tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41046939702801677172024-03-14T11:29:18.968-04:00Abundant Life"I have come that they may have life, and have it Abundantly!"Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-62823409284346669812018-10-04T11:14:00.001-04:002018-10-04T11:14:04.888-04:00The Myth of Mutual Exclusivity:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span data-offset-key="4gbpg-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">The Myth of Mutual Exclusivity:</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="13g1t-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">It seems that the myth of mutual exclusivity is such a driving force behind nearly all divisiveness. In churches, in the workplace, in families, racism, law enforcement, ministers, denominations, gender issues, sexual assault.... the myth is so pervasive it feels like no topic can escape the devolution to that end.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="cicuf-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">(consider the antithesis of each statement as assumed)</span></div>
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<li>If you are pro BLM then you must hate cops.</li>
<li>If you are pro LE then you must hate black people.</li>
<li>If you believe a sexual assault complaint then you have to be a liberal.</li>
<li>If you are a Christian than you Must be a Republican.</li>
<li>If you minister to women who have had an abortion than you are pro murder.</li>
<li>If you are a liberal church then you don't believe the Bible (but if you make up 1,000's of laws that Jesus never imposed then you are somehow deemed "conservative")</li>
<li>If you love trump than you must hate all minorities</li>
<li>If you don't believe Christians should be involved in politics then you must hate America.</li>
<li>If you believe that God loves the LGBTQ community then you don't believe in God.</li>
<li>If one thing in the Bible is inaccurate/mistaken/contextual/allegory then NONE of the Bible is true.</li>
<li>If you don't believe in a physical Hell then you can not believe in a physical Heaven. </li>
<li>If you want to reach millennials then you must want to abandon, discount, and even (probably) hate the older people.</li>
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<span data-offset-key="28df4-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">On and on and on and on we go....</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="55j1k-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">These Us vs Them, Right vs Wrong, You vs Me, black and white lines in the sand creep in, infest, and take over every conversation we have. It makes us fearful of our own beliefs, first, which then makes us fearful of everyone else's beliefs. </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="55j1k-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Misunderstanding-->mistrust-->Fear-->skepticism-->protectionism-->hate-->dehumanization </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="8q4sd-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">I realize that's a lot of rambling without a defined "point" but know we all encounter these every day if not every hour. </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="hurj-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;">We must combat these in ourselves and then learn (genuinely... I don't know the answer....) </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="hurj-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;">how to combat them all around us. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="hurj-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;">The myth of mutual exclusivity is tearing our relationships, our churches, our country, our world, our very souls apart. </span></span></div>
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Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-72929021605917716732018-05-12T10:26:00.001-04:002018-05-12T10:26:13.079-04:00An Open Letter to ALL Women, On Mother’s day:<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dear women,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I hear you. I hear you when some of you say that Mother’s Day is the hardest Sunday of the year. I hear you when you speak of the insensitivity and mishandling of this day by churches around the country that cause you pain and make faithful women stay home from Church on Mother’s Day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">This day, for me, is always held in tension, joy-pride-thankfulness butted up against sorrow-loss-pain. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">For some, Mother’s Day is looked forward to all year, with joyful anticipation, for others the status of Mother’s Day is painfully elusive, for some it is met with dread and terrible sorrow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We have women who are single, women who choose not to be mothers, women who don’t feel called to have children, mothers, step mothers, adopted mothers, foster mothers, surrogate mothers, stand-in mothers, grandmothers, mothers-in-waiting, women who know the unbelievable joy of watching their children faithfully grow, those who know the deep pain of having wayward children walk away, those who gave children for adoption, those who experience the heartbreak of infertility, those who carry the weight of an abortion, those who have faced the darkness of failed adoptions, and those who know the unfathomable pain of losing a child, as well as those children who never knew their mothers, people who have lost their mothers, and people who owe their very lives to their wonderful mothers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We love you all. God loves you all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">God values you all, cheers for you all, and weeps with you all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We are a family of many parts, a family of many joys, and a family of many pains. We are here for you, this day, and every day.</span></div>
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Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-43492799034538358672018-01-10T14:10:00.000-05:002018-01-10T14:13:19.279-05:00For those who teach/work with children:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I spend most of my writing time on sermons and lessons these days, short (and sometimes too long...) Facebook posts, and the occasional (should be more) letter. <br />
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It has been nearly a year since I lasted posted on this blog. </div>
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That said, something has been greatly on my heart as of late and it concerns all of us who work with kids. Whether you are a school teacher, a Scout leader, a coach, a Sunday school teacher, or a youth minister, how we interact with kids (and WHY) is something that touches me to the core.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This has been on my heart a lot and what I have learned from teaching high school, teaching reading intervention, coaching kids sports, coaching high school sports, teaching children's classes, AWANA, youth group, and Being one of those kids myself....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As teachers of children, first and foremost we are here to support, build up, inspire, and encourage kids by showing them LOVE. For many of kids, the love they get from us may be the only love (patience, compassion, encouragement, etc) that they are ever shown at all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, believe me, I know kids can be very difficult sometimes. It is NOT always bliss and this is not a kumbaya-parent-shaming post. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Kids can be rowdy, crazy, disrespectful, rude, lethargic, uninterested, and obstinate. That's on the good days <span class="_47e3 _5mfr" style="line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="wink emoticon"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/fb0/1.5/16/1f609.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What I pray we can all remember is that they may be <u>rowdy </u>because, perhaps, they are over-medicated the other part of their day, or perhaps they don't have access to medication they actually need, or maybe they have no tools to get a piece of your coveted adult attention any other way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">They may act <u>crazy </u>because your place doesn't make sense. They may live in a home where attention isn't given, where adults aren't present (either physically or emotionally) and they are pulling and pushing on all the guardrails to see what's real.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps they seem <u>disrespectful </u>because that is the only behavior they have ever been modeled? I would argue, however, that even more likely is that (like how your own children act worse for you than they do for others) they actually feel safe here with you and perhaps they don't other places, so here is where they feel like they can "cut lose".<br />Don't teach them they are wrong about that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The appearance of being <u>rude </u>can be a misinterpretation of social cues that simply don't translate from how one person lives and what environment another must live in.<br />We must remember that they may not have grow up in our home, our socioeconomic status, our religion, or our culture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">They may, at times, seem <u>lethargic </u>because they (even at elementary school age) may be putting themselves to bed at night, alone. They may not have a safe and comfortable place to sleep well, or may even be working at night to help with the family, either at a job, around the house, or caring for other siblings (or caring for incapacitated parents that are supposed to be caring for them).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Often times a child that seems <u>uninterested </u>may be feigning disinterest to protect them-self from being "found out" - typically this is because they can't read or can't read on grade level. This can also be because they cognitively can't understand the questions but have been ridiculed to the point of developing a fear of asking for help. This can also be because they simply don't know your organizational words and lingo (higher education, churchie, etc.).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We all need to look for opportunities for every child to have their moments to shine. Most children will not shine in all areas and we want to praise them in the areas they do - meet them where they are. We want to love, respect, encourage, and take pride in the child who comes for game time as we do the child that finishes all their book work early, as the child that hangs on every word of the lesson, as the child that constantly talks and acts out during the lesson to deflect their level of discomfort.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We certainly can not let bad behavior simply go or allow kids to treat each other (or adults) poorly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />There will be times that we yell, times that we cry, times that we do this well, and times that we do this horribly (for we are as human as the kids).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I just want to encourage all of us to take a moment and consider that a child might be acting like a kid with "no raising" because they are, in fact, a kid who has never had anyone to truly raise them. <u><b>Until us.</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We want to be a soft place, a safe landing - we want to be Jesus. Jesus with open arms, warm smiles, loads of patience, and grace-Filled love. We will fail at that. All of it. When we do, we want to admit the shortcoming, get back up, and try again. Love more.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: inherit;">We have to remember that children don't try to push us away to actually push us away.... they try to push us away to see if they are really worth it for us to actually stay.</span></div>
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Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-20956309754057631612017-02-02T16:42:00.001-05:002017-02-02T16:42:27.534-05:00be a master in 5 minutes!What people once mastered by dedicating their life to, we now want the same results in an hour.<br />
