tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354966659374101662023-11-16T03:57:33.174-08:00ToddBlogTAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.comBlogger204125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-81243218366369392852020-11-05T08:42:00.002-08:002020-11-05T08:42:14.471-08:00How false advertising on Facebook showed me how much God loves us! <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkxKNcL9yeB3qcKI-Yj1x2k1Xc1QccQqfB1oRd0LK0-kDzBb9NsPqJQgfjfk9lSLd2dqKwoWQTruDWBTi0uQ451PaRpxsZ9cc-KLrJu9Y6exH2xBSIdRx0rNlTeFhyphenhyphen8f-3SbxxZae7QQ/s310/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkxKNcL9yeB3qcKI-Yj1x2k1Xc1QccQqfB1oRd0LK0-kDzBb9NsPqJQgfjfk9lSLd2dqKwoWQTruDWBTi0uQ451PaRpxsZ9cc-KLrJu9Y6exH2xBSIdRx0rNlTeFhyphenhyphen8f-3SbxxZae7QQ/s0/download.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #383838; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><p><span style="color: #383838; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I love roaming around flea markets when I can. It's relaxing and fun and I love finding something special.</span></p><p><span style="color: #383838; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Facebook Marketplace is like a huge online flea market, where you can scroll instead of walk! It's fun too!</span></p>Sometimes, as I'm scrolling through Facebook Marketplace, I see something that catches my eye, and then I look at the price and it says FREE. </span><p></p><p><span style="color: #383838; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Well, of course, I'm going to investigate. I love to get a deal!</span></p><p><span style="color: #383838; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">As you might expect, the FREE was just to get your attention, it's really not free, it's a lot of money! No one really goes to the trouble of taking a picture and posting a description of something, just to give it away. (Unless it's something that an angry wife wants out of the house because it reminds her of her divorced husband! Sorry, that got dark.)</span></p><p><span style="color: #383838; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">It's false advertising! The old "bait and switch" routine! I hate it!</span></p><span style="color: #383838; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Then I thought about the word FREE.</span><div><span style="color: #383838; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #383838; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The Bible says in Romans 6:23, </span><em style="border: 0px; color: #383838; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.57143em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“The wages of sin is death, but the <b>free</b> gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord”</em><span style="color: #383838; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> (NLT). </span><div><span style="color: #383838; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #383838; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The scriptures say the gift of God is eternal life, and it's free! </span></div><div><span style="color: #383838; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #383838; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">It really is free, because the price has been paid! </span></div><div><span style="color: #383838; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #383838; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">How about that for an ad? Come and get this because someone bought it for you!</span></div></div>TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-45655122538246417492020-10-23T07:33:00.003-07:002020-10-23T07:33:29.088-07:00Sharathon All In | Matthew West stops by to talk about the song!<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i65KMQxA2Ow" width="480"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Matthew West has a message for YOU!</div>TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-24077819798498159742020-10-06T10:20:00.001-07:002020-10-06T10:23:06.060-07:00Get-Up & Go<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaz8YlUMpV3aRGhBJK8X4inuk05wE_bhyriLzKEOHZfDAofj3-Oa-NzFaBOI0z-t52tgsWF2ytFwA54EM59ecTp_-lOtnj4ESDawPje1-fzu2Dkl5JMaK8tE9rc5IDTKqTNpwgYsgb2dI/s385/385x120webbanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="120" data-original-width="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaz8YlUMpV3aRGhBJK8X4inuk05wE_bhyriLzKEOHZfDAofj3-Oa-NzFaBOI0z-t52tgsWF2ytFwA54EM59ecTp_-lOtnj4ESDawPje1-fzu2Dkl5JMaK8tE9rc5IDTKqTNpwgYsgb2dI/s320/385x120webbanner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">My birthday is July 7</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 8.5pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-fontsize="11" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, I turned 54 this year, and my wife, Rose, and I are empty-nesters. We are at the stage of life where we have a lot more time together and I like to go on what I call adventures. What that involves is taking roads that are not the main roads, just to see what’s down there. We visit places that are out of the way, we try new things. It’s a lot of fun! I wrote a book! My wife has written some songs, I entered a comedy tournament in Nashville! It’s fun and a little bit scary at times! I tell you this because no matter what age you are, we are all on a journey that will take us to fun and scary places. Just like the times we are living in now and the times that others have lived before us, there are ups and downs and what keeps us moving forward is our faith! We have faith in God and then we have to have faith in each other.</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{6974246a-05cb-4a16-b5c5-72af7dff9b92}{198}" paraid="454666143" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I want us to read a verse from the book of </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Acts. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Chapter</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> 7 and verse 36. He brought them out, after </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">that he</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> had shown </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">wonders and</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness forty years.</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{6974246a-05cb-4a16-b5c5-72af7dff9b92}{218}" paraid="911064193" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">For a little background, this is part of what a man named Stephen was saying to a group of people accusing him of being a disturber because he was ministering the gospel with great results! He was rehearsing the history of Israel and telling them about their journey out of captivity in Egypt. They were there for hundreds of years and God miraculously set them free! </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 SCXW113988125 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">BUT,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> they had to go out of Egypt into a wilderness! They had to bring all they had and walk to this new place so they could enjoy the freedom they had been given. To do this meant going somewhere they have never been, under circumstances they had never lived through, complaining the whole way! It’s almost funny when you read about how much they complained. They were grumpy about pretty much everything! We don’t like the food, we need more water, it was better back in Egypt! On and on!</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{6974246a-05cb-4a16-b5c5-72af7dff9b92}{228}" paraid="1969886876" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Here we are in the 21</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 8.5pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-fontsize="11" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">st</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Century, a generation that is going through an extraordinary experience, on a path we’ve never been on, and there is no shortage of unhappy people! But I want to share some perspectives that will help hopefully help you navigate through, not only this pandemic but anything else you will have a pop up in your life, and we all have the pop-ups!</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{6974246a-05cb-4a16-b5c5-72af7dff9b92}{228}" paraid="1969886876" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{6974246a-05cb-4a16-b5c5-72af7dff9b92}{238}" paraid="2126499038" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">First, think about this, God is with us in the journey we have never been on.</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{6974246a-05cb-4a16-b5c5-72af7dff9b92}{244}" paraid="382547416" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">If you read the book of Exodus, you find out that even though they were out in uncharted territory, with the possibility of danger everywhere, the Israelites had God with them the whole way. It’s pretty amazing. The bible talks about a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night that was always ahead of them!</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{6974246a-05cb-4a16-b5c5-72af7dff9b92}{250}" paraid="1739721397" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">No one in the group could say “Oh, </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2 SCXW113988125 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ya</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, I’ve been through this, we’ll be ok. They had no idea what was ahead of them! It was a new road, a new experience, but God never left them alone. All of us are affected by this global outbreak of Coronavirus. I don’t know about you but, it’s my first </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">pandemic</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">. First time walking on the other side of the road just to keep my distance from </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">someone</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> coming the other way. The first time having to cancel plans and missing out on </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">opportunities</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> because large gatherings of people are forbidden. It’s a new frontier, but we are not alone. At one point, God instructed them to build a tent, not for them but for Him in a sense, so they could really know and understand that He was right there with them. It’s easy to feel alone, very easy. I am sure that some people right now feel like I am by myself in this thing, no one cares or understands. It feels like your lost and </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">vulnerable</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and could lose everything. That’s why the tent was there, they could look and be reminded that they were not alone. They could rest and then keep going. The tent was portable, you didn’t leave it behind, it came with you on the road. It adapted to the terrain, just like you. It could handle the trip. God is with us. In </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Deuteronomy 31:6</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, there is that wonderful verse they needed to hear and we all need to hear: </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{0948af10-d82d-44c6-97b6-49030175dfd1}{27}" paraid="253526424" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">What do you say to your kids when they are scared? “I’m </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">right</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> here, it’s OK”. My son is pretty </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">adventurous</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, there’s not much he won’t attempt, he seems to have no fear, I on the other hand am not so much. I am not a fan of heights and most of my childhood hood I was scared of the deep end of the pool. I remember coming to tears at a camp one time when a </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">councilor</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> was trying to get me to jump in. I was not a fan of having nothing </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">under my</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> feet but water. I liked the security of touching the bottom! The counselor said I’m right here, go ahead, just jump in and I’ve got you. I doubted it even though I could see her treading water right in front of me! But I did it, scared as anything, I did it! I’m sure </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">you're</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> just waiting for me to go ahead and talk about Peter, and how he got out a boat in the middle of a storm and walked on water to see Jesus. He got scared and sank, but Jesus caught him! Great story, yes, Read that one later today on your own! Spoiler alert, he survived! He probably cried though, like I did!