongues,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28674R" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28674R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-13-9" id="en-NIV-28675" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">For we know in part<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28675S" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28675S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and we prophesy in part,</span> <span class="text 1Cor-13-10" id="en-NIV-28676" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>but when completeness comes,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28676T" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28676T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> what is in part disappears.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-13-11" id="en-NIV-28677" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28677U" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28677U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> behind me.</span> </b><span class="text 1Cor-13-12" id="en-NIV-28678" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28678V" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28678V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> then we shall see face to face.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28678W" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28678W" title="See cross-reference W">W</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.</b><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28678X" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28678X" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 1Cor-13-13" id="en-NIV-28679" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><b>And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28679Y" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28679Y" title="See cross-reference Y">Y</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> But the greatest of these is love.</b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">I want to look at two of the nine characteristics of love. The first is Kindness. This is an active word. When you are kind you are doing something for another. As Christians it is important to remember that God is love and where love is God is. As Christians one characteristic of us should be the desire to grow closer to God. When we grow closer to God we live out of love. Being one with God is to continually live in love for others. There should never be a moment that we do not desire happiness for others. In desiring happiness for others we are driven to be kind to them. What does this kindness look like?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">A man who lives in Texas noticed a family of 4 leaving the grocery store with their arms filled with groceries. He noticed them cross one side of the street then wait at the median before crossing. He decided to approach them and inquire if they needed a ride. In talking with them he learned they lived 5 miles from the grocery store. This family had already walked five miles to get their groceries and were prepared to walk back five more. The man helped them load their groceries in his car, during the ride he learned they had just resettled in Texas from Africa. They had fled their war-torn country in hopes to give their children a better life here in the US.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">This is kindness, going out of our way to help someone with a need. It means sacrifice, whether that be time, money or physical labor. Sacrifice is important to remember because Jesus tells us we are to love as he has loved us. And his love for us led him to sacrifice his life for us. We must ask ourselves, are we in a place where we are willing to sacrifice for others? In order to love others then we need to be open and willing to sacrifice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">The second characteristic of love is courtesy. This is Love in Society, Phrased by scripture as, “Doth not behave unseemly or Love does not dishonor others.” According to Drummond, one does not need smarts to behave in a courtesy manner. It is simply an outpouring of someone who loves everyone. Did you catch that? It’s not something we learn or teach others, courtesy comes from being filled with the love of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">So why would we withhold the love of God from others? Why do we as a society, refrain from showing courtesy from others? Why do we dishonor other people? I ask these question because as a nation I have seen very little honoring of life and people lacking courtesy towards others. Do you know who Lizzie Velasquez is? </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZhNqY5-c6XhI1UM0L5luvMgADjM8yFBmtJplJm3vHz5RXF0Z8GIzXcbZJJvv2csrQBJdoRDwCGZaPRphSQcQsqGo396c5WKYdpaTePiMj8s03X7lZd7MglhT-W01R_scyWtqL5O8nDY/s1600/a-brave-heart-the-lizzie-velasquez-story-today-150828-tease_e86250df3c009f88ad756a13bb68d25e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZhNqY5-c6XhI1UM0L5luvMgADjM8yFBmtJplJm3vHz5RXF0Z8GIzXcbZJJvv2csrQBJdoRDwCGZaPRphSQcQsqGo396c5WKYdpaTePiMj8s03X7lZd7MglhT-W01R_scyWtqL5O8nDY/s400/a-brave-heart-the-lizzie-velasquez-story-today-150828-tease_e86250df3c009f88ad756a13bb68d25e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN">Lizzie is a 27 year old motivational speaker with a rare genetic disorder. This disorder prevents her from gaining any weight. As a result of her looks she has been the victim of bullying her whole life and has used it as motivation to encourage others to fight against bullying and achieve their dreams. Lizzie is for me a symbol of the lack of love I see in our society. Women are held to ridiculous beauty standards in our society and if you don’t meet them then you are constantly reminded of that through bullying, harassment and sometimes sadly, assault. Women aren’t the only ones who face harsh treatment, receiving less than the courtesy scripture says we are worthy of. Many in the gay community face bullying and harassment, transgendered people face the same harsh treatment. But it doesn’t stop there. You can be shamed and ridiculed for not being white, for being Muslim, Jewish, atheist and so on, basically because you are not Christian. I am not saying all Christian do this but all should speaking up and calling out and proclaiming LOVE for all. People with disabilities are not immune either. We are so quick to dishonor anyone who is not ‘acceptable’ in our eye. The funny thing is scripture tell us our job is to love. There is no mention of differences. In fact, scripture tells us in Christ we are all the same, the labels disappear. So why do we succumb to the divisive labels? These labels we have for those who are different are nothing more than a tool of the enemy. If God calls us to love then Satan will introduce something into our lives to sabotage that love. This Christmas let’s accept God’s gift of Love then turn around and share that love with everyone we meet. To HopeTree employees, let's decide tonight to let love be the motivating factor behind our work with our clients. They deserve nothing less. Every person we encounter deserves nothing less than kindness and courtesy, both attributes of the love we are called to live in scripture. We never know when a person we encounter may be a prodigal child. Drummond asks the question, “How many prodigals are kept out of the Kingdom of heaven by the unlovely character of those who profess to be inside.” God wants all his children to come home to him but he chooses to use us to make that happen. Will we be the agents of love that bring lost souls to Christ or will we be the hindrance that keeps them away from their creator?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">It seems like an impossible task but I believe that we can love all as Christ has called us to love. See, another truth I know is that we are all created int the image of God. That means, we all, despite labels, are a reflection of the Divine. And if we are a reflection of the Divine then the love God has for us resides in us. We have all we need to love others. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN">Even if you disagree with the gay lifestyle you can still love the LGBTQ community.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN">Even if you don't understand the transgendered person, you can still love them.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN">Even if you believe Christ is the answer you can still love people of other faiths.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN">Even if you are an abled body person you can still love the disabled.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN">Before I end, I have a message for our residents, young and old, If O or any HopeTree Employee has ever failed to love you I am sorry, will you please forgive us. I now have two requests. If your reasoning for not coming to Christ is because of our behavior I want you to give God a chance, God is not us. God loves you and created you. He has a plan for you that includes a future, a future with hope and promise. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN">My last request, if we as adults fail to love you, choose love. You set the example we need for how we are to live with one another.</span></div>
