tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84425103471076564872024-02-18T20:44:15.952-08:00Stephens Family NC...walking by faith, not by sightStephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-42356382742369270222022-06-26T22:11:00.003-07:002022-06-26T22:14:58.760-07:00Greg the Preacher - Ministry Thank You - June 2022<p></p><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b> </b><b>Thank You to ALL our Supporters & Prayer Partners! </b></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkP_ZNWvxtMGBRh7T2ZgRGyh6hjlCkip12D3zhcamD74_X29Br0D160E3qjTAaBNv04Y-fUBM-MdxP72uZF4SiEnV7AIXHZyZm9M5ozqshDqJDURmccGUgwHZlGv8GPsOne2jCqjB0QtQ0fHXXTO7nLcys8HWUVfOkO3emXftSDBmZOBBPm48EPaT/s1650/June%202022%20Thank%20You.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1275" height="545" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkP_ZNWvxtMGBRh7T2ZgRGyh6hjlCkip12D3zhcamD74_X29Br0D160E3qjTAaBNv04Y-fUBM-MdxP72uZF4SiEnV7AIXHZyZm9M5ozqshDqJDURmccGUgwHZlGv8GPsOne2jCqjB0QtQ0fHXXTO7nLcys8HWUVfOkO3emXftSDBmZOBBPm48EPaT/w421-h545/June%202022%20Thank%20You.jpg" width="421" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-51923817796160428002022-03-02T23:51:00.004-08:002022-03-02T23:51:30.290-08:00Glory Stories from the Pro-Life Sidewalk 2021<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">"Publish His glorious acts throughout the Earth.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Tell everyone about the amazing things He does!" </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">-Psalm 96:3</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEyG7A4Q7naVvFai-36jBZzcnTzn1qEeIep4dt3FhTblowSO0uj7yPSF32hrX0dMQNNx8_prXxUp6zMafc_xEwicJp56a7x8nkQtoagTYFLiS0mE0Mmh27qq-ULvnmhV1J4WZlfldlJ3w7vJ_gS-A1dEGIlno8SjWSrIpcWn4G7c5K-sTO2e7GYDQt=s770" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="595" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEyG7A4Q7naVvFai-36jBZzcnTzn1qEeIep4dt3FhTblowSO0uj7yPSF32hrX0dMQNNx8_prXxUp6zMafc_xEwicJp56a7x8nkQtoagTYFLiS0mE0Mmh27qq-ULvnmhV1J4WZlfldlJ3w7vJ_gS-A1dEGIlno8SjWSrIpcWn4G7c5K-sTO2e7GYDQt=w410-h532" width="410" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnIIn0mq7G1Z-eVQWsMVE4ACdi8nfOwyrOgNbnzg0KkC95FzHmsf9c7jXRSjHnfAjMRfQHIxug0QJHrNwYuelEESuwgLLd4u2VNDbtfZvjNfNzX8dNszKcdS3m0JEU2ERNXzFPunuWmRd-tx-x49HSwyCZiLEdX4czag3UFnaR62swGFVzcpTR6tn4=s770" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="595" height="531" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnIIn0mq7G1Z-eVQWsMVE4ACdi8nfOwyrOgNbnzg0KkC95FzHmsf9c7jXRSjHnfAjMRfQHIxug0QJHrNwYuelEESuwgLLd4u2VNDbtfZvjNfNzX8dNszKcdS3m0JEU2ERNXzFPunuWmRd-tx-x49HSwyCZiLEdX4czag3UFnaR62swGFVzcpTR6tn4=w410-h531" width="410" /></a></div><p></p>StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-73001339024715007102022-03-02T23:23:00.003-08:002022-03-02T23:31:32.306-08:00GregThePreacher - Newsletter October 2021<b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>The 5- E's of Pro-Life Sidewalk Ministry:</u></span></b><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>1-Encourage </i>moms to choose LIFE</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2-<i>Evangelize </i>the lost with the Gospel</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">3-<i>Educate </i>the Culture about abortion</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">4-<i>Equip </i>each other to better serve God</span></b><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">5-<i>Enlist </i>others in the battle to save lives</span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMOA82zXTlbCCUq7XyD0b8wyeX8w0L2VRuFuKGowNOxE8rCndFfDBJ50i0DSQ15PDDrvjhnwrFP4ArLEy3K5LEPJuFgM25nT-U-oUQZhVYeK7sIcwABokljHLRz_5hqvTzjmlYVYDl-4guJQkoLX0U-fYATXs5VofS3Qq4FAxIAkb0Fo2OPbRpyQyh=s1650" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1275" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMOA82zXTlbCCUq7XyD0b8wyeX8w0L2VRuFuKGowNOxE8rCndFfDBJ50i0DSQ15PDDrvjhnwrFP4ArLEy3K5LEPJuFgM25nT-U-oUQZhVYeK7sIcwABokljHLRz_5hqvTzjmlYVYDl-4guJQkoLX0U-fYATXs5VofS3Qq4FAxIAkb0Fo2OPbRpyQyh=w383-h496" width="383" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiVdd5834vT0HTqHI252TOzPfL01l3DYauq5t4i7hne6D8pqTANDH55fwbgvlt7J0zOKy0-CSv14qHGfKiXauDKxK7j1KIU1DaGDBCyw8bJSeZZgajwq8qDjSdN596eC4metX5UZSNPLREHJsRvEm_znYrxw5X87j70Fg3E9ZpXFE__Jhm9ahWlKyj=s770" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0GYxjxySPT5m5OJHVHcO01VVHJ_n6niJlRpQr6rvhUnx-PdoS4tTQ0aoDBrMW-2Q0_h8KICxi4MTbKqK2m9LU6wdZcAA0Ypqld3f7AZEEKFWullfYwYwgOuPJ3Es6ObU6KLs2sydY0F_CmtKZoc96YC4Ox0YHGG4IKgubskJu_nQTXfGIGbIAky0q=s1650" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1275" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0GYxjxySPT5m5OJHVHcO01VVHJ_n6niJlRpQr6rvhUnx-PdoS4tTQ0aoDBrMW-2Q0_h8KICxi4MTbKqK2m9LU6wdZcAA0Ypqld3f7AZEEKFWullfYwYwgOuPJ3Es6ObU6KLs2sydY0F_CmtKZoc96YC4Ox0YHGG4IKgubskJu_nQTXfGIGbIAky0q=w371-h479" width="371" /></a></div><p></p></div></div>StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-90059383430111827262022-03-02T23:08:00.000-08:002022-03-02T23:08:03.445-08:00GregThePreacher - Newsletter 2020 - January 2021<p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>"Every Sidewalk Missionary is an Essential Worker <br /></b><b>bringing Urgent Care to Pregnant Moms <br /></b><b>and Unborn Babies in their time of need."</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7SVXuq_G-2rCn_IcBxonXkbgE72wthskzGXU1tzn7Bj7YdFTNQKs1pKBtR5c_Kw59hcco1eZIcNfha9Vqx7E9CW323kPt69YHSKa9ltQ7EdRwNMYRardqKHQC3EwZUv8u6vd-93g_QWifyLFsO0hLRCBmLvgXJc1o2fuOZn03G36T5qaVpVbN5FfP=s770" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="595" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7SVXuq_G-2rCn_IcBxonXkbgE72wthskzGXU1tzn7Bj7YdFTNQKs1pKBtR5c_Kw59hcco1eZIcNfha9Vqx7E9CW323kPt69YHSKa9ltQ7EdRwNMYRardqKHQC3EwZUv8u6vd-93g_QWifyLFsO0hLRCBmLvgXJc1o2fuOZn03G36T5qaVpVbN5FfP=w405-h526" width="405" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7YOSfMpkB0yC61He0PHsyNxK_fhDIN2esZicyRVg9QxTi42XHKUws_5311g1Y6xNhiGZpd8WnstQPyD4GYYTIoCn77CKuAKGUP0CiF_uG79a9HqhCOjLyGHYGtr51JNwfoEN_pHHsyot0ZOci1jwvZQtvfKqUJtfhFl6LD20C-3wqQl4zHiFCXWdW=s770" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="595" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7YOSfMpkB0yC61He0PHsyNxK_fhDIN2esZicyRVg9QxTi42XHKUws_5311g1Y6xNhiGZpd8WnstQPyD4GYYTIoCn77CKuAKGUP0CiF_uG79a9HqhCOjLyGHYGtr51JNwfoEN_pHHsyot0ZOci1jwvZQtvfKqUJtfhFl6LD20C-3wqQl4zHiFCXWdW=w398-h516" width="398" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmVrsPz_S7S7K9ENv44nd16AoC0TEAQQ01iACJ23gnVcfrbgFeVt7r4M2JYAs8B4o1_PIAW_jgVmaYsp1lPG8FapnSVIXSLb4kkdOCt-25b_XCL8ZAlmOwDSj-RGiVlf6ALrkIQhkzT7hePE2X0lx438aigd6q6f_sYBxk9r24MGNo3ZPxDQQ6luq9=s770" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="595" height="507" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmVrsPz_S7S7K9ENv44nd16AoC0TEAQQ01iACJ23gnVcfrbgFeVt7r4M2JYAs8B4o1_PIAW_jgVmaYsp1lPG8FapnSVIXSLb4kkdOCt-25b_XCL8ZAlmOwDSj-RGiVlf6ALrkIQhkzT7hePE2X0lx438aigd6q6f_sYBxk9r24MGNo3ZPxDQQ6luq9=w391-h507" width="391" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi74eVzlMcbQVE5FIIqmDrakYvoRTIJm77UYKpGOsitwT4f_Z8Sv-gwOQIvi6pkDPYcYDfmG2njQ9aNbZHxX7MIcS7OjU-JHVvZVWEGvx4K2DyE23dPSblForW7z6eHyBYY-UUFQltW1x_Ea89MTswNj3ReAiZFLq3Xa_ELU_Z5Szumq474H26j-hpV=s770" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="595" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi74eVzlMcbQVE5FIIqmDrakYvoRTIJm77UYKpGOsitwT4f_Z8Sv-gwOQIvi6pkDPYcYDfmG2njQ9aNbZHxX7MIcS7OjU-JHVvZVWEGvx4K2DyE23dPSblForW7z6eHyBYY-UUFQltW1x_Ea89MTswNj3ReAiZFLq3Xa_ELU_Z5Szumq474H26j-hpV=w389-h504" width="389" /></a></div><p></p>StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-40009897016738187952022-03-02T22:58:00.002-08:002022-03-02T23:42:52.129-08:00GregThePreacher - Newsletter December 2019<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">"An-Amazing Grace!</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus is the only Superhero</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Who died for the villains."</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5I_Z6ppGgUF0Es7rK_jcX0lMp--Eks0Ip0X6-Hnq_3DbUdsvCV3CglhwFbSK7pm4ZNBz4PFPl0gPeyqA-BCRrQQlY0G0udt3bo8yILDLSmkzAuLZme1zO_d2pN7HD9S1PcH-vM2L_XLVEfquPBFDNO5q9UVkh844vGffkR3BpG_b0DfLAu9Ca5FSc=s770" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="595" height="507" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5I_Z6ppGgUF0Es7rK_jcX0lMp--Eks0Ip0X6-Hnq_3DbUdsvCV3CglhwFbSK7pm4ZNBz4PFPl0gPeyqA-BCRrQQlY0G0udt3bo8yILDLSmkzAuLZme1zO_d2pN7HD9S1PcH-vM2L_XLVEfquPBFDNO5q9UVkh844vGffkR3BpG_b0DfLAu9Ca5FSc=w391-h507" width="391" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzN10jByLpeQV-osVm6C4OVk-uZVVRUohpZPbiJT1eueT0gB9ATeJ8aCa8Q7Y1B2bDRa4eQM0OpcNMP0B0TNbsYYApGnvjUWoia41YQ9ghhoXBZnihopElMmt2Ps8GpjIj5La1GWejyOA-cS0NGZZm_f5U22YswX41yd-jkb5AgDgzF-df0cT3iH6t=s770" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="595" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzN10jByLpeQV-osVm6C4OVk-uZVVRUohpZPbiJT1eueT0gB9ATeJ8aCa8Q7Y1B2bDRa4eQM0OpcNMP0B0TNbsYYApGnvjUWoia41YQ9ghhoXBZnihopElMmt2Ps8GpjIj5La1GWejyOA-cS0NGZZm_f5U22YswX41yd-jkb5AgDgzF-df0cT3iH6t=w386-h500" width="386" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIpJc08KwQhK9u-XxIV6cfGCEE84u1XvvgWmnLIDVuWC3OjC4Fq3rbfXX-nyIrCfey55oq5LOO5N0k8o9meJOfq7j4jzfLTB8ID8uFmUbw559JG-tLeOa76SU4WFbmhKIeLHNHxkQAmgY2bP9WxGmKrk7JTf4_jzDm--6XV8hFaYiNA-TZe9EmDPDM=s770" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="595" height="485" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIpJc08KwQhK9u-XxIV6cfGCEE84u1XvvgWmnLIDVuWC3OjC4Fq3rbfXX-nyIrCfey55oq5LOO5N0k8o9meJOfq7j4jzfLTB8ID8uFmUbw559JG-tLeOa76SU4WFbmhKIeLHNHxkQAmgY2bP9WxGmKrk7JTf4_jzDm--6XV8hFaYiNA-TZe9EmDPDM=w374-h485" width="374" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXyHqsK77wrM2ULsN7uAAnb5-yispSIQS8-rL8No2YVFGVjXnJmTPcxp5M0n35wR9Jkx0uQZ9bxES8WmaU6rKA-1FOhrrJsl4vm2fUFCIqeIdE9PuNJN3IPmhCPdypYI40Mf9L1swx5_taDzwUrc-oFJgIjw_CKD2hlRKrX9NYeAlJ_5Jb-GmmSibk=s770" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="595" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXyHqsK77wrM2ULsN7uAAnb5-yispSIQS8-rL8No2YVFGVjXnJmTPcxp5M0n35wR9Jkx0uQZ9bxES8WmaU6rKA-1FOhrrJsl4vm2fUFCIqeIdE9PuNJN3IPmhCPdypYI40Mf9L1swx5_taDzwUrc-oFJgIjw_CKD2hlRKrX9NYeAlJ_5Jb-GmmSibk=w361-h468" width="361" /></a></div><p></p>StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-80293775101281668612022-03-02T22:47:00.001-08:002022-03-02T23:27:36.458-08:00GregThePreacher - Newsletter December 2018<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <b style="text-align: center;"><span>"Hey, don't judge me. I was <i>BORN-AGAIN</i> this way!"</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5zbBk4nZsnT3rBjzlDF8Dcgnr7wmPrlXcXvgBAwTrzjWTW46Jqno96U3_LGPF2lExrF-VaU_DqaGSNtiGfxQ0UDOuPlSjmMGeJmhiWDNI0lPJCGSjxVLlIkAHNM03wZt4x154b-h07UE4wsoc9HtT4TpYlUu_6GMMER7NcVrfR9cpLAXhu56yY-bt=s2057" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2057" data-original-width="1590" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5zbBk4nZsnT3rBjzlDF8Dcgnr7wmPrlXcXvgBAwTrzjWTW46Jqno96U3_LGPF2lExrF-VaU_DqaGSNtiGfxQ0UDOuPlSjmMGeJmhiWDNI0lPJCGSjxVLlIkAHNM03wZt4x154b-h07UE4wsoc9HtT4TpYlUu_6GMMER7NcVrfR9cpLAXhu56yY-bt=w378-h489" width="378" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYc_fUjm-0z0H27gsup-kLcc1KcmhqUlOi2H0RY8D4YwXfh5pDNch4JcKQGAhY6gKeD004s3A7mpYPICHsxgMXkfI_TovesxqOK3EeQojOv-MoJ6mKyqHkYL2CQSUcq2KpDsPyA7Gbi9ATGf_BepJqdvVQGWVFWg0vMIqFVwkwafmG77iTrh8Bdv2r=s770" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="595" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYc_fUjm-0z0H27gsup-kLcc1KcmhqUlOi2H0RY8D4YwXfh5pDNch4JcKQGAhY6gKeD004s3A7mpYPICHsxgMXkfI_TovesxqOK3EeQojOv-MoJ6mKyqHkYL2CQSUcq2KpDsPyA7Gbi9ATGf_BepJqdvVQGWVFWg0vMIqFVwkwafmG77iTrh8Bdv2r=w371-h481" width="371" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiF18uFMs1CVZTEEKc0ebC28yr2V-7pR_IODOQMzfl-aoaI8k1VG7OpLLxGNWNcXaifsI7PpuYGHBm8vz9F4qTOaAskcPWJHwzUgdcq_MIsigff2J_6osFnwww3pXTUnB_cOg2Se8yMpysVqweURpbg8FVQ-t-u_pfHF4sgks2a1hiPv29sxmkXw6R=s770" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="595" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiF18uFMs1CVZTEEKc0ebC28yr2V-7pR_IODOQMzfl-aoaI8k1VG7OpLLxGNWNcXaifsI7PpuYGHBm8vz9F4qTOaAskcPWJHwzUgdcq_MIsigff2J_6osFnwww3pXTUnB_cOg2Se8yMpysVqweURpbg8FVQ-t-u_pfHF4sgks2a1hiPv29sxmkXw6R=w366-h474" width="366" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1UsQf_vHuuWVw2ezsr3iNi0xriZIGrowzBMb2rGvPqBhjry9RDJYjy9-p4K2Sy2TEcsjuthnnLyAsgq0aZQKka6ymWnFq8-4ABr-8rOwIvGt84JIjjjoHEsxA5PSIdJGjmq6zEpn6Q-CWM6r6SNC8g5Xt-63kqaW0a-pcI5JT2UAc8QngZcGj1xNY=s770" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="595" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1UsQf_vHuuWVw2ezsr3iNi0xriZIGrowzBMb2rGvPqBhjry9RDJYjy9-p4K2Sy2TEcsjuthnnLyAsgq0aZQKka6ymWnFq8-4ABr-8rOwIvGt84JIjjjoHEsxA5PSIdJGjmq6zEpn6Q-CWM6r6SNC8g5Xt-63kqaW0a-pcI5JT2UAc8QngZcGj1xNY=w361-h468" width="361" /></a></div><p></p>StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-6698985685256429872022-03-02T22:37:00.005-08:002022-03-03T00:05:16.485-08:00GregThePreacher - Newsletter June 2018<div style="text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">"Christ doesn't just offer you a pardon </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">and forgiveness of sin.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">He gives you power and freedom from sin!"</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYVs1cA9MoPCGE_Ruam-EYlhLNXvCusgIo6mP9HdeHe_E1Oxr5jPLVRp7W_rvGlfKCu5YinaLkPw6SQWqPLJsIZevkG9QAQdU8XW3L48TUSFPy-FA1ZeWys1n8tjS0dRWUyBVvAcj3mral-RcTpgfUkDv_oIO18IOrxuXERxDA-7mHOFqwdd0Sl9Q5=s2057" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2057" data-original-width="1590" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYVs1cA9MoPCGE_Ruam-EYlhLNXvCusgIo6mP9HdeHe_E1Oxr5jPLVRp7W_rvGlfKCu5YinaLkPw6SQWqPLJsIZevkG9QAQdU8XW3L48TUSFPy-FA1ZeWys1n8tjS0dRWUyBVvAcj3mral-RcTpgfUkDv_oIO18IOrxuXERxDA-7mHOFqwdd0Sl9Q5=w391-h506" width="391" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqmmGq3ldVIrUalIGhiI3U301vwBmkpMaCV1BQn2rGT6Yb8nUhMypBNGiNr9qK3Ti-tA2LGfSfG73eBown-IWnw8IbRvHYyZzMkFV3zKhCZOY3gNu7PkQMZgINNXyGljhE-F_cpBX-QH7WLaL51VzsO1ivrlKEvrruzakKW-n-hySQ-o5XeTCz76XM=s770" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="595" height="497" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqmmGq3ldVIrUalIGhiI3U301vwBmkpMaCV1BQn2rGT6Yb8nUhMypBNGiNr9qK3Ti-tA2LGfSfG73eBown-IWnw8IbRvHYyZzMkFV3zKhCZOY3gNu7PkQMZgINNXyGljhE-F_cpBX-QH7WLaL51VzsO1ivrlKEvrruzakKW-n-hySQ-o5XeTCz76XM=w383-h497" width="383" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuSiM4xnTWpeSSP7MMbdhqhJb6hWRICgALLfdFMR4fDto7g305CqJWYS-PR-sChGSz3vc61cmz-Zhch5d2YAeQpVFZOR83e9RjMAkFAWX-T2w8FiPdK6r_DRTxKsYo2Bb5cBLykeYS8dtFKt7rdb4zVaOscY35YRLYMFvhjTzlDq6PTr1i_eZfw7ay=s770" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="595" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuSiM4xnTWpeSSP7MMbdhqhJb6hWRICgALLfdFMR4fDto7g305CqJWYS-PR-sChGSz3vc61cmz-Zhch5d2YAeQpVFZOR83e9RjMAkFAWX-T2w8FiPdK6r_DRTxKsYo2Bb5cBLykeYS8dtFKt7rdb4zVaOscY35YRLYMFvhjTzlDq6PTr1i_eZfw7ay=w375-h486" width="375" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMcTTDGNtRcbUdbn0tlFUks9PHvZf80WYOa5wfV3Q2UjpkN5YyXTrt98-Kl7juwjPQgvKDHOUw2vqAPY1iPA6gKtaITTWlIIT1cNM2WAswpYmD3K-sFhI3QTSTfSwvM4Mrqk4hOKBajWUaHkAvIDYPjX7MCXZ-kDKediYKLFpteaCZnL0rOilEqNGy=s770" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="595" height="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMcTTDGNtRcbUdbn0tlFUks9PHvZf80WYOa5wfV3Q2UjpkN5YyXTrt98-Kl7juwjPQgvKDHOUw2vqAPY1iPA6gKtaITTWlIIT1cNM2WAswpYmD3K-sFhI3QTSTfSwvM4Mrqk4hOKBajWUaHkAvIDYPjX7MCXZ-kDKediYKLFpteaCZnL0rOilEqNGy=w363-h471" width="363" /></a></div><p></p>StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-73693090491890097002022-03-02T22:25:00.004-08:002022-03-02T23:39:37.124-08:00GregThePreacher - Newsletter December 2017<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">"Christ died for your sins and rose from the grave.