</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{0948af10-d82d-44c6-97b6-49030175dfd1}{53}" paraid="1961099134" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Let’s never forget, that on the road through the weirdest, darkest parts of our life journey, God is with us.</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{0948af10-d82d-44c6-97b6-49030175dfd1}{53}" paraid="1961099134" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{0948af10-d82d-44c6-97b6-49030175dfd1}{59}" paraid="2005643338" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Secondly, think about this. We have each other! For better or worse, we have each other!</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{0948af10-d82d-44c6-97b6-49030175dfd1}{65}" paraid="1668334102" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Moses was the leader of the Israelites, but he never thought he was qualified. I think he had what we call imposter syndrome. We’re scared that someone will discover we have no idea what we’re doing! He argued with God about it in the book of Exodus. It’s the whole burning bush experience. I would not blame that guy one bit for not wanting to lead this group of people either! IT wasn’t long after they marched out of being captive, that the complaining started. They did not like the food, they needed water, they even complained about his wife! That’s some nerve right! To me, it seemed like an administrative nightmare! A perfect storm of every shade of personality, projecting on him 24/7. His father in law had to step in and give him some great advice, delegate! Find some other leaders and put them in charge and then only deal with the big stuff! Thank God for that guy! What I want you to think about here is that, on this journey, it’s going to be alongside many types of people with a great many opinions on how things should be done. It’s very interesting to study things like the Enneagram or the 5 love languages or even the Myers Briggs personality test and to be able to understand what motivates people to do what they do. It’s great to just find out why I do what I do!</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{0948af10-d82d-44c6-97b6-49030175dfd1}{71}" paraid="106026670" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">It takes some of us longer to find out how to </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">successfully</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> have healthy relationships. For others, it seems to come naturally. Some of us want to fix the world, some of us want to sit back and drink lemonade watch the sunset. Some people want to control what others do, some don’t care what you do, just do it over there! We are a wild and crazy group and what’s even more interesting is that individually we </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">think</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> WE are the only sane one! Right? I’m the best driver on the road. Of course! All you all are either too fast, too slow or too careless! Is this sounding familiar?</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{0948af10-d82d-44c6-97b6-49030175dfd1}{85}" paraid="2033758813" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">When you have a large group of people, you have conflict. You have fights. You have disagreements. It’s unavoidable because we are humans. We can get on </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">each other's</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> nerves, rub each other the wrong way and just outright </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">cheat</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and lie to each other! But we are stuck with each other!</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{0948af10-d82d-44c6-97b6-49030175dfd1}{99}" paraid="745485568" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">During this pandemic, I received many direct messages from people on my Facebook friends list, particularly from friends who never sent me any messages before, all of a sudden </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">just</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> had to share videos and articles about the truth behind what’s going on! There were details about conspiracies and cover-ups! These are supposed to be my friends! I thought, why have you never sent me a hello, how are you? It’s just like panic! Of course, you know, they got a hold of some information, got excited, and sent it to everyone on their list, no time to make it </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">personal</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> you know! So, I just deleted those! Why? Because we need to have some kind of deeper connection before I listen to what you’re saying</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">! Don’t we all need that? What’s going to carry us through the trip on a dark </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">unknown</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> road? Being with someone we know may be crazy, but </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">a least</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> we know we are </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">committed</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> to each other and have more than a superficial connection.</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{0948af10-d82d-44c6-97b6-49030175dfd1}{127}" paraid="126111760" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">In my book, Conexus, I write about this. The story is set in a time when artificial intelligence is trying to take over the world, but don’t let that scare you away, it’s really about relationships and how much we need them no matter how fractured they may be! It’s for sale on my website toddgale.ca! There’s my plug! </span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{0948af10-d82d-44c6-97b6-49030175dfd1}{133}" paraid="1781398197" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">So even though there was a massive group of unthankful, bitter and angry people to work with, God still said, OK, let’s go! Let’s move forward through the scary parts, we have each other!</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{0948af10-d82d-44c6-97b6-49030175dfd1}{133}" paraid="1781398197" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{0948af10-d82d-44c6-97b6-49030175dfd1}{139}" paraid="1035297817" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Now lastly, think about this, on this unknown journey we also have a tour guide!</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{0948af10-d82d-44c6-97b6-49030175dfd1}{145}" paraid="1327066906" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">If you’ve ever been somewhere new on a vacation, you appreciate a good tour guide! Tour guides that are </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">professional</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, have to be certified, have to continually train and have to be good with people, and have to think on </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">their</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> feet. You could visit a place and look around and go, wow that’s nice, leave, and never scratch the surface of what that place has to offer if you don’t have a guide. You could even tour your own hometown with an experienced guide! A good one will tell you about local buildings, landmarks, and abandon sites you may pass </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">every day</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">! What a way to enrich your life! It helps you remember where you come from and frames how you think about the future.</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{0948af10-d82d-44c6-97b6-49030175dfd1}{163}" paraid="1864973287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">In </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">John 16:13 it says “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{0948af10-d82d-44c6-97b6-49030175dfd1}{171}" paraid="483233388" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> The </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Greek</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> word for a guide there is </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2 SCXW113988125 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">odega</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> — a word that describes a tour guide or one who would lead you on an excursion. What good is a journey, if along the way, we don’t appreciate what’s around us? Are we in such a big rush to “get though” things that we miss some of the sights and lessons along the way? There were times in the bible when certain people were instructed to build these stone </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">monuments</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and give the </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">place</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> a name. They did this because future generations would visit and remember the events that happened there. When children would ask about it, they could hear the story of what God did along the road, and their faith could grow.</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{0948af10-d82d-44c6-97b6-49030175dfd1}{171}" paraid="483233388" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{0948af10-d82d-44c6-97b6-49030175dfd1}{193}" paraid="128247710" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">A guide is someone who can make the </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">journey</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> a better one. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Sure,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> the destination is important, but the road to get there will be a long one if we miss what’s outside the car window! Take it in, look around, breathe a little!</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW113988125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW113988125 BCX0" paraeid="{0948af10-d82d-44c6-97b6-49030175dfd1}{207}" paraid="821697717" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">God wanted to take them to this wonderful land, filled with great things, but just like them, we can forget that, even though we’re going through something </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">unknown</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and even scary, He is with us. We could fail to take into account that even though we’re in this with a lot of others who want all have a say and feel like they are the most important thing going, we are in this together and we need each other. And we have to always remember that along this dirt road, we’re going to arrive at our </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">destination</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> with joy because we didn’t close our eyes and miss the </span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">beauty</span><span class="TextRun SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> along the way!</span><span class="EOP SCXW113988125 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div>TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-71718573969092392782020-07-22T07:21:00.002-07:002020-07-22T07:21:51.874-07:00Faith Through ItHey there!<br />
<br />
Ya, YOU!<br />
<br />
