Sermon Topic Sunday 6/16/13 Elder Dennis Trudgen
Happy Fathers’ Day!!
Rules, rules, rules! … why all the rules? Safety laws, moral laws … where do they come from?
Rules for tiny infants … no solid foods, DO NO SHAKE!!, no too-mushy mattresses … safety issues.
Toddlers … stay out of the road! … a safety issue. Share your toys …
why? That’s a part of loving others! So is saying thank you, praying, trusting parents, and respect for others.
We put filters on what they see and hear, where they go, and what they
say … to shape their characters and teach them to be Godly … we want
them to live with God.
Proverbs 22:6 … we all have seen and heard this one … and it is mostly true, but see Mosiah 11:105-109.
2 Nephi 3:6-16 … Lehi blessing the children of Laman and Lemuel,
declaring that God would answer any curse on those descendents on the
heads of the parents who taught them wrong.
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 … if
we love God, what will we do? Keep His commandments … such as this one,
to TEACH OUR CHILDREN DILIGENTLY.
1 Nephi 1:1 … i Nephi, having been born of goodly parents ….
3 Nephi 8:52 … Pray in your families … some parents send their kids to
Sunday School. This is better than nothing, but what does it tell the
kids? What do they do later?
Colossians 3:12-17 … Everything we do, everywhere we are, should be the result of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Why meet together often? …teaching and admonishing (and building each
other up, Eph. 4:12, 29 msl) The previous verses told us what to “put
off”; here we are told what to put on. We teach our children to
forgive and to say “i’m sorry”. We also admonish and strengthen one
another thru our testimonies. We are to do ALL in the Name of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:1-4 … parent/child relationships in Christ.
2 Timothy 3:14-16 … The Scriptures don’t save us, but show the way. Knowing is half the battle, the other half is DOING.
2 Timothy 4:2 … be instant in season, out of season. The seasons of a kid’s life …
Age 10 … I love you Mom!
Age 14 … My Mom is so annoying.
Age 18 … I wanna leave this house.
Age 25 … Mom, you were right.
Age 30 … Mom, forgive me?
Age 50 … I don’t wanna lose my Mom!
Age 70 … Mom, I love you so much….
Dennis showed a couple of pictures showing the kind of attitude our teenagers can have.
What new things do we teach our young adults? The things from the
earlier years still apply. And why do we correct them? They have to be
accountable in this life … they will be accountable to God! We teach
them to not text and drive; be careful who your friends are; be safe on
the internet, avoiding predators and bad sites. The schools teach them
atheism and evolution….
We teach them the GOSPEL. We can still make them go to Church; they are still under our authority.
Hebrews 12:5-6 It’s not because He enjoys chastening us that He does
it, it’s because He LOVES US so much. Godly love disciplines and
corrects children.
1 Corinthians 5:9-11 … not to company with with
anyone who is called a brother. We can’t help being among the ungodly
outside of the church and our homes, but we can help companying with one
who is called a brother but is in sin. (an old illustration is that we
don’t put on our best white gloves and play in the mud, expecting the
mud to get “glovey” … the gloves get muddy, but there is no such thing
as “glovey” mud msl) When we do these things, we lose our testimony.
Moroni 8:11 … This thing shall ye teach…. We can’t be good enough to
be saved; it is by GRACE. The best way to teach, is by example.
Jacob 2:46 … their bad example before their wives and children; 2:62-63 …
you may bring your children to destruction, and their sins will be
heaped on your head.
2 Corinthians 7:10 … godly sorrow works repentance to salvation (in contrast to Mormon 1:37, the sorrow of the damned)
Mosiah 1:119 … the natural man is an enemy to God … becoming a Godly
person is a molding process, a marathon (Matthew 13, the 4 different
groups)
Endurance –
1 Corinthians 3:2 … they could not handle
the deep intellectual things of the Gospel – Paul compared them to babes
who need milk instead of solid food. When we first come into the
Church we are not developed; growing in Christ is a process. We are
expected to grow.
1 Peter 2:2 … grow on the milk! … if you don’t grow, you shrink.
Isaiah 28:9-10 … who will understand doctrine? Those that are weaned from milk (ready for solid food).
Isaiah 60:16 … the milk of the Gentiles – at the end, Israel would be fed the milk of the Gospel by the Gentiles.
2 Nephi 11:93-101 … v. 99, He (God) saith to us, Come unto me all ye
ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price
(Isaiah 55:1)
Alma 16:164-173 … It’s a process! We have to stay in the Word and nurture the tree.
Which rules for our children do not apply to us? They ALL apply.
Dennis ended the message with a video of a very cute little girl
singing that old Sunday School favorite “Oh be careful” … great words
for us adults to ponder.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Goals – how do we attain them?
Sermon Topic 6/9/13 3pm Priest Martin Addie
We were BLESSED this morning to witness a young man accept his calling and be ordained.
Martin touched briefly on his life … that he had sinned … and so have we all.
1 Nephi 3 … Laman and Lemuel seemed to be worthless sons; they did not want to listen to anything right, especially from their younger brother. They eventually tried to kill him. Let us think a little differently….
Goals – how do we attain them? In order to attain, we have to know that they exist … having an imaginary goal is useless.
Consider target shooting
1 Nephi 3:37-69 … Nephi asked the Spirit to see the vision that his father Lehi had seen. The Spirit asked him “believest thou that thy father saw….?” And Nephi’s prompt response was an emphatic yes.
Do we believe ALL the Words of our Father? Our calling, to ministry and all brothers and sisters in the Church, is to TESTIFY of Jesus Christ.
If you point your gun somewhere else besides the target, you will not hit the target!
What’s on the other side of what we’re shooting at? Is it safe to shoot?
Our aim must be precise … we must hold steady and know that the target is right.
When you fire, the bullet will go wherever the barrel points when fired.
The Holy Spirit may be trying to guide us … we must be listening. Song #137 in our hymnals is titled “Speak My Lord”. In the chorus we sing “Speak, and i’ll be quick to answer Thee”. We must listen or we won’t hear.
If we miss the goal – where does the fault lie? With God? NOOOOO …it’s on us. My salvation is dependent on me … it’s my responsibility. The path has not changed nor wavered.