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Trust in Him and you will be saved!"</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLo1OcpNyAcll0OeyHpmBOjpgXNxjXsKCx9-NtLytTKNHPyN5dlamax28NpXR_0A_aZ3PPAwT0jzO8jdCEr0aafZCunl958JoKJ3f1ug1chnvOYmIY64Mqax2zTO06qvdA70rjroDkt6_CCzhUuuh53Simfcf-PvMTgjdOb3ewaQhIo7teeEAzpeKq=s2057" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2057" data-original-width="1590" height="549" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLo1OcpNyAcll0OeyHpmBOjpgXNxjXsKCx9-NtLytTKNHPyN5dlamax28NpXR_0A_aZ3PPAwT0jzO8jdCEr0aafZCunl958JoKJ3f1ug1chnvOYmIY64Mqax2zTO06qvdA70rjroDkt6_CCzhUuuh53Simfcf-PvMTgjdOb3ewaQhIo7teeEAzpeKq=w423-h549" width="423" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFVwRsRqVAnAv-xuOCLgaUtG8A04f-03MKsLBfhOuy-n5cdkcxnPwvzjwq5ePfyAYXEdnVKYSMvyKIERcdU9RYj-xsJLWjEQv5WqRK4Of-STCa5qxiMaeOkxWLLItUGyDkEKAjVfX8BMA4gZMmy_XvNPOWIKwtNUvEucYMC8MYmNcwuGr76HzLjUtl=s2057" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2057" data-original-width="1590" height="553" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFVwRsRqVAnAv-xuOCLgaUtG8A04f-03MKsLBfhOuy-n5cdkcxnPwvzjwq5ePfyAYXEdnVKYSMvyKIERcdU9RYj-xsJLWjEQv5WqRK4Of-STCa5qxiMaeOkxWLLItUGyDkEKAjVfX8BMA4gZMmy_XvNPOWIKwtNUvEucYMC8MYmNcwuGr76HzLjUtl=w427-h553" width="427" /></a></div><p></p>StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-57065070415512461482022-03-02T22:09:00.008-08:002022-03-02T23:39:53.680-08:00GregThePreacher - Newsletter July 2017<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">"God did not create you to live without Him!"</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIIG4jz7dMPlhiK7SXX_XOJrIJNZtbpqBeLrZZF1NlKCyJda_KeHFtnSL76WcVGmLYNeBZ9K5lhFjoDo_h6QXfX4hGzODA_25Mv2nAvi1oJX0QqQ-jmYHy2MS-axyQH5DrY6oI5l_j0Tp5zIOFjIkJMD7Oiz00LkNK7W_TYyDJhTEPZhPyj8yZTvE4=s2057" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2057" data-original-width="1590" height="529" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIIG4jz7dMPlhiK7SXX_XOJrIJNZtbpqBeLrZZF1NlKCyJda_KeHFtnSL76WcVGmLYNeBZ9K5lhFjoDo_h6QXfX4hGzODA_25Mv2nAvi1oJX0QqQ-jmYHy2MS-axyQH5DrY6oI5l_j0Tp5zIOFjIkJMD7Oiz00LkNK7W_TYyDJhTEPZhPyj8yZTvE4=w408-h529" width="408" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9M-7K4w9V9kRimVyP3lREBAFcqcdte0ovJr04hS5sNKNwWsn3BGEXJllzUQ3nbiTTMyId4ViSdAy0XyHG-ON8dWIWw_AiHXg2wbn31QP4Ps17BATToecnghcrRN0Q-vddrJz2qYYp1EptQ8lEaUOmJalvMV_y5Ng-ZePrcwQSczSB4CCIpvDn2rbA=s2057" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2057" data-original-width="1590" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9M-7K4w9V9kRimVyP3lREBAFcqcdte0ovJr04hS5sNKNwWsn3BGEXJllzUQ3nbiTTMyId4ViSdAy0XyHG-ON8dWIWw_AiHXg2wbn31QP4Ps17BATToecnghcrRN0Q-vddrJz2qYYp1EptQ8lEaUOmJalvMV_y5Ng-ZePrcwQSczSB4CCIpvDn2rbA=w409-h530" width="409" /></a></div><p></p>StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-27084530312856479542022-03-02T21:56:00.005-08:002022-03-02T22:48:24.060-08:00GregThePreacher - Newsletter December 2016<p></p><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">"Christ died for your sin, <br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;">so that you don't have to die in your sin!"</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiN3og0dDQw9n_B_xAK34xgt8K9plP5aRUk3Qo8wFdTQ0_JCJJs-kCPXhrnWS6vHMUh52MP1HnPU3lNbAzjnE_ofgFf9TZal1h8W3-wPoDMr2uqHfTHytIp4ZiCXWXlRnDQjm9fNyo2It7RI_oPHbm2UiwT6WoRc7RYoxMgWOH-ZYt69lyHbGsjLXzH=s1650" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1275" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiN3og0dDQw9n_B_xAK34xgt8K9plP5aRUk3Qo8wFdTQ0_JCJJs-kCPXhrnWS6vHMUh52MP1HnPU3lNbAzjnE_ofgFf9TZal1h8W3-wPoDMr2uqHfTHytIp4ZiCXWXlRnDQjm9fNyo2It7RI_oPHbm2UiwT6WoRc7RYoxMgWOH-ZYt69lyHbGsjLXzH=w417-h540" width="417" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFiF50f6-40FYKLjIbIX-naNrpBhzhrXLy3ij6ki_w-dd0WRp9as9JIuVObA3wY53FciI36YVh8i_YyDeG7mtvVixF0dRR1V2TTn0F6xrJHlnDbJxD7Fi35L3XXSiJgW1QT91Ofv8tr32ExENVNtzWqjBCHaizP7sAB1SmEZEyLzaPl53fV1kYolcb=s1650" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1275" height="529" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFiF50f6-40FYKLjIbIX-naNrpBhzhrXLy3ij6ki_w-dd0WRp9as9JIuVObA3wY53FciI36YVh8i_YyDeG7mtvVixF0dRR1V2TTn0F6xrJHlnDbJxD7Fi35L3XXSiJgW1QT91Ofv8tr32ExENVNtzWqjBCHaizP7sAB1SmEZEyLzaPl53fV1kYolcb=w408-h529" width="408" /></a></div><p></p>StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-46131106806636153272022-03-02T21:49:00.009-08:002022-04-05T22:53:01.047-07:00GregThePreacher - Newsletter August 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>"It's not a "blind faith", it's a MIND FAITH! </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Jesus in Mark 12:30 says </b><b>we are to love God </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>with all our heart, soul, MIND and strength!"</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYPCBr-eoEVNc1wgqCjU6sfmvYHp035KboEY_GPO38mfW0Iv_XuIStH-MKLChhCcLKc2_xLpbpVOWijwzSLX0sZEuLdh4gHkaLafdFouFBc8hMTA9abjbDfX9Hh09HY_wgG90UPwplcq-mDYLlKjRY1D6akMBGoeAb_M5XVVhm0MVrN1bCegd671XR=s1650" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1275" height="545" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYPCBr-eoEVNc1wgqCjU6sfmvYHp035KboEY_GPO38mfW0Iv_XuIStH-MKLChhCcLKc2_xLpbpVOWijwzSLX0sZEuLdh4gHkaLafdFouFBc8hMTA9abjbDfX9Hh09HY_wgG90UPwplcq-mDYLlKjRY1D6akMBGoeAb_M5XVVhm0MVrN1bCegd671XR=w421-h545" width="421" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4WsFg5i-iPyGEx8aafxSPlnyAEMfhIF5n_m4fshPE9fT2uCb_hjpRq63XJ6WYhbyt3JrJjowUm2Eyr9bD6Xo-Q0Gv-FqAZKBBewY5Viy5dj4Tu-bk6XSXt2VEeULjsYJq-HryS0kjjeHuXdF1O-GKLPnCE6KLeWM0XXH8rzbNcn6qkOmT2FruDFh1=s2057" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2057" data-original-width="1590" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4WsFg5i-iPyGEx8aafxSPlnyAEMfhIF5n_m4fshPE9fT2uCb_hjpRq63XJ6WYhbyt3JrJjowUm2Eyr9bD6Xo-Q0Gv-FqAZKBBewY5Viy5dj4Tu-bk6XSXt2VEeULjsYJq-HryS0kjjeHuXdF1O-GKLPnCE6KLeWM0XXH8rzbNcn6qkOmT2FruDFh1=w416-h540" width="416" /></a></div><p></p>StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-40800056853387758542022-03-02T21:36:00.009-08:002022-03-02T22:49:04.951-08:00GregThePreacher - Newsletter March 2016<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>"Christ didn't die on the Cross to give you an, "I hope so."</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>He rose from the dead to give you an, "I KNOW SO!"</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqR2DsAlQMURb7R8niY1vQ-EsTG4O-hWkjpxRNdig-YgZMRsWQoOUEwN7Sx9QZl2UoK534pc_vbTDwaOfkM5EAiRmbCeA6t1nd-1nvYLsjuyAntligrOhYmDA2N27flc52TxfdFVkIcdPGl0cxLDsd_6u0px6lk84WnIaaTk2atqxypgNE936A5BoV=s2057" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2057" data-original-width="1590" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqR2DsAlQMURb7R8niY1vQ-EsTG4O-hWkjpxRNdig-YgZMRsWQoOUEwN7Sx9QZl2UoK534pc_vbTDwaOfkM5EAiRmbCeA6t1nd-1nvYLsjuyAntligrOhYmDA2N27flc52TxfdFVkIcdPGl0cxLDsd_6u0px6lk84WnIaaTk2atqxypgNE936A5BoV=w428-h554" width="428" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0uGSDrMdT7RLnf_e_YbVXV2Qkys7-ruY65CdtbpXG9nb2R6q7L9ImUnoNgaGOpYY0zddSg1p8GJlmOXrJJC-dNoDzPTSBncGRuWEqzIYpNPf0EnSPhezWrOeb2cCxeZdGWkmY_4N9-G0dI9AJHXy8zLzyfVTaBBPpkl--Gogn7fV-bB0cI7-gU780=s2057" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2057" data-original-width="1590" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0uGSDrMdT7RLnf_e_YbVXV2Qkys7-ruY65CdtbpXG9nb2R6q7L9ImUnoNgaGOpYY0zddSg1p8GJlmOXrJJC-dNoDzPTSBncGRuWEqzIYpNPf0EnSPhezWrOeb2cCxeZdGWkmY_4N9-G0dI9AJHXy8zLzyfVTaBBPpkl--Gogn7fV-bB0cI7-gU780=w429-h556" width="429" /></a></div>StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-22750661830781805812015-08-31T19:52:00.002-07:002015-09-18T08:43:52.881-07:00Fall 2015 Ministry Update<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfg2PDPf1RfzxLiGa2OTEi5sHlwZKtrTrGU4FBzTojbPIq9TQNbRNYt_4zUcpRwLEVnL7JcVoIX5SUVTOqeggoapP-nJD2gXS9vWk_3a4Wlrb_SIaupiHVFdjjyN4k4Pxv3mo-UcCWbwM/s1600/IMG_20150811_165619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfg2PDPf1RfzxLiGa2OTEi5sHlwZKtrTrGU4FBzTojbPIq9TQNbRNYt_4zUcpRwLEVnL7JcVoIX5SUVTOqeggoapP-nJD2gXS9vWk_3a4Wlrb_SIaupiHVFdjjyN4k4Pxv3mo-UcCWbwM/s400/IMG_20150811_165619.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;">Dear Church,
Family & Friends!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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God has recently opened up some awesome new doors of
ministry for us, and we’re excited to share what He’s doing. All of you know I'm long-winded so please be patient. Allow me to give a
little background history first.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;">A little
History</span></b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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When we moved out here from Las Vegas in Fall of 2010 we
came with the intentions of planting a church. We failed. Plain and simple. I
now have in my possession a “Failed Church Planter’s Club” T-Shirt with all the
stink and blood stains. Just kidding. Now that some time has gone by since then
I’m able to look upon that failure with less embarrassment and shame and more
wisdom. I’m thankful that I was able to try something for God and fail and
learn some lessons than to never have tried at all. As individuals and as a
family we have learned some wonderful lessons about the faithfulness of God to
work all things together for good to those who love Him, and to always lead us
in triumph in Christ Jesus.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Over the past 5 years God has done many things to establish
us in the community of Raleigh and the Body of Christ here. God has given me a
great job working for a local air conditioning company and Angela has been able
to stay home with the boys. We have been attending a small Christian church
here in the area and both Angela and I have been personally discipled by the
pastor, elders and their wives. A failed church plant can leave you a wounded
soldier and I thank God for the healing and grace of His precious people. Last
year we purchased a home here in Garner, NC. And over the past 5 years I have
been actively sharing the Gospel at the college, downtown and throughout the
community. We are planted, we have roots, and by God’s grace we are growing and
bearing some fruit.</div>
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When we moved out here from Las Vegas to plant a church we
had many generous financial supporters from Las Vegas who were investing in
God’s kingdom through our lives. Because the “church plant” was not taking off
as we had hoped we decided to take ALL the financial support and put it into a
“Ministry Savings Account.” We continued to save and add to that account over
the past 5 years having faith that one day God would bring us to a place where
we could serve Him full time and invest the support of His people wisely. That
time has arrived, praise God!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Present Day<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Over the past year, through the local church leadership,
Body of Christ, financial provision, family support, a renewed sense of calling
and passion, and countless other confirmations God has released us to serve Him
as full-time missionaries specifically in the area of evangelism. To many of
you it is no surprise that what God has called me to do is what He has always had
me doing: preach the Gospel, preach the Gospel and preach the Gospel. </div>
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This past Spring I put out some “feelers” to see if God was
really beginning to move me into this area full-time. Whether it was open air
preaching of the Gospel on college campuses and answering questions and
objections from students, or preaching downtown in front of the courthouse, or
pleading with people outside of the abortion clinic, or encouraging our local
church and other churches in evangelism and leading teams downtown on the
weekends to share Christ, God was in it all! There was no question in my mind
or the minds of my wife and other godly leaders in the church that this is what
God was calling me to do. Now it was all a question of “God’s timing.” </div>
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<br /></div>
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As the summer was drawing near I began to sense a renewed
urgency for publically proclaiming Jesus Christ and the Gospel. I imagined
myself in heaven one day surrounded by saints from all ages asking me, “So,
where did God have you live on earth, where were you born, what nation, what
time, what generation???” My answer, “Well, I was born in America, from 1976
till 2015…” And then the saints pause with shock and reply, “What?! Did you
say, “America!” Wow! Awesome! Wait! Did you say 1976 to 2015?! That was back when
you guys had freedom of speech wasn’t it! I bet you were out sharing the Gospel
all the time everywhere weren’t you?!” And then that’s when I pause with shock
and reply, “Well, um…uh….well, kinda.” And that’s when their excitement turns
to concern and they say, “What do you mean, “Well…um…uh…kinda? Don’t you know
that freedom of speech was gone in 2017 or 2019…? What were you doing all that
time?” And my sad response would be, “Well, we were very busy, very busy with
all kinds of things.” Friends, I don’t want to have regrets when I get to
heaven, and God in His mercy has providentially had me born in a country where
I can freely proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ with little or no persecution.