I hope you are well, but I think we are all a little bit jumpy these days.<br />
<br />
This pandemic thing has us all doing crazy thinks like staying apart and wearing a mask.<br />
<br />
I was reminded about another time in history where a region was thrown into a situation that demanded them to give up some of their conveniences and disrupted daily life and business.<br />
<br />
It was Christmas!<br />
<br />
In the bible, there was a time when Herod asked the whole nation of Israel to undergo a census. You were required to travel to the town of your birth and be registered. There was no door to door census takers, you had to get up and go with your whole family, no questions asked.<br />
<br />
For a young carpenter named Joseph, this was quite a concern because he had to shut down the business and load up his pregnant wife and WALK to Bethlehem! There was no government travel subsidy available, no pre-natal support system, and no guarantee of a hotel room when they got there.<br />
<br />
They had to do what the government said.<br />
<br />
Period.<br />
<br />
It was disruptive, inconvenient, and costly. Sound familiar?<br />
<br />
But here's the thing, these were the very circumstances where the Saviour of the world showed up!<br />
<br />
Jesus appeared in the middle of this disruptive time!<br />
<br />
Conditions were less than ideal, people were grumpy and rude and nobody was happy with the course of events, BUT, God came into human form to bring salvation to us all!<br />
<br />
Maybe you are feeling like that. Grumpy about having to wear a mask, stay 6 feet apart, stay home from work and juggle finances in order to get by,<br />
<br />
Remember, you're not alone. Jesus can be born in the middle of all of it!TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-67418250458303040452020-04-29T07:41:00.001-07:002020-04-29T07:41:02.872-07:00Endurance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-cA5Dfg62Xr-UIao6A9QFmjEB8PNBfRcVFhytQRFz47vLvVcrF9JvBIxKntGLUENb1hzbdLnZIx1gSYTifP1cXW5qvL7oydiuRZM9VHO4ORpmoU3qrqR-yHW2WxjQv6c4Ig0CoViUpJM/s1600/960x0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="960" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-cA5Dfg62Xr-UIao6A9QFmjEB8PNBfRcVFhytQRFz47vLvVcrF9JvBIxKntGLUENb1hzbdLnZIx1gSYTifP1cXW5qvL7oydiuRZM9VHO4ORpmoU3qrqR-yHW2WxjQv6c4Ig0CoViUpJM/s320/960x0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
What the heck is even going on? We are living in a time of global pandemic! Not what I thought the future would look like when I was a young lad at D.A Gordon Public school in Wallaceburg, Ontario. I used to think ahead to the year 2000 and wonder what it would be like to be 34 years old! Would I be married? Would I have kids? I never thought I would ask about the possibility of a virus locking in us in our homes while we stare at our wafer-thin screens, watching an entire season of a TV show in one day! Bizzare!<br />
When news of the pandemic first began to break, I went through a brief season of anxiety. I was unsure of the future, like all of us. I wondered about how a charitable organization like listener-supported Christian radio would survive when the world was being told to stay home. With no one working, would donations stop? Would I need to be a DJ from my man-cave tucked in the suburbs of Barrie? Am I going to catch the virus and suffer the effects of trying to breathe while my lungs are attacked? IT was all very hard to go through, but things have evened out into a sort of "normal". The listeners to LIFE responded amazingly! We were shown that they value what we have to offer and want to make sure it's there during a quarantine situation. They said that staying at home would be better with us on the air! That really encouraged us to keep doing what we do. We will endure, in spite of everything going on.<br />
It got me thinking about "endurance". What is that? Is it like the old Timex watch ad that said: "...takes a licking and keeps on ticking"? I went to the bible for an example. I remembered Jesus in the garden. He was thinking about what was about to happen to him. He knew the plan, he knew the crucifixion was imminent. He was stressed. He prayed. He knew he would have to go through it, but did not want to. It was coming and he asked God to change the plan if possible, but deep down he knew that there was no going back. He prayed for the strength to endure.<br />
We may feel the same way about this pandemic. We don't want to go through it, but we have to. If you are praying, pray for strength to endure, like Jesus.<br />
<br />TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-37742524798112514502020-03-03T09:01:00.001-08:002020-03-03T09:01:17.091-08:00It's a New Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGbDgyedBCPEgvsgB4xCxG9hGDRJraAI6nXUm3jNG0B2RXhHYJI3XNnlGksDLIlgwpTaLnkAXwMLGhiNt7AJ9qMzK3FsxvZox3UbUTIdkwFQVBN88o-lZmQTvmBSUAookC28TmSSNAcg/s1600/photo-1437603568260-1950d3ca6eab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1350" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGbDgyedBCPEgvsgB4xCxG9hGDRJraAI6nXUm3jNG0B2RXhHYJI3XNnlGksDLIlgwpTaLnkAXwMLGhiNt7AJ9qMzK3FsxvZox3UbUTIdkwFQVBN88o-lZmQTvmBSUAookC28TmSSNAcg/s320/photo-1437603568260-1950d3ca6eab.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I remember the moment I prayed to really tell God that I was ready to believe in Him and that Jesus was the Saviour of the world.<br />
<br />
I was alone at home in Wallaceburg, Ontario. I was watching the 700 Club on television in the living room of our home on Queen Street.<br />
<br />
The show was almost over and the host was explaining the Gospel. He invited anyone watching to join him in a prayer to become a believer. I prayed along with him and that was it. From that moment on I called myself a Christian. Not just a Christian, a born again Christian!<br />
<br />
Months and years of thoughtful consideration went into that one decision. It wasn't made hastily or carelessly. I did not know much about the bible or have many Christian friends, but I did have a newfound faith that was hungry to learn more!<br />
<br />
I was shy to talk about what was going on inside me and I don't think my family understood what was happening. It caused a bit of a stir and I did not know how to navigate the new dynamic. I did not have the words to be able to explain myself and was short on communication skills.<br />
<br />
Even though the path may have had a rocky start, I have never regretted making that decision.<br />
<br />
God has been faithful to help me grow my faith and share as much as I am able.<br />
<br />
Do you remember the day you said: "I believe"?<br />
<br />
How has the journey been?<br />
<br />TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-52362973962156979582020-02-21T08:43:00.002-08:002020-02-21T08:43:47.068-08:00What Just Happened?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6fhxAxUBUXlehv1WnzKCWoeqPu_R9InAu0lF4QPXsQRNCxT6AlJApixczUO4LMbZkfpkwA7jD7Lq2LAuBzvM2NXgC5_o-ZAR007tIeuS3GPeXxFKdKmGfV8xv_r1qhgpW_gthuEc_4U/s1600/brantford9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="700" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6fhxAxUBUXlehv1WnzKCWoeqPu_R9InAu0lF4QPXsQRNCxT6AlJApixczUO4LMbZkfpkwA7jD7Lq2LAuBzvM2NXgC5_o-ZAR007tIeuS3GPeXxFKdKmGfV8xv_r1qhgpW_gthuEc_4U/s320/brantford9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Did you pray today? Did you get an answer?<br />
Did you work out? Did you hit your ideal weight right after?<br />
Did you smile at a stranger? Did they become your best friend?<br />
Did you put in a hard day's work? Did you get recommended for a raise?<br />
Did you encourage someone going through a hard time? Did their problems go away?<br />
Did you put away $10 in a savings account? Did the interest compound enough for you to retire comfortably tomorrow morning?<br />
<br />
The answer to all of these questions is probably NO!<br />
<br />
None of the good things you may do today will yield the result you are looking for TODAY.<br />
<br />
It won't even guarantee a result tomorrow.<br />
<br />
I can tell you this...<br />
<br />
NOT doing any of those things on a daily basis makes the chances of those things happening precisely ZERO!<br />
<br />
Just like planting a seed and expecting a prized rosebush in a few hours is unrealistic, so is the idea that you can do any of the activities I listed above and expect results right away is equally unrealistic.<br />
<br />
But, NOT doing those things and expecting results is living in a fantasy world too!<br />
<br />
Do those things. Do good things!<br />
<br />
Hebrews 10:36 says "Patient endurance is what you need now so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised."<br /><br />
You're working toward the moment when you will wonder how you got to where you are! You'll be amazed at the things that are possible! You will also encourage those who are growing a little tired of putting in the work!<br />
<br />
Keep at it!<br />
<br />
<br />TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-69931311236672338802020-02-03T08:10:00.006-08:002020-02-03T08:11:13.766-08:00It's Magic! NOT!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcIoLLKKfVLhEPso3aFpyBOIvwcAhzjTRkRKEPWAjfrLZtnwipwYf37Zfu_zRlJPVyY69donr1Z9Ww8pLmmuDWBt62JwgT-f7oShVEdPr8_TpbKrz_tWJ8X58s20ehsehFp_XtMlmKlc/s1600/Yuri-Geller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="598" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcIoLLKKfVLhEPso3aFpyBOIvwcAhzjTRkRKEPWAjfrLZtnwipwYf37Zfu_zRlJPVyY69donr1Z9Ww8pLmmuDWBt62JwgT-f7oShVEdPr8_TpbKrz_tWJ8X58s20ehsehFp_XtMlmKlc/s320/Yuri-Geller.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uri Geller</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have a small fascination with magic. It’s not what you think. I am not a wizard! I like to do small tricks with items you can find at thrift shops or dollar stores.I like having something I can do to bring a bit of wonder to an otherwise ordinary day. I can do the classic cups and balls trick, pick your card out of the deck and vanish a coin. Pretty basic stuff, but I have never claimed to have special powers!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">In the 1970’s there was a craze about psychic phenomena. One man, in particular, captured the public's attention by claiming to be able to bend spoons and manipulate magnetic fields. His name was Uri Gellar. He was big on the talk show circuit, bending cutlery, guessing hidden drawings and starting stopped watches, and nobody it seemed questioned his seemingly genuine abilities. That is until a Canadian conjuror named James Randi wrote a book called “The Truth About Uri Geller” </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCi0NKk8kZiWGXVDGBhYBsBIqHohpJcFVM36V-2uXtq0jRZQt-1cyDrcd8itIX_y6w-B5LjiLqMxxYuVE-zn93BE029HkxZOqhyphenhyphensqGJ2mcU9M3vU9hsoKOohOxNI9DZyDRiOUPEkFC0DY/s1600/09randi3-articleLarge-v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="600" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCi0NKk8kZiWGXVDGBhYBsBIqHohpJcFVM36V-2uXtq0jRZQt-1cyDrcd8itIX_y6w-B5LjiLqMxxYuVE-zn93BE029HkxZOqhyphenhyphensqGJ2mcU9M3vU9hsoKOohOxNI9DZyDRiOUPEkFC0DY/s320/09randi3-articleLarge-v2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James Randi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Randi is a paranormal investigator who offered a million-dollar prize to anyone who could prove they had psychic or paranormal abilities under scientific scrutiny. The money has never been claimed. In his discussion on the spoon bending illusion on an Australian television morning program, Randi said something interesting that I find applies to our lives. When asked how Gellar bent the spoon, Randi replied that he did it when you weren’t looking! </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The secret was in the misdirection. When you were looking one way, something else was happening in your blind spot and the result was mystifying to the point where you were convinced that he had supernatural powers. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Sometimes we can consider someone to be superhuman by what they demonstrate to us, forgetting the fact that something else was going on outside our observation.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Here’s what I am driving at.