1 Nephi 3:70-87 … several times, the angel’s command to Nephi is “LOOK!” ….He was lifted up and slain for the sins of the world. Who are those sinners? Each one of us has sinned.
vv. 124-125 … the fountain of filthy waters … If our eyes are blinded, we will lose sight of the target. Is there a way to re-aim? Yes … the path of repentance.
210-216 … Thou hast beheld that if the Gentiles repent, it shall be well with them; and if not … then comes destruction, by way of “the devil of which i have spoken”.
1 Nephi 4:1-4 … Nephi’s brothers were disputing over what their father had told them … those things were hard to understand, unless we inquire of the Lord; and because their hearts were hard, they had not inquired. (their comment “we have not [inquired], FOR the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us” is telling msl) Laman and Lemuel did not inquire … they did not follow the path. Later in verse 34, after Nephi’s exhortation and explanation, they did humble themselves and ask the meaning of the rest of the vision.
Sometimes the things the Lord asks us to do aren’t comfortable.
v. 43 … the enemy is the king of distraction. He tempts us, makes it easy for us to leave the path.
v. 46 … it represents also the gulf of separation between the righteous and the wicked.
Right now, we are in those days of probation. When we put our trash out, we expect the trash haulers to pick it up and put it in a place of filth and bury it … there is a place prepared for the filthy.
5:1-5 … the brothers complained that Nephi had spoken “hard things” to them. Nephi explained to them that those things wouldn’t be hard, if they were righteous. The brothers again humbled themselves before God.
vv. 10-12 … the ball (director) given to Lehi and his party.
v. 20 … they followed the directions given by the ball. It’s a good thing to follow directions when traveling … we don’t want to wander without water and food.
v. 25 … Laman, Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael began to murmur … and even Lehi murmured.
v. 33 … all of them trembled when they read the writing on the ball. Wonder what He wrote on that ball … “quit whining”?
vv.37-38 Nephi followed the directions on the ball, and found food.
vv. 46-48 … murmuring AGAIN, to the extent of plotting to kill both Nephi and their father Lehi … this time the voice of the Lord spoke to them, and they again humbled themselves. The cycle is repeated at Bountiful, over the building of the ship, and on the sea, and in the new land; until soon after the death of Lehi, Nephi and those who would go with him were forced to flee.
I used to think they were worthless characters … but what about us? The difference between us and Laman and Lemuel, is if we repent and come back. We have the same things happening in our families … some have departed … it’s their choice. What about our lives? Do we look at what effect we have on the lives of others?
J. O. Dutton converted my paternal grandfather, leading to 3 generations of ministry. My Dad was called in 1979.
I’ve thought, “what if?” If i had decided or acted differently, what would have happened? but thinking about “what if” isn’t helpful … we can’t know, and we can’t go back.
We like to whine about our troubles and trials, but do we ever thank the Lord for them?
If it weren’t for our own trials, would we have compassion for others in theirs? Would we be fit for ministry in the Church?
Sometimes we find blessings in things that don’t seem like a blessing at the time (like car trouble keeping me off the road when i would have been involved in a serious pile-up).
Do we enable our children? Our Father enables us to do His will; satan tried to distract us.
Matthew 13:10-23 … the parable of the sower. V. 10 … the disciples asked Him why He spoke in parables. His reason is, to separate those who want to understand from those who don’t.
Where do we fit in this parable and interpretation? Are we stony ground? Thorny? Hard roadside? Or are we good ground, staying on target, bearing fruit; staying on the path.
That path has not and will not change … He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
The Scriptures are our guidance – the Rod of Iron.
READY! … prepare.
AIM! … focus on the goal.
FIRE! … send the bullet off … fire toward your target!
We were BLESSED this morning to witness a young man accept his calling and be ordained.
Martin touched briefly on his life … that he had sinned … and so have we all.
1 Nephi 3 … Laman and Lemuel seemed to be worthless sons; they did not want to listen to anything right, especially from their younger brother. They eventually tried to kill him. Let us think a little differently….
Goals – how do we attain them? In order to attain, we have to know that they exist … having an imaginary goal is useless.
Consider target shooting
1 Nephi 3:37-69 … Nephi asked the Spirit to see the vision that his father Lehi had seen. The Spirit asked him “believest thou that thy father saw….?” And Nephi’s prompt response was an emphatic yes.
Do we believe ALL the Words of our Father? Our calling, to ministry and all brothers and sisters in the Church, is to TESTIFY of Jesus Christ.
If you point your gun somewhere else besides the target, you will not hit the target!
What’s on the other side of what we’re shooting at? Is it safe to shoot?
Our aim must be precise … we must hold steady and know that the target is right.
When you fire, the bullet will go wherever the barrel points when fired.
The Holy Spirit may be trying to guide us … we must be listening. Song #137 in our hymnals is titled “Speak My Lord”. In the chorus we sing “Speak, and i’ll be quick to answer Thee”. We must listen or we won’t hear.
If we miss the goal – where does the fault lie? With God? NOOOOO …it’s on us. My salvation is dependent on me … it’s my responsibility. The path has not changed nor wavered.
1 Nephi 3:70-87 … several times, the angel’s command to Nephi is “LOOK!” ….He was lifted up and slain for the sins of the world. Who are those sinners? Each one of us has sinned.
vv. 124-125 … the fountain of filthy waters … If our eyes are blinded, we will lose sight of the target. Is there a way to re-aim? Yes … the path of repentance.
210-216 … Thou hast beheld that if the Gentiles repent, it shall be well with them; and if not … then comes destruction, by way of “the devil of which i have spoken”.
1 Nephi 4:1-4 … Nephi’s brothers were disputing over what their father had told them … those things were hard to understand, unless we inquire of the Lord; and because their hearts were hard, they had not inquired. (their comment “we have not [inquired], FOR the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us” is telling msl) Laman and Lemuel did not inquire … they did not follow the path. Later in verse 34, after Nephi’s exhortation and explanation, they did humble themselves and ask the meaning of the rest of the vision.
Sometimes the things the Lord asks us to do aren’t comfortable.
v. 43 … the enemy is the king of distraction. He tempts us, makes it easy for us to leave the path.
v. 46 … it represents also the gulf of separation between the righteous and the wicked.
Right now, we are in those days of probation. When we put our trash out, we expect the trash haulers to pick it up and put it in a place of filth and bury it … there is a place prepared for the filthy.