I really have no idea how long we’ll have the freedom of speech to speak about
Jesus publically, but I don’t want to miss out on such a wonderful opportunity.
No doubt those saints who live in so called “closed countries” where Christians
are tortured and martyred just for speaking up about Jesus would give anything
to be able to preach Christ openly here without persecution. These are urgent
and wonderful times we live in. So after seeking God at the beginning of this
summer I decided to give my boss a 2 month’s notice of my last day and take the
entire “Ministry Savings Account” and invest it into the next 3 months through
publically proclaiming the Gospel. If it is God’s will for me to continue beyond
the next 3 months preaching the Gospel and equipping the saints then He will
provide financially. God has blessed me with the ability to fix an air
conditioner if needed, but God has called me to preach the Gospel.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Mission<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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This summer I believe that God gave me a 3 fold mission and
I am passionate about it. The Mission is:</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1- Preaching the Gospel Publically
with courage, compassion and clarity.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b>Courage:</b> I find that biblical,
loving on-fire public preaching of the Gospel has the power to impart courage
into the hearts of the hearers. Often times I see on campus weary, discouraged,
beaten down Christians students traveling from one class to the other and
whenever they hear the passionate preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ their
heads are lifted, they’re refreshed, revived, and receive a renewed sense of
mission for ministering to their fellow students. Often times it is the college
campus open air preacher that draws a crowd for the on campus Christians to
minister to and disciple. Courage is contagious! It is something the first
century Christians had, something Christ gives and something we all need.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Compassion:</b> The public street preacher and campus open air
preaching ministry unfortunately has the stigma and bad reputation of being a
bunch of angry preachers who feel it’s their calling to tell everyone that God
hates them. This “God Hates You” angry preacher image over the past 50 years
has high-jacked the biblical, Christ-like calling and ministry of public preaching
so much so that the Church as a whole is embarrassed to even associate with
those who might do it well. Whenever people find out I’m an open air preacher I
recognize I’ve already got 10 strikes against me before I ever open my mouth. I
know that we’re a dying breed, hated by the world, killed off by the church,
but we’re still loved by God, and we’re an essential part of the Body of
Christ. Whenever we find bad teachers, pastors or worship leaders we don’t just
eliminate the ministry all together. No! Instead we should be raising up great
teachers, well trained pastors and awesome worship leaders. This is exactly what
we must do with the open air preaching part of the Body of Christ. We can’t
just amputate it and say, “You’re not part of the Body because you don’t look
like me or do it my way!” We should
strengthen, heal and restore the ministry of open air preaching and make it a
strong and vital part of the Church just as God intended. For this to happen we
need preachers with broken hearts of compassion, not hardened hearts of hate. Jesus
saw the multitudes and was moved with compassion, not aggression, because He
saw them as sheep without a Shepherd. Public preaching must be driven by the
compassion and love of God to reach people and rescue them from hell.
Compassion is also contagious!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Clarity</b>: I believe that in the Bible the Main things are the
Plain things, and the Plain things are the Main things. Everything in the Bible
is important, but not everything in the Bible is equally applicable. It is my
goal to be faithful to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the historical
Christian faith with clarity. When it comes to publically preaching the Gospel
it is no time to get distracted by side issues, pet doctrines or in-house
Christian debates regarding other things. Those are great topics for coffee
talks and follow up discussions, but my 1<sup>st</sup> Mission is to preach the
Gospel and by the grace of God remove obstacles to faith in the Gospel. In
summary, “Christ died for your sins and rose from the grave. Trust in Him and
you shall be saved!” The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God to
salvation for all who believe, not my particular “brand” of Christianity. This
simplicity can be very refreshing to some and very offensive to others, but my
goal is to always bring it back to the Gospel of Jesus and a person’s
relationship to Him.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2- Partnering with the local Church
to receive believers and unbelievers.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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A direct fruit of publically preaching the Gospel is that
believers who are not plugged into a local church feel challenged to grow in
their relationship with God and be part of a church. Also I have found that interested
unbelievers need somewhere they can go to continue their journey and experience
the community of God’s people. My passion is to partner with local Christ-centered
churches, creating a “Halo” of churches around the Raleigh area that I can
recommend to people. I want to be a resource on the streets God can use to help
individuals become discipled and grow in the context of God’s family. Also, on
college campuses I desire to partner with campus ministries to help facilitate
follow-up with those whom God touches through the campus preaching ministry. As
a guest on campus I realize that it is the college student ministries that do
the heavy lifting when it comes to discipleship and follow up. I want to
partner with them in good relationship to create a united front for expanding
the kingdom of God on campus. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3- Preparing Christians to share and
defend their faith<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Equipping the saints for the work of ministry is a
responsibility of an evangelist, pastor and teacher. Beginning in my home
church I want God to use me to encourage, equip and empower Christians to
overcome the fear factor of sharing their faith and become active soul-winners
for Christ. Many of us have heard great teaching on evangelism, but how many of
us have actually been “trained” and taken out onto the Battlefield to
experience the Lord use us to win others to Himself in fresh and exciting ways?
It is this “training” rather than just teaching that I have found is the most
effective way to energize and equip disciples to boldly share Christ not just
on the streets, but at work, class, with friends and family. I’m convinced that
when Jesus said “Go!” He knew that would make us grow. I will be prayerfully
seeking God as to how I can best serve my home church and the local churches in
Raleigh by training and equipping Christians of all types to actively share
Christ. I long to see God raise up a new generation of on-fire soldiers for
Christ, who are not just unashamed of the Gospel, but able to present it and
defend it with great courage, compassion and clarity. </div>
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Well, there you have it. Preach the Gospel, Partner with the
Local Church and Prepare Christians to share and defend their Faith. Is this
something new and revolutionary? Nope. This is the same old thing Jesus has
been doing in His Church since the very beginning. I’m just thankful to be a
part of it, have a calling to it, and a passion for it. I can honestly say that
this is truly my heart’s desire and dream. “Delight yourself also in the Lord
and He will give you the desires of your heart.” -Psalm 37:4</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Going Full-Time<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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After presenting this vision and mission to my pastor and
the elders of my home church they were overwhelmingly supportive and
encouraging. They have prayerfully committed to providing me with
accountability on all levels: Spiritual, Marital, Family, Financial, Personal,
and Ministerial. My home Church, “Garner Christian Fellowship” has offered to
take me on as a “local missionary evangelist” and receive tax deductable
donations for the ministry. I am so grateful for our local church, and I’m
convinced now, more than ever that the local church is the best place to
conceive a ministry, nurture it in the womb of the local Body of Christ, and if
God wills for it to grow and become its own independent ministry identity then
it can be birthed into the world with love and support and accountability. Should
the ministry fail to grow and “miscarry”, I’m also convinced that a good local
church is still the safest place to fail, heal and get back up pursuing God
with your gifts and life. Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in
Christ Jesus and works all things together for good to those who love Him!</div>
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So, this Fall and Winter here is an idea of what I’ll be
doing:</div>
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I’ll be preaching, passing out tracts, talking one on one
with people weekly at UNC Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University,
Downtown and at various local events here in Raleigh. I will be meeting with
college students personally for follow-up discipleship and also mentoring other
preachers in open air preaching and evangelism. I will be outside the abortion
clinics some mornings pleading with those who are about to abort their children,
offering hope for them and their child as well as training other believers in
how they can minister at the abortion clinics. Friday nights I will be training
a group of youth in evangelism and taking them to the streets that night. I
will be taking my family downtown to pass out tracts and minister to people at
the bus stop and local park. I will be networking with local churches in
Raleigh and college campus ministries to help facilitate follow up for those
God touches through the evangelism ministries. I will be actively connected and
serving in my home church as needs arise. Basically, I’m doing missionary work
in America, and I love it!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The End<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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That’s it. That’s the end. So now’s the time where I ask you
if you want to partner with us financially, right? Nope. Now is when I beg you
to keep us in prayer, that God would move through the public proclamation of
the Gospel, that people would get saved, that Christians would be encouraged
and trained, that babies would be saved from abortion, that God would raise up
new laborers for the harvest fields of souls and babies, and that God would
continue to make a way for us to boldly preach Christ while “freedom of speech”
is a present reality and not a fading memory! Please pray for us!</div>
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If you want me to include you in my “preaching prayer team”
text, please text me @ <b>17022752817 </b>and
I will text you before a preaching ministry begins. I personally experience and
see the power of those prayers!</div>
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You can also email me at: <b><a href="mailto:stephensfamily.g@gmail.com">stephensfamily.g@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Eventually we hope to have a website for the ministry, but
until then I will continue to provide more ministry updates and encouragements
through our current family blog @ <a href="http://www.stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/">www.StephensFamilyNC.Blogspot.com</a>
and Google+. We’ll start there and see what happens. I’m also hoping Angela
will post a few blogs about how God continues to use her.</div>
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If you do want to help support financially, you can give a
tax deductable donation to the ministry through our local church here in
Garner.</div>
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Make Check out to: </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Garner Christian Fellowship<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">P.O. Box 744<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Garner, NC 27529<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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You can place a piece of paper in the envelope with our name
on it, “The Stephens Family”, or you can write “Evangelism/Outreach” in the
memo section of the check. All the money is guaranteed to go directly to this
ministry, and the church will provide you with the tax receipt at the end of
the year. They’ll let us know who gives so we can get you a “Thank You card.” We
greatly appreciate any donation and prayer!</div>
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If you have any questions you’d like to ask our local church
and its leadership about us you can email them at:</div>
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<b>gcf@garnerchristianfellowship.org<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Thanks again for taking the time to read this. We would not
be able to take this step of faith without the loving support of our friends,
family and the Body of Christ! God is good! </div>
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Living in Time, For Eternity!</div>
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The Stephens Family</div>
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<br /></div>
StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-65702601640876526472015-07-21T19:25:00.000-07:002015-07-21T19:25:25.274-07:00Pictures of the Boys from Fall 2013 to Spring 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvqavyGnNy4M5ljbEVvKCl-B9XAMk4rUI3yzAuP8nysXZ4VxP8V1J4AKxHj15rhGF6dcDVIRu06Rqfu6c_MRAzmKDNQQXe3lA8ZjTbYUFXACGjP58WY6juGR51CnGkRrgZkL3QsPEipU/s1600/P1080334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvqavyGnNy4M5ljbEVvKCl-B9XAMk4rUI3yzAuP8nysXZ4VxP8V1J4AKxHj15rhGF6dcDVIRu06Rqfu6c_MRAzmKDNQQXe3lA8ZjTbYUFXACGjP58WY6juGR51CnGkRrgZkL3QsPEipU/s1600/P1080334.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Every boy's gotta make his own volcano...</div>
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And yes, we put fireworks in it and blew it up.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5FCdXYGQlU3-rIGgIqSgFp5MdsFPcz6xVaTg2HEyrik0NlQa8LO3Nm9M60x6u-YJ14T0lRJE2uK5vqAv-tdk-AyIHwSugdQMo3mP6P3mf9cU2db_We9Di2LS_FYDbipPYfaNqKuoNpQ/s1600/DSC06705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5FCdXYGQlU3-rIGgIqSgFp5MdsFPcz6xVaTg2HEyrik0NlQa8LO3Nm9M60x6u-YJ14T0lRJE2uK5vqAv-tdk-AyIHwSugdQMo3mP6P3mf9cU2db_We9Di2LS_FYDbipPYfaNqKuoNpQ/s1600/DSC06705.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This little guy's gonna stick around.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2LMgc7CjWeqT2u80_VMRZmoD6riEHb5E80XOimto96uoNhyCdtAKVdpuYsA8UsNlJImRhcEfYGlYl3nPXinK_N2BmD5vVYniTG1P5V8tqPqg6gYUryVKQLhViSyzlVsoJ9QAk105OkY/s1600/P1080422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2LMgc7CjWeqT2u80_VMRZmoD6riEHb5E80XOimto96uoNhyCdtAKVdpuYsA8UsNlJImRhcEfYGlYl3nPXinK_N2BmD5vVYniTG1P5V8tqPqg6gYUryVKQLhViSyzlVsoJ9QAk105OkY/s1600/P1080422.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Takin a bath for Jonny is like water off a duck's back.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7K23G-f1TVFotMHGOmM5cT3IrXpTcuBTL2Dg1-AbNsLSVc7QELAUeqxJV6_CP1xVJEXQgIytTv-aAZbvDztMNLemv-w3en1gVyRLdpZY8DCptcOP64ltz1gf4WJTEmILmdA7Ru1mrus/s1600/P1080108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7K23G-f1TVFotMHGOmM5cT3IrXpTcuBTL2Dg1-AbNsLSVc7QELAUeqxJV6_CP1xVJEXQgIytTv-aAZbvDztMNLemv-w3en1gVyRLdpZY8DCptcOP64ltz1gf4WJTEmILmdA7Ru1mrus/s1600/P1080108.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Morning person vs. not a morning person. Can you relate?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKQ-n9hMZONgrQQ54ShU2CpOfG3PPwrFR1ZQaZfAkC4xNLUT7U5FzJ3oVDHgOESTQX2gVLKLbTBPngBvPPxQP_gpPBmDC2a1D4FUYhIwpLEVx3bNA5KLMXIeFXqOen_wQxB1FcKlfmA8/s1600/P1080024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKQ-n9hMZONgrQQ54ShU2CpOfG3PPwrFR1ZQaZfAkC4xNLUT7U5FzJ3oVDHgOESTQX2gVLKLbTBPngBvPPxQP_gpPBmDC2a1D4FUYhIwpLEVx3bNA5KLMXIeFXqOen_wQxB1FcKlfmA8/s1600/P1080024.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Our very own little web slinger.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHzaYs43vqklvkNaNhXZxDZAhTNv4SoT2yTA50aXXsrbFYpuVTEjmzwJj-i7SM6aMEnBCIDoJ03AsCNzdgHsqyqflvTyopxsJGDaF_Qv_2YeBopVR3JwcdMnQJqwkL0fjYmpH4ifX0OQ/s1600/P1080026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHzaYs43vqklvkNaNhXZxDZAhTNv4SoT2yTA50aXXsrbFYpuVTEjmzwJj-i7SM6aMEnBCIDoJ03AsCNzdgHsqyqflvTyopxsJGDaF_Qv_2YeBopVR3JwcdMnQJqwkL0fjYmpH4ifX0OQ/s1600/P1080026.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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We've got a real Spidey fan here.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRgNAj2D_P9UY6e7pnStHi9lRGBrJq_0HtJwupYvexcUFFMID-VQbB7h7r45GgFbjG-ZcxGGFbyY7dqLODXBv_iBBYTx4_9WrNUngY3KExvh6Q2pgKLhIq1Y7vtLUu_b-vEYChPelKGs/s1600/P1080451b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRgNAj2D_P9UY6e7pnStHi9lRGBrJq_0HtJwupYvexcUFFMID-VQbB7h7r45GgFbjG-ZcxGGFbyY7dqLODXBv_iBBYTx4_9WrNUngY3KExvh6Q2pgKLhIq1Y7vtLUu_b-vEYChPelKGs/s1600/P1080451b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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"Everyone stand back! I've got a real toy sword and I'm not afraid to swing it around."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPToJd4oJv6WXhD0uui0qFzP-WkIPYYl2Bdk7NPSjvTHHzKe-M-oQpQSzQ-9_p-yV8uBS2ZmMX7t0QMKie1wkvFPPBhGFSJSBq2iqdqAFOD0WUdWacc-bDFtuQa4QdbXVNfh91zq7TPoM/s1600/P1080465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPToJd4oJv6WXhD0uui0qFzP-WkIPYYl2Bdk7NPSjvTHHzKe-M-oQpQSzQ-9_p-yV8uBS2ZmMX7t0QMKie1wkvFPPBhGFSJSBq2iqdqAFOD0WUdWacc-bDFtuQa4QdbXVNfh91zq7TPoM/s1600/P1080465.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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"Mom, I'm ready to go play."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkj8P9L56BcsBNYNrWDr0O8f1obkBzpZxBJxMwunNcvaMUk03dFLebxR-dx7i8fpkMiRjPSsu4X5FFsVPgg6DbAgQEtI5kChIfw5B3gj5upUohc1o6YBvXLlO7Fiaov403FW7j3i84Qao/s1600/P1080513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkj8P9L56BcsBNYNrWDr0O8f1obkBzpZxBJxMwunNcvaMUk03dFLebxR-dx7i8fpkMiRjPSsu4X5FFsVPgg6DbAgQEtI5kChIfw5B3gj5upUohc1o6YBvXLlO7Fiaov403FW7j3i84Qao/s1600/P1080513.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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We had a great snow this past winter!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTOjEjg-10xR75hyphenhyphen6LRFWH5eWkn0yP9pjIHUTdk614FchmhxklMVqdm8FfPPsZkZI9w3ZQa-fsnNLePzTXBE0A0X6KMYOFAaWrulRzicZ7GXGCEi3cC2jleh2Rzf9KvVE0-2g6g8lj-w/s1600/P1080521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTOjEjg-10xR75hyphenhyphen6LRFWH5eWkn0yP9pjIHUTdk614FchmhxklMVqdm8FfPPsZkZI9w3ZQa-fsnNLePzTXBE0A0X6KMYOFAaWrulRzicZ7GXGCEi3cC2jleh2Rzf9KvVE0-2g6g8lj-w/s1600/P1080521.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The only way to make sure Jonathan keeps up.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nYYt435RGP9zWrhh7Ei8VSCr1fE8qRjtCsVtwflQM3m0_-170pI2DRumiv6sqZCS2SPlaSKfFK38M5rKRNxuGGcHzQXhvq0y3ZmH3iSx9Gdzc9RYtHftz8r0hqL8khPovV03xn9IRF4/s1600/P1080517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nYYt435RGP9zWrhh7Ei8VSCr1fE8qRjtCsVtwflQM3m0_-170pI2DRumiv6sqZCS2SPlaSKfFK38M5rKRNxuGGcHzQXhvq0y3ZmH3iSx9Gdzc9RYtHftz8r0hqL8khPovV03xn9IRF4/s1600/P1080517.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Moms. So good at bundling up their kiddos.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGCWs8L8QJPckLa9VsYZeplYVSpFw4x_DRwBqoiXkhyphenhyphenlVrYFa52mTDmNPeAXJ0j2_FkdIV887EO4jWTyiabS_eTRVql6kbqLDdoSr_Xv-o7-rg5sxgLQbV9aNOsPRfn8VFtMu_vUWKWE/s1600/P1080543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGCWs8L8QJPckLa9VsYZeplYVSpFw4x_DRwBqoiXkhyphenhyphenlVrYFa52mTDmNPeAXJ0j2_FkdIV887EO4jWTyiabS_eTRVql6kbqLDdoSr_Xv-o7-rg5sxgLQbV9aNOsPRfn8VFtMu_vUWKWE/s1600/P1080543.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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James and the Giant Snowman.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEV2VdlIdyZNcJLX8xBJo357ihw4CIbkxPp9PiDFA0TTDbH_5XqGnTGLmMs_VjE3kHs6io2LDXInA-TK-z4Uo9MsFVR2n4PbhmpQlb3ps96eFNKpBh7SqJw_t_D6HDTi6CyW4kobKIu6U/s1600/DadJamesSnowday2014crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEV2VdlIdyZNcJLX8xBJo357ihw4CIbkxPp9PiDFA0TTDbH_5XqGnTGLmMs_VjE3kHs6io2LDXInA-TK-z4Uo9MsFVR2n4PbhmpQlb3ps96eFNKpBh7SqJw_t_D6HDTi6CyW4kobKIu6U/s1600/DadJamesSnowday2014crop.jpg" width="398" /></a></div>
