tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87240653726545541832024-02-19T02:31:13.063+01:00Göttingen International ChurchFor all our friends around the world and in Germany, we hope this will grow into a place where we can interconnect and grow in spiritual fellowship and discipleship.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-81612627374746300372014-09-30T18:05:00.002+02:002014-09-30T18:08:55.912+02:00Boomers’ Bodies — And Yours<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">by John Piper</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><a href="http://cdn.desiringgod.org/website_uploads/images/blog-post-images/6084/full_1412010223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Boomers’ Bodies — And Yours" border="0" src="http://cdn.desiringgod.org/website_uploads/images/blog-post-images/6084/full_1412010223.jpg" data-original="http://cdn.desiringgod.org/website_uploads/images/blog-post-images/6084/full_1412010223.jpg" style="display: block;" /></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All of the 10,000 people in America who turn 65 each day have wrinkles. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our skin is more flaccid. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our complexion is more mottled. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our equilibrium is more tenuous. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And our hair is more scarce. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The effect of aging on our appearance and our bearing is universal. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No one escapes. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Except by death.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The reason for this is that God has subjected the creation to futility (Romans 8:20). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is in bondage to corruption (Romans 8:21). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even new creatures in Christ groan, waiting for the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In other words, when sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, God established a connection between moral depravity and physical deterioration. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He intended to make clear that, even if we ignore the dreadfulness of a sinful heart, we will not be able to ignore its witness in the debility of the body.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6V7RhWXK5-jL0SFiw1hDCgOSD2EEfu6NQHA7rlsXcoSop4RTT4hQypS0kO_uMJnOoxwsdA0fRsKHMjOgooyaSZMLY8B-niOTnJ-SESTPyq78E8Bh6kWuCbGMCKAHDKzBSL757TyyCEmu/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-09-30+um+18.02.26.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6V7RhWXK5-jL0SFiw1hDCgOSD2EEfu6NQHA7rlsXcoSop4RTT4hQypS0kO_uMJnOoxwsdA0fRsKHMjOgooyaSZMLY8B-niOTnJ-SESTPyq78E8Bh6kWuCbGMCKAHDKzBSL757TyyCEmu/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-09-30+um+18.02.26.png" height="310" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is a hard pill for beautiful and robust Boomers to swallow. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have been strong. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have been pretty. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even sexy. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And now we realize: We will never have it back. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is over. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For good. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until death stops the process we will only get weaker, more wrinkled, more mottled.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of us cannot let it go. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We resort to plastic surgery in the hopeless attempt to make the looks of youth last a little longer. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An article in Psychology Today observes,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cosmetic surgery is still on the increase throughout developed countries. . . The “looks industry” is alive and well.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But the fix might be more in the head than on the face.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joshua Zimm, from the University of Toronto and his colleagues published a study in 2013 showing that facial cosmetic surgery does not significantly enhance attractiveness and only reduces perceived age by 3.1 years.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The growth of cosmetic surgery is not a reflection of the increasing ugliness of people but a reflection of our increasing negative self-perception. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The fact that cosmetic surgery is still increasing in popularity despite showing little positive outcome — objective measure of attractiveness or youth — points again to our desire to become perfect.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Adolescent in Our Thinking</span></h4>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvxN4KCR7pC7qOB8hilMipYusZ4WEcgWKkQbKjQ7n-GmRBp5_c8wb2IQXuHMl21ReGDEfbWgEkzBycdo7_Jxsl9Yduh2vDcgqPWEsWnLDgPfzRti1FTQeRdI3Z0_ygrD6GxgJ-QzP1vVt/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-09-30+um+18.02.34.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvxN4KCR7pC7qOB8hilMipYusZ4WEcgWKkQbKjQ7n-GmRBp5_c8wb2IQXuHMl21ReGDEfbWgEkzBycdo7_Jxsl9Yduh2vDcgqPWEsWnLDgPfzRti1FTQeRdI3Z0_ygrD6GxgJ-QzP1vVt/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-09-30+um+18.02.34.png" height="271" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In other words, Boomers don’t look older than previous generations. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But we are less content with looking older. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We crave the power and the beauty our bodies once had. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are, to a large extent, still adolescent in our thinking about our looks.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let the Christian Boomers turn this around.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have found the fountain of youth. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His name is Jesus Christ. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“He will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself” (Philippians 3:21). </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our dying body is like a seed planted in the ground. </span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power” (1 Corinthians 15:43).</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Aging in Holiness and Grace</span></h4>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aging Christians don’t stay beautiful and strong in this life. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But they do become beautiful and strong in the resurrection. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The implication is: Don’t pour your time and energy and resources into artificial aging inhibitors. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pour them into aging with holiness and grace.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Older men, be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness” (Titus 2:2).</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />“Older women, be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. Teach what is good, and train the young women” (Titus 2:3–4).</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don’t be part of the tragic millions who desperately try to look and act younger than they are. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is usually pathetic to watch. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A deep Arizona leathery tan does not make wrinkled skin look young.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNDQyEPXiPEzQqpbbfUmKoGo5oGXjvier1jRjjYLVRR-S8gs2S0EF9bcJ4irSOPynqRWXTXBVNymt20Fa729TNZqFFGvO26Ystn8fUmj3dO6wN38iKF8JVgSs2z4nLsfTLEzyghdSGIxN/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-09-30+um+18.02.48.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNDQyEPXiPEzQqpbbfUmKoGo5oGXjvier1jRjjYLVRR-S8gs2S0EF9bcJ4irSOPynqRWXTXBVNymt20Fa729TNZqFFGvO26Ystn8fUmj3dO6wN38iKF8JVgSs2z4nLsfTLEzyghdSGIxN/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-09-30+um+18.02.48.png" height="255" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Because of God’s grace, aging is not only a witness to the fall. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is also now a witness to the power of God’s grace. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those who trust him, God has turned deterioration into dignity.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let these markers of aging be your goal.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1. Realism</span></h4>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (Proverbs 31:30). </span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The real beauty — the real praiseworthiness in life — is not our outward appearance.</span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is our reverence for God. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the real beauty of life.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2. Humility</span></h4>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor” (Ezekiel 28:17).</span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Physical beauty is not a bad thing. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But it is a dangerous thing — like wealth (Matt. 19:24). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let the loss of it make us humble. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For humility is a beautiful thing.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3. Legacy</span></h4>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life” (Proverbs 16:31). </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair” (Proverbs 20:29). </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">The point is not that only righteous people get old. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The point is that when a righteous life is crowned with age, it is a beautiful thing. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A thing of honor, not shame.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;">4. Honorable weakness</span></span></h4>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You have been borne by me [the Lord] from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save” (Isaiah 46:3–4). </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsaFqplPtzCR1eP9RUeLOe4nTdQjWpXbNdqq3aXNUh9qe_E3G9ntKDe8l4XPZBVBu7k6-UCY9vsWseYdcmKNsmO1JC_AllVWrJf4otbT_YffwL1QZksVLdaN4mWAivcQKcXiMXjklHlq3/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-09-30+um+18.03.03.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsaFqplPtzCR1eP9RUeLOe4nTdQjWpXbNdqq3aXNUh9qe_E3G9ntKDe8l4XPZBVBu7k6-UCY9vsWseYdcmKNsmO1JC_AllVWrJf4otbT_YffwL1QZksVLdaN4mWAivcQKcXiMXjklHlq3/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-09-30+um+18.03.03.png" height="320" width="229" /></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God has carried us from the womb. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have never been self-sufficient. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now in old age we have the honor of making that crystal clear. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The glory of a human is to be carried by God.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Consumed with Ministry, Not Mirrors</span></h4>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Evelyn Harris Brand grew up in a well-to-do English family. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She had studied at the London Conservatory of Art and dressed in the finest silks. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But she went with her husband to minister as missionaries in the Kolli Malai mountain range of India.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After about ten years her husband died at age 44. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a year’s recuperation in England, she returned and poured her life into the hill people until she was 95. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She lived in a portable hut, eight feet square, that could be taken down and moved.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her son, Paul, commented that “with wrinkles as deep and extensive as any I have ever seen on a human face . . . she was a beautiful woman.” </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But it was not the beauty of the silk and heirlooms of London high society. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the last twenty years of her life she refused to have a mirror in her house! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She was consumed with ministry, not mirrors. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">(See Future Grace, 288-289)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is what God, by grace, does with our aging. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He takes the deep creases of our bondage to corruption and turns them in to the dignity of spiritual beauty.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May millions of Christian baby Boomers show the world how the gift of aging is received.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-87946696669495423552014-09-05T18:26:00.007+02:002014-09-05T18:29:34.538+02:00The Antidepressant of Wonder<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Jon Bloom</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYMF-NX0Uh_EH5-MBvXNiLlhJJIc-qo4NWO7ORfsi9rBtpi1RSuHVXxj_dT9Pep1NCYbrVMGq4l71TeWkzp1Wm-778NkxFOJpdxQMsbuJEDazoesNr7JHbsmt_5AiwP3732tfQl19QSrv/s1600/full_1409867294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYMF-NX0Uh_EH5-MBvXNiLlhJJIc-qo4NWO7ORfsi9rBtpi1RSuHVXxj_dT9Pep1NCYbrVMGq4l71TeWkzp1Wm-778NkxFOJpdxQMsbuJEDazoesNr7JHbsmt_5AiwP3732tfQl19QSrv/s1600/full_1409867294.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Living in this world tends to
make us feel thin. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We feel, with Bilbo Baggins, “like butter scraped over too
much bread.” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another beheading, another disease epidemic, another leader’s
adultery exposed, another day struggling within and without against unrelenting
evil. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We feel world-weary.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But it’s not really the world
we’re weary of; we’re futility-weary, evil-weary. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">We’re weary of the curse
under which we groan in hope (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%208.20"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Romans 8:20</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">But the world is not only infused with futility, it is also infused with
glorious wonders that, if we will look, direct our attention away from evil to
the God of hope (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%2015.13"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Romans 15:13</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">)
— who made the world (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%201.3"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">John 1:3</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">),
who rules it (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Philippians%202.11"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Philippians 2:11</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">),
and who is redeeming it (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%208.21"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Romans 8:21</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, evil must be faced and fought. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But if the devil can, he will keep us
focused on evil to tempt us to succumb to all kinds of evil ourselves and drive
us into depressive neuroses that make us feel thin on hope and long to escape.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But all around us reality is
dense with wonders, layer upon layer. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are antidepressants that God has
provided in abundance, surrounding us on every side, and they are there for the
taking, even in the most mundane things. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me give you an example.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 26.6pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seeing the Phenomenal with a
Football</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Autumn is descending on
America. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And when autumn comes, it brings football (the American variety where
a foot rarely touches the ball). </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On most afternoons in most neighborhoods after
school’s let out you will find in some yard or field a couple boys tossing a
football (with their hands). </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next time you see this, stop and watch for a few
minutes. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you really look you will see wonders.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In fact, all the glory
converging upon you in that moment might be overwhelming! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There may be a breeze
carrying scents of an evening meal sizzling on a grill, the light from a nearby
star giving the leaf gold of deciduous trees turning dormant a molten glow as
it drops toward the edge of this spinning ball on which you live, the green
life bursting from the ground beneath boys’ pounding feet, the miracle of human
laughter and language. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the mind-blowing phenomenon of a football being
thrown — and caught! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let’s just think about that for a moment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">“If you really look you will see
wonders.”</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you watch these two, say, 11
year-old athletes play, you’re also watching them perform very advanced
mathematics and physics equations. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You hear the boy holding the ball say to the
other, “Run a post!” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The other takes off at full sprint for about ten yards,
then angles to his left and looks over his left shoulder. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, the boy
with the ball drops back three or four steps while watching his receiver,
stops, cocks his right arm, steps forward and heaves the ball into the air. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
ball travels about 18 yards. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s a decent spiral but it’s a little high and
ahead of his target. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So the receiver increases his speed, jumps off his left
foot, stretches out his right arm, tips the ball into the air with his right
hand, lands on his feet off-balance while twisting to his right, still
adjusting his speed, and catches the ball with both hands while falling onto
the green life that cushions him and rolls over a couple times while
maintaining possession. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can’t help yourself shout, “Nice catch!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nice catch, indeed! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so much
more! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is also incredibly good math — for both boys! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first boy, in about
three seconds, calculated distance, velocity, thrust, and trajectory in order
to hit a moving target. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His calculations were very close. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The second boy, in
about two seconds, calculated the velocity and trajectory of the approaching
object, made split-second recalculations to his original estimate, adjusted his
speed, height, and extension and then recalculated again, adding a right-hand
rotation, a grasp, a tuck, and a roll.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How did they do that? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you
were to work out on paper the equations that took these boys five seconds to
complete, how long would it take you? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Could you do it at all? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I couldn’t. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Neither could these boys. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But they did it in their heads nonetheless, all the
while imagining themselves as Peyton Manning and Wes Welker.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or ponder it in a whole
different light. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What was happening anatomically to make those movements
possible? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or muse on the marvel of the human hand. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or contemplate the complex
consciousness that processes such math and such imagination at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recapture the Wonder</span></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Now draw those wonders up into
the question, </span>Who made that mind or those members or that math? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Take a deep
breath, dive into ocean of wonder right where you are and explore new depths of
</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Psalm%2092.5%E2%80%936"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Psalm 92:5–6</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">:</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How great are your works, O Lord!
Your thoughts are very deep! The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot
understand this.</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read the whole of Psalm 92 and
listen to the psalmist glean spiritual truths from natural phenomena. </span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">“God
created the heavens and the earth” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Genesis%201.1"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Genesis 1:1</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And he gave
it to us, not to ignore but to imbibe. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even in its fallen state the world
pulses with hopeful health.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">“God’s world is full of wonders and
these are wonderful antidepressants.”</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So if you’re feeling thin, if
that depressive burden of curse-weariness is weighing on you, don’t turn on the
TV or pop in a DVD. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rarely will you ever find soul-reviving wonder there. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take
your Bible, a tablet, and pen and go for a walk or sit somewhere and watch. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe look for a couple of boys throwing a football. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Watch deeply and prove the
truth that G.K. Chesterton wrote,</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span lang="EN-GB">There is no such thing on earth as an
uninteresting subject; the only thing that can exist is an uninterested person.