5:1-5 … the brothers complained that Nephi had spoken “hard things” to them. Nephi explained to them that those things wouldn’t be hard, if they were righteous. The brothers again humbled themselves before God.
vv. 10-12 … the ball (director) given to Lehi and his party.
v. 20 … they followed the directions given by the ball. It’s a good thing to follow directions when traveling … we don’t want to wander without water and food.
v. 25 … Laman, Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael began to murmur … and even Lehi murmured.
v. 33 … all of them trembled when they read the writing on the ball. Wonder what He wrote on that ball … “quit whining”?
vv.37-38 Nephi followed the directions on the ball, and found food.
vv. 46-48 … murmuring AGAIN, to the extent of plotting to kill both Nephi and their father Lehi … this time the voice of the Lord spoke to them, and they again humbled themselves. The cycle is repeated at Bountiful, over the building of the ship, and on the sea, and in the new land; until soon after the death of Lehi, Nephi and those who would go with him were forced to flee.
I used to think they were worthless characters … but what about us? The difference between us and Laman and Lemuel, is if we repent and come back. We have the same things happening in our families … some have departed … it’s their choice. What about our lives? Do we look at what effect we have on the lives of others?
J. O. Dutton converted my paternal grandfather, leading to 3 generations of ministry. My Dad was called in 1979.
I’ve thought, “what if?” If i had decided or acted differently, what would have happened? but thinking about “what if” isn’t helpful … we can’t know, and we can’t go back.
We like to whine about our troubles and trials, but do we ever thank the Lord for them?
If it weren’t for our own trials, would we have compassion for others in theirs? Would we be fit for ministry in the Church?
Sometimes we find blessings in things that don’t seem like a blessing at the time (like car trouble keeping me off the road when i would have been involved in a serious pile-up).
Do we enable our children? Our Father enables us to do His will; satan tried to distract us.
Matthew 13:10-23 … the parable of the sower. V. 10 … the disciples asked Him why He spoke in parables. His reason is, to separate those who want to understand from those who don’t.
Where do we fit in this parable and interpretation? Are we stony ground? Thorny? Hard roadside? Or are we good ground, staying on target, bearing fruit; staying on the path.
That path has not and will not change … He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
The Scriptures are our guidance – the Rod of Iron.
READY! … prepare.
AIM! … focus on the goal.
FIRE! … send the bullet off … fire toward your target!
The Living Water
Sermon Topic Sunday 6/9/13 9am Apostle Joel Yates
The service began with with a word from our brother Chris Moran, followed by his ordination as an Elder in the Church of Christ.
Romans 5:6-11 … when we were yet without strength; when we were yet sinners … by the fall we were separated from God; we are reconciled to God and saved from wrath thru the blood of Jesus … we now have access to the Throne of God (Hebrews 4:16 msl).
John 4 … Jesus left Judea for Samaria. When traveling thru the desert, we look carefully on our map for the location of the SPRINGS.
Jesus told the woman at the well that He would give her something that would satisfy her … everything satan offers us tastes/feels good for a moment, but does not but does not satisfy. The Living Water He offered her is Christ’s Spirit, the Comforter, who will teach us all things (John 16:7-11).
1 Timothy 4:12, 14 Let no man despise your youth; neglect not the gift that is in thee.
Satan offers us wells too … they can look very attractive, but they are DRY. There is pleasure in sin for a season (Hebrews 11:25 and Mormon 1:37); but then come the consequences.
We thirst and thirst … but in HIM ALONE are we truly satisfied. People with money are not satisfied, there is always more to get.
As we consider this precious gift of the Holy Spirit, we remember the Son and His promise (Moroni 4 and 5) to always be with us. We don’t need to make a new covenant with Him, but to renew our desire. There are days when we feel close to Him, days when we don’t … that well is always available to us to draw from. The last thing the Lord wants is to be separate from us.
The Spirit is still active in the lives of those who have not yet come to baptism. Prior to baptism, He is there … He calls and draws us … but after He is with us.
It’s God who helps us do His will.
Moroni 4 and 5, the blessings on the bread and wine … by shedding His blood, He brought us back into remembrance. If we don’t remember and participate, and dip and drink often, we have no life in us. We have a great opportunity to REMEMBER.
The service began with with a word from our brother Chris Moran, followed by his ordination as an Elder in the Church of Christ.
Romans 5:6-11 … when we were yet without strength; when we were yet sinners … by the fall we were separated from God; we are reconciled to God and saved from wrath thru the blood of Jesus … we now have access to the Throne of God (Hebrews 4:16 msl).
John 4 … Jesus left Judea for Samaria. When traveling thru the desert, we look carefully on our map for the location of the SPRINGS.
Jesus told the woman at the well that He would give her something that would satisfy her … everything satan offers us tastes/feels good for a moment, but does not but does not satisfy. The Living Water He offered her is Christ’s Spirit, the Comforter, who will teach us all things (John 16:7-11).
1 Timothy 4:12, 14 Let no man despise your youth; neglect not the gift that is in thee.
Satan offers us wells too … they can look very attractive, but they are DRY. There is pleasure in sin for a season (Hebrews 11:25 and Mormon 1:37); but then come the consequences.
We thirst and thirst … but in HIM ALONE are we truly satisfied. People with money are not satisfied, there is always more to get.
As we consider this precious gift of the Holy Spirit, we remember the Son and His promise (Moroni 4 and 5) to always be with us. We don’t need to make a new covenant with Him, but to renew our desire. There are days when we feel close to Him, days when we don’t … that well is always available to us to draw from. The last thing the Lord wants is to be separate from us.
The Spirit is still active in the lives of those who have not yet come to baptism. Prior to baptism, He is there … He calls and draws us … but after He is with us.
It’s God who helps us do His will.
Moroni 4 and 5, the blessings on the bread and wine … by shedding His blood, He brought us back into remembrance. If we don’t remember and participate, and dip and drink often, we have no life in us. We have a great opportunity to REMEMBER.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Does God bless us when we are sinning?
Sermon Topics Saturday 6/8/13 pm
2 pm Service opened by Elder Adam Porter, message by Apostle Joel Yates
I was here at the Bradley Local 23 years ago. We all look different now, and so does the building … and we are all very thankful to be here today.