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Dude. We had a blast!!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXLi4-6vTuiQce-uzI02C7LatgHb6G1O4Nd-fidVp6goVkXzskMPd2W3U48zCqK0S9Llhlyp2xloOWRwnKQGKI7RFuGAzhi9beVKrtyiu_uX4bsLfUlq7fDuNICSEsTN5ysW5tgI99bA/s1600/P1080592B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXLi4-6vTuiQce-uzI02C7LatgHb6G1O4Nd-fidVp6goVkXzskMPd2W3U48zCqK0S9Llhlyp2xloOWRwnKQGKI7RFuGAzhi9beVKrtyiu_uX4bsLfUlq7fDuNICSEsTN5ysW5tgI99bA/s1600/P1080592B.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Hiking in the Spring.</div>
StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-44911422831100735732014-03-16T19:53:00.001-07:002014-03-16T19:53:27.170-07:00Bible Interpretation- The Flow of Thought<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwj4Zo8O3thyphenhyphen8R2kLslGUpaICpliV7OjzF8C34wvGLPUNgYzbjcPAawM-Cqb_WnNxKZ6mj5BpkGwbDmCrsCoHSxAMhIMdbpdMtgXChKIvjwXxzEDF8HY76f2VilQtsU73-BaXThjkCggQ/s550/ebb-and-flow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwj4Zo8O3thyphenhyphen8R2kLslGUpaICpliV7OjzF8C34wvGLPUNgYzbjcPAawM-Cqb_WnNxKZ6mj5BpkGwbDmCrsCoHSxAMhIMdbpdMtgXChKIvjwXxzEDF8HY76f2VilQtsU73-BaXThjkCggQ/s400/ebb-and-flow.jpg" height="313" width="400" /></a></div>
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To understand the Bible correctly we must realize that the “meaning” of a passage flows from the larger groups to the smaller groups, from the larger context to the smaller specifics. And so, if you’re reading a Bible verse and a certain word doesn't make sense then you need to understand that word in light of the verse and the surrounding verses. And if a certain verse doesn't seem to make sense then you need to read the whole paragraph and context of the passage. If you read the entire context of a passage you are likely to discover the “flow of thought” being developed by the author. By understanding the flow of thought you should be able to figure out what certain verses and words mean.</div>
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The “flow of thought” has priority over the fine details. If your understanding of the details does not support the whole flow of thought of a particular passage then you are misunderstanding the meaning and the reason for the specific details. The details of a passage are there to point to the flow of thought not take away from it. The details color the main point, they don't change it.</div>
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Through carefully reading a passage and outlining the "flow of thought" you will find that all kinds of problems or difficulties begin to disappear. You must correctly understand the whole context if you are to correctly understand a verse, word or thought.</div>
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And remember, just because someone can quote the Bible correctly does not mean they are going to interpret or apply it correctly. The devil quoted the Bible to Jesus perfectly in Luke chapter 4. But he misinterpreted and misapplied the very passages he quoted. And if we're not careful, we too can be deceived or deceive others by taking a cavalier approach to interpreting the Bible.</div>
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So, the next time you read your Bible and you get confused about a certain word or verse or passage, just take a moment to read and consider the entire context and the "flow of thought" being developed by the author in a book, chapter or paragraph. Always interpret the verse or word in light of the larger context. And never interpret or reinterpret the larger context and flow of thought within a passage by a single verse or word. We should be careful to allow the Bible to explain itself to us. And it will if we pay attention to the flow of thought.<br />
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May God continue to bless your understanding of Him, yourself and others as you faithfully study His word!<br />
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"The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple." Psalm 119:130<br />
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<br />
Below are some links to a few other related blogs I've written:<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/2014/02/developing-better-biblical.html"><span style="color: blue;">Developing a Better Biblical Interpretation</span></a></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/2010/08/do-you-take-bible-literally.html"><span style="color: blue;">Do you take the Bible literally?</span></a><br />
<br /><a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/2010/08/facesmap.html"><span style="color: blue;">F.A.C.E.S.M.A.P. "Evidence the Bible is Trustworthy"</span></a><br />
<br /><a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-dishonest-skeptic.html"><span style="color: blue;">The Dishonest Skeptic</span></a><br />
<br /><a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/2010/06/gospel.html"><span style="color: blue;">The Gospel</span></a><br />
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<br /></div>
StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-7419642484454015842014-02-10T16:57:00.000-08:002014-02-10T16:57:53.403-08:00Developing better Biblical Interpretation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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No one starts out a skilled and mature interpreter of the Bible just like no one starts out a great driver, or cook or skilled craftsman. Skill is developed over time and practice. Even so, a person grows in being better at interpreting the Bible. If they mature, they'll approach interpreting the Bible more contextually and seriously. They will be less likely to throw verses around flippantly or apply a personal or private interpretation to the text or passage. <br />
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Those who correctly interpret the Bible have given more thought and time and study to the Scriptures than those who don't interpret the Bible correctly. Just like any skill can be taught, correct Bible interpretation is also a skill that can be taught to others to help them mature in this area faster.</div>
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In the Book of Acts, chapter 17:11 it says that the Thessalonians were considered "more noble or fair-minded" than others because they took the time to really study the Scriptures and test the things that they were hearing by the Word of God. The implication here is that there are also those who are "less noble" and "less fair-minded" because they do not take the Bible seriously. </div>
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Just as people can be trained to interpret the Bible honestly and contextually, people can also be trained to misinterpret the Bible and handle God's Word loosely. We've all worked with people who "cut corners" or do a sloppy job, and we've seen the damage that can be done. Whether its with the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger in 1986 or the 2010 BP oil spill, great damage can be caused when corners are cut. It is no different with interpreting the Bible. You can interpret it correctly and help people or interpret it incorrectly and cause great harm. The choice is yours, but remember we will all give an account to God for how we read, interpret and apply God's word. It is so important that we not just repeat what someone tells us just because it sounds good, but because we've tested it to be true according to sound Biblical interpretation and not the passing religious fads of the day.</div>
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And so when it comes to learning the Bible it is so important to sit under good Bible teaching because not only does it feed you a healthy meal of truth as opposed to spiritual junk food, hearing good Bible teaching also teaches you how to interpret the Bible correctly and prepare a healthy meal for yourself and others.</div>
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I must conclude in saying that honest, mature biblical interpretation never discounts the role of the Holy Spirit in illuminating, clarifying and even correctly applying God's Word.</div>
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Ultimately the power behind the teaching, hearing and applying of God's Word rests in God Himself. Nevertheless those who know us and hear us ought to be able to observe a maturing in how we interpret and apply the Word of God as any craftsman ought to progress in their skills.<br />
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May God help us to be humble enough to change our perspective should we receive greater light regarding sound Biblical interpretation. May we always be teachable and willing to hear and understand views other than our own. May we be discerning enough to know when we must remain resolved and unwavering having discovered through much study the very best interpretation of any passage or topic in the Bible. And finally, may we be gracious towards those who have come to different conclusions than our own.</div>
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"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." -2 Timothy 2:15<br />
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<br />
Some other related blogs I've written that may be of interest:<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/2010/08/do-you-take-bible-literally.html"><span style="color: blue;">Do you take the Bible literally?</span></a></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/2010/08/facesmap.html"><span style="color: blue;">F.A.C.E.S.M.A.P. "Evidence the Bible is Trustworthy"</span></a></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/2013/01/bibliolatry-and-dogma.html"><span style="color: blue;">Bibliolatry and Dogma</span></a></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/2011/01/gps.html"><span style="color: blue;">G.P.S. "God's Positioning System"</span></a></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-dishonest-skeptic.html"><span style="color: blue;">The Dishonest Skeptic</span></a></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/2010/06/gospel.html"><span style="color: blue;">The Gospel</span></a></div>
StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-4717408867088402872013-12-29T17:04:00.000-08:002014-02-11T11:32:01.523-08:00A Scandalous Christmas and its CHRIST<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Who would
have even thought that a story like this would ever get off the ground? </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">But it
did. And some people actually believe it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Once upon a
time, 2000 years ago, the invisible, eternal, Creator God entered into time and
space and became a fetus inside of an unmarried poor Jewish peasant girl named
Mary. She was engaged to be married to a blue collared carpenter named Joseph.
Mary claimed the child in her womb was from God and that she had not been
sleeping around but was still a virgin. No doubt in that highly conservative
and religious community she was instantly rejected as a dirty sinner who had
gotten pregnant outside of wedlock and really deserved death or desertion. Her
reputation in that community would forever be that of an adulteress and fornicator.
And Joseph, who could’ve easily found another wife decided to marry this
pregnant Mary and become father to a child that was not his own. His reputation
likewise would forever be tarnished having taken such a disgraceful woman to be
his wife and an illegitimate child to be his son. And this was just the
beginning of the perfect reputation of the earthly parents of the “divine” baby
Jesus, who would eventually be born in front of an audience of animals; goats,
donkeys, sheep, and oxen and all the wonderful smells that accompany such a
sanitized environment as his mommy goes into labor. An illegitimate birth in an
illegitimate place to a couple of poor Jews. But I thought Jesus was a King! This
kid is at a huge disadvantage before He’s even born! Right? </span><span style="line-height: 13px;">Shouldn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> He be
born in a palace, in a popular town somewhere, to some wealthy noble couple of
great religious and political reputation? And yet, here you have a couple
Jewish nobodies, who claim their Son is literally from God, but they give birth
to this “Special Child” in an animal cave, a barn practically, in the middle of
backwoods Bethlehem. Then they run from Bethlehem because Herod the King has
commanded mandatory post-birth abortions on all boys 2 years old and younger hoping to kill Jesus before He grows up and threatens his career. Joseph and Mary raise Jesus in hated Egypt for a few years which is not kosher, and then
they take him up north to grow up in a neighborhood in nowhere Nazareth where
they have other sons and daughters. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Well, Jesus grows up in silence for nearly
30 years alongside brothers and sisters who don’t believe He’s anything
super-special. He works as a blue collared carpenter alongside his dad Joseph as
a young adult. Sometime when He’s around 30 years old he pops up on the scene
near Jerusalem, following the crazy open air preaching ministry of His cousin
John the Baptist, who dresses like an animal, eats bugs and yells at people to
stop sinning. Jesus then does what every parent hopes their child will do, He
leaves the hammer and nails career of a carpenter to be a homeless Gospel
preacher. Except this Gospel preacher actually claimed to be the Son of God and
Savior of the world. Kinda bold don’t you think? </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Well, He carefully gathered an
elite group of 12 followers that many actually considered to be losers; a
motley-crue mix of fishermen, tax collectors, religious and political zealots,
brothers, cousins; two handfuls of nobodies. And for the final 3 years of His
short life He travels with these knuckle-heads, preaching in the streets, teaching
in the Jewish synagogues, and on the countryside, healing sick people of
diseases, casting demons out of people, and teaching His followers to love God,
love people and follow Him sincerely. </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Eventually this circuit preacher became a
real threat to the “establishment” of the day. He ends up angering the
religious and political leaders so much that they decide to have Him executed
for being a blasphemous cult leader, who claimed to be God, but they were
certain He was really demon possessed, practicing sorcery and leading a
heretical rebellion against the nation and the true religion of Israel. This
guy was causing problems for the status quo! He </span><span style="line-height: 13px;">wasn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> politically or
religiously correct as far as they were concerned. He needed to be censored,
even if it meant killing Him. He offended both sides of the isle. He </span><span style="line-height: 13px;">wouldn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> fit into their box and refused to play their games. Jesus offended both the
religious and the rebellious. With His words He afflicted the comfortable and
comforted the afflicted. Jesus always acted as if He was in total control, even
when they were killing Him. He said He came from heaven to earth to die for
sins, to save from hell, to rise again. He predicted His death, who would kill
Him, how He’d die, and how He’d rise again on the third day. But even His
disciples who lived with him for nearly 3 years </span><span style="line-height: 13px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> understand or believe
it. He </span><span style="line-height: 13px;">wasn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> fitting into their box either. What is it with this guy? Why is
He so different from every person that has ever lived? He washed the feet of
His disciples as a slave would wash the feet of their master. When He hung on
the cross naked He prayed for those who were killing Him. And then He died… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">If the story
ended there we would be fools to believe it. But on the third day, early in the
morning, the tomb of Jesus was empty. Did someone steal the body? Did He even
really die? Maybe they went to the wrong tomb? I mean, the documents say He
rose from the dead and revealed Himself first to three women. And of course we
know how valued a woman’s testimony was in that culture, right? Obviously I
speak sarcastically. Why would He rise from the dead and show Himself to women
first in a community that didn’t even regard a woman’s testimony as valid as a
man’s. This story is backwards in every area! Who would have the hero first die
for the villains, the sinners, and then rise from the dead to be seen by a few
women in a man’s culture? Did a bunch of
women conspire to make this thing up? But wait, then He appears to His own
disciples and they don’t even recognize Him at first. And when they see Him,
they think it’s a ghost, and Jesus has to ask them to touch Him. He even eats a
meal with them to show them He’s not a ghost. So you mean to tell me that even
the “believers” </span><span style="line-height: 13px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> believe Him at first? Who’s writing this? Someone needs
to doctor this thing up so that the disciples don’t appear to be so skeptical
and unbelieving. Right? I mean who’s actually going to believe this stuff if
the disciples come off sounding like your average, everyday ordinary people?
But that’s what it says. The documents also say that after He rose from the
dead He walked the earth 40 days, revealing Himself to people, telling them to
go and tell others He is risen from the dead. It says He appeared to over 500
people at one time. Jesus’ own brothers, James and Jude, who were skeptics His
whole life and thought He was crazy, became believers immediately after they
saw Him risen from the dead. Doubting Thomas thought the other disciples were
lying to him when they told him Jesus was alive from the dead. And finally even
some of His own enemies saw Him alive after He had died and became followers.