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Some of us have gifts and some of us have to work at it. Those with gifts sometimes don’t know the value of those gifts and never explore the possibilities they offer.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Have you ever seen someone super fit? They have 0% body fat and can run like the wind? How did they get like that? You might see before and after pictures of people who have gone through a weight loss journey. ow did that happen? It happened between photo one and photo two. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It happened when you weren't looking!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It seems miraculous, even super-human! But it’s not! It happened in the kitchen when they made a healthy meal, it happened in the basement by riding a stationary bike, it happened at a gym where they chose to sweat and do awkward uncomfortable things. It happened when no one was looking.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">There really is no mystery to what can be achieved once the mind and will get involved.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Let’s take the example of Jesus Christ. He was born to an average family with modest means. His birth was a big deal. It made some people happy and some people angry and jealous enough to commit mass murder. Pretty intense. After the birth, Jesus and his family disappeared into Egypt for years. Let’s call this the time between photo one and photo two. Not much is known about what happened in His growing up years. It was unobserved and undocumented, living only in the memory of His parents and siblings. I am going to guess that during that time he was not wasting the majority of his time doing trivial things. I think he was raised to study the history of his people, the scriptures and the family trade. All good things that became very important to Him in later years.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The flip side of this is that if you neglect to do the important things out of the public eye, it becomes evident when the need arises. If you go to the gym and don’t put in the work, you won’t see the results at the beach! If you don’t take time to pray and think about the scriptures, things like doubt and fear will have a greater influence over you, which could lead to things like anxiety and even weight gain! What you do in secret always becomes evident in one way or another. It’s just a fact. You can’t magically wish yourself to a better life.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">What will you do in secret today that will improve your relationships? Your body? Your faith?</span></div>
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TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-78065019784938009842020-01-13T07:14:00.003-08:002020-01-13T07:14:49.172-08:00Neil Peart and Drumming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was very sad to hear the news on the weekend of the passing of a drumming hero of mine, Neil Peart. His passion was life and drumming!<br />
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It was in the early 80's when my friend Shawn introduced me to a band called Rush. It was the Moving Pictures album and the only comment he made was that this record has "really great drums". It did, boy did it ever. I had never heard anything like the style Neil was playing. It was intense and creative. Just when you think you had the pattern figured out, he would change it! There were odd time signatures, there were weird sounds! It was wild and I was hooked. I have been a Rush fan ever since. I even got to see a concert!<br />
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As I dove deeper into the band I began to enjoy the writing of the lyrics. Neil was a guy who would pass the time on the tour bus and backstage by reading. It caused him to be a deep thinker and a prolific writer. He wrote several books which I have read. I was impressed by his style and voice. He would write about his travels in a way that made you feel like you were on the road with him! He was a really shy guy that liked to stay out of the spotlight, yet he could not avoid it! He suffered some terrible losses in the 90's. His daughter was killed in a collision and his wife died of cancer. Wow. that's rough. I know for a fact that he was not a man who believed in organized religion, but he could write about the search for meaning in a very thoughtful way.<br />
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My hope is that we all find our passion, as he did and then give our all to it. He inspired so many people to play drums and think deeper. What will other people be inspired to do because of YOUR passion?TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-34143386856083961442019-12-10T07:55:00.001-08:002019-12-10T08:04:28.703-08:00Redeeming The Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Have you ever heard someone say "I wish I had the time to do the things I really want to do". I have heard it and I have said it to. Does it seem as though the life you want is just out of reach because of the multitude of commitments you have on your day? Have you wanted more time, but failed to see where you could get it? You think "Maybe if I had better time management skills, that would be the answer."</div>
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I recently heard someone say that "time management" is a myth.</div>
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He said that you cannot manage time, it ticks away, second after second and there isn't anything you can do about it. The only thing you can manage is yourself. </div>
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In our human experience, time, such as we understand it, is a limited commodity. I am 53 years old as I write this. If I keep on living healthy and avoid doing anything risky, I will live to about my mid-eighties. Let's say 85. That means I have 32 years left. It sounds like a lot of time, right? But think about it like this. It means I have 32 summers left. I have 32 Christmas left. I have 32 Anniversaries. It puts a little more perspective on how we can best use our time, doesn't it? If I have 32 summers left, I want to be slim and trim for all of them! So, at all of my remaining Thanksgivings, I will say "No more pie for me thanks! Summer's coming!"</div>
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There is an interesting scripture in the New Testament. It's Ephesians 5:16. It says we should "redeem the time because the days are evil"</div>
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That verse and the ones around it talk about being careful about how we live because the time is short and we don't want to be careless about it. You get the sense that the Apostle Paul is encouraging us to live on purpose, and not to let this life slip away from us. It's an important message especially today when so many things that seem really important want to take our time and attention. It becomes quality over quantity.</div>
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For me, I can be distracted very easily by the internet. Before you know what's happening, you've spent an hour catching up with the cast of H.R Puffenstuff and you forgot that you went online to check the time of a movie you want to take your wife to. It's so easy! In a flash, all the productivity that could have happened in that time is gone. Any creativity you had will have dried up! You can't get that time back, ever.</div>
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Living on purpose means, making the most of your time. Not doing more necessarily, but making the time you have meaningful and productive. If you are with people, give them your attention, your eye-contact! If you are going to do any exercise, do it with energy! If you are going on the internet, make it a worthwhile time! Contribute something instead of just creeping on other people's Facebook to see what they're up to! You have done it! I know!</div>
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Here's a bit of wisdom that may help you. Break big goals into small chunks. If we use the example of fitness, you may want to transform your body by doing some kind of activity. It does not happen in one day, so don't feel the pressure to climb the whole mountain in one workout! A little bit each day is all you need. Your time is limited so, set a small goal and hit it every day. Walk a block, stretch, ride a bike, whatever. Over time, those small deposits will add up and compound. Climb a bit of the mountain and then rest and take in the view. Redeem the time!</div>
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Jesus had a three-year ministry plan. It seems that it was to have 12 disciples, travel to a certain amount of towns, and spread the message where he could. This plan was relatively short compared to other stories in the bible.</div>
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Some of God's plans for his people seem to be contained in a span of hundreds of years. That's hard for us to grasp. We want results NOW!</div>
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I think that once we pass beyond the threshold of death and come into another reality of being, time will not have the same meaning for us as it does now. But while we are here on this wonderful planet with these amazing people we call fellow humans, let's make the most of it. Let's redeem the time!</div>
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TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-44370971436677211862019-11-04T08:43:00.001-08:002019-11-04T08:43:40.923-08:00Obsessions<br />
I have a new obsession every few years, you can ask my wife. I will be into something for a while and then my attention will be drawn elsewhere.<br />
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Are you like this too?<br />
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My current areas of interest are as follows:<br />
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<b>Kombucha</b><br />
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It's an ancient drink that I have just discovered. My friend served me some this summer and I instantly felt amazing. It's fermented black tea. Supposedly chock full of health benefits. Here's the Wikipedia entry on it - <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span></div>
<br /><i>Kombucha is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermentation">fermented</a>, slightly <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholic_drink">alcoholic</a>, lightly <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effervescent">effervescent</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweetened_beverage">sweetened</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_tea">black</a> or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_tea">green tea</a> drink commonly intended as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Functional_beverage">functional beverage</a> for its supposed health benefits. Sometimes the beverage is called kombucha tea to distinguish it from the culture of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteria">bacteria</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeast">yeast</a>. Juice, spices, or other flavorings are often added to enhance the taste of the beverage.<br /><br />The exact origins of kombucha are not known. It is thought to have originated in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchuria">Manchuria</a> where the drink is traditionally consumed, or in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia">Russia</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Europe">Eastern Europe</a>. Kombucha is now <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homebrewing">homebrewed</a> globally, and also bottled and sold commercially by various companies.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrRSexdlR_RyyD9LGS4bMcWlAJf1SrumjMxWHCAPlD2Yl6R-m9YlfKVVKbsIX6SCB-N7_F1fA9TnTn64QSydoVVm7_KodwTjgE0BWLICiAFVE8KZKMVnObV4SOZOfPftbMd1bbZH-hUI/s1600/homemade-kombucha-tea-royalty-free-image-1142753056-1559852788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="480" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrRSexdlR_RyyD9LGS4bMcWlAJf1SrumjMxWHCAPlD2Yl6R-m9YlfKVVKbsIX6SCB-N7_F1fA9TnTn64QSydoVVm7_KodwTjgE0BWLICiAFVE8KZKMVnObV4SOZOfPftbMd1bbZH-hUI/s200/homemade-kombucha-tea-royalty-free-image-1142753056-1559852788.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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I bought myself a few bottles at the grocery store and I still enjoyed it so much, I did some research on making it myself. I have since started making my own at home and I love it.<br />