It is a very difficult world we live in spiritually, but we have a MIGHTY GOD. Dad told me to pray about everything, and i have. God guides us in our lives (Isaiah 9:6, Wonderful Counselor msl). He has protected me from two building collapses. Does God bless us because we’re His? Or while we are sinners? Even in our sinful fallen state He still reaches out to bless us.
When it came time to take exams for promotion, the Lord reassured me “I’ve got you … you’re in My hands.” He leads us and reassures us.
Romas 1:16-20 … The more He shows you, the more you understand … the more accountable you are.
We live in a world of idolatry … things that have been made more important than the blessings God would provide.
Salvation = deliverance! from death, hell, satan … the things that have had power over us … Jesus delivers us. Is the Gospel changing your life?
The Lord is not blessing me because i’m perfect.
Are you ready to hear a word that makes you think, “i need to rethink”? or do you hear and go home and go on as before?
So many go to church and feel righteous … and then live in ways that grieve God. You may be getting blessings,but maybe not to the degree God would like.
Matthew 1:19 Joseph was a man of good character ... he did not want Mary publicly condemned and stoned, so he figured to put her away quietly and privately.
1 John 3:1-7 … what manner of LOVE the Father has shown us. It’s easy to say we’re not perfect and we never will be … but when Jesus comes, we will be like Him.
We repent and humble ourselves before Him … repent means to turn around and change course. We were intended to overcome (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21 msl). He has called us to be victors and not victims.
I treated a 19-year-old young man for chest pain … drugs, etc. … he looked like a hopeless case, looking at him through man’s righteousness. He asked me “have you ever felt that you had no hope?” I told him that there is a place where he can find a family and hope, and he is attending the Phoenix Local.
What is the power of the Gospel in your life? Are you being strengthened and growing in your life?
Matthew 5:20 … righteousness … the Scribes and Pharisees kept the Law of Moses, and wrote their OWN book on how to keep the Law (tradition of the elders, Matthew 15:2 msl); God’s righteousness vs. man’s righteousness.
Matthew 6:25-33 God provides! We have appetite, we’re not content with what we have, we want more. TAKE NO THOUGHT for these things, but SEEK FIRST the Kingdom of Heaven.
We get our own ideas of what is righteous, but that’s not what makes us better. God’s righteousness is not about us.
The Pharisees displayed themselves. In contrast, Jesus told us that when we do these things – prayer, alms, fasting – we are to do them privately. Not that we cannot do them in public, but NEVER to be seen of other people.
We have an imbalance between justice and mercy … God does not.
Romans 5:7-8 … while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Some in the Church have come from horrible backgrounds … their lives have been CHANGED. We are all ungodly and unworthy … God loves us anyway. He changed my brother’s life before calling him home.
We get zealous and forget that we have to live in HIS righteousness, not our own.
Acts 7:60 … the stoning of Stephen … on our own we say about someone else, “serves you right”. Stephen’s response was to call on God to “lay not this sin to their charge”.
God’s righteousness is different from ours. He doesn’t give us what we deserve – let us be the same way.
Hebrews 10:16 … quoted from Jeremiah 31:33-4 … the New Covenant, written on our hearts. You are always empowered to do the right thing … but His law must be written in our hearts. The things we do must be with real intent.
Moroni 7:8 … it’s not about that you prayed, but about HOW you prayed. It doesn’t count if you didn’t do it with REAL INTENT.
He’s keeping track … whatever we say, think, do … and we will give account. It can all get to where we say and do by rote without thinking … it needs to be with real intent. It’s not what we do, it’s why we do it; it’s what is in our hearts. We need to pray sincerely, and live sacrificially. What God does with our lives is His call.
In ministering to Chris Wallace (age 15), every member in the Local had a part in that young man’s life, in preparing him to meet the Lord (age 16). We ARE our brother’s keeper.
James 3:17 … be easy to be intreated (God’s righteousness) … you cannot live to yourself and be righteous. When required, be willing to give more, to help heal and restore another.
There are times when we feel we have to be offended – but do we? The Lord took our unrighteousness and doesn’t hold us accountable … He forgives and doesn’t bring it up again.
He’s with us in our trials and afflictions … we should not complain “why are You doing this to me?” It’s our nature to complain … we must be willing to allow God to work in us. Be willing to suffer shame, and bear fruit (Galatians 5:22-23 msl). What needs to be done is not all someone else’s problem, we each have a job to do – taking our place as part of the body.
Ask the Lord, “help me, give me words to say”. My hope is that we’ll be found not in OUR righteousness, but in HIS … if not, He’s not going to know who we are.
The service was closed by Adam with a reminder: Who is our neighbor? What is our witness? We are challenged to examine our lives.
2 pm Service opened by Elder Adam Porter, message by Apostle Joel Yates
I was here at the Bradley Local 23 years ago. We all look different now, and so does the building … and we are all very thankful to be here today.
It is a very difficult world we live in spiritually, but we have a MIGHTY GOD. Dad told me to pray about everything, and i have. God guides us in our lives (Isaiah 9:6, Wonderful Counselor msl). He has protected me from two building collapses. Does God bless us because we’re His? Or while we are sinners? Even in our sinful fallen state He still reaches out to bless us.
When it came time to take exams for promotion, the Lord reassured me “I’ve got you … you’re in My hands.” He leads us and reassures us.
Romas 1:16-20 … The more He shows you, the more you understand … the more accountable you are.
We live in a world of idolatry … things that have been made more important than the blessings God would provide.
Salvation = deliverance! from death, hell, satan … the things that have had power over us … Jesus delivers us. Is the Gospel changing your life?
The Lord is not blessing me because i’m perfect.
Are you ready to hear a word that makes you think, “i need to rethink”? or do you hear and go home and go on as before?
So many go to church and feel righteous … and then live in ways that grieve God. You may be getting blessings,but maybe not to the degree God would like.
Matthew 1:19 Joseph was a man of good character ... he did not want Mary publicly condemned and stoned, so he figured to put her away quietly and privately.
1 John 3:1-7 … what manner of LOVE the Father has shown us. It’s easy to say we’re not perfect and we never will be … but when Jesus comes, we will be like Him.
We repent and humble ourselves before Him … repent means to turn around and change course. We were intended to overcome (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21 msl). He has called us to be victors and not victims.
