tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87758647459337741962024-03-14T02:11:38.377-07:00From WartburgMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754157177782425525noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775864745933774196.post-47609227966358668552019-07-29T13:50:00.003-07:002019-07-29T15:04:49.999-07:00A Clear Path<div style="line-height: normal;">
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> The path God will lay out for us associated with His return will be a clear path. It will not be something hard to see. Look at how clearly God manifested Himself before the children of Israel and gave such a powerful demonstration of His commitment to them. He poured out the ten plagues on Egypt which culminated in the Passover Feast. He parted the Red Sea, saved His people, and destroyed Pharaoh and His armies by closing the Sea </span>back<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> in upon them. He fed them, clothed them, and gave them water to drink. Finally He came down on Mount Sinai and entered into a covenant relationship with His people Israel. A clearer path could not have been made for Israel to see that God was with them and was preparing the way before them. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> We might think since God is going to manifest Himself in such a mighty way and in such a clear way, certainly everyone will follow Him. But if we look back at what happened during the time of the Exodus, this was not the case. One month after God came down on Mount Sinai the people were worshipping a golden calf. And only two out of probably more than two million people actually made it into the Promised Land. Even Moses himself did not make it. And this is after God had done so many wonderful things for them and His visible presence was with them and going before them in glory!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> The same thing happened at Jesus’ coming. Even though He had performed so many miracles, so many that John said "if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books which were written." The people who saw Jesus perform these miracles rejected Him and the religious leaders handed Him over to Pilate to be crucified. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> When God put this on my heart I was thinking, “Even still, surely everyone will want to be a part of what God will be doing. It will be so massive” (consider Revelation 5 and 6). But just like the people of Israel who started worshiping a golden calf right in front of God’s face, there will be those from our time who will not get on board with what God is doing — even though it will be so powerful — even though it will be so unmistakable — even though it will be a clear path. Even now the prevailing popular culture embraces things that are in obvious error and in rebellion against God. Those who believe in and who promote evolution, homosexuality, and abortion are living examples of gross rebellion and blatant disobedience. They are purposely turning away from what is obviously a clear, godly, and true path to follow (creationism, heterosexuality, and choosing life) to that which is obviously a false path to follow. My people perish for lack of vision — for lack of knowledge (Proverbs 29:18). When people don’t believe God or choose not to believe what is obviously true they in a sense give p</span><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">ermission to Satan to blind their eyes spiritually to where they can’t “see” what God is doing, can’t “hear” what God is speaking, can’t see, can’t hear, or can’t know the truth., </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: xx-small;"><i style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving.</span></i></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: xx-small;"><i style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: xx-small;">— (II Corinthians 4:3, 4)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> It’s not too difficult to see how the antichrist will have a huge following even after God moves so mightily in the earth with a clear path being laid out for everyone to see and to follow. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> And it will be a<b> </b>clear path — it already is — and most are not walking on it. </span></span></div>
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Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754157177782425525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775864745933774196.post-54395193118518749242016-10-04T08:29:00.001-07:002019-07-29T13:18:46.137-07:00Spiritual is More Real than the Earthly<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span> Consider how piercing the presence of the angel was that appeared to Daniel in Daniel 10, or when Jesus appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus. Satan tries to discourage us by giving us a false sense of what Heaven or the spiritual realm is like. We sometimes think of spiritual things or beings as some kind of gaseous globs floating in outer space with little or no substance. Some kind of vague ethereal electrical energy force with no identity (Star Wars, “the Force” a perfect example). The ultimate expression of this is in Buddhism where the goal is to attain to Nirvana which is to attain to nothingness. Jesus refuted this concept by stating that the souls of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were with God after death and that God was the God of the living, not of the dead. Moses and Elijah themselves appeared with Christ at the Transfiguration. Jesus said to the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” All indicating that we don’t lose our identities in Heaven but we maintain them. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> Heaven, or the spiritual realm, is a place of substance and truth and meaning and purpose. It is not a place of vague esoteric symbolic meaninglessness. If any place is symbolic and enigmatic, it is the earthly realm, not the heavenly. In Hebrews 8-10 it describes how God had Moses, David, and Solomon build the Tabernacle and the Temple according to the pattern He had showed them. Indicating the earthly was a pattern of the heavenly. Indicating the earthly is symbolic of the heavenly, points to the heavenly. The heavenly is higher and of deeper meaning and substance than the earthly. If any realm is of meaninglessness, obscurity, anonymity and darkness, it is the earthly realm, not the heavenly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> It is in Christ that we receive meaning and purpose to life even in this earthly realm. Imagine how much more clarity, meaning, substance, purpose, identity, and spiritual light we will have in Christ in the heavenly realms. We are not becoming one with some kind of vague, anonymous, energy force. We are becoming one with Jesus Christ Himself in a very clear, tangible, real, identifiable way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> The things that deal with the spiritual realm and our heart (where our spirit resides) are things that are invisible to our earthly eyes. </span></span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">It is what is invisible, what is spiritual, that is really real not what is visible or natural. </span></span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: normal;">(Hebrews 11:3, see also Psalm 33:6, 9 and II Cor. 4:18)</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Every invisible characteristic of God is clearly seen by what He has made visible </span></span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; line-height: normal;">(Rom. 1:19, 20)</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">. The ultimate demonstration of this is </span></span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Jesus Christ, Who is the visible image of the invisible God </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: normal;">(Col. 1:15; I Tim. 1:17, 6:16; Heb. 1:1-3)</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> When we are in someone’s presence, in someone’s face, it is here we behold their heart, their spirit. We are presented with their presence, their heart, their spirit, when we look into their face and especially when we look into their eyes. We are presented with their spirit when we listen with our ears to the words they speak. We receive their spirit when they allow us to touch them physically or when we allow them to touch us. Touching is intimate. Physical touching is holy. Like seeing and hearing, touching is a gateway to the spiritual, to the invisible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> We perceive that which is invisible through that which is visible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> Our mind is the gateway to and from the visible world into our invisible heart. We make decisions in our mind that allow spiritual things to enter into our heart. The heart is the repository of the spiritual things our mind meditates on. It is in our heart that the spiritual things we cater to in our mind find their home. And we make decisions that allow these spiritual things residing in our invisible heart to be broadcast to the visible world outside. Our mind allows access to our heart or denies access to our heart. Our mind decides what will be broadcast from our heart and it decides what will not be broadcast from our heart. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> It is through our mind that we release what’s in our heart back to the world and to those who are around us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> Jesus said:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">“The mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">“The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil” </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: normal;">(Matthew 12:34, 35)</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> The heart of everything is the heart. It’s in the heart that we are defined. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: normal;">(Proverbs 23:7 NLV)</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">. It’s what takes place inside the heart – hidden away from the eyes of the world that defines who we are. It’s what we believe in our heart that is really who we are. It’s in our heart where our strength lies, where our spirit lives. It is in the invisible decisions we make with our mind that define us inside. Inside us is who we are. Who we really are. What people see on the outside is the reflection of our heart, our spirit inside us.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> Our invisible mind and heart hidden inside define what we are visibly both to the natural world and to the spiritual world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> A person could lose their arms, their legs, their ears, their eyes, their nose, but they would still be here. In fact when someone dies, their spirit leaves their body and their body becomes lifeless, (spiritless) and begins to decay - because their spirit has left their body </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: normal;">(James 2:26)</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">. Our spirit lives inside us, inside our body. Our body is clothing for our spirit </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: normal;">(Matthew 6:25, 28-34)</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> When we look at another human being we are looking at the outward visible manifestation of that person’s invisible heart. All their actions, their words, their gestures express their heart, express what’s in their heart, what’s in their spirit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> It is what is inside, invisible to the world that is real.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> When we bask in someone’s presence, in someone’s face, we receive their spirit. We receive their heart. We enter into their spirit. We enter into their heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> This is where true love is. This is where true love lives. This is greater than any ministry, any gifts of the Spirit, any healings, any deliverances. It is what these ministries are for. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> Consider this:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> In eternity, in Heaven, will there be a need for healings or for deliverances? </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> No. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> Will there be a need to raise someone from the dead? </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> No. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> So what will we be doing in Heaven? </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> We will be abiding in one another’s presence. There will be no sin to hinder our spirits from interacting with each other. There will be no sin to interfere with the free flow of God’s Spirit between us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> But, we are already tasting that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> God put on my heart one day, when I was asking Him about spiritual gifts and healings and deliverances, etc., and why the church was not moving in these powers like the NT Church. He said, “I’ve got a gift for you. I’m giving you this evening to spend with three of my daughters, your wife, your mother, and a friend.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> When He put that on my heart, I realized what He was showing me. The greatest thing of all, the greatest gift of all, the greatest <b>spiritual</b> gift of all is to spend time with those we love. This is the heart of everything. This is the ultimate goal of every ministry. It is what ministries are for. What they lead to. Being with those we love in Christ is what it is all about. It’s what life is all about, whether it is earthly life or spiritual life. Being with those we love is even what Heaven is all about. It is what Heaven is. It’s very easy to take those who are in our lives for granted. It’s very easy to lose appreciation for the tremendous spiritual value they are to us. Our loved ones are the greatest spiritual gifts we have. And ultimately it is our love relationship with Christ that transcends all others and makes all other love relationships possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> But we have to be careful:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> We have to watch over what we allow our mind to meditate on and what we let into our spirit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> If we overindulge in something bad in our mind, then what is bad that is stored in our heart can override our mind. Paul taught:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; line-height: normal;"><sup> </sup></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">For what I am doing, I do not understand; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> for I am </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">not practicing what I would like </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> to do, but I am doing </span><span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">the very thing I hate. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: normal;"> (Rom. 7:15)</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> We must work to allow that which is good to override that which is bad. We must overcome the evil in us with that which is good in Christ. We must become rooted and grounded in Christ our Rock, our Foundation, our Mighty Fortress, our Strong Tower, our Corner Stone, our Living Stone. We must become living stones ourselves—pillars in God’s Temple. We must get to that place where the Lord pours out His Spirit upon us and our cup overflows. To where God’s Spirit </span><span style="font-size: large;">becomes rivers, and streams, and fountains of living waters springing up from our invisible innermost being out to the visible world.</span></div>