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Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-37080740183780280192016-11-10T15:32:00.002-05:002016-11-10T15:32:59.723-05:00Please Listen!<h1 class="passage-display" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">
<span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-right: 10px;">Matthew 26:36-46</span><span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">New American Standard Bible (NASB)</span></h1>
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<span class="text Matt-26-36" id="en-NASB-24091" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">The Garden of Gethsemane</span></h3>
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<b><i><span class="text Matt-26-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">36 </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-24091A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24091A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>Then Jesus *came with them to a place called <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-24091B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24091B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>Gethsemane, and *said to His disciples, <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“Sit here while I go over there and pray.”</span></span> <span class="text Matt-26-37" id="en-NASB-24092" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">37 </span>And He took with Him <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-24092C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24092C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed.</span> <span class="text Matt-26-38" id="en-NASB-24093" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">38 </span>Then He *said to them, <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-24093D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24093D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-24093E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24093E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>keep watch with Me.”</span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span class="text Matt-26-39" id="en-NASB-24094" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">39 </span>And He went a little beyond <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">them</span>, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“My Father, if it is possible, let <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-24094F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24094F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>this cup pass from Me; <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-24094G" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24094G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>yet not as I will, but as You will.”</span></span> <span class="text Matt-26-40" id="en-NASB-24095" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">40 </span>And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“So, you <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">men</span> could not <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-24095H" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24095H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>keep watch with Me for one hour?</span></span> <span class="text Matt-26-41" id="en-NASB-24096" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">41 </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-24096I" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24096I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-24096J" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24096J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span class="text Matt-26-42" id="en-NASB-24097" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">42 </span>He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“My Father, if this <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-24097K" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24097K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>cannot pass away unless I drink it, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-24097L" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24097L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>Your will be done.”</span></span> <span class="text Matt-26-43" id="en-NASB-24098" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">43 </span>Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.</span> <span class="text Matt-26-44" id="en-NASB-24099" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">44 </span>And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.</span> <span class="text Matt-26-45" id="en-NASB-24100" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">45 </span>Then He *came to the disciples and *said to them, <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NASB-24100a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NASB-24100a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A36-46&version=NASB#fen-NASB-24100a" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span>Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-24100M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24100M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-26-46" id="en-NASB-24101" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">46 </span>Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”</span></i></b></div>
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<span class="text Matt-26-46" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Whenever a person gets angry, regardless of age, I get nervous and uncomfortable. I become fearful that the angry person will become violent because I have seen anger turn into violence. This is a feature of my PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). My tendency is to get them to calm down by getting them to be quiet. The problem with that is it dismisses what they are feeling and sends a silent message that their current life experience has no value. As a chaplain I know and have been taught that I need to allow space for someone to feel their emotions, however they manifest. The most powerful thing I can do for that person is to listen. In listening I validate them and their life experiences and they feel heard, and subsequently they calm down on their own.</span></div>
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Right now, more than ever, we need listeners in America. As of today Donald J. Trump is our President Elect despite the fact that Hillary Rodham Clinton won the popular vote.</div>
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<b><u>Popular Vote</u></b></div>
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Clinton - 59,861,516</div>
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Trumo - 59,639,462</div>
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<b><u>Electoral Vote</u></b></div>
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Clinton - 232</div>
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Trump - 306</div>
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This data was pulled from <a href="http://imgur.com/TOGIbcP">here.</a></div>
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I am not disputing the results and I accept the outcome as this is how the election system is set up. Why I point this out to you is to show you that Millions of people are not happy with the outcome of this election. These people have real concerns and fears about their personal lives and the future of our country. The last thing we need to do is to dimiss their feelings by telling them to 'calm down' and 'get over it', or 'just accept it.'</div>