I treated a 19-year-old young man for chest pain … drugs, etc. … he looked like a hopeless case, looking at him through man’s righteousness. He asked me “have you ever felt that you had no hope?” I told him that there is a place where he can find a family and hope, and he is attending the Phoenix Local.
What is the power of the Gospel in your life? Are you being strengthened and growing in your life?
Matthew 5:20 … righteousness … the Scribes and Pharisees kept the Law of Moses, and wrote their OWN book on how to keep the Law (tradition of the elders, Matthew 15:2 msl); God’s righteousness vs. man’s righteousness.
Matthew 6:25-33 God provides! We have appetite, we’re not content with what we have, we want more. TAKE NO THOUGHT for these things, but SEEK FIRST the Kingdom of Heaven.
We get our own ideas of what is righteous, but that’s not what makes us better. God’s righteousness is not about us.
The Pharisees displayed themselves. In contrast, Jesus told us that when we do these things – prayer, alms, fasting – we are to do them privately. Not that we cannot do them in public, but NEVER to be seen of other people.
We have an imbalance between justice and mercy … God does not.
Romans 5:7-8 … while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Some in the Church have come from horrible backgrounds … their lives have been CHANGED. We are all ungodly and unworthy … God loves us anyway. He changed my brother’s life before calling him home.
We get zealous and forget that we have to live in HIS righteousness, not our own.
Acts 7:60 … the stoning of Stephen … on our own we say about someone else, “serves you right”. Stephen’s response was to call on God to “lay not this sin to their charge”.
God’s righteousness is different from ours. He doesn’t give us what we deserve – let us be the same way.
Hebrews 10:16 … quoted from Jeremiah 31:33-4 … the New Covenant, written on our hearts. You are always empowered to do the right thing … but His law must be written in our hearts. The things we do must be with real intent.
Moroni 7:8 … it’s not about that you prayed, but about HOW you prayed. It doesn’t count if you didn’t do it with REAL INTENT.
He’s keeping track … whatever we say, think, do … and we will give account. It can all get to where we say and do by rote without thinking … it needs to be with real intent. It’s not what we do, it’s why we do it; it’s what is in our hearts. We need to pray sincerely, and live sacrificially. What God does with our lives is His call.
In ministering to Chris Wallace (age 15), every member in the Local had a part in that young man’s life, in preparing him to meet the Lord (age 16). We ARE our brother’s keeper.
James 3:17 … be easy to be intreated (God’s righteousness) … you cannot live to yourself and be righteous. When required, be willing to give more, to help heal and restore another.
There are times when we feel we have to be offended – but do we? The Lord took our unrighteousness and doesn’t hold us accountable … He forgives and doesn’t bring it up again.
He’s with us in our trials and afflictions … we should not complain “why are You doing this to me?” It’s our nature to complain … we must be willing to allow God to work in us. Be willing to suffer shame, and bear fruit (Galatians 5:22-23 msl). What needs to be done is not all someone else’s problem, we each have a job to do – taking our place as part of the body.
Ask the Lord, “help me, give me words to say”. My hope is that we’ll be found not in OUR righteousness, but in HIS … if not, He’s not going to know who we are.
The service was closed by Adam with a reminder: Who is our neighbor? What is our witness? We are challenged to examine our lives.
Enduring
Sermon Topic Saturday 6/8/13, am
10 am service opened by Priest Bruce Haines, introductory remarks by Elder Aaron Heath
Mark 9:14-29 … Jesus returns from the Transfiguration experience … this kind of spirit only comes out by much prayer and fasting
John 4:24 God is Spirit, they who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.
The service went into a season of prayer, followed by administrations.
Closed by Bruce with #344 and prayer.
11 am service opened by Elder Dennis Trudgen, message by Bishop Brandon Tarbell
Brandon recounted an experience he had had, of taking a cruise with his wife and meeting the oldest man in North America to have climbed the highest mountains on each of the world’s continents. He showed pictures of Mount Everest, which is the highest mountain on Earth at 29,029 feet; and a graph of the ~200 people who had died trying to summit Everest, and how they perished. When asked how he had accomplished the goal of summiting Everest, his reply was that “it’s easy … once the airline tickets are bought, and the enormous fee for entering the National Park is paid and the expedition booked, there is no turning back … the consequences are too great to turn back.”
Everyone … all of us … has our Everest to climb; our challenge of spiritually enduring to the end.
Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (also Moroni 8:3 msl)
Even those with physical handicaps have climbed and summited Everest.
3 Nephi 7:10-11 and 1 Nephi 7:69 … Enduring in obedience to His commandments. The commandments are our guide to success … if we don’t prepare ourselves for life’s struggles, we won’t endure. We must read the Scriptures, pray, and keep our tongues in check.
3 Nephi 11:11-13 … quoting Malachi chapter 3. Don’t rob God, give Him what is due Him. (also, 2 Corinthians 9:7, with a cheerful attitude msl)
Alma 5:36 … Enduring in resistance to temptation to sin. The enemy is a “one-hit wonder” … he knows what works on each one of us.
1 John 1:8-9 We all have sinned … it’s a constant battle til the day we die.
Ezekiel 7:19 … lay your treasures up in Heaven, not on Earth; none of us can take it with us. We fall into the same trap as others – gain gain gain
Mosiah 11:23-24; Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:6-11 … the chastening of each of us by the Lord. Do not despise His chastening; it makes us stronger, more resilient, and ready for the future.
Alma 17:3 … those who trust in God shall be supported thru trials.
When we exercise for weight loss, our muscles are torn down … and then built back up.
Hebrews 12:2 … He ENDURED. He could have called legions of angels to fight for Him, but how would Scripture be fulfilled? And look what He endured, for us.
2 Nephi 13:19-30 … there is no guessing needed, on how to endure.
Alma 16:228-231 … we endure by improving. Football players have to maneuver sideways sometimes in order to go forward. If you are associated with wrongdoers – sidestep them to move forward.
Alma 9:41 … this life is the time to prepare. Don’t be stagnant. Take one step at a time, with eye on the goal. Our mountain climber learned to endure the unexpected, and go one step at a time.
Psalm 31 … TRUST IN GOD. Our prayer is that we all summit our Everest.