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Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754157177782425525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775864745933774196.post-50516443501186276672016-09-15T19:02:00.000-07:002016-10-27T01:05:08.503-07:00The Holy Land<span style="font-size: large;">I have had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Holy Land. In my visits I have gone through three different stages as to how I look at Israel. I imagine most who visit Israel do so as well. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The first is the deer in the headlights. When I was first in Israel, I felt like I was in a spiritual Disneyland. Here were the actual places so many Bible events took place. This was the Holy Land! This is where Jesus walked! God's people and God's capital city were here! I know I looked like a deer in the headlights.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The second reaction is getting to know modern day Israel. Unfortunately Israel today is as worldly and ungodly as my own country, the US. As a nation they still do not see, they still do not hear. Israel has a terrible drug problem. Tel Aviv is called the pink city of the middle east. It is the pornography, homosexual capital of the middle east. Even though through Yad Vashem Israel promotes the theme to never forget, never again. Israel has forgotten. It is happening again. Israel is doing it to themselves. Israel has one of the highest abortion rates in the world. Abortion has killed more innocent Jewish babies and children than the holocaust. I no longer look at Israel as a deer in the headlights.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The third reaction is to see how God is on the move. God is on the move in Israel. God has not forgotten His people Israel even though most of them have forgotten Him. Israel is one of the, if not the only nation on earth that has a growing, thriving, Christian population. Although still small (15,000 or more) it is a significant remnant and is increasing every day. Which follows Bible prophecy. When I realized all this I still was stumped. How could God bless or work with or reenter into a covenant relationship with Israel like the Bible teaches with Israel being so godless?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then My pastor preached on Ezekiel 36.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">God is going to step in to bless Israel and reenter into a covenant with Israel not because of their righteousness but because of His Name's sake.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Therefore, say to the house of Israel, "Thus says the Lord God, It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. And I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord," declares the Lord God, "when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight." </i>(verses 22, 23)<i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">God is going to bless Israel and bring forth this final seven year period ushering in the Kingdom of His great Son Jesus Christ in spite of Israel's faithlessness. God will not be denied.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Israel <i>is</i> the Holy Land.</span><br />
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Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754157177782425525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775864745933774196.post-59483628498284080952016-09-15T16:23:00.001-07:002016-10-11T17:57:11.477-07:00The Word of God is a Seed<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.1px; text-indent: -0.1px;">
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">I was sitting on a bench under a tree. A seed berry happened to fall out of the tree and landed right in front of me. It just barely caught my attention as it bounced into the grass. I thought about it for a second and then picked it up. It was very small. I turned around and looked at the tree it had fallen from. It was huge. I was amazed how large the tree was in comparison to how tiny its’ seeds were. How could such a large tree come from such a small seed? </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">This reminded me of Jesus’ Parable of the Mustard Seed: </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed, </span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> which </span><span style="font-size: large;">a man took and sowed in his field; and </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> this is smaller </span><span style="font-size: large;">than all other seeds, but when </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> it is full grown, it is </span><span style="font-size: large;">larger than the garden </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> plants and becomes a tree, </span><span style="font-size: large;">so that the birds </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> of the air come and nest in its </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">branches.”</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: normal;"><i> —</i>Matthew 13:31, 32</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">Then God put on my heart, “Consider the seed I have given you.” The Bible says the Word of God is a seed (Luke 8:11). The seed which He has given us is the Bible. At the time of Noah and the Flood, the Bible was only five chapters long. At the time of Abraham, eleven chapters. At the time of Moses, it had grown to be one book. At the time of King David, it was about ten books long. During Jesus’ day, the Bible had grown to be the whole Old Testament. Today we have not only the Old Testament, but the New Testament as well. We also have two thousand years of church history where the Holy Spirit has been moving and speaking the Word of God to us for centuries. So consider the seed we have today! </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">Later back home I was walking through our garden looking at all the blooms which had come up because of the rain we had just had. I especially noticed the rain lilies and how they were blooming so profusely. It was like God reminded me of what He had just shared with me in the park and He spoke to my heart, “Consider again the seed which I have given you and it hasn’t rained yet.”<b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> Therefore be patient, brethren, until </span><span style="font-size: large;">the </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> the </span><span style="font-size: large;">precious produce of the soil, being </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> patient about it, </span><span style="font-size: large;">until it gets the early </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> and late rains. You too be </span><span style="font-size: large;">patient; </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> strengthen your hearts, for the coming </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> of </span><span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">the Lord is near. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: normal;">(James 5:7, 8)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">This applies to the church both individually and corporately. At the appointed time the rains will come and God will cause His seed, His Spirit, the Kingdom of Heaven, the Word of God to be birthed within us. It will grow to be a tree larger than all the other plants that have come before. It will be a greater harvest than the time of Noah, then the time of Abraham, then the time of David. Jesus Himself said we would do greater works than He did </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: normal;">(John 14:12)</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: normal;">(Habakuk 2:14)</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">Jesus is coming. The Kingdom of God is coming. His seed is about to bloom. We are about to be birthed. We will grow into a spiritual tree larger than all the other spiritual plants. We will fill the earth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> For the whole earth is groaning and travailing </span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> with </span><span style="font-size: large;">birth pangs for the manifestation of the </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> sons </span><span style="font-size: large;">of </span><span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">God. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: normal;">(Romans 8:19-22)</span></div>
