tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17285342237210146502024-02-19T06:21:34.001-05:00My Two MitesBy Robbie PruittRobbie Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729231363273981119noreply@blogger.comBlogger211125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728534223721014650.post-37401679531154079652018-12-10T14:32:00.002-05:002018-12-11T11:09:24.132-05:00The Feast Day of Saint Andrew<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWkQQR6WvEhaV8ShEAOR8coBDATTqHaQFyQcb5SeZ74Dr6lwJwKPmhr0LVGDWanatlLYZCokMSznMMrHA199niyfp8NHP4UsgJ_CsGEtSPuwxf92TqiFe_c-dwzTNlkKKGh_pgp30Ud0/s1600/andrew10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWkQQR6WvEhaV8ShEAOR8coBDATTqHaQFyQcb5SeZ74Dr6lwJwKPmhr0LVGDWanatlLYZCokMSznMMrHA199niyfp8NHP4UsgJ_CsGEtSPuwxf92TqiFe_c-dwzTNlkKKGh_pgp30Ud0/s320/andrew10.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://saintandrewgoc.org/home/2013/12/2/the-holy-feast-day-of-saint-andrew-the-first-called-and-apos.html">The Feast Day of Saint Andrew</a><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Who first brought you to Jesus? <o:p></o:p></div>
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We all have gotten to where we are because someone has helped bring us to this place in our lives. In many cases, there may have been many people who have helped us arrive to where we are in our lives today. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We are often introduced to key people who play important roles in our lives by someone else who knows us and who is close to us. In other words, we often meet people who forever change the course of our lives through others. Usually we come to know these influential people, because someone took the time to make an important introduction. Can you think of a time when an important and impactful introduction has occurred in your life? <o:p></o:p></div>
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An important and impactful introduction was the case with Andrew and his brother Simon Peter. In John’s Gospel we see Andrew coming to know Jesus. John 1:40-42 tells this story of Andrew introducing his brother Simon to Jesus. <o:p></o:p></div>
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John’s Gospel says, “One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus <sup></sup>was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means Christ).<b><sup> </sup></b>He brought him to Jesus.” (John 1:40-42, ESV). <o:p></o:p></div>
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We do not know much about Andrew, but when we first see him in scripture, he is bringing the people closest to him to Jesus. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Had Andrew not taken the time to introduce his brother Simon to Jesus, the course of the early church would have looked very differently. The life and ministry of Peter would have looked very differently, if he would have had a ministry at all. If Peter is not introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew, the course of the early church and Pentecost would look completely different (see Acts 2). And where would Simon be then? And what would the church look like? <o:p></o:p></div>
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In light of the importance of Andrew in the gospel, and as you reflect, who are you bringing to Jesus? Like Andrew, is there someone close to us who we need to bring to Jesus? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>A Prayer of Saint Andrew, November 30<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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“Almighty God, who gave such grace to your apostle Andrew that he readily obeyed the call of your Son Jesus Christ, and brought his brother with him: Give us, who are called by your holy Word, grace to follow him without delay, and to bring those near to us into his gracious presence; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 237). <o:p></o:p></div>
Robbie Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729231363273981119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728534223721014650.post-69708719274679476442015-08-20T14:45:00.001-04:002015-08-20T14:46:59.639-04:00Cry The Blood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwDt6aAUL_8sA_PAvRAtFHvuQ39Z3UMFPrxiRORR6RUB-YILmCxYJbuiC3hz08S7k2RITwyZgbBmAFB0x56bWUk9nW_Pve8iAyNJ-2Kusw5oyZvxGLTvSToOXGqc_dSWE-gFDNLqZ19g/s1600/cry-the-blood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwDt6aAUL_8sA_PAvRAtFHvuQ39Z3UMFPrxiRORR6RUB-YILmCxYJbuiC3hz08S7k2RITwyZgbBmAFB0x56bWUk9nW_Pve8iAyNJ-2Kusw5oyZvxGLTvSToOXGqc_dSWE-gFDNLqZ19g/s400/cry-the-blood.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cry The Blood, by Jack Baumgartner, </b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">photo from <a href="http://theschoolofthetransferofenergy.com/i-am-erth/">The School of the Transfer of Energy</a><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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My friend <a href="http://theschoolofthetransferofenergy.com/">Jack Baumgartner</a> recently released his album “Cry
The Blood”, from i am earth, Jack Baumgartner. This is a heartfelt and sacrificial
work of pilgrimage. The blood sweat and tears in this music cries out in
beautiful heart felt harmony. This work is organic in sound and is simply
beautiful. I am moved. This is music for the soul. If you are going to buy an
album this year, well, this one has breath and life in it. It cries the blood.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Visit Jack Baumgartner at The School of the Transfer of
Energy here: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://theschoolofthetransferofenergy.com/">http://theschoolofthetransferofenergy.com</a>
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You may also purchase your copy of “Cry The Blood” <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/cry-the-blood/id959463408?ign-mpt=uo%3D4">from
i-tunes here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You may also purchase your copy of “Cry The Blood” <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cry-Blood-i-am-erth/dp/B00STLPSDG/ref=sr_1_4?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1423154429&sr=1-4&keywords=cry+the+blood">from
Amazon here</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Visit the webpage for “Cry The Blood” here: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://theschoolofthetransferofenergy.com/i-am-erth/">http://theschoolofthetransferofenergy.com/i-am-erth/</a></div>
Robbie Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729231363273981119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728534223721014650.post-71708056039300630372015-05-18T13:28:00.001-04:002015-05-18T13:45:43.011-04:00Anatomy of Choice: A Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9l0TMfzWjO0gPLT26qNowIGTP48soSVK9UbcP8ZBkFsYVvHowRERWMzyryS5KmWU-WMizqmx5QbS281CNGaSr4JvzmCYXZdvMZd1rnhDFwca4piKGsw29Dxe8a5d1TjjfzNMz-ocB2YU/s1600/The+Anatomy+of+Choice+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9l0TMfzWjO0gPLT26qNowIGTP48soSVK9UbcP8ZBkFsYVvHowRERWMzyryS5KmWU-WMizqmx5QbS281CNGaSr4JvzmCYXZdvMZd1rnhDFwca4piKGsw29Dxe8a5d1TjjfzNMz-ocB2YU/s400/The+Anatomy+of+Choice+2.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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<b>Book Cover of Fred Grooms' <i>Anatomy of Choice: </i></b><br />
<b><i>Teaching Positive Life Choice</i>s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SDGUISW/ref=pdp_new_dp_review">from Amazon.com</a>.</b></div>
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Making good choices is such a great topic! <a href="http://fredgrooms.com/">Fred Grooms</a> does a fantastic job of unpacking the anatomy of choice and giving practical advice for teaching positive life choices to young people. Anatomy of Choice: Teaching Positive Life Choices is a great primer on the subject of positive life choices.<br />
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Fred Grooms is also a passionate, caring and competent youth motivational speaker who considers his audience and their needs. Fred seeks first to understand and then crafts and delivers the right message for optimal impact and influence. Fred cares deeply about people. This care is evident in working with him and it shows in his communication. Fred works in youth work, in the public schools, at camps, at conferences, and in international Christian School settings. In these settings, Fred's heart, and his passion and competence as a communicator, can be clearly seen. Fred Grooms comes highly recommended for youth motivational speaking, youth work, and consulting.<br />
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Visit Fred Grooms' website here: <a href="http://www.fredgrooms.com/">http://www.fredgrooms.com</a><br />
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Read this review on Examiner.com, <a href="http://www.examiner.com/review/a-review-of-anatomy-of-choice-teaching-positive-life-choices">click here</a>.<br />
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To read this review of Anatomy of Choice: Teaching Positive Life Choices on Amazon.com, or to purchase this book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/REESGUDV3KY4J/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00SDGUISW">click here</a>. <br />
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Pick up Anatomy of Choice: Teaching Positive Life Choices on Smashwords by <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/511514">clicking here</a>. <br />
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Grooms, Fred (2015). Anatomy of Choice: Teaching Positive Life Choices. (Kindle) Barnabas Consulting. Kindle Edition. (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Whos-Charge-Bob-Ordinary-Extraordinary/dp/0991462807">http://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Choice-Teaching-Positive-Choices-ebook/dp/B00SDGUISW/ref=cm_rdp_product</a>)<br />
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To order your copy of Fred's other book, Who's In Charge of Bob?: The Key to Moving from Ordinary to Extraordinary, go to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Whos-Charge-Bob-Ordinary-Extraordinary/dp/0991462807">Amazon.com here</a>.<br />
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To read a review of Fred's book, Who's In Charge of Bob?: The Key to Moving from Ordinary to Extraordinary, on Amazon.com, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R1LDSJ4M4H41ER/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm">click here</a>. <br />
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Grooms, Fred (2014-03-11). Who's In Charge of Bob?: The Key to Moving from Ordinary to Extraordinary (Kindle Locations 1195-1196) Barnabas Consulting. Kindle Edition. (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Whos-Charge-Bob-Ordinary-Extraordinary/dp/0991462807">http://www.amazon.com/Whos-Charge-Bob-Ordinary-Extraordinary/dp/0991462807</a>)</div>
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Robbie Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729231363273981119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728534223721014650.post-28464020349383798632015-05-09T17:02:00.000-04:002015-05-09T17:05:17.174-04:00Finishing Discipleship and Small Groups Well<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5I-oZbQGfbmHgpxOsGUamvHlw2AQmrFEDiaAU-EStudiFzZKKQLNQJiT0kudHpNHbk2xxXsrsijCYWbehCRkaonc9AKa2lHGeK27gqeMTZGiu3bvs2TzwVdFiYE4yqO1goSlbfrKba0/s1600/finish-line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5I-oZbQGfbmHgpxOsGUamvHlw2AQmrFEDiaAU-EStudiFzZKKQLNQJiT0kudHpNHbk2xxXsrsijCYWbehCRkaonc9AKa2lHGeK27gqeMTZGiu3bvs2TzwVdFiYE4yqO1goSlbfrKba0/s400/finish-line.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Finish Line Ahead, <a href="http://donnareidland.com/july-18-finishing-well/">photo </a>from <a href="http://gravatar.com/donnareidland">Donna Reidland</a>.com </b></div>