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Latinos who are American citizens are afraid of being deported because of the color of their skin</div>
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Muslims who are American citizens are afraid to travel for fear they won't be let back into America, their country</div>
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Blacks are afriad that violence against them will escalate</div>
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Women are afraid they will continue to be victims of sexual assault</div>
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People with disabilities are afraid they won't be fully included in society</div>
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Women are also afraid that they will lose their right to make personal and private healthcare decisions with their doctors.</div>
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Children adopted from other countries are afraid they will be taken from their parents.</div>
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Children of color are afraid to go to school for fear of being bullied because of their skin color.</div>
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LGBTQ people are afraid they will lose their newly found freedoms and continue to face discrimination.</div>
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People have real fears and we need to listen to them and stop dismissing them and their life experiences.</div>
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If we want true unity in this country then we need to be uncomfortable and start listening to the different stories around us.</div>
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<h1 class="passage-display" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">
<span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-right: 10px;">Matthew 21:12-13</span><span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">New International Version (NIV)</span></h1>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.55em; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px;">
<span class="text Matt-21-12" id="en-NIV-23839" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Jesus at the Temple<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23839A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23839A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></h3>
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<b><i><span class="text Matt-21-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">12 </span>Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23839B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23839B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23839C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23839C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and the benches of those selling doves.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23839D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23839D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span> <span class="text Matt-21-13" id="en-NIV-23840" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">13 </span>“It is written,”</span> he said to them, <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-23840a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-23840a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21:12-13#fen-NIV-23840a" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23840E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23840E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-23840b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-23840b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21:12-13#fen-NIV-23840b" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</span>”</span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span class="text Matt-21-13" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span class="text Matt-21-13" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">You are proabably wondering why I included these two passages that center around Jesus. I include them to show that Jesus had feelings too. </span></span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-21-13" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">To my Christian readers, if you can accept these passages as part of your Saviors story then please give room for others to express their feelings as well.</span></span></div>
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Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-13054484267763469882016-06-13T11:59:00.000-04:002016-11-10T15:38:30.760-05:00HATE...Is NOT of God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yet again we find ourselves filled with emotion over another Mass shooting and trying to make sense of it. And while everyone means well as they process their own grief it seems some words can come across as cold and hateful and leave the message that the victims in some way asked for what they got. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I want to take the time to study the scripture with you and see if we can get a grasp on where God is in the midst of 50 dead and 53 injured. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b> <b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Matthew 2:16 - 18</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/2-16.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>16</b></a></span>Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. <span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/2-17.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>17</b></a></span>Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/2-18.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>18</b></a></span>“A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH,<br /> WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING,<br /> RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN;<br /> AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED,<br /> BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>John 11:33 - 35</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="text John-11-33" id="en-NIV-26557" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">33 </span>When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26557A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26557A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> in spirit and troubled.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26557B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26557B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span> <span class="text John-11-34" id="en-NIV-26558" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">34 </span>“Where have you laid him?”</span> he asked.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-11-34" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-11-35" id="en-NIV-26559" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">35 </span>Jesus wept.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-11-35" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Isaiah 66:13</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-11-35" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "noto sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 18.8571px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 18.8571px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "noto sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 18.8571px;">.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">Isaiah 49:15</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 18.8571px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "noto sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 18.8571px;">All these verses paint a picture of God as mothering and compassionate. A God who nurtures us and grieves with us. I want to share one more passage that provides a portrait of How God relates to us. That is the image of the Body of Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 18.8571px;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">1 Corinthians 12:12 - 31</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="text 1Cor-12-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">12 </span>Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28647A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28647A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> so it is with Christ.