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<b>Drones</b><br />
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I have two. I did not spend a lot of money on them. I know I'll crash them so I don't want to be heartbroken if they are worth a small fortune. Super duper drones can be in the thousands of dollars and take amazing photos and videos. I enjoy filming a bit of drone footage wherever I happen to be and the two I have are small enough to fit in a backpack.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5GzO_XAsGyvwsl7cNTNH8beLxc50KL3P2yYksXqz6gPeIAdUid2ydsgH7fIvcb0q5NdS4BAgmw5_svVi4QD72AaainpSly_K9HbHalBXdVa1KxZYn0RPIgvPfCx4OeQHDQHTVrrhwaU/s1600/61ML9ImyhqL._SY355_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5GzO_XAsGyvwsl7cNTNH8beLxc50KL3P2yYksXqz6gPeIAdUid2ydsgH7fIvcb0q5NdS4BAgmw5_svVi4QD72AaainpSly_K9HbHalBXdVa1KxZYn0RPIgvPfCx4OeQHDQHTVrrhwaU/s200/61ML9ImyhqL._SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DJI Tello</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I like flying them and I like sharing the pictures they take. The Tello does flips and can take some great selfie shots. The Hubsan has GPS and can follow you or follow a pre-planned route. Great fun.<br />
<br />
<b>Online Auctions</b><br />
<br />
I like getting a deal on something cool and unique. Online auctions are the place to get those things. I have bid on and won some cool items! A few of the latest were some screen used pieces of fitness equipment from a Nickelodeon show! I got them for an outstanding price and as a bonus, I could see them on YouTube clips from the show! I like to look for deals on collectibles and household things. It's a little crazy how many things you can look at in 5 minutes, but you get to know which sites have the things you are interested in!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHDOISnLNp3CK42mPipGSkyDsz543XVIHUzUGyaECw47Nd8K2xNx9cuFCtxa5rfs4U6BTELTd474y_90LHAS56qIWHohZ5WprFBWa2GVsmKBMTOJjxKlic6etzzRqnupuVOPK3KMueiU/s1600/screen-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="281" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHDOISnLNp3CK42mPipGSkyDsz543XVIHUzUGyaECw47Nd8K2xNx9cuFCtxa5rfs4U6BTELTd474y_90LHAS56qIWHohZ5WprFBWa2GVsmKBMTOJjxKlic6etzzRqnupuVOPK3KMueiU/s320/screen-0.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
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It's a lot of fun to get into a bidding war and then come away with a treasure! I have even developed a bit of a customer base. I know some guys who like certain things and I keep my eyes out for them!</div>
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There are a few more obsessions I have right now but those are the main ones.</div>
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What are yours?</div>
<br />TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-13311780559129247332019-10-21T09:50:00.001-07:002019-10-21T09:50:49.464-07:00Why I Think You Should Read My Book.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDi1-xB7wwsMrDnsoBoHNNlQVQqkdhSR3b6bWzL9HyfXIVgrPHPQ3mf0L4bsIXc6M7D2P2w-la1nKpB6RWE3mqfu506jiMP45BsINq54vie7ZIB1N5actaPpPY5gG7aG5J3l5-a1halQ/s1600/Conexus+bookmarks-page-001+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="900" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDi1-xB7wwsMrDnsoBoHNNlQVQqkdhSR3b6bWzL9HyfXIVgrPHPQ3mf0L4bsIXc6M7D2P2w-la1nKpB6RWE3mqfu506jiMP45BsINq54vie7ZIB1N5actaPpPY5gG7aG5J3l5-a1halQ/s640/Conexus+bookmarks-page-001+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I wrote a novella called Conexus because I had a story idea and I wanted to see where it went.<br />
<br />
What if artificial intelligence had us all figured out and did the right thing, even when we wouldn't?<br />
<br />
The cast of characters includes a guy named, Lance. He's a guy who would rather talk to machines. He finds human contact tedious and slow. He has a big part to play in the story because it's his attitude that a lot of us have. We would rather text or message before actually speaking and making eye contact. Sound familiar? The more we bury our faces in devices, the more handicapped we become in relationships. In my story, artificial intelligence knows this too and takes steps to correct it!<br />
<br />
How does it end?<br />
<br />
No spoilers!<br />
<br />
Get a copy today and find out the ending! Conexus is now available in the LIFE 100.3 Online Superstore. Shipping is a bit cheaper that way! Click <a href="https://lifeonline.fm/product/conexus-by-todd-gale/">HERE</a>!<br />
<br />
Enjoy!TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-67827098083760698692019-10-01T08:23:00.003-07:002019-11-04T08:14:46.404-08:00Conexus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQ6twp-7NayBMVO16d2n2C7fIR3gtUVzlp_W8HNaHkUv4wegU4T2awYhiLNgze-2dEBhUECRyiECZxq8OGUqBUICTSxkLJAyprRxPm_11rVzq6xvcgQbvNVARZfkOQCew9ORGI732hBc/s1600/Conexus+front+cover+only.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQ6twp-7NayBMVO16d2n2C7fIR3gtUVzlp_W8HNaHkUv4wegU4T2awYhiLNgze-2dEBhUECRyiECZxq8OGUqBUICTSxkLJAyprRxPm_11rVzq6xvcgQbvNVARZfkOQCew9ORGI732hBc/s320/Conexus+front+cover+only.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
After months of sitting at the computer keyboard and working through my idea for an adventure story involving robots and relationships, it's finally in print! "Conexus" is done! My first book is complete and it's out there now!<br />
<br />
I joke that one day, artificial intelligence will try and take over the world. It's what<i> we </i>want. We design programs and robots to do the things we don't want to do. So where does that leave <i>us</i>? We should have all the time in the world to get to know one another and connect like never before! With robots running things, humans should thrive! But all evidence to the contrary! We are more disconnected than ever!<br />
<br />
Imagine a day when artificial intelligence will offer us what we need the most, a chance to remember what life is really all about, relationships!<br />
<br />
For some of us, relationships come easy, others have difficulty forming and maintaining good connections. Selfishness, greed, narcissism, and religiousness are obstacles to true connections. Can we overcome them? Yes! Is it hard? Yes! Is it worth it? Yes!<br />
<br />
The main character in the story is confronted with making a choice between being alone and risking his heart, not just to others but to a Higher Power! He and a group of spiritually hungry seekers board a plane to a place they never thought they would go!<br />
<br />
I hope you love this story as much as I do!<br />
<br />
You can grab the E-Book <a href="https://www.blurb.ca/ebooks/705240-conexus">HERE.</a><br />
<br />
You can get a softcover copy <a href="https://www.blurb.ca/b/9724685-conexus">HERE.</a><br />
<br />
Leave a comment with your thoughts about the story!TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-8413666949174105542019-08-15T09:44:00.000-07:002019-08-15T09:44:10.443-07:00Wow Enough!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kltVPhhza7U/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kltVPhhza7U?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
I love this clip from Jurassic World. Particularly the quote "They're dinosaurs, wow enough!"<br />
<br />
It highlights a danger we can all fall into, HYPE! Some thing in and of themselves need little to no embellishment to be awesome, they just are! Like the dinosaurs who inspire awe and wonder, we don't need to build up excitement in order to appreciate these massive killer lizards.<br />
<br />
In spiritual things we can also become victim to hype.<br />
<br />
Here are a few titles to articles in a popular Christian online magazine...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><i>Why God Is Highlighting Gatekeepers in This Hour - This biblical intercessory ministry has Holy Spirit wind on
it.</i></li>
<li><i>How You Can Root Out Strongholds Through Accelerated
Discernment.</i></li>
<li><i>How This Supernatural Anointing Can Set You Ablaze With Holy
Ghost Fire</i></li>
<li><i>Why the Enemy Cowers From This Powerful Holy Spirit Punch</i></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>Wow! Those all sound intense don't they? </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>When did the message of the gospel suddenly need to be punched-up with such big terms?</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>The God who created the universe and all its wonders, came to our world and related to us out of PURE love.</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>Wow enough!</o:p></div>
<br />TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-53460471629261310412019-06-03T08:24:00.000-07:002019-06-03T08:24:06.947-07:00Are You Screwed? A Spiritual Lesson From the Deep End.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMu-wHkLlyJ2nnhWBe24vcqB5Yge2zZodsG96DNTgszm7bT0TB1hrKP42-9t7JoDgsTsxGobbrRYUswmAyp5V15f03aQvstEjqAj_iM_xNy47vCOgUqA5cMZZz-7ESMVTlXlEbxTsyWk/s1600/screw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMu-wHkLlyJ2nnhWBe24vcqB5Yge2zZodsG96DNTgszm7bT0TB1hrKP42-9t7JoDgsTsxGobbrRYUswmAyp5V15f03aQvstEjqAj_iM_xNy47vCOgUqA5cMZZz-7ESMVTlXlEbxTsyWk/s320/screw.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I recently did a project that required some demolition. I had to dismantle and remove an above ground pool from my daughters house in Sudbury. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For the most part, things went well, except for a screw that was stubborn! There was rust that caused the pieces of hardware to hold together despite our best efforts to separate them. It seemed that the two metals had become one! My friend and I worked at it for a good little while, twisting and grabbing, but the thing would not come loose.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It was then that I was struck with something spiritual! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It happens in the oddest places! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What if that was like<i> us</i>?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes, there are things, like that pool, that just need to go. We have made a decision to clean out our lives, and we start the demolition! "This needs to go, that needs to leave, I need to change this behavior!" is what we say, then we come up against something stubborn!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It's at this point that we can wonder if that particular stubborn thing is really just part of who we are now. Us and the issue seem to be one, just like that screw on the pool. I asked myself the question, "Is there a point where we can't change? Is it impossible after a certain degree of time and familiarity with the elements?" It was a valid question. I have seen people that, it seems, will always be the way they are. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I <i>also</i> read in the scriptures, the words of the apostle Paul, "...if you are in Christ, you are a new creature. Old things have passed away and all things are made new.". Does that mean we can change in every area? Even the ones where we think "it's just who I am"?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The question seemed to linger and then my buddy said "I'm going to get my angle grinder! We'll take care of that in no time!" And that's what happened. In a couple of seconds, that screw was off and the pieces of the pool were free of one another! I was left wondering if major surgery was the way to go with those things in our live we need to get rid of! A violent and decisive action!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What do you think?</span>TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-44936184500206845462019-05-23T13:30:00.001-07:002019-05-23T13:30:51.972-07:00Getting Things Done<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rCwUK3vUqLGkxjUKOefl7fTDxM9Mn5m-kIoqXG-CA_550gKlkCvTsBzOuu3AE7hk8xsQ5wGo8vlBM-HYaKkMmwHJ5kMQXMeKzb1S0KAFJH7DVYJDoGtLf2kFFT54mqi3ZdTSg5o78o8/s1600/81Sna4a0jPL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1043" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rCwUK3vUqLGkxjUKOefl7fTDxM9Mn5m-kIoqXG-CA_550gKlkCvTsBzOuu3AE7hk8xsQ5wGo8vlBM-HYaKkMmwHJ5kMQXMeKzb1S0KAFJH7DVYJDoGtLf2kFFT54mqi3ZdTSg5o78o8/s320/81Sna4a0jPL.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<br />