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Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754157177782425525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775864745933774196.post-52164249769238406672016-07-28T08:50:00.001-07:002019-08-28T11:39:26.681-07:00Be Still<div style="font-family: 'comic sans ms'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> Sometimes just being in the presence of someone is all you can do:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> There was a generation gap between me and my dad, and between me and my father-in-law. We didn’t have much to say to each other because of our differences, but we soaked up each others’ presence and showed love to each other by just being with each other and working together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> Being with someone who’s terminally ill or has suffered great tragedy. Just being with them, holding their hand, not trying to answer why or going off on some theological discourse as to the meaning behind their suffering. Not necessarily saying anything – shows great love. Really shows all the love that can possibly be given to them under such circumstances.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">When a parent tells a child, “Be seen but not heard. Don’t speak unless</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">spoken to.” When we’re in the presence of someone greater and wiser than we, we must not come to speak, but to listen and to hear. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><b> </b>All these examples are applicable to our relationship with God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> Guard your steps as you go to the House of </span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> God and </span><span style="font-size: large;">draw near to listen rather than to </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> offer the </span><span style="font-size: large;">sacrifice of fools; for they do not </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> know they are </span><span style="font-size: large;">doing evil. Do not be hasty in </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> word or impulsive in </span><span style="font-size: large;">thought to bring up a </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> matter in the presence of </span><span style="font-size: large;">God, for God is </span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">(Ecclesiastes 5:1, 2)</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> Be still and know that I’m God. </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">(Ps. 46:10)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> Sometimes I think what God wants most of all from us, is for us to just be quiet in His presence so He can be with us -- just to be with us. </span>So He can lean into us <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">like He</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> leaned into John</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">when He was being betrayed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;"> He just wants to be with us. He just wants to be in our presence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> So I go walk with Him in silence. I imagine me leaning into Him and He leaning into me. I be still. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> I believe with all my heart this means the world to God.</span></div>
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Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754157177782425525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775864745933774196.post-60585139843338363172011-12-02T16:40:00.000-08:002016-10-11T18:21:29.906-07:00Kindergarten Graduation / for Aunt Pat<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<b> <span style="font-size: large;"> When I was a little boy in Kindergarten it seemed like I would be there forever. Being in Kindergarten was everything to me. It was my life. I had my teacher and my friends that made up what I was at that time. It was what defined me. I was a kindergartener.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> I remember how important it was to me to sit in a big chair. At the beginning of class we got to pick the chairs we would be sitting in for the day. It was a big deal. I didn’t want a small chair. Small chairs were for sissies.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> Now fifty years have come and gone. I don’t care if I’m sitting in a big chair anymore. I just want one that will support me. I don’t look back to the time I was in Kindergarten. I remember my teacher’s name and some of my fellow students’ names and a few things that took place during that time, but generally speaking that’s over. That’s ancient history. I will never go back. The only person from that time that I have communicated with is a former classmate that contacted me recently who I have not seen for over twenty years. He was very happy to find me and I was very happy to hear from him. Even though our lives have taken different paths we are still on the same page. We picked up from where we left off fifty years ago like no time had gone by at all. It was like we had never been apart these past fifty years.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> I was thinking about all this, this past weekend during my Uncle Junior’s funeral. I was imagining what he might be thinking about now that he was in a different place, a better place. What would he miss the most? Would it be something like me looking back at Kindergarten fifty years later?</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> The things that were important in Kindergarten have lost their attraction to me except for one. My former classmate, (his name is Donny), is just as real and alive to me now as he was back then. In fact because fifty years of life’s experiences have gone by our friendship is all that much deeper. We don’t relate to one another as kindergarteners anymore but as mature adults who have lived out most of their lives.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> There are some who say when we go to Heaven we will not relate to each other in the same way. Some say we will not even recognize each other because we will be spirit beings, not earthly beings. I disagree. I believe whatever happens when we leave here we will know each other in a far superior way than we know each other now. The Bible teaches us that this earthly realm, this veil of tears, is wrapped up in spiritual darkness. We don’t see as clearly as we should. But it also teaches us that when we leave here we will enter into a realm of spiritual light, what we call Heaven. It’s my opinion we will relate to each other in a far clearer way than we do now. We will know each other much more intimately than we know each other now. When Jesus returned to see His disciples after He rose from the dead He told them He was not a spirit or a ghost. And he proved it to them. He told them to reach out their hands to touch His wounds. Then He ate lunch with them. It was if He had never left. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> I’m convinced when we leave here many things that are important to us now will lose their value. We won’t care what chair we sit in anymore. We will have something far more important. We will have each other. We will <i>know</i> each other. We will know each other in a much deeper and more complete way. We will pick up from where we left off like nothing had happened. We will pick up from where we left off in a much more intimate way, a fuller way, and a higher way. We will be with our Lord. We will be with our loved ones. We will be with Frank. <i>You</i> will be with Frank. We will be home.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> I love you Aunt Pat. It was an honor to be with you during this tough time. Love Mike</span></b></div>
Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754157177782425525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775864745933774196.post-22083170597325426552011-09-30T19:32:00.000-07:002016-10-06T18:46:06.731-07:00Did you read the owner's manuel?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 12pt;"> On this side of Heaven it appears that to seek God like He commands us to (to be holy as He is holy, to not sin like Him, to love as He loves, and to be perfect as He is perfect) is deemed by most to be certainly unattainable. But if we think it through, I think we’ll come up with a different conclusion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 12pt;"> God is the one Who created us, not us. He is the designer of our heart, our spirit, our inner man. He knows what we can do and can’t do. He created us. He created us in <i>His image</i> ! We are designed to be <i>like Him</i> to begin with! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCOoAeYKEpR_Pv8jW059JRL3CkLCKou7KvxVHg0xxp_nXU_-Oq9f-YW6NbRm_uP0fRQZ1Hf3inqh4XzwJFzx2K_q448MK5-dt88zxKCe3rLuV9GLy1PKn9_HIwIasLe7Xtdakyn5fdGx1/s1600/under+the+hood.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCOoAeYKEpR_Pv8jW059JRL3CkLCKou7KvxVHg0xxp_nXU_-Oq9f-YW6NbRm_uP0fRQZ1Hf3inqh4XzwJFzx2K_q448MK5-dt88zxKCe3rLuV9GLy1PKn9_HIwIasLe7Xtdakyn5fdGx1/s200/under+the+hood.