These nobodies, these losers, these skeptics, critics, cynics, these doubters
became believers and eventually wrote down their eye-witness accounts of the
life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We have bound together their
stories in what is now called, the Bible. And within its pages you can read the
original Christmas Story, which is even more wonderfully scandalous because
it’s historically true! That God became a baby to die for you! </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Christmas is about CHRIST! Do you know Him? </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This Christmas season, as you receive all kinds of gifts from people that probably won't change your life in any major way, why don't you receive the gift of eternal life from God by putting your faith in Jesus Christ. This will change your life and eternity!</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus told a man, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of things he possesses." -Luke 12:15</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus also said, "What shall it profit a person to gain the whole world and lose their soul?" -Mark 8:36</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Merry Christmas.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
Some other blogs I've written that may be of interest:<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/2010/06/gospel.html"><b><span style="color: blue;">The Gospel</span></b></a></span><br />
<b><a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/search/label/Dishonest%20Skeptic"><span style="color: blue;">The Dishonest Skeptic</span></a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/search/label/Do%20you%20take%20the%20Bible%20literally%3F"><span style="color: blue;">Do you take the Bible literally?</span></a></b><br />
<a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/search/label/FACESMAP"><b><span style="color: blue;">F.A.C.E.S.M.A.P. "Evidence the Bible is Trustworthy"</span></b></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-55675905442160723452013-10-29T16:53:00.000-07:002013-11-01T14:58:57.082-07:00How could a Loving God send someone to Hell?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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How would you respond to those who say,<br />
"A loving God would never send someone to hell"?<br />
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I would start with a question,<br />
"How do you know that God is a loving God?"<br />
A lot of people believe that God is loving but how do they <i>know</i> that's true?<br />
People often assume that God is loving without really thinking about how they know that.<br />
How do you really know that God is loving?<br />
Creation and nature do not tell you this. You cannot learn that God is loving by looking at the planets and stars, animals or people.<br />
So how can we really know that God is loving?<br />
Well, to know that God is actually a loving God rather than evil or indifferent you would need special, specific revelation about Him.<br />
You would need information about God from God or from someone who truely knows Him.<br />
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The Scriptures claim to be God's special and specific revelation to mankind. These Scriptures written by God through men and women who knew God are a special revelation that God is in fact a very loving.<br />
The world around us does not reveal specifically that God is loving but the Word of God does.<br />
The Bible from beginning to end reveals that God is infinitely loving and good.<br />
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We also have another special and specific revelation that assures us that God is loving.<br />
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, was a unique Messenger from God in that He claimed to be God Himself.<br />
You cannot ask for a better witness of the character and love of God than God Himself.<br />
Jesus not only claimed to be God, but He also believed and taught that the Scriptures were an accurate revelation from God, the actual Word of God.<br />
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And so we know that God is a loving God though the pages of Scripture, The Bible, and through the Person of Jesus Christ, God Himself.<br />
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In light of our innitial question the Scriptures and Jesus both tell us 2 very important things about God:<br />
1-God is loving<br />
2-God does send people to hell.<br />
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God's love for righteousness and His hatred for evil has led Him to both save people from hell and send people to hell.<br />
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As I mentioned before, Jesus actually claimed to be the loving God revealed in the Scriptures, and believe it or not we get the mass majority of our teaching about hell from the mouth of Jesus Himself.<br />
If you want to learn about hell just go straight to the teachings of Jesus, the God of Love, and read for yourself.<br />
Actually, contrary to popular belief, Jesus taught more about hell than He taught about heaven.<br />
You can read the New Testment and see for yourself.<br />
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After teaching the world about the reality of heaven and hell, Jesus Christ then gave up His own life, dying on a cross for our sins in order to save us from the very hell He warned us about.<br />
This was the ultimate demonstration of God's love for people.<br />
If you want to learn all about the love of God just go straight to Jesus in the Bible and read for yourself.<br />
"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8<br />
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Only in the Bible does the Hero die for the villains!<br />
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It is the climax of God's LOVE that saves us from the depths of God's HELL.<br />
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And so, in Jesus Christ, you actually have the God of Love in human form dying on a cross for sinners in order to save them from the hell He warned us about.<br />
Jesus rose from the grave and offers a "get out of hell free card" to anyone that turns from sin and trust in Him for salvation.<br />
I can't think of anything more loving that God could do.<br />
"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." -John 15:13<br />
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Let's summarize:<br />
"How could a loving God send someone to hell?<br />
1-We only know that God is loving through the Bible and the person of Jesus.<br />
2-The Bible and Jesus both clearly teach that God sends people to hell.<br />
3-God became a Man in Jesus Christ and died on the cross to save sinners from hell.<br />
4-The death of Jesus Christ is the greatest demonstration of God's love.<br />
5-A loving God sends people to hell who reject His love and salvation offered in Jesus Christ.<br />
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"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." -John 3:36<br />
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God's forgiveness is not automatic. Come to Jesus!<br />
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Other related blogs I've written that may be of interest:<br />
<a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/2010/09/hell.html"><span style="color: blue;">Hell</span></a><br />
<a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/search/label/Dishonest%20Skeptic"><span style="color: blue;">The Dishonest Skeptic</span></a><br />
<a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/2013/01/why-did-god-order-killing-of-canaanites.html"><span style="color: blue;">Why did God order the killing of the Canaanites?</span></a><br />
<a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/2010/08/do-you-take-bible-literally.html"><span style="color: blue;">Do you take the Bible literally?</span></a><br />
<a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/2010/06/gospel.html" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">The Gospel</span></a>StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-91347045264255161942013-10-13T19:04:00.001-07:002013-10-13T19:04:59.682-07:00Family Pics October 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Well, we're overdue again in sending out </div>
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an update and pictures of the family.</div>
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A lot has gone on this year and we hope to give </div>
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greater details in the future. </div>
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But in the meantime here's a few pictures.</div>
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We finally had to say good bye to Angela's trusty Acura this year.</div>
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And we got to say hello to a new (used) family minivan.</div>
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This has been a huge blessing for us!</div>
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Someone gave us the yellow Jeep, but it was broken. </div>
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I was able to fix it so James can drive it,</div>
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and now Jonathan can have the smaller one.</div>
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New rides for everyone!!!</div>
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Jonathan isn't old enough to drive, but he sure can ride!<br />
James is becoming a good driver.</div>
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I guess Jonathan called "shotgun!"</div>
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We thought we needed our official "rock-band" picture.</div>
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Jonathan's the drummer, he loves them!</div>
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James learned how to drive the boat around the lake this summer.</div>
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Dudes.</div>
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James riding the rides at the carnival near the beach.</div>
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Jonathan in his man-cave.</div>
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Beach boys.</div>
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Jonathan was old enough to enjoy the beach this year.</div>
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James loves playing at the beach.</div>
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Say What!</div>
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He's growin' up quick.</div>
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No baby "Super-heros" were hurt in the taking of this picture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTb3liczxQSduMQ6YI-DK9TF0sMkdMN59ENmaPFH8fhSCyC7qrjxFb37x0jRbS71A25DsN426JT6z41hebbT1I6UZWeI8FVsYS8XQySbobJYoyR57E6CC8nz1L-e5OVwIAN7_TV4SZyA/s1600/P1080034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTb3liczxQSduMQ6YI-DK9TF0sMkdMN59ENmaPFH8fhSCyC7qrjxFb37x0jRbS71A25DsN426JT6z41hebbT1I6UZWeI8FVsYS8XQySbobJYoyR57E6CC8nz1L-e5OVwIAN7_TV4SZyA/s320/P1080034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cheerio-Nose.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJgYrp747njm4VGoLUgD1LqQbUwuc5ZUsr6rD35rwj_ehzO7TxH1vJzz5cgYu0ooec5vw1ugEacntxaqBgKWRCY9IBXAD8-owekgnwjzW09aNSpL2BIdCQD9dKTK-KSnfBEYl2vddVaU/s1600/P1080140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJgYrp747njm4VGoLUgD1LqQbUwuc5ZUsr6rD35rwj_ehzO7TxH1vJzz5cgYu0ooec5vw1ugEacntxaqBgKWRCY9IBXAD8-owekgnwjzW09aNSpL2BIdCQD9dKTK-KSnfBEYl2vddVaU/s320/P1080140.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Pray for our Soldiers.....in the Lord's Army!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMRoN9SsQBnCSxzK6bqjntkBIyfts2PxQ5yYJAWP4n44jgea4FPWl2Si7govgG0snDQofYhI6-k6dYhim06v9KPUW44bZD6Ca6LoUIYr04Cm-q_AING-d9p4-DDf-ywslHnVvKEsNmtg/s1600/P1080144b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMRoN9SsQBnCSxzK6bqjntkBIyfts2PxQ5yYJAWP4n44jgea4FPWl2Si7govgG0snDQofYhI6-k6dYhim06v9KPUW44bZD6Ca6LoUIYr04Cm-q_AING-d9p4-DDf-ywslHnVvKEsNmtg/s320/P1080144b.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk04vmBlvWs0-Vl5Muuh09PB7gEATl1iFex0mNMqO-cNoAj1wmvyrPaz9EzaN1tvtcVg5gq-NHlyx1FxsgMRGCjo_nVm2P2nLpBogJwO7hav0QMXE_c0VWO5nX2N97H4S3saoZo2iHrP8/s1600/773.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk04vmBlvWs0-Vl5Muuh09PB7gEATl1iFex0mNMqO-cNoAj1wmvyrPaz9EzaN1tvtcVg5gq-NHlyx1FxsgMRGCjo_nVm2P2nLpBogJwO7hav0QMXE_c0VWO5nX2N97H4S3saoZo2iHrP8/s320/773.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We love you guys! Thanks for all your prayer and encouragement!</div>
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The Stephens Family 2013</div>
<br />StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-45781901983471588142013-06-29T13:46:00.000-07:002013-09-02T09:23:06.482-07:00Pics of Kids 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I thought we'd post a few pictures of the kids </div>
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for those of you would like to see.</div>
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These are from this past Winter and Spring.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYyfd_dsuOVjdKvndX5QQzjf_2MQWPdtr3L5Mjh3dl-zLt15zE1cU7FtDByjdydxRGsCKUG_6gtXPdhmKy5FGB7onZLoVMOmcDMPDT9O5Agij9imAxHWtIYQOiamrgbXHjpDlczo8LEk/s1600/james+soccer+2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYyfd_dsuOVjdKvndX5QQzjf_2MQWPdtr3L5Mjh3dl-zLt15zE1cU7FtDByjdydxRGsCKUG_6gtXPdhmKy5FGB7onZLoVMOmcDMPDT9O5Agij9imAxHWtIYQOiamrgbXHjpDlczo8LEk/s320/james+soccer+2013.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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James started soccer this Spring and loved it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKZsjVlJ34q4viVKMuFlKjTo-dD1402HHJ5QoefLbQebC9VkHBlHsFS4Xl2_d2qBfjzGFeRO2Y7712v0xHKsxWT-Cj6vrNa0Veuichc2Ai0EqTq0Vqd_bt3luzs7HpcNI0ug2Osbq87Y/s1600/6-12-13+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKZsjVlJ34q4viVKMuFlKjTo-dD1402HHJ5QoefLbQebC9VkHBlHsFS4Xl2_d2qBfjzGFeRO2Y7712v0xHKsxWT-Cj6vrNa0Veuichc2Ai0EqTq0Vqd_bt3luzs7HpcNI0ug2Osbq87Y/s320/6-12-13+029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is James and his good friend Aiden who also lives in our neighborhood.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBxdOp0OxTKlryhOsVbdsnpLUw_OH2oQHboAekxjBVQJ5MlqXILEE2Fmh70vHjSChpp5GgUocPSWZVL2BPBB4-plIyJY6vAm-ss8ALGggKp1E6xoTGY9O1s3dtE_Dkm7uO7mf64Xpo4E/s1600/6-12-13+054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBxdOp0OxTKlryhOsVbdsnpLUw_OH2oQHboAekxjBVQJ5MlqXILEE2Fmh70vHjSChpp5GgUocPSWZVL2BPBB4-plIyJY6vAm-ss8ALGggKp1E6xoTGY9O1s3dtE_Dkm7uO7mf64Xpo4E/s320/6-12-13+054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Jonathan was chillin watching his big brother play soccer.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlobz3up-LZqlhyphenhyphenjGRH6QM9ISaLpOBiCjD7vntdUiIPFq5_Ui9fK7yQbGwmSLb-DbLjtP0NY-ssUiYje_vAvif6Rt1jkqeXEgLl4GXQTNriZ7IUHwSm9qNrBcWGMgSZHs8MuB7muAWZU/s1600/6-12-13+094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlobz3up-LZqlhyphenhyphenjGRH6QM9ISaLpOBiCjD7vntdUiIPFq5_Ui9fK7yQbGwmSLb-DbLjtP0NY-ssUiYje_vAvif6Rt1jkqeXEgLl4GXQTNriZ7IUHwSm9qNrBcWGMgSZHs8MuB7muAWZU/s320/6-12-13+094.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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James Robot.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3pRrJU1ykV-YQqGexBVoMDPPruxgAsD4dEKLwqfKYq8-N41GLF7ff1jhgxwuJ6E_3Kfwiv_LzAjwKiJRAJNr8kNbGx4Q-CCmsYOykhX3W2-jPqLfd-COMaW916YolFqCd6ST7bnU7Pk/s1600/6-12-13+106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3pRrJU1ykV-YQqGexBVoMDPPruxgAsD4dEKLwqfKYq8-N41GLF7ff1jhgxwuJ6E_3Kfwiv_LzAjwKiJRAJNr8kNbGx4Q-CCmsYOykhX3W2-jPqLfd-COMaW916YolFqCd6ST7bnU7Pk/s320/6-12-13+106.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hey! Raise the roof I just turned 1!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zwvDciJg_Eq193ZGko_V6qRzvNK8mgXps_S3A9HYPNTvTU2gDI7UGVQS8BAsS3My3lZcxLv8TyQwHsJnKlupbViHBFxjb6Dj3ijwy8YJTs7YS5DUtSDyI9cVr0d5Sr6yZ5CqG47WaYM/s1600/6-12-13+174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zwvDciJg_Eq193ZGko_V6qRzvNK8mgXps_S3A9HYPNTvTU2gDI7UGVQS8BAsS3My3lZcxLv8TyQwHsJnKlupbViHBFxjb6Dj3ijwy8YJTs7YS5DUtSDyI9cVr0d5Sr6yZ5CqG47WaYM/s320/6-12-13+174.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Got a slide for my birthday.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8egeNXbI5H5zpdtoGGQbrHXhqm0sREEMb_X61iCuiupyi1UItAVd9ssBiIbOcTNYCamqpuJ5CC7YOpMGuARf2OVSlp25p5AMS9P9WzINA5mh9gv1zDfpaGVyss34eG3FYnABEZg3eUk/s640/CIMG3911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8egeNXbI5H5zpdtoGGQbrHXhqm0sREEMb_X61iCuiupyi1UItAVd9ssBiIbOcTNYCamqpuJ5CC7YOpMGuARf2OVSlp25p5AMS9P9WzINA5mh9gv1zDfpaGVyss34eG3FYnABEZg3eUk/s320/CIMG3911.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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James at the zoo just hangin out.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYqxL42GL-Sryh9WEhgBFBI6fYQZ79B5XeTDO5RHvosAQljdDcWd1qvPxyL8fuIpEMYRtEG1x2hn7IRF5wp3i4xeHYNv9H_x2lQolywYLZNe3dLyD_dB2Qa_45AJmI7iLuUvW7cOldP0/s1600/jonathan+bath.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYqxL42GL-Sryh9WEhgBFBI6fYQZ79B5XeTDO5RHvosAQljdDcWd1qvPxyL8fuIpEMYRtEG1x2hn7IRF5wp3i4xeHYNv9H_x2lQolywYLZNe3dLyD_dB2Qa_45AJmI7iLuUvW7cOldP0/s320/jonathan+bath.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Bath time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3SCYgWTyt-lc5E4PUBhRprGJnuWKDh7TkDIUJz3qlDoEmnrKOgq84DD20jnjABMoqlU5hjFCYZq9uch7MUosDE82BGUhRWjx8IhamV13NPH2dGC0IxpgSDdeAP5HEOATGW49dgL2PoK0/s1600/P1070551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3SCYgWTyt-lc5E4PUBhRprGJnuWKDh7TkDIUJz3qlDoEmnrKOgq84DD20jnjABMoqlU5hjFCYZq9uch7MUosDE82BGUhRWjx8IhamV13NPH2dGC0IxpgSDdeAP5HEOATGW49dgL2PoK0/s320/P1070551.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Got a little snow this past winter.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30YTbyb-c1oaeTMoS6fxGTkzfv7-XfY_uQHFcsB_Btvyu0jh1NuWi2_h6GCgZ4uhGNv-Y6h1UrG4xVn_9-ouwUEA-3Z7oXhUT0WFFWsiA81s0rogdU1fT7aUjV411mt3JiURKdz1Xppw/s1600/P1070555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30YTbyb-c1oaeTMoS6fxGTkzfv7-XfY_uQHFcsB_Btvyu0jh1NuWi2_h6GCgZ4uhGNv-Y6h1UrG4xVn_9-ouwUEA-3Z7oXhUT0WFFWsiA81s0rogdU1fT7aUjV411mt3JiURKdz1Xppw/s320/P1070555.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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First winter and snow experience.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CM5GM9DGeKBDoDcJSZ-fkCUoAurY-zSGzFuRvcc-ORtobegWImRTuexZRZUtCJy6IGz2Cdb7ocIBD9u5V-NqpASPYQDXaUxRhNJBvWwTO1a3vkjjrOcXzP1aHKjE5ncdaQxaEftidPc/s1600/P1070470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CM5GM9DGeKBDoDcJSZ-fkCUoAurY-zSGzFuRvcc-ORtobegWImRTuexZRZUtCJy6IGz2Cdb7ocIBD9u5V-NqpASPYQDXaUxRhNJBvWwTO1a3vkjjrOcXzP1aHKjE5ncdaQxaEftidPc/s320/P1070470.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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James is good at building castles.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BzkzoDL_RxYOe7UDKEMoXpvP_uniFZ3IWctLxf8wGT1T82SHKBwfPppke3XP-34iLs7aoBGsl2vCCAGbT0qvxFbJMqY8R42Hncg2K_Y-xZL35aijg1VQLEe07fbeM2UVQRPvmcVJ4eQ/s1600/P1070724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BzkzoDL_RxYOe7UDKEMoXpvP_uniFZ3IWctLxf8wGT1T82SHKBwfPppke3XP-34iLs7aoBGsl2vCCAGbT0qvxFbJMqY8R42Hncg2K_Y-xZL35aijg1VQLEe07fbeM2UVQRPvmcVJ4eQ/s320/P1070724.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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He's built this one all by himself.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNeqO4z_9DGQNqaqPuXudKoUmgBuC0tbwRh-7ca3GrzZHwhaAcsGzNdDd56zfKxziMkL142ietwhl6g9whI0se843s3TQOqqLSRUIIqncdAfOaPns0AgQGr3OI-cqLAVPYqvFSEmCoLJw/s1600/6-12-13+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNeqO4z_9DGQNqaqPuXudKoUmgBuC0tbwRh-7ca3GrzZHwhaAcsGzNdDd56zfKxziMkL142ietwhl6g9whI0se843s3TQOqqLSRUIIqncdAfOaPns0AgQGr3OI-cqLAVPYqvFSEmCoLJw/s320/6-12-13+005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Super Saturday church event where he could ride a horse.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjfn0Yr7SYDGbaPbiXfhNqXPIsJnGR-AK4YYSzBZRR7V5XqC2YrP2EX4mMrsh4XTsFzUNDzHs5bRpxVbUNla2eFpjYutGoa9hbU1zmZJreF4Is02Wv-70c_TlB4ni2m5kMvyz9wsPwwY/s1600/w+dadjmsjon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjfn0Yr7SYDGbaPbiXfhNqXPIsJnGR-AK4YYSzBZRR7V5XqC2YrP2EX4mMrsh4XTsFzUNDzHs5bRpxVbUNla2eFpjYutGoa9hbU1zmZJreF4Is02Wv-70c_TlB4ni2m5kMvyz9wsPwwY/s320/w+dadjmsjon.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The boys.</div>
StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-27435181328492312232013-05-21T11:12:00.000-07:002013-05-21T19:08:05.045-07:00ipray<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkW8tp1AHM44LHYiz0AqfIpK48esM85hvbzeidGlxuxI-StEKoc244hbWRJPGHNzZm8sDylufVPKHbR0ocgDpt_BFJJBAY-R0SMPV8P99DfkaDcg4uPODnQfy3ZiNWUanRul19rYgMM-U/s1600/iPray.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617043455717860482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkW8tp1AHM44LHYiz0AqfIpK48esM85hvbzeidGlxuxI-StEKoc244hbWRJPGHNzZm8sDylufVPKHbR0ocgDpt_BFJJBAY-R0SMPV8P99DfkaDcg4uPODnQfy3ZiNWUanRul19rYgMM-U/s400/iPray.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 322px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Do you guys have an "ipray" ?</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Wow, this thing is awesome, and the Apps are incredible!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"> </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">I've never seen so many Applications to one communication device. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">I guess the "ipray" has been around for a long time, it just doesn't get that much publicity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">I hear it's actually been banned in certain schools, businesses, families and courtrooms. I think its a political thing and people just really have a problem with the service Provider.</span></span></div>
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Regardless, everyone should look into getting an "ipray" for themselves. </div>
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Just the applications alone make it the most powerful personal communication device know to man.</div>
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One App actually allows you to affect and change the eternal destinies of men and women all over the world. Can you believe it? By using it you can even change your own destiny.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some Apps even allow you to participate in changing world history. I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true! Either through your own individual use of the “ipray” or by joining a network of other “ipray” users, you can actually steer the course of time and history in a fresh and exciting direction.</div>
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There's an App that delivers you from the bondage of sin, and gives you power to live a holy life. For best results you have to use this one often. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There's an App that actually takes your worries and replaces them with a peace that is beyond understanding. This App actually helps you to have a more productive and stress-free day. I wish more people would download and use this one. I need to use it more too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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There are Apps for everything from marriage, family, finances, relationships, business, education, ethics and entertainment, and even planning for retirement and the afterlife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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The service Provider has included a disclaimer about using the Apps, though. It states that the Designer has reserved the right to track your use of various applications and interject His instruction at any time. For example, when using one App, the Designer might suggest using a different App that applies more to your particular need. While initially this threw people off, it has become a welcomed feature to those who use their “ipray” the most.</div>
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Now before changing any of your situations, most of the Apps are designed to change you first into a more humble, loving, godly and wise person. This takes some time getting used to.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Oh, yea.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Did I mention, the “ipray” is Free! And all the Apps are free! They can take time to download and enjoy, but they're worth it. They’re all free, all the time and available for anyone, anywhere! There are no other service providers<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>who offer any deals close to this!<o:p></o:p></div>
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A great feature of the “ipray” is that its superior technology gets great reception anywhere on the planet.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are no monthly fees or taxes. Everything has already been prepaid by the Manufacturer.</div>
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There are no dead zones, dropped calls or glitches in the system. It’s literally out of this world!</div>
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And there are free replacements should you feel your “ipray” was lost or stolen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There is only one catch that seems to really irritate a whole lot of people, and that's the fact that even though the “ipray” is totally free all the time, it’s only available through One service Provider, and that's JC&C.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jesus Christ & the Cross is the only Provider that offers free delivery, activation, wireless global and situational access, endless applications, earth-wide unlimited high speed data, talk and info transmission, around the clock customer service, and finally a 100% guarantee of ultimate and eternal satisfaction.</div>
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No need to worry about sudden changes or alterations in your “ipray” service plan because this special offer is the same yesterday, today and forever. Feel free to shop all other “so called” service providers to see if you find anything comparable to the JC&C ipray.</div>
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Your lifetime personal “ipray” plan includes all minutes, messages and data and will begin whenever you agree to the Terms and Conditions set forth by the service Provider as stated in the Bible and activated by Jesus Christ Himself.</div>
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ipray! </div>
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check it out!<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>Other blogs of interest:</b><br />
<a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/search/label/Do%20you%20take%20the%20Bible%20literally%3F">Do you take the Bible literally?</a><br />
<a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/2010/06/gospel.html">The Gospel</a><br />
<a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/search/label/I%27m%20a%20Tree%20Hugger">I'm a Tree Hugger!</a></div>
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StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-71409158815427821472013-04-24T18:38:00.000-07:002013-04-30T16:39:17.455-07:00The Dishonest Skeptic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qWErMrql6uhd9f_OFBNK9_35uwyuXRtrRA0kIAtImgYhpLNEH9v0g4kWRuC-A4bWkMxVK9Cw69nJxOXSr_Jpnuq0_kgo6YcI0NNvmgLYh1G8jJX0Q75z9dtL66hJxIlJLmKHvvdkqE8/s1600/i+wont+listen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qWErMrql6uhd9f_OFBNK9_35uwyuXRtrRA0kIAtImgYhpLNEH9v0g4kWRuC-A4bWkMxVK9Cw69nJxOXSr_Jpnuq0_kgo6YcI0NNvmgLYh1G8jJX0Q75z9dtL66hJxIlJLmKHvvdkqE8/s400/i+wont+listen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>"Professing to be wise, they became fools..." -Romans 1:22</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Skepticism" seems to be pretty trendy these days.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Currently in our culture its
cool to be an atheist or a sarcastic agnostic.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I talk with people about God, the Bible and spiritual things I must confess that lately I've found
myself skeptical about the "dishonest skeptic." </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here are some of my
thoughts about the "DISHONEST SKEPTIC."<span style="background: white;"><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
dishonest skeptic is skeptical about everything except his own skepticism.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">A dishonest skeptic claims that you can't
"know" if God is real, and if Jesus and the Bible are true, but in
the same breath they're claiming that they "know" for certain you can't
know if God, Jesus or the Bible is true.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">A dishonest skeptic will read anything and
everything about the Bible and against the Bible but they won't read the Bible
itself.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Whenever a dishonest skeptic does read the Bible
it’s only to find fault with it. They won't read the Bible like any other piece
of literature, from beginning to end, chapter by chapter. No, they read the
Bible totally different, hopping around, and jumping from book to book, one
verse here, one verse there, taking verses completely out of context, refusing
to understand the culture or actual meaning. They pick through and hunt for
things in the Bible they totally disagree with just to have ammunition to throw
at people who actually read and study the Bible. In reality the dishonest skeptic
uses the Bible he hates out of context to attack those who love the Bible. He
misuses the Bible to disprove the Bible.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">A dishonest skeptic will often just parrot and
repeat what he hears from others rather than really studying the issues
themselves or doing honest fact finding.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Whenever you challenge a dishonest skeptic about
their claims, they retreat back into their "I don't want to talk about
this right now" or "the Bible's been translated so many times we can
never really know what actually happened" or "what about all the other religions out there" or "what about those who
never heard about Jesus or the Bible" or the famous "science and evolution have
proven the Bible's wrong."</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">It’s easier for them to bring up new questions
than process your answers.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">A dishonest skeptic will ask a question and as
you answer will interrupt with another question and then another until they've
led you completely off topic. They're more interested in blasting you with
questions than actually listening to your answers.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">A dishonest skeptic claims to be reasonable,
rational, logical and intelligent, and yet when you really challenge their
"reasons" for not believing in Jesus or the Bible you find their
excuses are almost always "emotional." Either some Christian or
church let them down, or they're upset with certain things in their life and
consciously or subconsciously blame God.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">For the dishonest skeptic the words
"skeptical", "reasonable" and "rational" are
really a cloak to hide their EMOTIONAL insecurities with the Bible and what it
stands for.</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">A dishonest skeptic accuses you of having
"faith" while they claim to have "reason." Yet they fail to
acknowledge that most, if not all of what they believe about the history of the
world is based solely on "faith" in the writings of historians and
scientists. As a matter of fact, everything that a skeptic believes that they
did not personally experience or personally test by the scientific method they
believe by faith. They "trust" what historians and scientists claim,
and they put "faith" in their writings because they want to
"trust" them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
dishonest skeptic does not "trust" the historical claims of the Bible
because they do not "want" to trust them. It is a matter of the
"will." They "will" not believe, not they
"cannot" believe.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<span style="background: white;">Ultimately a dishonest skeptic doesn't believe
the Bible is true because they don’t want it to be true. They will side-step
the vast amounts of evidence for the Bible and stand firmly on their emotional
dislike of the Bible.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white;">A dishonest skeptic refuses to admit that his
problem with the Bible is that the Bible has a problem with his behavior. His
unbelief is often not due to "science" but rather "sin."
The Bible clearly challenges their behavior, and the dishonest skeptic doesn't
want anyone telling them what to do or not to do. The dishonest skeptic wants
only his so called "skepticism" to be the ultimate authority in his
life.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">They reject the Bible out of "fear",
not FACTS.</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">A dishonest skeptic never really wants to be
"taught" the Bible. They autonomously want to determine what the
Bible says and means. They want to tell the Bible what it means, not listen to
what it means. Any attempt to correct or clarify their misunderstanding about
the Bible is quickly rejected with the thought or words, "Don't preach at
me." Trying to educate a dishonest skeptic on what the Bible actually
means in context according to the author's original intent is like trying to
get a stubborn 3 year old to eat their peas. Even if you feed it to them
they'll spit it right out despite you.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">They'd rather starve to death than eat those disgusting
peas.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">A dishonest skeptic would rather die in his
disbelief, priding himself in his skepticism than to be humbled and challenged
to change his perspective.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">And even when a dishonest skeptic miraculously
changes their view on something they refuse to acknowledge those who challenged
them or helped them change their view, but instead claim they figured it out
all on their own as a result of their own intellectual "skepticism."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">A dishonest skeptic can't find God and truth for
the same reason a criminal can't find a policeman. It’s a matter of
convenience, not availability. They're not really looking.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">A dishonest skeptic wants to determine their own
truth, not discover real truth.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">A dishonest skeptic will believe just about
anything as long as it’s not Christianity.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">A dishonest skeptic will use totally bogus
examples to not believe Christianity, like Crusades and people who blow-up
abortion clinics, or money hungry TV evangelists, or catholic ministers who
molest kids, or even hypocritical Christians. All of these examples are totally
against the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible and are therefore
UN-Christian. You cannot use unchristian behavior as an example of
Christianity. You cannot hold TRUE Christianity responsible for the terrible acts
of its hypocrites and heretics.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">And a dishonest skeptic will seldom or never go
directly to the teachings of Jesus Christ to learn about what true Christianity
is. They'd rather spend their time arguing and fighting against the wrong
thing. They set up a "false Christianity" and spend all their time
disproving it while they accuse you of believing it.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">If you were to ask a dishonest skeptic
"What is Christianity?" You would most likely hear about a religion
you wouldn't even believe in yourself. Because a dishonest skeptic refuses to
do their homework about the very things they're trying disprove.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">A dishonest skeptic has their favorite
"anti-christian," "anti-bible" websites, blogs, books and
speakers that they constantly consult to try to overthrow any challenges they
might be presented with from a thoughtful Christian. And the dishonest skeptic
is clueless to the fact that even those websites and resources present a false
or distorted view of Christianity. It’s easier for a dishonest skeptic to be
bitterly against their own opinion about what Christianity is than to give you
an opportunity to explain what genuine biblical Christianity really is.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">A dishonest skeptic assumes Christians agree on
everything and refuses to let individual Christians speak for themselves about
why they believe in Jesus or the Bible. A dishonest skeptic doesn't understand
that Christians can disagree on non-essentials while agreeing on the
essentials. And they can't comprehend that Christianity can have unity and
diversity, even in harmony.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Dishonest skeptics look at all the different
denominations in Christianity as proof that it’s not true because there are so
many differences. They overlook the fact that the Christian faith was Divinely
designed to allow flexibility, differences and distinctions among believers to
accommodate a variety of cultures and preferences in worship style and ministry
methods, but nevertheless, the Christian Church is united on the essentials,
The Person and Work of Jesus Christ.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">A dishonest skeptic always remembers the
"bad things" caused by religion but conveniently forgets all the good
things inspired by true religion. For example: Peace, love, forgiveness, good
works, mercy and compassion, helping the poor, handicapped, widows and orphans,
starting schools, universities, hospitals, rescue missions, freeing slaves,
human rights, disaster relief, counseling, strong marriage and family values,
just and moral laws and leaders, and on and on.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">A dishonest skeptic says they don't believe in
"organized religion" but they do want "organized"
everything else, like organized government, politics, laws, schools, hospitals,
restaurants, work places, sports, etc. Isn't it interesting that the only thing
they won't allow to be "organized" is religion, as though "disorganized
religion" would be far better. A dishonest skeptic refuses to see that
organized thoughts, ideas and beliefs within religion give it substance,
clarity and direction as opposed to just believing a bunch of random chaotic
ideas about God. Disorganized religion is what the dishonest skeptic really
wants so that they can believe whatever they want whether it’s true or not, and
so that they can avoid any accountability for their own beliefs or behaviors.