<br />
Athletes dedicated 80 hours a week to becoming competitive but now parents want to send their kid to an AYSO practice for one hour every other week and are baffled that their kid isn't D1 material.<br />
<br />
Parents and school boards and politicians pressure teachers into giving people A/B honor role just for showing up and then are mad at the teachers when their child, who made straight As, makes a 17 on their ACT.<br />
<br />
Some Parents want teachers, in addition to being hard but easy, firm but sensitive, zero tolerance but lenient, and teach 3 years of state standards in 90 days, to then raise their kids -- when the teacher gets bladder infections because they don't even have the time or ability to take bathroom breaks for themselves.<br />
<br />
Some want to tell their kids that if they're not good at dinner the cops will come get them and lock them up but then want those same police to be "approachable".<br />
<br />
Often times people want the youth minister of a church to change their child's life, redirect their trajectory, teach them manners, morality (and the Real gospel) and if said youth minister can't turn around little Johnny's/Suzy's life in an hour a week for 4 weeks, then the youth minister is the one who has failed that child.<br />
<br />
We as adults want to our Christian faith to be propped up by the 30 minutes we "dedicate" to a sermon every seven days and are bewildered that we can't clearly discern the voice of God.<br />
<br />
We want to righteously fight for/against and vote for or not for a politician that has been campaigning for 4 years, based on the 90 second YouTube video we watched that one time shared by that one person on that one social media channel.<br />
<br />
We want our kids to be endlessly grateful for an award or accolade when they (and everyone around them) get a new trophy every other day whether they were even present for whatever event they're celebrating.<br />
<br />
We want to be madly, deeply, and completely understood without _really_ listening to understand, even on a surface level, anyone else.<br />
<br />
We want everyone around us to know we did/didn't mean something based on them intimately knowing our character, without ever considering the character of the person "attacking" (aka "disagreeing with") us.<br />
<br />
We all want to master everything we try in 5 minutes (or else give up) when the person in that YouTube video we're watching to learn it has been practicing it their whole life.<br />
<br />
<br />Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-46351802320534094562016-11-18T14:11:00.001-05:002016-11-18T14:43:02.790-05:00Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-21543555850346605752016-11-18T14:11:00.000-05:002016-11-18T14:42:58.105-05:0023 Absolutes that should be present in every marriage<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8_dGFkNh_OEkNgwekOc6PH1CMuIWujVDis7NjclHhKLqSnl7bccgGktVc8UX4UZOPFoppxfd2YKyztPhB4hfjrH0M4Xuw3eceZ_nosw6WoqPo5BAwbSLjpyFRDEOoW_DqS2XMUv-_6g/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8_dGFkNh_OEkNgwekOc6PH1CMuIWujVDis7NjclHhKLqSnl7bccgGktVc8UX4UZOPFoppxfd2YKyztPhB4hfjrH0M4Xuw3eceZ_nosw6WoqPo5BAwbSLjpyFRDEOoW_DqS2XMUv-_6g/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></div>
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<ol>
<li>In marriage, you always assume the
best of your partner</li>
<li>You never tell your spouse you
don’t respect them.</li>
<li>You never tell your spouse you
don’t love them. </li>
<li>You never tell your spouse they
“ARE” something when you mean they are “acting” like something.</li>
<li>Avoid absolutes (see what I did
there?): If you feel like your spouse is
acting (again – acting, not Is) a certain
way today, be specific ("today", "for the last 2 days", "since Monday",
etc), but not “always”. </li>
<li>Rage has NO place in a
marriage. Ever. No matter what. Not in a marriage.</li>
<li>You never scream at your
spouse. You also never scream at your
spouse and play the semantics game and say
you were just “yelling”.</li>
<li>Never speak to your spouse in such
a way where if someone was listening in they wouldn’t be able to tell if you were
speaking to your spouse or your child. </li>
<li>Never cuss At your spouse, never
call your spouse a curse word-do not label.</li>
<li>Never physically lay hands on your
spouse, ever, never, ever, never, never (this goes without
saying, of course, but hey… since I’m making a list:). </li>
<li>Don’t threaten. </li>
<li>Don’t attempt to use intimidation
(physical, threatening, withholding, tattling, etc)</li>
<li>Never use sex as a bargaining chip
(no withholding).</li>
<li>Never use the kids as leverage.</li>
<li>Never play the kids off your
spouse.</li>
<li>Keep the verbal diarrhea to
yourself – because after you’ve “fixed” whatever the issue was,
you won’t be able to find everyone who heard you griping about it to tell them
it’s now all better. </li>
<li>Do not carry over one argument to
the next.</li>
<li>Try not to go to bed without
having first discussed anything that has made one spouse hurt
or angry that day. Will you Always be
able to fix everything before you lie down? No.
But don’t go to bed without first attempting to start the softening process.</li>
<li>Never speak to your husband in a
way that you would never allow your son’s future girlfriend
to talk to him.</li>
<li>Never speak to your wife in a way
that you wouldn’t be perfectly fine with a future boyfriend
talking to your daughter.</li>
<li>Never forget that your spouse is
your spouse. You are divinely charged
with their emotional,
physical, and spiritual care. Not just
when it’s easy. Always.</li>
<li>Be quick to listen, slow to speak
and slow to become angry (and never become enraged)</li>
<li>Whether your spouse “deserves”
something can’t even be in your vocabulary.
The ONLY thing they have to
do to deserve your best is to be your spouse.
That’s it. Not
be their best, just be your spouse.
Therefore, always be patient, kind, respectful, loving, not
arrogant, not rude, tender, selfless, never rejoice in their pain,
never resentful, humble, always believe, always hope, always love.</li>
</ol>
Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-49459644573460513382016-08-17T14:38:00.004-04:002016-08-17T14:51:50.357-04:00Pornography.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOATmrRc2LHsw5NJvGv2qUfBx111AjNcJNyXqCuzs5My2csojO11p2qiFAYiTLglOCaudcS3Ivcj44DWoJFaUZQwiS60y0gVRhgUt2spuN7HoZfrhtUzCPyC4TKwUFykPh9p9F07mhyphenhypheno8/s1600/131957940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOATmrRc2LHsw5NJvGv2qUfBx111AjNcJNyXqCuzs5My2csojO11p2qiFAYiTLglOCaudcS3Ivcj44DWoJFaUZQwiS60y0gVRhgUt2spuN7HoZfrhtUzCPyC4TKwUFykPh9p9F07mhyphenhypheno8/s320/131957940.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
This past Sunday I preached on pornography. I didn't "have the opportunity", I wasn't "blessed to talk about", I didn't "joyfully present", I did as I thought I was commanded. Even when I didn't want to. Let me explain:<br />
<br />
Pornography touches every family in the United States of America. Every family. Pornography knows no demographic, no target market. Porn is not bound by class, gender, race, age, religion, or creed.<br />
<br />
Pornography has mind boggling statistics associated with it. Numbers so large they're dangerous, and what I mean by "so large they're dangerous" is this: if one person dies it's a tragedy. If 10 people die it's a national crisis. If 1,000,000 die it's a statistic. A number. Nothing more. We glaze over it because we have trained our brains and our minds to do so. <br />
<br />
Why wasn't I excited about preaching this sermon? Because it's scary. Stepping on other people's toes is one thing, but signing up to drop an anvil on your own bruise, battered, and exposed toes is another. But God asked me to. I firmly believe that, when I allow it (when I shut up and listen and don't worry about schedules, and stress, and logistics, and optics), the Holy Spirit guides me (and Anyone who will allow it - I'm NOT special in this. At. All.) to preach on what God wants the group I'm getting to speak to to hear. But I was still nervous. <br />
<br />
That may not sound like a big deal, but I don't get stage fright... like... ever. If you give me 5 minute warning, I can preach to a large group and feel okay about it. But preaching on pornography? That gave me... pause (and stomach indigestion 5 minutes before time to walk on stage).<br />
<br />
Pornography is one of (if not the) biggest issue the modern church family is facing. Josh McDowell calls pornography the "black plague".<br />
<br />
Take a listen to this <a href="https://youtu.be/VECZFF5PaxI" target="_blank">sermon</a>, listen to all the statistics shared (from a 2016 Barna Group study: "The Porn Phenomenon"), and see for yourself.<br />
<br />
Then, please, Please, PLEASE listen to this coming Sunday's sermon (the follow up) for what do we do, how do we face it, how do we address it, how do we Beat it. <br />
<br />
Thank you....<br />
<br />
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<br />Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-45421131010871350982016-08-17T14:38:00.003-04:002016-08-17T14:40:44.007-04:00Pornography.This past Sunday I preached on pornography. I didn't "have the opportunity", I wasn't "blessed to talk about", I didn't "joyfully present", I did as I thought I was commanded. Even when I didn't want to. Let me explain:<br />
<br />
Pornography touches every family in the United States of America. Every family. Pornography knows no demographic, no target market. Porn is not bound by class, gender, race, age, religion, or creed.<br />
<br />
Pornography has mind boggling statistics associated with it. Numbers so large they're dangerous, and what I mean by "so large they're dangerous" is this: if one person dies it's a tragedy. If 10 people die it's a national crisis. If 1,000,000 die it's a statistic. A number. Nothing more. We glaze over it because we have trained our brains and our minds to do so. <br />
<br />
Why wasn't I excited about preaching this sermon? Because it's scary. Stepping on other people's toes is one thing, but signing up to drop an anvil on your own bruise, battered, and exposed toes is another. But God asked me to. I firmly believe that, when I allow it (when I shut up and listen and don't worry about schedules, and stress, and logistics, and optics), the Holy Spirit guides me (and Anyone who will allow it - I'm NOT special in this. At. All.) to preach on what God wants the group I'm getting to speak to to hear. But I was still nervous. <br />
<br />
That may not sound like a big deal, but I don't get stage fright... like... ever. If you give me 5 minute warning, I can preach to a large group and feel okay about it. But preaching on pornography? That gave me... pause (and stomach indigestion 5 minutes before time to walk on stage).<br />
<br />
Pornography is one of (if not the) biggest issue the modern church family is facing. Josh McDowell calls pornography the "black plague".<br />
<br />
Take a listen to this <a href="https://youtu.be/VECZFF5PaxI" target="_blank">sermon</a>, listen to all the statistics shared (from a 2016 Barna Group study: "The Porn Phenomenon"), and see for yourself.<br />
<br />
Then, please, Please, PLEASE listen to this coming Sunday's sermon (the follow up) for what do we do, how do we face it, how do we address it, how do we Beat it. <br />
<br />
Thank you....<br />
<br />
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<br />Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-75729472586534927382016-05-18T10:19:00.005-04:002016-05-18T16:03:43.651-04:00National Police Week<div class="MsoNormal">
As many of you may know, this is National Police Week. Law Enforcement officers are very near and dear to my heart and, as such, I wanted to share a few thoughts:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some know a lot about the Law Enforcement community, some
know very little, and a lot believe they know more than they actually do…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>“There are too many cops!”</b><br />
The population of the United States is currently ~320 million. The number of sworn police officers in the
USA is about 900,000. Or .0028 of the
population. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>“Cops are dumb! And
overpaid too!”</b><br />
An estimated ½ of the departments in the USA require a degree to be a Police
Officer while the other half don’t.