10 am service opened by Priest Bruce Haines, introductory remarks by Elder Aaron Heath
Mark 9:14-29 … Jesus returns from the Transfiguration experience … this kind of spirit only comes out by much prayer and fasting
John 4:24 God is Spirit, they who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.
The service went into a season of prayer, followed by administrations.
Closed by Bruce with #344 and prayer.
11 am service opened by Elder Dennis Trudgen, message by Bishop Brandon Tarbell
Brandon recounted an experience he had had, of taking a cruise with his wife and meeting the oldest man in North America to have climbed the highest mountains on each of the world’s continents. He showed pictures of Mount Everest, which is the highest mountain on Earth at 29,029 feet; and a graph of the ~200 people who had died trying to summit Everest, and how they perished. When asked how he had accomplished the goal of summiting Everest, his reply was that “it’s easy … once the airline tickets are bought, and the enormous fee for entering the National Park is paid and the expedition booked, there is no turning back … the consequences are too great to turn back.”
Everyone … all of us … has our Everest to climb; our challenge of spiritually enduring to the end.
Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (also Moroni 8:3 msl)
Even those with physical handicaps have climbed and summited Everest.
3 Nephi 7:10-11 and 1 Nephi 7:69 … Enduring in obedience to His commandments. The commandments are our guide to success … if we don’t prepare ourselves for life’s struggles, we won’t endure. We must read the Scriptures, pray, and keep our tongues in check.
3 Nephi 11:11-13 … quoting Malachi chapter 3. Don’t rob God, give Him what is due Him. (also, 2 Corinthians 9:7, with a cheerful attitude msl)
Alma 5:36 … Enduring in resistance to temptation to sin. The enemy is a “one-hit wonder” … he knows what works on each one of us.
1 John 1:8-9 We all have sinned … it’s a constant battle til the day we die.
Ezekiel 7:19 … lay your treasures up in Heaven, not on Earth; none of us can take it with us. We fall into the same trap as others – gain gain gain
Mosiah 11:23-24; Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:6-11 … the chastening of each of us by the Lord. Do not despise His chastening; it makes us stronger, more resilient, and ready for the future.
Alma 17:3 … those who trust in God shall be supported thru trials.
When we exercise for weight loss, our muscles are torn down … and then built back up.
Hebrews 12:2 … He ENDURED. He could have called legions of angels to fight for Him, but how would Scripture be fulfilled? And look what He endured, for us.
2 Nephi 13:19-30 … there is no guessing needed, on how to endure.
Alma 16:228-231 … we endure by improving. Football players have to maneuver sideways sometimes in order to go forward. If you are associated with wrongdoers – sidestep them to move forward.
Alma 9:41 … this life is the time to prepare. Don’t be stagnant. Take one step at a time, with eye on the goal. Our mountain climber learned to endure the unexpected, and go one step at a time.
Psalm 31 … TRUST IN GOD. Our prayer is that we all summit our Everest.
Shrink not from your duty, however unpleasant.
Sermon Topic Saturday 6/8/13 4pm service opened by Priest Bruce Haines, message by Elder Mike Bevaart
Mike mentioned Hymn #356 in our hymnals … the second verse states, “shrink not from your duty, however unpleasant.”
Mike asked us to consider:
1. Jesus
2. Christ
3. Jesus Christ
The “Christian” world is separating Jesus from Christ. Jesus is a name … still used today among Spanish speakers (and in English as “Joshua”, from the Hebrew “Yeshua” msl)
Christ is not a name. (Strong’s G5547, “christos”, anointed; from 5548 “chrio”, to anoint or consecrate (the Greek translation of Strong’s H4899, “mashiyach”, anointed or consecrated [Messiah] msl)
3 Nephi 5:11 … His appearing to His people on this continent … He used both together. My burden today is for those Christians who gravitate toward Jesus and away from Christ.
Hebrews 10:1-4 … The Old Testament Law, of sacrificing animals. Have you considered the number of animals sacrificed JUST FOR SINS? The tasks of the priests and Levites? They probably looked pretty good at the beginning of the day, but what about at the end? The animals didn’t go willingly, they would have fought … how would any of us like to have to slit the throats of the animals? (Hogs, when rounded up to go to the slaughterhouse, would scream) Why the endless torment of animals, when, in verse 4 and verse 11, Scripture states that the blood of animals DOES NOT take away sins.
So what was the purpose? … to teach Israel three things:
Sin is costly – there is a price to be paid.
The punishment for sin is death.
There will be no remission of sin without the shedding of blood.
The purpose was to focus them on Christ, Messiah, to come. They KNEW He was coming … they were excitedly anticipating … then He came!
Luke 1:30-31 … Yeshua was a popular name for boys at that time … it means “Yahweh is salvation”. He came as a JEW.
Christos … Mashiyach, anointed … nobody else bore that title, it came from the Father.
He had, and we have, a responsibility to fulfill the commandments of the Father.
The Christian world accepts Jesus, then stops short. We come together to celebrate Jesus Christ – to acknowledge our nothingness and His mightiness. It is easy to acknowledge the Jesus of the Gospels – the healing of the sick, feeding of so many, the raising of the dead … but the Christ – executing the commandments of God?
Mike showed pictures of the aftermath of the tsunami in Japan, and asked whether these people would still be saying “sweet Jesus”? after disasters here, would we say that? Do those who merely accept Jesus know what they are saying when they shout “Come Jesus”? Do we say that in the Church of Christ? When He comes, what will happen? Are they ready for that?
When He comes, He will do everything that He is given to do. How will they feel when they understand that He is visiting the destruction He visits? Every knee shall bow … do they do that now?
Hebrews 10:26-29 … These are SERIOUS Scripture. Verse 28 … you could be punished for disobedience by DEATH, without mercy.
If someone says that a portion of His Word is unholy … where will that person go to get forgiveness? Forgiveness requires the shedding of blood … of an animal? NO … that’s useless (verses 4 and 11) of Christ? Those who deny the holiness of His Word have already trampled Him under their feet … what’s left? NOTHING. If you have put Christ under your feet, you’re out of options; there is no place else to go.
Other churches love Jesus … but do they trample Christ under their feet? Everything He stood for, which He says is holy, they say it is unholy … they accept only the warm and fuzzy.