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 12pt;"> If we buy a car don’t we look at the owner’s manual<b> </b>prepared by the automobile manufacturer to see how everything works? Aren’t the engineers and the technicians the ones who designed the cars we drive? Don’t we have faith in them to explain to us how to drive a car? Then why can’t we have faith in the Creator of the Universe to explain to us how we work, what we’re supposed to become and be used for?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 12pt;"> I believe it’s easier to live life in the way God commands and instructs us to live rather than to listen to anybody else, including ourselves. God is our creator, He is our designer. Whatever we have to go through in this life to be made perfect like Him is going to be an easier path to walk on than any other. That’s because this is what we were designed for. If we use a car in any way that is not according to the instruction manual the car won’t run properly or at best it will run poorly, less than full performance and what it is designed for. But if we follow the instructions the car makers give us the car will run at its peak performance and in the way it is designed to run.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 12pt;"> We think that to go through the necessary work and the sacrifice it will take to allow God to work His full will in us to arrive to that place of the fullness of God, being made perfect in His image, will be such a hard thing to accomplish that we would rather not even try. It’s too hard. It’s too much. It’s only for Bible people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 12pt;">It’s certainly not for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 12pt;"> I believe exactly the opposite is true. I believe in the long run it will be harder to live life <i>not</i> according to God’s commands <i>than</i> according to God’s commands. Just as it is harder not to operate a car according to the carmaker’s instructions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 12pt;"> I believe just like we think that now it is easier to coast through life and not to attain to God’s full design for us, on the other side (in Heaven) we will understand exactly the opposite. That if we had been obedient in this life and given God full place in our lives to do whatever necessary to accomplish His perfect will in our lives, we would have gotten through this life in a much easier manner and also reap the eternal rewards as well. I believe we will clearly understand this in Heaven.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 12pt;"> If we’re wise, <i>we will understand this now</i> and allow God to do His perfect work in our lives—now.</span></div>
Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754157177782425525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775864745933774196.post-27210180381990946742011-08-06T11:07:00.000-07:002016-10-11T18:33:48.402-07:00Lake Gogebic—a Real Live Time Machine<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I look at the couch in the living room and see my dad teaching me how to tie my shoes for the first time.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5nM-h1TZP3khTP9xx3KdMgnCjxZW8Dw71ySHz4JmfBmn8dlGhY-GX2GV6OuTYTNDsU1fXm02NEWJmaZq5YvEpvMJvP5r8iYALuG7csUW3L25HfJs5eYn5o6kkCPRHW1VrzuF7GLC3V51/s1600/262835_149730945108911_123234354425237_282384_4010358_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8us1svNZxZCkj9-AezfWavJ5ZvFmmWFi-F3R6gpfpqjicgKx6un-4_Qef9d-kNLySo_pwPM-ljh2Tlz_24xGd34n4I1-z-wTCSrAOViqEZD_9cu8Pn2NyTSwN1ekzPmR3vi9MA07vJoFM/s1600/lake+gogebic.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">Out the back door there’s Old Man Ketola (who was in his nineties) telling my dad (who was in his fifties) that he was just a youngster.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8us1svNZxZCkj9-AezfWavJ5ZvFmmWFi-F3R6gpfpqjicgKx6un-4_Qef9d-kNLySo_pwPM-ljh2Tlz_24xGd34n4I1-z-wTCSrAOViqEZD_9cu8Pn2NyTSwN1ekzPmR3vi9MA07vJoFM/s1600/lake+gogebic.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8us1svNZxZCkj9-AezfWavJ5ZvFmmWFi-F3R6gpfpqjicgKx6un-4_Qef9d-kNLySo_pwPM-ljh2Tlz_24xGd34n4I1-z-wTCSrAOViqEZD_9cu8Pn2NyTSwN1ekzPmR3vi9MA07vJoFM/s200/lake+gogebic.jpeg" width="92" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sud</span>denly I’m flying in the air, but my dad catches me. He had unexpectedly thrown me up as he was carrying me while we were taking a family walk to Sandy Beach.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There I am spilling water from the two buckets I’m carrying that I just filled from the old water pump to take down to the camp.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the kitchen I watch in fascination as Bill Nylund rolls a cigarette while telling us in his woodsman's voice about his latest bird hunt. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now we’re flying through the water as Mr. Bedner takes us out for a ride in a real speed boat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I see myself sitting around the campfire at the Webers with all the kids in the neighborhood telling ghost stories. Silently my brother and his buddy Phil Wirtanen sneak up behind us letting out a scream, scaring us half to death.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I look out into the woods and see my mom and my sister and I berry picking. I hear a strange hum above my head and see a hummingbird for the first time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now it’s time to put out forest fires! I watch as Ralph Wirtanen and I build airplanes out of firewood and come to the rescue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s Jane and I and Mark Ketola hiding on the front porch. We had just knocked on our neighbors’ door (who we didn’t like) and ran and hid. Mark was laughing so hard he gave us away. The neighbor demanded that we show ourselves and apologize for what we had done. My sister said, “Don’t get up! He won’t come get us!” I felt so guilty I got up and confessed that we had done it and that we were sorry. Now I was in trouble from both sides.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I see myself, my brother, and sister carving our names in the old wooden steps where our cousins, aunts, and uncles had been carving their names for over 20 years.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">There we are rowing to Merriweather to hike up to Seabold’s gas station to buy a candy bar or some groceries for the cottage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ten years later I see myself looking out the window with my father at the Weber twins who were just becoming adults. I commented, “It doesn’t seem that long ago when they were just babies in their crib.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My dad responded, “It doesn’t seem that long ago to me when their mother Janet was </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">a baby in her crib.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">That was over thirty years ago. Now </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">new names are being carved in the old wooden steps.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fast forward a couple decades and a new generation is at Lake Gogebic with their own experiences and making new memories. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s Aunt Leoma saving the sauna from burning down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s the outhouses that were left behind for the new flushing toilets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s Tom and Todd and Tim and Ted helping Grandpa Waldo pile wood and shovel gravel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There they go swimming across the Lake.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s Amber angrily responding to her cousins who had just told her that Grandma Silberg was their grandma, too. Amber yelled, “She’s my grandma, not yours”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s Max being slowly lowered into Lake Gogebic by Aunt Jane for the first time. Unbeknownst to his mother, who was looking away, Max was turning blue and was sucking in all the air from Ontonagon County from the impact of Lake Gogebic’s “balmy water temperature”. He was so cold he was unable to express his concern to his mother—or maybe Max was just speechless with delight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s Adam in Grandpa Waldo’s arms waiting for the cuckoo clock to cuckoo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">New names are carved in the old wooden steps.