(Heretics, opening sentence of Chapter 3)</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>DE</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Normale Tabelle";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God’s world is full of wonders and
these are wonderful antidepressants. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Biblical wonder does not deny the horrors
of the world. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">But bumblebees can remind us that there is a gracious power to
fear far mightier than ISIS beheadings, sunsets can remind us that there will
be a glorious end to sex trafficking, and a football can remind us that there
is always more going on than meets the eye and that God’s calculations are
perfect.</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2c2e30; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-17161137120271834472014-09-03T16:20:00.000+02:002014-09-03T16:29:45.127+02:00The Power Of A Praying Wife<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://www.allworship.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/bigstock-Religion-Moment-Eyes-Closed-Yo-20112164-640x426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://www.allworship.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/bigstock-Religion-Moment-Eyes-Closed-Yo-20112164-640x426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Religion Moment Eyes Closed Young Woman In Prayer" border="0" class="image-border wp-post-image" src="http://www.allworship.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/bigstock-Religion-Moment-Eyes-Closed-Yo-20112164-640x426.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Have you ever
been so mad at your husband that the last thing you wanted to do was pray for
him? </span></h3>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">So have I.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">It’s hard to
pray for someone when you’re angry or he’s hurt you. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">But that’s
exactly what God wants us to do.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">If He asks us
to pray for our enemies, how much more should we be praying for the person with
whom we have become one and are supposed to love? </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">But how do we
get past the unforgiveness and critical attitude?</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">The first
thing to do is be completely honest with God. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">In order to
break down the walls in our hearts and smash the barriers that stop
communication, we have to be totally up front with the Lord about our feelings.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">We don’t have
to “pretty it up” for Him. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">He already
knows the truth. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">He just wants
to see if we’re willing to admit it and confess it as disobedience to His
ways. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">If so, He then
has a heart with which He can work.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">If you’re
angry at your husband, tell God. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Don’t let it
become a cancer that grows with each passing day. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Don’t say,
“I’m going to live my life and let him live his.” </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">There’s a
price to pay when we act entirely independently of one another. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">“Neither is
man independent of woman, nor woman independent of
man, in the Lord” (1
Corinthians 11:11).</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Instead say:</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">“Lord, nothing
in me wants to pray for this man. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">I confess my
anger, hurt, unforgiveness, disappointment, resentment, and hardness of heart
toward him. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Forgive me and
create in me a clean heart and right spirit before You. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Give me a new,
positive, joyful, loving, forgiving attitude toward him. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Where he has
erred, reveal it to him and convict his heart about it. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Lead him
through the paths of repentance and deliverance. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Help me not to
hold myself apart from him emotionally, mentally, or physically because of
unforgiveness. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Where either
of us needs to ask forgiveness of the other, help us to do so.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">“If there is
something I’m not seeing that’s adding to this problem, reveal it to me and
help me to understand it. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Remove any
wedge of confusion that has created misunderstanding or miscommunication. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Where there is
behavior that needs to change in either of us, I pray You would enable that
change to happen. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">As much as I
want to hang on to my anger toward him because I feel
it’s justified, I want to
do what You want. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">I release all
those feelings to You. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Give me a
renewed sense of love for him and words to heal this situation.”</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">If you feel
you’re able, try this little experiment and see what happens. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Pray for your
husband every day for a month. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Ask God to
pour out His blessings on him and fill you both with His love. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">See if your
heart doesn’t soften toward him. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Notice if his
attitude toward you doesn’t change as well. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Observe
whether your relationship isn’t running more smoothly.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">If you have trouble
making that kind of prayer commitment, think of it from the Lord’s
perspective. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Seeing your
husband through God’s eyes-not just as your husband, but as </span><span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">God’s child, a son
whom the Lord loves - can be a great revelation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">If someone
called and asked you to pray for his or her son, you would do it, wouldn’t
you? </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Well, God is
asking.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">There is a
time for everything, it says in the Bible. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">And it’s never
more true than in marriage, especially when it comes to the words we say. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">There is a
time to speak and a time not to speak, and happy is the man whose wife can
discern between the two.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Anyone who has
been married for any length of time realizes that there are things that are
better left unsaid. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">A wife has the
ability to hurt her husband more deeply than anyone else can, and he can do the
same to her. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">No matter how
much apology, the words can not be erased. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">They can only
be forgiven and that’s not always easy. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Sometimes
anything we say will only hinder the flow of what God wants to do, so it’s best
to, well, shut up and pray.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>DE</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Normale Tabelle";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">by Stormie
Omartian in her book, “The Power of a Praying Wife”</span></i><span style="mso-ansi-language: DE;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-47717335582729455352014-08-15T19:49:00.001+02:002014-08-15T19:50:29.161+02:00When God Messes with Your Life Plan<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<img alt="When God Messes with Your Life Plan" src="http://cdn.desiringgod.org/website_uploads/images/blog-post-images/6009/full_1407954032.jpg" data-original="http://cdn.desiringgod.org/website_uploads/images/blog-post-images/6009/full_1407954032.jpg" style="display: block;" /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">By Stephen Altrogge</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Creating life plans is big business these days. For a sum of money, you can
hire a Life Coach (Life Guru, Life Master, Life Sensei, whatever it’s called),
and they will then help you construct a master life plan. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The life plan will
probably contain some, or all, of the following items:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;">▪
</span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;">A grandiose life mission statement, which makes you sound pretty awesome.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">▪<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->One-year goals, five-years goals, and life goals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">▪<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Specific areas of focus in your life (spiritual, physical, familial, etc).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">▪<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->A specific trajectory for your life. In other words, a specific description
of where you want to be in five years. Most likely, this will include a
specific job, a specific level of income, a specific geographic location, and
perhaps a specific Body Mass Index.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the reality is, even if you don’t have a formal, written life plan, you
have a life plan in your head. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all do. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You have an imagined future in your
head. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You want to have a family, have kids, get a college degree, start a
business, travel to Europe, etc. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You get the point. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don’t have a formally
stated life plan, but I want to accomplish certain things. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want to attain a
certain level of comfort and stability for me and my family. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want my life to
actually mean something. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To reference a well-known author who seems to get
quoted a lot on this site, I don’t want to waste my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now don’t get me wrong: I’m all for planning. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Without plans, little of
enduring value gets accomplished. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those who fail to plan, often find themselves
binge watching on Netflix.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But the reality is, there are many times when God intentionally messes up
my life plan. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And that’s a really good thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One Messed-Up Life</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God really messed up Joseph’s life plan. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His brothers threw him into a dry
well, then sold him into slavery. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The wife of his Egyptian master tried to
seduce him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When he refused her advances, she turned him over to the Egyptian
cops, who then tossed him in prison. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He spent years in prison, waiting to be
released. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don’t imagine that Joseph included prison time in his life plan. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally, after many years of painful waiting, God exalted him to the second in
command in all of Egypt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When all was said and done, what did Joseph say to his brothers?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil
against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people
should be kept alive, as they are today. (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Genesis%2050.19%E2%80%9320"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Genesis 50:19–20</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">)<o:p></o:p></span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God messed up Joseph’s life plan, and it was a really good thing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He did
for Joseph what Joseph could never have done for himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 26.6pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two More</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God really messed up Abraham and Sarah’s life plan. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He allowed Sarah to be
infertile and barren for years. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He took them out of their homeland, away from
their family and friends. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally, after many years of earnestly waiting, God
promised them a son. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then God made them wait some more. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally, their hopes
and dreams were realized when their son, Isaac was born. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then God told Abraham
to sacrifice Isaac. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Talk about a wrench in the life plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After God rescued Isaac, and all was said and done, God made the following
astonishing declaration to Abraham:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and
have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will
surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on
the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in
your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have
obeyed my voice. (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Genesis%2022.16%E2%80%9318"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Genesis 22:16–18</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">)<o:p></o:p></span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God seriously messed up Abraham’s life plan, and it turned out to be a
really good thing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God accomplished for Abraham what Abraham could never have
accomplished on his own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 26.6pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He Knows Exactly What He’s Doing</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The moral of the story? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God really, truly knows what he is doing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He
usually takes longer than we would like. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He often leads us through strange
territory. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes he defers, or even destroys our dreams. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But God, our
loving, tender, delightful Father, knows exactly what he is doing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is
accomplishing more in you and through you than you could ever think or imagine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are you in a place you never expected to be? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Has God taken you on a path
you never would have willfully chosen? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take heart. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God hasn’t deserted you. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He
hasn’t forgotten you. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He hasn’t made a mistake. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He knows exactly what he’s
doing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He knows exactly what you need and where you need to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>DE</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Normale Tabelle";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The truth is, God’s
life plan is always better than mine.</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-91862084098704166332014-08-02T09:16:00.000+02:002014-08-02T09:30:30.294+02:00Worship in the Dark<div class="longform-body-constrain resource-titles" id="blog-titles" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 90px; padding: 45px 0px 30px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto !important;">
<h1 id="resource-title" style="-webkit-font-feature-settings: 'kern' 1; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 52px; margin: 0px; max-width: 600px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="color: #ffd9a8; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;">
<div style="background-color: #5a1c00;">
<div style="background-color: #583400;">
“Psalm 88 isn’t like the others,” a friend recently remarked.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
“Most psalms end on the high note of hope, but not Psalm 88.”<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
It’s true. This psalm is different.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
The concluding words aren’t what we’d expect.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
They’re not what we’re used to.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
To be sure, the psalms are full of laments, oftentimes raw and intense, but they at least end hopeful.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
Psalm 88, though, begins in pain: “I cry out day and night before you” (verse 1), and then ends in pain: “My companions have become darkness” (verse 18).<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
Why Are You Here?<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
“My companions have become darkness” — or as the King James puts it, “[Thou has put] mine acquaintances into darkness.”<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
His friends are gone, in other words. They have abandoned him.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
The only companion he has now is the dark.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
Nothingness has been personified. Blankness. Absence.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
At least, that is how he feels — and that is how the psalm ends.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
Then there’s the awkward silence.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
There’s that moment in between when we finish reading and start to wrap our heads around what we’ve read.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
There’s the budding question, the one pushing through the aching pain of emptiness that we begin to feel — either because we sympathize with the psalmist or because he has described our own pain . . .<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
Why is this psalm here? How did it make it into the Bible?<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
We should ask that.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
The Psalms are meant to guide the church in worship, after all.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
They compose, as Bonhoeffer says, the Bible’s “prayer book.”<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
They model for us — as the ancient poetry of a timeless heart — how God’s people come to God.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
So why would they include such a despairing psalm?<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
Because sometimes we have to come to God in the dark.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
From, In, and Through<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
Sometimes the weight of our trials are so severe that we feel as if we can’t keep our heads above the water.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
The pain is so vicious, the malaise so thick, that we can’t imagine our situation ever changing.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
We can’t see healing.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
We can’t articulate hope.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
And when we try, it just hurts more.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
We’d rather not pray.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
We’d rather not open the eyes of our mind — not with all this destruction, not when it’s so dark.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
But Psalm 88 shows us how.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
Cloudy as this psalm seems, we shouldn’t miss the most obvious point.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
Yes, the psalmist says his soul is full of troubles, that his life draws near to the grave, that he feels like a dead man, like one forgotten, that it seems as if God has isolated him in regions dark and deep, that he’s drowning, that he can’t escape, that his life is a horror, that he is cast down, unheard, afflicted, shunned — but he’s telling this all to God.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
He is still speaking — from the pain, in the pain, through the pain.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
Even if by the faintest whispers, even if by the incoherent groans of a troubled soul, he looks to heaven and says, This is where I’m at, God.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
This is how dark it feels.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
Never Alone<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
We can come to God like this.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
Hurting and broken, no matter what, we can still come. We can still come because — and we must remember — God isn’t afraid of the dark.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
Jesus has been there before, you know.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
On the darkest of days, from a hill called the Skull, after he cried forsaken, after he said it’s finished, after they locked the stony seal over the gloomiest grave, Jesus went there.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
And he went there for you.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
He swallowed the real darkness so that, as abandoned as his people might feel, as alienated as their worlds might seem, he never lets them go there alone.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
He walks that road with us.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
He prays those prayers with us.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
He fills us with his Spirit, and lifts our burdened souls by his grace.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
By his cross and victory, because he looked death in the eyes and came back to life three days later, Jesus holds us when it hurts.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
He leads us to worship in the dark.<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</h1>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-78821959170725471872014-06-28T09:21:00.001+02:002014-06-28T09:21:14.047+02:00How to Stop Procrastinating: What to Do When You Don’t Feel Like Doing It<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Jon Bloom</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_6yNex0WyCcFaMC6XVKi2rz4wLoPCS0VV8eEWVbXyUyv-EpOLxic0GQ90zvbNTY6HFUTt4tk_vGKmTw5LyPoQShCjd8Lolw6kdjTan6jY-8vWT5zxOd8io-V-mWaJFuR2cQDHGw8IKIV/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-06-28+um+09.17.17.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_6yNex0WyCcFaMC6XVKi2rz4wLoPCS0VV8eEWVbXyUyv-EpOLxic0GQ90zvbNTY6HFUTt4tk_vGKmTw5LyPoQShCjd8Lolw6kdjTan6jY-8vWT5zxOd8io-V-mWaJFuR2cQDHGw8IKIV/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-06-28+um+09.17.17.png" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">hat do you </span><i style="letter-spacing: 0px;">not</i><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> feel like doing today?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">You know what I mean. It’s that nagging thing weighing on you.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You know you should do it.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you did it, it would honor God because it obeys his law of love (John 15:12), or it’s a work of faith (2 Thessalonians 1:11), or it puts “to death the deeds of the body” (Romans 8:13).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You know it would be good for your soul or your body or your family or your vocation or your neighbor or your church.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But you don’t feel like doing it. <i>At all.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/21570503@N03/6353340795"></a></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You know that God promises you more blessing if you do it than if you don’t.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But you’re struggling to believe that promise because it feels difficult.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI10NTwb3Zoi7egL5H57VdAHwl21XTkqisVVpqgp0Lk_QIZPCyMa6QGxLNAEaQhUCBe_Ti-Ym-HCZYh8nz-UBhfLO4LP_uS7GAPMef8lM3WVum8B7y8ftSH1dh2NbH1wTB0lSfTKCrDTdT/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-06-28+um+09.17.45.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI10NTwb3Zoi7egL5H57VdAHwl21XTkqisVVpqgp0Lk_QIZPCyMa6QGxLNAEaQhUCBe_Ti-Ym-HCZYh8nz-UBhfLO4LP_uS7GAPMef8lM3WVum8B7y8ftSH1dh2NbH1wTB0lSfTKCrDTdT/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-06-28+um+09.17.45.png" /></span></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s like you have weights on your ankles and wrists. You don’t want to muster the energy it’s going to take. And every distraction glows with attraction.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Strange Pattern of Progress</span></span></h4>
<div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">While it’s true that this feeling has its roots in our remaining sin nature and is a weight we must lay aside (Hebrews 12:1), </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">the experience of “not feeling like it” also can become for us a reminder of a gospel truth and actually give us hope and encouragement in this battle.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think about this strange pattern that occurs over and over in just about every area of life:</span></span></div>
<ul>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Healthy, nutritious food often requires discipline to prepare and eat while junk food is convenient, tasty, and addictive.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Keeping the body healthy and strong requires frequent deliberate discomfort while it only takes moderate indulgence to go to pot.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You have to make yourself pick up that nourishing but intellectually challenging book while flipping on the TV or popping in a DVD is as easy as coasting downhill.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You frequently have to force yourself to get to devotions and prayer while sleeping in or cleaning that clutter or checking Facebook just has a gravitational pull.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Learning to skillfully play beautiful music requires thousands of hours of tedious practice.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Excelling in a sport requires monotonous drills <i>ad nauseum</i>.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Learning to write well requires writing, writing, writing and rewriting, rewriting, rewriting. And usually voluminous reading.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It takes years and years of schooling just to make certain vocational opportunities possible.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You get the idea.</span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The pattern in everything is this: </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">the greater joys are obtained through struggle and difficulty and pain—things you must force yourself to do when you don’t feel like it</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">—while brief, unsatisfying, and often destructive joys are as inviting as couch cushions.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why is this?</span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why the Struggle and Difficulty and Pain?</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Because God, in great mercy, is showing us everywhere, in things that are just shadows of heavenly realities, </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">that there is great reward for those who struggle through and persevere</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> (Hebrews 10:32–35).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">He is reminding us almost everywhere to </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">walk by faith in a promised future</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> and not by the sight of immediate gratification (2 Corinthians 5:7).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Understood this way, each thing we don’t feel like doing, great or small, becomes an invitation from God to follow in the faithful footsteps of his Son</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those who are spiritually blind only see futility in these struggles.</span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">But </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">for those who have eyes to see, God has woven gospel hope</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> right into the futility of creation (Romans 8:20–21). </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Each struggle to overcome becomes a pointer saying, “Look ahead, past the struggle itself, past the temptation of the puny, vapor joys to the great, sustained, substantial Joy set before you!”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Endurance, Not Indulgence</span></span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, back to that thing you don’t want to do today.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Don’t let “not feeling like it” reign as lord (Romans 6:12). </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It’s not your master; you don’t have to obey it.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And even though it’s counseling comfort for you, <i>it’s not your friend either.</i> It’s a whiny, lying joy-stealer. It’s pointing you to feeble joys and <i>away from deep delights.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Instead, through this feeling see your Father pointing you to the reward he has planned for all who endure to the end (Matthew 24:13). </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Transpose it from reluctance to a reminder that God is calling you not to indulgence but<i> endurance.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Then lay this weight aside and run with faith the race he has set before you. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">God will meet you with the grace you need</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> (2 Corinthians 9:8).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the thing is:</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For the things that are seen are transient, <i>but the things that are unseen are eternal</i>. (2 Corinthians 4:17–18)</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do it for the joy!</span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-22180079128996033462014-06-24T06:35:00.007+02:002014-06-24T06:37:17.055+02:0012 Questions to Ask Before You Watch ‘Game of Thrones’<br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by John Piper</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_St0LVfFKgsjHz1awwUDMwASlspSX333eF8QPOsZjaZ7P5L2MNpcbnPn8T9YouKUwFjXl1LOFaQ-qdpWLwC-NCo8bCc-mJ959tqXQ6BJyEmy1WqmyAYprA8ZhbkfkfhdyyxxKEsBK_Kl/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-06-24+um+06.32.06.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_St0LVfFKgsjHz1awwUDMwASlspSX333eF8QPOsZjaZ7P5L2MNpcbnPn8T9YouKUwFjXl1LOFaQ-qdpWLwC-NCo8bCc-mJ959tqXQ6BJyEmy1WqmyAYprA8ZhbkfkfhdyyxxKEsBK_Kl/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-06-24+um+06.32.06.png" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">The closer I get to death and meeting Jesus personally face to face, and giving an account for my life and for the careless words that I have spoken (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%2012.36"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Matthew 12:36</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">), the more sure I am of my resolve never intentionally to look at a television show or a movie or a website or a magazine where I know I will see photos or films of nudity. Never. That is my resolve. And the closer I get to death, the better I feel about that, and the more committed I become.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Frankly, I want to invite all Christians to join me in this pursuit of greater purity of heart and mind. In our day, when entertainment media is virtually the lingua franca [common language] of the world, this is an invitation to be an alien. And I believe with all my heart that what the world needs is radically bold, sacrificially loving, God-besotted, “freaks” and aliens. In other words, I am inviting you to say no to the world for the sake of the world.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The world does not need more cool, hip, culturally savvy, irrelevant copies of itself. That is a hoax that has duped thousands of young Christians. They think they have to be hip, cool, savvy, culturally aware, watching everything in order not to be freakish. And that is undoing them morally and undoing their witness.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here are 12 questions to think about, or 12 reasons why I am committed to a radical abstention from anything I know is going to present me with nudity.</span></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Am I Recrucifying Christ?