Disorganized religion dismantles religion, and that’s what the dishonest
skeptic is really pushing for.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">A dishonest skeptic assumes all
"institutionalized religion" is corrupt to the core as though the
word "institutionalized" brings some kind of corrupting curse with
it. A dishonest skeptic will allow anything and everything to become "organized"
and "institutionalized" except for religion. Religion cannot have
that freedom. It can't start institutionalized and organized schools or
universities or hospitals or anything. A dishonest skeptic will only allow
religion to be an unorganized blob of non-institutionalized people who don't
really agree about anything except the existence God and doing nice things.</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">If you ask a dishonest skeptic, "If
Christianity were true, would you become a Christian?" they would most
likely say, "NO!"</span><br /><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And finally, a
dishonest skeptic is willfully ignorant to the fact that Christianity has
already powerfully answered all of the major objections, criticisms and
concerns of skeptics for centuries. Multitudes of Christian philosophers,
scholars, pastor, teachers and apologists throughout the world and history have been thoughtfully
tackling the hard questions about God and the Christian faith. The honest
skeptic has no shortage of answers to any objection. Should they follow the
evidence where it leads I am fully convinced they will discover the Christian
faith provides superior answers to life’s hardest questions and best explains the reality we all share.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dear Dishonest
Skeptic. Come to Jesus.......and bring all your questions!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>And a word to the Christian: </b></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
Certainly we have all had our own experience with the "dishonest skeptic," and perhaps we have even been one ourselves. As followers of Jesus we should strive to be as honest and understanding as possible lest the critics call us "dishonest saints."</div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And dear Christian, don't let anyone convince you the Christian faith is "blind." Jesus said one of the greatest commandments is to love God with all of your mind! If I don't use my mind to love God then I am sinning against one of the greatest commandments of God. God created our minds to be used in knowing and loving Him.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As the hostility
against the Christian faith begins to rise in our culture, let us rise to the
challenge by not neglecting to use our minds. Let us cultivate the life of the
Christian mind that God might be glorified in saints that are actually equipped
to handle the challenges of the current critics. Jesus was never afraid of a
question. Neither should we be.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Please consider the following verses as strong biblical support for us to be equipping our minds.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The
heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours
forth evil.” –Proverbs 15:28</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“So
Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing so difficult for Solomon
that he could not explain it to her.” -2 Chronicles 9:2</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Jesus
said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God will all your heart, with all
your soul and with ALL YOUR MIND.” –Matthew 22:37</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Be
diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." -2 Timothy 2:15</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Let
your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you
ought to answer each one.” -Colossians 4:6</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“But
avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a
servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach,
patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps
will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may
come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken
captive by him to do his will.” -2 Timothy 2:23-26</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“But
sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to
everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and
fear.” -1 Peter 3:15</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Beloved,
while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I
found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the
faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> -Jude
3</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Other blogs I've written that may be of interest to you:</b></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/search/label/Do%20you%20take%20the%20Bible%20literally%3F"><b>Do you take the Bible literally?</b></a></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/search/label/G.P.S."><b>G.P.S.</b></a></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/search/label/FACESMAP"><b>F.A.C.E.S.M.A.P. "Evidence the Bible is Trustworthy"</b></a></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Gospel"><b>The Gospel</b></a></span><br />
<a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/2013/01/why-did-god-order-killing-of-canaanites.html"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Why did God order the killing of the Canaanites?</b></span></a></div>
<br />StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-38093325303793037192013-04-12T18:40:00.000-07:002013-04-30T16:36:39.246-07:00Why did God order the killing of the Canaanites?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mt_07TYl5wI1xdPnc2xcsfAE704TTtdeCCc5OzT0K69u9oa3fgqapbiVlSwfKtjlkaLRXUx33GwIf5ZsY7FyRbakyIA5qbCso8EJ_QSAp3kvN4AC9gWohLVmpkQm1xybkG4ZzB0hRWQ/s1600/joshua-conquring-the-canaanites3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mt_07TYl5wI1xdPnc2xcsfAE704TTtdeCCc5OzT0K69u9oa3fgqapbiVlSwfKtjlkaLRXUx33GwIf5ZsY7FyRbakyIA5qbCso8EJ_QSAp3kvN4AC9gWohLVmpkQm1xybkG4ZzB0hRWQ/s400/joshua-conquring-the-canaanites3.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>
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There are things in the Bible that if left unstudied can cause
someone to be suspicious about the character and nature of God. These things
can become stumbling blocks to faith or fuel for skepticism and unbelief. It’s
important to thoughtfully tackle these things lest they become a seed for
confusion. A major concern today (and throughout history) in the hearts and
minds of skeptics and believers regarding the Bible is the question, "Why
would God command the destruction of all those different people in the Old
Testament?" Or, "If God is so good and loving, then how could He have
ordered the total slaughter of certain groups of people in history?" These
are great questions, and if someone is honestly open to hearing great answers
to those questions, I believe this blog can help. There are plenty of better
resources available on the web but I’ll add mine. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
After engaging skeptics and unbelievers regarding these questions
I was convinced I needed to study and share what I learned. The following is a
summary of my notes from listening to a discussion between Greg Koukl and Clay
Jones concerning this very topic, as well as reading through the Scriptures and
reading articles on this issue. If you'd like to listen for yourself or follow
up on this topic I would encourage you to visit the links at the bottom of the
page. There you will find more details to fill in the gaps. Well, let’s get
started.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Why did God order the killing of the Canaanites?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Isn’t it wonderful that God answers this very question Himself! We
don’t have to wonder, assume or speculate. Without even having to look outside
the Scriptures in order to address this situation, God Himself answers this
question directly in the Bible.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Let’s first set the stage.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the Book of Leviticus chapter 18, God commands His own people,
the children or nation of Israel not to
commit certain sins:<o:p></o:p></div>
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1-Adultery 2-Incest 3-Rape 4-Homosexuality 5-Bestiality 6-Etc.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is because of these behaviors God says He judges nations. And
without showing partiality God said He would also judge His own people, Israel
if they did these things. Now God judges nations in a variety of ways, however
His ultimate or final judgment against sin in this world is through death, both
physical and spiritual. Following death each soul will stand before God in
judgment and give account. In this blog we will deal primarily with judgment in
this life, not the next. And so, you can read for yourself and see in Leviticus
18 that God warns His people not to commit the terrible acts of the pagan
nations that He is finally going to judge. Here God is bringing judgment upon
behavior, not nationality, race, or even belief systems. God promises to judge
any nation that continues to commit these kinds of sinful behaviors, even if
that nation is Israel, God's chosen people. God does not show partiality
however He is very patient.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In Genesis chapter 18 God tells Abraham that He would not destroy
Sodom and Gomorrah if there are 30 righteous people living in it. Through God's
conversation with Abraham we learn that God would not even judge (or destroy)
Sodom and Gomorrah if 10 righteous people lived there. And through this we see
that God in His love and mercy would withhold judgment against a nation because
of a few righteous people living there. In the story of Genesis 18 about Sodom
and Gomorrah we read that the older men and younger boys did not want to repent
of their sin but instead wanted to homosexually rape the 2 visiting angels that
came as representatives of God. Homosexual behavior had become such a
stronghold in Sodom and Gomorrah that the men of that community were now
seeking to rape innocent visitors. God knows sin is a slippery slope.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now here’s the key, don’t miss this. In Genesis 15:13-16 God tells
us that He put His people in Egypt for 400 years until the sins of the Amorites
had finally reached their full. Then and only then did God decide to bring
judgment against them. We see God here as being 400 years patient and
longsuffering with the sins of the pagan people before He finally brings
judgment. And so the question might be asked, "Why did God order the
killing of the Canaanites 400 years after they had committed these terrible
sins?" God is very patient with the sins of all people.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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And remember, we read in Leviticus 18 that God warns His own
people that if they commit the abominations of the heathens, then the land
itself will vomit them out too. This is figurative language for saying that if
the land "vomits them out" then even nature is disgusted with their
behavior. You know it can’t be good when you make the dirt sick enough to throw
up. And in case you forget and think that God was just after those heathens
remember that God showed no partiality with His own people, Israel, and
promised that they too would be judged and removed from the land if they
practiced the same abominable sins as the heathens. It is sin that brings
judgment, not race, gender or age. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And so to summarize what we’ve learned so far:<o:p></o:p></div>
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1-God tells us Himself in the Bible why He slaughtered certain
nations<o:p></o:p></div>
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2-We see that God is very patient, even 400 years patient, giving
individuals and nations time to repent and turn away from sin<o:p></o:p></div>
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3- God brings judgment on sin and evil behavior, not race, gender,
age or nationality.<o:p></o:p></div>
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4- God shows no partiality and promises to judge His own people
should they commit the same sins and abominations.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This might give you some relief just having a little more
understanding, but there are still questions that arise as we think about the literal
“slaughter of thousands of people” and can’t help but wonder if that’s a bit
extreme.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You might be saying to yourself, "But what was so wrong with
those nations, I mean they had their own culture and traditions and ways of
worshiping? What's wrong with that? Why is that an abomination when it's just
their way of life?" <o:p></o:p></div>
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Well, let’s consider for a moment that a people's beliefs always
affect their behavior, and you ultimately become like whatever you worship. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In ancient times the people of Canaan worshiped a god called
"Molech." You can read about this on your own, but there is an
ancient poem about this god Molech. It talks about a bull-headed god named
Molech, who had a sister who was in the form of a cow, and he raped her 77
times, even 88 times, it says. This is very weird and graphic I know, but it
makes a point. This is a poem about a “god” that they worshipped and revered! You
see, just in this poem we have: 1-a pagan god (Molech) 2- rape (the god rapes)
3- incest (the god rapes his sister) 4- bestiality (the god and sister are half
animal) 5- unrepentant continual rape, 77, even 88 times. This poem actually
glorifies the abominations that God was strictly against and spoke about in
Leviticus 18. Through further studies of the ancient god, Molech we can
discover that the worshipers of Molech would actually offer their babies and
children up to Molech by laying their kids upon a burning hot altar and
watching them burn to death. Archaeology has revealed that they would burn
alive kids up to four years old. What seems to be an unimaginable act of
violence towards children was a so called "act of worship" for the
people of Molech. The Bible refers to this abomination in Leviticus 18:21 as
"allowing your sons and daughters to pass through the fires of
Molech." And so we see that this was not some innocent pagan religion and
custom, but a destructive pagan religion that idolized sin and behaviors that
hurt people, destroyed families, and broke down communities. And God, having
great love for all people is passionately against those beliefs and behaviors
that end up destroying lives. He did not tolerate these sins among the pagan
nations, and He did not tolerate them among His own people. We later read in
the Bible that He eventually judged Israel when they backslid into these
terrible sins and themselves burned their children on the altars of Molech. God
loves kids.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Most of the Old Testament prophets are actually preaching against
Israel and calling them to repent of their sins. Often we read of Israel
backsliding into either dead religiosity or flat out pagan rebellion and
idolatry.We read in Jeremiah 5:1 that God tells Jeremiah to walk throughout the
streets of Jerusalem to see if he could find even 1 upright man who seeks the
truth, a righteous person, and God said that if he (Jeremiah) could find one
man that He wouldn't judge Jerusalem. Well, we know the outcome from the Bible
and history; God brought destruction on Jerusalem and Israel because they had
given themselves over to idolatry, hypocrisy, and the abominations of the pagan
nations. But even in this situation God was patient and gave Israel a lot of
time to turn and repent and they did not.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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For God not to inflict pain against bad behavior would be like God
removing our nervous system and allowing us to touch the hot burner on the
stove over and over without ever feeling the pain. The pain is there to awaken
us to having made a bad decision and to protect us from destroying ourselves. As
difficult as it is to understand this, God's judgment against nations is His
loving discipline in steering them away from behavior that is destructive, as
well as His way of stopping that behavior from spreading to other nations. God
loves people, He is patient, He sends warnings, He inflicts pain if the
warnings go unheeded, and then He finally puts an end to it lest that sin
influence and infect others.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Let's remember that God is not against "Pagan Races," He
is against "Pagan Religions and Rebellion." We read throughout the
Bible that God has a great love for all nations, that He is the Creator of all
mankind, the God of over all nations, the King of kings, and if a pagan nation
or pagan person turns from sin and trusts in Him then God honors them and
preserves them. We see that played out especially in the story of Jonah. The
story of Jonah is not primarily about a man being swallowed by a giant fish,
but about a God who longs to show mercy and grace towards pagan nations who
repent and put faith in Him. The Book of Jonah is really about the nation of
Ninevah not being swallowed up by a Giant God. God was very longsuffering with
the evil and sin of Ninevah. They repented at the warnings of Jonah and God
withheld His judgment because of it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We also see various examples of individuals like Rahab and Ruth
who were natives of pagan nations and yet chose to put faith in the true God
and join the people of God, and God honored them for it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So, when it comes to God ordering the slaughter of these pagan
nations it is directly connected to: 1-their sin had thoroughly affected their
entire nation and was destroying lives from within 2-their sin had thoroughly
offended God who had given them plenty of time to repent 3- rather than
allowing them to grow and spread and contaminate other surrounding nations, God
ordered their destruction 4-if they turned away from their sin then God
extended mercy and did not judge them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
This is not about "genocide" or "ethnic
cleansing," but rather a thorough judgment of God against unrepentant sinful
behavior and a protection of the nation of Israel who would ultimately inherit
that specific land. When God ordered the killing of any people it was always,
without fail, directly connected to their sinful behavior, idolatry, and
immorality. It was never connected to their particular race or ethnicity or
even non-moral cultural practices or differences. And God never sent judgment
against people simply for "not believing in Him" but for the
accumulation of what their behavior had become. God is holy, and He judges sin
and immorality. God is not a racist and therefore never judges a person based
upon skin color or ethnicity. However, I will say, without apology, that if you
do not believe in the one true Holy God of the Universe, you will inevitably engage
in behavior that is offensive to God and destructive to yourself and others.
Only by being in right relationship with the right God are we able to walk in
ways that please God, bless others and are in our own best interest.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Yet, even with all that said there are still some loose ends and
questions we can’t help but ask.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Why would God order the destruction of animals?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We all love animals. For most of us animals have an innocent and
special place in our hearts. But for others, and thankfully the minority today,
animals represent a twisted and perverted abuse of sexuality. As much as I'm
not interested in talking about bestiality, it is important to the subject at
hand. It's hard to believe that there have been cases in the past and present
of humans having sexual relations with animals. Those who practice bestiality
today are still "in the closet," but nevertheless, they are still
there. Obviously this kind of behavior can be physically and emotionally
damaging to people but, studies have also been done on the behaviors of animals
who have had sex with people, and it is a terrible and scary thing. This kind
perverted behavior does affect the behavior of animals involved. It should go
without saying that the result of humans and animals having sex is never good.
And the studies show that you do not want to be around an animal that is used
to having sex with a person. They are aggressive and potentially violent. Why
does this even matter? Well, perhaps this is a good reason why God commanded
the animals of these grossly sinful nations to be destroyed as well. We
know from reading all of Scripture that God loves animals. But just like
people, when animals become twisted, perverted and a threat to others, it’s
just a matter of time before God feels the need to do something about it. This
is what took place in the ancient Old Testament times and land of Canaan. You
see bestiality (sex with animals) had become a virtue in pagan cultures. Archaeology
confirms this. Remember the poem about the bull-headed god, Molech we read
about earlier? The merging of humans and animals physically and sexually is an
ancient abomination. And God commanded the destruction of the animals as a
judgment on pagan “un-civilizations” and a protection for Israel. You would not
want your children, friends or pets to be around animals that had been used for
sex or sexual acts of worship to false gods. Because these animals had been
manipulated and used for human abominations they were no longer fit for normal
use. And while it would have been impossible to interview each individual
animal to see which ones had been molested by humans, God at times ordered
their entire destruction.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Let’s not forget that God created the animals just like He created
humans and plant life. We read in Genesis chapter 1 that God created animals
even before He created man. God does care about animals, and we read about that
specifically at the end of the Book of Jonah. In the very last verse of Jonah
God tells us that it is His heart to extend mercy, not judgment to people and
animals. We also read throughout God's Law that His people were not to abuse
their animals but care for them responsibly. This is a major contrast from how
pagan nations would handle their animals. God not only created animals but
gives specific instruction in the Bible that we are to be good stewards of
them, not abuse them and especially never have sex with them. It’s strange that
God would even have to tell us not to do that, but He does. Perhaps He knows
better than us how twisted people can become when they stray from God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Ok, so I see how God could command destroying animals so that they
don’t hurt others, kind of like shooting a rabid dog so that it doesn’t bite
some children, but what about God commanding the destruction of children and
women? Now that just doesn’t seem right. Let’s try to tackle that one.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>Why would God order the destruction of women and children?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Let's begin with the women. First of all, God is no sexist. He shows
no partiality and so the women of pagan nations were just as guilty as the men
for the sins and abominations they practiced. We’ve already stated that God
takes sin seriously. Just because someone is a women does not mean they
automatically become less guilty or even innocent of sin. God holds both men
and women responsible for their behavior. These women had participated in the
abominations and sinful acts of pagan worship within these nations. They were
not victims, but criminals as far as God was concerned, just like the men. God
held the women responsible for their sin. These nations had become so
sexualized that these women were lead participant in burning their children on
the altars of Molech. Sexual sin among these women had become commonplace. And
the result of sexual sin is unwanted children. And the place for unwanted
children was the fiery burning altars of Molech. These women were guilty of
burning their children on the altars of Molech as acts of worship along with
other sinful behaviors. God was not going to take it easy on these women nor
did He want them to live and have them influence His people, Israel in their
evil practices.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
In God's Law He warns His people, Israel not to take pagan wives
from these communities because they will eventually lead their hearts astray.
It’s a sad testimony when we actually read that this happened in the life of
King Solomon. In 1 Kings 11:1-14 we read that Solomon had taken to himself many
pagan wives of the Moabites, Ammonites,
Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites, and these women were his downfall. And because
he was king, it was a downfall for the entire nation. These women led Solomon
away from being loyal to God and he began to worship the false gods of the
pagans, the god Ashtoreth and even the god Molech. Solomon was completely
responsible for his own sin, and these women were also responsible for their
sin. As a result God brought judgment against Solomon and the nation Israel. We
see played out in the life of Solomon how a man can go from loving God to
becoming addicted to pagan women and eventually worshipping their false gods,
even the child burning god Molech. It’s worse than backsliding, and you can
only imagine how upset God was about this. But let's not forget that there are
examples in the Bible of pagan women, turning away from sin, leaving their
pagan religions, putting faith in the true God, and being spared judgment.
Rahab and Ruth are just two examples of this.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
And so, why would God order the destruction of these pagan women
alongside the men? Because the women were just as guilty as the men and deserving
of God’s judgment. Should these women be left alive and incorporated into the
nation of Israel they would have brought in all their sinful practices and
idolatries. Let’s not forget how patient God was with them before He brought
judgment, He was 400 years patient with both men and women. However, with all
that said, God always left room for repentance and salvation to those who
reached out to Him in truth.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
So, we see how God can be firm with both men and women of pagan
nations who abuse God’s patience and continue to commit terrible sins against
God and one another, but what about children. The Bible actually says that God
commanded the destruction of men, women, animals and children! Now this is hard
to stomach.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Let's consider why God would order the
destruction of children.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Having children myself I must say this is the one that on the
surface poses the greatest emotional difficulty for me. A person’s love for
their children or children in general naturally leads us to hate the thought of
any child dying. To think that God could be both good and command the
destruction of children seems instinctively contradictory. This is a difficult
Bible dilemma. But it is in these very difficult Bible questions and dilemmas that
we should, rather than ignoring them or assuming the worst about God, choose to
seek out quality answers that are Biblically supported and consistent with the
character and nature of God. There are hard questions that require us to dig a
little deeper, control our knee-jerk emotions, and prayerfully and thoughtfully
swim into the deep end of God’s revelation and the hard truths about history.
Now, we do not want to make up an answer in an attempt to simply "defend"
God, but rather investigate the Bible, history and culture to see if an honest
study of the issues will shed greater light on the subject. Often times, our
emotional distaste for something will paralyze us from moving forward and
seeking good answers to hard questions. While I do not think that the answers I
have acquired so far will completely eliminate the emotional struggle we all
have with considering God's command to kill even the children, I do feel that
these answers can bring us closer to understanding the big picture, rather than
jumping to assumptions about the specifics. There are other ways of
interpreting the information about this difficult subject. Some have considered
the language to be hyperbole and not literal and others question the actual
inspiration of the particular passages at hand. But I am committed to taking God
at His word, especially if He takes the time to explain in His word why He
would command such a difficult judgment. And we can also evaluate these “war
time” situations practically to see if we can’t understand why God might choose
to work a certain way. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
So, why would God order the destruction of kids?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Well, let me ask you a question, “At what age would you choose to
spare a kid? 18 years old? 12 years old? 10, 5, 3 years old?” At what age do we
feel God should say, "Spare kids this age, but destroy kids this
age?" That's not an easy question. And we know some kids grow up quicker
than others and look more adult, act more adult and fight like adults. And some
adults still look like kids. In the heat of a bloody battle at what age do you
think you should spare the enemy’s children? These are tough things to think
about. We might be inclined to say, "If you have to kill all the men,
women and animals then at least spare ALL the kids." But in times of war
things can't always be so cut and dry. Think about it, practically speaking,
are the soldiers supposed to go around and ask each child their age to see if
they're too young to be killed? In war-time, that is not going to happen no
matter how much we would want it to. Not to mention that often times the kids
were employed in battle and fought like men. The kids were soldiers too. The
soldiers of Israel were to go in and fight, not interview kids. Remember, God
used these wars to judge nations for their sin, and His judgment was often
swift, bloody and thorough. After patiently giving these nations time to repent
He then sent in judgment to clear out the people, animals and even burn up the
idols leaving little or no hint of their abominable pagan practices to
influence others. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Something else we need to remember is that when it comes to
judging a nation for its sin, we must remember that even the kids were caught
up in a pagan culture that practiced all kinds of abominations from adultery,
to rape, to incest, to homosexuality, to bestiality, and the worship of false
gods. These kids were officially programmed by their culture even in their
adolescence to believe and behave in ways that are totally offensive to God. Remember
the story from Genesis, how even the young boys alongside the older men wanted
to rape the angelic visitors? Those kids had been immorally indoctrinated by an
evil culture and as a result both young and old were guilty before God and
deserving judgment. I know from personal experience that I have committed many
of my worst sins in my youth and teens. From 13 years old up into my twenties
there was nothing "innocent" about my beliefs or behaviors. As a
matter of fact, my behavior then was extremely destructive to myself as well as
others. As a 15 year old I was already capable of practicing great evil, and if
left unrestrained who knows how much harm I would've caused. Youth
are not innocent when it comes to being guilty of sin. Youth are often the
first to indulge in it and promote it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
God was not only judging these pagans but wanting to protect His
people from being infiltrated, influenced and infected with idolatry and
immorality.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
I've heard from those who have adopted children that even at the
age of 4, 5, and 6 years old, an adopted or foster child brings their culture
with them into their new family. And so, the pagan kids of the Canaanites, even
by the age of 4 and 5 years old may have already been molested or abused
sexually, and therefore have been highly sexualized by their pagan culture and
communities. As a result they are most likely to repeat the same behaviors to
their children, siblings or others in the community. It is often those who have
been molested or sexually violated that molest and violate others. This is how
a community and culture dissolves over time. Sinful practices are passed down
from generation to generation as children just repeat what was done to them. So
why not have the Jews adopt those pagan kids rather than destroy them? Well, if
some traditional God fearing Jewish family were to bring into their home a
pagan child, or children who had been sexualized, molested and exposed to
bestiality and idolatry, what kind of influence do you think that child might
bring into the community of Israel. Or, what would that child’s “teenage
rebellious phase” look like after they find out that their adopted parents
killed their national people, their natural parents and even their pets? These
pagan kids, if left spared and incorporated into Israel would have resented
Israel completely and eventually rebelled. It is natural for kids to want to
return to the "roots and traditions" of their natural parents. Its possible that the children would eventually rise up and avenge the death of their parents just perpetuating a cycle of violence. As
uncaring as it may sound, the inclusion of kids who have been warped by the
worship of pagan gods, sexual abominations and rebellion, into the community of
Israel would put the nation of Israel in jeopardy of being infected from
within. This would not only damage God's plan for the people of Israel at the
time, but could potentially destroy His long term plans for maintaining the
prophetic lineage of the Messiah who would ultimately offer forgiveness and
redemption to the entire world, every nation, and every tribe and tongue. God
always has His big picture plan in mind in every decision He makes. This is
speculation, but perhaps from God's perspective, killing every man, woman, child
and animal was God's means of thoroughly eradicating a grotesquely sinful
culture, while at the same time protecting other men, women, children and
animals. Perhaps God was keeping the children and animals of Israel from
eventually being molested by ordering the destruction of the pagan kids along
with the pagan adults and animals. Here God’s judgment is also His mercy.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Now, I know what you're thinking, "Wait, it’s not God's heart
to kill kids who have been abused, but rather to adopt them and assist them
in overcoming their abuse through love and truth, through
Christ!" This is absolutely true. God does have a special heart for
orphans. And perhaps this is why in every single case God did not order the
complete annihilation of all the people conquered, but in certain cases made
provisions for them to be cared for or even taken as servants rather than
killed. God is omniscient (all knowing) and perfectly understood each
situation, nation and every individual involved and therefore His judgment was
not exactly the same every time. We can read about God's loving heart for pagan
children in the Book of Jonah when the final verse of the book says that God is
looking to extend His pity, not His wrath, toward more than 120,000 kids who
don't know their right hand from their left, and even spare the animals. I hope
you catch this. You see God desired to save the pagan children of Nineveh
through the preaching of Jonah, but He did not change His conditions,
standards, or requirements for their salvation. The people of Nineveh needed to
repent and turn from their evil in order to be spared, which they did. However,
had they refused to repent, God would have destroyed all adults, children and
animals. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
In regard to the killing of pagan children it is important to remember
that this blog is addressing the issue of God commanding the Israelites to kill
the men, women, children and animals of the unrepentant pagan nations that
inhabited the land of Canaan at that time. What God commanded Israel to do to
the Canaanites thousands of years ago is not what God has commanded Christians
today to do. God had a purpose for Israel and establishing them in the land of Canaan.