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">There’s grandpa taking a walk with his friends, the chickadees.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There’s grandma making a couple of loaves of cardamom seed bread.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s grandpa riding in his red tractor.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQjX6UU_d3uE80ix8UxyKpfonP_K-iXO2DJcZ7_1dt8k4-LlNtfyDEGhSyABbdx1Qzgfz8ErtLRx83qnE-o_wvDpV97tBh7rdfeECo_oJ8eVIwz74tTUZ_ppRNovfLvDLUKdfQ1Mhz_KO/s1600/262835_149730945108911_123234354425237_282384_4010358_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQjX6UU_d3uE80ix8UxyKpfonP_K-iXO2DJcZ7_1dt8k4-LlNtfyDEGhSyABbdx1Qzgfz8ErtLRx83qnE-o_wvDpV97tBh7rdfeECo_oJ8eVIwz74tTUZ_ppRNovfLvDLUKdfQ1Mhz_KO/s200/262835_149730945108911_123234354425237_282384_4010358_n.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But some things are timeless: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Like . . .</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rowing down the Merriweather River.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The Hoop and Holler</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A trip to Sandy Beach</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Climbing Alligator Eye</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Climbing the Bluff</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not catching any fish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Looking for night crawlers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Taking a sauna.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chopping wood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Swedish pancake eating contests, pasties, and apple brown betty.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lake Superior.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Smashing pennies on the railroad tracks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Indian head signs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Coyotes howling at night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Trips to Bergland.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Trips to Ironwood.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">St. Paul’s Lutheran church.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Suomi College.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hot games.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Wolves howling at night.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGsOmrB17fOWY0cmYco4nY7mtmR2BetqK195MGbROEn5tFeDc7WPplByc_dZZqLBzxKuZp7Vpir4RPdZNNC0L6vVXykAmR-V-0FLPvE_7bKW4onWVPOWDlHWds1DejLCxeEDTdTaUEzxn/s1600/forget+me+nots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGsOmrB17fOWY0cmYco4nY7mtmR2BetqK195MGbROEn5tFeDc7WPplByc_dZZqLBzxKuZp7Vpir4RPdZNNC0L6vVXykAmR-V-0FLPvE_7bKW4onWVPOWDlHWds1DejLCxeEDTdTaUEzxn/s200/forget+me+nots.jpg" width="144" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Keewenaw.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Paavo Nurmi Marathon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Grandma walking across the Mackinac Bridge on Labor Day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Flying squirrels at twilight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Grandma Anna’s forget-me-nots</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On and on and on . . . </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s Catherine and Kelsey posing for Aunt Leoma with their first babies to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now look:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s Hamilton Silberg (the first of a new generation) having the first Silberg art show on Lake Gogoebic.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">All of a sudden there's a yard full of new Silberg kids</span><b><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; line-height: 115%;">: </span></b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;">Hamilton, Truman, Hawthorne, Cameron, Conner, and Cassidy all </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> hunting for quarters. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">New names are carved in the old wooden steps.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There’s Tom II’s fire works on the fourth of July.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There goes a jet ski or two or three or four whizzing by with Silberg’s at the helms.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There we go on a boat ride around the lake with Ed and Mary Lou.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now we’re having a pancake breakfast at the Collicks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now we’re playing croquet at the Berndts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s grandma walking across the Mackinac Bridge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s Amber swimming across the lake.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZe_SgS7by95aagbHwL2fRkKHeRlcprI46UK4Go1Wmu8WsrIShWLCujpZQa0b3r1QVxSDv0D1JeCzqdePbrYEqh52BGcbUuLokmICKzjkezaR23ZvrUPWZcZIG5SJUnXW1wcBHJ6MCsp5/s1600/mackinac+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZe_SgS7by95aagbHwL2fRkKHeRlcprI46UK4Go1Wmu8WsrIShWLCujpZQa0b3r1QVxSDv0D1JeCzqdePbrYEqh52BGcbUuLokmICKzjkezaR23ZvrUPWZcZIG5SJUnXW1wcBHJ6MCsp5/s1600/mackinac+bridge.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">There’s Todd winning at Jeopardy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s Jane winning at Jeopardy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There goes Mary Lou to Watersmeet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s Ed winning at Jeopardy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s Jenny winning at Jeopardy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s grandma walking across the Mackinac Bridge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s Amber winning at Jeopardy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s Mike and Leoma and Adam biking in the Tour da Lake.Whoops Aunt Leoma got kidnapped by the Berndts half way and they’re forcing her to drink champagne.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s Tucker winning at Jeopardy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now we’re in the car taking a trip to see the Paulding Lights.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There’s Ted and Heather and Trent on Plymouth Rock.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">There</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">’</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">s Amber biking around the lake.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Time to put new names on the old wooden steps. Let’s see, Silbergs have been carving their names on these steps for almost 80 years now.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">There’s grandma walking across the Mackinac Bridge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Now it’s nighttime. I see a bunch of us sitting around the campfire. We’re looking for shooting stars or satellites passing by or even the Northern Lights. We’re solving the problems of the world with our neighbors, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends—just like Silbergs have been doing at Lake Gogebic for a hundred years.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LkXfYOQI_GM10-xl_Kwv-XnZeKAN_KajHFtIxc8x9f-OdGKGf7R8dNOYFtFrTf2uyjkMKk8U-0IVuqibRMevdSC8TQ9H03gOLpZR4BC7Z6DdrAp6IVfpwkn6Rh9f8T5cdyO1amosTA3V/s1600/geese+flying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LkXfYOQI_GM10-xl_Kwv-XnZeKAN_KajHFtIxc8x9f-OdGKGf7R8dNOYFtFrTf2uyjkMKk8U-0IVuqibRMevdSC8TQ9H03gOLpZR4BC7Z6DdrAp6IVfpwkn6Rh9f8T5cdyO1amosTA3V/s200/geese+flying.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">Before you know it, another summer has come and gone. The leaves are falling. The geese are flying. Winter’s in the air. There goes grandma heading south. Tom and Tom II are closing up the cabins.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">How quickly these days come and go. How quickly our friends and our neighbors and our families grow and move on and life changes. But somehow they stay with us. Somehow they remain in our hearts and become a part of us. The lake is always there. The cottage seems like it will always be there. Some things don’t seem to change. Some places are stuck in time. Must</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> be a God thing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So, if you’re visiting Lake Gogebic sometime in the future and you're awakened early on a cold morning in the old camp by some clanging around in the kitchen</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">—</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">go back to sleep, it’s just Grandpa Waldo putting a fire in the stove. </span></span></div>