</span></span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christ died to purify his people. It is an absolute travesty of the cross to treat it as though Jesus died only to forgive us for the sin of watching nudity, and not to purify us for the power not to watch it.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">He has blood-bought power in his cross. He died to make us pure. He “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Titus%202.14"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Titus 2:14</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). If we choose to endorse or embrace or enjoy or pursue impurity, we take a spear and ram it into Jesus’s side every time we do. He suffered to set us free from impurity.</span></span></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Does It Express or Advance My Holiness?</span></span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">In the Bible, from beginning to end, there is a radical call for holiness — holiness of mind and heart and life. “As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Peter%201.15"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #e69138;">1 Peter 1:15</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). Or </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/2%20Corinthians%207.1"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #e69138;">2 Corinthians 7:1</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” Nudity in movies and photos is not holy and does not advance our holiness. It is unholy and impure.</span></span></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. When Will I Tear Out My Eye, If Not Now?</span></span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Jesus said everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%205.28%E2%80%9329"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Matthew 5:28–29</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). Seeing naked women — or seeing naked men — causes a man or woman to sin with their minds and their desires, and often with their bodies. If Jesus told us to guard our hearts by gouging out our eyes to prevent lust, how much more would he say: “Don’t watch it!”</span></span></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. Is It Not Satisfying to Think on What Is Honorable?</span></span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Life in Christ is not mainly the avoidance of evil, but mainly the passionate pursuit of good. Remember </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Philippians%204.8"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Philippians 4:8</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">My life is not a constrained life. It is a free life. “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Galatians%205.13"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Galatians 5:13</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">).</span></span></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. Am I Longing to See God?</span></span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">I want to see and know God as fully as possible in this life and the next. Watching nudity is a huge hindrance to that pursuit. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%205.8"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Matthew 5:8</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). The defilement of the mind and heart by watching nudity dulls the heart’s ability to see and enjoy God. I dare anyone to watch nudity and turn straight to God and give him thanks and enjoy him more because of what you just experienced.</span></span></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6. Do I Care About the Souls of the Nudes?</span></span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">God calls women to adorn themselves in respectable apparel with modesty and self-control (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Timothy%202.9"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #e69138;">1 Timothy 2:9</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). When we pursue or receive or embrace nudity in our entertainment, we are implicitly endorsing the sin of the women who sell themselves to this way and are, therefore, uncaring about their souls. They disobey </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Timothy%202.9"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #e69138;">1 Timothy 2:9</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">, and we say that’s okay.</span></span></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7. Would I Be Glad If My Daughter Played This Role?</span></span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most Christians are hypocrites in watching nudity because, on the one hand they say by their watching that this is okay, and on the other hand they know deep down they would not want their daughter or their wife or their girlfriend to be playing this role. That is hypocrisy.</span></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8. Am I Assuming Nudity Can Be Faked?</span></span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nudity is not like murder and violence on the screen. Violence on a screen is make-believe; nobody really gets killed. But nudity is not make-believe. These actresses are really naked in front of the camera, doing exactly what the director says to do with their legs and their hands and their breasts. And they are naked in front of millions of people to see.</span></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9. Am I Compromising the Beauty of Sex?</span></span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Sexual relations is a beautiful thing. God created it and pronounced it “good” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Timothy%204.3"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #e69138;">1 Timothy 4:3</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). But it is not a spectator sport. It is a holy joy that is sacred in its secure place of tender love. Men and women who want to be watched in their nudity are in the category with exhibitionists who pull down their pants at the top of escalators.</span></span></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10. Am I Assuming Nudity Is Necessary for Good Art?</span></span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is no great film or television series that needs nudity to add to its greatness. No. There isn’t. There are creative ways to be true to reality without turning sex into a spectator’s sport and without putting actors and actresses in morally compromised situations on the set.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is not artistic integrity that is driving nudity on the screen. Underneath all of this is male sexual appetite driving this business, and following from that is peer pressure in the industry and the desire for ratings that sell. It is not art that puts nudity in film, it’s the appeal of prurience. It sells.</span></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">11. Am I Craving Acceptance?</span></span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christians do not watch nudity with a view to maximizing holiness. That is not what keeps them coming back to the shows. They know deep down that these television shows or these movies are shot through with the commendation and exaltation of attitudes and actions that are utterly out of step with the death to self and out of step with exaltation of Christ.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No, what keeps those Christians coming back is the fear that if they take Christ at his word and make holiness as serious as I am saying it is, they would have to stop seeing so many television shows and so many movies, and they would be viewed as freakish. And that today is the worst evil of all. To be seen as freakish is a much greater evil than to be unholy.</span></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">12. Am I Free from Doubt?</span></span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">There is one biblical guideline that makes life very simple: “But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%2014.32"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Romans 14:32</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). My paraphrase: If you doubt, don’t. That would alter the viewing habits of millions, and oh how sweetly they would sleep with their conscience.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I say it again. Join me in the pursuit of the kind of purity that sees God, and knows the fullness of joy in his presence and the everlasting pleasure at his right hand.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 26px;">
<h4>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tuning In</span></span></h4>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">The Ask Pastor John podcast is a series of short conversations released every weekday at 7am (CST) via the DesiringGod.org homepage and our Facebook and Twitter feeds. You can tune in to the new episodes through the Ask Pastor John app for the </span><a href="http://dsr.gd/Yapc3r"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #e69138;">iPhone</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"> and </span><a href="http://dsr.gd/12mtjkV"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Android</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"> devices.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-57047614956970753562014-05-30T14:53:00.003+02:002014-05-30T15:05:55.612+02:00When Wasting Your Life Is Worship<div class="longform-body-constrain longform-text" style="-webkit-font-feature-settings: 'kern' 1; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 20px 0px 90px; max-width: 600px; padding: 45px 0px 30px; position: relative; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto !important;">
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 22.4px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">by Jon Bloom</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jnGxfie8YdFZM2TUOcFg25iZDiY_JgKv6fk8-AKxxKVGi2J6ul7REePZ2_iidXEvFJfzh85p-TTktBw5dR9wKvboD9cY3c9auD2CDXyQlAtnYRuMumZRpl7OY1bt3WTgpzDoVSOYXnY3/s1600/full_1401390862.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #783f04;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jnGxfie8YdFZM2TUOcFg25iZDiY_JgKv6fk8-AKxxKVGi2J6ul7REePZ2_iidXEvFJfzh85p-TTktBw5dR9wKvboD9cY3c9auD2CDXyQlAtnYRuMumZRpl7OY1bt3WTgpzDoVSOYXnY3/s1600/full_1401390862.png" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all are happiness hunters. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are all treasure seekers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And as Judas and Mary illustrate, there’s one sure way to measure what we
treasure: what we’re willing to spend to obtain it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The dinner table was buzzing with happy conversation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As Lazarus fielded a stream of questions about what it was like to </span></span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">die and
Martha cleared empty plates and filled empty wine bowls, </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mary quietly slipped
away into another room.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When she returned she was carrying a large wooden bowl with a small
alabaster jar inside. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mary knelt down near Jesus’s feet, placed the bowl on the floor, and began
to remove her headdress. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The talking trailed away as Jesus turned toward her and sat up. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soon everyone was straining or standing to get a better look at what she
was doing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mary removed the small jar and then reverently placed Jesus’s feet inside
the bowl. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She picked up the jar, removed the stopper, and poured its contents slowly
on Jesus’s feet. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The room was wordless as she gathered her long hair in her right hand and
used it to wipe Jesus’s feet. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An exotic, breathtaking fragrance wafted across the table.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The guests exchanged wide-eyed glances. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everyone knew this was a rare perfume.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus was moved. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His eyes were full of intense affection as he watched Mary work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Judas was moved too, but not with affection. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He was irritated. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He simply could not fathom Mary’s wasteful extravagance. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That perfume had to have been worth nearly a year’s wages. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Never once in three years had Jesus’s disciples had that amount of money
at one time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And there it sat, a contaminated, worthless puddle in a bowl.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His indignant objection shot through the silence: “Why was this ointment
not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This question turned the atmosphere tense. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mary stopped and looked sadly at the floor. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All other eyes turned to Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To a number of the disciples this
seemed like a fair question. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus typically instructed them to give any extra money in their
collective moneybag to the needy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Often “extra” meant beyond what they needed that day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mary’s act did seem a bit indulgent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus said nothing for a moment and continued to stare at Mary.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He knew what they were all thinking. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">And he knew that Judas had questioned her “not because he cared about the
poor, but because he was a thief and being in charge of the moneybag he used to
help himself to what was put into it” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2012.6"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">John 12:6</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Judas’s noble sounding protest was no more than a disguise for his greed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus grieved and seethed over Judas’s duplicity and how he had contaminated
Mary’s worship.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then Jesus said, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">“Leave her alone, so that she make keep it for the day of my burial. For
the poor you always have with you,” and turning his piercing eyes to Judas said
with potent sorrow, “but you do not always have me” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2012.7-8"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">John 12:7-8</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">).</span></span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Judas and Mary are contrasts in treasuring. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They both had hedonistic motives. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Neither acted out of stoic duty. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Both pursued the treasure they believed would make them happy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">To Mary, Jesus was the priceless Pearl (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%2013.45"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Matthew 13:45</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">), which she
loved more than anything and she spent what was likely her greatest earthly
possession to honor him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To Judas, thirty pieces of silver was a fair price for the Pearl.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Judas’s sin wasn’t that he was hunting happiness. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His sin was believing that having money would make him happier than having
Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">O Judas, the tragedy of your value miscalculation! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Pearl worth more than the entire universe sat in front of you and all
you could see were perfume puddles. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You grieved the squandering of a year’s wages while you squandered
infinite, eternal treasure!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus leads all his disciples to watershed moments like Mary’s and Judas’s
when choices we make, not words we say, reveal the treasure we want.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These moments are designed to make us count this cost: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">“Whoever loves his life loses it. And whoever hates his life in this world
will keep it for eternal life” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2012.25"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">John 12:25</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">).</span></span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These moments force us choose what we really believe is gain, whether we
value the Pearl or puddles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we choose the Pearl, we hear in Judas’s objection the world’s appraisal
of us. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They watch as we pour our valuable time, intellects, money, youth,
financial futures, and vocations out on Jesus’s feet. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They watch them puddle in the bowls of churches, mission fields,
orphanages, and homes where children are raised and careers are lost. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And what they see is foolish waste. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Expect their rebuke, not their respect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus wants you to waste your life like Mary wasted her perfume. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For it is no true waste. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is true worship. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A poured out life of love for Jesus that counts worldly gain as loss
displays how precious he really is. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">It preaches to a bewildered, disdainful world that Christ is gain and the
real waste is gaining the world’s perfumes while losing one’s soul in the
process (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%2016.26"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Matthew 16:26</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: #783f04; color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are you wasting your life?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<!--EndFragment--></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-29947361409958975882014-05-27T18:00:00.004+02:002014-05-27T18:01:23.832+02:00Escaping the Slavery of Selfish Ambition<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>DE</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Normale Tabelle";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:gray;
mso-color-alt:black;
mso-themecolor:text1;
text-effect:emboss;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">by Jon Bloom</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8ZJhdeARFgP25nkft-n8RzGXDZAYoQkg7BgdvdcwW_LoiwqJmjO_9rlO6r9Vl9YcPRTIItl_IZ4s85JJS1or_gcTkDNuxbaENpwhYPU6PpU7WxZdZu28wSzOQHiBzpAFDED6pJdcxMhY/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-27+um+17.54.40.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8ZJhdeARFgP25nkft-n8RzGXDZAYoQkg7BgdvdcwW_LoiwqJmjO_9rlO6r9Vl9YcPRTIItl_IZ4s85JJS1or_gcTkDNuxbaENpwhYPU6PpU7WxZdZu28wSzOQHiBzpAFDED6pJdcxMhY/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-27+um+17.54.40.png" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Selfish ambition is a sin that always seems to be “crouching
at the door” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Genesis%204.7" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Genesis 4:7</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It contaminates our motives for doing just about anything. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">It shows up even in
the most holy moments, like it did for Jesus’s disciples in Luke’s account of
the Last Supper (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Luke%2022.14%E2%80%9330"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Luke 22:14–30</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But in that account we also see how Jesus frees us from the suicidal slavery of
selfish ambition.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus’s final meal before the cross was perhaps the most
ironic time for the </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twelve to debate over which of them was the greatest.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">The greatest human being who would ever walk the earth, the
Founder and Perfecter of their faith (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Hebrews%2012.2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Hebrews 12:2</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">), was
reclining at the table with them. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">He was the only one in the room without sin (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Hebrews%204.15"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Hebrews 4:15</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">He was the
only one there who always did what was pleasing to the Father (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%208.29"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">John 8:29</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">This Person had just led the Twelve through the last Passover
meal before his death — the death that would be the propitiating sacrifice for
their sins (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%203.25"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Romans 3:25</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">And he had just instituted the new Passover meal, which they and all future
disciples were to observe regularly until he returned so that they would always
remember that their sins were forgiven only through the substitutionary,
atoning death of the true Passover Lamb (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Acts%2010.43"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Acts 10:43</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was no time for any disciple to assert his own
greatness, except the greatness of his sin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even more ironic is what ignited the debate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h4>
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Preoccupied with Prominence</span></span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus had just revealed that one of them that very night
would willingly participate in the most spectacular sin in history: the
slaughter of the Son of God. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">And yet somehow the introspection and inquiry that
followed ended up in a competition over who was greatest (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Luke%2022.24"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Luke 22:24</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a moment that displayed the terrifying blinding power
of pride in sinful people. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">How quickly the moon of selfish ambition eclipses
the Sun of Righteousness (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Malachi%204.2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Malachi 4:2</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus was about to die for their sins. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of them was about
to betray him to that death. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Their response to such horror and glory should
have been mourning, repentance, and worship. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But instead each disciple was
suddenly and absurdly preoccupied with his own place of prominence in God’s
plan of salvation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 26.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h4>
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grace to Change Their Gaze</span></span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 26.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But what grace Jesus displayed in this moment. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This sin too
would be paid in full. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Therefore, Jesus did not condemn his disciples for
thinking far too highly of themselves at the worst possible time (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%2012.3"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Romans 12:3</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Instead, Jesus mercifully drew their gaze off of themselves
and back to him:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in
authority over them are called benefactors.</span></span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But not so with you.</span></span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rather, let
the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who
serves.</span></span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves?</span></span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is
it not the one who reclines at table?</span></span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I am among you as the one who serves.</span></span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">(</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Luke%2022.25%E2%80%9326"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Luke 22:25–26</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">)</span></span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h4>
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Keep Looking to Jesus</span></span></h4>
<div>
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God was so merciful to move Luke to include this account of
the disciples’ sin, because we too are frequently tempted to sin in this way,
even in the most sacred moments.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The secret to freedom from slavery to selfish ambition is to
keep looking to Jesus. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">When our focus is on ourselves and each other we begin
to compare and compete, which leads us into a black hole of demonic evil (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/James%203.14%E2%80%9315"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">James 3:14–15</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">).</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">But looking to Jesus reminds us that we have nothing that we haven’t received
through him (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Corinthians%204.7"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">1 Corinthians
4:7</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Past and future, world without end, all is God’s grace toward
us in Christ. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Looking to Jesus reminds us that loving and serving each other
just as Jesus has loved and served us is the path to full joy (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2015.11%E2%80%9312"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">John 15:11–12</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will have to fight against selfish ambition as long as we
live in this fallen state because it’s right at the core of our fallen nature. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Our sinful desire to be like God (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Genesis%203.5"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Genesis 3:5</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">) and pursue
others’ worship. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We don’t need to feign shock when we see it in ourselves (as
if we’re surprised that we’re selfish!) and, like Jesus, we should be patient
when we see it in others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking away from ourselves to Jesus is the key to walking in joyful
freedom from selfish ambition. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because God designed us to be satisfied with
Jesus’s glory, not our own.</span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2c2e30;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-86202509930575770502014-05-26T23:52:00.006+02:002014-05-27T00:01:19.927+02:00How To Fight the Sin of Pride, Especially When You Are Praised<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>DE</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Normale Tabelle";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:gray;
mso-color-alt:black;
mso-themecolor:text1;
text-effect:emboss;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ten Things I Do</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjPQuNddcM648sbETSb1jRGfb9n2-Kn67-jp_Bc9uukvgqTKeD5KRXGbbZdozJ9ex4oGf-cVQZxmokCefHpi8RIjslg-Yn9u_uKbePk0n1IcRFbZS2oQpjg7DmjKMw-koAGXiWl9SIk3v/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-26+um+23.59.32.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjPQuNddcM648sbETSb1jRGfb9n2-Kn67-jp_Bc9uukvgqTKeD5KRXGbbZdozJ9ex4oGf-cVQZxmokCefHpi8RIjslg-Yn9u_uKbePk0n1IcRFbZS2oQpjg7DmjKMw-koAGXiWl9SIk3v/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-26+um+23.59.32.png" height="400" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">by John Piper</span></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><b>1. </b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;">I call to mind that I am not self-existent; only the triune God
is. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Only God is absolute, but I am contingent. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">I remind myself that I am
utterly dependent on God for my origin and for my present and future existence. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">I call this to mind and ponder its truth.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>2. </b>I remember that I am by nature a depraved sinner and that, in
all my sinning, I have treated God with contempt, preferring other things to
his glory. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">I take stock that I have never done a good deed for which I don’t
need to repent. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Each one is flawed because perfection is commanded. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Therefore I
realize that God owes me nothing but pain in this life and the next.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>3. </b>I ponder that this condition of mine is so desperate that it
could only be remedied at the cost of the horrid death of the Son of God, to
bear my punishment and provide my righteousness. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">And I revel in the forgiveness
and righteousness that is mine in Christ. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>4. </b>I meditate on those Scriptures that say, “Clothe yourselves, all
of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives
grace to the humble.’ </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;">Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of
God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Peter%205.5-6" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">1 Peter 5:5-6</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;">; see </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/James%204.6-10" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">James 4:6-10</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;">). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;">And, “He
who is least among you all is the one who is great” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Luke%209.48" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Luke 9:48</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;">; </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Mark%209.35" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Mark 9:35</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;">; </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%2020.26" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Matthew 20:26</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;">).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>5. </b>I pray that the eyes of my heart would see these biblical truths
for what they really are.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>6. </b>I ask God to make me not just see them but also feel them with a
sense of the meekness and lowliness and brokenness that corresponds to their
true weight.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>7. </b>I renounce desires for praise and notoriety and esteem when I
see them rising. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">I say, “No! In the name of Jesus get out of my head!” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">And I
turn my mind afresh with prayer toward the beauty and truth and worth of
Christ. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>8. </b>I try to receive all criticism—from friend or foe—with the
assumption that there is almost certainly some truth in it that I can benefit
from. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;">“Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/James%201.19" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">James 1:19</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;">). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>9. </b>I strive to cultivate a joy in Christ and his wisdom and power
and justice and love that is more satisfying than the pleasures of human
praise, with the goal that, by the Spirit, I would be granted the miracle of
self-forgetfulness in the admiration of Christ, and in love toward people. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>10. </b>Finally, I turn often to older writers who knew God at depths
which most of us modern people seem incapable of. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">I turn, for example, to
Jonathan Edwards whose descriptions of humility awaken the deepest longings in
me, as, for example, when he wrote to Mrs. Peperell on November 28, 1751,
concerning Christ: </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">He is indeed possessed of infinite majesty, to inspire us