Neither half has a starting pay commiserate with the job
responsibilities. In the state of
Tennessee the average starting salary for a sworn police officer is $37,000,
and that includes the “higher” paid major metropolitan areas. For most places in Tennessee that looks more
like $29,000-$31,000.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>“Police Officer deaths are just a right wing media myth!”</b><br />
On average, 165 police officers die in the line of duty every year in the
United States. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
To give some small bit of perspective, since 2001 there have been ~2,250
Americans killed in Afghanistan. During
that same time period ~2,375 law enforcement officers have been killed in the
US.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
The average age of a slain officer is 39.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
There are 20,789 names carved into the National Law Enforcement Officers
Memorial walls.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s not to mention that fact that Law Enforcement
Officers have over double the rate of “depressive symptoms” and that’s only
counting what’s reported. One of the
great threats to the Law Enforcement community is the fact that things like
depression and stress are seen as ‘weakness’ and/or ‘part of the job’ and so
_Very_ few actually report, which makes that percentage even more staggering.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Then you also have that officers have a higher risk of coronary events than
other professions, almost 60% of officers have higher than recommended cholesterol
levels, and nearly all, on average, have higher pulse rates and higher
diastolic blood pressure.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>“But they signed up for it!”</b><br />
Now, there’s something we can agree on.
They did. They chose it. You know what, some go in ignorant and
cavalier, but most know about those above statistics. They know they have a much higher risk of
death, they know that, statistically speaking, their marriage has a much lower
chance of survival. They even know (or
come to understand quickly) that they will be vilified, blamed, feared, and
hated. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But they signed up anyway. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They report back to the line anyway. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They choose it, everyday. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Are their corrupt police officers? <br />
Officers who hide behind a badge and a gun so
they can live out their fantasies of grandeur? You bet. Just like there are teachers, firefighters,
bank tellers, and preachers who do the same. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the overwhelming majority do it for you. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the ones who don’t thank them, for the ones
who hide behind keyboards so they can live out their fantasies of grandeur, for
the ones who hate them and teach others to hate them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Law Enforcement shows up for work everyday to
get spit on and ridiculed, and put under a microscope, and investigated, and
shot at because they don’t do it for the thanks; if they did, they wouldn’t
show back up!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Law Enforcement officers put on their hot, cheaply made, ill
fitting uniforms, drape on their cheapest available body armor, buckle up their
35 pound work belts, and lace up their 10 pound dress shoes that they have to
wear to stand, run, crouch, crawl, and fight in because they view it
(rightfully so) as a calling. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just as a
teacher or a preacher, police officers are choosing an often times thankless
ministry.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You’re dang right:
They signed up for it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I, for one, want to say <b><u>Thank you</u></b>.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-61876613418429212842016-02-16T12:38:00.000-05:002016-02-16T12:38:16.782-05:00Honoring MarriageThis past Sunday I was fortunate enough to get to preach. It was Valentine's day and I decided to do a sermon on honoring marriage.<br />
<br />
We focused on encouraging marriages, building up spouses, singles, parents, kids, divorcees, single parents, etc.<br />
<br />
We tried to examine our roles in honoring our own marriage and in honoring the marriages around us - because ALL marriages should be held in great honor, esteemed is highly valuable, and made to be our focus... our treasure.<br />
<br />
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<br />Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-15958803445907669832016-01-27T15:57:00.005-05:002016-01-27T15:57:49.011-05:00Identity sermon seriesBelow I'm going to link the 3 videos from my "Identity" series that I used to kick us off for the new year.<br />
<br />
1: Identity in the New Year: Resolutions<br />
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<br />
<br />
2: Identity in Christ: Rock or sand<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
3: Self Identity: Your thoughts vs. God's thoughts<br />
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<br />Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-50643022661123853732015-12-14T11:19:00.001-05:002015-12-14T11:24:18.485-05:002015 Top 12 Best Christmas music videos!I love music. I have a song in my head at all times. All times. <br />
<br />
I listen to almost every genre out, ones that could never mix, my playlists look like 100 different people from teen to 100 years old all threw their favorites together. Classic rock, alternative, Contemporary Christian, rap, hymns, hiphop, classical, country, rock, barbershop, I can listen to (almost) anything.<br />
<br />
Ironically, I was never really a fan of Christmas music ("Gasp!") but once you have kids, everything changes, including my taste in Christmas music!<br />
<br />
So, for this Christmas I've compiled my top 12 Christmas music videos. <br />
<br />
My parameters were pretty simple, but one important aspect was that it had to have an actual video (lyric 'videos' don't count), and a video that was equally as powerful as the song itself (so be sure to Watch and not just listen!). <br />
Also, if at all possible, it had to be a live performance (9 out of the 12 are live I believe). <br />Also, the number 1 video is a bonus, of sorts: it's not technically traditional "Christmas" song, but it definitely deserves to be on the list! Don't miss the spoken-word poem in the middle... it will blow you away!<br />
<br />
*Disclaimer: I could have easily made all 12 Pentatonix or all Lindsey Stirling videos... Love all of them... but I limited them to 2 and 1, respectively!<br />
<br />
Here we go (I hope you enjoy!):<br />
<br />
12. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/qdqlpxm" target="_blank">Alison Krauss and Robert Plant - "Light of Christmas Day"</a><br />
<br />
11. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/plf76rx" target="_blank">Chris Tomlin - "A Christmas Alleluia"</a><br />
<br />
10. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/p4c4tn4" target="_blank">"Come Thou Long Expected Jesus"</a><br />
<br />
9. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/hozun8d" target="_blank">Christmas Food Court Flash Mob - "Hallelujah Chorus"</a><br />
<br />
8. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/of6fvoz" target="_blank">Pentatonix - "Silent Night"</a><br />
<br />
7. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/ot4krst" target="_blank">Som Sabadell Orchestra Flash Mob - "Ode to Joy"</a><br />
<br />
6. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/jkz93o8" target="_blank">Lindsey Stirling - "What Child is This?"</a><br />
<br />
5. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/zfxqtnm" target="_blank">Cloverton - "A Hallelujah Christmas"</a><br />
<br />
4. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/gvnxt5t" target="_blank">Pentatonix - "Joy to the World"</a><br />
<br />
3. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/gn5s7e8" target="_blank">Lauren Daigle - "Noel"</a><br />
<br />
2. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/hm54cbu" target="_blank">CeeLo Green - "Mary Did You Know?"</a><br />
<br />
1. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/gopfapz" target="_blank">Kari Jobe - "Forever"</a> <br />
<br />Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-72845815604840654872015-10-09T10:21:00.001-04:002015-10-09T10:21:13.154-04:00All Point to Christ (from the beginning)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcc2-hs8pBxSyUWc8zbGSwvn5E8JPGWtC0AylU9qqGA6hr39Xgvb17_hKUn4bcpQfy2UPSj7ZManjZckaJ_FGdCrj8byPkBeUu0XugO1SVeGJS4remAPSiyUi5MWPkWhRAZxnpIxQOieI/s1600/Jesus+Creator+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcc2-hs8pBxSyUWc8zbGSwvn5E8JPGWtC0AylU9qqGA6hr39Xgvb17_hKUn4bcpQfy2UPSj7ZManjZckaJ_FGdCrj8byPkBeUu0XugO1SVeGJS4remAPSiyUi5MWPkWhRAZxnpIxQOieI/s320/Jesus+Creator+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
Jesus didn't come into existence in a manger in Bethlehem. Jesus wasn't created at Mary's conception. Jesus has always been. Jesus is The Word, the Angel of the Lord, and Jesus has no beginning, just as the Father has no beginning, just as the Spirit has no beginning. Jesus was there at creation. <br />
<br />
Don't miss the significance of this nor shortchange the true nature of the Trinity. <br />
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Genesis 1:1-2 and John 1:1-5Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-84530298216338183262015-09-23T19:14:00.001-04:002015-09-23T19:14:05.193-04:00Why is church the first thing to get "cut"?<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5bpHHjID0mntTiUM3MvPWzjucHHIrRT5XoxsosXf3PQTi7Z_ChKAaZVCGfy9D_o-PM0q_b4pOZmXnsN9AFXUo6DYlGqyGORoy81yHxhgALT4QmtVrtuoWejp3Q1DGJENgg-qbMP653w/s640/blogger-image--351021919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5bpHHjID0mntTiUM3MvPWzjucHHIrRT5XoxsosXf3PQTi7Z_ChKAaZVCGfy9D_o-PM0q_b4pOZmXnsN9AFXUo6DYlGqyGORoy81yHxhgALT4QmtVrtuoWejp3Q1DGJENgg-qbMP653w/s640/blogger-image--351021919.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Parents: </div><div>We can't say we want our kids around positive role models, that we want them to have a Christian peer group, that we want their influences to be focused on Jesus, and that we want the church family to be important to them - and trade youth group activities for sports, Wed nights for dates and homework, Sunday school for extra sleep, and church for ball tournaments. </div><div><br></div><div>Our lives, as parents, are hard, CRAZY, and over scheduled, but when we use our words to tell our kids that our church family is what's most important and then when things get busy and we get tired church family is the first thing we cut.... believe me, they know. They get the message. </div><div><br></div><div>We as parents are the front line for our kids, but we have to surround our kids with additional Christian influences and role models so they can make meaningful relationships with those people we want mentoring them someday when they "need" someone else to turn to other than us. </div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div>Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-45845615656965774482015-09-18T10:38:00.001-04:002015-09-18T10:39:19.452-04:00Parenting, marriage, Christianity.... they're all Hard.<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">Parenting is hard. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">Marriage is hard. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">Christianity is hard. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">Truth be told, Anyone who tells you differently is lying or has something to sell. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">The "life is easy", "God just wants you to be Happy", "marriage is always bliss", "parenting is only wonderful", "prosperity gospel" theologies are all lies from the very pit of hell.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">You want to know what parenting, marriage, and Christianity all have in common? They All require selfish, egotistical, self centered people (ie all of humanity) to act in a way completely contrary to their very nature. In parenting, marriage, and Christianity we are <i>required</i> to put other's thoughts, feelings, emotions, wants, and needs ahead of our own. Period. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">"Yeah, but They deserve" grace.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">"They're not even sorry!" forgive them anyway.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">"They started it" and you can end it.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">"They hurt me so bad" don't pass it on (or back)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">I don't know about you (actually... I think I do) but I'm pretty terrible at this. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">Loving those who hate me is not my strong suit. Showing patience to a disobedient child isn't "blissful". Putting my wife's feelings ahead of mine when I don't think she's putting mine ahead of her's isn't "bliss" (though I assure you those roles are typically reversed I'm sure). Being the light in a dark world when my nature is either to throw darkness back or to take my little candle and go huddle up in the corner by myself is not easy. Or natural. or easy. or easy. or easy.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">BUT</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">God loves you anyway. Love people anyway. People love you anyway. Love yourself anyway.</span>Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-80374048459135082292015-09-15T15:35:00.000-04:002015-09-15T15:35:10.898-04:00Retreat:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYQqy3IHpIsdhxXpFduN9KvaFLePV_AeHImrVjQFiji0Mf_UBYqUnyOgXnd1Y-Of9-LzzceXm5mXw4cHMi_5cE8aOVelVMYysWdkIPrzJsWgJQ3vg9eMlM8hkqN95HipKcXcvuefD0jo/s1600/Retreat+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYQqy3IHpIsdhxXpFduN9KvaFLePV_AeHImrVjQFiji0Mf_UBYqUnyOgXnd1Y-Of9-LzzceXm5mXw4cHMi_5cE8aOVelVMYysWdkIPrzJsWgJQ3vg9eMlM8hkqN95HipKcXcvuefD0jo/s320/Retreat+a.jpg" width="139" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sometimes you just need to Retreat... to breathe, to escape, run away, be still, be quiet, hide. In order to RETREAT one is in dire need of restoration, to gain said restoration one must escape from the world and all the stress and distractions of routine and take time to recharge. Exalt the Father, give praise to God, cast your worries, your cares, and your fears on Him and allow him to heal you. Finally, remember that a thankful heart is a joyful heart and thankful soul is a soul at peace. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Let's explore what it looks like to truly _Retreat_</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 20.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 20.0pt;">I.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><u><span style="color: red; font-size: 20.0pt;">Restore<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt;">to bring back into existence; reestablish</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt;">to bring back to a former, original, or normal condition</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt;">to bring back to a state of </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/health"><span style="color: #333333;">health</span></a></span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt;">, soundness, or vigor.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt;">to reproduce or reconstruct in the original state.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Psalm 51:10-12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><sup><span style="font-size: 14pt;">10</span></sup></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Create in me a pure heart, O God,<br />
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.<br />
<b><sup>11</sup></b> Do not cast me from your presence<br />
or take your Holy Spirit from me.<br />
<b><sup>12</sup></b> <b>Restore</b> to me the joy of your salvation<br />
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Isaiah 57:18-19<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><sup><span style="font-size: 14pt;">18</span></sup></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> I have seen their ways, but I will heal
them;<br />
I will guide them and <b>restore</b> comfort to
Israel’s mourners,<br />
<b><sup>19</sup></b> creating praise on their lips.<br />
Peace, peace, to those far and near,”<br />
says the LORD. “And I will heal them.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: red; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">II. Escape<br />
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<i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to slip or get away, as from confinement or restraint; <b>gain or
gain liberty</b>: </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to slip away from pursuit or peril; avoid capture,
or any threatened evil.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to slip away; fade: The words escaped from memory.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Psalm
55:4-8</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>4</sup></b> My
heart is in anguish within me;<br />
the terrors of death have fallen on me.<br />
<b><sup>5</sup></b> Fear and trembling have beset me;<br />
horror has overwhelmed me.<br />
<b><sup>6</sup></b> I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!<br />
I would fly away and be at rest.<br />
<b><sup>7</sup></b> I would flee far away<br />
and stay in the desert;<sup>[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2055&version=NIV#fen-NIV-14740c" title="See footnote c"><span style="color: blue;">c</span></a>]</sup><br />
<b><sup>8</sup></b> I would hurry my <b>escape</b> to a place of
shelter,<br />
far from the tempest and storm.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Psalm 71</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>1</sup></b> In
you, LORD, I have taken refuge;<br />
let me never be put to shame.<br />
<b><sup>2</sup></b> In your righteousness, rescue me and help me <b>escape</b> -
deliver me;<br />
turn your ear to me and save me.<br />
<b><sup>3</sup></b> Be my rock of refuge,<br />
to which I can always go;<br />
give the command to save me,<br />
for you are my rock and my fortress.<br />
<b><sup>4</sup></b> Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,<br />
from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>5</sup></b> For
you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD,<br />
my confidence since my youth.<br />
<b><sup>6</sup></b> From birth I have relied on you;<br />
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.<br />
I will ever praise you.<br />
<b><sup>7</sup></b> I have become a sign to many;<br />
you are my strong refuge.<br />
<b><sup>8</sup></b> My mouth is filled with your praise,<br />
declaring your splendor all day long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>9</sup></b> Do
not cast me away when I am old;<br />
do not forsake me when my strength is gone.<br />
<b><sup>10</sup></b> For my enemies speak against me;<br />
those who wait to kill me conspire together.<br />
<b><sup>11</sup></b> They say, “God has forsaken him;<br />
pursue him and seize him,<br />
for no one will rescue him.”<br />
<b><sup>12</sup></b> Do not be far from me, my God;<br />
come quickly, God, to help me.<br />
<b><sup>13</sup></b> May my accusers perish in shame;<br />
may those who want to harm me<br />
be covered with scorn and disgrace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>14</sup></b> As
for me, I will always have hope;<br />
I will praise you more and more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>15</sup></b> My
mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,<br />
of your saving acts all day long—<br />
though I know not how to relate them all.<br />
<b><sup>16</sup></b> I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign
LORD;<br />
I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.<br />
<b><sup>17</sup></b> Since my youth, God, you have taught me,<br />
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.<br />
<b><sup>18</sup></b> Even when I am old and gray,<br />
do not forsake me, my God,<br />
till I declare your power to the next generation,<br />
your mighty acts to all who are to come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>19</sup></b> Your
righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,<br />
you who have done great things.<br />
Who is like you, God?<br />
<b><sup>20</sup></b> Though you have made me see troubles,<br />
many and bitter,<br />
you will restore my life again;<br />
from the depths of the earth<br />
you will again bring me up.<br />
<b><sup>21</sup></b> You will increase my honor<br />
and comfort me once more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>22</sup></b> I
will praise you with the harp<br />
for your faithfulness, my God;<br />
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,<br />
Holy One of Israel.<br />
<b><sup>23</sup></b> My lips will shout for joy<br />
when I sing praise to you—<br />
I whom you have delivered.<br />
<b><sup>24</sup></b> My tongue will tell of your righteous acts<br />
all day long,<br />
for those who wanted to harm me<br />
have been put to shame and confusion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: red; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">III. Time<br />
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<!--[endif]--></span></u></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Psalm 46</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>1</sup></b> God
is our refuge and strength,<br />
an ever-present help in trouble.<br />
<b><sup>2</sup></b> Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give
way<br />
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,<br />
<b><sup>3</sup></b> though its waters roar and foam<br />
and the mountains quake with their surging.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>4</sup></b> There
is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,<br />
the holy place where the Most High dwells.<br />
<b><sup>5</sup></b> God is within her, she will not fall;<br />
God will help her at break of day.<br />
<b><sup>6</sup></b> Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;<br />
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>7</sup></b> The
LORD Almighty is with us;<br />
the God of Jacob is our fortress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>8</sup></b> Come
and see what the LORD has done,<br />
the desolations he has brought on the earth.<br />
<b><sup>9</sup></b> He makes wars cease<br />
to the ends of the earth.<br />
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;<br />
he burns the shields<sup> </sup>with fire.<br />
<b><sup>10</sup></b> He says, <b>“<i><u>Be still</u></i>, and know
that I am God;<br />
I will be exalted among the nations,<br />
I will be exalted in the earth.”</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>11</sup></b> The
LORD Almighty is with us;<br />
the God of Jacob is our fortress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sounds like meditation,
which I do think is important, but this actually Isn’t about meditation as we
often think of it. First off: is “be still” a suggestion?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">“be still” is “rapha” which
means –to be weak, or to let go, to release all control- so “be still” says
“force yourself to let go” or “make yourselves become weak”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Why? Well, “and”
in this case means “so” or “in order to”. So, in effect, what we
have is “make yourselves become weak in order to know God”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It’s an instructional
statement for finding peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Exodus 14:14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><sup><span style="font-size: 14pt;">14</span></sup></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> The LORD will fight for you; you need only
to be still.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IV. Recharge</span></u></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to revive or restore </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/energy"><span style="color: #333333;">energy</span></a></span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, stamina, enthusiasm;
revitalize</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Be Still. Spread
out, you can take Bible, pen and paper, or Nothing. Pray. Reflect. Talk. LISTEN.