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Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754157177782425525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775864745933774196.post-66974492013414778212011-07-30T17:01:00.000-07:002016-10-11T18:41:08.583-07:00Head for Cover<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> <span style="font-size: large;"> I happened to be watching a TV show where a judge was questioning the plaintiffs and the defendants over a dispute on family law. The judge quickly zeroed in on the plaintiffs and it became evident they were in the wrong and committed a very serious crime. You could see the judge getting more and more incensed at their actions and the pathetic arguments they were giving. I could almost feel the heat from the judge’s anger coming through the television. I felt uncomfortable.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: large;"> I remember a time I was in a grocery store with some buddies of mine when I was about ten years old. We decided to take some candy bars and stuff them in our pants just to see if we could get away with stealing them. As we were leaving the store my candy bar became loose and I was trying to keep it from falling on the floor. The manager of the store saw what was going on and he grabbed me and my friend. He made us call our mothers on the phone and he told them what we had done. I was so embarrassed I wanted to climb in a hole. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTrYZcNx_dH4qE0aVNDEb_I0t2Hff7Cu0a4Bfy0oHkvMfWRGZn2jtsjfAbzk2oOTbgf3P1hzep13yg5HXrAd2tBW6Mt_QVEzGtdTWxQj7KXmgaGwD9RZO_qm3SC00u1ikC4gsJIt7Q38K/s1600/head+for+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTrYZcNx_dH4qE0aVNDEb_I0t2Hff7Cu0a4Bfy0oHkvMfWRGZn2jtsjfAbzk2oOTbgf3P1hzep13yg5HXrAd2tBW6Mt_QVEzGtdTWxQj7KXmgaGwD9RZO_qm3SC00u1ikC4gsJIt7Q38K/s200/head+for+cover.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: large;"> What will it be like to stand before God in all His holiness and power and account for our lives? The Bible is clear that God will require this from everyone of us, even from us believers. It will be the most uncomfortable, embarrassing thing we will ever experience. Imagine the eyes of God piercing our hearts and bringing out every dark thought or sinful action we have ever committed. And unlike an earthly judge or a grocery store manager, God judges with perfect holiness, justice, and righteousness. His is not an earthly judgment with earthly consequences. His judgment is eternal. We will abide in His judgment forever. If it will be uncomfortable for us Christians to stand before God what will it be like for the ungodly? No wonder the reaction given by the unrighteous when Jesus appears in His glory:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: large;"> Then the kings of the earth and the great men and </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: large;"> the commanders and the rich and the strong and </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: large;"> every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: large;"> and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> to the mountains and to the rocks, </span></i><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">“<i>Fall on us and </i></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: large;"> hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: large;"> throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.”</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></i>Revelation 6:5, 6 </span></div>
Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754157177782425525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775864745933774196.post-67321813688967098212011-07-30T16:30:00.000-07:002016-11-02T16:42:22.232-07:00Maestro is Playing<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVJobJrVrdCRlbTJQbvadywuSbYBCRUdxZdR8LmTDKhdQXlvjk4hg-Iv_oZV5_CKU89P-LQDYWRzOUuNmL1_UOVKUNonFuM8EqwpAdQFAnhZrU1GnQpxDJvOOUGChz7RieuSFWTPP-rxJ/s1600/satan+fiddling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVJobJrVrdCRlbTJQbvadywuSbYBCRUdxZdR8LmTDKhdQXlvjk4hg-Iv_oZV5_CKU89P-LQDYWRzOUuNmL1_UOVKUNonFuM8EqwpAdQFAnhZrU1GnQpxDJvOOUGChz7RieuSFWTPP-rxJ/s1600/satan+fiddling.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Satan is the master deceiver. He is playing his fiddle. We are listening. He is playing his fiddle and putting us to sleep. He has hypnotized us. He has hypnotized us believers. We are buying his lies.</span><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms';">What lies?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">As believers we have been sucked into certain ways of thinking that are not from God, but are from Satan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">It is a commonly held belief among Christians that it is impossible to be free from sin in this earthly life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Throughout the Bible it teaches sin is not from God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Didn’t Jesus die for our sin? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Doesn’t God command us not to sin? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Where does the idea come from that we must sin? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">That we can’t help but sin? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">It doesn’t come from God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">It is a commonly held belief among Christians that we must die.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">But Enoch didn’t die.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Elijah didn’t die.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">They’re from the Old Testament.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">We’re from the New.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Do we have to die?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Didn’t Jesus die for us?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Jesus said, “<i>Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”</i> </span>(John 5:24)<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Jesus said to the Pharisees, “<i>Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death</i>.” </span>(John 8:51)<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Jesus said to Martha on the way to Lazuras’ tomb, “<i>I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? </i>” </span>(John 11:25, 26)<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Who do we believe?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">The devil and the world say we must sin, say we must die. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Jesus said we don’t.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Who are we going to listen to?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">The Bible speaks of a group of believers at the end of time that will not die in what is commonly referred to as the “rapture”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Maybe they are those who have learned to stop listening to Satan’s fiddle.</span></div>