with reverence an adoration; </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">yet that majesty need not terrify us, for we
behold it blended with humility, meekness, and sweet condescension. </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">We may feel
the most profound reverence and self-abasement, and yet our hearts be drawn
forth sweetly and powerfully into an intimacy the most free, confidential, and
delightful. </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">The dread, so naturally inspired by his greatness, is dispelled by
the contemplation of his gentleness and humility; </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">while the familiarity, which
might otherwise arise from this view of the loveliness of his character merely,
is ever prevented by the consciousness of his infinite majesty and glory; </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">and
the sight of all his perfections united fills us with sweet surprise and humble
confidence, with reverential love and delightful adoration. </span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: x-small;">(Works, Vol. 1
(Edinburgh: Banner of Truth), p. cxxxix)
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Longing to forget me, and treasure
Christ, and love you,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pastor John</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-74099009589516080042014-05-20T16:20:00.000+02:002014-05-20T16:20:40.789+02:00Kindle the Fire in Corporate Worship<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>DE</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Normale Tabelle";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Davis Mathis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mWjh95mXTTp5CD0EU3W1_n3-1jOpnCp7V7Y_74Ek60AJLdlM7Qm5kiyADMNH0uIostLSbMNiiXvQAzV93zRAWooDtx9YDIlhF7cs3_a9-qeUbf_Q96CkyOHwM12EDCCp2MRwrOXa9ER_/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-20+um+16.13.43.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mWjh95mXTTp5CD0EU3W1_n3-1jOpnCp7V7Y_74Ek60AJLdlM7Qm5kiyADMNH0uIostLSbMNiiXvQAzV93zRAWooDtx9YDIlhF7cs3_a9-qeUbf_Q96CkyOHwM12EDCCp2MRwrOXa9ER_/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-20+um+16.13.43.png" height="384" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You were made for more than private
devotions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As nice as it can be to tuck
ourselves away in some nook and cranny, all by our lonesome, and read the
Scriptures we want to read, pray the prayers we prefer, play the songs we like,
memorize the verses we pick, and fast from food when it’s convenient — as
important as it is to pursue a regular rhythm of “private worship” in these
personal disciplines — this is not the pinnacle of our Christian lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We were made to worship Jesus
together. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Among the multitude. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With the great hoard. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Swallowed up in the
magnificent mass of the redeemed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God didn’t fashion us to enjoy him finally as
solitary individuals, but as happy members of a countlessly large family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When the fog of everyday life clears,
and we catch a glimpse of heaven’s bliss, we don’t find ourselves sequestered
at a study desk or hidden alone in a prayer closet in paradise, or even
standing alone before the great Grand Canyon or mountain peak of God’s majesty,
but joyfully lost in the worshiping throng of Christ’s people from every tongue
and tribe and nation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We were made for corporate worship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cheerfully Lost in the Crowd</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Heaven will be more spectacular than
we can dream — and the new earth, even better than heaven — but it might be
surprising to hear that perhaps the best foretaste we can get on this side is
with the gathered church, worshiping Jesus together. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not that eternity will
amount to an unending church service, but that we will be wonderfully immersed
in a joy-multiplying multitude of fellow worshipers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">And in heaven’s adoration, we join
not only “many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands”
(</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Revelation%205.11"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Revelation 5:11</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">)
— you might say “innumerable angels” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Hebrews%2012.22"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Hebrews 12:22</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">) — but also
the innumerable communion of the ransomed,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">a great multitude that no one could
number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing
before the throne and before the Lamb . . . and crying out with a loud voice,
“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Revelation%207.9%E2%80%9310"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Revelation
7:9–10</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">)<o:p></o:p></span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">While the corporate worship of Jesus
by the church universal is an essential element in our great destiny, it is the
corporate worship of Jesus by the church local that is a vital </span><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/put-yourself-in-the-path-of-god-s-grace"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">means of God’s
grace</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"> in getting us there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 26.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most Important Means of Grace</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And it may be the single most
important means of grace, and our greatest weapon in the fight for joy, because
like no other means, corporate worship combines all three principles of God’s
ongoing grace: his word, prayer, and fellowship. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is corporate worship, with
its preaching and sacraments and collective praises, confessions, petitions,
and thanksgivings, which most acutely brings together the gifts of God’s voice,
his ear, and his body.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;">And so, according to Don Whitney,
“There’s an element of worship and Christianity that cannot be experienced in
private worship or by watching worship. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">There are some graces and blessings
that God gives only in ‘meeting together’ with other believers” (</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Disciplines-Christian-Pilgrimage-Growth/dp/1576830276/"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Spiritual
Disciplines</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">, 92). </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Or as Richard Foster says, “When we are truly
gathered into worship, things occur that could never occur alone” (</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Celebration-Discipline-Richard-Foster/dp/0340979267/"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Celebration of
Discipline</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">, 164).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Perhaps your own experience of
corporate worship as a means of grace has, at times, echoed that of Martin
Luther: “at home, in my own house, there is no warmth or vigor in me, but in
the church when the multitude is gathered together, a fire is kindled in my
heart and it breaks its way through.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 26.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Worship Is No Means</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But talking about worship as a means
of grace is tricky, because, as John Piper cautions us, true worship is not a
means to anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Worship is an end in itself. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We do
not eat the feast of worship as a means to anything else. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Happiness in God
[which is the heart of worship] is the end of all our seeking. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Nothing beyond
it can be sought as a higher goal. . . . True worship cannot be performed as
a means to some other experience. (</span><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/books/desiring-god"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Desiring God</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">, 90)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What then do we mean when we say that
corporate worship is an essential means of God’s grace? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Can it really be such?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 26.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Secret of Joy: Self-Forgetfulness</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One distinction to make is between
the essence of worship as joy in God and the context of corporate worship as
the gathered assembly. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">While praising Jesus together is its greatest
expression, worship is bigger than just the gathered church — for Sunday
mornings and for everyday life (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%2012.1"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Romans 12:1</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And related
to this is the difference between how we think about corporate worship (and the
various motivations for it and benefits from it) and how we experience it in the
moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is more to be said about the
“graces and blessings that God gives only in ‘meeting together’ with other
believers” — which can inspire our faithful engagement and help us appreciate
the irreplaceable role corporate worship plays in our Christian health and
growth — but for now, the question is, where should we turn our hearts and
minds collectively in the moment to experience this grace from God?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The answer is that our focus should
not be self-consciously preoccupied with how we’re being strengthened or what
grace we’re receiving. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rather, our focus together is the crucified and risen
Christ, and the incomparable excellencies of his person and work. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Which
illumines all the various spiritual disciplines. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Corporate worship is a means
of grace not when we’re caught up with what we’re doing, but when we experience
the secret of worship — the joy of self-forgetfulness — as we become
preoccupied together with Jesus and his manifold perfections.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">See, then, the pregnant application
to corporate worship in this summary by Piper:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All genuine emotion is an end in
itself.</span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is not consciously caused as a means to something else. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This does
not mean we cannot or should not seek to have certain feelings.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We should and
we can. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We can put ourselves in situations [corporate worship] where the
feeling may more readily be kindled. . . .</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But in the moment of authentic
emotion, the calculation vanishes. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are transported (perhaps only for
seconds) above the reasoning work of the mind, and we experience feeling without
reference to logical or practical implications. (92)</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In this way, corporate worship, which
is no means to anything else, is a powerful — even the most powerful — means of
God’s grace for the Christian life.</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So come to corporate worship for the many blessings, and
then let the calculations vanish and lose yourself in the Blessed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Get yourself
there with a reminder about how good it will be for you if you do, and as the
gathering begins, go hard after the goodness of God and seek to forget yourself
as you focus on his Son.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-25660424954486401032014-05-11T04:40:00.003+02:002014-05-11T04:40:50.927+02:00Confessions of a Grown-Up Momma’s Boy
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>DE</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Normale Tabelle";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>by Marshall Segal</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCqfhklghhMASClSHO9Hm_gqbsqGDPTvdykGl8ZczHy1meD42h3uf63BZ3AGnZ_G4ObBd4J6QybYxKrW6RuWlp_akhvB96sr-uOJa6tWMjt5-gnqBKFU-oGXqcBzzA2XnKDszWsJXYwUz/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-11+um+04.34.32.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCqfhklghhMASClSHO9Hm_gqbsqGDPTvdykGl8ZczHy1meD42h3uf63BZ3AGnZ_G4ObBd4J6QybYxKrW6RuWlp_akhvB96sr-uOJa6tWMjt5-gnqBKFU-oGXqcBzzA2XnKDszWsJXYwUz/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-11+um+04.34.32.png" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mothers are mind-blowing people if
you stop to look at them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In their body, they can carry, feed,
protect, and eventually deliver a child — a human being, like you or me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They
often set aside personal gifts and aspirations for the sake of the family. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They
very often are the ones to confront and conquer the warzone of the home — a
world of overwhelming, ever-changing, and ever-undone demands. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When life
allows, they’re often the more present and available parent as boys and girls
very quickly become young men and young women. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And through adoption, many of
them welcome sons and daughters into their home and heart whom they didn't get
to welcome into the world through birth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We simply do not — and cannot —
celebrate these women enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 26.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Making of Men and Women</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My mom quite literally might have
been the most precious gift my dad ever gave me — that is, her freedom to be
with me at home during the formative years of my life. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He worked, and worked
hard, to provide so that she could be more active in making my brothers and me
into men — men of love, men of discipline, courage, and learning, men of
sympathy and sensitivity, especially toward women, most of all, men after God’s
heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s the kind of work we can’t afford
to outsource. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Boys become men — strong men of integrity — and girls become
women — wise and beautiful women — through consistent care and attention, bold
and grace-filled instruction, and real-life modeling. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This requires lots and
lots of time with our parents. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Both mom and dad absolutely have a role to play
in this progress, but God has placed this priority on the mother in an unusual
way. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And it sure seems like the extraordinary reality of motherhood has too
often and too easily become the victim of other things, whether tragically
through death, disability, or divorce, or more subtly through good things like
ambition, education, and career advancement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For sure, something hard, uniquely
Christ-like, and therefore beautiful, happens in single mothering. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some mothers
just don’t have a choice to be home more. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They must work and work long hours,
and they should be commended and celebrated for their sacrifices and
burden-bearing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They lean more heavily on the community in raising their
children, and we’re certainly glad when they do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But among the rest of us, I wonder
whether we’ve lost our awe and appreciation for the glory of the work of the
home, of the work of making men and women, building them — year by year, hour
by hour, meal by meal, mundane moment by mundane moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 26.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Advice for Teenage Me (and Today Me)</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For all who’ve known me, and for as
long as I can remember, I’ve been an undeniable and unashamed momma’s boy. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But
my naïve, undying love for Mom has not always been enough to help me make the
most of her mothering. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have needed a heart and wisdom that only comes over
time from above, from the Maker of mothers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At twenty-eight, I believe I’ll still
learn a lot more about being a son, but here are four things I wish I could say
to fifteen-year-old me (and even twenty-seven-year-old me). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope they can be
a means of celebrating the miracle of every mom and the world-changing work
they do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Listen to her more intently.</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your mother’s mouth is a hidden well
of wisdom, and you have access to it like no one else on earth. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her deep,
unconditional, instinctive love leaves you a secret door open to her — her
heart and history and mind and perspective. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are things — unique
God-given, weighty, helpful things — she has that are available to her children
and no one else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They might be answers to difficult
questions or timely messages for a random Monday or simply lessons passed on in
passing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take advantage. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Learn your God, your world, and yourself through her
love. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your pride and attention span will try and steal this from you, but be
ever listening for and listening to your mother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Watch her more carefully.</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If the Bible is true and there is a
God, and this God made the saving work of his Son the highest expression of who
he is and how he loves, we ought to study, celebrate, and imitate love like
that. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mothers make the daily, extravagant, often unnoticed, and probably more
often unappreciated sacrifices that preserve health and growth in the home. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They very tangibly die to themselves and live for the interests of others,
especially others that are too young and immature to grasp what’s being given
them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We ought to marvel at motherly love
like this, and worship the God who loves us that way and therefore fills up the
love of mothers with tremendous and eternal meaning. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When she’s not looking, be
looking. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Learn to follow Christ by watching carefully how your mother lives and
works and feeds and cleans and dies for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Thank her more regularly.</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">One of Paul’s favorite ways to
worship God was through thanks. “I give thanks to my God always for you because
of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Corinthians%201.4"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">1 Corinthians
1:4</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In at least eight other letters, Paul expresses this same kind
of affection and appreciation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There’s something about a grateful heart that
brings great glory to our God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We ought to be the most constant,
most passionate, most outspoken thank-ers on the planet because our thanks in
all things makes much of God, from whom comes every good thing, especially our
mothers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don’t make light of his provision by neglecting to make much of her. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Notice her work, thank her for it, and as often as your remember, thank your
God for giving you her and everything she does for you. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your gratitude was
meant to highlight a mother’s ministry from God. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help her and others see that
by calling it out, even in the forgettable, repeatable responsibilities of
today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. Share with her more openly.</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ones who know and love us most
are most worthy of our honesty. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More than that, we are desperately in need of
their knowing us. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God made us to depend on others, so he gave us these strong,
wise, mature women to live with us, especially when we’re learning and changing
the most. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I reflect on my high school years in particular, I can see now how
much was happening in me — my faith and thinking and feelings and relationships
— and I can see how crazy I was to keep so much from her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There’s this unwritten, unwise code
among teenagers that privacy is the great treasure and parents the great
threat. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well it’s unwritten for a reason. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There’s probably no one on this earth
more steadfastly, more compassionately, even more ruthlessly committed to your
well-being than your parents. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your mom is a woman who’s been with you until
death do you part from the moment you knew her — even while she was still a
blur in your baby eyes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let her love you by welcoming her further into
yourself. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If she loves the Lord and you, you never need to fear her rejection
or denial or condemnation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So go ahead and share it all, and let her help shape
your heart and decision-making inside the security of her grace and care.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Honor Your Mother</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m twenty-eight and still
not-yet-married, which means I have a single’s mom, who also happens to be
happily married. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She’s been the closest, sweetest, most reliable, most
forgiving woman in my life thus far. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And she’s the woman most responsible —
under God — for making me the man I am. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the next twenty-eight years and
more, I aspire to love and appreciate her and her mothering better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May we all treasure and honor our mothers more today and
everyday — listening, watching, thanking, and sharing — and in doing so, making
much of the God who made her, loves her, and who speaks through her and her
life.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #2c2e30;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-48671773425068829312014-05-08T10:33:00.003+02:002014-05-08T10:33:38.436+02:00Why We Educate Our Girls<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>DE</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Normale Tabelle";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<a href="https://dwynrhh6bluza.cloudfront.net/website_uploads/images/blog-post-images/5853/full_1399496618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://dwynrhh6bluza.cloudfront.net/website_uploads/images/blog-post-images/5853/full_1399496618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why We Educate Our Girls" border="0" data-original="https://dwynrhh6bluza.cloudfront.net/website_uploads/images/blog-post-images/5853/full_1399496618.jpg" src="https://dwynrhh6bluza.cloudfront.net/website_uploads/images/blog-post-images/5853/full_1399496618.jpg" style="display: block;" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -36pt;">by John Piper </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On April 14, 2014, the terrorist Islamist group called Boko
Haram kidnapped over 270 girls, most between 16 and 18, from the Chibok
Government Girls </span></span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Secondary School in northeast Nigeria.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Boko Haram means “Western education is sinful.” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Part of the
motivation behind the attack is their belief that it is sinful for girls to be
formally educated at all. Educating girls is a Western effort to undermine the
Islamic view of the family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">The leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, said in a </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/06/world/africa/nigeria-kidnapped-girls.html?_r=0"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">recording</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">,
“Western education should end. . . . Girls, you should go and get married.” </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">He
warned that he would “give their hands in marriage because they are our slaves. </span></span></span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We would marry them out at the age of 9. We would marry them out at the age of
12.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While we advocate for vigorous efforts for the return of the
young women, and while we pray for them and their evil abductors, it is fitting
to remind ourselves why we as Christians encourage our girls and young women to
seek a full education. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What I mean by “full” will become clear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 26.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 26.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. God created man male and female in his image.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">“God created man in his own image, in the image of God he
created him; male and female he created them” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Genesis%201.27"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Genesis 1:27</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">The unique
human capacities for knowing God and loving God belong to men and women.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The capacity to know the world as from God and through God
and for God belongs to men and women. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The capacity to delight in all good
things, out of thanks to God and for the glory of God, belong to men and women.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maximizing these capacities in the worship of God and the
fruitful use of the world, is a divine mandate to men and women. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">“God blessed
them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and
subdue it’” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Genesis%201.28"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Genesis 1:28</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 26.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 26.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. God has revealed his glory in the natural world, and he
intends for all his creatures to see his wonders and give him praise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">One of the great aims of education is to impart habits of
mind that can see the fullest possible range of God’s wonders in the world he
has made (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Psalm%2019.1"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Psalm 19:1</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">;
</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Psalm%20104.23"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">104:23</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">The praises of
women are to increase with their abilities to see and understand the wonderful
works of God in the world (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Psalm%20105.2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Psalm 105:2</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 26.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 26.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. God has revealed himself more fully in the inspired word
of God than he has in the natural world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The fact that God reveals himself in a book is explosive with
implications for education, from the cradle to the grave. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All who aspire to
know and love God as fully as they can will aspire to learn to read the book of
God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Bible is the most important book in the world because it
is God’s revelation of what humans need to know for salvation and fruitfulness
which we cannot find out any other way. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is where God can be truly known,
and fully loved. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Education is the process of imparting habits and skills of
reading that enable human beings to know God and love God as fully as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">God wills for women to know him and love him as fully as they
can. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">He wills for them to commune with him directly — as daughter to Father —
through their encounter with the Bible. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">She is a fellow heir of the grace of
life (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Peter%203.7"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">1 Peter 3:7</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">)
and is not to be limited in her access to her Father or his word.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your mind” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%2022.37"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Matthew 22:37</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">), was not a
command given only to men. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Women will be held back from knowing and loving God
as fully as they can, if they are held back from forming the habits and skills
of reading — not just the skills of a third grade reader, but the skills of
discerning the full riches of biblical revelation concerning the great work of
the Son of God in his life, death, and resurrection. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">This is the great work of
education.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 26.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 26.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. All the roles into which God leads women call for the
habits of mind which education is meant to cultivate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These include the habits of<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">▪
</span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">observing all things accurately and thoroughly,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">▪
</span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">understanding clearly what she has observed,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">▪
</span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">evaluating fairly in the discernment of what is true,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">▪
</span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">feeling intensely according to the worth of what she
has evaluated,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">▪
</span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">applying wisely and helpfully in life what she
understands and feels,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">▪
</span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">and expressing in speech and writing and deeds what she
has seen, understood, felt and applied, in such a way that its accuracy,
clarity, truth, value, and helpfulness can be known and enjoyed by others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether she is a church-serving, globally aware, politically
awake, neighbor-loving full-time homemaker and mom, or a partner with her
husband in breadwinning, or an unmarried career woman, or other role, God’s
call on her life is to<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #f9cb9c;">▪
</span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">observe accurately (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%2013.16"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Matthew 13:16</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">; </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Mark%208.18"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Mark 8:18</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">; </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Luke%206.42"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Luke 6:42</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">; </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%209.39"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">John 9:39</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">),<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #f9cb9c;">▪