<br />As our school year comes to a close, how are we finishing our discipleship groups or small groups well? <br /><br />As our discipleship group comes to a close, we are blessing and encouraging each of our students. We are also leaving them with a challenge and celebrating our year together with a meal. <br /><br />What will you do to finish the year well with your discopleship group or small group? <br /><br /><b>Blessings:</b><br /><br />"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." -<a href="http://dailyverses.net/numbers/6/24-26">Numbers 6:24-26</a> | <a href="http://dailyverses.net/bible-translations/niv">NIV</a><br /><br />"For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess." -<a href="http://dailyverses.net/deuteronomy/30/16">Deuteronomy 30:16</a> | <a href="http://dailyverses.net/bible-translations/niv">NIV</a><br /><br /><b>Prayer: For Young Persons: </b><br /><br />God our Father, you see your children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you, and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (<a href="http://www.bcponline.org/">Book of Common Prayer</a>, p. 829)<br /><br /><b>Prayer: A Prayer of Self-Dedication: </b><br /><br />Almighty and eternal God, draw our hearts to You, guide our minds, fill our imaginations, control our wills, that we may be wholly Yours, completely dedicated to You; and then use us, we pray, as You will, and always to Your glory and to the welfare of Your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (<a href="http://www.bcponline.org/">Book of Common Prayer,</a> p. 832)Robbie Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729231363273981119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728534223721014650.post-76900792771391310642015-03-31T16:35:00.000-04:002015-04-03T16:39:02.153-04:00National Poetry Month 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">National Poetry Month
2015 Poster, from <a href="http://www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/form/poster-request-form">Poets.org</a><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">National Poetry Month
2015 <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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April is National Poetry Month and I will be
participating/celebrating by reading and recording a poem a day all month long.
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Recorded poems will be posted on Sondcloud.com here: <a href="https://soundcloud.com/robbiepruitt">https://soundcloud.com/robbiepruitt</a>
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I will also be posting the recordings with the text of the
poem and photos each day on my poetry website here: <a href="http://www.robbiepruitt.com/">http://www.robbiepruitt.com</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
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Shorter poems with illustrative photos will be posted each
week on Tumblr here: <a href="http://robbiepruitt.tumblr.com/">http://robbiepruitt.tumblr.com</a>
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There are many wonderful poetry resources out there for
poetry lovers and educators alike. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Here are a few of my
favorite poetry websites and resources:</b> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">National Poetry
Month, Poets.org: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/home">http://www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/home</a>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Poets.org:</b> <a href="http://www.poets.org/">http://www.poets.org</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Poetry Foundation:</b>
<a href="http://www.poetryfoundation.org/">http://www.poetryfoundation.org</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Poetry Magazine:</b> <a href="http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/">http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/</a>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Poetry Archive:</b>
<a href="http://www.poetryarchive.org/">http://www.poetryarchive.org</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tweetspeak Poetry:</b>
<a href="http://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/">http://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Poetry Resources and
Tools from Tweetspeak: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/2015/03/05/top-ten-national-poetry-month-books-tools/">http://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/2015/03/05/top-ten-national-poetry-month-books-tools/</a>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tweetspeak Poetry
Teaching Tools: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/english-teaching-resources/">http://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/english-teaching-resources/</a>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">PoetryTeachers.com:</b>
<a href="http://www.poetryteachers.com/">http://www.poetryteachers.com</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Poetry Out Loud:</b> <a href="http://www.poetryoutloud.org/">http://www.poetryoutloud.org</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Poetry.net:</b> <a href="http://www.poetry.net/">http://www.poetry.net</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Famous Poets and Poems:
</b><a href="http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/">http://famouspoetsandpoems.com</a><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Poetry Flash:</b> <a href="http://poetryflash.org/">http://poetryflash.org</a></div>
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Robbie Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729231363273981119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728534223721014650.post-77896382222116462242015-02-22T12:37:00.004-05:002015-02-22T13:29:29.411-05:0021 Martyrs<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i>Since the first century, Christians have endured persecution. Yet in the midst of death, the Church remained alive and hopeful remembering Jesus’ promise, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” </i>(Matthew <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7KzxMBxHVU#">5:10</a>)<br />
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<i>“Persecution of Christians wakes a slumbering church. This call to remembrance and prayer reminds us that the blood of the martyrs has always been the seed for a revived church. May we remain sober-minded and fall to our knees in prayer for God to stir our hearts to obedience.” </i><br />
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(Gabe Lyons, World Magazine, Christian leaders unite in call to prayer for persecuted church: <a href="http://www.worldmag.com/2015/02/christian_leaders_unite_in_call_to_prayer_for_persecuted_church,">http://www.worldmag.com/2015/02/christian_leaders_unite_in_call_to_prayer_for_persecuted_church,</a> 21 Martyrs: <a href="http://21martyrs.com/">http://21martyrs.com</a>)<br />
<b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>21 Martyrs</b><br />
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Twenty-one lives<o:p></o:p></div>
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Kneeling on sand<o:p></o:p></div>
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Twenty-one fell <o:p></o:p></div>
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At his command<o:p></o:p></div>
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Twenty-one prayers<o:p></o:p></div>
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On Rock, they land<o:p></o:p></div>
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Twenty-one souls <o:p></o:p></div>
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They kneel; they stand<o:p></o:p></div>
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Twenty-one call, “Jesus!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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His blood cries from the sand<o:p></o:p></div>
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Twenty-one take His hand<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<b>© February 21, 2015, <a href="http://www.robbiepruitt.com/">Robbie Pruitt</a><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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“We give thanks to you, O Lord our God, for all your servants
and witnesses of time past: for Abraham, the father of believers, and Sarah his wife; for Moses, the lawgiver, and Aaron, the
priest; for Miriam and Joshua, Deborah and Gideon, and
Samuel with Hannah his mother; for Isaiah and all the prophets; for Mary, the mother of our Lord; for Peter and Paul and all
the apostles; for Mary and Martha, and Mary Magdalene; for
Stephen, the first martyr, and all the martyrs and saints in
every age and in every land. In your mercy, O Lord our God, give us, as you gave to them, the hope of salvation and the
promise of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the
first-born of many from the dead. Amen.” (<a href="http://www.bcponline.org/">Book of Common Prayer</a>, p. 838)<o:p></o:p><br />
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Robbie Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729231363273981119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728534223721014650.post-64528563846816515752015-02-12T11:15:00.000-05:002015-02-12T12:20:58.846-05:00The Faithfulness of the Love of God<iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/190594847&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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As the High School Bible Teacher at Quisqueya Christian School, I often have the opportunity to speak at QCS's Secondary School Chapel Services. On Wednesday, February 11, 2015, I spoke on The Faithfulness of the Love of God. Click the play button above to listen to the complete talk on our school's Soundcloud.<br />
<br />
<b>Visit Quisqueya Christian School's Soundcloud page for other chapel messages here: </b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://soundcloud.com/quisqueyachristianschool">https://soundcloud.com/quisqueyachristianschool</a><br />
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"I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.” –Jeremiah 31:3, NASB<br />
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“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” –1 John 3:1, NIV<br />
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<b>For the Power Point for this talk, please click the following link:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2730FU8J2UtbDhTTERueE4zYUtCV1UxNlQ5dXoyUDl5Mm40/view?usp=sharing">drive.google.com/file/d/0B2730FU8…view?usp=sharing</a><br />
<br />
<b>For a handout with reflection questions related to this talk, please click the following link:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2730FU8J2UtZ0pXSXE4ZGUtZkpoWnRmUEJXelZEMzNYV3ZZ/view?usp=sharing">drive.google.com/file/d/0B2730FU8…view?usp=sharing</a>Robbie Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729231363273981119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728534223721014650.post-22329449301697389752015-01-12T12:14:00.000-05:002015-01-12T12:21:16.968-05:00New Year Goals and Resolutions<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b>Happy New Year! </b><br />
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"Ask yourself: What would your life look like if you directed it, instead of drifted through it?" —Michael Hyatt<br />
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We should be looking forward to embracing good and healthy growth and change in the New Year. As Donald Miller puts it, "Things that stay the same aren’t healthy." <br />
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We should begin our New Year reflecting on God's grace and goodness in governing the outcomes in our lives. As it says in Proverbs 16:9, "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps." (Proverbs 16:9, NIV) Established steps, change, growth and movement in our lives are good.<br />
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We should also acknowledge that it is God who begins and finishes His work in us. As Paul stated in Philippians 1:6, "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6, ESV)<br />
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What's your plan for the New Year? What will God do in your life in 2015? Do you have any goals or resolutions? What are they?<br />