Thank.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Exodus 14:14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">14 The LORD will fight for you;
you need only to be still.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">V. Exalt</span></u></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to raise in rank, honor, power, character, quality.
elevate:</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to praise; extol:</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to elate, as with pride or joy.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Psalm 19<br />
14 May the words of my mouth<br />
and the meditation of my heart<br />
be pleasing to you,<br />
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><i><span style="color: #4b5d67; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Psalm 21:13 Be exalted, O
LORD, in Your <u>own</u> strength! We will sing and praise <u>Your</u> power</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Psalm 34<br />
3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;<br />
let us exalt his name together.<br />
<br />
Psalm 66<br />
3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!<br />
Your enemies cringe before your mighty power.<br />
4 Everything on earth will worship you;<br />
they will sing your praises,<br />
shouting your name in glorious songs.”<br />
<br />
Psalm 96<br />
3 Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.<br />
Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.<br />
<br />
Psalm 107<br />
2 Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!<br />
Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Psalm 99</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>1</sup></b> The
LORD reigns,<br />
let the nations tremble;<br />
he sits enthroned between the cherubim,<br />
let the earth shake.<br />
<b><sup>2</sup></b> Great is the LORD in Zion;<br />
he is exalted over all the nations.<br />
<b><sup>3</sup></b> Let them praise your great and awesome name—<br />
he is holy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>4</sup></b> The
King is mighty, he loves justice—<br />
you have established equity;<br />
in Jacob you have done<br />
what is just and right.<br />
<b><sup>5</sup></b> Exalt the LORD our God<br />
and worship at his footstool;<br />
he is holy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>6</sup></b> Moses
and Aaron were among his priests,<br />
Samuel was among those who called on his name;<br />
they called on the LORD<br />
and he answered them.<br />
<b><sup>7</sup></b> He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud;<br />
they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>8</sup></b> LORD
our God,<br />
you answered them;<br />
you were to Israel a forgiving God,<br />
though you punished their misdeeds.<sup>[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2099&version=NIV#fen-NIV-15508a" title="See footnote a"><span style="color: blue;">a</span></a>]</sup><br />
<b><sup>9</sup></b> Exalt the LORD our God<br />
and worship at his holy mountain,<br />
for the LORD our God is holy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Isaiah 25<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <sup>1</sup> LORD,
you are my God;<br />
I will exalt you and praise your name,<br />
for in perfect faithfulness<br />
you have done wonderful things,<br />
things planned long ago. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">1 corinthians 15:31<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 14pt;">31</span></sup><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> I face death every day—yes, just as surely
as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Galations 2:20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 14pt;">20</span></sup><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> I have been crucified with Christ and I no
longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by
faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Romans 12<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">A Living Sacrifice<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <sup>1</sup><b> </b>Therefore,
I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies
as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper
worship.<b> </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 14pt;">2</span></sup><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Do not conform to the pattern of this
world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able
to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">VI. Allow</span></u></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Philippians 1:6<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<b><sup><span style="font-size: 14pt;">6 </span></sup></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And I am sure of this, that he who began a
good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus
Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">VII. Thanks</span></u></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Psalm 48:1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Great is the LORD, and greatly to be
praised</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Psalm 96:4</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For great is the LORD and most worthy
of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Psalm 107:1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Give thanks to the LORD, for he is
good; his love endures forever.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Psalm 145:3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Great is the LORD and most worthy of
praise; his greatness no one can fathom.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 Chronicles 16:25</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For great is the LORD and most worthy
of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Isaiah 53</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>1</sup></b> Who
believes what we've heard and seen? Who would have thought God's saving power
would look like this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>2-6</sup></b>The
servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling,<br />
a scrubby plant in a parched field.<br />
There was nothing attractive about him,<br />
nothing to cause us to take a second look.<br />
He was looked down on and passed over,<br />
a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.<br />
One look at him and people turned away.<br />
We looked down on him, thought he was scum.<br />
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—<br />
our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.<br />
We thought he brought it on himself,<br />
that God was punishing him for his own failures.<br />
But it was our sins that did that to him,<br />
that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!<br />
He took the punishment, and that made us whole.<br />
Through his bruises we get healed.<br />
We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost.<br />
We've all done our own thing, gone our own way.<br />
And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong,<br />
on him, on him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>7-9</sup></b>He
was beaten, he was tortured,<br />
but he didn't say a word.<br />
Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered<br />
and like a sheep being sheared,<br />
he took it all in silence.<br />
Justice miscarried, and he was led off—<br />
and did anyone really know what was happening?<br />
He died without a thought for his own welfare,<br />
beaten bloody for the sins of my people.<br />
They buried him with the wicked,<br />
threw him in a grave with a rich man,<br />
Even though he'd never hurt a soul<br />
or said one word that wasn't true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>10</sup></b>Still,
it's what God had in mind all along,<br />
to crush him with pain.<br />
The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin<br />
so that he'd see life come from it—life, life, and more
life.<br />
And God's plan will deeply prosper through him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><sup>11-12</sup></b>Out
of that terrible travail of soul,<br />
he'll see that it's worth it and be glad he did it.<br />
Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant,<br />
will make many "righteous ones,"<br />
as he himself carries the burden of their sins.<br />
Therefore I'll reward him extravagantly—<br />
the best of everything, the highest honors—<br />
Because he looked death in the face and didn't flinch,<br />
because he embraced the company of the lowest.<br />
He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many,<br />
he took up the cause of all the black sheep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-57050812451879083752015-09-09T15:21:00.001-04:002015-09-09T15:35:53.118-04:00Christianity: You're doing it wrong.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnD8vkeIH3SNhZzkhOmQAdNDekDMy1TH6z2X99h2mH-6TRdmtoOTw5K_aWuzR0zI8gjJcnWg6PR05BTN0UUpDZ7dIKgYFzux7E0g-qh_GnGYbehOMkY8jVdc9HcqTL-ypYBbAEf083vxY/s1600/CONDEMN1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnD8vkeIH3SNhZzkhOmQAdNDekDMy1TH6z2X99h2mH-6TRdmtoOTw5K_aWuzR0zI8gjJcnWg6PR05BTN0UUpDZ7dIKgYFzux7E0g-qh_GnGYbehOMkY8jVdc9HcqTL-ypYBbAEf083vxY/s320/CONDEMN1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Find me an example in scripture where Jesus yelled at, chastised, condemned, or even spoke anything but love to a sinner? Where does Jesus take a nonbeliever doing something wrong and rake them over the coals (a whip, maybe....)?<br />
<br />
<i>"Don't emasculate my Jesus!" </i><br />
On the contrary, Jesus was a formidable figure (you know... God), in your face, stand his ground, and down right antagonistic at times. But you know who he was that way with? THE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE for acting like idiots towards everyone else! <br />
It was when disciples wanted to be more important than they were, when they wanted to make things about them, or when religious people started pointing fingers at others, not associating with sinners, condemning people (even when it would seem obvious that they were safe in doing so) that Jesus got angry and "preachy".<br />
<br />
The Samaritan woman at the well (John 4)? This was someone who religious people wouldn't be caught dead talking to. Jewish people would trek miles out of their way just so they didn't even have to set foot in the same town as "dirty Samaritans". Jesus makes a point to blow as many social rules away that he can in this encounter and then addresses this woman, who has had 5 husbands and is now living with another man who's not even one of her 5 husbands, with LOVE and grace. <br />