</span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">understand clearly (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Mark%208.21"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Mark 8:21</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">; </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ephesians%205.17"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Ephesians 5:17</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">),<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #f9cb9c;">▪
</span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">evaluate truly (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Luke%2012.57"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Luke 12:57</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">; </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Corinthians%2010.15"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">1 Corinthians
10:15</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">),<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #f9cb9c;">▪
</span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">feel appropriately (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%2012.9"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Romans 12:9</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">; </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Philippians%204.4"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Philippians 4:4</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">; </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/James%204.9"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">James 4:9</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">),<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 22.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #f9cb9c;">▪
</span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">apply truth wisely (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/James%201.22"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">James 1:22</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">; </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%2012.2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Romans 12:2</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">),<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #f9cb9c;">▪
</span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">and express herself effectively (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ephesians%204.15"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Ephesians 4:15</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">; </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Colossians%204.6"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Colossians 4:6</span></span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are the aims of a full education. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are the aims of Christian
discipleship. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are the aims of Christ-exalting womanhood. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Without them our
knowledge of Christ, his world, his salvation, his ways in history, and our
path of obedience will remain immature. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God does not call any of his children,
men or women, to immaturity. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Therefore he calls them all to a full education.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-17954310606122383632014-05-07T12:44:00.007+02:002014-05-07T12:50:07.561+02:00Can We Trade Sexual Morality for Church Growth?<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>DE</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Normale Tabelle";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygYnPlhTsoJZd9Wfz3uQWYumz69mQKbaHhV92VzrZOYU-Kse7WFxRD9SlN0sd4HEhRuphfMXSjXgVofiJb_aj6iBmnKvElDG6KjB1QvsSKNppwshxHeMFGYoYyD7zH0BtW718WqdLAu5n/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-07+um+12.40.24.png"><span style="color: #f6c08b; text-decoration: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXz0DhECEK-LpGrftOLSSRRmOmoHd6iB6W2fkMKFb8nxNAuAjslxV5I117ehAKG2KW44VVcVZq4lJwT2_qI3t-Gbyv9NolLT9xhRFwlK4QVtgSi-jbwIsjMOV9TM8tJcfVAvsZ9zeSfvww/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-07+um+12.40.24.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXz0DhECEK-LpGrftOLSSRRmOmoHd6iB6W2fkMKFb8nxNAuAjslxV5I117ehAKG2KW44VVcVZq4lJwT2_qI3t-Gbyv9NolLT9xhRFwlK4QVtgSi-jbwIsjMOV9TM8tJcfVAvsZ9zeSfvww/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-07+um+12.40.24.png" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">From time to time we hear some
telling us that evangelical Christianity must retool our sexual ethic if we're
ever going to reach the next generation. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Some say that Millennials,
particularly, are leaving the church because of our "obsession" with
sexual morality. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">The next generation needs a more
flexible ethic, they say, on premarital sex, homosexuality, and so on. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">We'll either adapt, the line goes,
or we'll die.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">This argument is hardly new. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">In the early 20th century, this was
precisely the rhetoric used by liberal Protestant Harry Emerson Fosdick and his
co-laborers. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Fosdick was concerned, he said, for
the future of Christianity, and if the church was to have a future we would
have to get over our obsession with virginity. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">By that, Fosdick didn't mean the
virginity of single Christians but the virginity of our Lord's mother.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">The younger generation wanted to be
Christian, the progressives told their contemporaries, but they couldn't accept
outmoded ideas of the miraculous, such as the virgin birth of Christ. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">What the liberals missed is that
such miracles didn't become hard to believe with the onset of the modern
age. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">They always had been hard to
believe from the beginning.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Joseph's reaction to Mary's
announcement of her pregnancy, after all, wasn't, "Well, it's beginning to
look a lot like Christmas." </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">He assumed that she had been
sexually unfaithful. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Why? Because he and his
contemporaries knew how people get pregnant.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">But the Christian message isn't
burdened down by the miraculous. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">It's inextricably linked to
it. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">A virgin woman conceives. The lame
walk. The blind see. A dead man is resurrected, ascends to heaven, and sends
the Spirit. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">The universe's ruler is on his way
to judge the living and the dead. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Those who do away with such things
are left with what J. Gresham Machen rightly identified as a different
religion, a religion as disconnected from global Christianity as the made-up
religion of Wicca is from the actual Druids of old.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Always Difficult</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">The same is true with a Christian
sexual ethic. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Sexual morality didn't become
difficult with the onset of the sexual revolution. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">It always has been. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Walking away from our own lordship,
or from the tyranny of our desires, has always been a narrow way. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">The rich young ruler wanted a
religion that would promise him his best life now, extended out into
eternity. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">But Jesus knew that such an
existence isn't life at all, just the zombie corpse of the way of the
flesh. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">He came to give us something else,
to join us to his own life.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">If we withhold what our faith
teaches about a theology of the body, of marriage, of what it means to be
created male and female, we will breed nothing but cynicism from those who will
rightly conclude that we see them not as sinners in need of good news but as a
marketing niche to be exploited by telling them what they want to hear.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">You can't grow a Christian church
by being sub-Christian. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">That's why there are no booming
Arian or Unitarian or Episcopal Church (USA) church-planting movements. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">But even if it "worked"
to negotiate away sexual morality for church growth, we wouldn't do it. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">We can only reach Millennials, and
anyone else, by reaching them with the gospel, good news for repentant sinners
through the shed blood and empty tomb of Jesus Christ.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">If we have to choose between
Millennials and Jesus, we choose Jesus.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">No Amendment</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Some think the Christian sexual
ethic is akin to our congregation's constitution and by-laws, that it can be
amended by a two-thirds vote. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">But this isn't the case. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Sexuality isn't ancillary to the
gospel but is itself an embodied icon of the gospel, pointing us to the union
of Christ and his church (<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Eph.%205.29-32"><u><span style="color: #de7e2b; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Eph. 5:29-32</span></u></a>).</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">This is why the Bible speaks of
sexual immorality as having profound spiritual consequences (<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Cor.%206.17-20"><u><span style="color: #de7e2b; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">1 Cor. 6:17-20</span></u></a>), ultimately leading,
if not repented of, to exile from the kingdom of God (<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Cor.%206.9-10"><u><span style="color: #de7e2b; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">1 Cor. 6:9-10</span></u></a>).</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Sexual immorality isn't simply a
matter of neurons firing. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">A Christian view of reality means
that the body is a temple, set apart to be a dwelling place for the Holy
Spirit. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Sexual immorality isn't just bad
for us (although it is); it's also an act of desecrating a holy place.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">There's little surprise then that
the Jerusalem Council, while not placing the burden of the Mosaic ceremonial
law on the new Gentile believers, did decree that the new brothers and sisters
in Christ must flee sexual immorality (<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Acts%2015.20"><u><span style="color: #de7e2b; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Acts 15:20</span></u></a>). </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">In a world of concubines and temple
prostitutes and public pornography, a Christian sexual ethic was just as
freakish and counter-cultural in the first-century Greco-Roman world as it is
today, if not more so.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">But the apostles maintained the
pattern of sound words they were given because to do anything else would be to
replace King Jesus with another lord, and to preach "peace" where
there is still war, "Spirit" where there is still flesh. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">They wouldn't do it, and neither
should we.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Virgin births and empty tombs are
hard to believe. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Fidelity and chastity are hard to
live. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">That's why we don't have a natural
gospel but a supernatural one. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">And that's why Jesus isn't a means
to where we want to go. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">He's a voice calling us to where we
don't, left to ourselves, want to go: the way of the cross.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">If we want to reach the next
generation, they must hear from us a Galilean voice saying, "Come, follow
me." </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">Anything less is just more
marketing for an already well-marketed Broad Way. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">And the end thereof is death.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><span style="color: #f6c08b; font-family: Verdana;">RUSSELL MOORE - THE GOSPEL
COALITION</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-38121594030134672302014-05-06T19:15:00.001+02:002014-05-06T20:01:13.873+02:00Gott allein die Ehre ?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>DE</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Normale Tabelle";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>DE</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Normale Tabelle";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCfmtVUn5sjnxwqauoKkCR-ghWtXWBM84Gojl9KFbcaozj7uY3benu_fDRfuXZUnFy_EJFQNC6fgiRDkaiWgFa3NswsiSRcN4ANp4kBNgEQu6Bv97qn33_sOhZhfu0CsUzDcdMFqcLaEC/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-06+um+19.08.38.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCfmtVUn5sjnxwqauoKkCR-ghWtXWBM84Gojl9KFbcaozj7uY3benu_fDRfuXZUnFy_EJFQNC6fgiRDkaiWgFa3NswsiSRcN4ANp4kBNgEQu6Bv97qn33_sOhZhfu0CsUzDcdMFqcLaEC/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-06+um+19.08.38.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0y-fqKfrB7tOl983mlv-uteYUgP0HTcJEZ-b-9NAoB2nqCxkgikF0qHcFhMbJS9btec8YpC37L8p-xAKCD-z2DJrZJjsnduwySrMppY1tCzIcIGDG7wScXl5O8_zadtGV6eDlT0EYt_AF/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-06+um+19.08.38.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0y-fqKfrB7tOl983mlv-uteYUgP0HTcJEZ-b-9NAoB2nqCxkgikF0qHcFhMbJS9btec8YpC37L8p-xAKCD-z2DJrZJjsnduwySrMppY1tCzIcIGDG7wScXl5O8_zadtGV6eDlT0EYt_AF/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-06+um+19.08.38.png" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Cambria;">So redete Jesus und hob seine Augen auf zum Himmel und sprach: Vater, die
Stunde ist da: verherrliche deinen Sohn, damit der Sohn dich verherrliche; denn
du hast ihm Macht gegeben über alle Menschen, damit er das ewige Leben gebe
allen, die du ihm gegeben hast.</span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Cambria;">Das ist aber das ewige Leben, dass sie dich, der du allein
wahrer Gott bist, und den du gesandt hast, Jesus Christus, erkennen.</span> <span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Cambria;">Ich habe dich verherrlicht auf Erden und das
Werk vollendet, das du mir gegeben hast, damit ich es tue.</span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Cambria;">Und nun, Vater,
verherrliche du mich bei dir mit der Herrlichkeit, die ich bei dir hatte, ehe
die Welt war (...)</span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Cambria;">Heilige sie in der
Wahrheit; dein Wort ist die Wahrheit.</span> <span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Cambria;">Wie du mich gesandt hast in die Welt, so sende ich sie auch
in die Welt.</span> <span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Cambria;">Ich heilige mich
selbst für sie, damit auch sie geheiligt seien in der Wahrheit.</span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Cambria;">Ich bitte aber nicht allein für sie, sondern
auch für die, die durch ihr Wort an mich glauben werden,</span> <span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Cambria;">damit sie alle eins seien. Wie du, Vater, in
mir bist und ich in dir, so sollen auch sie in uns sein, damit die Welt glaube,
dass du mich gesandt hast.</span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Cambria;">Und ich habe ihnen
die Herrlichkeit gegeben, die du mir gegeben hast, damit sie eins seien, wie
wir eins sind,</span> <span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Cambria;">ich in ihnen und
du in mir, damit sie vollkommen eins seien und die Welt erkenne, dass du mich
gesandt hast und sie liebst, wie du mich liebst. </span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Cambria;">Vater, ich will, dass, wo
ich bin, auch die bei mir seien, die du mir gegeben hast, damit sie meine
Herrlichkeit sehen, die du mir gegeben hast; denn du hast mich geliebt, ehe der
Grund der Welt gelegt war. </span><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"> </span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="http://www.bibleserver.com/text/LUT/Johannes17" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Joh 17, 1-5; 17-24</span></span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Cambria;"> </span></span></a></blockquote>
<!--EndFragment--><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Ich weiß nicht, warum die Kirche immer beansprucht,
so wichtig zu sein. Ich kann doch ein guter Mensch sein, auch wenn ich nicht
dauernd in die Kirche renne. Ich finde Gott eher in der Natur. Da spüre ich ihn
eher als in kalten Kirchenmauern."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So oder ähnlich habe ich schon oft Menschen reden hören,
ihr bestimmt auch. Menschen, die keine Lust haben auf tote Rituale, auf sinnleere
Gottesdienste und eine nichtssagende Versammlung von Menschen, die man nicht
einmal unbedingt kennt. Auf jeden Fall nicht näher kennt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Und es ist ja wahr. Unsereins hält sich heutzutage viel
zu viel in geschlossenen Räumlichkeiten auf, wo unser Blick auf wenige
Kubikmeter eingegrenzt ist und wir von fast ausschließlich toten Gegenständen
umgeben sind. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kein Wunder, dass wir so muffig, eingeschränkt und teilweise
depressiv durchs Leben schlittern, wenn wir den Blick für unsere wunderschöne
riesengroße weite Welt verloren haben. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ja, es ist höchste Zeit, sich wieder einmal aufzumachen
und Zeit in der Natur zu verbringen. Der Garten ist schon mal ein guter Anfang,
aber ich denke da besonders auch an die buchstäbliche Erweiterung unserer
Sinne: Große Wälder, endlose Hügel und Felder, schneebedeckte Berge und das
weite, wunderschöne Meer, an dem sich Himmel und Erde am Horizont berühren. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Der
Nachthimmel, unbeschmutzt vom künstlichen Licht unserer Städte. Das endlose Sternenmeer,
bei dem man, je länger man hinsieht, mehr und mehr Schichten dahinter erkennt,
bis einem vor lauter Ewigkeit ganz schwindelig wird. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Es ist Zeit, den Wind zu
spüren, der mir warm übers Gesicht streicht, dem Gesang der Vögel zu lauschen,
einen Blick auf wilde Tiere zu erhaschen, und sei es auch nur ein kleines
flinkes Eichörnchen. Staunen. Genießen. Durchatmen. Erkennen, dass mein kleines
Leben nur ein kleiner Teil eines viel größeren Ganzen ist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Das kann schon recht tröstlich sein. Davon redet auch
der Psalm 19:</span> <span style="font-family: Cambria;">Die Himmel
erzählen die Ehre Gottes, und die Feste verkündigt seiner Hände Werk.</span> <span style="font-family: Cambria;">Ein Tag sagt's dem andern, und eine Nacht tut's
kund der andern, ohne Sprache und ohne Worte; unhörbar ist ihre Stimme. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;">Man hat bis vor wenigen Jahren nicht gewusst, dass die
Sterne tatsächlich singen. Heute ist die NASA in der Lage, elektomagnetische
Schwingungen in Audiosognale umzuwandeln und entdeckt dabei faszinierende
Melodien, die </span><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zWKm-LZWm4" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #e69138;">jeder einzelne Himmelskörper individuell für sich </span></i><i><span style="color: #e69138;">singt</span></i></a></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><i>(bes. ab 3:03 und 8:15) </i></span></span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">"... unhörbar ist ihre Stimme."</span></i><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: x-large;"> </i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Das ist wahr, unhörbar für das menschliche Ohr. Aber mit der
richtigen Umwandlung ist sie jetzt hörbar. Faszinierend. Wunderschön.
Beeindruckend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Aber was genau singen sie ? Was genau erzählt die Natur
?<br />
<br />
Sie erzählt
von der hochintelligenten Größe und gewaltigen Herrlichkeit einer Macht, das unendlich
größer ist als wir. Wir daneben sind klein und unbedeutend. Das zu erkennen ist
schon mal ein guter Anfang. Aber was suchen Menschen in der Natur ? Gottes Ehre
? Oder Bestätigung ihrer selbst ?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Denn alles Andere kann man
beliebig interpretieren. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mancher sucht im Wald nach Bestätigung seines Glaubens
an die Mutter Natur, mancher glaubt, alles, auch Bäume und Steine sind Gott,
manche suchen in der Natur ihre Schutzengel, manche sogar einen Geist aus
vergangenen Zeiten. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Der Psalm 19 bleibt hier nicht stehen. Er fährt fort,
Gottes Offenbarung in Seinem Wort zu preisen. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Er ist geradezu <i>gepackt</i> von einer Begeisterung über
Gottes Wort. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Er preist seinen Gott über die Dinge, die Er ihm klargemacht hat,
die er ohne Ihn gar nicht wüsste.</span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Offenbarung</i>
von Wahrheiten, die wir alleine irgendwie immer übersehen. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Über gute, gerechte Wege,
über Mut zum Sündenbekenntnis, zur Ehrlichkeit, und die Gnade der Vergebung. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Und der Psalm endet mit dem Schlüssel für etwas, was kein Mensch wissen kann,
ohne dass Gott Ihm das offenbart: Gott will mein <i>Erlöser</i> sein.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Die Natur <i>kann</i>
uns Menschen auf die <i>Suche</i> schicken
nach <i>mehr</i> von dem, der dahinter
steckt. Wir können es aber dabei bewenden lassen, <i>das</i> zu suchen, was wir <i>immer</i>
suchen, nämlich unsere eigene Ehre. Genau wie bei jeder anderen Sache, mit der
Gott unser Herz sucht. Unsere selbstbezogene Reaktion auf Gottes Größe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ich frage mich, wie kommt es, das Menschen alles Mögliche
gut finden und tolerieren, aber nicht Jesus. Der Name Jesus stört. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Neulich im
Religionsunterricht mit den jungen Erwachsenen nahmen wir Weltreligionen durch,
beschäftigten uns mit der Geschichte des Christentums, und dann nannte ich,
vielleicht etwas unerwartet, den Namen Jesus. Sofort kam als Reaktion ein
Kichern und alberne Bemerkungen. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ich fragte zurück: <i>Warum lacht ihr über diesen
Namen ? Ihr habt doch auch nicht gelacht, als ich Buddha nannte oder Muhammed
oder Konfuzius. Warum stört euch dieser Name ?</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<o:p><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ich glaube, der Grund ist ist, weil der Name Jesus es uns nicht
erlaubt, weiter unsere eigene Ehre zu suchen. Der gekreuzigte, gefolterte
Gottessohn stellt unser Selbstbild in Frage. Stellt in Frage, dass wir doch
ganz ok sind. Dass wir ohne Ihn auch ganz gute Menschen sein können. Dass wir
es alleine schaffen. Dass wir selber wissen, was gut für uns ist. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Was soll dieser Stress mit der Sünde ? Warum dieses blutige
Schauspiel?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<o:p><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dieser Jesus wirft mit seinem blutigen Kreuz all das
über den Haufen und zwingt uns zu einer Reaktion: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Halten wir unseren selbstgebastelten</span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> wertgeschätzten</span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Haufen krampfhaft fest, dass er uns nicht einstürzt, und
lästern diesen Jesus einfach weg ? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;">Oder man könnte ja auch das Fahrzeug des Lebens in eine
Gegend manövrieren, wo Er uns möglichst nicht mehr unter die Augen kommt ? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;">Es
könnte aber auch sein, dass wir merken, dass Er uns zu stark ist und wir Ihm
soundso nicht entkommen können. Dann könnte man das Christentum auf so eine
Weise definieren, dass wir trotzdem noch genug vom Kuchen der Ehre abbekommen.
Wenn auch nicht öffentlich (als Christ tut man ja bescheiden), aber doch
innerlich, in unserer Überzeugung von uns selbst ?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oder wir machen es ganz anders: wir stellen uns Ihm,
atmen einmal tief durch, nehmen unseren Mut zusammen und sehen Ihm in die Augen
und hören Ihm zu. Und erkennen plötzlich etwas, für das wir kein besseres Wort
haben als: <i>Jesu Herrlichkeit.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<o:p><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Die Natur hat keine Antwort auf meine Fragen. Sie hat
keine Antwort auf meine Sünde. Sie hat keine Antwort auf meine Sehnsucht
danach, geliebt zu sein. Diese Antworten müssen von Gott direkt kommen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Das aber immerhin macht die Natur uns kleinem Menschen
deutlich: <i>Mir</i> gebührt <i>keine</i> Ehre ! <i>Dem</i>,
der dahinter steckt, <i>dem</i> gebührt alle
Ehre. Wer ehrlich ist und seine Augen aufmacht, erkennt Gottes Herrlichkeit in
der Natur. Seine Größe, Seine Allmacht, Seine Weisheit und Seinen Sinn für
fantastische Schönheit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wenn ein Mensch sich dann ehrlich genug auf die Suche
macht, dann fängt er an, einen Gott zu entdecken, der alle seine Vorstellungen
von "herrlich" sprengt. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gottes Herrlichkeit, und Seine Herrlichkeit
in Jesus ist das Thema des Johannesevangeliums. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fast 30 Mal kommt hier das Wort </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ehre</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> oder </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Herrlichkeit</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
vor. Jesus gebraucht diese Worte ständig.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Was bedeuten diese veralteten Worte ? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 14.2pt; margin-right: -.3pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>* Ehre</i> ist ein Wort, das
beschreibt, wieviel Wert man einer Sache <i>zuschreibt</i>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 14.2pt; margin-right: -.3pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>* Herrlichkeit</i> ist es, wenn man erkennt, welchen
<i>tatsächlichen</i> großen Wert diese Sache
wirklich hat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<o:p><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hier ist eine Provokation, eine Kampfansage an unsere
Wertvorstellungen. Denn neben diesem Gott, der die Welt so sehr liebt, dass er
seinen einzigen Sohn dahingibt für uns, verblasst alles Andere in die
Bedeutungslosigkeit. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Und daran scheiden sich tatsächlich die Geister. Hat Gott allein die
Ehre verdient ? Hier muss eine Entscheidung fallen. Laut oder leise. Aber sie
fällt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ich lade euch ein, jemandem zuzuhören, der Gott einen
so großen Wert zumisst, dass er bereit war, alles für Ihn zu tun, nämlich sein
Sohn Jesus. Ich habe hier eine Ton-Aufnahme aus dem Film "Das
Johannesevangelium". Nachdem sich Jesus kurz vor Seinem Tod von Seinen
Jüngern verabschiedet hat, </span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">spricht</span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Er vor dem Gang nach Gethsemane mit Seinem Vater. Johannes Kapitel 17. Das hohenpriesterliche Gebet Jesu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Audio </span><a href="https://soundcloud.com/jasna-beocanin/das-johannes-evangelium" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e69138;"><i>Johannes Kapitel 17</i></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Aus den Worten Jesu spricht etwas, was dieser Welt
völlig fremd ist. Es ist eine Leidenschaft, ein Verlangen, eine Hingabe und
Liebe an den Willen Seines Vaters, die diese Welt nicht kennt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Diese Welt kennt nur das eifersüchtige Begehren nach
eigener Ehre, nach eigenem Wert, wie auch immer das aussehen mag. Ein Wert, den
wir haben wollen <i>unabhängig</i> von Gott. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sei es, dass wir Gott ganz ablehnen - oder dass wir Ihn zwar wollen, aber alles
dafür tun, um dennoch einigermaßen gerecht dazustehen vor Ihm, um seine Gnade
zu verdienen. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wie das aussieht, hat unzählige Varianten. Aber alle diese
Varianten stehlen Gott die Ehre. Auf Englisch gibt es den Ausdruck <i>glory thieves</i>. Ehren-Diebe. Wir sind
alle von Natur Ehren-Diebe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gott bietet uns etwas anderes an als das, worum wir
vergeblich kämpfen und womit wir uns ständig selbst und Andere verletzen: Seine Liebe.
Seine bedingungslose Liebe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Vater, die Stunde ist da: verherrliche deinen Sohn, damit der
Sohn dich verherrliche.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wenn Jesus das so betet,
dann hat das eine große Bedeutung. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Er redet ja nicht von einer Art Herrlichkeit, die es ein für allemal allen endlich zeigt, wer hier die Macht und das Sagen hat. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jesus redet von Seiner
Verherrlichung am Kreuz. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jesus will, dass die Welt erkennt, wie sehr er den
Vater liebt - wie viel der Vater wert ist. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jesu größtes Verlangen ist es, der
Welt die Augen zu öffnen für die Schönheit und die unermessliche Liebe Seines
Vaters. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Und des Vaters größtes Verlangen ist es, der Welt die Augen zu öffnen
für die Schönheit und die unermessliche Liebe Seines Sohnes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eine Liebe, die nichts anderes benötigt, um glücklich zu
sein. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Die auch mich nicht benötigt, um glücklich zu sein ? Fühlst du dich plötzlich überflüssig ? Nein, keine Angst ! Denn darin liegt unsere ewige Sicherheit ! </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Es ist Seine Liebe, die uns
hält, und wir müssen sie uns nicht verdienen. Wie könnten wir so eine Liebe
auch verdienen ! Diese Liebe wankt nicht.</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Und nun, Vater, verherrliche du mich bei dir
mit der Herrlichkeit, die ich bei dir hatte, ehe die Welt war.</span></i><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Die Herrlichkeit Jesu liegt nicht in Seiner Macht oder
in Seiner Überlegenheit. Die Herrlichkeit Jesu liegt in Seinem atemberaubenden
Charakter, in der Bodenlosigkeit Seiner Liebe. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Der Vater ist so glücklich über diesen
Seinen Sohn, Er ist so stolz auf Ihn: </span><i><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Seht meinen Sohn, an ihm habe ich mein
Wohlgefallen, an ihm habe ich meine große Freude.</span></i><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Und das will Jesus am Kreuz mit Seinem Leiden und Tod
enthüllen. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Die Herrlichkeit Jesu liegt darin, den Auftrag Seines Vaters zu
erfüllen: Das durch die Sünde Zerstörte zu heilen und das in der Gottesferne
Verlorene zu retten und dafür den höchsten Preis zu bezahlen, den Er bezahlen
konnte: Allen Schmerz der Welt. Alles Böse der Welt. Sein ganzes Blut.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wie sah das denn aus, als
der Vater am Kreuz Seinen Sohn verherrlicht hat ? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Am Kreuz fand die allergrößte Belastungsprobe für den
Charakter Jesu statt. Wie stark ist Seine Liebe zum Vater wirklich ? Wie stark
ist Seine Liebe zu uns ? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Das volle Gewicht des menschlichen Hasses, von
Gemeinheit und Selbstgerechtigkeit verlogener selbstsüchtiger Menschen lag auf
Ihm, um zu testen, wie viel Er sich wirklich von uns bieten lässt, bevor Er uns
aufgibt. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nach der gesamten Bosheit der Weltgeschichte, die in den finsteren
Stunden auf Jesus gelegt wurde und an Seinen durchnagelten Händen und seiner
durchbohrten Seele zerrte, war Seine Schlussfolgerung nicht etwa: <i>Diese Hunde, jetzt sollen sie kriegen, was
sie verdienen. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sondern: </span><i>Vater, vergib
ihnen, denn sie wissen nicht, was sie tun!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unser Gott ist der einzige Gott, der die Narben unserer
Bosheit trägt - und uns immer noch liebt ! </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Das. Ist. Herrlichkeit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Was ist das für ein Gott, der sich beleidigen lässt von
uns unverbesserlich besserwisserischen Winzlingen, der sich bei allen Beweisen
Seiner Güte, Liebe und Treue ständig noch boshafte Absichten unterstellen
lässt, sich bei aller Weisheit und Größe, die aus der gesamten Schöpfung mit
lauter und deutlicher Stimme sprechen, sich dennoch als unfähig, unvernünftig
und bedeutungslos beschimpfen lässt - Der Vater leidet am meisten an unserer
abgrundtiefen Sünde. Und liebt uns immer noch. Und wartet immer noch. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Das. Ist.