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<b>Consider these three questions that Bill Hybles suggests: </b><br />
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1. What should you stop doing this year?<br />
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2. What should you start doing this year? </div>
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3. What should you continue doing this year?<br />
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It was a pleasure reading this poem, "The Face of God", at Quisqueya Christian School's annual Staff Christmas Party. Tara Thorn signed the poem along with the reading. This is a later recording of the poem, along with Hebrews 1:1-4, which was recorded at home the following weekend.<br />
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<b>The Face of God</b><br />
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Once we walked in the loving gaze<br />
Of the face of God<br />
In Eden’s beauty paradise<br />
On heavenly earth; on heavenly sod<br />
Our transgressions made us outcasts<br />
And dark winds blew us,<br />
To the East, it threw us<br />
The wind withered the land<br />
The fallen outnumbered the sand<br />
None could rest, not kings in their riches<br />
Nor the poor with outstretched hand . . .<br />
And the prophets cried out<br />
The priests offered sacrifice and praise with shout,<br />
And the kings waged war and decreed<br />
Until it was clear, all people bleed<br />
And silence deafened the people in need<br />
Then the starry night came. . .<br />
Wise men were called from the East<br />
Back to their Prince of Peace<br />
His star led them there<br />
With gifts of worship so fine and fair<br />
The Light had entered darkness<br />
After four hundred years of silence<br />
Broken in a babies cry<br />
For all to live, who once had died<br />
The Shepherds came with staff and rod,<br />
And these wise men, to see the face of God<br />
In former days, and in many ways<br />
God spoke and now by His Son,<br />
In these latter days<br />
He walks again with His people<br />
In Eden made anew<br />
His face and their face; seen through and through<br />
To once again walk in that loving gaze<br />
In the Glory of the face of God<br />
In Eden’s paradise<br />
On heavenly sod<br />
To be right again with our God<br />
Heaven came down and intimacy restored<br />
Both rich and poor have seen their Lord<br />
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<b>© December 2011, <a href="http://www.robbiepruitt.com/">Robbie Pruitt</a></b><br />
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<b>Hebrews 1:1-4</b><br />
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“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”</div>
Robbie Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729231363273981119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728534223721014650.post-77983825315740803752014-12-11T08:28:00.002-05:002014-12-11T08:30:30.473-05:00Shepherds Abiding<iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/180917003&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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As the High School Bible Teacher at Quisqueya Christian
School, I have the privilege of speaking at chapel every now and then. This
past Wednesday I had the opportunity to teach on the meaning of Christmas
through Luke 2:1-21, focusing on Luke 2:8. In exploring why God would send
angels as messengers to shepherds in their fields, we see that God has a
shepherd’s heart. Christmas is about Jesus leaving home and living among us,
His sheep, and laying His life down for us, so that we might have His life.
Jesus is our Good Shepherd and Great King.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">To view the Power
Point slides from this talk, please visit this link:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2730FU8J2UtWUNPV2FReGlzUmM/view?usp=sharing">https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2730FU8J2UtWUNPV2FReGlzUmM/view?usp=sharing</a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">To listen to this
chapel talk, click above or visit this link: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="https://soundcloud.com/quisqueyachristianschool/robbie-pruitt-qcs-chapel-december-10-2014">https://soundcloud.com/quisqueyachristianschool/robbie-pruitt-qcs-chapel-december-10-2014</a>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Key Verses: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,
keeping watch over their flocks at night.” –Luke 2:8<o:p></o:p></div>
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"'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no
means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who
will shepherd my people Israel.'” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>–Matthew
2:6, NIV<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Benediction and
Prayer:</b><br />
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“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the
eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd
of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he
work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for
ever and ever. Amen.” –Hebrews 13: 20-21, NIV)</div>
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Robbie Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729231363273981119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728534223721014650.post-80026810018135156862014-12-03T06:30:00.000-05:002014-12-03T06:30:00.619-05:00Jesus Christ Heals You<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b><b>The Johari Window,
photo from <a href="http://www.stonewritten.com/?p=3902">StoneWritten</a></b></b></div>
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<b>Scripture: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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“Peter said to him, ‘Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up
and make your bed.’ Immediately he got up.” –Acts 9:34<o:p></o:p></div>
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In Acts 9:34; a man named Aeneas was in obvious need of
healing, he had been bedridden for eight years. His need was evident to
himself, as well as to those around him. Peter addressed this need and said to
him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed.” God worked. Aeneas
got up. He was made well. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Areas of our lives where we need healing can be obvious to
us, and to those around us. However, there are times where it may not be so
obvious to us where we need healing. Sometimes we can be blind to our needs,
they can be hidden, or less obvious, to us, and to those around us. Sometimes
our needs are unknown. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The Johari Window is an engaging tool of self-exploration
where we can begin to explore areas of our lives that are 1. Open, known to
self and known to others, 2. Blind, known to others, but not known to self, 3.
Hidden, known to self, but not known to others, and 4. Unknown, not known to
self and not known to others. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Questions for
Reflection: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Look deeply at all the ways in which you need to hear “Jesus
Christ heals you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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How and where do you need healing? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Are there obvious, open, needs? What are they? <o:p></o:p></div>
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How can you explore the blind spots in your life? Who can
you entrust to help shine some light into your life? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Are there hidden areas where you need healing? How can you
get these things into the open? Who can you share your needs with? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Ask God to show you your blind spots and to show you the
unknown areas of denial and defensiveness. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Pray for God to help you “‘get up’ and ‘make your bed’”. Ask
God for the healing and restoration that you need to continue on in every area
of your life where you need healing and restoration. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Prayer:</b> <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most
gracious favor, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works begun,
continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and finally, by
your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
(Adapted from <a href="http://www.bcponline.org/">The Book of Common Prayer</a>,
p. 830)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” –1
Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Without worship, we go about miserable." –A.W.
Tozer<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The surest index of your spiritual and emotional well-being
is the degree of gratitude in your life.” –John Maxwell<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As Quisqueya Christian School's High School Bible Teacher, I
often have the opportunity to speak at our chapel services. This was last
week's talk on "Gratitude for God's Faithfulness". Here I talk from
Luke 7:36-50 and Luke 17: 11-19, a sinful woman anoints Jesus' feet and Jesus'
cleansing the ten with leprosy. This talk explores the importance of, and the
essential nature of, gratitude, thanksgiving and worship. Gratitude is God's
will for our life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>For the Power Point for this talk, click this link here:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2730FU8J2Utem9fSUY2WXJyNGx0Z2hlUld3S0JkXy1vM1VZ/view?usp=sharing">drive.google.com/file/d/0B2730FU8…view?usp=sharing</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>For the prayers from this talk, and the study questions
for this talk, click this link:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2730FU8J2UtQ3VHU0RmMEZJX2RDY0RaaGM4S1VUNmVuZXpj/view?usp=sharing">drive.google.com/file/d/0B2730FU8…view?usp=sharing</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Prayer of Thanksgiving</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy
servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us
and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and
all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the
redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and
for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with
our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by
walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory
throughout all ages. Amen.”(Book of Common Prayer, p. 101)<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Robbie Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729231363273981119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728534223721014650.post-23979580166545676592014-11-15T10:00:00.000-05:002014-11-15T10:00:00.854-05:00Satan Prowling<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6uVuVESRFoFiymTFEOlsRdRyJjmvourN9oV1XW2uLsuFEpIk1zo1x_q2bphlEupm2Ubg-Z2mBtjpUWW80Ge5ftpyGU_UXSAHfLTb_XhrO3Qq7Ms7_yaJw5jX4wsuOEqL__LmlSMY4lY/s1600/Satan+and+Michael.jpg" width="300" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Statue of the
Archangel Michael defeating Satan, <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/michelhebert/">Michel Hébert</a> from <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/michelhebert/3116748539/sizes/l">Flickr.com</a><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"We only fully grasp the gospel when we understand, as
Paul did, that we are the worst sinner we know." –Tim Keller <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Scripture: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"And the Lord said, 'Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has
asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that
your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your
brethren.'” -Luke 22:31-32<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jesus prayed for Peter when Satan sought to attack him.
