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Not always does this “honor” refer to honoring someone through kindness or help, but in many ways, such as showing honor by choosing to seek understanding instead of judging; showing patience when someone makes a mistake; offering forgiveness when hurt; apologizing first after an argument; commending people on their hard work when you notice it; standing up for others; paying attention to things others do behind the scenes and encouraging them in their efforts.

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The state highway department recently completed revisions to the major artery to which our street connects. The new left turn lanes and smooth paving are a real pleasure. But not a pleasure is the new timing of all the traffic lights along that site. We can wait as long as 2 minutes to get a green light to cross that road or turn onto it from our little street. Two minutes doesn’t seem like a big deal until you’re sitting at the red light with no cross traffic, and you still have to wait.

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I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

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God calls us, the people of His church to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, NASB). When we pray, God says we will be heard. Whatever we ask for, it will be ours. Therefore, I ask that you humble yourselves to God and seek wisdom, guidance, protection, and courage for your pastor.

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Ninety-three million miles from Earth, our nearest star shines brightly enough to warm our planet and sustain life. We don’t question if the sun will still be shining tomorrow.

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Imagine this: You wake up on New Year’s morning to a fresh start. The dirty dishes you left in the sink the night before are clean and put away. The fridge door is sparkling clean, the sticky fingerprints nowhere to be seen. Holiday pounds have melted from your toned and fit body, and the wide-screen TV you’ve been struggling to save for stands proudly in the living room. Tada! What a wonderful fantasy!

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Tis the season for holiday music. If you’re anything like me, it’s all you’ll listen to till at least mid-January (I am not very good at accepting the end of the holidays and the start of the holiday-less part of winter…). My favorites are the Charlie Brown Christmas album and every piece in the Nutcracker. This season, a classic and an old favorite caught my eye (ear?) and made me think about a few things in a new way: The Little Drummer Boy!

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I was diagnosed with, and treated for cancer over 10 years ago. After 8 years in remission, my cancer recurred 2 years ago. Following more surgery and 3 different regimens of chemotherapy, my cancer was unaffected. Now it’s time for more aggressive surgery. A friend asked me, “Why you? Why has God allowed this to happen to you?”

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Recently I had an outpatient procedure involving fast-acting anesthesia. As the anesthesiologist put the medicine in my IV line, she said it might burn a bit. Less than 5 seconds later, I remember a tingly sensation as though I were fading away like Homer Simpson disappearing into the shrubs, or Captain Kirk dissolving into millions of energy particles in the Enterprise transporter. When I awoke it seemed like only moments had passed.

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For the past few months, our church has been in a campus-wide teaching series tracing God’s one story from Genesis to Revelation. We have been discovering how God is weaving together His great plan of making all things right in Jesus. What an amazing time in our church body to share God’s plan from the youngest to the eldest.

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