Herrlichkeit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Aber wer sieht das denn
schon ?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Jesu Gebet geht weiter. </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Wie du mich gesandt hast in die Welt, so sende
ich sie auch in die Welt.</span></i><i style="color: #f9cb9c; text-align: center;"> </i><i style="color: #f9cb9c; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Ich
heilige mich selbst für sie, damit auch sie geheiligt seien in der Wahrheit.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Golgatha war nicht das Finale. Es war ein Zenit, ein
Scheitelpunkt der Weltgeschichte, aber es geht weiter. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jesus will, dass Seine
Jünger, die erkannt haben, welchen Wert Er hat, welchen Wert der Vater hat, wie
herrlich Seine Liebe ist, es anderen Menschen weitergeben. Und das geht nur,
wenn sie selbst kein Problem mit eigener Ehre haben, wenn sie keine Ehrendiebe
sind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Deswegen betet Jesus um unsere Heiligung. Unsere Heiligung
bedeutet zwei Dinge. Zum Einen ist, was heilig ist, <i>Gott geweiht</i>. Zum Anderen ist das, was zu Gott gehört, so wie Gott
- nämlich <i>anders</i>. Heilig bedeutet "<i>anders</i>" - anders als normal, weil dem
Herrn ähnlich.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anders durch die <i>Wahrheit</i>.
Den Mut zu seinen Fehlern zu stehen. Das ist anders. Das fällt auf. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Es ist die Wahrheit, dass wir alle ganz miese Sünder sind, wenn wir ehrlich sind, und
keine Chance bei Gott haben, außer <i>Er</i>
tut was dagegen. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Und das hat Er. Jesus sagt,</span> <i><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Ich heilige mich selbst für sie</span></i><span style="font-family: Cambria;">. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Das bedeutet, Er hat unseren Schuldschein abbezahlt, bis zum letzten
Tropfen. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unsere Heiligung besteht nicht darin, perfekt vor Gott
zu kommen, sondern darin, zuzugeben: Du hast Recht, Gott. Ich bin verloren. Ich
hab verspielt. Ich habe nichts. Sei mir Sünder gnädig. Und hier falle ich in Gottes offene Arme.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Heilige sie in der
Wahrheit</span></i><i> </i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">bedeutet, Mut zur
Ehrlichkeit. Das Versteckspielen ist vorbei. Ich muss mich nicht mehr wie Adam
und Eva mit Feigenblättern hinter einem Busch vor Gott verkriechen und dreist meine
Verantwortung abstreiten.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ich darf ganz durchsíchtig und ehrlich werden, vor
Gott und vor den Menschen, denn auf mich wartet nicht meine Verdammnis, meine gerechte
Strafe, sondern die vergebende Liebe des Vaters. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Das war übrigens schon immer so. Gott
hat sich nicht geändert. Gott hat schon immer darauf gewartet, dass sich Seine Menschen
auf Seine Gnade werfen, seit Adam und Eva.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Aber hier, im Kreuz Seines geliebten Sohnes, hat Gott
im Allerletzten offenbart, wie </span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">einzigartig </span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">unfassbar entwaffnend herrlich Er ist: Die himmelschreiende Herrlichkeit Seiner
Liebe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jesu Gebet ist es, dass auch <i>wir</i> allein die Herrlichkeit dessen suchen, der sie verdient hat:
Nämlich Gott. Gottes Ehre suchen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wenn das einer von uns schon mal erkannt und versucht
hat, kann das sein, dass er das als ziemlich anstrengend erlebte. Es ist sehr
anstrengend, unserem ungebändigten Trieb nach Anerkennung zu trotzen. Und
höchstwahrscheinlich geht das auch ohne Kampf gar nicht ab. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nur sieht es in diesem Gebet Jesu nach einem ganz
anderen Schwerpunkt aus: Es geht nicht darum, mein eigenes Begehren nach Ehre totzuwürgen. Es dreht sich alles darum, Jesu Herrlichkeit zu <i>sehen</i>. Diese Liebe.
Dieses Opfer. Diesen entschlossenen Gehorsam, den Jesus selbst sein Glück,
Seine Erfüllung nennt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<o:p><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jesu Glück und tiefe Freude, ja, die wünsche ich mir auch. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Aber wir finden unser Glück nicht wo anders als Jesus !</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unser Glück, von Anfang der
Schöpfung an, liegt darin, Gott als so wundervoll zu sehen, wie Er wirklich
ist. Und sich von Seiner Liebe beschenken lassen, die auf nichts anderes
gegründet ist als - auf Seiner Liebe.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLdHRgBJthVFf1xWxYCzyfzOC3BfjHEY4qXBONTeT-MM6pwjYHIXDxnCAvQNn2bkzC0TeRNCy-hPFWvHtgSg91FwnzpzcoG2kSkQ-A9XLWftUsotVdlxYQXSpQ6C8Pd591kq62atdQBFR/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-06+um+19.07.17.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLdHRgBJthVFf1xWxYCzyfzOC3BfjHEY4qXBONTeT-MM6pwjYHIXDxnCAvQNn2bkzC0TeRNCy-hPFWvHtgSg91FwnzpzcoG2kSkQ-A9XLWftUsotVdlxYQXSpQ6C8Pd591kq62atdQBFR/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-06+um+19.07.17.png" height="226" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;">Vater, ich will, dass, wo ich bin, auch die bei
mir seien, die du mir gegeben hast, damit sie meine Herrlichkeit sehen, die du
mir gegeben hast; denn du hast mich geliebt, ehe der Grund der Welt gelegt war.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wenn wir dahin kommen, unser gesamtes Leben, unsere
gesamte Zeit bei Ihm zu verbringen und Seine Herrlichkeit zu schauen, Ihn zu
sehen als so wertvoll und kostbar, wie Er wirklich ist - dann ergibt sich der
Rest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Da erkennen wir die Unsinnigkeit, um unsere eigene Ehre
zu kämpfen, und überlassen sie lieber Ihm. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nein, wir überlassen sie Ihm nicht einfach, es
drängt uns vielmehr, Ihm unsere Liebe und unseren Lobpreis und unsere Anbetung
vor die Füße zu legen. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Es drängt uns, vor Menschen immer und immer wieder danach zu
streben, wie wir Seinen Namen größer machen können, wie wir Seinen Wert
hervorheben können - im Gegensatz zu der derben Herabsetzung, die Sein Heiliger Name
ansonsten in unserer Welt erfährt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Im Schauen von Jesu Herrlichkeit werden wir Menschen,
die wie Jesus gelassen hinnehmen können, dass man ihre Ehre schmälert, aber dennoch mit
der gleichen Hingabe alles tun, was Gott ihnen aufgetragen hat. Einerseits
tätige Treue, andererseits demütige Unerschütterlichkeit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<o:p><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Und nur so ist es möglich, Jesu Gebot zu erfüllen und in
der Gemeinde Jesu <i>eins</i> zu sein. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Denn
wo wir um unsere eigene Ehre kämpfen, stehen wir Gottes Reich gewaltig im Weg. Es geht ja um <i>unsere</i> Herrlichkeit. <i>Unsere</i> Klugheit. <i>Unser</i> Lob. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wenn wir aber Ihn sehen,
wie Er ist, verliert alles Andere an Gewicht. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<o:p><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgd7W9li_Vl4RVcj-QjN-j0109fhd3iHPxEFkH59BABrKD1ORJE7jH_nzXQIF2aM8JMxkqtqLOUEPmB3eBSye_EYpGbItKx_7QNZROu4tqs05pvgRVv7-qm1SFiIn_77eHr4U76TOxsr-/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-06+um+19.49.29.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgd7W9li_Vl4RVcj-QjN-j0109fhd3iHPxEFkH59BABrKD1ORJE7jH_nzXQIF2aM8JMxkqtqLOUEPmB3eBSye_EYpGbItKx_7QNZROu4tqs05pvgRVv7-qm1SFiIn_77eHr4U76TOxsr-/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-06+um+19.49.29.png" height="228" width="400" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;">Die Welt soll erkennen, dass du mich gesandt
hast und sie liebst, wie du mich liebst. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Was ? Gott liebt uns so, wie Er Jesus liebt ? Hallo ?
Dass Er Jesus liebt, ja natürlich, das kann ich sehr gut verstehen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Auch dass Er uns </span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">irgendwie </span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">liebt, ok ... aber so sehr, wie
Er diesen Seinen wundervollen, unvergleichlich kostbaren, reinen, heiligen,
gerechten Sohn liebt ? Das ist ein Hammer !</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Warum tut Er das ? Wie kann Er das ? Ich bin nicht auf
der gleichen Stufe wie dieser wundervolle Sohn. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Aber hier reißt der Vater das letzte Bollwerk unseres
Stolzes und unserer Angst ein: Ja, Er liebt uns <i>um Jesu willen</i> so sehr, so sehr
wie Jesus selbst. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Das ist eine Botschaft, die du draußen in der Natur
nicht hören kannst. Die hörst du nur in Seinem Wort, und dort, wo Seine Leute
sind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wir werden das, wozu Jesus uns machen will, dadurch,
dass wir tagein, tagaus Seine Herrlichkeit sehen, und dass dann diese Herrlichkeit
aus uns so strahlt, dass wir uns selber wundern, wo das herkommt. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wenn wir uns durchleuchten
lassen auf dunkle Flecken, die hier und da immer wieder neu auftauchen. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Und uns
waschen zu lassen durch Sein Blut am Kreuz. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dazu gehört einerseits Selbstaufgabe, nicht mehr meine
eigene Selbstverteidigung zu suchen, sondern die Ehrlichkeit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Andererseits aber auch die Entschlossenheit, diese Seine
Herrlichkeit täglich zu <i>suchen</i>, mir
die Zeiten zu erkämpfen, wo ich alleine mit Ihm bin, wie Er selbst diese Zeit
alleine mit dem Vater gesucht hat. Jesus hat es uns vorgemacht: Früh am morgen,
bevor es Tag wurde, stand er auf und ging um zu beten.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Was hat Jesus eigentlich im Gebet getan ? </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Er hat Seinem
Vater zugehört. Jesus kannte das Wort Gottes in- und auswendig. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-no-proof: yes;">Woher kennt dieser Jesus denn die Schrift, obwohl er
nicht offiziell bei den Rabbinern studiert hat?</span></i> </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Auch diese Kenntnis kam
Jesus nicht übernatürlich. Er hat sich Zeit genommen, die Schrift kennenzulernen.
Viel Zeit.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Es kostet etwas, Prioritäten zu setzen. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wenn ich es
mich nicht so viel kosten lasse, zeigt es, dass meine Prioritäten woanders
liegen. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Es ist eine Entscheidungssache. Jeden Tag neu. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;">Vater, ich will,
dass, wo ich bin, auch die bei mir seien, die du mir gegeben hast, damit sie
meine Herrlichkeit sehen, die du mir gegeben hast; denn du hast mich geliebt,
ehe der Grund der Welt gelegt war.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Und nun, Vater,
verherrliche du mich bei dir mit der Herrlichkeit, die ich bei dir hatte, ehe
die Welt war.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<o:p><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p>
<o:p><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lieber Vater, ich wünsche mir,
dass Du Deinen geliebten Sohn Jesus in mir verherrlichst. Lass mich Ihn suchen und
schauen und Seine Ehre. </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrFFzFiQoa4eo4or-OxSztM69juFmOhadVo6bs5ZRwzNPDdYGVJrSxPFG3Dus4bV8Zjo0gG8IhohN3mWbwAaJuQmekF_tS59uMfj4UNsj19njBYvDtz725vQ_e_yUAADy6Gwy_NcqqH_3/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-06+um+19.31.15.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrFFzFiQoa4eo4or-OxSztM69juFmOhadVo6bs5ZRwzNPDdYGVJrSxPFG3Dus4bV8Zjo0gG8IhohN3mWbwAaJuQmekF_tS59uMfj4UNsj19njBYvDtz725vQ_e_yUAADy6Gwy_NcqqH_3/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-06+um+19.31.15.png" height="360" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrFFzFiQoa4eo4or-OxSztM69juFmOhadVo6bs5ZRwzNPDdYGVJrSxPFG3Dus4bV8Zjo0gG8IhohN3mWbwAaJuQmekF_tS59uMfj4UNsj19njBYvDtz725vQ_e_yUAADy6Gwy_NcqqH_3/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-06+um+19.31.15.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrFFzFiQoa4eo4or-OxSztM69juFmOhadVo6bs5ZRwzNPDdYGVJrSxPFG3Dus4bV8Zjo0gG8IhohN3mWbwAaJuQmekF_tS59uMfj4UNsj19njBYvDtz725vQ_e_yUAADy6Gwy_NcqqH_3/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-05-06+um+19.31.15.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<o:p><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.3pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-87948818277634437962014-05-03T16:05:00.006+02:002014-05-03T16:06:54.924+02:00Is It Love or Lust?<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>DE</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Normale Tabelle";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<h2>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Not only for Girls ... </span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">by Khara Campbell</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><img alt="black-couple-looking-at-each-other" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7009" src="http://theprayingwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/black-couple-looking-at-each-other.png" height="240" width="400" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 21.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 21.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Does he love you or is he lusting after you? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 21.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Does he really want to know you: your thoughts, your dreams,
and your fears? Or is it all for the physical? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 21.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If he’s showing obvious signs that he only wants the cookie,
the fruit, the flower or whatever reference you have for your nature below,
then maybe it’s time to – LET HIM GO! Is he really worth you wasting your time
or more importantly your faith? I think not. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 21.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No one is worth losing your faith in God – yes I said it, no
one. Now I know this is easier said than done especially if you have already
developed strong feelings for him – possibly even love, but as hard as it may
be now to walk away if you have to, it may be even harder later when even more feelings
are developed on your end and or if his pressure towards you to give in to sex
increases. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 21.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because if he is only in the relationship to get in your
pants one of two things is guaranteed to happen in my opinion: (a) he will
throw in the towel early and move on to the next woman or (b) he is going to
stay around as long as possible to break you – you will become his challenge,
his conquest. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 21.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And is this really what you want? For him to tell you all the
right things to get you weak, vulnerable and right where he wants you only to
win the prize and walk away leaving you broken hearted and guilty for giving
in. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 21.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe that isn’t your situation, perhaps your man does love
you, but he doesn’t share your Christian faith and values, having sex out of
wedlock is one compromise – what about the others ahead while you both are
unevenly yoked? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 21.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your faith in God should be a lifestyle and if your man
doesn’t share that cutting ties now may be easier than having to do it later.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 21.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 21.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you find or have a man that desires to know you beyond the
physical and can honestly respect your decision to honor your desire to abstain
from sex until marriage then maybe this guy is worth holding onto for the walk
down the aisle. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 21.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He can possibly be the one that loves you (Read 1 Corinthians
13:4-8 NIV). If God can give women the desire to uphold His word about
abstaining from sex until marriage then He has also given it to men. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 21.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not all men are running around trying to have sex any chance
they get, men can honor God too. And to find a man after God’s heart is a great
thing! This type of man will honor you because he honors God. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 21.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So don’t lose hope if you haven’t found this man yet,
surrender your list of what you desire of a husband and allow God to intervene
as you obediently prepare yourself for your mate. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 21.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because to be honest, finding a husband is one step – keeping
him and having a successful marriage is a WHOLE different ball game which you
need to be prepared for. So while you are dating – date with a purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 21.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 21.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-52723686102677392232014-04-29T16:05:00.003+02:002014-04-29T16:33:37.569+02:00Jesus’s Closest Companion<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /> <img src="https://dwynrhh6bluza.cloudfront.net/website_uploads/images/blog-post-images/5834/full_1398484354.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><i>By David Mathis</i><br /><br /><br />The Holy Spirit. There is “something wonderfully mysterious” about him, says pastor and theologian Sinclair Ferguson.<br /><br />He is the third person of the Trinity, the “self-effacing” member. He works ever in tandem with God’s word — incarnate, spoken, and written. He is one of the Christian’s greatest sources of comfort. And too often he is one of the church’s greatest sources of controversy.<br /></span><br />
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> No Other Friend Like This</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">But before getting bogged down in dispute related to his miraculous gifts and mysterious works in the church today, take a step back and see who he is, and who he has been, beyond the firestorms about prophecy, tongues, and healing.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">“The best way to think about the Holy Spirit,” says Ferguson, “is to think of him as the closest companion of the Lord Jesus.”</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Not only has he been the Son’s eternal partner in the uncreated fellowship of the Trinity, but the Spirit was there with the Father and Son at creation (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Genesis%201.2"><span style="color: #e69138;">Genesis 1:2</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). He was there overshadowing Jesus’s conception (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Luke%201.35"><span style="color: #e69138;">Luke 1:35</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">), and there at his baptism (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Luke%203.22"><span style="color: #e69138;">Luke 3:22</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">) and temptation (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Luke%204.1%E2%80%932"><span style="color: #e69138;">Luke 4:1–2</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). Jesus performed his miracles through the power of the Spirit (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Luke%204.14%E2%80%9319"><span style="color: #e69138;">Luke 4:14–19</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">).</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">When Jesus’s closest earthly companions betrayed him, denied him, and scattered, the Spirit walked with him all the way into the jaws of death, empowering him to offer himself freely (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Hebrews%209.14"><span style="color: #e69138;">Hebrews 9:14</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). And the Spirit was there on Easter Sunday to raise him in power (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%201.4"><span style="color: #e69138;">Romans 1:4</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). Indeed, what a companion he is.</span><br /></span><br />
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Should We Give Attention to the Spirit?</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">When asked about the Holy Spirit, Ferguson says his mind first goes to Jesus’s “Farewell Discourse” in the Gospel of John, chapters 14–17. As Calvin says, if the other Gospels show us Jesus’s body, it is John’s Gospel that shows us his soul.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Here we learn about the Spirit’s “self-effacing” nature, as Jesus says the Spirit “will bear witness about me” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2015.26"><span style="color: #e69138;">John 15:26</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">) and “will glorify me” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2016.14"><span style="color: #e69138;">John 16:14</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). But there is more to say that just this. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Even as riddled as we are about so many questions concerning the Spirit, God has not left us without significant revelation about his person and work.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Says Ferguson, we should give attention, and glory, to the Spirit. “Just because he draws attention to Jesus, doesn’t mean we should ignore him.”</span><br /></span><br />
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> He Adds the Finishing Touches</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Some have summarized the partnership of the Trinitarian persons as the Father plans, the Son accomplishes, and the Spirit applies. The persons of the Godhead are indivisible in their working, but there is a sense in which one person leaves fingerprints on particular actions. Ferguson’s summary of the Spirit’s part is this: “He’s the one who puts the finishing touches to things.”</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">When the seeming crazies come out of the woodwork, fascinated with all things bizarre in the name of the Holy Spirit, Ferguson counsels that we take them to Jesus’s own words about the Spirit. “The Lord’s sheep hear the Lord’s voice,” he reminds us. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Look at Jesus’s words together. Most Christians have the least hang-ups about Jesus. Let him speak to us about his closest companion.</span><br /> </span><br />
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The Spirit and the Word</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">And one important item to draw attention to is that the Spirit’s work accompanies the Word incarnate and the work spoken. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">We should not think about the work of the word without the work of the Spirit, and vice versa. “The Spirit will use the word, and the word will be used by the Spirit.”</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">In this new episode of </span><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/by-series/theology-refresh" style="color: #f9cb9c;">Theology Refresh</a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">, Sinclair Ferguson — author of a significant book-length-treatment of the Holy Spirit — draws our attention to this person about whom there surely is “something wonderfully mysterious.”</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">To access this 12-minute episode, click below.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/the-holy-spirit-jesus-s-closest-companion" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEght93Dx22Ep7M1V9DzpxQYfMpYUbwqv-9mPf-eZwWl02zF9cjszZuJSEuKIzfAaoCanU8MDWkH8-mVld7CDhXnw4o5agqtFEVhxnHA9_HD05Z3isM8PjKemnsOgiLw1o07MpNcj0EpcgEL/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-04-29+um+16.01.49.png" /></a></span></span>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-F6ix3GoDk5s%2FU1-1SECglHI%2FAAAAAAAAA0Q%2FO7IE5tIVhZA%2Fs1600%2FBildschirmfoto%2B2014-04-29%2Bum%2B16.01.49.png&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEght93Dx22Ep7M1V9DzpxQYfMpYUbwqv-9mPf-eZwWl02zF9cjszZuJSEuKIzfAaoCanU8MDWkH8-mVld7CDhXnw4o5agqtFEVhxnHA9_HD05Z3isM8PjKemnsOgiLw1o07MpNcj0EpcgEL/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-04-29+um+16.01.49.png" -->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-16590002031708031642014-04-25T23:34:00.001+02:002014-04-25T23:34:16.249+02:00Sinner, Come Home<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span>
<img alt="Sinner, Come Home" data-original="https://dwynrhh6bluza.cloudfront.net/website_uploads/images/blog-post-images/5831/full_1398291330.jpg" src="https://dwynrhh6bluza.cloudfront.net/website_uploads/images/blog-post-images/5831/full_1398291330.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; display: block; font-family: 'Adelle W02 Light', Adelle, Rockwell, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; font: inherit; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">My heart was already full as John Piper began his message that would close the recent Together for the Gospel conference. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">I prayed that God would use his message to implant a passion within our hearts that would shape our lives and ministries for the length of our days.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was very moved by John’s faithful, careful, and precise exposition of Romans 9. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He pointed us to the infinite grace of God and to the assurance of his sovereignty and then pointed us to Paul’s agony over the lostness of his own people, his “kinsmen according to the flesh.” </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are we driven by the same agony when we see the lost around us?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was honestly unprepared for where John would take us at the conclusion of his message. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He took us into a crowded tent where he, as a young boy, saw his own father, an evangelist, plead with sinners to come to Jesus — “Won’t you come? . . . Won’t you come?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time and space seemed to collapse for me as I remembered being in the same kind of meeting, hearing the same gospel pleading, many, many times as a boy. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remember one time in particular, when as a nine-year-old boy I heard a part-time preacher who was a full-time phosphate miner preach the gospel and then plead with us to come to Christ. And I did.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know there was more to my salvation than was evident in that moment. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know that my salvation is secured in the eternal plan of a sovereign God. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know that I was effectually called by the Holy Spirit. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had the blessing of Christian parents and constant Christian witness. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I also know that the Holy Spirit used a simple preacher who was willing to plead with sinners, and thus I came to Christ.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When John began to sing, “Softly and Tenderly, Jesus Is Calling,” and to sweetly call a generation of young Reformed Christians to sing it with fervor and broken-hearted pleading, my heart broke. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I tasted again the sweetness of my own conversion, and I felt more at home than words can describe.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I was also broken-hearted with a sense of loss that so many of the 8,000 young people in that great room had never seen an evangelist plead, a godly father present the gospel, a sinner called by the Holy Spirit flee to refuge in Christ.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Imagine what it was like to hear 8,000 voices, mostly young and mostly male, singing — some surely for the first time — “Come home, come home, you who are weary, come home; Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling. Calling, O sinner, come home!”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was overcome with joy and profound thankfulness for what happened in that room that Thursday afternoon. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all got to see an evangelist pleading with sinners, pointing to Christ, unashamed to plead with emotion and passion and agonized urgency. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I heard the conviction in the voices of a rising generation as we sang that hymn, and my spirit rose within me. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was thrilled to lose my composure for the sake of a moment of such joy.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Softly and tenderly” still rings in my ears, and John Piper’s anointed exposition still rings in my heart. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am thankful beyond words to know that others will hear this message. Don’t dare miss it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Here is the moving seven-minute excerpt about his father’s evangelistic invitations of John Piper’s message at Together for the Gospel:</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOWmAQucC-I" target="_blank"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWPiSR1AHuT9t4Ulb7U6DEYWvMIOXQw5-ZCheLajTjfu_p9J0DcF38AbKh-gq6KwJupP7T4UOZfYTowgeqyVpGbgJrkRgzI5_GNOeUT78EwaiwEEbAhVzwATEyKYWeskNb-FhNzwbbsJl/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-04-25+um+23.16.39.png" height="361" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 16px; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Albert Mohler</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Listen, watch, or read Piper’s full message, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e69138;">“</span><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/conference-messages/persuading-pleading-and-predestination-human-means-in-the-miracle-of-conversion" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e69138;">Persuading, Pleading, and Predestination: Human Means in the Miracle of Conversion.”</span></a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: x-small;">Albert Mohler serves as president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.</span></i></span></div>