Jesus prayed that Simon’s faith would not fail. Jesus prayed that sin and evil
would not win the day, and when it was all said and done, that Peter would
return to Him and strengthen his brothers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Peter Himself would later write, “Be alert and of sober
mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for
someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, NIV). Peter understood his sinful self and the
presence of evil roaming around seeking to destroy him. Nothing would delight
Satan more than to devour us. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is God’s desire to see our faith remain steady. God
desires us to be strengthened so that we might live and strengthen others. We
must return to Jesus, stay alert, be sober-minded, and expect God to protect us
and to lead us into His way and service. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reflection Questions:</b>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Does your awareness of your own sinfulness eclipse the sin
you see in others? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How does knowing who you are compel you towards the Gospel?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Are there areas of your life where Satan is prowling around?
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How do you need to rely on Christ to help your faith to not
fail? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In what ways do you need to be alert and sober-minded? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prayer:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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“Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most
gracious favor, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works
begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and finally,
by your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">(</span><a href="http://www.bcponline.org/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The Book of Common Prayer</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">, p. 831)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
If you would like
to financially support Robbie and Irene’s work of Bible teaching, discipleship
and counseling in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, <a href="https://rceinternational.webconnex.com/26902">please click here</a>. We
continue to count on supporters of our work and we need committed monthly
donors.</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDW9d6EImbUQfaeAiYnEIke9cLsuHn2WvkMHJS_jwI18I7txsWKC6xhChtdw59uW3Y2ie3OtAc7zKF_4X6uMmOJ21u1kxYE5FyvejNxHvF_L6wK_3aXWdTxlIKqyC4bOgHuuloEUaBA1g/s1600/Cover+of+When+Helping+Hurts.jpg" width="259" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Cover photo of When Helping Hurts from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/When-Helping-Hurts-Alleviate-Yourself-ebook/dp/B00EDY1YU4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1402796930&sr=1-1&keywords=when+helping+hurts">Amazon.com</a></b></div>
<br />
It has been said, “The pathway to hell is paved with good intentions.” Good intentions are not always good enough. In attempting to help others with our good intentions, we can actually do more harm than good. This is the issue Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert address in their thought provoking and challenging book, <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.amazon.com/When-Helping-Hurts-Alleviate-Yourself-ebook/dp/B00EDY1YU4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1402796930&sr=1-1&keywords=when+helping+hurts" href="http://www.amazon.com/When-Helping-Hurts-Alleviate-Yourself-ebook/dp/B00EDY1YU4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1402796930&sr=1-1&keywords=when+helping+hurts"><em>When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself</em></a><em>.</em><br />
<em><br /></em>
We must be thoughtful and intentional in the ways that we seek to resource those who are in need. As Christians we are called to be restoration agents in the world, but we are also called into intentional and loving relationships. We are called to healthy relationships and investment in people over projects. This is not always easy, but it is essential if we are to be truly helpful, without doing more harm than good. Due to the fallen nature of humanity and the world, even the very systems through which we try to help people are fallen and broken. It is not enough that we have to navigate our own fallenness, and the fallen nature of the people we are trying to serve and help, but we must also navigate the fallenness of systems, government, infrastructure, culture and the like.<br />
<br />
When doctors set out to do their call to serve the sick, their first rule of thumb is to “First, do no harm”. This is part of what is called the <a data-cke-saved-href="http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/greekmedicine/f/HippocraticOath.htm" href="http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/greekmedicine/f/HippocraticOath.htm">Hippocratic Corpus</a>. As those who are called to serve others in need and to reflect the love of Christ, we too should practice, at minimum, “First, do no harm”.<br />
<br />
There is an old proverb, which states, “Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.” The issue of truly helping someone, as Christians are called to do, is a complex issue. We must look at problems systematically and for the long term. A short-sided view of help, relief, is not as affective as looking at long-term solutions, which address systematic breakdowns. It is important to see beyond relief and to rehabilitation and restoration. Poverty alleviation is better than mere poverty pacification.<br />
<br />
Poverty and need is a relational and structural breakdown and is a result of sin. This sin has caused us to be fallen in our relationships with God, ourselves, others and creation. Helping people can be difficult as we navigate our own sinfulness and is further complicated through the fallen nature of creation and the fallen nature of those we serve. We should not do for others what they can do for themselves. We do not want to enable people in our helping them, nor do we want them to become dependent on our aide.<br />
<br />
Relief is a simpler and an easier solution than the larger investment of time and resources that it takes to do rehabilitation, development and restoration. Sometimes quick relief is appropriate, but often times what is needed and what is best requires much more effort, time and resources to help those in need when providing assistance. As Christians, our call is a high calling and should be focused on people and loving our neighbors in selfless service. We must consider others and engage the community.<br />
<br />
As Americans we can be tempted to move toward the quick fix. We can also be tempted to throw money at problems rather than time, thought and relationships. The importance of the book <em>When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty </em><em>Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself</em> cannot be overemphasized.<br />
<br />
Any person who is interested in appropriately meeting the needs of people and impacting the community and the world for Christ should read this book. Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert have identified and addressed the issues that lead to helping actually hurting the people we are trying to serve. They offer valuable insights and suggestions of how to navigate the complexity of helping, how to honor God in our helping and serving, and how to truly help those in need to move toward reconciliation and restoration.<br />
<br />
<strong>Bibliography</strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong>
Corbett, Steve and Fikkert, Brian. When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself. Moody Publishers, 2012.
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<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSk82Spcy76_YH_loPDY_WSQlMVNOMPFclAilbWLFIry5nvaL1jXyB3sAlemcerXv2afa1up4rMMbCqqRhc_TU_mdn5oaQXTJK3_l6lJjv3VJDJmPIptgrZMwilwTxi73FJXJAtR_DXU/s1600/Human+Need+Desire.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Human/Need/Desire, by
Bruce Nauman, photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/eschipul/">eschipul</a>,
from Flickr<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The other day a man came by our home in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
He knocked on our gate to get my attention. I was working on my bike outside.
It was Sunday. The man had his little girl, a toddler, in his arms. I had never
met this man before and was curious about what it is that he wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The guy outside our gate with his little girl: "I am
angry!" <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: "You are angry?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Guy: "Yes. Very angry!" <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: "You are?" <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Guy: "Yes!" <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I go and get my wife <a href="https://www.facebook.com/irenepruitt">Irene</a> and ask her to translate.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: "Ask what's going on with this guy, but do not let
him in. He is angry for some reason." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Irene translates: "He says he is hungry." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: "Oh, this makes more sense." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We open the gate and give the man and his daughter some food
and pray over them. Crisis averted, at least for the evening. And what about tomorrow?
(James 2:14-17)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Scripture:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone
claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a
brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to
them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their
physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not
accompanied by action, is dead." -James 2:14-17<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reflection Questions:
<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How do your faith and your deeds sync up or intersect? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What are the needs you see around you?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How is God inviting you to meet the needs of those who are
around you? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Are there neglected
areas in your life where you can make a difference? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prayer:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Give us grateful hearts, our Father, for all <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">your</span> mercies, and
make us mindful of
the needs of others; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Amen.” (</span><a href="http://www.bcponline.org/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The Book of Common Prayer</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">, p. 835)</span><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>If you would like to financially support Irene and
Robbie’s work in Haiti, please <a href="https://rceinternational.webconnex.com/26902">click here</a>. The need is
there and we appreciate your support.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-gCWJjmyoPJE%2FVDGvu3Cpi6I%2FAAAAAAAACtk%2FjRdHN0nItVQ%2Fs1600%2FHuman%252BNeed%252BDesire.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSk82Spcy76_YH_loPDY_WSQlMVNOMPFclAilbWLFIry5nvaL1jXyB3sAlemcerXv2afa1up4rMMbCqqRhc_TU_mdn5oaQXTJK3_l6lJjv3VJDJmPIptgrZMwilwTxi73FJXJAtR_DXU/s1600/Human+Need+Desire.jpg" -->Robbie Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729231363273981119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728534223721014650.post-25913665485499812952014-09-26T12:07:00.000-04:002014-09-26T12:11:06.262-04:00Seguin Hike 2014<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXW2arXCNyiWAvn6e6hqBEmBrCYFrzRMgLH2gY9C8VzHEFO64uXLDqUunOb0pxRFH4qZiDIe_tSn8oXwW5vqN-5dVfffEWKcwatro0ejq6r2lf-kpcFoDfJfSLEQYiQg5olVprrvFIuk/s1600/Mountain+View.jpg" width="300" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Mountain View, photo
by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/robbie.pruitt">Robbie Pruitt</a></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">To read this full
article in the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/QuisqueyaChristianSchool">Quisqueya
Christian School</a> newsletter, <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2730FU8J2UtNTRtY0VrNGh1Mm1Ua3Z4blhOcUEwQkN2V0Jr/edit?usp=sharing">click
here</a>. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If you would like to financially
support Irene and Robbie’s work in Haiti, please <a href="https://rceinternational.webconnex.com/26902">click here</a>. The need is
there and we appreciate your support. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/QuisqueyaChristianSchool">Quisqueya Christian
School</a> Sr. Class enjoyed their annual hike to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fondation-Seguin/74051914836">Fondation
Seguin</a> this past weekend, September 19<sup>th</sup>-21<sup>st</sup>. It was
a great blessing to join them and to study 'The Faithfulness of the Wisdom of
God'. "Unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power
of God, and the wisdom of God." (1 Corinthians 1:24, ASV).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the weekend we looked at The Seven Marks of a Wise
Person, by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/therealmarkmatlock">Mark Matlock</a>.
