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The Magic Key

  Do You have a magic key? Perhaps I should give a few more details to you. Our car needed to go into the shop and insurance told us to go to a car rental location and pick up our temporary vehicle. Upon arrival, the helpful employee brought the vehicle to us. It was a fairly large (compared to our car) Crossover. The helpful employee showed us how to operate this rather complicated moon rocket. First, there is no key…only a black fob with pictures of our wishes on one side. Want to open the door? Press a magic button. Want to open the rear hatch? Press another magic button. Oh, and by the way, one can open the hatch by a button on the driver’s side, a button on the hatch, and by waving your foot under the hatch! This sounds like magic to me! The front seats almost adjust themselves to your innermost desires. The driver’s dash looks similar to Elon Musk’s SpaceX control panel. I was content to leave the current view alone…no! The vehicle began showing me many possibilities for th
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But God…

  He was selfish, narcissistic, and devoid of compassion.   He cared for no one and used people for his own pleasure.   One day, he was given the opportunity to help a poverty stricken person…he failed miserably!    The situation was not what it seemed, as the one who was seemingly in poverty was actually a personage of great authority and stature.   The selfish one was given a unique punishment.   He was driven away from society and given a limited time to learn how to love and thereby earn the love and trust of another. You may have already guessed who the character is…yes, it’s The Beast from Beauty and The Beast .   A spoiled prince was punished, transformed into a beast, for his lack of love and caring, yet he learned to love through a series of circumstances involving a lovely young lady, who by the way, learned to love him.   The climax of our story comes when Beast dies, and Belle expresses true love for him.   Even though dead, our Beast is resurrected and changes his habits
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A Cool Person

  Are you a cool person? You might be imperturbable, relaxed, tranquil, and dispassionate. Don't allow yourself to become frigid or biting. You could be viewed as indifferent, withdrawn, or even unapproachable. Why not work at becoming marvelous, sensational or even hunky dory? You might even become level headed and self-possessed.
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Lent - A Time of Preparation

  Lent - Simply put, a time of preparation. Preparation for What? Just as Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas, Lent is the time we prepare for Palm Sunday and Easter. Why prepare? Do we need to prepare? Isn't it all just a waste of time? Just as excitement and preparation for a birthday party is good and needed...so is Lent for Easter. Can't I just celebrate Easter without all of the hoopla? Yes, you can. But do you? Do you really celebrate Easter? Real Easter celebration happens with forethought, planning, and caring enough to dwell on the awfulness leading up to the resurrection. Do I have to give up something for Lent? No, you actually don't. Lent involves focusing on something or someone. YOU choose what you will focus on. If giving up something helps you focus, then get to it. If starting something new helps you focus....then start it! What should be my focus? Jesus - He is the focus of Lent and Easter. He loves you and wants to live in your life. I
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An Old Man In a New Position

  Moses was an old man by 21st century standards when he received the call from God to lead a nation of people out of slavery and into the Promised Land. Exodus 3-4 is the Biblical account of Moses' call by God at the burning bush and his subsequent ascension into the leadership position and savior to over a million Hebrew people. As I reread the account in Exodus, I was struck by the fact that Moses tried 3 tactics trying to persuade God to send someone else, He said: I'm not believable, I'm not a good speaker, and I really don't want to do this. God had an answer for each of his positions: I will make you believable with signs and wonders, I will speak through you, and I will send your brother with you as a helper. Moses eventually listened to God and became the leader he was meant to be. This is such a familiar story to many people and as a child and young adult, I felt that Moses should have jumped at the opportunity to be God's Man, after all, God was going
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I'll Be Home For Christmas

  "I'll be home for Christmas, you can count on it. Please have snow and mistletoe,  and presents on the tree." Home for Christmas,  the phrase has a nostalgic sound, and brings up memories of family, friends, a church, and perhaps a pet.  Since these are important, let's ask, "what is family?"  Whom are we thinking of when we think of family? Perhaps the question should be, "who is our family?"  Jesus was asked a similar question. "Who is my neighbor?" He answered with "The one who needs you."  We are to be neighbors to those around us, to anyone who needs us.   Mr Rogers asked, "Won't you be my neighbor?" My family began with Father, Mother, and two sisters.  As my awareness grew, so did my family, with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. My church family added more to my growing family group. As my world increased in size, so did family in school, college, Seminary and grad school. Along the way the way
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What Was That Sound?

The house was quiet.  It was always quiet at 5:00 AM. I was able to study at this unearthly hour, so each morning, my weary body rolled out of bed. Consuming a cup of coffee helped. Oh yes!  My books and notes seemed blurry this morning. I guess it was the lack of sleep last night. Bedtime came at the normal time, yet, sleep escaped my body. The quiet was almost screaming at me. My eyes jerked open! What was that sound? Sound? It was more of a whisper. "Who's there?" I cried. No one should be here.  The kids were with my wife visiting relatives.  This was supposed to be my time to finish the project. Editors were calling for the manuscript.  I needed to complete it! More sounds...whispers... "Who's there?" I rose from the desk and tried to figure our where the sounds originated.  Quietness. There it was, again. A scratching sound, then a whisper. This was getting spooky.  I zoomed in on the direction and began moving, slowly,  toward...what?
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