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-45836141395739342652014-03-20T16:51:00.005+01:002014-03-20T16:52:58.590+01:00See Through the Sour Wine<br />
<div style="clear: left; color: #3a3c3f; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">by Jonathan Parnell</span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<a href="https://dwynrhh6bluza.cloudfront.net/website_uploads/images/blog-post-images/5759/full_1394650012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="See Through the Sour Wine" border="0" data-original="https://dwynrhh6bluza.cloudfront.net/website_uploads/images/blog-post-images/5759/full_1394650012.jpg" src="https://dwynrhh6bluza.cloudfront.net/website_uploads/images/blog-post-images/5759/full_1394650012.jpg" style="display: block;" /></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was an act of cruelty, not comfort. </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That is what we see in the last minutes of Jesus’s life, as described in the Gospel of Mark.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Customary of Mark, he gets straight to the point in Mark 15:33. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sixth hour had come and brought darkness. Now it was the ninth hour, three in the afternoon, darkness still smothering the landscape. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And Jesus cries out with a loud voice,</span></div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mark tells us the Aramaic because that is exactly what Jesus said. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The details are important here. Jesus shouts toward heaven, which Mark translates for us, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 26px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Misunderstood, Again</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus has quoted from Psalm 22:1, identifying himself with the righteous sufferer from the Psalms of David. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the most theologically rich moment in history. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It should have overwhelmed those familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It should have made things click. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everything should have made sense. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But actually, few, if anyone, heard Jesus right.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The bystanders are standing there when Jesus addresses God in Aramaic — “Eloi, Eloi” — but they mistake him to be calling for Elijah — “Eli, Eli.” </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They misunderstand, yet again, the most misunderstood man to ever live. And what do they do?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How do they respond to the battered-breath cry of a dying man, which they confuse to be an appeal to Elijah for rescue?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have Some Sour Wine</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the confused bystanders rushes to fill a sponge with sour wine, puts it on a reed, and offers it to Jesus for a drink, saying “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down” (verse 36). </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Immediately, Mark tells us, Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last (verse 37). He died.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So the sponge didn’t work. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What was this bystander up to anyway? What was he doing?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was nasty, every bit of it. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As much as we’d like to imagine that there was this one nice guy at the foot of the cross that Friday, that maybe this fellow felt sorry for Jesus and tried to help, the Bible indicates otherwise.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is another key passage in the Psalms, similar to Psalm 22, that foreshadows the suffering of Jesus. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is Psalm 69, which says in verse 21, “They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine.” </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The righteous sufferer, in his moment of agony, is given sour wine. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is no kindness. It is insult, mockery. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And each Gospel writer alludes to this when they describe Jesus’s death, specifically citing “sour wine” (Matthew 27:48; Mark 15:36; Luke 23:36; John 19:29). </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not to mention, the “reed” that extended this sour wine links back to the “reed” used to strike Jesus in the face (Mark 15:19).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the Ground of Golgotha</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So we know overall, because of the Psalms and how it plays out in the other Gospels, this sour wine is a bad move. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is yet another sting in the excruciating cross of our Savior. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I think Mark, in particular, shows us how. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Theologically, we can understand its heinous role in the mockery, in the Messiah’s suffering, but then Mark brings us down to the ground of Golgotha. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Again, the details are important.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">According to Mark’s account, there is more rationale for why the bystander, after mistaking Jesus to be calling for Elijah, offers him the sour wine. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We see it in his words. He offers the sponge to Jesus and says, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come take him down” (Mark 15:36). </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wait, he says. Wait. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus is nearing his final breath, as the next verse says, “he breathed his last” (verse 37). </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And this bystander says to wait.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wait, in other words, let’s not let him die yet. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let’s help him hang on a little longer to see if Elijah might really come.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We don’t know exactly what this bystander had seen. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Presumably he had at least heard that Jesus worked wonders. Thousands had eaten when there wasn’t any food. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Real people who once could not walk, or see, now could. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether witnessed or heard, this bystander knew the dying man on the tree had a reputation for the miraculous. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And here, in the intensity of Jesus’s passion, just before he breathed his last, the bystander wanted to squeeze him just one more time for some good glitz.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He didn’t really think Elijah would come, but maybe. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus had done some amazing things. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But now, the bystander didn’t really hope for his rescue, he wanted his dazzle. He didn’t want a suffering Savior, he wanted a spectacular stunt. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He didn’t want Jesus, he wanted his show.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so did we.</span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Deep Miracle</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That is how sin works. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That’s what you do if you’ve only heard of someone without really knowing them. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You care about what they can give you. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s about the gifts, not the Giver. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We want the stuff of salvation, not the One to whom we’re saved.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And only a miracle can change this — a miracle of depth, not glamor. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which is what Jesus does. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The real miracle is not in the hype our fallen hearts would hope for, but in the quiet wonder of making our fallen hearts alive. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus makes us see. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Really see. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Through the gifts. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Through the goods. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Through the sour wine.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus makes us really see him.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-38021176670358043772014-01-21T19:57:00.002+01:002014-01-21T19:58:42.511+01:00Five Benefits of Asking God to Hurry <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">by Steve Fuller</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; color: #f9cb9c; float: left; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Five Benefits of Asking God to Hurry" data-original="https://dwynrhh6bluza.cloudfront.net/website_uploads/images/blog-post-images/5676/full_1390098353.jpg" src="https://dwynrhh6bluza.cloudfront.net/website_uploads/images/blog-post-images/5676/full_1390098353.jpg" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3a3c3f; display: block; font-family: 'Adelle W01 Regular', Adelle, Rockwell, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></span></div>
<ul style="list-style-type: none;">
<li style="margin: 0px;"></li>
<div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There’s something I’ve been praying about. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The church where I serve as pastor needs a part-time worship leader. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our present leader has served us well, but his schedule is changing and he plans to step down. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">S</span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">o, of course, I’ve been networking, calling, posting on church employment sites — and praying.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So far, God has not provided — and the problem is that I need him to provide soon. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can hear the clock ticking. The deadline is approaching. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What are we going to do without a worship leader? </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, I’m starting to worry.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 26px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 26px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So How Should I Pray?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I could just keep praying, “Father, please provide us with a new worship leader” — and leave it at that. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But the Bible shows us more. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Y</span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ou’ll notice that the psalmists often ask God to hurry.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is all throughout the Psalms:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But you, O Lᴏʀᴅ, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! (Psalm 22:19)</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Make haste to help me, O Lᴏʀᴅ, my salvation! (Psalm 38:22)</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Be pleased, O Lᴏʀᴅ, to deliver me! O Lᴏʀᴅ, make haste to help me! (Psalm 40:13)</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God! (Psalm 40:17)</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O Lᴏʀᴅ, make haste to help me! (Psalm 70:1)</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lᴏʀᴅ, do not delay! (Psalm 70:5)</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! (Psalm 71:12)</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">O Lᴏʀᴅ, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! (Psalm 141:1)</span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This makes me wonder: why don’t I pray like that?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I’ve started it. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Following the example of psalmists, I’ve been asking God to hurry. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I’m discovering at least five benefits.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. It reminds us that God is sovereign over timing.</span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s easy to think the reason our church doesn’t yet have the new worship leader is because there are not many worship leaders available, or because the position is only part-time, or because this is a bad time of year to be looking, and so forth. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But when I pray, “Father, quickly provide us with a worship leader; don’t delay in helping us” — it reminds me that God can provide for us quickly. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He can overcome all of our problems. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He will answer our prayers and provide for us exactly when we need him.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like David said, “My times are in your hand” (Psalm 31:15).</span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. It helps us see the goodness of God’s timing.</span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I ask God to hurry, and realize that God is perfectly good, I see that timing is part of his perfect goodness. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is crucial because we can easily grumble about God’s timing. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But like David said, “The Lᴏʀᴅ is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works” (Psalm 145:17).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All his works — including their timing. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So every day of delay is part of that goodness. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is a gift of another day to pray, to depend on him, to seek him.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we see that delays are part of his loving plan, it helps us humble ourselves before him, and trust him.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. It helps prayer be honest.</span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we long for God to provide something quickly, but we don’t express that longing when we pray, then we’re not being honest. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are holding part of our hearts away from him. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We’re not entrusting that desire to him. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And that can grow into frustration and bitterness. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That’s one reason God wants us to pour out our souls before him (1 Samuel 1:15). </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have found that the more I open my heart to him, expressing my longing that he act quickly, the more I experience his comfort and heart-satisfying presence.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. It helps me pray earnestly.</span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus said it is good to be earnest in prayer: “I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence [persistence, earnestness] he will rise and give him whatever he needs” (Luke 11:8).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we ask God to work we usually feel some earnestness. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But when we add, “please do this quickly; please hurry” — the earnestness grows. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe it’s because when we express our longing for haste, we end up feeling it even more. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But whatever the reason, when we ask God to hurry, our prayers will become more fervent.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. It stirs God to answer more quickly.</span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There’s mystery here. James says, “we have not because we ask not” (James 4:2). </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So there are times when the reason we do not receive something is because we did not ask God for it. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which means that, generally speaking, if we humbly ask God to hurry, God will hurry more than if we had not asked.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, when we long for God to hurry, let us be like the psalmists. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let us humbly and earnestly ask God to hurry — for his glory and our good.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-15331211033795432782014-01-01T20:50:00.001+01:002014-01-01T20:55:03.652+01:00Don’t Waste Your Weaknesses in 2014 <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: none;">
<li style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by </span><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/authors/john-piper" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e69138;">John Piper</span></a></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE_rrW_3vhas6b2pCkrxPS9Cz_S9UVJqBEhH3dF21QFDo3qy-RckqL3uezWlw33jdF1644x3bg9zbX7-bVMMkPcVi2S6_mTfoer9kFvlizuSmdzxEhXMbjr32GW4v_KkrNjGDMSBLe7RC/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-01-01+um+20.51.04.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE_rrW_3vhas6b2pCkrxPS9Cz_S9UVJqBEhH3dF21QFDo3qy-RckqL3uezWlw33jdF1644x3bg9zbX7-bVMMkPcVi2S6_mTfoer9kFvlizuSmdzxEhXMbjr32GW4v_KkrNjGDMSBLe7RC/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2014-01-01+um+20.51.04.png" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 2014, I encourage you to identify and exploit your weaknesses for the glory of Christ. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would like to give you an illustration from my own life, but first let me clarify what I mean.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since 2007, millions of people have read books and taken inventories designed to find our strengths. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are useful for positioning people in places of maximum effectiveness.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God’s Work in Our Weaknesses</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I am calling you to give attention and effort in finding your weaknesses and maximizing their God-given purpose. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Bible tells us what that purpose is in 2 Corinthians 12:8–10. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Paul had been given a “thorn in the flesh” which was one instance of a “weakness.” </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why?</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.</span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Paul mentions four purposes for his weaknesses.</span></div>
<ol>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 22px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“To keep me from becoming conceited” (verse 7).</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 22px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Christ’s power is made perfect in weakness” (verse 9).</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 22px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“So that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (verse 9).</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 22px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“When I am weak, then I am strong” (verse 10).</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Paul’s Humility and Christ’s Power</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even though this weakness of the thorn is called “a messenger of Satan,” the purposes are clearly not Satan’s. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Satan does not want Christ’s power to be made perfect! </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God does. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So God is overruling Satan’s design with his own. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In other words, wherever the Christian’s weaknesses come from, they have a God-given purpose. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They are not fortuitous.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We can sum up the purpose of Paul’s weakness like this: securing Paul’s humility and showing Christ’s power. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That’s why God made sure Paul had weaknesses — to keep him “from becoming conceited” and to give him a more obvious experience of the power of Christ resting on him.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>One Goal for 2014</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What is your goal in 2014? </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope it is to be humble and to magnify the power of Christ. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If it is, then one key strategy is to identify and exploit your weaknesses.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What does this mean? </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Negatively, it means that we stop complaining (to God and to people) about the things we are constitutionally not good at. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, positively, it means that we look for ways to turn our weaknesses into a Christ-exalting experience.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I say “constitutionally not good at,” I mean that we have done our best to overcome the weakness, but we can’t. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God has ordained that, through genetics or life-experience, we are limited, broken, weak. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Paul asked that God would take his weakness away (verse 8), but God said no. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which means that sooner or later, we should stop praying against the weakness and accept it as God’s design for our humility and the glory of Christ.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>What This Meant for Me</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ll use myself as a simple example. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I read slowly — about as fast as I speak. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many people read five or ten times faster than I do. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I tried for years to overcome this weakness, with special classes and books and techniques. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After about two decades of bemoaning this weakness (from age 17 to 37 or so), I saw there would be no change. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is one reason I left college teaching and the academic life. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I knew I could never be what scholars ought to be: widely read.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What did it mean for me to identify and exploit this weakness? </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It meant first that I accept this as God’s design for my life. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will never read fast. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It meant I stop complaining about it. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It meant that I take my love for reading and do with it what I can for the glory of Christ. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If I can only read slowly, I will do all I can to read deeply. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will exploit slowness. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will ask Jesus to show me more in reading little than many see in reading much. I will ask Jesus to magnify his power in making my slowness more fruitful than speed.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In realizing I cannot read many books, I will pour my limited scope into reading one book better than any other — the Bible. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If I must read fewer of many books, then I will read more carefully the greatest book.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Exploit Your Weaknesses</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now after all these years, I say with Paul, “I boast all the more gladly in this weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (verse 9). </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christ has been faithful to fulfill his purpose. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He has magnified himself in this weakness.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If I had angrily resented God all these years that he did not let me be a comprehensively well-read scholar, I would not have exploited this weakness. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would have wasted it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So this year, don’t focus too much on finding your strengths. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give attention to identify and exploit your weaknesses. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God has not given them to you in vain. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Identify them. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Accept them. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Exploit them. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Magnify the power of Christ with them. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don’t waste your weaknesses.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 22px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-25182392620123416082013-12-19T14:55:00.003+01:002013-12-19T14:55:25.447+01:00What Will You Say to Jesus? <br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/authors/jonathan-parnell" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Jonathan Parnell</span></a></span></span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><img alt="permalink.jpg" height="144" src="webkit-fake-url://9ABD3B77-E9F8-49FF-A508-6ADAD11E97D8/permalink.jpg" width="640" /></span></span><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 11px; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One day we will stand before Jesus.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we could see through the clutter of our lives now, if we could envision that day when everything is said and done, it’s clear that the enduring mission in and under and beyond every detail of our lives should be about pleasing him. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What does <i>he</i> think?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What will <i>he</i> say?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">We don’t know the exact words Jesus will speak to us on that Day, though the Bible gives us some ideas (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%2025.23"><span style="color: #e69138;">Matthew 25:23</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whatever it is, we can be sure it will be glorious and full of grace. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will hear his voice. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It will be amazing.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But what if we turned the question around? </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Instead of just wondering what Jesus might say to us, what will we say to Jesus? </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Imagine with me for a moment that you are there with him and he asks you how you made it to heaven.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“How were you saved?” he asks.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="color: #f9cb9c;">Easy</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">, you think. “A person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in you, Jesus, and so I believed in you in order to be justified by faith” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Galatians%202.16"><span style="color: #e69138;">Galatians 2:16</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yes,” he says.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But then imagine he asks a follow-up question. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He wants to press deeper. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He wants you to see more of his glory. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Imagine, as John Piper ponders in chapter four of </span><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/books/five-points"><i><span style="color: #e69138;">Five Points: Toward a Deeper Experience of God’s Grace</span></i></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">, that Jesus asks you, “Why did you believe on me, when you heard the gospel, but your friends didn’t, when they heard?”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You know that is the case. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all have friends, family, people we know, who have heard the gospel but do not believe. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And some, sadly, will refuse Jesus all their lives. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And there you are, on that Day, and Jesus is asking you why, why you were one of the ones who believed.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Why did you trust me but these others didn’t?”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You hear his words. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You bow your head. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And you <i>do not</i> say it’s because you’re smarter. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You don’t begin to explain your faith as the result of your wisdom. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Well, Lord, you see, I was just more spiritual than they were.” </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I read more books than they did.” </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I always had a way of making good decisions.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No. You won’t say that.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In that moment — picture it — <i>in that moment</i> you and I and every blood-bought saint will put our hands over our mouths, pointing to him, not us. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grace will stand forth with more vividness than we could have ever dreamed. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There will be new dimensions of colors then — depths and wonders that we can’t see through the dim mirror of now.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then, in that glorious moment, we will say, </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You, Jesus. It was all <i>you</i>. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We believed in your name, </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">only by your sovereign grace. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Jesus, it was all you</i>.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #231e20; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-87977689226037957612013-12-04T14:37:00.001+01:002013-12-04T14:38:41.502+01:00Seven Lies About Christianity - Which many Christians Believe <br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 11px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Stephen Mattson</span></div>