If I could recommend a book to you about getting things done, it would be "Getting Things Done".<br />
<br />
The title explains itself! So often, the internet or TV or fishing, whatever, steals our time away and we don't get the things done that we want to. If a day goes by and you just put off the important tasks, well you missed another opportunity to make a difference in the world.<br />
<br />
I have to be very organized in my job so that the radio show goes smoothly, is entertaining and runs on time.<br />
<br />
I have read this book and there are a few things that I want to share with you, that I hope will help you out, assuming this is something you want to improve in your life.<br />
<br />
#1<br />
<br />
The things you need to do will not always be the most enjoyable. Do them anyway.<br />
I work out about an hour a day and I work different areas of my body on separate days. I hate "Leg Day" just as much as anyone, but it's gotta be done! I won't like it the whole time I'm doing it, but I feel so accomplished afterward! I don't like sitting down and writing out comedy bits or story ideas, but the only way I get fresh ideas and new directions is by sitting down and doing it! It does not happen any other way!<br />
<br />
#2<br />
<br />
Clear out your brain. Like open up your head and dump it onto a piece of paper. I call it a mind dump. It's fun. My wife and I did it together. We took a note pad and wrote down all the goals we wanted to achieve, things around the house we wanted to get done, ways we wanted to improve our relationship with each other and our kids, goals for money...etc. Then we looked at it on paper. It was very satisfying to see it all! We then made a plan to do the things we could. We wrote down dates, time frames and action steps! Wow! No more "wishing"! It was mostly mapped out!<br />
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#3<br />
<br />
Take care of the little things right away. If you read the book, one of the rules to getting things done is, if it will take less than two minutes or less, do it immediately. Answer that e-mail, file that paper, make that call or go confirm your plans with that person. BOOM! Done.<br />
<br />
Spend more time living, less time stressing about what you gotta do!<br />
<br />TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-16133166619786894842019-04-05T08:50:00.001-07:002019-04-05T08:50:23.910-07:00Go See A Movie - Change a Life!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTWux7jXpCF030U7LxOp51te_54wUbIXohpUWnJm85oqNba-JFQjVYP2y81GNpQo2sOodgJN4uR0PrRV-bQjtgkGZ4fkpNna87sezuzX4GrjdcARD8S4nrUFkfE6QOyfcZq9ygM8dj2k/s1600/photo-1502033491742-0e11fb057e16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="1489" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTWux7jXpCF030U7LxOp51te_54wUbIXohpUWnJm85oqNba-JFQjVYP2y81GNpQo2sOodgJN4uR0PrRV-bQjtgkGZ4fkpNna87sezuzX4GrjdcARD8S4nrUFkfE6QOyfcZq9ygM8dj2k/s320/photo-1502033491742-0e11fb057e16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />I am cutting and pasting this article from another site. <br /><br />It's from Christian Headlines, if you want, you can look it up for yourself.<br /><br />I think it's worth a read because it shows the effect of going to see a faith-based film when it's released in the theater as opposed to seeing it on BluRay.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The faith-based hit film I Can Only Imagine grossed more than $83 million in the United States, but its impact around the world may have been even greater.<br /><br />Director Jon Erwin says more than 100 countries – including China – have paid to distribute and in some cases translate the films made by him and his filmmaking brother, Andrew.<br /><br />“When a movie is a hit in America… it goes on global autopilot,” Jon Erwin told an audience at the National Religious Broadcasters convention March 27. “So all these countries around the world begin to pay you for the right to translate and distribute your movie. So it's the gospel on for-profit autopilot.”<br /><br />Even China, which has <a href="https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/michael-foust/china-shuts-down-changes-locks-on-1-000-member-church.html">shut down</a> churches, <a href="https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/michael-foust/china-tears-down-church-s-cross-arrests-members-raises-chinese-flag.html">torn down</a> crosses, and <a href="https://www.christianheadlines.com/blog/chinese-official-vows-to-eliminate-christianity-in-china.html">threatened</a> to eliminate Christianity, wanted to show I Can Only Imagine – simply because it was a hit. <br /><br />“I find it very interesting that in the same year that China actually restricted... Christianity, they paid for I Can Only Imagine,” Jon Erwin said. “They paid for the right to translate it and distribute it to their people. That's happened in over 100 countries around the world with our films. <br /><br />“What happens is, when you watch a movie in America, and you buy your ticket, and that movie becomes a hit, you're pretty much guaranteed 10 people around the world are going to see it on your behalf because of these incredible things called output deals. And, in fact, there's a lot of places around the world where you can do more in a movie theater than you can openly on the streets. It's incredible how far the message gets.”<br /><br />Erwin was at NRB to <a href="https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/michael-foust/filmmaker-erwin-brothers-announce-4-new-movies-launch-studio.html">announce</a> four new movies as part of a new faith-based studio, Kingdom.<br /><br />He called entertainment America’s “second largest export,” behind agriculture.<br /><br />Based on a true story, I Can Only Imagine tells how the father of MercyMe’s Bart Millard came to Christ late in life. Dennis Quaid plays the father. <br /><br />Erwin relayed an anecdote of the movie having an impact in Australia. A Christian woman named Sharon, he said, watched it with her son in the theater. She was crying after the film.<br /><br />“And a stranger behind her said, 'Do you know Jesus?' And she said, 'Do you?' And the stranger said, 'No, but I need this in my life. ... What happened to [actor] Dennis Quaid, I need to happen to me. And I need someone to explain it to me.' And they had this conversation right in the theater,” Erwin said. <br /><br />“What we found is that a movie is an incredible tool of emotional instigation, that if you can tell the right story in the right way, it really does have the power to change people’s lives.”</span>TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-90427652074211022232019-04-01T09:49:00.003-07:002019-04-01T09:49:47.478-07:00Time Travel<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjX_PhTgAuJECDsa_uNJp7pYco3-j7YU-sGpM1BVheQzHbgF24HOUOO5EFdyGcUVQotq6-6Imyl_WVWbAfZlHSCq1OkrbhYrfRSm8aQtLNFym-Y0g2b6rxGoINnpaCEFN9EFdwMObkSAw/s1600/1_BSWEp40PKB7xz183npkHDA.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjX_PhTgAuJECDsa_uNJp7pYco3-j7YU-sGpM1BVheQzHbgF24HOUOO5EFdyGcUVQotq6-6Imyl_WVWbAfZlHSCq1OkrbhYrfRSm8aQtLNFym-Y0g2b6rxGoINnpaCEFN9EFdwMObkSAw/s320/1_BSWEp40PKB7xz183npkHDA.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I hate when movies or TV shows use time travel to tell a story. <br />
<br />
I understand why writers use it, it's a way to tell a "What if..." story. What if we could stop someone from becoming a terrorist? What if we could prevent two people from meeting? What if we could hit the guy who put pineapple on pizza over the head with one of those cardboard tube used for gift wrap and shout "No you fool!" It would be a very different world indeed.<br />
<br />
But we do NOT have a time machine, nor will we. Sorry, Cher will just have to keep singing that song. <br />
<br />
It's all fantasy.<br />
<br />
I hate time travel stuff because it indulges our tendency to allow ourselves to feel really bad for our former choices. We dream about how we could change things if we had the chance. Plus, if you COULD go back, you would be constantly paranoid about what you were doing, because your actions will affect countless other lives! Imagine a scenario where just ordering a pizza could cause a world wide apocalypse! It could happen, just sayin'.<br />
<br />
If you read any studies about the mind and how it affects the body, you will begin to see that dwelling on the past, lamenting our actions (or lack thereof) is a key contributor to poor health. Certain chemicals are released that can cause<a href="http://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/cortisol/" target="_blank"> high blood pressure and even obesity.</a> You don't want those things!<br />
<br />
Not many of us worry about Terminator assassins hunting us down from the future, but we do worry ABOUT the future. The same scenarios play out in our brains. What if I win the lottery? What if I buy a Hyundai instead of a KIA? What if the Leafs win the cup? You can see how stress can build over time! Pun intended!<br />
<br />
Leave time alone! I think time is an illusion. We have now. That's it. "Now" decisions affect the future. If you want a different future, have a different "now". If you make a decision today that will give you the future you want, in a way, you are a time traveler!<br />
<br />
It would be cool to buy a DeLorean and trick it out with a Mr. Fusion reactor and get it up to 88 miles per hour and head to any era we so desire, but that sort of thing only happens in the movies.<br />
<br />
Take today. Enjoy today. Plan for tomorrow. Make it a good future!<br />
<br />
<br />TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-22645464553472250022019-03-11T07:32:00.002-07:002019-03-11T07:32:56.353-07:00Let's Talk, or Better Yet, Let's Do THIS...There is some controversy around the Bell "Let's Talk" campaign. The purpose of the day is to bring an awareness of mental illness and to lift the stigma surrounding it. Good goals. Some say it works, some say it doesn't. <br />
Is talking enough? I would say, it's a better start than doing nothing.<br />
<br />
This point was really driven home to me when I read this <a href="https://www.barna.com/research/non-christians-faith-conversations/?fbclid=IwAR1uHJvDmaZkhHk89vAnwkGnxnJrduOukRsf35xLPf4tNy81J2XPgJCHuig" target="_blank">article</a>. It's about what non-Christians want from conversations about faith.<br />
<br />
Check this out...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgMU0vhIR5j5H8i0rxaghjUI-lUg0QmNkNwQJgPcjD7fna58I_qUnOWovt23XMacp5W78rp2GFe3GrLJCwK-3pG0vdXAEKum3Jgg7588sEBMus0BFA_SqW07p6mUINrmb4twj4tOs0V8/s1600/Barna_2019_RevivingEvangelism_charts_v2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="961" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgMU0vhIR5j5H8i0rxaghjUI-lUg0QmNkNwQJgPcjD7fna58I_qUnOWovt23XMacp5W78rp2GFe3GrLJCwK-3pG0vdXAEKum3Jgg7588sEBMus0BFA_SqW07p6mUINrmb4twj4tOs0V8/s320/Barna_2019_RevivingEvangelism_charts_v2.jpeg" width="319" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It's interesting that so many people want to talk, but how many people are really available to LISTEN?<br />
<br />
"Nearly all non-Christians (identify with a faith other than Christianity or no faith at all) and lapsed Christians (identify as Christian but have not attended church within the past month) have a friend or family member who practices and prioritizes Christianity—but these believers may not be their ideal conversation partners when it comes to faith. For instance, more than six in 10 non-Christians and lapsed Christians (62%) say they would be open to talking about faith matters with someone who listens without judgment—the top quality they value—but only one-third (34%) sees this trait in the Christians they know personally."<div>
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<div>
WOW! The thing people with things to talk about value, they can't find!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Can we listen without judgement, or is it all important to us to BE RIGHT and to SET PEOPLE STRAIGHT?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