Have we prepared ourselves? Have we accepted everything, all of it? Have we accepted Christ who will bring judgement and wrath, and call it holy? Are we keeping sin out of our lives, and humbling ourselves?
We have to take the message of Jesus Christ to those who are confused … who else will do it? … the feeding of the 5000, as well as all the rest? Shrink not from your duty, however unpleasant … do we hesitate? Don’t be afraid!
3 Nephi 5:11 again … He identified Himself as JESUS CHRIST … let’s put them back together the way they belong.
Mike mentioned Hymn #356 in our hymnals … the second verse states, “shrink not from your duty, however unpleasant.”
Mike asked us to consider:
1. Jesus
2. Christ
3. Jesus Christ
The “Christian” world is separating Jesus from Christ. Jesus is a name … still used today among Spanish speakers (and in English as “Joshua”, from the Hebrew “Yeshua” msl)
Christ is not a name. (Strong’s G5547, “christos”, anointed; from 5548 “chrio”, to anoint or consecrate (the Greek translation of Strong’s H4899, “mashiyach”, anointed or consecrated [Messiah] msl)
3 Nephi 5:11 … His appearing to His people on this continent … He used both together. My burden today is for those Christians who gravitate toward Jesus and away from Christ.
Hebrews 10:1-4 … The Old Testament Law, of sacrificing animals. Have you considered the number of animals sacrificed JUST FOR SINS? The tasks of the priests and Levites? They probably looked pretty good at the beginning of the day, but what about at the end? The animals didn’t go willingly, they would have fought … how would any of us like to have to slit the throats of the animals? (Hogs, when rounded up to go to the slaughterhouse, would scream) Why the endless torment of animals, when, in verse 4 and verse 11, Scripture states that the blood of animals DOES NOT take away sins.
So what was the purpose? … to teach Israel three things:
Sin is costly – there is a price to be paid.
The punishment for sin is death.
There will be no remission of sin without the shedding of blood.
The purpose was to focus them on Christ, Messiah, to come. They KNEW He was coming … they were excitedly anticipating … then He came!
Luke 1:30-31 … Yeshua was a popular name for boys at that time … it means “Yahweh is salvation”. He came as a JEW.
Christos … Mashiyach, anointed … nobody else bore that title, it came from the Father.
He had, and we have, a responsibility to fulfill the commandments of the Father.
The Christian world accepts Jesus, then stops short. We come together to celebrate Jesus Christ – to acknowledge our nothingness and His mightiness. It is easy to acknowledge the Jesus of the Gospels – the healing of the sick, feeding of so many, the raising of the dead … but the Christ – executing the commandments of God?
Mike showed pictures of the aftermath of the tsunami in Japan, and asked whether these people would still be saying “sweet Jesus”? after disasters here, would we say that? Do those who merely accept Jesus know what they are saying when they shout “Come Jesus”? Do we say that in the Church of Christ? When He comes, what will happen? Are they ready for that?
When He comes, He will do everything that He is given to do. How will they feel when they understand that He is visiting the destruction He visits? Every knee shall bow … do they do that now?
Hebrews 10:26-29 … These are SERIOUS Scripture. Verse 28 … you could be punished for disobedience by DEATH, without mercy.
If someone says that a portion of His Word is unholy … where will that person go to get forgiveness? Forgiveness requires the shedding of blood … of an animal? NO … that’s useless (verses 4 and 11) of Christ? Those who deny the holiness of His Word have already trampled Him under their feet … what’s left? NOTHING. If you have put Christ under your feet, you’re out of options; there is no place else to go.
Other churches love Jesus … but do they trample Christ under their feet? Everything He stood for, which He says is holy, they say it is unholy … they accept only the warm and fuzzy.
Have we prepared ourselves? Have we accepted everything, all of it? Have we accepted Christ who will bring judgement and wrath, and call it holy? Are we keeping sin out of our lives, and humbling ourselves?
We have to take the message of Jesus Christ to those who are confused … who else will do it? … the feeding of the 5000, as well as all the rest? Shrink not from your duty, however unpleasant … do we hesitate? Don’t be afraid!
3 Nephi 5:11 again … He identified Himself as JESUS CHRIST … let’s put them back together the way they belong.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Unity In The Body Of Christ
Sermon Topic 6/2/13 Elder Adam Porter
After the hymns, Pastor Adam pointed out that we are in choir practice here … someday we will be joining the angels in singing praises to God. And don’t worry about your voice or singing ability … it’s not the sound of the voice so much as what’s in our heart.
Unity In The Body Of Christ
We do all kinds of things to prepare for Reunion, but the important thing is that the Holy Spirit prevails.
The Body of Christ is an object of God’s design, to operate within His principles; and it is also a delicate creation in Jesus The Christ. We can’t push or orchestrate His body … it’s God’s doing.
Eph 4:11-14 … The callings and offices in the Church, and their purpose – the edifying (building up) of the saints, til we all come in the unity of the faith. Adam referenced Alma 1 which we had discussed in Sunday School, about the arrival of Nehor and his attempt to destroy the unity of the Church thru his preaching.
1 Corinthians 12:27 … We are the body of Christ, and members in particular; it is an intricate and delicate thing.
Genesis 11:1-7 … the post-flood people were unified, but their purpose was corrupt so God stopped them. Israel was also unified under God’s laws of worship, His power, direction, and community; yet when their purpose in worship became corrupted they too were scattered – first the Northern Kingdom by Assyria, then the Southern Kingdom by Babylon, then finally by the Romans in the first century, worldwide.
Isaiah 1:2-11 … My children don’t know me … in the Prophecy of Zenos, the decayed branches were cut off and cast away. The people had polluted their sacrifices and worship (verse 13, vain oblations msl) … contrast that to Paul’s admonition in Colossians 3:23 – whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; ….
All that we have is God’s, not ours. Drought can occur in any area, anytime … such as a plant closing.
Lehi and his family suffered great disarray and rebellion … such as when they tied up Nephi while on the ship, and the boat was no longer on course.
Psalm 133:1 … Dwell together in unity.
Mosiah 9:54 … knit together in unity (Alma Sr.’s command). We have God’s commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves; how much more our brothers and sisters in Christ. We should treat our family as friends, and our friends as family.
Back to Ephesians 4:1-4 … unity of the Spirit … the body of Christ must be unified thru His Gospel, love, and peace.