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28647B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28647B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-13" id="en-NIV-28648" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">13 </span>For we were all baptized<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28648C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28648C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> by<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-28648a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28648a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2012:12-31#fen-NIV-28648a" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span> one Spirit<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28648D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28648D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28648E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28648E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28648F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28648F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-14" id="en-NIV-28649" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">14 </span>Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28649G" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28649G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="text 1Cor-12-15" id="en-NIV-28650" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">15 </span>Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.</span><span class="text 1Cor-12-16" id="en-NIV-28651" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">16 </span>And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.</span><span class="text 1Cor-12-17" id="en-NIV-28652" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">17 </span>If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?</span><span class="text 1Cor-12-18" id="en-NIV-28653" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">18 </span>But in fact God has placed<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28653H" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28653H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28653I" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28653I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-19" id="en-NIV-28654" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">19 </span>If they were all one part, where would the body be?</span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-20" id="en-NIV-28655" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">20 </span>As it is, there are many parts, but one body.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28655J" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28655J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="text 1Cor-12-21" id="en-NIV-28656" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">21 </span>The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”</span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-22" id="en-NIV-28657" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">22 </span>On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,</span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-23" id="en-NIV-28658" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">23 </span>and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,</span><span class="text 1Cor-12-24" id="en-NIV-28659" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">24 </span>while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it,</span><span class="text 1Cor-12-25" id="en-NIV-28660" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">25 </span>so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-26" id="en-NIV-28661" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">26 </span>If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="text 1Cor-12-27" id="en-NIV-28662" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">27 </span>Now you are the body of Christ,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28662K" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28662K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and each one of you is a part of it.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28662L" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28662L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span class="text 1Cor-12-28" id="en-NIV-28663" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">28 </span>And God has placed in the church<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28663M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28663M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> first of all apostles,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28663N" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28663N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> second prophets,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28663O" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28663O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28663P" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28663P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> of helping, of guidance,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28663Q" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28663Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and of different kinds of tongues.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28663R" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28663R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-29" id="en-NIV-28664" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">29 </span>Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?</span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-30" id="en-NIV-28665" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">30 </span>Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-28665b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28665b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2012:12-31#fen-NIV-28665b" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</span>?<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28665S" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28665S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> Do all interpret?</span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-31" id="en-NIV-28666" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">31 </span>Now eagerly desire<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28666T" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28666T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> the greater gifts.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If God instructs us to be accountable to each other and responsible to each other then is he not also those things to us? When we laugh he laughs, when we cry he cries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To solidify that God is the caretaker and the comforter in these heinous massacres I want to establish the role of the devil here. As he clearly has one.I give you the following verses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>John 10:10</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">10 </span>The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26492A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26492A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and have it to the full.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Ephesians 6:10-12</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="text Eph-6-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">10 </span>Finally, be strong in the Lord<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29348M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29348M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and in his mighty power.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29348N" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29348N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span> <span class="text Eph-6-11" id="en-NIV-29349" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">11 </span>Put on the full armor of God,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29349O" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29349O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.