We looked at Proverbs, through <a href="http://www.thewisdomdeck.com/">The
Wisdom Deck</a>, and explored the Seven Marks of a Wise Person, which are: 1.
Trusts in God, 2. Walks in Healthy Relationships, 3. Seeks Good Counsel, 4.
Speaks Carefully, 5. Exercises Self-Control, 6. Keeps Balance, and 7. Manages
Resources. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">For more information
on The Seven Marks of a Wise Person, please visit <a href="http://www.thewisdomdeck.com/">www.thewisdomdeck.com</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were 30 of us, 25 students and 5 leaders, on this year’s
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Seguin-Sud-Est-Haiti/112992835394357">Seguin,
Sud-Est, Haiti</a> hike. The hike consisted of two nights and three days. We
hiked to Seguin 10.5 miles on day one with four donkeys assisting us from just
above <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Furcy-Ouest-Haiti/109467982411522">Furcy,
Ouest, Haiti</a>. There was a 2,000-foot cumulative elevation gain over the
course of the hike in. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On day two we did a 5-mile hike to a waterfall, round trip,
and on the return we hiked through a 1.5-mile stretch of creek where we swam
and worked together to get through. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The final day consisted of 2,000 feet of cumulative
elevation gain over 10.5 miles, with 5 donkeys assisting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everyone had a wonderful time and completed the trip safely
with minor muscle aches and scratches, and one minor sprained ankle. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were all amazed at how God showed up during our time
together and will be processing this wonderful time together for years to come.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You may visit the
photo albums for this trip on Facebook here:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Sr. Hike to Seguin, September 19-21 2014: </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/robbie.pruitt/media_set?set=a.10152741637236738.1073741846.514171737&type=3">Day
One</a><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sr. Seguin Trip,
Creek Hike, September 20, 2014: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/robbie.pruitt/media_set?set=a.10152741766251738.1073741850.514171737&type=3">Day
Two</a></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Sr. Hike to Seguin, September 21, 2014: </b><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/robbie.pruitt/media_set?set=a.10152742022841738.1073741852.514171737&type=3">Day
Three</a></b></div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-L-uGCrEt3RU%2FVCWPAkk4mqI%2FAAAAAAAACss%2FAG6_7wGcVNo%2Fs1600%2FMountain%252BView.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXW2arXCNyiWAvn6e6hqBEmBrCYFrzRMgLH2gY9C8VzHEFO64uXLDqUunOb0pxRFH4qZiDIe_tSn8oXwW5vqN-5dVfffEWKcwatro0ejq6r2lf-kpcFoDfJfSLEQYiQg5olVprrvFIuk/s1600/Mountain+View.jpg" -->Robbie Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729231363273981119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728534223721014650.post-45895496982327788372014-09-25T09:00:00.000-04:002014-09-25T09:02:57.942-04:00A review of AND: The Gathered and Scattered Church<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHDsuQ13yKW8SqRx5kyNzw3TSOIE-jQ-jJAaj8Aq7EcBwURN7RHOdS4XhP6DZ0zpRj6mYN3fgLtZk7iKh0F-XkX0u5_ly3OETM41W5xumRUHbTY5A8M7d6lhDyeGN01v99f49CxVNLmY/s1600/AND-+The+Gathered+and+Scattered+Church.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cover photo of AND: The Gathered and
Scattered Church, </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/AND-Gathered-Scattered-Church-Exponential/dp/0310325854/ref=cm_rdp_product">Amazon.com</a></b><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">AND: The Gathered and
Scattered Church</i> is a great follow up to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Tangible-Kingdom-Incarnational-Community/dp/0470580232">Tangible Kingdom</a></i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In their book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/AND-Gathered-Scattered-Church-Exponential/dp/0310325854/ref=cm_rdp_product">AND: TheGathered and Scattered Church</a></i>, Hugh Halter and Matt Smay address the
balance that every church must strike between gathering together and scattering
outward into the world in mission. While the church is supposed to meet
together in corporate fellowship, congregants are also supposed to be
scattered. The church is supposed to be missional and leave the corporate gathering
and fellowship for going out in mission. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Simply put, the church is supposed to both gather and
scatter. The church has left the building. The church is more than a building
that we go to. We are the church, and as the church, we must not only gather
together, but we must also go out into the world in mission.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">AND: The Gathered and
Scattered Church</i> is an excellent book to balance out mission and
fellowship, the gathering and the scattering.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bibliography<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Halter, Hugh and Smay, Matt. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gathered-Scattered-Church-Exponential-ebook/dp/B003E2UPT2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1402792916&sr=8-1&keywords=And">AND: The Gathered and ScatteredChurch</a>. Zondervan, 2010.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-fN7jjGmPnmw%2FVCQRFNFlh7I%2FAAAAAAAACsc%2FZRqZ9HktZyo%2Fs1600%2FAND-%252BThe%252BGathered%252Band%252BScattered%252BChurch.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHDsuQ13yKW8SqRx5kyNzw3TSOIE-jQ-jJAaj8Aq7EcBwURN7RHOdS4XhP6DZ0zpRj6mYN3fgLtZk7iKh0F-XkX0u5_ly3OETM41W5xumRUHbTY5A8M7d6lhDyeGN01v99f49CxVNLmY/s1600/AND-+The+Gathered+and+Scattered+Church.jpg" -->Robbie Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729231363273981119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728534223721014650.post-52436485278145573802014-09-23T22:07:00.000-04:002014-09-23T22:07:09.448-04:00Jesus: The Author and Finisher of Our Faith<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5nEzyW-QKmZmSKLQg7jA9uXJUDe0RVsvs4uEdA59EyjpX5kGNVFQdZcBtNjYFKTWnHNNkQk3eXO1lPjEtMd9GIuKhdB9RH05IFBp69Ipv7g4M8cYr9LDXmt5o3f_xsnS2dCQiSdnAyQ/s1600/LargeRopeCrossPlain.jpg" width="243" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Lariat Rope Cross, <a href="http://jusropenkreations.com/crosses/largeropecross.html">http://jusropenkreations.com/crosses/largeropecross.html</a></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” –<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12:1-3">Hebrews 12:1-3</a>,
NKJV<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Faithfulness is God’s idea. Jesus Himself is the author and
the finisher of our faith. He invented our faith. He sustains our faith. He
finishes our faith. Our faith has its being and its completion in Jesus.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our relationship with Jesus, our faith in Him, as well as
our lives, can be complex and challenging. God calls us to live our lives, to
run the race, with endurance. We are to live our faith looking to Jesus. He
alone will enable us to live out our faith.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is Jesus who is the author of our faith. He has initiated
a relationship with us. As it says in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%204:19&version=NIV">1
John 4:19</a>, “We love, because He first loved us.” God has invented our
faith, He invites us into it, He has crafted it, spoke it into being
poetically, written it out creatively, scripted it and brought it to life through
His dramatization of it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is Jesus who will finish our faith. He will bring our
faith to completion. God finishes what God starts. God is working in us and
will complete His work of faith in us. As Paul said, “I am sure of this, that
he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus
Christ” (<a href="http://biblehub.com/philippians/1-6.htm">Philippians 1:6</a>,
ESV).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prayer:</b> Jesus,
you are the ‘author and perfecter of our faith’. Lord Jesus, it was fitting for
you, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, to bring your children
to glory, as the captain of our salvation, perfectly through your own
sufferings and sacrifice on our behalf. Help us to run this race of faith and life
with your endurance, trusting in you alone to be the finisher of our faith.