1 Corinthians 14:33 … God IS NOT the author of confusion!! (guess who is … msl) … He desires simplicity (verse 40, let all things be done decently and in order).
1 Corinthians 12:24-27 God tempers the body together, that there be NO SCHISM … Strong’s G4978, schisma, division or tear; Webster’s “separation into factions, formal divisions within a Christian church,, the offense of attempting to produce a schism, a body or sect that participates in a schism. The body of Christ does not work according to worldly designs. What is important is PEOPLE. The Holy Spirit drawing us all here, is a miracle.
1 Corinthians 11:17-20 … There are divisions among you (Paul to the church in Corinth) Sacrament service is communing in the spirit and remembering His sacrifice, not party time.
4 Nephi 26-31 … the people had multiplied and spread, and were rich and prosperous, and once again there were classes and PRIDE among the people, and multiple churches; some preaching false doctrine and one actually persecuting the saints of the Lord. (see also Ephesians 4:14, led about by every wind of doctrine).
3 Nephi 12:10-14 … deal justly with one another (also Micah 6:8 msl)
4 Nephi 1-3 … the children of Christ living in unity … thru humility
The church is united under one common goal – eternal salvation through Jesus the Christ.
3 Nephi 12:20-23 … the church MUST be built upon His Gospel. We would that all in the church would jell together … yet if something that isn’t right is left untended, or just smoothed over, the body has a hard time growing.
Both men and women are guilty of gossip.
Ephesians 5:1 … be followers of God, as dear children.
Romans 12:9-10 … love without dissimulation (Strong’s G505, anupokritos; from the word for the mask worn by a theatrical performer). Cleave (stick like glue) to that which is good (His Gospel), and prefer one another in honor.
1 Peter 5:1-4 … the ministry is to feed the flock – WILLINGLY. Our goal is to perpetuate a fulness of joy thru Christ.
James 1:17 … Every good and perfect gift is from the Father. We are to be swift to hear, and slow to speak, and slow to wrath. We should be always looking for the evidences of unity in our midst. Live in humbleness, faith, joy, love, peace, and blessings.
After the hymns, Pastor Adam pointed out that we are in choir practice here … someday we will be joining the angels in singing praises to God. And don’t worry about your voice or singing ability … it’s not the sound of the voice so much as what’s in our heart.
Unity In The Body Of Christ
We do all kinds of things to prepare for Reunion, but the important thing is that the Holy Spirit prevails.
The Body of Christ is an object of God’s design, to operate within His principles; and it is also a delicate creation in Jesus The Christ. We can’t push or orchestrate His body … it’s God’s doing.
Eph 4:11-14 … The callings and offices in the Church, and their purpose – the edifying (building up) of the saints, til we all come in the unity of the faith. Adam referenced Alma 1 which we had discussed in Sunday School, about the arrival of Nehor and his attempt to destroy the unity of the Church thru his preaching.
1 Corinthians 12:27 … We are the body of Christ, and members in particular; it is an intricate and delicate thing.
Genesis 11:1-7 … the post-flood people were unified, but their purpose was corrupt so God stopped them. Israel was also unified under God’s laws of worship, His power, direction, and community; yet when their purpose in worship became corrupted they too were scattered – first the Northern Kingdom by Assyria, then the Southern Kingdom by Babylon, then finally by the Romans in the first century, worldwide.
Isaiah 1:2-11 … My children don’t know me … in the Prophecy of Zenos, the decayed branches were cut off and cast away. The people had polluted their sacrifices and worship (verse 13, vain oblations msl) … contrast that to Paul’s admonition in Colossians 3:23 – whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; ….
All that we have is God’s, not ours. Drought can occur in any area, anytime … such as a plant closing.
Lehi and his family suffered great disarray and rebellion … such as when they tied up Nephi while on the ship, and the boat was no longer on course.
Psalm 133:1 … Dwell together in unity.
Mosiah 9:54 … knit together in unity (Alma Sr.’s command). We have God’s commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves; how much more our brothers and sisters in Christ. We should treat our family as friends, and our friends as family.
Back to Ephesians 4:1-4 … unity of the Spirit … the body of Christ must be unified thru His Gospel, love, and peace.
1 Corinthians 14:33 … God IS NOT the author of confusion!! (guess who is … msl) … He desires simplicity (verse 40, let all things be done decently and in order).
1 Corinthians 12:24-27 God tempers the body together, that there be NO SCHISM … Strong’s G4978, schisma, division or tear; Webster’s “separation into factions, formal divisions within a Christian church,, the offense of attempting to produce a schism, a body or sect that participates in a schism. The body of Christ does not work according to worldly designs. What is important is PEOPLE. The Holy Spirit drawing us all here, is a miracle.
1 Corinthians 11:17-20 … There are divisions among you (Paul to the church in Corinth) Sacrament service is communing in the spirit and remembering His sacrifice, not party time.
4 Nephi 26-31 … the people had multiplied and spread, and were rich and prosperous, and once again there were classes and PRIDE among the people, and multiple churches; some preaching false doctrine and one actually persecuting the saints of the Lord. (see also Ephesians 4:14, led about by every wind of doctrine).
3 Nephi 12:10-14 … deal justly with one another (also Micah 6:8 msl)
4 Nephi 1-3 … the children of Christ living in unity … thru humility
The church is united under one common goal – eternal salvation through Jesus the Christ.
3 Nephi 12:20-23 … the church MUST be built upon His Gospel. We would that all in the church would jell together … yet if something that isn’t right is left untended, or just smoothed over, the body has a hard time growing.
Both men and women are guilty of gossip.
Ephesians 5:1 … be followers of God, as dear children.
Romans 12:9-10 … love without dissimulation (Strong’s G505, anupokritos; from the word for the mask worn by a theatrical performer). Cleave (stick like glue) to that which is good (His Gospel), and prefer one another in honor.
1 Peter 5:1-4 … the ministry is to feed the flock – WILLINGLY. Our goal is to perpetuate a fulness of joy thru Christ.
James 1:17 … Every good and perfect gift is from the Father. We are to be swift to hear, and slow to speak, and slow to wrath. We should be always looking for the evidences of unity in our midst. Live in humbleness, faith, joy, love, peace, and blessings.
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