Did you catch the part in the story where Jesus nails her on being an adulterer? No? Well, he sure put her on blast for 5 divorces! <br />
No? Nothing? Nothing.<br />
He showed her love and another way -- That a new, better life was available was what was important, not punishment for the current or the past. <b>When one sees love, mercy, forgiveness, grace, and abundant life, they don't need to be condemned for the prison they've been living in, they WANT that new life, they desperately need that Good News.</b><br />
<br />
Then there's the adulteress woman in John 8. She was caught in the act of adultery. That would be bad now, I don't have to tell you what it was like 2,000 years ago. Jesus protects her, points out that everyone in the crowd that's accusing her (<u>religious people</u>) are in the same boat, and then he tells her "hey, where did everybody go? Is no one going to condemn you? Then neither do I. Go and sin no more" Take the new life!<br />
You see, in this instance, <b>the crowd wanted to condemn her but couldn't, Jesus had had the authority, to condemn her </b>("he who is without sin cast the first stone")<b> but didn't.</b><br />
<br />
Jesus says <i>"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so should you love one another. By this all people will know you are my disciples: by the way you love one another"</i><br />
<br />
<i>"Let him who is without sin cast the first stone"</i><br />
<br />
<i>"What good is it to love those who love you back? THE WORST OF PEOPLE DO THAT."</i><br />
<br />
<i>"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God Is Love."</i><br />
<br />
<i>"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults - unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say 'let me wash your face for you' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to you neighbor"</i><br />
<br />
<i>"blessed are the meek... blessed are the merciful....blessed are the peacemakers"</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."</i><br />
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On. And on. And on.<br />
<br />
There seems to be a theme here....<br />
<br />
<b>So, if your "Christianity" forces you to hate someone, calls on you to judge someone by pointing out how awful they are, gives you authority to condemn, has you angrily yelling at people of the world, has you praying for ill will or destruction of someone, demands that you not forgive someone because it would compromise your moral obligations as a Christian, frees you to not love Anyone, or makes you a better Christian for not associating with a certain group of people,</b><br />
<b>then, brothers and sisters, YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Is there such thing as sin? Of course. Are we, as broken, imperfect, sinning Christians called to live differently? You bet. That's why Jesus held his disciples to such high standards-because they knew better. The world, the ones who didn't yet know Christ, can not be held to the standards of Jesus Christ if they don't know Jesus Christ. <br />
The disciples and all who Jesus called didn't give up everything to follow Jesus because his opening conversation with them was a diatribe about their horrible sinful ways, about all the terrible things they had done, the horrible people they were, and how they would Always sin and doubt no matter how much he worked with them - the came because he said "come". Jesus knew it all. He knew that woman had already been through 5 husbands, and he pointed it out so she would know he knew, and then never said another word about it. The point was that he Did know all the horror and wanted her anyway. <br />
<br />
<i>Romans 5:8 says </i><u>(in my words)</u><i> - you want a definition of love? Jesus saw me, a sinner who didn't love him, who didn't care about him, who didn't even know he existed. He knew that I was royally screwed up and no matter what he did, no matter how long I lived, I would Never figure it all out, I would never get it right, and he bought me anyway. Jesus paid for me, in blood, just so the broken mess I am would have the Chance, the option, the choice to spend eternity with him.</i><br />
<br />
If that's not the message we're sending, if that's not what people learn about Christ from our life, our walk, our stances, our words, then we are doing it wrong. <br />
<br />
<b>L1:L2 = Love God:Love Others.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
With love, humility, conviction, and as a #Note2Self,<br />
<br />
-<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Levi</span><br />
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<br />Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-78306562432167197842015-08-31T11:59:00.001-04:002015-08-31T11:59:12.405-04:005 Points of Faith & Encouragement<ol style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 45px; list-style: none;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; list-style: decimal;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">God Loves You</span> </strong>– <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal;">“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.” – John 3:16 (Message)</em></strong></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; list-style: decimal;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">God Is On Your Side</span></strong> – <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal;">“So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? ” – Romans 8:31 (Message)</em></strong></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; list-style: decimal;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">God Is With You</span> </strong>– <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal;">“Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” – Hebrews 13:5 (Message)</em></strong></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; list-style: decimal;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">God Will be there for You</span></strong> – <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal;">“If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” saysGod, “I’ll get you out of any trouble. I’ll give you the best of care if you’ll only get to know and trust me. Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times” – Psalm 91:14-15 (Message)</em></strong></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; list-style: decimal;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">God Will Provide</span></strong> – <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal;">“You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19 (Message)</em></strong></span></li></ol>Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-55557599504001853082015-08-18T15:16:00.001-04:002015-08-18T15:25:00.611-04:00The Persecuted Church: What is it, who is it, are we it, and why do we care?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Church.... We, as Christians in the United States of America, are not persecuted. We aren't. Period. We are privileged beyond belief. We don't even know hardship, let alone "persecution". But, there are places in the world that do. Places where being a Christian will get you fired, your possessions seized, you throne in jail, beaten, tortured, or even killed for the case of Jesus Christ.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Most Christians know ISIS most infamously for the 21
Christians in Egypt who were beheaded on the beach in the orange
jumpsuits. A “Message signed in blood to
the Nation of the Cross” a “Hostile and offensive” church. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The 21 walked out, they didn’t run, they didn’t fight, they
didn’t beg, they didn’t scream…moments from death They chanted. “The Lord Jesus Christ” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In this picture, this man’s dying breath was
“Yeshua!” JESUS!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gvlnNLPDiwmK27FnXW6p-xdUW3INxcytIOYkEITSablvKeaXdtdetGpfC9Ow7pfRjJWOzjOtDylWP9W-CAMucgQCdQsG6u6zFa6MjzwtFgbJQarcic-Vav9jg_EKsMyJGBKwsXzj2lI/s1600/richardson150217b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gvlnNLPDiwmK27FnXW6p-xdUW3INxcytIOYkEITSablvKeaXdtdetGpfC9Ow7pfRjJWOzjOtDylWP9W-CAMucgQCdQsG6u6zFa6MjzwtFgbJQarcic-Vav9jg_EKsMyJGBKwsXzj2lI/s320/richardson150217b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">ISIS Said this was a message to all those people “Carrying
around the cross illusion in their heads”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It was to sow fear. To
scatter Christians. To be rid of the
message of the Cross.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">3 days later, people walked the streets of Egypt with
soot crosses marked On their heads because they wanted ISIS to know that the it
was no illusion, it wasn’t in their heads, and they weren’t afraid to show it
On their heads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">That’s what persecution looks like Church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We all heard about that,
how many of you heard about this?
These 7 have what looks like rope but it’s actually explosives so that
when the terrorists stepped back and detonated it decapitated the men. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">--
hear about that?—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Or this one where they handcuffed them inside this
car, stepped away, and shot the car with an RPG<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">*SLIDE* Or these, where they locked men inside a cage and slowly lowered them into the water (they then switched to underwater cameras, then hoisted back up and swapped back to this view to show their demise).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In June of this year they began offering kidnapped
Christian girls (GIRLS) sex slaves as “prizes” for those who “mastered the
Koran”. They also sell the girls. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">When funds got low and a price increase was necessary, they
posted this (which the UN has verified)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Islamic State in Iraq. In the name of Allah most Gracious and
Merciful, we have receieved news that the demand in Women and Cattle markets
have sharply decreased and that will affect Islamic State revenues as well as
the funding of the fighters in the battlefield.
Therefore we have made some changes.
