How many adjustments would I have to make in my appearance to look more like my friends who are NOT Christians? How far could I go with pornography before I am doing something serious? How much sexual pleasure can I have without upsetting God? Can’t I just block out the swear words, the violence and explicit sex scenes from the movies and enjoy the story? Is a little bit of nudity on a DVD really going to damage me? As long as I don’t get drunk, can’t I have a beer when I’m crashing on the weekend with my friends? Or if I’m at a business function, does God really mind me popping the cork and serving wine to my associates? Is it a crime if I miss a gospel service or a prayer meeting to watch the play-offs or the Super Bowl with my friends? Is it wrong if after I pay my bills, that I spend the rest of my money on all the toys I want and hobbies I enjoy? Why shouldn’t my iPod be pounding into my ears 2Pac downloads, or Nirvana, 50cent, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood or Black Eyed Peas or Shania Twain?

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Have you ever shook your head and said: “Just a second. This is not making sense. On one hand you say you believe this but then you turn around and do the direct opposite. What am I missing in this picture? Can you enlighten me? What you’re saying is not adding up.”

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Have you ever been around certain people and all they talk about is making money, business prospects and hopes to be successful? Or for some it is styles and fashions; clothes and wardrobes issues. Others seem to mostly talk about people, picking at this and that, finding fault with just about everything. For some, their predictable theme is their home - draperies and blinds, colors, floorings and fabrics, etc. There are even some who are always ready for a good chin-wag on politics; they are up on everything that is political.

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Harold didn’t need any coaxing. He jumped in with both feet and launched a robust defense of his work: “Definitely! The end justifies the means. As long as I am achieving a good outcome, it matters very little how I do it. I firmly believe the results are more important than the process I use to achieve them. The results are obvious. Don’t knock something that works.”

“Wow! He’s on a roll. I can’t get a word in edgeways,” Albert said to his wife. “His self defense is spewing out like lava. And really, it’s hard to argue against what he’s saying. Things are happening for him. Just look at the statistics. The facts speak for themselves. We’re going nowhere fast but things are booming in his camp.” Melinda whispered to her husband: “Dear, the methods we use to accomplish our goals are as important as the attainment of those goals.”

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It’s after midnight and you sigh: “Well, if I am going to achieve anything in life I have to be prepared to put long hours and late nights into it. Success doesn’t come without effort. I can’t lose sight of my goal.” Or maybe it’s 5AM! The deep sleep is rudely interrupted by the howling buzz. The arm swings out to silence the annoying racket. The pathetic face in the mirror screams for more sleep but then you tell yourself: “Nope! I can’t sleep for another hour. If I am going to ‘go over the top’, if I am going for ‘gold’, if I’m ever going to excel academically or in business, I have to work hard at it.”

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The title is shocking to say the least. Add to that scene the action of slicing up the pages with your pocket knife and then heaving them into the fire. Even more blasphemous! That’s exactly what King Jehoiachim did. Jeremiah’s God-given prophecies were written on a scroll and then read out to the public in the temple. The princes got wind of it and they asked for a private ‘royal’ reading. They themselves wanted to hear the written word. Just in case the King reacted negatively they advised Jeremiah to make himself scarce.

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Perhaps you are going through a rough time – discouraged, bitter upset and the future is looking dismal and bleak. Are you hearing a whisper in your heart: “The Lord is making your life miserable? He’s the one to blame. He’s keeping you back. He’s the kill-joy in your life. If you hadn’t been so sensitive to the will of God in your life, you would have been much better off. Things have been going wrong ever since you started seriously trying to live for Him. This is what you get! So much for that abundant life He offers. He’s not as good as you think He is. He’s the problem.” Have you had such thoughts lately?

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“I would have helped out in restocking the supply of VIA gospel magazines in the waiting rooms around town but I had a game to play…” “I wanted to obey the Lord by getting baptized but I was just too swamped with my courses to even focus on spiritual things.”…… “I wanted to go to Seed Sowers this summer but something else came up.” …. “I wanted to tell her I was saved but I could never seem to find the right time in our chats to introduce her to Christ. I never thought I’d be attending her funeral this week. How can I live with the regret?” …… “I believe in being a devoted Christian too, but going to every meeting of the assembly and spending so many holiday weekends at Bible conferences, is just too extreme for me. I don’t know how some people do it!”

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Have you ever tried to position yourself to be noticed by others? "Maybe, they'll see that I have the goods and I'll finally get recognized. I am tired of these menial tasks and always being in the shadows." Sometimes we scheme, plot and connive, thinking: "Maybe this will be my stepping stone to greatness. After all, I DO have a lot to offer! Really, I AM under-rated." Actually, in our heart of hearts we know that it not socially palatable or spiritually acceptable to speak of position, power and greatness for ourselves. So we avoid those terms and convince ourselves that our motives are pure and our intentions are honorable. We can even fake humility and protest mildly when we do get some recognition.

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Seventy men were selected by Christ to visit the under privileged towns and villages of Perea. Their assignment was to prepare the way and to prepare hearts to receive the Lord. They were equipped with special powers to heal the physically sick. Crutches were abandoned; bandages were torn off; stretchers were folded up and sent to storage; white canes were returned to the Institute for the Blind; and arthritic hands nimbly knit socks again. But things went even better than they had expected. They seemed surprised and delighted that they were empowered to exorcize demons as well.

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