Amen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Prayer adapted from Hebrews 12:1-3, NASB, and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+2%3A10&version=NKJV">Hebrews
2:10</a>, NKJV).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you would like to support our work in Haiti, please <a href="https://rceinternational.webconnex.com/26902">click here</a>.</div>
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<img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfanx8dPjsTGIJ6eS9Y2SvVsPzWQDuITzugjOaSzmQiTqcBapsPBMXvSBUsasPDcvzZbxyWlKmX8ZgdFJpG4EZeZYr4Ybmt9kbDL0xjiMCd7gpFtHeK4_yu2vM41h7bRyTWR1JCeFYFns/s1600/st_peter_by_diablana81-d6ukf3t.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Photo of <a href="http://diablana81.deviantart.com/art/St-Peter-414138233">St. Peter</a>,
Artwork <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">by <a href="http://diablana81.deviantart.com/">diablana81</a></span> </b></div>
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God is worthy of our obedience. We should be more concerned
about obeying Christ than we are about obeying, or pleasing, the people around
us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Scripture:</b> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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"But Peter and the other apostles answered and said:
'We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus
whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand
to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom
God has given to those who obey Him.'” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-Acts
5:29-32, NKJV<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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God’s commitment to us demands our unbridled obedience.
Jesus has given Himself completely for us on the cross. God raised Christ from
the dead and has defeated sin and death on our behalf. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Because of what Jesus has done, we can have Him as Lord and
Savior of our lives. In Him we have the ability to turn from our old ways of living.
We have forgiveness of our sins. God gives us this and His very presence and
assurance in His Holy Spirit. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reflection Questions:
<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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In what ways do you find yourself obeying man, rather than
God?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How have you experienced Jesus as Prince and Savior? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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How has Jesus given you repentance and forgiveness of sins?
In what ways do you need these things?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How has God's Spirit bore witness to these things in your
life?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prayer:</b><br />
<br />
“Almighty and eternal God, draw our hearts to you, guide our
minds, fill our imaginations, control our wills, that we may be completely yours,
utterly dedicated to you; and then use us, we pray, as you will, and always to your
glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.” (Adapted from <a href="http://www.bcponline.org/">The Book of Common Prayer</a>, p. 832)</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Your Jesus GPS: Find Direction, Personal Growth, Inner Peace and Joy</i>, </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">by </b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/fred.apelquist.9?fref=ts"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fred Apelquist</b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, cover photo from </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Your-Jesus-GPS-Direction-Personal-ebook/dp/B00MJDCYS2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1407718126&sr=1-1&keywords=your+jesus+gps"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Amazon.com</b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Your Jesus GPS: Find
Direction, Personal Growth, Inner Peace and Joy</i>, by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fred.apelquist.9?fref=ts">Fred Apelquist</a>, is
a fantastic primer for anyone looking to get a big picture of Jesus’ teachings
and miracles throughout the New Testament. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Your-Jesus-GPS-Direction-Personal-ebook/dp/B00MJDCYS2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407700675&sr=8-1&keywords=jesus+gps"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Your Jesus GPS</i></a>, Apelquist has
synthesized the major Biblical accounts of Jesus’ teachings and miracles and
has given references to where those major accounts can be found everywhere they
occur in the New Testament. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The book’s short description captures the essence of what
the author has accomplished in this work: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Whether or not you
know who Jesus is and what He said, “Your Jesus GPS” will acquaint you with the
messages and miracles, and more. Written not only as a Guidebook but also as a
personal testimony, this work catalogs all of Jesus’ major works and words and
allows the reader – and student – to pursue the matter further, if desired. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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This book is helpful in organizing the teachings and
miracles of Jesus and looking at the big picture of the New Testament
scriptures, especially the four gospels. This is a particularly helpful tool
and resource for Bible teachers, Sunday school teachers, home school parents,
first time Bible readers and experienced Bible students alike. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Your Jesus GPS</i>
accomplishes its purpose “to provide information, prompt introspection, and
encourage action.” After reading this book, the reader truly will find further
“direction, personal growth, inner peace and joy.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Your Jesus GPS: Find
Direction, Personal Growth, Inner Peace and Joy</i>, by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fred.apelquist.9?fref=ts">Fred Apelquist</a>,
comes highly recommended. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Purchase your copy of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Your
Jesus GPS</i> from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Your-Jesus-GPS-Direction-Personal-ebook/dp/B00MJDCYS2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1407718126&sr=1-1&keywords=your+jesus+gps">Amazon.com
here</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Purchase your copy of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Your
Jesus GPS</i> from <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/465776">Smashwords.com
here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bibliography <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Apelquist, Fred. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Your
Jesus GPS: Find Direction, Personal Growth, Inner Peace and Joy</i>, Amazon
Kindle Edition, © 2014<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/products/B00MJDCYS2?analytics=%7B%22card%22%3A%22Review%22%7D&event_context=%7B%22category%22%3A%22Profile%22%2C%22event_name%22%3A%22ViewedProduct%22%7D&ref=pdp_new_dp_review">http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/products/B00MJDCYS2?analytics=%7B%22card%22%3A%22Review%22%7D&event_context=%7B%22category%22%3A%22Profile%22%2C%22event_name%22%3A%22ViewedProduct%22%7D&ref=pdp_new_dp_review</a></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRe-Z2cJ5uQffEj7r5einqhAD_mzTGjV5YUNJUJCbY7sJF_40eeVxxAH940gpGGhq7FXHdb9PgpDhnq8wOIqfslIMCVxPkNv6-PPOO08qWErVPs1oP-cuSBHItffPjdQvi4gtir3NsA4/s1600/800px-White_Plains.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">White Plains, photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:White_Plains.jpg">from Wikimedia</a><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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We had our first discipleship groups of the year last week
at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/QuisqueyaChristianSchool">Quisqueya
Christian School</a>. I have six 9th grade guys and had another 5 students from
another discipleship group whose leader was absent. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We talked about some verses in Jude and I asked them to give
one word, any word, which describes their relationship with Jesus right now. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“What is one word you would use to describe your
relationship with Jesus right now?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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This was our passage from Jude: "<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you</b>. . . I found it
necessary to write to you <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">exhorting you
to</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">contend earnestly for the faith</b>
which was once for all delivered to the saints." –<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1">Jude 2-3</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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The word I used to describe my relationship with Jesus right
now was plain. Here are some synonyms for plain: normal, basic, bare, or ordinary.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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I chose the word <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">plain</b>
to describe my relationship with Jesus right now, because, honestly, my
relationship with God seems sort of normal or basic. At times, my relationship
with God can even seem bare or ordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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As a noun, a plain can be “a flat expanse of land.” “Flat
expanse of land” also captures the emotion of the word plain, as well as my
relationship with the Lord. The mountains are visible in the distance and there
I stand “on the plain”, in the great expanse of it all.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When I posed this “one word” question later on to folks on
Facebook, these were some of the words that were used: argumentative,
inspiring, accelerating, growing, engaging, connected, humbling, directing,
calming, clinging, comforting, seeking, healing, reflecting, awesome, and
sustaining. <o:p></o:p></div>
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What is one word you would use to describe your relationship
with Jesus right now?<br />
<br />
If you would like to support our work of discipleship in
Haiti, <a href="https://rceinternational.webconnex.com/26902">please click here</a>.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHxq69a0InSYBtXxLNg_gfReggGUEQ4tRsHtUK3Cvxwd1jX0BPHirLpFM1SoajudyC57LHAYhFHZkhfoVkDGCl7b-byukO8USUq2Z4Q0bQi04mq2gn2khEGzXWntYtOmfQjj_r9h96qs/s1600/Church+3.0.jpg" width="273" />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cover photo of Church 3.0, by Neil
Cole, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Church-3-0-Upgrades-Jossey-Bass-Leadership-ebook/dp/B00362XKYC/ref=tmm_kin_title_0">from Amazon.com</a><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Church 3.0</i> is a
natural follow up to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Organic Church</i>
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Organic Leadership</i>, by Neil Cole.
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Church-3-0-Upgrades-Jossey-Bass-Leadership-ebook/dp/B00362XKYC/ref=tmm_kin_title_0"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Church 3.0</i></a> focuses on releasing
healthy church movements and gives us some practical applications and insights
to help us actually function within the Organic Church Movement. We must move
away from the old way to a new mindset of how to function as the global church,
and the church missional, without the hang-ups of church buildings and
programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Neil Cole emphasizes that we must get out of our comfortable
and insular infrastructure and reach out in mission in the world. Programs and
centralized locations with the expectation that people will come to a church
building simply will not work in this present and shifting culture. Cole
emphasizes this when he says, “We are going to have to get out of our buildings
and meet people where they live.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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What is most helpful in Cole’s book is the expansion of his
thoughts and ideas from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Organic Church</i>
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Organic Leadership</i>. Both of these
books have been very helpful in rethinking how we do church, ministry and
mission in the world. Cole elaborates on practical ways to simplify church from
the program driven “mega church” models, and the programmatic church models, to
smaller, simpler, organic church models that are streamlined and more effective
in reaching the world for Christ and in meeting real needs with practical,
helpful and real ministry. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Neil Cole spends significant time, and rightfully so,
unpacking the value of smaller groups of people in missional community. Larger
groups are cumbersome and bottleneck ministry in complexity and bureaucracy.