Below are the prices for the Christian women slaves.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><u>40-50: $43 30-40: $75 20-30: $86 10-20: $130 <br />
<b>1-9</b>: $172</u><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Costumers are allowed to purchase
only three <b>items</b> with the exception
of customers from Turkey, Syria, and Gulf Countries. Obey and follow the rules and laws of Islamic
State or you be killed.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">You see, originally my sermon was to be about how we were NOT
the persecuted church and how we needed to shut up and get over that because of
how RICHLY spoiled we, as Christians are in the United States – and we are!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But as I worked my way through the persecution of the world
the words of Paul to the church at Corinth broke my heart… 1 Corinthians 12:26 says </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 26.6666660308838px; line-height: 40px; text-align: start;"><b><i>We are one body - </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><b><i>“If One member suffers, all members suffer”</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">then you have the words of Paul,
and Timothy, Peter, and Silas, all of them asking for Prayer while they
were imprisoned and persecuted, saying that they Knew the prayers of the saints
were what would save them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We, the part of the church in the US, are Not persecuted, but
our church doesn’t stop at the US, God’s church is worldwide, it is universal,
and it is ONE body – <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">so while I am not persecuted, if my sisters and brothers in
North Korea are persecuted, than our <b>Family</b>
is persecuted – our <b>Family</b> hurts –
our <b>Family</b> weeps for one another –
our <b>Family</b> HAS to pray for our
brothers and sisters who ARE persecuted.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Pray that their cup would pass, that there would be another
way, but that if it’s not the Father’s will for the cup to pass, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%;">if there is no other way, than we pray strength, and courage,
patience, fearlessness, and joy, we pray they are purpose filled and spirit filled. We pray for them the Peace that passes all
understanding. We pray for them because
they are our family. We Are One With
Them.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Tertullian said </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><b>“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church”</b></i></span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="color: #212121; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I want you to think,
what would you do if you knew you only
had 21 days left to live? What would
you use your time for? Who would you
talk to? What would you say – if you had
Nothing to fear?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This is a call to <b>Live like we are dying.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">That message that ISIS
sent out about those 21 Egyptian men on the beach was addressed to “The People
of the Cross” = the “hostile and offensive church in Egypt”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Here’s my question I
want to leave you with, people of the Cross:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If tomorrow you woke
up and the world had magically changed overnight and Christianity was illegal
in the USA and
you were arrested and put on trial for being a Christian… <u>would there be enough evidence to convict you?</u><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 150%;"><u>And I’ll tell you, just coming to church on Sunday and
plopping down in a pew doesn’t make you “hostile” or “offensive” … or
“dangerous” or even “noticeable”.</u><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">So, <b><i><u>If you were in
Egypt when ISIS came looking for Christians to make an example of, would they
have known to come for you – would you
have been on their radar?</u></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-16588719044755867192015-08-06T12:49:00.000-04:002015-08-06T12:54:02.451-04:00Millennials, Overscheduling, and the definition of Success <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWH_Hwn76nKimOYNCpslQO9h9Y5HnaCDOHnxDP0YDjmrOsbzZ2Kp5KGWWLANR9P3O_litq4WaElLvl_V9gQzm92wCgznIMWx43RpuA2D_Fhz7tcFUI-JO4gMc95rKryTWV8URNJuhVeU/s1600/overscheduled-1024x819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWH_Hwn76nKimOYNCpslQO9h9Y5HnaCDOHnxDP0YDjmrOsbzZ2Kp5KGWWLANR9P3O_litq4WaElLvl_V9gQzm92wCgznIMWx43RpuA2D_Fhz7tcFUI-JO4gMc95rKryTWV8URNJuhVeU/s320/overscheduled-1024x819.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Millennials. The designation is given to people born during a roughly 20 year span by some (1980-2000), however I think, whatever you want to call them, the real designation is 1980-1987 or so. What that means is that Millennials are your current parents-of-young-children (age 28-35). Why does any of that matter? Well, a little background information is necessary to understand the issue at hand (whether you fall into that age range or not). I digress.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">What you need to know:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">More </span><span class="il" style="font-size: xx-small;">Millennials</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> are working than any other generation in American history. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>The number one response in <span class="il">Millennials</span> to the age old question of "how are you?" has changed from "good" (as has been the standard answer for about the last 60 years) to "busy!"</u>. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Research shows that relationships within <span class="il">Millennials</span> (across the board) have taken a hit due to extremely limited face to face time and that that face to face time is then spent in competition. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>The number one thing they are said to (actually) compete over and try to "one-up" on: being the busiest</u>.</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> The analogy among business research is that </span><i style="font-size: x-small;">"a full outlook calendar has replaced the sports car as the number one status symbol"</i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">. This analogy doesn't just stop at the parents either. Even when both parents work full time and keep their schedules maxed out (often times the way the competition of being busy is won is judged by who has missed the most planned events/activities), they equally over extend themselves in shuttling multiple children to multiple sports in multiple cities (full well knowing they can't make them all and that it will cause even more stress on all other activities and relationships). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Speaking of stress, depending on your survey of choice, <span class="il">Millennials</span> report that over 20% of them live in a constant state of "Extreme stress" and 50% self identify as "medium-high stress". Even with those figures, nearly 70% of those who identify themselves as high stress or above say that their stress increases each passing year and they're being stretched thinner and thinner.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">In politics, <span class="il">Millennials</span> don't vote. Often times they're very passionate about politics, talk politics, listen to politics, even volunteer in the political process and yet statistics show they Still Don't Vote. The reasons? Non-committal. Sort of.... they view it as a waste of time (1 match in a forest fire) and that it takes too much time and effort to go vote just to accomplish nothing.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">In the business arena, volumes are being written about how to manage <span class="il">Millennials</span> in the workforce. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">The top points coming out of all the research: </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">They value relationships and want to work with their friends and want who they work with to be their friends (this is more valued in <span class="il">Millennials</span> than in any other generation of the past). <br />They are the busiest generation ever, and above anything else they value flexibility (and hate mandatory time slots and will burn out and leave your company if work _schedules_ interfere with their busy schedules outside of work). Right. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Speaking of schedules... Schedules are crazy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Again, "Success" in business And family is defined by who has the most over-scheduled GoogleCalendar (Outlook... Lawl). "Downtime" is the few isolated weeks a year that you have time to catch a breath between activities. Christmas "break"? Forget about it. Summer "break"? You're kidding. The first week of back to school? LOL!!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><u>The first week back to school, as most are in now or are currently preparing for with the same panic induced voracity of a doomsday prepper on the History Channel, is pure unadulterated pandemonium</u>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Phrases like "be still" and "quiet time" are thrown in the box that includes other equally likely statements such as "fly to Pluto" (is that a planet again or are we still broke up?) and "eat breakfast with a TRex" (and no, the kid you're currently getting ready for back to school doesn't count. Technically). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">So... What do we do? We're literally too busy to breathe. So, we perform (daily) scheduling triage. But... how's that working out for you? When you lay your activities on the chopping block, (be honest) what gets cut, how do you choose, and why? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">"Be still" before people can get the question out of their lips of 'what does that even mean?' their brain interrupts with 'Yeah, Right!' "Be still"? Really? Still? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">What's at play in these internal wars we wage? (false) idols of convenience, being good enough, buying time, buying love, success, being the status quo, anxiety and control (oh the damning cycle that control and anxiety perpetuate)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Here are OUR answers <br />(because like everything else I write and every sermon I deliver, this is a #Note2Self ) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Even if you've read these a hundred times, even if you could recite them without clicking on the link to read them, <u>click on the link to Read them</u> in the message and here the imploring love letter from a God who loves you, wants you to have peace, and wants to offer Rest.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ol>
<li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23&version=MSG" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Psalm 23</span></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+46&version=MSG" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Psalm 46</span></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah+40&version=MSG" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Isaiah 40 (pay special attention to verses 27-31)</span></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A25-34" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Matthew 6:25-34</span></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%204:6-7" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Philippians 4:6-7</span></a></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">and **</span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+11%3A29-30&version=MSG" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Matthew 11:29-30</span></b></a></li>
</ol>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-77283798970186934252015-06-19T12:01:00.001-04:002015-06-19T12:01:16.659-04:00Be a doer not a talker (sermon quotes)<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Several people have asked for a list of the quotes I used in last Sunday's sermon on being a "Doer!" so I've shared them below. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Remember that the verse that we started from was James 1:22-27 and then moved on to </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In <b>Matthew 28:19</b> Jesus gives the great
commission of:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <b>GO</b>,
<u>therefore</u> <i>(therefore because the
once DEAD Jesus had just appeared to the disciples and said – I’ve Got
this! ALL authority on heaven and earth
has been given to me) </i>and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Timothy</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> tells us God didn’t give us a spirit
of Fear and timidity but of Power – Love – Self Control.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Joshua</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">, long before Timothy, tells us: “have I not
COMMANDED you?! Be strong, be
courageous, Don’t be scared, Don’t be dismayed – The Lord is with you
EVERYWHERE</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-----------------------------------------------</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In Business</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">:
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Harry, my
boss at Woodstream “’perfect’ is often the enemy of ‘good enough’”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In sports</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> John Wooden said “If you’re not making
mistakes, than you’re not doing anything! I’m Positive that a doer makes
mistakes”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In <b>outlook</b>:<br />
Arnold Glasow said “An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger
than the brain cell it occupied” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In <b>life</b>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It is
impossible to get anything made or accomplished without stepping on some toes;
enemies are inevitable when one is a doer”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In <b>the church</b>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Charles
Stanley (Andy Stanley’s dad) “</span><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/charlessta451693.html?src=t_actions" title="view quote"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Fear stifles our thinking and