The research shows us what the real focus should be!<br /><br />
Instead of Let's Talk, maybe it SHOULD be "Let's Listen".<br />
<br /></div>
TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-37624684607895050562019-02-12T09:32:00.000-08:002019-02-12T09:38:17.931-08:00Are you a professional?I would like to share this article with you! It is by, Phil Cooke. He is a Christian media expert and knows his stuff. Take from it what you will. I loved it! The full web page can be found<a href="https://www.philcooke.com/amateur-versus-professional-career/?fbclid=IwAR3Ra9eUEJ6XafNUlDdONx47iHiR_wlT9mHoKJ5_1dJz6k4YsPvXdVOTyLk" target="_blank"> here </a><br />
<br />
<header class="entry-header"><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif !important; font-size: 27pt; font-weight: 300 !important; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
It’s Time to Decide: Are You An Amateur Or Professional?</h1>
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<div class="entry-content" style="border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.5em 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="dropcap" style="border: 0px; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 5.25em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 0.857em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="A">A</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.25em; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">t some point in our careers we need to decide how serious we are about the pursuit. As the old saying goes: </span><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.25em; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The thinking that got you into this mess isn’t the thinking you need to get out.”</em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.25em; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> All of us start as beginners or amateurs – and there’s no shame in that. But at some point, some decide that the pursuit is worth the self discipline it takes to reach the next level, while others decide to stay where they are. I could use a million examples – maybe you’re</span><span id="more-11688" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.25em; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.25em; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> restarting or changing careers, perhaps you’re a divorced or single mom. You took time off for school or to raise a family. I met a man recently who had spent years caring for his terminally ill wife, and now needed to get back into the workplace.</span><br />
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Whatever it is, there’s a point where a “soccer mom,” a man changing careers, or someone else in transition decides to become a professional leader. Here’s a handful of decisions he or she needs to consider in order to arrive at that destination:</div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">An amateur believes his passion and energy is all he needs to make a successful presentation.</em><br />
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A professional dedicates the time and effort it takes to become an effective public speaker.</span></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">An amateur uses lots of emoticons and exclamation marks in her emails.</em><br />
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A professional expresses herself in an articulate, businesslike way.</span></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">An amateur thinks everyone at the meeting wants to hear his ideas.</em><br />
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A professional listens first, then shares based on what he’s heard.</span></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">An amateur gets dressed for work, and shows up looking like, well… an amateur.</em><br />
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A professional gets dressed for work, and shows up looking like a professional.</span></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">An amateur figures it’s too late to change. She is what she is.</em><br />
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A professional knows it’s never too late to change and is always learning.</span></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">An amateur is awkward and hesitant when he meets new people.</em><br />
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A professional knows that people skills are some of the most important skills you can possess.</span></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When an amateur has a problem with her computer she gets exasperated, and then calls a teenager, spouse, or neighbor to fix it. </em><br />
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A professional takes a class or finds a mentor so she can take care of it herself. At the very least she runs through potential options so she doesn’t waste someone else’s time.</span></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">An amateur believes that it’s OK to turn in a report with grammatical and punctuation errors. After all, it’s the ideas in his report that matter.</em><br />
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A professional knows that clear communication is critical. How you express your message is as important as the message itself.</span></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I could go on and on, but you get the picture.</em></div>
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What did you think? Comment below!<br />
</div>
TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-14029549153194932712019-01-08T13:36:00.001-08:002019-01-08T13:36:22.770-08:00Muscle Car Ministry<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglba-4OlYgb1RmCKyvc_7-4S3lUzfuXazqIXY7HkOQfStlRPbBIpNOPJ-JytdXQ9bqCjgZVafpQ3VhtRhSdV45xcvGEpi1TKTUxgMAU-DfkfQBmp39msi_p_DA4UFP8a1d_n9ngaO1HAU/s1600/dodgecharger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglba-4OlYgb1RmCKyvc_7-4S3lUzfuXazqIXY7HkOQfStlRPbBIpNOPJ-JytdXQ9bqCjgZVafpQ3VhtRhSdV45xcvGEpi1TKTUxgMAU-DfkfQBmp39msi_p_DA4UFP8a1d_n9ngaO1HAU/s320/dodgecharger.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not an actual shot of the incident, but close enough to give you a good idea of the scenario</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We have new neighbors.<br />
<br />
They are two young guys and they each have a muscle car. The exact same model There must have been a two for one sale. Not sure if they do the whole BOGO thing for Dodge Chargers, but in this economy, it's anyone's guess. Regardless of how they came to posses these super charged beasts of the industrial age, I don't think they thought through how they would perform in the winter months. 8 cylinders of power is great for cruising down the main drag in the dog days of summer and leaning to one side as you tip your head to look over your Ray-Bans at a cute girl with exactly 20 followers on Instagram, but when the snow flies, the only thing you'll be looking over is a snowbank if you don't have the proper tires on your schmooze-mobile.<br />
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These guys have no snow tires. They also do not shovel their driveway.<br />
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All the torque in the world won't get you to move an inch when you're sitting on what is essentially the mini-glacier we call Ontario in December.<br />
<br />
Here's what happened early one morning after a brief snowfall.<br />
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I am in bed early because of my job. I awake at four a.m. to go into work at 5. Weekends for me are the only time I get to sleep in. Saturday and Sunday are sacred days of sabbath rest where the alarm on my phone lets me stay horizontal for as long as I care to be without a hint of responsibility, other thank making coffee and bacon at whatever hour I choose to lift myself from the mattress. It's glorious! That's why I was so perturbed to be woken at 3 a.m. on a Sunday by the constant revving of a 6.4 liter V8 engine. At first, I thought it was a snow plow, but the roar of the motor did not fade into the distance of a snowy night, it remained constant, dying down for only a few moments before returning with a fiery vengeance.<br />
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I was determined to call the police on whoever was the offending rev-er and get them in "trouble". This was outrageous! But I had to know for sure what was causing this ruckus. I got out of bed and crept downstairs, picking up my flashlight from the bowl beside the door, and opened up to peek around the porch. (It was cold and I was minimally dressed, so this would be a quick peek.)<br />
It was as I suspected, the neighbor person was revving his big block in the next door driveway, but the car was moving back and forth only a few feet at a a time. He was very clearly, stuck in his own driveway.<br />
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It was decision time. Do I continue with my plan to call the cops and then try and return to my slumber, or do I get dressed and go help him?<br />
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These are the times when you realize you should probably do the thing you don't want to do. Upstairs I went to get my pants and shirt on and go lend a hand. Why not be neighborly? I am awake anyway.<br />
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As I stepped out of the house, I grabbed my trusty snow shovel from the porch and walked over to Mr. Stucky McStuckerson. I say I would like to lend a hand as as we spoke just a few words, out of the corner of my eye, I see the neighbor from across the street exit his house and come to the edge of the curb. This looked promising! The whole street, coming together to aid a poor soul in need of help! What hope swelled within my bosom for the future of mankind! We would lead the way together to a new era of kindness and compassion! One driveway at a time!<br />
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Before I could explain what was happening, neighbor #2 began to speak. Did he ask how he could pitch in and resolve this slippery situation? No! He began to unleash a torrent of anger and rage in my direction! He expounded, in very succinct terms, that the hour was late and the noise was too dreadful! He spoke for not only his household, but the surrounding domiciles also! How could you make such a din! It violates basic human decency!<br />
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When there was a break in the tirade, I interjected that if we could, together, help this individual, we could resolve the situation and all get back to a warm winters nap.<br />
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He would have none of it. With a few more words, he stormed back into the house.<br />
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I realized at that moment, that he came out of his house seeing only me and my shovel! For all he knew, I was the sole architect of the evenings sinister symphony! The fellow in the offending vehicle never moved and never bothered to speak up and defend me or explain his actions! He just sat there! I took all HIS grief from the sleepy street umpire who had called foul on the noise!<br />
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I became very direct and asked him which way he was trying to go, in or out.<br />
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He said "In".<br />
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So, like Samson of old, the spirit of strength came upon me and, unaided, I pushed that noisy beast into place and bid him a good evening.<br />
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The whole affair reminded me of the gospel story.<br />
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We are like the car, spinning its wheels, all flash and no grip. Loads of potential but no traction. Out from a perfect environment comes Jesus. He arrives to help, to get us unstuck from our issues. As humans do, we focus our anger, like my neighbor, on the one who seems to be causing the trouble. Without asking questions, we blame the One who is here to save us and unload on Him! Silently He absorbs our blame and with supernatural power brings a resolution!<br />