Smaller and decentralized groups of people are simpler and more functional in
accomplishing God’s mission and will in the world to usher in His Kingdom here
on earth. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As groups grow and numbers increase, intimacy and depth of
growth diminish. Cole states that discipleship happens and is more effective in
smaller groups. He states that we “have exchanged the role of a shepherd to the
role of a rancher.” In other words, we have moved from an intimate and
nurturing discipleship, that of a shepherd, to a large-scale mass production
model of discipleship, which looks more like a “rancher style” leadership than
a “shepherding style” of leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This larger scale does not work effectively and does not produce
disciples with the same effectiveness as a smaller and more intimate scale. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Cole’s book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Church 3.0</i>
also addresses the issue of leadership authority in missional communities. With
the decentralization of the church comes a decentralization of leadership as
well. Jesus is the ultimate head and leader of the church, while other
leadership roles and responsibilities work together without any one person in
charge. This issue of authority in missional communities, or “Organic Church,”
is probably one of the most complex issues to navigate. While Cole attempts to
address this issue, one may leave his work less than satisfied as it relates to
this issue of authority and leadership in missional communities. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Church 3.0</i> is an
enjoyable, insightful and helpful book to read when looking to understand
“Organic Church.” This is a must read for anyone starting out in church
planting or beginning missional communities.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bibliography <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cole, Neil.
Church 3.0. Jossey-Bass, 2010.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Church-3-0-Upgrades-Jossey-Bass-Leadership-ebook/dp/B00362XKYC/ref=tmm_kin_title_0">http://www.amazon.com/Church-3-0-Upgrades-Jossey-Bass-Leadership-ebook/dp/B00362XKYC/ref=tmm_kin_title_0</a></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1S5b2cTc3VaBXxy6u5J6NBoCQYaN2WRZsCh8ge2UBEujJNMQNddzyDCAFO3eMrEpcLShskobn0LHp1iwBufp-uR_4hWhOsazLusY1m4WIyf9ATrzBPf_PIGcoLQgz06P86zfq6ndv8NE/s1600/Get+Off+Your+Donkey.jpg" width="256" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Cover Photo of Get Off Your Donkey from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Get-Off-Your-Donkey-Somebody/dp/0801014972">Amazon.com</a></b></div>
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“He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and
wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took
care of him.” –Luke 10:34<o:p></o:p></div>
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“The moral of the [Good Samaritan] story is that you have to
get off your donkey to help somebody.” —Reggie McNeal <o:p></o:p></div>
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There is an old saying, which you may have heard, it goes
something like this, “You should do what you can, not what you cannot.” The
point is simple, there are some things that we can do to make a difference and
these are the endeavors that we should focus our time and attention on, instead
of placing our focus and energies on what we cannot do. There are actions we
can take in the contexts of our lives to make a real difference in the world to
help others and to love our neighbors.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Reggie McNeal highlights this idea of making a difference
where you are in his book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Get-Off-Your-Donkey-Somebody-ebook/dp/B00AFWM4PW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1402888521&sr=8-1&keywords=get+off+your+donkey"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Get Off Your Donkey</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">!: Help Somebody and Help Yourself</i>. In
this book McNeal highlights the reality that we are all, ultimately, in the
people business, especially if we are in church ministry and leadership. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In his introduction McNeal highlights this issue, “I’m
trying to help them [church leaders] get out of the church business and into
the people business” (McNeal, p. 14). Like the priest and the Levite in the parable
of the Good Samaritan, too often the church “has passed by on the other side of
the road when we should be the ones showing the way” (McNeal, p. 15). <o:p></o:p></div>
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Oftentimes we can get trapped in over analysis and in
paralysis concerning all of the need and brokenness surrounding us in the
world. The needs and the problems around us are great, but we cannot afford to
allow these to bring us to inaction, depression or fatigue. McNeal encourages
his readers with the following, “We can’t afford to let this negative vibe
paralyze us into inactivity while people are bleeding out all around us” (McNeal,
p. 23). We must take action and help our neighbors. There is plenty we can do
to make a difference in our world.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We must be the church in the world and not just be on our
way to a church building with all of our religious activities, neglecting our
neighbor who is beaten and bloody on the roadside. McNeal says it this way, “The
problem is, religious activity is still getting in the way of our being good
neighbors” (p. 38). <o:p></o:p></div>
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As the church, we must move away from religious piety and
toward a Biblical model of discipleship. According to the book, “The litmus
test of discipleship is ‘follow-ship’! Are we doing what Jesus commanded, or
are we just really good at recalling his commands?” (p. 39). We cannot be all
talk in our service to the Lord and His church. We must put our faith into
practice and get off of our donkeys. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Get-Off-Your-Donkey-Somebody-ebook/dp/B00AFWM4PW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1402888521&sr=8-1&keywords=get+off+your+donkey"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Get Off Your Donkey</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">!: Help Somebody and Help Yourself </i>is an
excellent book to light a fire under an often apathetic, complacent and lazy
church. Church leaders of every level and church members, and laity at every
level, should read this book. The church could use a good kick in the donkey to
get us back to our mission in the world.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bibliography <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
McNeal, Reggie (2013-02-01). Get Off Your Donkey!: Help
Somebody and Help Yourself (p. 13). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOerQYZTAeOkWoU498pT0rySJV195sqkytAS2JbJw98tgPjDi2BYj5A5Wq89F5-yX0yXZJ8VRCWkHdPounY9pjJuf3ZdB8LhpGTuSQaZ_Cxo6C_G6WkxgcJ_x-vpL_pgVmVmUBG0cAsgU/s1600/The+Present+Future+Cover.jpg" width="272" />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cover Photo of The Present Future: </b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Six Tough Questions for the Church, <a href="http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B002AWX684/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0">from Amazon.com</a><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Reggie McNeal’s book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B002AWX684/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0">The
Present Future</a>: Six Tough Questions for the Church,</i> addresses the need
for the church to move from program driven buildings and bureaucracy back to
missional service and disciple making.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In this book, McNeal looks at how the church has been
inwardly focused and more like a “club” with a “club mentality”, seeking its
own good and interests above the mission of reaching the unsaved and those who
are “outside the club.” The local church has become something that is
antiquated and far removed from its life giving vitality of mission and service
toward dead ritualistic programs and facilities. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It has been said that the church is the only organization
that exists for its non-members. McNeal asserts, in so many words, that this is
no longer the case concerning the church in North America. We, the church, have
become more inwardly focused and have done less and less for those who we
should be reaching out to in selfless service, evangelism and discipleship. As