<br />
<div id="node-region-floated" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;">
<div class="article-image" style="border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;">
<a class="lightbox-processed" href="http://sojo.net/sites/default/files/mainimages/blog/8%20lies%20shutterstock_147684512.jpg" rel="lightbox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="Dennis Kuvaev/Shutterstock" class="imagecache imagecache-article-image imagecache-default imagecache-article-image_default" height="264" src="http://sojo.net/sites/default/files/imagecache/article-image/mainimages/blog/8%20lies%20shutterstock_147684512.jpg" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" title="" width="300" /></span></a><br />
<div class="image-description" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prayer can feel good, but it’s a myth </span></div>
<div class="image-description" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">that Christians are always happy</span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<b><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<b><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<b><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<b><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<b><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<b><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<b><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<b><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<b style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You’re Always Happy</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There’s an unhealthy expectation within many faith communities that we’re always supposed to be joyful, as if being anything other than a smiling, peaceful, and jolly spiritual cheerleader is detrimental to Christianity.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Being a good witness” is often the Christian way of saying, “act the part.” </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But while contentment and happiness is a spiritual virtue, it should never come at the expense of honesty, transparency, and truthfulness. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We shouldn’t pretend to be happy and use the facade of joy as an evangelism tool. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God desires reconciliation and renewal, and this often means confronting broken relationships and dealing with sin within our lives. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Asking for forgiveness, admitting addiction, confronting abuse, seeking justice, requesting help, and serving others often makes you the opposite of happy — and that’s OK.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There’s a season for everything, and some of life’s most important, loving, and holy moments are times of trial, sorrow, and sadness — so let’s stop trying to turn Christianity into something it was never meant to be. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Your Problems Will Disappear</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some people use Christianity as a form of escapism, a crutch, and a way to avoid the pain, suffering, and struggles of life. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But at the center of Jesus’ life and teaching is (again) the concept of truth. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christianity isn’t about ignoring reality but embracing it, engaging the real world and all the baggage that comes with it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In many ways, following Jesus causes us to accept — and confront — the facts, whether they are good or bad. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We shouldn’t hide or pretend or ignore difficulties, but address them. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A faith in Christ requires honesty and bravery, and it demands sacrifice, service, and heartbreak. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The New Testament shows us that Jesus’ disciples faced even more problems when they decided to follow him: persecution, poverty, and ultimately martyrdom.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No, our problems won’t disappear, but a relationship with God is worth the accompanying struggles that may come with it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>You’ll Be “Blessed”</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you’re seeking wealth, prosperity, comfort, and security, Christianity isn’t the place to go. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Contrary to our consumer tendencies, Jesus’ teachings continually instruct believers to sacrifice and be willing to give everything away for the sake of loving others. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The disciples of Jesus lived a dangerous and hard life that continually relied on the hospitality and generosity of others. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They often ended up in jail or were even killed because of their faith. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of the most holy and righteous people I know have lives that are extremely rough and filled with all sorts of trouble. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Disease, sickness, poverty, crime, abuse, and a litany of other horrible things happen to good people — even Christians who passionately love God. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Does this mean that they don’t trust God enough or aren’t being good Christians? </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No! </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our faith isn’t a pathway toward gaining an array of physical, financial, or social blessings — it’s not a formula for worldly success, so let’s stop treating it like one.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Missions and Ministry Is Fun and Rewarding</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don’t get me wrong, it often is rewarding, but from the time we’re in Sunday school throughout high school and college, and even as adults, we’re told that “missions” and “ministry” and “evangelism” is fun, exciting, and rewarding. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We go on exotic mission trips, work at car washes to raise money for local charities, and spend a day volunteering at the homeless shelter. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most of us then have the luxury of going home, back to our “regular” lives.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Missions and ministry is hard work. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There’s a reason the burnout rate is absurdly high for people whose primary vocation is ministry-related. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pastors and missionaries are considered high-risk candidates within the medical community because of their susceptibility to addiction, stress, and abuse. It’s not an easy life.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being a full-time missionary and minister requires constant service, with very little recognition and plenty of conflict. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Combine this with long hours, low pay, and hardly any respectability, and it’s an existence that few can handle. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But within our churches and Christian institutions, we glorify the idea of serving others without presenting an accurate or truthful picture of what it really looks like or requires from us. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Instead of telling the horror stories of relational conflict, emotional pain, and physical turmoil, we’re fed stories of revival, spiritual renewal, and miraculous wonders. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That’s great, but in many cases it gives us false expectations of what ministry honestly looks like.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We need to start portraying ministry accurately instead of marketing it as some sort of superficial fun-filled adventure. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And for those already within ministry, we need to give them all the support and encouragement they deserve.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>All Your Questions Will Be Answered</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christianity is full of doubt, uncertainty, nuance, and complexity. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are very few clear answers, and the ones that exist are debated among hundreds of theologians. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those seeking resolutions to life’s deepest questions and mysteries, Christianity will provide some clarity, but ultimately it leaves much to the imagination.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As believers, we need to start accepting the fact that we don’t know everything. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we try to turn the Bible into a set of answers to all of the world’s challenges and questions, we end up manipulating the message of Christ and forming it into our own agendas just to appease our curiosity or quell the objections of others.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The Christian Community Is Great</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many people leave the Christian faith not because they hate Jesus, but because they hate the people who represent him. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christians hurt people. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They fight, argue, yell, scream, and do horrible things. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nobody knows this better than Christians themselves, who routinely suffer through denominational splits, church infighting, community gossip, and an avalanche of interpersonal conflicts.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christians aren’t better than anyone else. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The divorce rates, crime rates, and other “moral” comparative data show little difference between them and the rest of the world. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So let’s stop pretending Christians have the market corner on what’s right and wrong. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We need to start listening and talking with others instead of self-righteously judging and convicting others. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There’s a reason why you can’t look across a mall and point out who’s a Christian and who isn’t — because there’s no noticeable difference.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>It Makes You Better Than Others</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the hardest truth for Christians to swallow, that they aren’t any better than anyone else. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In fact, Jesus continually tried to instill the virtues of humility and humbleness throughout his ministry, repeatedly trying to teach his followers that everyone was loved by God, regardless of social, financial, or spiritual status.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we see ourselves as superior, we become like the Pharisees, who craved power and control and authority. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But God, the ruler of the world, made himself nothing, and died on a cross for the sake of others — for the sake of those who were in the process of murdering him! </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are we willing to become nothing for the sake of others, even for those we dislike? </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The problem with romanticizing Christianity is that we turn our faith into a product, using various selling points to make it look more attractive. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s not that the above headlines are entirely false, it’s just that Christians publicize them as being entirely true. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This creates false expectations and idols, and inevitably leads to disappointment and sense of failure.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Instead of promoting Christianity as a set of benefits, we need to promote Christ. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the end, when everything else fails and falls short, Jesus will remain faithful through it all. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We can trust him above any form of religion we attempt to turn Christianity into.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><i>Stephen Mattson</i></b><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"> </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c;">has contributed for</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"> Relevant Magazine </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c;">and the</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"> Burnside Writer's Collective, </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c;">and studied Youth Ministry at the Moody Bible Institute. He is now on staff at Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minn. Follow him on Twitter</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"> </span><a href="http://archive.sojo.net/CFIDE/scripts/ajax/FCKeditor/editor/twitter.com/mikta"><i><span style="color: #e69138;">@mikta</span></i></a><i style="color: #f9cb9c;">.</i></span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-68657586819997840502013-12-03T12:22:00.003+01:002013-12-03T12:22:26.422+01:00No One Ever Said It Would Be This Hard <br />
<div style="clear: left; color: #231e20; float: left; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 24px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">by </span><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/authors/jon-bloom"><span style="color: #e69138;">Jon Bloom</span></a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://dwynrhh6bluza.cloudfront.net/photos/images/5582/permalink.jpg?1385482947" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="Permalink" border="0" class="photofull" src="http://dwynrhh6bluza.cloudfront.net/photos/images/5582/permalink.jpg?1385482947" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-top: 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Nobody said it was easy;</i> <br />
<i>No one ever said it would be this hard.</i> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>(Coldplay, “The Scientist”)</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">O Christian Hedonism! </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">That ancient, beautiful, biblical truth that our </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c;">treasure</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"> is what most captures our heart (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%206.21"><span style="color: #e69138;">Matthew 6:21</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That what measures our treasure is our </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">pleasure.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That if God is our “exceeding joy” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Psalm%2043.4" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Psalm 43:4</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">) then God’s pursuit of glory and our pursuit of happiness are one wonderful, wild pursuit! </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because God is actually most <i>glorified</i> in us when we are most <i>satisfied</i> in him.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For many of us, putting the scriptural pieces together and seeing this truth was almost like a second conversion. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We saw more good in the gospel than we had ever seen before: God doesn’t merely want us holy; he wants us happy! </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">In fact, </span><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/are-you-chasing-happiness-or-holiness"><span style="color: #e69138;">true happiness is true holiness</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then Christian Hedonism left us devastated. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not because it was untrue, but because we were. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It exposed us. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">We did not value the Pearl anywhere near his worth (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%2013.45%E2%80%9346"><span style="color: #e69138;">Matthew 13:45–46</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">We found ourselves still too attracted to </span><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/we-are-far-too-easily-pleased"><span style="color: #e69138;">mud pies</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"> and too neglectful of the Sea.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">We had set out to pursue the deepest, purest, most satisfying Joy that exists and found the world, the flesh, and the devil (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ephesians%202.1%E2%80%933"><span style="color: #e69138;">Ephesians 2:1–3</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">) fought us tooth and nail. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They yielded no ground without a fight. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Instead of experiencing joy, we often felt weary and discouraged.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All we were after was happiness. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No one ever said it would be this hard, did they?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Indeed they did. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We just hadn’t quite understood the extent before. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In fact, the Pearl himself said:</span></div>
<ul style="list-style-type: none;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">“The way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%207.14"><span style="color: #e69138;">Matthew 7:14</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">);</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (</span><span style="color: #e69138;"><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Luke%209.23"><span style="color: #e69138;">Luke 9:23</span></a>)</span></span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">;</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">In order to have joy we must gouge out our eyes and cut off our hands if we need to (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%205.29%E2%80%9330"><span style="color: #e69138;">Matthew 5:29–30</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">);</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Holy, maximum happiness may cost us our family relationships and we will need to hate our earthly life in many ways to get it (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Luke%2014.26"><span style="color: #e69138;">Luke 14:26</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">).</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">This is why the author of </span><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/books/desiring-god"><i><span style="color: #e69138;">Desiring God</span></i></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"> wrote the book, </span><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/books/when-i-dont-desire-god" style="color: #f9cb9c;"><i>When I Don’t Desire God: How to Fight for Joy</i></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">The former helps us understand what “the good fight of the faith” is all about (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Timothy%206.12" style="color: #f9cb9c;">1 Timothy 6:12</a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">) — what is the good we’re fighting for. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">The latter is a field manual. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">The former shows us the panoramic view. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">The latter is for the ground war where we live, in the trenches with snipers shooting and mortar shells exploding. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">When an enemy attacks or when we’re strategizing to take a hill or when our stubborn darkness just won’t lift, what we need is very practical help.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The way is hard that leads to life. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But let’s remember that the emphasis is not on “hard” but on “<i>life</i>.” </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">The eternal (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%203.16"><span style="color: #e69138;">John 3:16</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">), abundant (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2010.10" style="color: #f9cb9c;">John 10:10</a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">), exceedingly joyful (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Psalm%2043.4" style="color: #f9cb9c;">Psalm 43:4</a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">) and forever pleasurable (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Psalm%2016.11" style="color: #f9cb9c;">Psalm 16:11</a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">) life is so worth the fight that we will someday look back at the very worst, darkest, horrible battles and see them as “light and momentary” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/2%20Corinthians%204.17" style="color: #f9cb9c;">2 Corinthians 4:17</a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">And in the meantime, with the fiery darts still flying, let’s keep close at hand the Bible and field manuals such as </span><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/books/when-i-dont-desire-god"><i><span style="color: #e69138;">When I Don’t Desire God</span></i></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"> to help us keep the shield of faith in place.</span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724065372654554183.post-83279921363335151462013-12-03T12:09:00.002+01:002013-12-03T12:11:42.576+01:00Five Things to Teach Your Children This Christmas ...<h3>
<span style="color: #fce5cd; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">... and maybe ourselves, too.</span></h3>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>by Christina Fox</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<a href="http://dwynrhh6bluza.cloudfront.net/photos/images/5589/permalink.jpg?1385955878" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="Permalink" border="0" class="photofull" src="http://dwynrhh6bluza.cloudfront.net/photos/images/5589/permalink.jpg?1385955878" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-top: 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Mom, I need to add something to my Christmas wish list.”</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s that time of year again. The stores are adorned with all things red and green. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mailboxes and inboxes are filled with ads, sales, and catalogs. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prettily wrapped packages are at the forefront of nearly everyone’s minds — especially kids’.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christmas provides a wonderful opportunity to pour the truths of the gospel into the hearts of our children. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s an ideal time to show them the greatest gift they could ever receive, the gift of Jesus Christ.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Below is a list of important truths to teach our children this Christmas:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 14px;">
<span style="text-shadow: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px #000000;"><b><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 14px;">
<span style="text-shadow: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px #000000;"><b><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. The Story of Redemption</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During Advent, with the anticipation of the 25th, we can teach and prepare our children for the celebration in Scripture of Jesus’s birth. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In our family, we like to begin with the story of Creation and daily walk through the story of redemption until we get to Christ’s birth on Christmas day. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">We talk about the fall and God’s promise of a Savior in </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Genesis%203.15"><span style="color: #e69138;">Genesis 3:15</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We read about his promise to Abraham that he reaffirms throughout the Old Testament. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We discuss Moses and the “one greater than Moses” who would come. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We read the prophecies in Isaiah. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We look at how all of the Bible points to our Redeemer.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 14px;">
<span style="text-shadow: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px #000000;"><b><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 14px;">
<span style="text-shadow: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px #000000;"><b><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Humility of Christ</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the world, the holiday season is about extravagance, opulence, and making every detail picture-perfect. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The story of Jesus, however, is one of humility. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Christmastime provides a great opportunity to teach our children about what it means to be greatest in the kingdom (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%2020.26%E2%80%9328"><span style="color: #e69138;">Matthew 20:26–28</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">). </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His parents, his place of birth, his hometown, and his very act of taking on human flesh were all demonstrations of humility. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most people expected the Messiah to arrive in a castle, not a stable. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most expected him to live a life of royalty, not poverty. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most expected him to conquer the Romans, not be crucified by them. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Read through </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Philippians%202.1%E2%80%9311"><span style="color: #e69138;">Philippians 2:1–11</span></a><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"> and show your children the humility of Christ.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 14px;">
<span style="text-shadow: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px #000000;"><b><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. God Works Through Weakness</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a similar vein, teaching our children how God works through weakness is another topic to teach at Christmas. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God often chooses the unlikely and the weak to use in his story of redemption. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mary was a simple, poor girl from an insignificant town. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Peter was an uneducated fisherman. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God’s glory is displayed when he works through our weaknesses. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is seen most dramatically in Jesus’s death on the cross in our place and his resurrection on the third day, securing our victory over sin and death.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 14px;">
<span style="text-shadow: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px #000000;"><b><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. God Keeps His Promises</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another important truth we can emphasize with our children during this season is that God keeps his promises. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We can begin with the promise of a Savior after the fall and go throughout the Old Testament, looking at God’s promise to redeem his people, culminating in the fulfilled promise in Christ.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 14px;">
<span style="text-shadow: 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px #000000;"><b><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. The Names of Christ</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last year, my children learned a different name for Jesus each day during Advent. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We studied names such as Messiah, Lamb of God, Immanuel, Alpha and Omega, and Prince of Peace. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Teaching children the names of Jesus and what they mean helps them know more about Jesus, his character, and what he has done. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We made a chain link out of paper with a different name printed out on each one. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another way to learn the names might be to create a Christmas ornament for each one and hang them on a Christmas tree each time you study a name.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take advantage of this time of year to teach your children about the Christ-child. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spend time in the word, showing them the promised Messiah and how that promise was fulfilled in the baby born in Bethlehem. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help them see that Jesus is the greatest gift they could ever receive and the greatest gift they could share with others.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0