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Who knew you could learn so much from a noisy neighbor?<br />
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<br />TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-47889379448436636882018-10-31T09:28:00.003-07:002018-10-31T09:29:02.059-07:00Surviving the Fire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYzYw0CFqva9t2sL9ydhmjMclkjAnBG-IV7S115xfwGNeIIgTViFHpnz1W4euCgG0TSlXiLrkk1TqjRWwj1d3WfblaP8d4O25f2bnJbpf02vnX3c82KpjmZ2fp2IA9w3zHfCZ6nxwwkI/s1600/jesus+fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="986" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYzYw0CFqva9t2sL9ydhmjMclkjAnBG-IV7S115xfwGNeIIgTViFHpnz1W4euCgG0TSlXiLrkk1TqjRWwj1d3WfblaP8d4O25f2bnJbpf02vnX3c82KpjmZ2fp2IA9w3zHfCZ6nxwwkI/s320/jesus+fire.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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You may have seen the recent story about the painting of Jesus that somehow survived a massive fire that destroyed a church. The structure was completely wrecked and the only thing to make it through the destruction was the painting. It was pretty much untouched by the fire.<br />
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It seems like a cheesy story right? But listen to what one of the church members said about the whole thing...<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"I'm personally taking it as a sign and a reminder that the Jesus, the Christ that we serve is still alive and even though our church building is gone our church is here and the God we serve is still here," said Maria Kakalowski, a parishioner of the church,</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Think about that! You're point of view on the bad things that happen in your life make a huge difference. It can either fill you with doubts and fear or it can remind you of the things that really last.<br />
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Jesus said something I have always found to be encouraging...<br />
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<h1 class="passage-display" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Matthew 24:35 <span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">King James Version (KJV)</span></h1>
It's a pretty big claim to say things like that! If you trust what He said then , no matter what you can lean on the things that are eternal, because they will outlast any fire or disaster or tragedy that comes along!<br />
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When bad times hit, what do you trust in?TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-56381237053160213852018-10-22T09:11:00.002-07:002018-10-22T09:12:11.212-07:00Come With Me If You Want To Love Junk!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TUp9zI_eywaYtf9F8YqYDu4x06WAE5qJpt2PjFn63aCuqVU_qsMfYYTi-Di63SdIU5RBH1tqiUyiFzX7d5Mhkh1RcgspQgyS3MnSDbPlikHY5tOWcoRYzewMZAy19STzipOGMb8LkYc/s1600/Vancouver-Flea-Market-1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="550" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TUp9zI_eywaYtf9F8YqYDu4x06WAE5qJpt2PjFn63aCuqVU_qsMfYYTi-Di63SdIU5RBH1tqiUyiFzX7d5Mhkh1RcgspQgyS3MnSDbPlikHY5tOWcoRYzewMZAy19STzipOGMb8LkYc/s320/Vancouver-Flea-Market-1-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/knLF451wd8s?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.2s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Felipe Belluco</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "san francisco" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "ubuntu" , "roboto" , "noto" , "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/search/photos/flea-market?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.2s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></td></tr>
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One of the things that gives me a little boost of joy is to wander around a flea market of an antiques mall in a town that is new! I love the smells, I love the thrill of scanning for a treasure that may be hiding under a box or a shelf!<br />
<br />
Maybe I'm just getting older and the things that interest me are changing, I don't know.<br />
<br />
I like the flea markets because you never know what you are going to find.<br />
<br />
If you go to a big box store, you pretty much know what to expect.<br />
<br />
If you go to an antiques mall, you have no clue what you might find or what memories you may discover there.<br />
<br />
One time in Sarnia, I planned to have a quick stop at a local store packed with "junk" to look around. The half hour I thought it would take to walk through ended up being almost two hours! I was on the hunt for something very specific and I stumbled upon a couple of clues that suggested I should not leave there without a meticulous search. I opened boxes, moved items around and even asked if I could go behind a display case. There was just enough room to squeeze in and open a box or two in my quest for this object. The owner said he did not want to let me back there, but when he was outside, I did it anyway! I heard him come back in briefly so I froze, hoping he would think I was a mannequin! Once the coast was clear, I resumed my search!<br />
<br />
I did not find the thing I was looking for, but I had a very entertaining time seeing the contents of the "shop" and digging through rooms and rooms of fascinating old curiosities! I was about to leave and I thought, it would be rude to not buy anything after practically rearranging the store so I grabbed a small action figure of <b>The Terminator</b> that had caught my eye earlier.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrAxKDdvG8J4Xsmq1rNZ0AzJVD4WgUen7o7EA40vxteaQsRrX5vlKBSc8w3gKkGc6FGb7tZ70_Yt5nvRhuFnIiZIkZ2Ft23yeSEcimC-ee401sUEsXNFSNNu-UcjcwdHUNBRRqMzPcVs/s1600/43092123_10155882562291009_1542437045073346560_o+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1022" data-original-width="499" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrAxKDdvG8J4Xsmq1rNZ0AzJVD4WgUen7o7EA40vxteaQsRrX5vlKBSc8w3gKkGc6FGb7tZ70_Yt5nvRhuFnIiZIkZ2Ft23yeSEcimC-ee401sUEsXNFSNNu-UcjcwdHUNBRRqMzPcVs/s320/43092123_10155882562291009_1542437045073346560_o+%25282%2529.jpg" width="156" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Terminator figure I know own.</td></tr>
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<br />
I brought it outside to where the owner was arranging a sidewalk display and asked him "How much"?<br />
<br />
"Five dollars."<br />
<br />
I was a little shocked because I expected a dollar or two would be the going rate for an old action figure that was quite dirty!<br />
<br />
I said "Five dollars?"<br />
<br />
"Yup, that's what they go for!".<br />
<br />
I considered for a moment, and thought about how he knew that grime covered Terminator action figure were going for five bucks a pop. Where do you get that information?<br />
<br />
I was about to question him and try and bargain for the robot assassin from the future, but in the end I decided, it was worth it.<br />
<br />
I said "You know what, I had a great time poking around and seeing your stuff, is there more?"<br />
<br />
He said " I have another whole sea-crate full, I just don't have room to put it in the store right now. I'll put it out in the next couple months."<br />
<br />
I gave him two toonies and a loonie and said...<br />
<br />
<b>"I'll be back."</b>TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-8427948979823165502018-10-15T07:15:00.000-07:002018-10-15T07:15:20.233-07:00Royal, Baby!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJzAJfIVbrrCPWv8-5NNk6he8KAzSY8TbESpeQ82PhDRq6r9LAMxetLacOMjKd37BT4vELKqZj_gCL8DaSRrPCWikv4ql1aNvGm75wGVhvafBqOIXjMzFvHx9PhxulLdncxGStdj6bhc/s1600/wy7omkjvtjxvygmzihqv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="750" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJzAJfIVbrrCPWv8-5NNk6he8KAzSY8TbESpeQ82PhDRq6r9LAMxetLacOMjKd37BT4vELKqZj_gCL8DaSRrPCWikv4ql1aNvGm75wGVhvafBqOIXjMzFvHx9PhxulLdncxGStdj6bhc/s320/wy7omkjvtjxvygmzihqv.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The proud parents-to-be!</td></tr>
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I think it would be odd to be a "Royal".<br />
<br />
It would be the strangest thing to be celebrated for something you are rather than something you have done.<br />
<br />
In the normal world, where most people's heads are crown-free, we have to do something important to receive any accolade. We have to save someone's life or donate a million dollars to charity. <br />
<br />
That activity makes the headlines. (Hopefully. Some other antics can capture the media attention unfortunately, like balancing champagne glasses on your butt.)<br />
<br />
If you are a "Royal", you are born into a famous family. Celebrity is pretty much guaranteed.<br />
<br />
Paparazzi are happy for you, they get job security for another 30 years! They get to snap baby pictures, first day of school, and drunk party pictures to feed tabloids. It's a happy occasion!<br />
<br />
I was thinking about the scriptures that describe the believer in Jesus as a royal person.<br />
<br />
How in the world do you qualify for that?<br />
<br />
Being born! Same way!<br />
<br />
Remember the scripture about being "born again"? Same deal! It's a new life!<br />
<br />
It's not about any "good" you do. It's about the family you are a part of!<br />
<br />
That's a better deal than being "Royal" in the sense of the British Royal family!<br />
<br />
Less paparazzi to!<br />
<br />
<br />TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35496665937410166.post-74731661954272009132018-10-09T07:40:00.000-07:002018-10-09T07:40:11.723-07:00TV or not TV?<div style="border: 0px; color: #383838; font-family: gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.57143em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPP2xBJuqblNSzzgiETEFD9dVbMcJJ4MPsT55_s46C1bsilmkIQEkDHYnbLXE_b1Ep-tcrNdFvARgclQqT1pydxVgXD5SYnNiDxXF8BYaNPT7Gq5-BCxGX9f3L3fgZA7fxXHmP49nldZw/s1600/tina-rataj-berard-168378-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPP2xBJuqblNSzzgiETEFD9dVbMcJJ4MPsT55_s46C1bsilmkIQEkDHYnbLXE_b1Ep-tcrNdFvARgclQqT1pydxVgXD5SYnNiDxXF8BYaNPT7Gq5-BCxGX9f3L3fgZA7fxXHmP49nldZw/s320/tina-rataj-berard-168378-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/0Q33pyk-AXI?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.2s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Tina Rataj-Berard</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/search/photos/tv?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.2s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></td></tr>
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We don't have a cable or satellite television service anymore. Not for a few years.<br />
<br />
Over the holidays, we were visiting family and the tube was on. <br />
<br />
We were sort of half watching a movie and it was on a network, so there were commercials. <br />
<br />
Not being used to the interruptions, I found the ads VERY annoying...and STUPID!<br />
<br />
I have been away from the world of commercials for longer than I thought! What's happened?<br />
<br />
I felt myself getting dumber the more I watched! <br />
<br />
Then as the time got to be after midnight, the movie STILL was not over because of the amount of ads!<br />
<br />
The ads stretched a two hour movie into almost three!<br />
<br />
Since it was after midnight, the tone of the ads changed to very sexual! Wow! Awkward!<br />
<br />
I don't think I will be signing up for cable anytime soon, but it's got me thinking.<br />
<br />
When you leave something for a while then try and come back to it, it's always different.<br />
<br />
I used to take my coffee with two sugars for years, but for the last five or six, I have done just cream.<br />
<br />
I was recently at the coffee shop and they got my order wrong and put sugar! YUCK!<br />
<br />
It was so bad! I don't know how I could have had that much sweetness before!<br />
<br />
But I did!<br />
<br />
Maybe there is something you need to spend time away from, in order to discover the benefits of NOT having it!<br />
<br />
It could be TV or it could be social media, or YOUR PHONE! Only you know!</div>
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TAG777http://www.blogger.com/profile/08527431756053955611noreply@blogger.com0