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Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754157177782425525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775864745933774196.post-73718395863634338262011-07-14T17:19:00.000-07:002011-08-04T18:11:22.046-07:00Crybaby<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">But that’s not fair! Why does she (fill in the blank) get to (fill in the blank) and I don’t?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYjMaeencQoBb6zjFtymb1z3fuR6TjK5QyzDASE0xhxq38GymEJk31DVE6Zu-pEwOzygIOdz0V5sFlTV8YU1PQvve5S1dM2LCAqgHo67csMxDV1uUrbgewL1ISHgzhCWSxMKwgrn_K8tC/s1600/crying-boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYjMaeencQoBb6zjFtymb1z3fuR6TjK5QyzDASE0xhxq38GymEJk31DVE6Zu-pEwOzygIOdz0V5sFlTV8YU1PQvve5S1dM2LCAqgHo67csMxDV1uUrbgewL1ISHgzhCWSxMKwgrn_K8tC/s200/crying-boy.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">When we’re little one of the first lessons and one of the toughest lessons we learn is that life’s not fair. We have to learn to accept this as part of life and move on.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">But why is life not fair? Isn’t God fair? Isn’t God just? Where is He in all of this?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">God <i>is</i> fair. God <i>is</i> just. But He is not the ruler of this world.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jesus calls Satan, “<i>the ruler of this world” </i></span><span style="font-size: small;">(John 12:31)</span><span style="font-size: small;">. Satan and his angels are mostly responsible for the fallen condition of the world. <i>The whole world lies in the power of the</i> <i>evil one</i> </span><span style="font-size: small;">(I John 5:19)</span><span style="font-size: small;">. Satan is unfair. Satan is unjust. Not God.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jesus taught us to pray that God’s will would be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Jesus is indicating that God’s will is <i>not</i> being done on earth as God’s will is being done in Heaven. Unfairness, unjustness do not come from God, they come from Satan.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Bible says that God judges with equity (Psalm 98:9). I once heard a preacher speaking on that verse and especially the word, equity. He explained that God is able to come into any situation, any life, and bring it up to a level playing field of judgment. He is able to bring it into equity. This is represented by the well known image of Lady Justice who holds the balances of judgment while blindfolded indicating justice is impartial and balanced in judgment. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">It doesn’t matter what kind of life someone has lived, God will judge that life with equity. God sorts out all injustice and unfairness. He does not hold us responsible for sin or for a sinful culture brought upon us that we are not responsible for. He holds us responsible only for our own sin.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">God judges righteous judgment. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">God is fair. </span></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754157177782425525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775864745933774196.post-20503635017898862122011-06-25T11:11:00.000-07:002011-08-04T18:38:53.021-07:00Shifting Tides<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTC9yEd8ooBVALcGw9eDQV_0ihBWLySmLHhed2wrMrzMR9rNHFKO2xNv8Zo3MU8ewLvpOJZgLMwLvqPLpWGMSeKc1gtJCmxLR00LlM112NPeP75hkMGcPL_r2ts94W1btTbBpUULnENtc/s1600/Shifting+Tides+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTC9yEd8ooBVALcGw9eDQV_0ihBWLySmLHhed2wrMrzMR9rNHFKO2xNv8Zo3MU8ewLvpOJZgLMwLvqPLpWGMSeKc1gtJCmxLR00LlM112NPeP75hkMGcPL_r2ts94W1btTbBpUULnENtc/s200/Shifting+Tides+image.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">9/11 was a pivotal event. Something in the air changed that day. It was a spiritual Pearl Harbor. A journalist specializing in international politics reacted to 9/11 by saying, "the world has entered into a very dangerous place". </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tides have shifted. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">New spiritual powers are </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">jockeying for position. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The overriding influence of the WW II generation has been usurped by the succeeding generations after. The world is being turned upside down. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The world is being turned inside out. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We are being pulled into a new day, a new age.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> We have passed the place of no return. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Nothing can stop this. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We are being pulled into the revelation of Jesus Christ.</span></div></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754157177782425525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775864745933774196.post-70273311418380409822011-06-06T17:54:00.000-07:002011-06-06T17:54:39.141-07:00God is BigWe all know God is big. I've always looked at it in terms of His power and might. But He is big in other ways. He is big in substance and purpose and meaning. What I mean by that is I used to think after being in Heaven for a couple thousand years we would begin to get bored. We would begin to lose interest. We would get tired. Life would lose its punch.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUO-BrxJojDkXxktDawYXTLPptz2eCIustOKt4-uKbZA484PUXYh8zBHzblIVYJvgPXM2KvmPr3wRamJ9JWY9mmFqnbET8qVY-BN2it4YYohQYQazCpmHvQpBdIvWiLxoK8mvG5VjXpNd/s1600/liberty+bell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUO-BrxJojDkXxktDawYXTLPptz2eCIustOKt4-uKbZA484PUXYh8zBHzblIVYJvgPXM2KvmPr3wRamJ9JWY9mmFqnbET8qVY-BN2it4YYohQYQazCpmHvQpBdIvWiLxoK8mvG5VjXpNd/s1600/liberty+bell.jpg" /></a></div>But that's not going to happen. In Isaiah 9:7 it says, <i>There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace.</i> In other words everything that has to do with God's government or peace will keep increasing. Government relates to power and might, but peace is a fruit of the Spirit. Peace relates to purpose and meaning.<br />
We have a distorted picture of spiritual reality here on earth. Even when things are at their best sin is present. Sin clogs things up. Sin keeps God's Spirit from flowing. Things aren't what they are supposed to be. Things are a little cloudy. We look through a glass darkly. Things don't taste the way they should. The fruit is a little rotten. Things sound uncertain. The bell tolls a little flat. Fear, depression, and hopelessness are continually swirling around us. Trying to get to us. Trying to overtake us.<br />
Imagine being free of all this. Imagine the Holy Spirit having full liberty to move in and through our lives as He can, as He should. Imagine the earth being filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Imagine the clarity of purpose and depth of meaning that will fill our hearts in such a spiritual atmosphere. There will be no room for boredom or losing interest in life. All will be full of life. Abundant life. All will be interesting. All will have purpose and meaning. We will see through glass clearly. Fruit will be a delight to our taste. Bells will ring a certain sound. Everything will be spreading out and increasing. <i>There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace.</i> There will be no end to the increase of purpose and meaning. There will be no end to the increase of life. It will be eternal life. It will be big and getting bigger all the time.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754157177782425525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775864745933774196.post-63713368885984578832011-06-05T09:01:00.000-07:002011-08-04T18:29:43.782-07:00Temple News from Jerusalem<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In this weeks' news Israel allowed groups of observant Jews to go onto the temple mount and pray in commemoration of Jerusalem Day. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is huge. Since 1967 Jews have been forbidden to go onto the temple mount by their own religious authority. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeSXyNQqj1f-zuIvUxJqh_aFxS6YDy9B9eqvS6e5N-os_Zgxrv87aiJX2Wcpak_OmkSXIyG0QyvwRcD1d8JmlPAwJ2BY2_NG4C5rhQT_sL3kG6TWMjagSA_uUPE1UerBCDwABbb5RMNsa/s1600/IMG_0559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeSXyNQqj1f-zuIvUxJqh_aFxS6YDy9B9eqvS6e5N-os_Zgxrv87aiJX2Wcpak_OmkSXIyG0QyvwRcD1d8JmlPAwJ2BY2_NG4C5rhQT_sL3kG6TWMjagSA_uUPE1UerBCDwABbb5RMNsa/s320/IMG_0559.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking at the Temple Mount </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Bible prophecy teaches that the seven year period associated with Christ's return will be triggered off by Israel reentering into a covenant relationship with God. This would include a proclamation to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">To this day there has been no hint of Israel even suggesting they would allow religious services let alone build a temple.</div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Things are changing.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/144701">click here for article</a>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754157177782425525noreply@blogger.com1