actions. It creates indecisiveness that results in stagnation. I have known
talented people who procrastinate indefinitely rather than risk failure. Lost
opportunities cause erosion of confidence, and the downward spiral begins.</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A member here</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">was once
approached about being a part of a planning committee for something and
responded with “sure, and here’s my first contribution: just pull the trigger. It’d would be better, reach more people, be
more beneficial to just DO something, even if it flops, than to just talk about
it for 6 months”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And <b>in scripture, Jesus’ brother said</b> (in
James 2:15-17): <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Dear
friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right
words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a
person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags
and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be
filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat
or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk
without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-18269068125022471422015-04-28T11:02:00.001-04:002015-04-28T11:02:31.965-04:00The Baltimore protests and the increasing violence of the past 24 months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJccSqF7fV8UoK2ABHeNGqbVidCMtba_wF0Cct_hIxorvtSgH8U1efQMMYIpU1N7owg7GtUpni0rf2j64gr88STIwL0fYBjGYZ-e3b5FoX8hpeseTRXYimBe2Nj_gXqqdRfFuptN0A4M/s1600/11205114_10153191696626291_782539142387433214_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJccSqF7fV8UoK2ABHeNGqbVidCMtba_wF0Cct_hIxorvtSgH8U1efQMMYIpU1N7owg7GtUpni0rf2j64gr88STIwL0fYBjGYZ-e3b5FoX8hpeseTRXYimBe2Nj_gXqqdRfFuptN0A4M/s1600/11205114_10153191696626291_782539142387433214_n.jpg" height="218" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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The late <span style="line-height: 15.4559993743896px;">Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.</span><span style="line-height: 15.4559993743896px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 15.4559993743896px;">knew a thing or 2 about hate, violence, injustice, protests.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.4559993743896px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="line-height: 15.4559993743896px;">He also knew that Love that can not exist without the transcending peace that surpasses All understanding found only Jesus Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 15.4559993743896px;">With all that he endured, with the evil he was up against, here are his words:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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“The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy, instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate.<br />Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”</div>
Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-58156609360357841422015-04-21T11:43:00.001-04:002015-04-21T11:43:19.367-04:00The Gospel Challenge: the book of MarkWe're now starting book 2, Mark, in our <a href="http://seizeabundantlife.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-gospel-challenge-introduction-and.html" target="_blank">Gospel Challenge</a>!<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The completion date set for Mark is May 10th (3 weeks)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Now, before we get into the reading, here's some information on Mark:</div>
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Mark is the shortest of the 4 Gospels:</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->16 chapters</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->678 verses</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->42 verses a chapter</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->11,304 words</div>
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<b><u>Mark</u></b>, or
“John Mark”, was only a teenager the first time he would have heard Jesus speak
(at his mother’s house which was a haven for the apostles). He later traveled with Paul for a bit before
becoming Peter’s disciple – he served as Peter’s translator (oral and
written). Mark’s book could almost be known as “The Gospel according to Peter” and it focuses on Jesus being for the
Gentiles-for Everyone.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Where Matthew started out with genealogy and then went into the birth of Jesus, Mark jumps right to when John and Jesus would have been about 30 years old and Jesus is preparing to kick off his ministry (in Mark 1:9).</div>
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<br /></div>
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Mark was, more than likely, penned first of the four Gospels and (presumably therefore) over 90% of what's found in Mark is also referenced in at least 1 of the other Gospels. </div>
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So, with that in mind, here's a little <b>bonus challenge</b>, just for fun:</div>
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There are 3 things/events in Mark that are not mentioned in any of the other Gospels - can you find what they are?</div>
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--------------------------------------------------------</div>
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For those looking for a reading plan, here are a few things to think about:</div>
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<u>If you started April 19th, you have 21 days to read only 16 chapters. </u></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><b>For a 33 "moments" reading plan</b> (so Fri, Sat, Sun would have 1 reading and Mon-Thurs would have a morning and an evening reading) would look like this:</u><br />1:1-1:34, 1:35-2:12, 2:13-2:22, 2:23-3.19, 3:20-3:35, 4:1-4:34, 4:35-5:43, 6:1-6:13, 6:14-6:29, 6:30-6:56, 7:1-7:23, 7:24-7:30, 7:31-8:21, 8:22-8:33, 8:34-9:13, 9:14, 9:37, 9:38-9:50, 10:1-10:34, 10:35-10:52, 11:1-11:11, 11:12-11:33, 12:1-12:12, 12:13-12:27, 12:28-12:44, 13:1-13:37, 14:1-14:26, 14:27-14:42, 14:43-14:65, 14:66-15:15, 15:16-15:41, 15:42-16:8, 16:9-16:20</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u>For a 21 day reading plan:</u></b> </div>
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1:1-1:34, 1:35-2:12, 2:13-3:19, 3:20-3:35, 4:1-4:34, 4:35-5:43, 6:1-6:29, 6:30-6:56, 7:1-7:30, 7:31-8:21, 8:22-9:37, 9:38-9:50, 10:1-10:34, 10:35-10:52, 11:1-11:35, 12:1-12:27, 12:28-12:44, 13:1-14:26, 14:27-14:65, 14:66-15:41, 15:42-16:20 </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u>For a 16 day reading plan:</u></b> </div>
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Pick any 16 days and read 1 chapter each of those days</div>
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<b><u>Example of a 16 day reading plan:</u></b> </div>
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Read Chapter 1 on April 19th then you could simply read 1 chapter a day, Monday-Friday, taking Sat. & Sun "off" and be done in time.</div>
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<u><b>For a 10 day reading plan:</b></u> </div>
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1, 2-3, 4, 5-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12, 13-14, 15, 16</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u>For a 6 day reading plan: </u></b> </div>
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1-3, 4-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-14, 15-16</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u>For a 3 day reading plan:</u></b></div>
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1-3, 4-10, 11-16</div>
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<b><u>For a 2 day reading plan:</u></b></div>
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1-10, 11-16</div>
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</div>
Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-68023778594693219372015-04-10T10:17:00.003-04:002015-04-10T10:17:57.255-04:00The Gospel Challenge: Introduction and the book of Matthew<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
Alright everyone, here's a new challenge for you. I started this with the teenagers, then rolled it out to everyone who attended our annual Family Retreat, then to the rest of the congregation, and now to Everyone!</div>
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The idea is simple. Take ~3 months and read through the 4 Gospels: </div>
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Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John</div>
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Around the start date of each book I'll share information about the book itself, the author, things to look for, possible reading plans, etc.</div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">What I want everyone to focus on the entire time is taking a deep examination of the "</span><span style="color: red;">red letters</span><span style="color: #222222;">", looking for several things:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<ul>
<li>What did Jesus say that shocks you, that you didn't Know he said. </li>
<li>What did you "know" Jesus said that he did Not. </li>
<li>Remember that we learn who people Really are through their interactions with other people. In these Gospels we see Jesus interact with those who loved him, were indifferent, hated him-rich and poor - "clean and unclean", etc. </li>
<li>Learn who Jesus IS, learn his character, his "heart" </li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br /><div>
Gospel Challenge book completion dates are as follows:<br /><br />Matthew: April 19th (9 days from Now!)</div>
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Mark: May 10th (3 weeks from its April 19th start date)</div>
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Luke: June 7th (4 weeks from its May 10th start date)</div>
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John: June 28th (3 weeks from its June 7th start date)</div>
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Remember! Matthew has 28 chapters and _<i>could</i>_ be read in one day, if need be. </div>
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There are 9 days left and at the end of this blog post I will give you a 9 day reading schedule to complete the book - get started today!</div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
First up is Matthew, the first book of the New Testament.</div>
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Matthew consists of</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->28 chapters</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->1,071 verses</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->38 verses a chapter</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->18,345 words</div>
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<b><u>Matthew:</u></b></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>“Levi” </li>
<li>1 of the 12 Apostles</li>
<li>a tax-collector</li>
<li>probably well educated</li>
<li>probably on a (possible) political track. </li>
<li>Focuses
on Jesus as the Jewish Messiah come to fulfill OT prophecy. </li>
<li>Starts off with Jesus genealogy, and goes into the story of
Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus.</li>
<li>Matthew 3:13 begins the account of Jesus’ ministry</li>
</ul>
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<b><u>Matthew 9 Day Reading Schedule:</u></b></div>
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</div>
<ol>
<li>Matthew 1-4</li>
<li>Matthew 5-7</li>
<li>Matthew 8-9</li>
<li>Matthew 10-12</li>
<li>Matthew 13-16</li>
<li>Matthew 17-18</li>
<li>Matthew 19-22</li>
<li>Matthew 23-25</li>
<li>Matthew 26-28</li>
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Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104693970280167717.post-64163630423132321762015-01-17T00:15:00.001-05:002015-01-17T00:15:47.827-05:00Matriarch<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYW7_WGHld7Vo-MZDBNNLzTsHoUDB12LzfYYlPyvmttdD2Gyd_1TkTY2lgir1iV5XEEWtTXr_p2ZulCiVVIaryPaGX_3ozRreW1CTNeMFXeK2PI_NSguCCHaolpgKxnVVGq_9C34zG_e0/s640/blogger-image-1071061739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYW7_WGHld7Vo-MZDBNNLzTsHoUDB12LzfYYlPyvmttdD2Gyd_1TkTY2lgir1iV5XEEWtTXr_p2ZulCiVVIaryPaGX_3ozRreW1CTNeMFXeK2PI_NSguCCHaolpgKxnVVGq_9C34zG_e0/s640/blogger-image-1071061739.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So this is a family photo of my grandparents, mom, aunt, and 2 uncles. Grandma just passed this week at 93 and 1/2 years old. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She was a character. Always. She was born in 1921, lived through the Great Depression, lived (as it was built) on the Homestead in Crossville, and served in the army during World War II. Yes. You read that right. My grandMother was in the army (WAC) in WWII and it was one of the things she was most proud of. At a time when "your mom wears combat boots" was an insult, her instruction was to respond with "your da*n right she does!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She fought for women's rights and racial equality before such things were even classified as "issues", she fought for her kids, and then her grandkids. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She also fought against cooking, going to bed before midnight, waking up before noon, kids being in the kitchen (even though she was never the one cooking in said kitchen), coffee below 108 degrees, and ambient temperature above 45 degrees. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She taught me to write, to read, how to treat women (and everyone else), that there is no such thing as race, and how to be married with Joy (my grandpa died also at 93 years old while lying in his nursing home bed With grandma on their 64th wedding anniversary).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This woman refused to eat a banana if it wasn't completely green. When I say green, I mean Oak Ridge nuclear green! She would eat shredded wheat for breakfast. At noon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She wouldn't let anyone stand up while she was sitting down eating. If you just wanted to say "hi", you had better take a seat to do it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Nothing got past grandma. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div>Levi Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726618082099424277noreply@blogger.com1