the church, we must move away from the “country club” mindset and move back
toward our mission—people. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The future of the church lies in the present. The old ways
no longer work for a new generation with a differing culture and a diversity of
need. Old models of ministry and church are ceasing to function and work as
they once did. New methods of relationships and decentralization must be put
into action. Disciples must be made and leadership must be developed and sent
out. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The church is not something we go to, the church is who we
are in the world. We must move from an attractional model of church buildings
and programs, with the idea of “if we build it, they will come” and move toward
being a people who integrate our faith into our work and into every area of our
lives. We must be the church in “the present future.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B002AWX684/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0">The
Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church</a></i>, Reggie McNeal
addresses six serious topics, which include the following: The church culture,
as we know it, is over; we must move from church growth models to kingdom growth
thinking and initiative; a new reformation will begin once the church releases
equipped people into the world for mission; spiritual formation and development
must be at the heartbeat of the church; church leaders must move from planning
to preparation so they will be equipped for every good work; and finally,
church leaders need to be trained and equipped, not to do programing, but to do
mission, and to be missional, as sent people into the world. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Present Future</i>
is an excellent book for anyone in church and ministry leadership. This book is
relevant in addressing real concerns with the current state of the church and
is motivational and inspirational in addressing real issues with real solutions
of mission and focus. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bibliography</b><br />
<br />
McNeal, Reggie. The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for
the Church. Jossey-Bass, 2003.</div>
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<b>Guest Post by Irene Pruitt: <a href="http://ourlifewithalittlegrace.blogspot.com/">http://ourlifewithalittlegrace.blogspot.com </a></b></div>
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At Quisqueya Christian School, all of the 7th-12th graders are in weekly discipleship groups with teachers or other adults. Robbie and I, along with two other teachers, have had the opportunity to lead groups of 12th graders this year, and had our final meetings with them earlier this week.<br /><br />The girls in my group have been wonderful this year. Even though they didn't know each other very well at the beginning, they really bonded together as a group over the course of the last several months. We've had great discussions about lots of different topics--relationships, making decisions, the future, college, faith, boys, and ethics, to name a few. They have supported each other through friendship, prayer, and laughter. It has been such a blessing to me to watch them grow this year, and I am so excited to see how that growth continues over the next few years of their lives. One of the girls in my group said something like, "Miss, you don't have to worry about us when we go to college. We're not going to go off the path and go crazy. We know the Bible. Quisqueya has really prepared us. We'll be okay." And you know, I think she's right.<br /><br /> To celebrate the year of discipleship with the Seniors, all four groups went out for pizza and ice-cream this week to the fast-food place just down the street. We enjoyed spending the time together with this special class that we've grown so fond of over the last few years. May God continue to bless them and draw them toward himself as they transition to life after high school.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoK8wxpCFRvgdR7PmvVRcuNjxTqlGdXEDgzAuzL2yQiFtM2JZZlTTOotbqkciuyTmQXlJ6POdIrEb4eWKU-xQDCdrUXFwD9pcApLrrSSKTtPdhF5Q7JjTxkCZu8-rB9dvP3uYjUWD7g/s1600/014.JPG"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoK8wxpCFRvgdR7PmvVRcuNjxTqlGdXEDgzAuzL2yQiFtM2JZZlTTOotbqkciuyTmQXlJ6POdIrEb4eWKU-xQDCdrUXFwD9pcApLrrSSKTtPdhF5Q7JjTxkCZu8-rB9dvP3uYjUWD7g/s1600/014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />:: One of the students blesses the food. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgwlHx_kNB69j8bDGdk2cRl3GuDLTp5ccWV3HrYIAQGYyzyaLV8usTRhxLtZs-LSWkXpdKMxXOjv1vBBfVUII1xGEbzV1AYWXgwJOOEee_YYh5G5R-0rXdnxHjSSO_ljB4omDTxX69g/s1600/019.JPG"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgwlHx_kNB69j8bDGdk2cRl3GuDLTp5ccWV3HrYIAQGYyzyaLV8usTRhxLtZs-LSWkXpdKMxXOjv1vBBfVUII1xGEbzV1AYWXgwJOOEee_YYh5G5R-0rXdnxHjSSO_ljB4omDTxX69g/s1600/019.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMBdMNb0LHcs2a6Rols2o38ucjuaXLYcLm6QjCQQ6QkJ2AlGb-jkrp0ECnG4AFaM4z4vdvMLQE7ougdZYavi59pBujpfFON9PkkM7riarQ66cbfkS5Ylb7zYjdkbJSUMHAEDk4z9p6g/s1600/018.JPG"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMBdMNb0LHcs2a6Rols2o38ucjuaXLYcLm6QjCQQ6QkJ2AlGb-jkrp0ECnG4AFaM4z4vdvMLQE7ougdZYavi59pBujpfFON9PkkM7riarQ66cbfkS5Ylb7zYjdkbJSUMHAEDk4z9p6g/s1600/018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxr_Pl92zc0VvuxNzlouf-Hc2bcmrUa-1aLqGFi9lje9qE2nfet3jExGj-pxBwC9le2KNe7txowF2Ho4dhIIY8pHDKATdp5-jxy35wPRrUHs9o95jIGEXidmtzM0xbv1-yk6DrOMtxvg/s1600/015.JPG"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxr_Pl92zc0VvuxNzlouf-Hc2bcmrUa-1aLqGFi9lje9qE2nfet3jExGj-pxBwC9le2KNe7txowF2Ho4dhIIY8pHDKATdp5-jxy35wPRrUHs9o95jIGEXidmtzM0xbv1-yk6DrOMtxvg/s1600/015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWYNw_ys45XnkMgnuXtQJYTW_XtYntB7DvjHxYe_XRH9iHBcjgdw5N0Ijs4isQk3Gp-izhWStbR1UBLFZJSI6Gqy8vY2encdi01EN_OmbHp7dB0vy7Ey9l1T2i9iEHteoJjkNcvK_zg/s1600/003.JPG"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWYNw_ys45XnkMgnuXtQJYTW_XtYntB7DvjHxYe_XRH9iHBcjgdw5N0Ijs4isQk3Gp-izhWStbR1UBLFZJSI6Gqy8vY2encdi01EN_OmbHp7dB0vy7Ey9l1T2i9iEHteoJjkNcvK_zg/s1600/003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />:: Who needs Ronald McDonald when you have this guy? <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiP3HR4mNi3sp2o0uDrp5HbOlBtdA5JX6Df_kQb-_QEJ4z1GO7NfM9Z1i0Pd2GRyn6NS93VpVrrKXRHVLsvvIo4i7NUoMSABQg1Ow1OwHDwFEZN3cioov_NR5jY_j5u8p2T4ikStmUw/s1600/022.JPG"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiP3HR4mNi3sp2o0uDrp5HbOlBtdA5JX6Df_kQb-_QEJ4z1GO7NfM9Z1i0Pd2GRyn6NS93VpVrrKXRHVLsvvIo4i7NUoMSABQg1Ow1OwHDwFEZN3cioov_NR5jY_j5u8p2T4ikStmUw/s1600/022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyWdkt5kuPMKX8w-10GcuX3tHq6F5vdbFjZFa5lCiq_f369xkk-SS6vCQuuLXXQLSrr4ROaLn-eex5gWC2LPqMGhP9jOnZBEr_IipanY_hULhbcKBbldVGYogTrrAeLZOy6ZfqKDO-w/s1600/025.JPG"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyWdkt5kuPMKX8w-10GcuX3tHq6F5vdbFjZFa5lCiq_f369xkk-SS6vCQuuLXXQLSrr4ROaLn-eex5gWC2LPqMGhP9jOnZBEr_IipanY_hULhbcKBbldVGYogTrrAeLZOy6ZfqKDO-w/s1600/025.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />:: A few of the girls in my group. I'll miss them! <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3DDePi2JvhW0WQ9veN0aZn4xAIpLlH5SXxUaVG7oUw2gVls0bzWP6kn_pUPA8_lW3iZ8rHt0TXaBX2H1N6WVIol29LV61zwTJkTuAulkin7sPoIPa5ueLqpwmvspXLspHuv7D1k54A/s1600/008.JPG"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3DDePi2JvhW0WQ9veN0aZn4xAIpLlH5SXxUaVG7oUw2gVls0bzWP6kn_pUPA8_lW3iZ8rHt0TXaBX2H1N6WVIol29LV61zwTJkTuAulkin7sPoIPa5ueLqpwmvspXLspHuv7D1k54A/s1600/008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2MatwoyuCTCjtVDyqf6XEK4FwIkOpEdaumFTrAu3coVRQywNYkz7tFdpcmyAQStQ0arOup5vVgPopnJChx9Em9edFqusqAGe4Q-HSOp3K7DQlXW67PEgYdpKQx73FanjVokV3W3qjA/s1600/002.JPG"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2MatwoyuCTCjtVDyqf6XEK4FwIkOpEdaumFTrAu3coVRQywNYkz7tFdpcmyAQStQ0arOup5vVgPopnJChx9Em9edFqusqAGe4Q-HSOp3K7DQlXW67PEgYdpKQx73FanjVokV3W3qjA/s1600/002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR121P8FDPB2KHalm2xuNVGJlzTIaWH22qbq4lrVfgg30J7ePOdKY-jzWFK_Msu39M6iFFTIKQ42qtT7-Rmuo-soPZ_8T0_IQ2oZ1cPM9XiMDwicYjCdckH23_wQCfVPJ_EuYc4bfEuA/s1600/001.JPG"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR121P8FDPB2KHalm2xuNVGJlzTIaWH22qbq4lrVfgg30J7ePOdKY-jzWFK_Msu39M6iFFTIKQ42qtT7-Rmuo-soPZ_8T0_IQ2oZ1cPM9XiMDwicYjCdckH23_wQCfVPJ_EuYc4bfEuA/s1600/001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY42diuV8SGfTeZ-6kUY6dB2zBgTX1wHWeMeYptTq2H2gl1NGHbNJF7L2Qu3cdJO1MiberYvDFoxQvi7QvXQYQbBI1HbWiCsL4nhZVHSJNVgMoQm7c3bgDlNU-b65syo0MxhwDVKRzyQ/s1600/024.JPG"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY42diuV8SGfTeZ-6kUY6dB2zBgTX1wHWeMeYptTq2H2gl1NGHbNJF7L2Qu3cdJO1MiberYvDFoxQvi7QvXQYQbBI1HbWiCsL4nhZVHSJNVgMoQm7c3bgDlNU-b65syo0MxhwDVKRzyQ/s1600/024.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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