</span> <span class="text Eph-6-12" id="en-NIV-29350" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">12 </span>For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29350P" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29350P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> but against the rulers, against the authorities,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29350Q" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29350Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> against the powers<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29350R" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29350R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "noto sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 18.8571px;">The devil is alive and well, make no mistake about it. And when darkness invades our world leaving people dead you can be assured the devil is at the center of it. No atrocity like the massacre in Orlando should ever be attributed to God. Our God sent his own son to earth to die on a cross that we might have life. That is not the actions of a revengeful God. The devil would have us think that but that would be incorrect. Please see this act for what it is. An act spurred by the devil and evil as Ephesians say we battle against. And know that God is in the midst fo the grieving.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "noto sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 18.8571px;">Lastly, can we learn to love our neighbor? This will never end if we fail to do so.</span></div>
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Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-16545573027789945432016-04-21T10:45:00.002-04:002016-04-21T10:45:42.988-04:00Loving the Unlovable<span style="font-size: large;">Disclaimer: This is written primarily for people in the Human services profession. If you are in an abusive relationship with a significant other, do not stay in it. You have every right to be loved and respected and not hurt by others. Check resources in your locality and seek help if you are in this situation.</span><br />
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People on the margins of life have been on my mind lately. This is the result of a conversation with a friend and my weekly devotion this week. How many of us can say that we excel in loving everyone, including those who bother and annoy us? I don't expect any reader to raise their hand. If we are honest, we have all failed to love those that are unlovable. We know who they are, the child who is constantly disrespectful, the adult who is verbally abusive, the one's who show no appreciation for what has been provided for them. I am no different. The devotion and the conversation reminded me of a time I failed to love the unlovable. I would like to share it with you.<br />
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It was 2009 and I was serving as Director of Children and Youth at St. James United Methodist Church in Tarboro, NC. I had a part time job sitting with an elderly lady at the local senior living community. Things started off well but as time passed she would get angry at me. She would say I was a waste of her time, tell me I was fat and needed to lose weight, then there was the day she ran into me with her walker. That was it for me. I was not about to let someone abuse me when I was trying to be their friend. I called her daughter that night and promptly quit.<br />
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Seven years later as I reflect I realize this woman needed the love and patience I could offer and I simply cut her off. One of the most difficult passages to digest in scripture is when Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek when someone strikes it, to walk an extra mile when a soldier demands we walk one and to give the cloak off our back when we are asked for our shirt. Jesus is calling us to a different way of living. Are we going to accept the call?<br />
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<br />Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-75101368277515081442016-02-01T13:27:00.001-05:002016-02-01T13:27:08.553-05:00Love is......<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">"The truth is that the more intimately you know someone, the more </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">clearly you'll see their flaws. </span><span style="font-size: large;">That's just the way it is. This is why </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">marriages fail, why children are abandoned, why friendships </span><span style="font-size: large;">don't </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">last. You might think you love someone until you see the way they </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">act when they're out of </span><span style="font-size: large;">money or under pressure or hungry, for </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">goodness' sake. Love if something different. Love is choosing </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">to serve someone and be with someone in spite of their filthy heart. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Love is patient and kind, love is </span><span style="font-size: large;">deliberate. Love is hard. Love is </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">pain and sacrifice, it's seeing the darkness in another person and </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">defying the impulse to jump ship."</span></div>
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Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-3754556199047165112016-01-25T10:37:00.000-05:002016-01-25T10:39:34.101-05:00A Prayer (for all of us) to Pray<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Pray for this fragile earth, our island home. Pray that we would be good stewards and she would withstand our abuse.</div>
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Pray for the Church. Pray that where it is right God will strengthen ti, and where it is in error God will direct it. Pray that God will fill the Church with all truth and peace.</div>
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Pray for the joy of human life, with all its wonder and surprises. Pray we would remember that all people are created in the very image of God.</div>
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Pray for the poor, the destitute, and the dying, in full knowledge that God looks with special favor upon those in greatest need.</div>
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Pray for our families, friends, and our neighbors, and for those who are alone.</div>
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Pray in thanksgiving for all the blessings of this life, and for the promises of the next. Pray that we may live not by our fears but by our hopes, not only by your words but by your deeds.</div>
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<b><i>*Taken from the Prayer Books of the Church of Ireland and the Anglican Church of New Zealand and the Iona Abbey Worship Book</i></b></div>
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Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-31882245715251077772016-01-07T11:14:00.000-05:002016-01-07T11:14:06.903-05:00Someone else's shoes<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Please take the next 4.5 minutes to step into someone else's shoes. Be blessed and be changed.</span></div>
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Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805105720925970427.post-28887212324423378672016-01-06T09:49:00.000-05:002016-01-06T09:49:04.069-05:00A thought for the New Year<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>HERE'S TO A YEAR OF</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><b>BETTER HABITS,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;"><b>positive thinking,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>CLEAN EATING</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>& most of all,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;"><b>LOVING YOURSELF.</b></span></div>
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Adele Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562721591698226511noreply@blogger.com0