The development and establishment of the nation of Israel played a vital part
in bringing Jesus into the world at the appointed time. Now that Christ has
come God has commanded His followers to go out into the world to reflect God’s
heart towards all people, to bring the message of salvation to them and not
judgment upon them. Christianity therefore brings the message of Christ not a
military conquest.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Another important detail to remember is that God’s command for
Israel to bring destruction to the Hittites, Ammonites, and Canaanites was a
localized mission and not a global mission. The pagan communities that lived
within the region of Canaan that God was giving to Israel were to be wiped out
because of their sin, but Israel was not commanded to go to war against pagan
nations outside of those boundaries and out into other parts of the world. This
was not a “holy-war” being declared upon the whole world, but rather a
localized judgment against unrepentant nations who were occupying land that God
had promised to the descendants of Abraham for a specific purpose. God was
strategically placing the nation of Israel centrally in the world and
specifically at the junction of intersecting trade routes in order for Israel
to be a light and witness to all nations that the God of Israel is the One true
God and Creator of heaven and earth. Through their witness and character the
world would be able to see what God was like in contrast to the multitudes of
pagan gods and idols.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
As we conclude, let us remember that God Himself is the Author,
Creator, and Sustainer of life and therefore He has every right to bring life
into this world, or remove life from it. This grinds upon us because we
internally feel as though we have some "right" to live, even after
having sinned against God as many times as we have. The Bible says in Romans
6:23 that the wages of sin is death, and so for us to live another day or
continue to live years is not our entitlement, but God's mercy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
The great Flood recorded in the Book of Genesis came upon the
earth because the wickedness of mankind had become so great that God destroyed
every single person on the planet except for 8 people; Noah, his wife, his 3
sons and their wives. And even then God cared about the animals enough to
preserve at least 2 of each kind. God brought judgment and salvation
simultaneously; judgment upon sin men and salvation to a man of faith and his
family.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
In Genesis chapter 3 through the sin of Adam and Eve, God
sentences the entire human race to death, young and old. We are born into a
world of death. This is our reality.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
In Luke chapter 13 Jesus was confronted about the way some people
had died and He responds to the problem of sin and death. He basically said,
everyone is going to die, and He didn't argue that some were worse sinners than
others, but that all will die regardless. You see, we think everyone has the
"right" to live out a long life and die in their sleep at the age of
80 years old. But in Genesis 3 God sends a curse upon the world, upon people,
animals and the land, and so now we have cancer, bacteria and diseases,
volcanoes, violence, etc. Adam was the head of the human race when he sinned,
and all of us, being yet unborn within the DNA of Adam, sinned with him and
receive the same consequence as though it was us who had sinned in the Garden.
And if it offends you that Adam was your spokesman before God through his act
of disobedience, and you don't like being declared a sinner because of
something you didn't do, then you should also be offended at the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. You see, the Bible declares in Romans 5 that through the
righteous act of one Man, Jesus Christ, God can now declare those who identify
with Him as saved, forgiven and righteous in His sight. We were declared
sinners through no act of our own, and we are declared righteous through no act
of our own, but by faith in Jesus Christ. This is offensive to those who do not
believe and a wonderful truth and hope to those who do believe. We were born in
sin through our identification with Adam and therefore we choose to sin
personally. And we are reborn through our identification with Jesus and
therefore we choose to walk in righteousness personally.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
It could be that we do not understand nor hate sin enough to see
how God's order to destroy the Canaanites, or even us for our own sin, is
completely and totally consistent with the character of a holy, loving and good
God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
For the person who is not a follower of Jesus Christ, who is not
saved, and does not have eternal life I say this to you, "It is easy to
understand why you insist on preserving your life here in this world, because
you have a fear of death. This life in this world is all you have and apart
from receiving Jesus Christ and being born again you have no hope for the next
world or the next life. Right now this is the only heaven you know and the
clock is ticking before God's judgment is going to come upon your sin, and the
destruction is eternal. Please sincerely turn from your sin and trust in Jesus
and God will spare you. Even though you will eventually die in this world,
should the Lord delay His second coming, you will still live for
eternity." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
But for the believer, the Christian, the follower of Christ, we
should realize that most of our problems stem from not understanding 2 things:
1-the sinfulness of humanity and ourselves 2- the glories that await the
children of God. We commit a double sin when we deny our own sinfulness and
forget God's goodness. God is preparing us to rule and reign with Him for
eternity. This world is not our final destination or our only hope. And God in
His wisdom uses a world of suffering to prepare His kids to reign forever in
eternity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Let’s close with a quick summary of the territory we’ve covered in
trying to answer the question, “Why did God order the killing of the
Canaanites?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
1-God answers this question Himself in the Scriptures. Genesis 15:13-16
& Leviticus 18<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
2-God brings judgment against sin, not race, gender, age or
nationality<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
3-God shows no partiality and promises the same judgment against His
own people Israel should they commit the same sins<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
4-God never brought judgment without offering the opportunity for
repentance and salvation<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
5-God is extremely patient and even waited 400 years before
bringing His judgment against the Canaanites.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
6-God brings His judgment against the entire nation, men, women,
children and animals in order to eradicate the sinful behavior and protect
others from being infected with gross idolatry.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
7-God’s word gives us examples of individuals and nations
repenting and turning from sin at the warnings of God and as a result God
withholds His judgment and instead extend mercy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
8-God has demonstrated His love for all people by providing a
Savior for the entire world in Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
9-God is the Author of life and can give and take life at His will
without having to explain Himself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
10-God is serious about sin and we should be too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
For a more scholarly and detailed discussion/articles about these
topics go to:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.str.org/site/DocServer/Enhanced_SG_January_2013.pdf?docID=6822">Canaanites: Genocide or Judgment by Greg Koukl</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.clayjones.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/We-Dont-Hate-Sin-PC-article.pdf">Article by Clay Jones</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.apologetics315.com/2010/05/apologist-interview-clay-jones.html">Apologetics 315 Interview with Clay Jones</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.apologetics315.com/2010/06/apologist-interview-paul-copan.html">Apologetics 315 Interview with Paul Copan, Author of "Is God a Moral Monster?"</a><br />
<br />
Some other blogs I've written that may be of interest:<br />
<a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/search/label/Dishonest%20Skeptic"><b>The Dishonest Skeptic</b></a><br />
<a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/search/label/Do%20you%20take%20the%20Bible%20literally%3F"><b>Do you take the Bible literally?</b></a><br />
<a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/search/label/FACESMAP"><b>F.A.C.E.S.M.A.P. "Evidence the Bible is Trustworthy"</b></a><br />
<br /></div>
StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-84205392597564374342013-01-04T20:52:00.000-08:002013-01-22T19:37:32.826-08:00Bibliolatry and Dogma<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjBIgYq1M2cUePY7QyE2xYcGQfaZCSF-C4Drt5lAtoxpi1jY_Dx3yq4BRRZBInQ2B7LrdWZ4SJG6vwBu6-Reao_xc3sgC0B6qaa_NSayQMreySCaFU143xLLwYI_0DkzYaHQQZ3AvyqM/s1600/bible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjBIgYq1M2cUePY7QyE2xYcGQfaZCSF-C4Drt5lAtoxpi1jY_Dx3yq4BRRZBInQ2B7LrdWZ4SJG6vwBu6-Reao_xc3sgC0B6qaa_NSayQMreySCaFU143xLLwYI_0DkzYaHQQZ3AvyqM/s400/bible.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">"A Bible that's falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't." </span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> -Charles H. Spurgeon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">When it comes to the
Bible, the so-called “WORD OF GOD”, let’s be completely honest, either God has
spoken or He hasn’t. The Bible is either God’s inspired Word or man’s invented word.
If the Bible is not God’s Word then it has no real ultimate authority over our
lives and all of its claims or demands are negotiable at best. It may be a
valuable book with historical significance but nothing more. However, if the
Bible is God’s Word then it claims to contain God’s thoughts or His stance on particular
issues and subjects. If there is a God and that God has given His Word on any
particular topic then that word must obviously have ultimate authority and
cannot be negotiable. You can disagree and argue with His view on anything, but
you have no real authority to oppose Him, seeing that He alone has created all
things, thus making Him the final Authority over the Universe. Doesn’t a
creator or designer of a product know best how that product is to be used?
Aren’t they the final authority on the very thing they themselves designed? I
would say “yes.” And so, if God has spoken directly regarding Himself, man and
the nature of the world then His word is, and must be the standard by which we
should interpret reality. Since God has created reality then His word is the
true interpretation of reality, and we can take His word “dogmatically.” When I
say "dogmatically" I mean that we can hold God's view unapologetically
as the final word and authority. I recognize it is not politically or
culturally correct to be "dogmatic" about anything these days. But if
God, the Creator of everything has spoken about anything, then He is making a
dogmatic and authoritative claim about truth and reality. As I said, we can
disagree, but we are disagreeing with the One who made all things, including us,
and the very minds we’re using to disagree with Him. Now, if God has not spoken
or given us His word about something then certainly we are free to reason
through the issues and come to the best conclusions given the information we
acquire. But I suggest that we interpret the “grey” areas in light of the black
and white areas, or the “dogmatic” areas in which God has already spoken
clearly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I would never say that
we should strive to be rigidly dogmatic about every aspect of our lives, but we
should be thoughtfully dogmatic about the things that are most important in
life, and God has spoken directly and clearly about the things that He
considers to be most important. These are “non-negotiables.” I actually have
God’s authority to agree with Him. And if agreeing with God and His Word
revealed in the Bible puts me at odds with others or even the whole world, then
I still have God’s favor, blessing and approval. I think Noah in the Old
Testament is a perfect example of a man who dogmatically agreed with God while
the rest of the world dogmatically disagreed with God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now some people say that
those who consult what the Bible says about every little thing and obey its
teachings meticulously are guilty of "bibliolatry," or worshipping
the Bible. They say that you're setting up the Bible as an “idol” to be
worshiped, because you're so over-zealously committed to its teachings and you
just won't compromise. They’ll say things like, “You’re too dogmatic!” or “You
don’t have to take everything in the Bible so seriously” or “God’s bigger than
a book and you don’t have to be so close minded and strict about following the
Bible,” or “You’re a slave to that Book because you’re not free to believe something
outside of the Bible,” and on and on... But to take the Bible seriously as
God’s Word and hold fast to His clear teaching on particular subjects is not
“bibliolatry” or the worship of the Bible, but rather it is taking God at His
word, believing His word and trusting in His word. This is what the Bible and
Jesus Himself called us to. As Christians, disciples and seekers we are to
pursue God’s truth and live it no matter what the cost. We are called to know
and trust and obey God’s Word, not merely “know it” or “know about it.” In our
culture anymore it’s an intellectual crime just to simply trust God and take
Him at His word. It can’t be that easy. He can’t be that trustworthy...can He?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus was dogmatic. He
was dogmatic about the character and nature of God, the sinful condition of
mankind and God’s divine plan of salvation. Jesus was unapologetically
dogmatic. He calls everyone to be dogmatic regarding those things, and we do ourselves
and others good to follow His lead in regard to doctrine and duty. When tempted
by the devil Jesus used God’s Word to overcome him. When Jesus was tested by
Pharisees and Scribes and skeptics He referred to God’s Word as the final authority.
When questioned about everything from marriage to divorce, the afterlife or
Sabbath day Jesus Christ often quoted Scripture as the final authority on all
matters. Jesus knew the Word of God, studied the Word of God, believed the Word
of God, lived the Word of God, shared the Word of God, taught the Word of God
and finally He commanded His disciples to follow His example. It couldn’t be
clearer; Jesus’ followers are to live like Jesus did. And we see this in the
rest of the New Testament. After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, His
followers, the Apostles and disciples are recorded as those who believed the
entire Old Testament Scriptures as the Word of God, and Jesus’ teachings as the
Word of God. They not only lived out their faith in the Bible, but they quoted
it often and taught others to believe it, read it, teach it, preach it, live it
and grow in it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The prophets of the Old
Testament knew the power in believing, living and teaching the word of God.
Jesus and the Apostles knew that an essential component to being an effective
minister of God and a real threat to the devil, sin and evil of this world was
to be immersed in a full understanding of God’s Word and intentionally live it
out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is then no surprise
that from the Garden until glory the greatest assault on God, the Kingdom of
God, the ministry of the saints, and the personal lives of individual Christians
has been and will always be to attack the Word of God. These attacks come in a
variety of forms; reject the Bible, resist the Bible, or reduce the Bible to
something less than the authoritative Word of God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">How do we confront these
attacks? Very simple. Read the Bible, believe the Bible, live the Bible, teach
the Bible, preach the Bible and pass on to the next generation a belief and
behavior that reflects the power of a Bible that is the Authoritative Word of
God. It just might be time to sick the dogma on Satan’s lies and compromise.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">“The entirety of Your
Word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.” -Psalm
119:160<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Blessed is the man who
does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of the scornful; BUT his delight is in the law of the
LORD, and in his law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree
planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season,
whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The
ungodly are not so but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore
the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of
the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous but the way of the
ungodly will perish.” -Psalm 1<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bibliolatry and Dogma?</span></b></div>
StephensFamilyNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524088461851239480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442510347107656487.post-59955887132948400632012-12-17T03:30:00.000-08:002013-02-22T19:47:12.135-08:00Merry Christmas 2012 from the Stephens Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzBLPhJKIZ5LQf7GhcVG3IkpTd5vkhrG1qrK5Wg2B5BiRjNc2pcEGMyUqaa4XzgvWDK9Rwho8DRzkgcF9DMAw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone.<br />
This is a quick "hello video" and some pictures from this past Fall.<br />
We hope everyone is well and able to really enjoy God and one another this Christmas season.<br />
With Love,<br />
The Stephens Family<br />
<br /></div>
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Stuck together forever</div>
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<br /></div>
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Gotta have that "Family Pic" that looks like it's from the 1980s</div>
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Best buds</div>
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You recon...</div>
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Nap time.</div>
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This is the Cathedral and tower at James Town</div>
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Full tummy = happy baby</div>
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X-treme games, wet-n-wild</div>
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James built his first boat and it do float</div>
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James wrote his alphabet</div>
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Bros!</div>
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Hug please!</div>
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Yaya took some fun pics of James playin in the rain</div>
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Oh yea, more than pals!<br />
We love you Yaya! Thanks for being such a blessing to our family!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwXPNQ7sWE1mx9fdOrFUZeLJnWHbsvXgbkFRt1KjXubq2rH2KBgk8HUCAq8o7mbd6ZpIjhThwQA9SkgvsBg_w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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This is one of those hidden tracks at the end. It's called,</div>
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"Two guys who really don't know how to handle seeing themselves in their very first web-cam."<br />
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Stephens Family 2008<br />
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Stephens Family 2012</div>
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To view more pictures from this year and some baby pics of Jonathan you can click the link below.<br />
<a href="http://stephensfamilync.blogspot.com/2012/12/family-pictures-from-summer-2012.html">Family Pictures from Summer 2012</a><br />
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You can enjoy some Christmas videos links <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnt7euRF5Pg">here</a> and <a href="http://www.flixxy.com/best-christmas-lights-display-b.htm?utm_expid=1298512-10#.UNZwSm9i6So">here.</a></div>
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